“I already believed you. You don’t have to prove it. But since you said it twice, that must mean you mean it double.”
It was quiet in the hotel room, everything muted from the outside world. It felt like we were alone together. I’d never seen him so relaxed. The lines had been scrubbed from his forehead, his face smooth, and even his body language was looser, less tense. He beckoned me closer with the waggle of his fingers, and I stepped between his legs where he sat on the edge of the bed. His hands migrated up to my hips and flexed there, just enough to make me want him to do it again.
“What was your favorite part?”
“That’s a silly question, Daddy. It was getting my new stuffie.”
“I should’ve known that’s what you would say. Have you picked out a name yet?”
“I only know one cow name.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s Bessie. But she’s from the Highlands, so she needs a proper Scottish name.”
“Do you know any proper Scottish names for a cow?”
“No, but I can imagine. I was thinking a lot on the way back to the hotel because I couldn’t let her spend the night without a name.”
Daddy gave me one of his indulgent looks and waited for me to finish.
“Her name is Nessie.”
“As in the Loch Ness Monster?”
“She’s not a monster, Daddy. She’s a cow, which is why she’s called Nessie—’cause it’ll remind her of home. And I don’t think the Loch Ness Monster is really a monster either. If you call them that, they might get their feelings hurt. Do you wanna hurt their feelings, Daddy?”
“No, sugar, I absolutely do not want to hurt their feelings. And if I ever run into them, I promise I’ll apologize.”
He pulled me onto his lap, and I balanced on one sturdy leg. The heat radiating from him made me want to snuggle close and let being a grown-up float away. His fingers ran through my curls as he leaned up and gave me a soft kiss on the lips. I wanted more, but he drew away before I had the chance to sneak my tongue into his mouth. It felt like it had been too long.
“Sugar, are you ready for bed?”
Before he even finished the question, I was shaking my head.
“It’s late.”
“Daddy, I’m too excited to sleep. We went to an auction, we spent so much money, and I got a new present—a new stuffie! It’s imp’ssible.”
“I think maybe a nice bath would help you wind down, sugar. Take off some of that adrenaline you’ve been carrying around.”
“They got bubbles?”
“Well, they don’t have bubble bath, but they do have Jacuzzi bubbles. Maybe that’s just as good?”
“You gonna take a bath with me, Daddy?”
“If you want me to, I will.”
“I always wanna share with you, Daddy.”
“Then let’s get to it.”
Without another word, I put my hand in his and allowed him to lead me to the bathroom. Once there, he turned on the taps and adjusted them to the perfect temperature before turning back to me. He stripped me down like I was precious, but also like he thought I was hot. Honestly, it was the best of everything.
No one had ever made me feel the way Daddy did. We’d only been together a few weeks, but I knew it was something worth holding on to. Maybe he didn’t see it yet, but that was okay. I saw it, and that was enough for now. I liked this kind of dating so much more than when I was an option instead of a priority.
“Get in, sugar. The AC in this place is set to arctic.”
