King sighed and he sounded as frustrated as I felt. His jaw clenched and relaxed as I stared at his handsome profile.
“I’m not being obtuse. You’re dancing around the real question. I’m doing my best to predict what you’re actually attempting to ask me. I spanked him once, but it was a long time ago. Now, what do you want to know?”
Damn. He got straight to the heart of the matter and quicker than I expected. Staring at him for a few more seconds, I admired the way his forearm flexed as he drove. Casually muscular without being overly flashy. No, his job likely kept him in shape. Plus, August teased him about having been a male dancer before he had become a paramedic. It was a mental image that made me drool.
“Are you just going to keep staring at me, princess, or are you going to ask the burning questions bumping around that pretty head of yours?”
“I’m not a princess,” I snapped.
“I apologize. If you don’t like the pet name, I’ll find something else to call you. What do you prefer?”
“People used to refer to me as the princess of Crawford Enterprises.” I gave him a half-hearted explanation.
“Then what better name to call you? You broke out of the mold your parents made you from. Take back your power. If you want someone to lovingly refer to you as princess because you should be fucking worshiped as the absolute goddess that you are, spoiled in the best ways possible, and cherished the way a Daddy should cherish his Little girl? Take it back.”
“Wanting a Daddy doesn't mean I’m a Little girl.” Hearing King say the last two things out loud shook up my heart. As much as I felt those vibes from him, I didn’t know if I was worthy of someone spending so much time and energy on me.
“I apologize for assuming. Do you have a Little side? It’s okay if you’re unsure,” he said.
“I think so. But I haven't explored much. I’d like to do that if you’re okay with it.”
“I am,” he confirmed. “Back to your power.”
“Yeah. So, Reed told me to take back my power after I shared something personal with him. Something I’ve never told anyone else. Not my best friend. Not my brothers. It seemed like he cared so I opened myself up to him.”
Kingston pulled into my driveway and put the car into park. He undid his seatbelt and turned slightly so he could look at me. “Do you want to talk about Reed or about yourself?”
“I guess I’m trying to figure out why the hell he is so insistent.”
“You’re worth it, Eli. It seems to me like you’ve been hellbent on forging your own path. He wants to forge it with you, not because you can’t do it yourself, but because it’s easier with someone else plowing through it with you.”
“And you want to plow me too? Uh, through it?”
“Shit.” King shook his head, holding in a laugh. “If you can’t tell that I’m attracted to you, I need to step up my skills. Yes, I’m very willing to plow you or through things with you, if you’re willing to let me lead.”
“Lead in which way?”
“The way a Daddy should. Help you set goals if you need that, hold you accountable for things they may be slipping off your radar. I’m not attempting to control your life, but I’d hope you’d get to the point where you trust me to make major decisions for you. You always have input, always, but let me do the heavy lifting. I’m built for it after all.” He winked.
“But what do you get out of it?”
“I have my own needs, wants, and desires. Being trusted with someone else’s submission is the most beautiful gift in the worldto me. It’s a responsibility I take seriously. Do you need to know more than that?”
“No, not right now.” I reached for the door handle and Kingston leaned over and set my hand at my side. He got out and rounded the truck, opening my door for me. I looked at him for a moment before placing my hand in his. Kingston swept me into his arms, carrying me to the front door with my legs wrapped around his waist. Despite the crazy way the afternoon began, I had so much hope in my heart. Giggling, I linked my arms behind his neck.
“You have the most adorable laugh, Eli.”
“You made me laugh more times today than anyone has in what feels like months.” I rummaged around my purse as he held me, and tugged out my keys. He took them from my hand and unlocked the front door.
“I’d like to do it all the time,” he confessed.
“Mmmhmm. I’d like that. Please don’t put me down yet.”
“Would you like me to carry you inside?”
“Yes, please.” My heart soared in a way I’d never felt before as Kingston walked us inside my house. I didn’t protest as he carried me to my room, somehow finding it on the first try. I supposed his paramedic skills may have had something to do with that since he frequently showed up to homes without knowing the layout and had to find the person in the shortest amount of time possible.
“Why don’t you get your pajamas on and take care of whatever routine you have while I turn down the covers?”
