“The genre exploration. Literary analysis. You know.”
“Madison.”
“Yes?”
His voice drops, taking on that quality that makes my thighs clench. “Are you trying to tell me something?”
I pull the blanket up to my chin like that will somehow protect me from this conversation. “Maybe.”
“Then tell me directly. No games.”
My heart hammers against my ribs. “I think I might want what those characters have.”
The silence stretches. “Have you thought about what that would mean? Really thought about it? Not in an ‘it’s fun to roleplay in the bedroom but what it would look like in real life’ type of way?”
“Yes. Maybe. I don't know.” I swallow hard. “Have you? I mean… Have you ever heard of… I guess I’m trying to?—"
“Madi Baby, stop talking,” he interrupts. “Yes, I’ve heard about it. Yes, I know what it is. Yes, I am a Daddy. And damn it, I’ve thought about being your Daddy every day since I met you.”
Oh.I’m rendered speechless.
His voice softens. “But this kind of relationship isn't something we rush into, sweetheart. This requires trust. Communication. Very clear boundaries and expectations.”
The word sweetheart lands like a caress. “I can do that.”
“I know you can. But I need you to be sure. Because once we start down this path, I don't do casual.”
“What do you do?”
“Committed,” he says simply. “All in. No half measures.”
My breath catches. “That's intense.”
“Yes. And if that's not what you want—if you need space or time or something different—I need you to tell me now.”
“I don't need space,” I say, surprised by how certain I sound. “I need you to stop asking me. I'm not going to run. I told you at the coffee shop, I told you last night and I’m telling you for the last time, I want you to move closer not farther away.”
“Fair enough.”
We're both quiet for a moment. I can hear him breathing and I wonder what he looks like right now. If he's pacing. If he's sitting down. If he's as affected by this conversation as I am.
“Enjoy your book club tomorrow,” he says finally. “Have fun. Think about what you want.”
“What if I already know?”
“Then we'll talk this weekend. Face to face. No distractions.”
“Okay.”
“And, Madison?”
“Yeah?”
“I'm proud of you for being honest. That takes courage.”
My throat tightens. “Thank you.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart. Go to bed now and behave yourself until we talk again.”
