“Sorry,” she said finally.
“I think I’m more the cause of you choking than you are. You asked me for the truth,” Titus reminded her.
“I hate lies.” Alessia paused and took another drink before adding, “I don’t know how you got that impression.”
“Really? I agree with you about deceit. Lies create a distance between people. I will not allow that between my mate and myself.”
“Not allow? What does that mean?” She squirmed to turn to look at him directly, studying his face intently.
“Little girls who lie to their Daddies or attempt to deny the truth get spanked. Usually, Littles only need to experience a few red bottoms to convince them to tell the truth,” Titus said. He reached a hand up to push her hair away from her face. “Have you been spanked before, Little mate?”
“No! Of course not.”
“Hmmm. Have you experimented with other punishments? Standing in the corner? Writing lines? Wearing a naughty plug in your bottom?”
Alessia shook her head vigorously to cover her excitement about at that last option. Why did that sound deliciously effective to capture her attention? “Maybe I should rethink this.”
“Our relationship? Too late, Little mate. Our bond hasalready snapped into place. We can’t simply walk away from each other. I need you, and you need me.”
“I crave chocolate, but I don’t eat it every day.”
“That’s not quite the same, but I enjoy being compared to chocolate and savoring,” he teased. “Tell me what you know about Littles and Daddies.”
Aroused, nervous, and curious all at the same time, Alessia struggled to escape from that request. She swallowed hard and blurted, “Maybe I should eat another sandwich half. Or some of those cookies.”
“Of course. You can have the tray if you’d like. Could you see me as a Daddy? As your Daddy, Alessia?” he asked, handing her a cookie.
Alessia studied the front of his shirt. She took a big bite of the cookie and chewed it. Titus didn’t interrupt her. She swallowed and drank some water.
“Those are good cookies. Gio didn’t make them, did he?”
“No. My cook did. I’ll introduce him tomorrow. He’ll be excited to meet you. Pascale enjoys cooking for humans more than for vampires. I pay him enough that he puts up with me.”
Her lips twitched at his admission. She glanced down at the cookie as if she were going to enjoy more but hesitated. Titus waited patiently, not rushing his mate. After several long seconds, Alessia whispered, “I already told you I’ve never met a Daddy in real life. I’ve only read about them in books.”
“You’ve never met a Daddy before me, Little mate,” he reminded her.
“But I didn’t realize you were a Daddy,” she whispered.
“Your Daddy.”
“My…
My Daddy.” Her body trembled. Hearing that come out of her mouth sent a wave of emotions through her. Alessia couldn’t figure out if she should bounce with excitement orblush with embarrassment. She squeezed her thighs together telling her body to settle down.
Titus pulled her close and hugged her to his warmth. “Yes, Little mate. Your Daddy. I didn’t think I would ever find you. Do you have any idea how long I’ve searched for you?”
She shook her head. Her gaze fixed on his face.
“Since 1420. I was thirteen when I realized I was wired differently than my brothers. At seventeen, while my peers were drinking and carousing, I only wished to take care of special people. I hadn’t found the right one. But I was sure she was out there. When I was turned, I learned about being a Daddy from my vampire clan. Everything clicked into place then for me.”
“Other vampires are Daddies?”
“My entire clan. Alaric has a way of finding us.”
“Alaric is the guy who talks on the screen, right?” Alessia asked.
“He is. He’s our elder.”
