Page 9 of Soldier Daddy’s Dutiful Little

Warm, large hands encircled my waist and that familiar male scent of pine and wood wafted into my nostrils. I melted into him as he rocked me from side to side, nibbling my ear to elicit girlish giggles from me.

My strong, brave, romantic Soldier Daddy…

He sure was a pro at putting and making the smiles on my face grow wider and last longer. The least I could do is keep him happy as well, in any way possible.

“Princess …”

I blushed a bright pink, trying to cover my face with my hands but inhibited by his hand Daddy around my tiny, 24-inch waist.

“Yes?”

He drew a deep breath, then turned me around to face him. I got so shy I could not quite look into his sparkling eyes that were scrunched up with emotion.

“I love you, Vanessa. I really do,” he said to me emphatically and there was no doubting the verity of his words.

I sighed, my heart feeling like it would jump out of my chest from all the agitation going on inside me. “I love you too, Daddy!”

He grinned and pecked my forehead. “Close your eyes, baby girl.”

I obeyed without hesitation. I was so sure he was going to kiss me, so I prepared my mind and my lips.

“Turn around and open your eyes, V.”

I giggled, wondering what surprise he could possibly have in store for me that would require this much drama.

If it wasn’t the suspicious white paper bag from earlier! I opened it excitedly to find a shimmery pink box with a stuffed unicorn inside. The white unicorn was adorable with its streaks of purple and bright pink.

I for one, thought it was the cutest thing ever and I did not know when tears welled up in my eyes. It was such a thoughtful gift and I had been secretly looking forward to the next stuffed animal he was going to get me since the large teddy.

I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips on his, relishing the sheer innocence of the tentative kiss. Oscar was not having that. He lifted me, wrapping my legs around his waist and kissed me properly, possessively.

Utter adoration was what I felt for him at that moment. He loved me, evidently and I was going to be the best little one could ever ask for.

CHAPTER NINE

Oscar

When we decided to finally go to eat something other than each other’s lips, we discovered the food had gone cold, so we decided to reheat the bowl of rice noodles that had chunks of roast pork in it with strips of sesame chicken and cubes of tangerine beef.

Vanessa was suggesting eating it cold since we already microwaved it before but I wouldn’t have that. I put it back in the microwave, slyly letting my hands brush over hers.

She noticed and smiled at me, her flush visible in the warm kitchen light.

“Yeah, so you know I told you the police were having a hard time cracking my parents' murder case…”

She nodded, listening intently; at least her body language told me so.

“Yes… you mentioned it last time. How has it been going?” she asked, her fingers drawing small circles at my back.

“I hired a private investigator to help out with the case and they got quite an interesting lead.”

I went on to tell her all that I was told at the Headquarters and iterated that I didn’t mean to exclude her from the whole process but seeing as I did not have any substantial leads, I kept it to myself.

“I tried talking about it several times but couldn’t. Just merely thinking about it made me feel choked and…” my voice trailed off and I went quiet hoping to steady it as much as I could. I looked down, trying to level the lump that was fast forming on my throat.

Vanessa’s light voice made me look up. “You said?”

“But you have me now.”