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He hesitated a moment before nodding slowly. “A risk always exists, but complications are rare and usually triggered by a previous condition. Like if your heart functioned extremely poorly to begin with and couldn’t take the stress. Do you have any health concerns to share with me, Mara? I haven’t detected anything during our time together.”

“I don’t think so. I’m rarely ill.”

“Then we should be able to complete the process safely. If and when you’re ready,” he assured her.

“I get to choose?”

“Of course. This is your life, Zoí mou. I would not take the decision from you. Well, I wouldn’t act unless you were dying without having the ability to select your future. Then, I admit I would save you without hesitation, hoping you would wish to spend more years with me as well. Perhaps that is selfish.”

“Or the wishes of someone in love,” she suggested.

He smiled and brushed back her hair. “My love for you would definitely be a component in any decision I’d make for you in an emergency. Any other questions?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. Mara studied his face, noting the special way he looked at her. She could feel how much he cared for her.

“Let’s get your phone, and you can notify the bank of your absence.”

“Okay, Daddy,” she said, regretting losing this closeness.

“We’ll have an entire day together. I think you need a Little day.”

She nodded eagerly, without any idea of what he had in mind. She grabbed her phone and accessed the employee portal. There, she pushed the buttons on her phone, trailing behind him to stay close as he hung the professional attire back in her closet and finished dressing himself in comfortable clothes.

Seeing him relaxed rather than in his usual office attire always made her hot. While he could rock a white-collared dress shirt, Darius was scrumptious in jeans and a snug T-shirt—and out of them. She hit the wrong button and had to start over after forcing herself to turn around so she could concentrate.

“Finished?” he asked when she set her phone down and faced him once again.

“Yes. What should we do first?”

“Breakfast. Then, would you like to play in your nursery?” Darius asked, watching her face closely.

“I have a nursery? Like for an adult Little girl?” A thrill of excitement lanced through her as well as embarrassment. Somehow having a room where she could be Little seemed to make her fantasy real. Mara studied her bare toes to give herself a moment to figure out how to handle this. She wavered between being too scared to say yes and wanting this with every fiber of her being.

“You do. Can you be brave for Daddy?” he asked, picking up on her nervousness. Darius cupped and lifted her chin gently until their gazes met. “You don’t need to worry with me, Zoí mou. Mates understand each other. Being a Daddy is important to me. You don’t need to worry that I will judge you.”

Mara nodded and pushed her uncertainty away. Taking advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime to be true to herself, she asked, “Can I see the room now?” She bounced on her toes, revealing her excitement.

“How about if I order breakfast on a tray, delivered to our door? The nursery is across the hall. We can have our meal at your table.”

“I have a table?” she echoed. She couldn’t wait to see the space. Linking her fingers with his, Mara pulled her Daddy to the door across the hall. After inhaling deeply, she turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Words escaped her. Mara clung to Darius’s hand as she wandered inside, unsure what to check out first. On the wall hung a large picture of Mara and Darius on the dance floor at Nightfall. Staring at the intimate photo, Mara stepped closer to study the shot. Darius was so handsome. The hungry expression on his face revealed how quickly their relationship had progressed. The happiness and desire written all over her features as they looked deep into each other’s eyes enthralled her.

“Where did this come from?” Mara asked.

“Donovan grabbed the photo from his sound booth. He told me he hoped someone would stare at him with the same level of connection.”

“I love it.”

“I do too. I have another photo in my office that is very similar. Carina took that one. She wanted us to have a memento of our first dance.”

“I can’t wait to see that shot too. You have sweet friends. I have sweet friends,” she corrected herself, claiming them.

“Carina and Alessia are definitely wonderful. Donovan? I’m not sure I would use sweet to describe him,” Darius said with a faint smile. “Let Daddy help change you from your nightshirt.”

Standing in the brightly lit room, Mara blushed as he pulled off the T-shirt she’d snagged from his drawer. Darius caressed her as if he couldn’t keep his hands from her curves before helping her step into clothes he selected from the dresser in the nursery. She quivered from his touch by the time he had her dressed in panties, leggings, and a soft tunic.

“Daddy, I need a bra.”