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“She’s beautiful,” Tildi whispered, not taking her eyes off the little dragon. “Can I hold her?”

“Of course, Bluebell. She’s yours.”

She lifted the toy from his hand like a priceless treasure, and the care she took almost broke his heart. He’d expected her to jump up and snatch it from him, maybe squeeze it tight against her chest.

“I’ve never had a stuffie for a friend before,” she said. “My sister did. She took it everywhere, even after she was too old, according to our parents. I was always so jealous.”

The emotion in her voice made him want to cradle her to his chest the same way she held her new friend.

“Why didn’t you have one?” He braced for her answer, knowing it would gut him. He was not wrong.

“I wasn’t allowed. I was expected to be an adult from a very early age. The General had my life all planned, and those plans didn’t include dolls and toys. Anything soft, really.”

“Wait, you said that before. Why was a general planning out your life for you?”

Shock and fear entered her eyes, and she shook her head. “Believe me, he’s no one important. That’s just what my father insisted everyone in the family call him. General. Forget about him. Lord knows I try to.”

What the hell? “I’m confused. Your father was a general? I didn’t know you were raised military.”

“I wasn’t raised military, just raised by a narcissist. But seriously, it doesn’t matter.”

Yeah, that was a lie. Because it obviously did matter. A lot.

After laying next to her on the bed and gathering her close in his arms, he stroked her hair as she continued to stare at her dragon.

He scratched behind her stuffie’s ear. “What’s her name?” he asked. “Have you thought of one, or do you need more time?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Her name is Puff.” She rolled into him and flung her arm around his chest. “Thank you, Daddy,” she said. “She’s the bestest present I have ever, ever gotten. I love her.”

The lilting tone of her words told him she was sinking deeper into Little space. His heart swelled. If he wasn’t careful, this woman would own his heart. Or maybe she already did. “I’m glad you love her, Bluebell. I expect you two will be the best of friends.”

“Uh huh,” she agreed. “I’m going to take good care of her. If I treat her right, maybe she’ll love me as much as I love her.”

“That’s not how it works, babygirl. You don’t have to earn her love by doing things. Her love is like a Daddy’s love. She loves you because of who you are, not what you do.”

She pulled back and stared at him for half a second, then his little bluebell launched herself at him.

The sparkle that flared in her eyes should have been a clue, but before he could process what it meant, she was kissing him. To say her kiss was unexpected would be an understatement. To say it was unwelcome would be a lie. Her lips were warm and sweet.

He enjoyed letting her have her moment, but soon his dick told him it was time for him to take control and show her what having a Daddy meant.

He pulled back. Slowly pulling her towel away, he took in her body, from the cotton candy hair to freezing at the tattoo above her ankle. It had to be more than a coincidence she’d chosen a dragon tattoo. He’d known exactly which stuffed animal he’d wanted for her.

He hooked her leg under the knee and lifted it so he could get a better look. With a smile, he realized it suited her perfectly. The tattoo wasn’t an actual mythical beast. Instead, she had chosen aHello, Kittywearing a green and purple dragon costume.

“I have to ask, what is the story behind your ink? It doesn’t seem that someone who insisted on being called the General would approve.”

Giving him a smirk worthy of any brat, she leaned across him to look at her ankle. Rolling onto her stomach, she explained. “It was the first thing I did after I ran away. Well, after paying for a new identi—” She cut her words off and stared at him, eyes wide and alarmed. “I mean, paying for a new ability to?—”

This time, it was his finger pressed to her lips that cut off her words. “Since you’ve already had your butt busted once today, I’m going to stop you before you earn another. But mark this down. You never lie to Daddy. I will always find out, and then you’ll have two punishments to deal with; one for whatever you’re trying to hide and one for lying. Do you understand?”

She nodded, adding a quick “Yes, Daddy” when he raised one brow in warning. “Now, would you like to try that again?”

She nibbled on her bottom lip before nodding. He got the feeling she would be more eager to swing a skunk around by the tail. Tempted as he was to let her off the hook, he wanted the truth.

She flopped back on her pillow with a huff. He gave her time before prompting, “Well?”

Without looking at him, she explained. “My father is a powerful man, and he doesn’t like anyone to derail his plans. So, when I left home, first I changed my hair and the style of clothes I wore. Then I paid some people a lot of money to create a new identity for me. My birth name is easily recognized because it’s unusual. And stupid.”