Page 14 of Daddy Dreadful (Forbidden Pleasures Island #5)

Chapter Thirteen

Donovan

Camilla remains silent the entire ride to the school, and I can’t help the worry that fills my mind.

She seems convinced the other Littles hate her, and despite my assurances to the contrary, I fear she may be right.

After all, she did work for me, and she was the one who taught all their Daddies how to properly take their temperature.

It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s some lingering resentment there.

But I’m equally convinced that once they get to know my sweet Camilla, they’ll find her as irresistible as I do. Keeping that thought close to my chest as our car rolls to a stop in front of the school, I help her out of the car and take her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

A frown tugs at her lips as she looks down at our clasped hands and then back up at me, but she doesn’t protest. Taking that as progress, however small, I keep her hand in mine and head up the front steps to the school.

The woman who greets us at the top of the stairs is wearing a dress in the same shade of deep blue as Camilla’s uniform. A bright smile is stretched across her welcoming face, and that same welcome echoes in her voice when she speaks.

“You must be Camilla. I’m Miss Evelyn, your teacher. It’s so nice to meet you.”

I’ve never known Camilla to be shy, but instead of answering Miss Evelyn, she wordlessly shifts herself behind me.

And even though part of me is concerned by her out-of-character response, another part crows with triumph at the knowledge she considers me her safe space.

At least safer than this new and unknown entity.

“There’s no need to be afraid.” I keep my tone as gentle as possible as I step aside and nudge her toward her new teacher. “Miss Evelyn is going to take very good care of you while Daddy is at work.”

“You’re a little early, so the other girls aren’t even here yet. We could go inside and take a look around, if you’d like. Give you some time to get used to things before the others arrive. How does that sound?”

Beside me, Camilla gives a single slow nod. Beaming at my Little girl, Miss Evelyn holds her hand out, and I watch, a lump forming in my throat as Camilla steps forward to take her hand.

Hoping that Miss Evelyn will be able to put my Little one at ease, I hang back a few steps as I follow them into the schoolhouse.

It looks exactly like I imagine a preschool would, with tables set up for activities and I assume lunch, a reading nook complete with cozy-looking beanbag chairs, and a changing table at the far end of the room.

Everything Miss Evelyn could possibly need to care for our precious Little ones.

So why does the thought of leaving Camilla here fill me with dread?

Doing my best to shake off the feeling, I stash Camilla’s diaper bag in her designated cubby at Miss Evelyn’s instruction and force myself to put on a cheerful face as I turn to my Little girl. “Well? What do you think?”

Instead of answering me, Camilla looks up at Miss Evelyn. “May I go play, Miss Evelyn?”

“Of course, little one. There’s plenty of time before our day officially begins.”

My heart constricts in my chest when Camilla turns away and heads toward a corner full of toys. But she only makes it a few steps before Miss Evelyn calls her back in a firm, clear voice.

“Camilla. Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Turning back to face us, Camilla frowns. “What did I forget?”

One brow raised, Miss Evelyn gestures to me. “Give your Daddy a hug goodbye. You won’t be seeing him again for a few hours.”

Camilla stiffens, her face going carefully blank at the suggestion. “No, thank you.”

But Miss Evelyn is not deterred. “Young lady. It’s very rude not to give your Daddy a proper goodbye.”

Eyes narrowing dangerously, Camilla crosses her arms, huffing out an annoyed breath as she stomps one foot against the carpet. “He’s not my Daddy!”

Her denial, stated so clearly and loudly, cuts right to my core. But I don’t want to make any more of a scene than she already has, so I offer Miss Evelyn an apologetic smile. “She’s having some difficulty adjusting. We don’t need to push the issue right now.”

Frowning rather fiercely, Miss Evelyn shifts her gaze between me and my stubborn Little girl before nodding slowly. “All right. If you’re sure.”

“I am. It’s more important to me that she has a good day with her friends. I’ll see you again this afternoon.”

Miss Evelyn smiles again, though now it’s full of sympathy as she lays her hand on my arm and gives it a gentle squeeze. “You’re a good Daddy, Doctor D. Your Little one is lucky to have you.”

“No.” I look over at where Camilla is still glowering at us and I can’t help but chuckle.

“I’m the lucky one. She’s everything I ever wanted in a Little girl, stubborn streak and all.

” I pitch my voice up so Camilla can hear me more clearly.

“I’ll be back for you this afternoon, little one. Enjoy your day with your friends.”

And even though it feels a bit like leaving my own heart behind, I force myself to turn away from her and walk out the door.

She’ll be fine. She has the other Littles and Miss Evelyn.

Maybe it will even help to remind her why she chose this lifestyle.

Because while she may not have chosen me for her Daddy, she wants this.

Craves it as much as any of us. I just need to give her time to remember that, and maybe then she’ll realize having me for a Daddy isn’t so dreadful after all.

Maybe.

Millie

My entire body flushes with heat and a heaviness settles in my chest as I watch Donovan walk out the door. It takes me a long moment to recognize what I’m feeling.

Guilt.

But that’s ridiculous. I have no reason to feel guilty. If his feelings are that fragile, maybe he should try not kidnapping people and forcing them to be his Little girl.

Clutching that righteous indignation close, I turn on my heel and stomp over to the play area, dropping onto my knees and reaching for a large truck capable of hauling the alphabet blocks stacked neatly in the corner.

“Are you building something, little one?”

Without bothering to look up at Miss Evelyn, I jerk one shoulder in a shrug. “I dunno.”

“I see.” Settling on the floor across from me, Miss Evelyn picks up a block and places it in the back of the truck. For several long minutes, we play side by side in peaceful quiet, and the weight on my chest slowly dissipates.

“You know, sometimes when I’m upset about things, it helps to talk to someone. Is there anything you want to talk about, Camilla?”

Doctor D isn’t my Daddy. I’m being held here against my will. I hate him and I hate this island but most of all, I hate how much I don’t hate him.

“I dunno.”

“That’s okay, too. Sometimes it can be really hard to put what we’re feeling into words, especially when those feelings are really big.”

Tears sting my eyes and I sniffle quietly. “All my feelings are really big.”

“I’m sorry. That’s really hard.”

Her quiet understanding threatens to break me. But before the words can come tumbling out of me, a commotion draws Miss Evelyn’s attention to the front door just as Victoria comes barreling through.

“Miss Evelyn, Miss Evelyn, I’m back!” Eyes wide, Victoria skids to a stop in the middle of the room. “What is she doing here?”

Dread settles heavy in my stomach. “Hi, Victoria,” I manage to squeak out, even though my mouth is dry as the Sahara and my throat feels so tight I can barely breathe.

With that same comforting smile from before, Miss Evelyn settles her hands on Victoria’s shoulders. “Camilla is going to be joining us from now on. Her Daddy just dropped her off a few minutes ago.”

Victoria’s mouth drops open. “Her Daddy ? Who—oh my god. Please tell me Dr. Dreadful isn’t your Daddy!”

Before I can respond, Maxwell Stone enters the room shaking his head. “What have I told you about that nickname, little thief? It’s going to get back to Doctor D at some point and I won’t be able to save you from his wrath.”

Dr. Dreadful? Is that what they call him?

It’s such a perfect name, I can’t help but let out a little snort of laughter. “I like it.”

Mr. Stone raises a brow at me. “And how do you think your Daddy will feel about it?”

The honest answer is that he would love it. But he’d also use it as an excuse to be even meaner than usual to all the Littles. Which means he can never, ever find out.

Jerking my chin up, I meet Mr. Stone’s gaze. “I don’t care what he thinks.”

His brow lifts even higher. “Is that so?”

There’s an undercurrent to his words that sends my heart racing. But I’ve gone toe to toe with sadistic Dr. Dreadful, so I’m sure as hell not backing down from some billionaire with a god complex. “It is so.”

Mr. Stone’s lips twitch with open amusement and the hammering of my heart slows a little. “Hmm. You’ll have to tell me how that works out for you.”

Ignoring that ominous statement, I return my focus to the truck in front of me, full of the little alphabet blocks. And try to block out the conversation happening two feet from me.

“Daddy, I wanna go home.” Victoria is whispering, but her voice is so loud she might as well be shouting.

“What’s wrong, little one? Do you still feel yucky?”

Right. Strep throat. Poor Victoria.

“Um, yeah.” Her cough is so forced, I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“Victoria Rose. Are you lying to me?”

Uh-oh. Mr. Stone sounds mad .

Obviously I’m not the only one who hears it, because Victoria immediately starts dancing from foot to foot, her voice pitching up to a whine. “No! I really do wanna go home.”

“That’s not what I’m asking, and you know it, little girl. Are you still feeling sick?”

A long silence stretches between them, practically filling the room with tension before Victoria finally sighs. “No, Daddy, I don’t feel sick.”

“Then tell the truth. Why do you want to go home?”

“I just do .”

Mr. Stone shakes his head. “That isn’t a reason, Victoria Rose. Come here.”

From the corner of my eye, I watch as he pulls Victoria to him, wrapping an arm around her waist. The short blue dress she’s wearing matches mine, and it’s short enough to show her entire diaper when he bends her over.

“Daddy, no!”

Completely ignoring her cries of distress, Mr. Stone lands several hard swats to the tops of her thighs while Victoria dances in place.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you know better than to lie to your Daddy, Victoria.” He caps off the spanking with two extra hard swats before letting go of his sobbing Little girl. “Are you going to behave yourself now?”

“Y-yes, Daddy.” Sniffling pitifully, Victoria rubs at her bright-red thighs. “I’m sorry I lied.”

Everything about Mr. Stone softens at her apology. “It’s all forgiven, little thief. Behave yourself for Miss Evelyn and maybe we can get a treat when school is over.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

Wrapping her up in his arms, he hauls her up for a long, deep kiss before sending her off to play. My heart twists painfully at the sight of their easy affection.

Will I ever have that with my own Daddy? I can’t imagine sharing that kind of deep, effortless intimacy with Donovan, so unless I’m able to somehow escape the island it seems unlikely.

Just as Victoria settles down with her own pile of toys, three more girls come running into the room. “Tori!” they scream in unison, racing over to throw themselves at their friend.

“We missed you this much ,” Natalie, the newest resident of the island declares, leaning back to spread her arms wide. “You were gone for ever .”

Victoria giggles. “It was just two days.”

“It felt longer.” With a dramatic sigh, Juliet presses the back of her hand to her head. “We were bereft without our fearless leader!”

The third girl, Isabella, nods emphatically. “We really were. Are you feeling better?”

“Lots better.” Looking over Isabella’s shoulder, Victoria meets my gaze, her lips moving up in a forced smile. “Did you guys see we have a new friend to play with?”

As one, three heads swivel to stare at me, and for a moment, silence falls over the room.

Then Natalie squeals, throwing herself at me much the same as she did with Victoria.

“Millie! Oh my gosh, I’m so happy to see you!

I thought you were leaving the island for good!

What happened?” Pulling back, she waves a hand, batting away the question.

“Never mind. I’m just being nosy again. Whatever happened, I’m so glad you’re here. ”

The other girls don’t look nearly as thrilled by my presence. But Natalie is still rambling on, spinning tales of all the fun we’re going to have.

And for a few minutes, I’m able to convince myself that even if I can’t have the Daddy of my dreams, maybe I can at least have the friends I’ve always wanted.