Page 19 of Daddy’s Oath (The Daddy Guard #2)

Chapter Nineteen

“This reminds me of Auntie Athena’s!” Lana said as she looked around the “dress-up room” Ace had brought her to.

“I think they have just about as much stuff,” Ace said. “You know, Auntie wouldn’t have minded you getting some clothes. Or… other things.”

Lana looked at Ace and noticed him smirking as his hand rested on a stack of diapers that sat on a shelf. She knew her cheeks were probably glowing red.

A moment later, she told him, “I wanted to. I just… you know. What we talked about.”

“You don’t owe me an explanation. But this reminds me of something I need to ask you.”

The look on Ace’s face was serious again, so Lana braced herself.

Was he about to confess second thoughts?

Were things moving too fast for him? If so, at least he was going to back out now before they went any further.

She knew that the longer she stayed under his care, the harder it would be whenever she went back to her old life.

Or whatever life awaited her on the other side of this mess.

Either way, she doubted it would involve Ace.

With that in mind, she wondered if she should be doing any of this at all. Why not rip the bandage off quickly? It would probably be easier that way. Perhaps that was what Ace was about to do.

Ace dispelled those notions, though, when he said, “I need to level with you. I’m being swept away.

And I don’t think I can resist.” He stepped closer, his smile warm and the look in his eyes affectionate.

“What I’m trying to say is that I’m going to Daddy you, little girl.

Hard. And when a cutie is under my care, she’s under my care .

Meaning I won’t do this halfway. So, I want you to pick a safeword.

Remember it. Because that’s your only out.

Until I hear that word come out of your mouth, you’ll do exactly as Daddy says. Do you understand?”

Lana was speechless, but she managed to nod.

“Nope. I want to hear you say it. Do you understand?”

She gulped. “Yes, Sir.”

“Are you comfortable with this?”

Now, there was no fighting the giant grin she’d stifled so many times since seeing Ace that afternoon. “Yes, Sir!”

His serious expression faded and a healthy dose of humor reached his eyes. “Good girl. Now, about that safeword. I want to hear it, too.”

Her mind raced as she thought of an appropriate safe word. “La Brea.”

“Like the street?”

“Uh-huh.” She giggled. “It’s all I can think of.”

He laughed. “It’s as good of one as any. Or I suppose it’s two. But you know what I mean.”

Lana chewed on the inside of her cheek as she considered her next question. Oh gosh, did she have enough nerve to actually ask it?

She had to. It was vital information.

“Sir?”

“Yes?”

“Do I call you… Daddy. Or Uncle? Or…” She shrugged.

“Well, I prefer Daddy. But you call me whatever you’re comfortable with. Either way, I’m going to be doing the same thing: taking care of you. Protecting you. And spoiling you, of course.”

She giggled.

It would be wonderful to call him that term she’d longed to call someone, but what if it didn’t work out between them?

What if the U.S. Marshals gave her a new identity with a whole different career in another state?

Ace had a life here in California with the Guard. He wouldn’t want to move with her.

And speaking of her… he was just being nice. She was under his care right now, while the Guard protected her, so he was filling a role. But it wasn’t like he wanted to actually be her forever Daddy.

Surely not.

Ugh. It was all so complicated.

She’d just have to figure it out as she went along, she decided. Right now, she might as well enjoy the moment and pretend like there wasn’t a vicious, murderous gang after her.

“Just how Little are you, cutie?” Ace asked.

Lana pulled herself from the inner turmoil and all those questions rattling around her brain and said, “What do you mean?”

“You want to wear a diaper? Pull-up? Frilly panties or what?”

She giggled. “I, uh… oh boy…”

Her hands were shaking now. While she’d dreamed of being cared for by a hot, sexy man, she never thought it would actually happen. Her Little nature was a secret she’d kept hidden for so long. Actually talking about it wasn’t going to come easy, she realized.

“Honey, it’s okay.” Ace took her hand and smiled down into her eyes. “You can tell me. Because if you let me pick, I’m going to pick the biggest, thickest diaper I can find so I can see your cute booty padded and give it lots of pats.”

Now Lana was in a full giggling fit. “Daddy, that’s what I want!”

Oh no! She’d called him that .

There was no taking it back, she realized. Nothing she could do about it now.

“Well, then, this will work out perfectly for both of us.” Ace looked over the diapers on the shelf, grabbed one, and then held it up. “This one is cute. Look at the tiaras and wands on it.”

The diaper was adorable, with tiaras, wands, stars, and even little castles printed on it.

“Fit for a princess,” Ace said. “Like you.”

What he said next had Lana melting.

“Come on, honey. Let’s get those pants and big girl undies off you. It’s time you’re property attired.”