Page 16 of Daddy’s Thirsty Little Doll (The Lactin Brotherhood #24)

EMERY

The past week I’d stayed with Daddy had been the best week of my life.

It was finally Friday, and I was going to get to spend the whole weekend with Daddy.

He not only took good care of me, but he’d helped me find my Little side.

Daddy taught me that it was okay to embrace who I truly was, and I was so grateful for him.

When he brought me lunch the yesterday, my heart was so full of appreciation and love for him that I’d almost slipped up and told him how I felt.

Even though I was the happiest I’d ever been, I couldn't shake the panic itching under my skin. I loved Daddy so much, but he let me stay with him so we could get to know each other better. There was no way he’d want me to move in permanently so soon, but even thinking about moving back home and leaving him made my tummy hurt.

I wanted to climb into his lap and tell him how I felt, but every time I thought about telling him, fear gripped me and kept me silent.

If I told Daddy how I felt and he rejected me, I wasn’t sure I'd be able to handle the heartbreak.

My thoughts were interrupted when the door to my suite opened, and I saw my client Darren. Darren had been a regular of mine for several years, and we got along pretty well. “Hey, Darren, it's been a while, come on back.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Yeah, sorry about that. Life's been busy, but I hear you've been pretty busy too.”

My body froze as images of being cared for by Daddy played through my mind. Darren and I didn’t have any mutual friends and didn’t communicate outside of work, so his statement sent panic coursing through me. “Excuse you?”

Darren's face was shocked at my sudden change as he cocked his head in confusion. “Did Michael not tell you about me? I’m his best friend, the one who recommended you to him after he lost his last barber.”

All panic whooshed out of me at the mention of Daddy’s name. “Oh, I'm sorry. He mentioned his friend, but he never said your name. He’s talked about getting lunch with you at work, but I didn't realize you’re the same friend who recommended me.”

“Yup, that’s me. He was starting to look like a tumbleweed took residence on his head, and you’ve never done wrong by me, so I sent him your way. Although he must've found a secret list of services cause it sounds like he ended up getting more than a haircut.”

I barked out a laugh as I guided him to my chair and draped the cape over him, securing the snap. Darren always knew how to lighten the mood and make people laugh. “Oh, he definitely did, but don’t get any crazy ideas and try to find it. That list is reserved just for him.”

He gasped. “I wouldn't dare, that's my best friend we're talking about. I ain't some homewrecker. Besides, if I ever wanted a possessive Daddy to beat my ass, I could just go to the club. No need to piss off my best friend.”

My whole body got hot, and my cheeks were bright red. Did Darren know? “I, uhh, what?”

Darren's eyes widened as he looked at me through the mirror.

“Oh shit, I'm sorry, Emery. I forgot this is all new to you. Michael hasn't told me anything personal about you or how you spend your time together. I’m also a Daddy dom, and it just kinda came out because Michael or, hell, any Daddy would smack me silly if I even looked at their boy for too long, best friend or not.”

His words eased my tension a bit, but I was still wound tight with anxiety and embarrassment.

Darren was my client and had been for some time.

Before, I had a professional mask I could hide behind, but now things had become personal.

He was my Daddy’s best friend. I trusted Daddy enough to believe he wouldn’t be friends with someone who would judge or make fun of our relationship.

Darren did say he was also a Daddy, but I didn't know how to handle the shift from professional to… not.

“It’s okay. I guess I was just shocked. Other than Da— Michael, I haven’t really talked to anyone about this stuff.” My cheeks heated at my slip-up, and Darren relaxed a bit. Good, I didn't want him to feel bad about what he said. None of it was inappropriate, just new and a tad bit scary.

“Well, if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them.”

I hummed in thought. “Thank you, I might take you up on that, but first, let's take care of this tumbleweed on your head.” We both broke out into laughter as I got started on his haircut.

We sat in a comfortable silence during the haircut, but there was one question burning through my mind that I wanted to ask before washing his hair. “So, um, there is one question I’d like to ask, if that's okay.”

“Of course. Hit me with it.”

I nodded, my cheeks heating as I thought about how to phrase my question.

“Um, well, I guess I'm just struggling with understanding why.

I love spending time with him, as umm, as my D-Daddy, and he takes really good care of me, but why?

At first, I thought it would just be every now and then, but he takes care of me pretty much anytime I'm not at work, and I love it, but…

that has to get old, right? There's no way he could enjoy always being the one doing everything. Won't he get tired of it… of me?”

Darren's face looked almost pained before he quickly hid it with a soft smile.

“Emery, as both a Daddy and Michael's best friend, I can confidently promise you Michael wouldn't be taking care of you the way he is if he didn't want to. As Daddies, we get extreme satisfaction from caring for our boys. We are caregivers by nature, and our boys give us a purpose and a sense of fulfillment that is unmatched by anything else. Your Daddy has been so happy since he started caring for you and has a new light inside him that I thought had died out. You have brought joy and hope back into his life, and I guarantee he will never not want you to be a part of it.”

Tears streamed down my face as the gravity of his words hit me. “Y-You mean he needs me just like how I need him?”

“Yes, exactly. He cares for you deeply, Emery. That deep sense of peace you feel when he takes care of you is exactly how he feels. Knowing he’s the one giving you what you need and seeing you happy and cared for is all he needs and more.”

I sniffled, my words becoming choked. “He just makes me feel wonderful and safe, and I want to give him the same.

I just— I l-love him so much… It's kinda scary.” By the time I finished, I was fully sobbing.

Darren pulled out his phone and did something before he stood up and removed the cape.

He moved around the chair, stopping just before he reached me.

“Emery, is it okay if I hug you? I feel like you could really use one.

And if Michael knew you were this upset and I didn't offer you any kind of comfort, I think that would make him want to beat my ass even more.”

The image of Daddy beating him up made me giggle through my sobs as I nodded.

Darren wrapped his arms around me, keeping his arms high around my shoulders.

“It’s okay, Emery. Do you have any more clients?

” I shook my head as my sobs turned into sniffles.

Darren held me for a few more minutes while I calmed down.

He wasn't as comfy as Daddy, but I was so worked up, I appreciated his friendly comfort.

Darren patted my shoulder and stepped back. “There you go. Since you're done for the day?—”

His words were cut off when my phone rang, making me jump. “Sorry, lemme grab that real quick.”

Darren nodded and pulled out his phone as I ran to grab mine before the ringing stopped. My heart nearly stopped when I saw the caller ID for my apartment complex. “H-Hello, this is Emery.”

“Hi, Emery, this is Kyle from the leasing office. We just wanted to let you know that the renovations are done, and you are welcome to come back home at any time.”

My whole body felt hot and itchy, and my throat was tight with panic, but I managed to speak. “Oh, um, th-thank you.”

“You're welcome. If you have any more problems, please contact us. Have a nice day.”

“Y-You too.”

As soon as the line went dead, I crumpled to the floor. Panic seized me as I started sobbing in earnest, my whole body shaking. I thought I had more time, but my apartment was ready, and I still wasn’t sure if I could tell Daddy how I felt.

Darren's words from earlier made me feel better about Daddy caring for me, but even so, he wouldn’t want me moving in with him after only a week. There was no way, but even thinking about leaving and waking up alone, not wrapped in Daddy's arms, made me feel empty inside.

My body shook even harder when I felt Darren’s hand land on my shoulder. “Hey, Emery, I’m not sure what happened, but it's going to be okay, I promise.”

I looked at him, my eyes clouded with tears and snot running down my face. “I wan Dada.” My throat felt like I was choking on gravel as I wailed. “Pwease, need Dada.”