Page 49

He held out his hand to her and she took hold. She was really happy that Tobias was here with her. But she couldn’t help but look to her other side, almost as though she expected him to appear.

Because the thing that would make this better would be having Jenner with her.

But she had to stop thinking about that. Because he wasn’t with her.

“You’ve dated Littles before?” Immy asked.

“Yep. A few.”

You cannot be jealous. You asked him the question. He’s only answering it.

Part of her really wanted to ask for their names, track them down, and teach them that he belonged to her.

He doesn’t belong to you.

Sheesh. What was going on with her?

They walked through the tunnel-like entrance, and she studied the toys in the cases.

“Do you know how young you regress, Cherry?” he asked.

“That would be a negatory,” she replied. “Ooh, look at that toy! It’s a strawberry and a puppy, you roll it one way. Strawberry. Roll it the other way. Puppy! I like! I like!”

“Hmm. I would say maybe toddler.”

“Huh?” What was he talking about now? Eh. She didn’t have time to care. She was too busy. They stepped out into a large, indoor playroom.

Holy unicorn poop.

This place was epic! A squeal of excitement escaped her. Whoa. Where had that even come from?

She didn’t know. Didn’t care. There was so much that she wanted to do. She wanted to play on the slide, no, she wanted to go on the swing, wait there was a merry-go-round too.

“Merry-go-round! Slide! Swing!” She darted back and forth, unsure where to go next.

“Whoa, Little girl. Calm down,” he said, grabbing hold of her around the waist. He picked her up, but her feet kept moving, as though she was trying to run through the air.

“No, no, Daddy! Put me down!” she yelled.

Then she froze.

Oh. Cupcakes.

Tobias let himself smile for a brief moment as she called him Daddy. Maybe it was a bit premature for him to feel so happy about that. And perhaps he was even being the slightest bit manipulative in bringing her here.

But he didn’t give a fuck.

He wanted her to see him as a Daddy.

As her Daddy.

He wanted her to trust him with all of her. But most of all, he wanted her to be comfortable with her Little. To be able to embrace her Little.

Which is just what she was doing.

And man, he felt about a hundred feet tall being able to give her this.

He turned her around and cupped her chin in his hand. “You trust me.”

“I . . . I . . .”

“You. Trust. Me.” He said the words slowly and firmly. It wasn’t a question.

She trusted him.

“Yes. I trust you.”

“Then trust me with everything.”

Her cheeks were red. “I didn’t mean to call you Daddy.”

“You gave me that. That’s fucking amazing and it’s special. Doesn’t matter what you meant to do, it’s what felt right in the moment. And I liked it.”

“You did?” she whispered.

“Don’t say anything I don’t mean.”

“I, um, but we’re not . . . I mean, you and I aren’t . . . ”

“We don’t have to be,” he told her. “We can just be friends. But we can also be more.”

Her eyes widened but he was growing tired of slow and delicate.

It was time to make a move.

“You . . . are you saying that you’d want that?” she asked. “A relationship . . . with me?”

“Don’t need to sound so shocked by that, sweetness,” he said to her.

“Any man would be fucking lucky to have you. Few men would be worthy. I’m not, but I want to be.

Give me all of you, Immy, give me that softness inside, give me your Little, the one you protect fiercely, and I will take over that job for you.

I will make sure that no one hurts you or her ever again. ”

She sniffled, tears filling her eyes. “I don’t . . . I’m not sure . . . I just can’t.”

“You don’t want me?”

“I do. I just have some problems.”

“Jenner.”

She closed her eyes and nodded.

“You love him.”

“Yes. I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, sweetness, don’t be sorry. Shh. Shh.” He picked her up in his arms, holding her cradled against his chest. He walked over to a sofa and sat with her on his lap.

She melted into him.

“Don’t be sorry,” he repeated.

“But I am! Because I’m so messed up!”

“How are you messed up?” he asked.

“Because I want you and I want him. I shouldn’t want you both! That’s messed up.”

Ah, fuck.

Could he eventually get her to stop thinking about Jenner? Yep. Might mean he’d have to play dirty.

But would that be in her best interests?

Possibly not.

Did that mean he was going to do the right thing and step aside?

Fuck. No.

Tobias wasn’t a good guy. He couldn’t just let her go.

Which meant he was left with two choices. Force her away from Jenner . . . or learn to share.

Christ. Neither choice was a good one.

Although part of him was starting to see the benefits of having another man to help take care of her. She needed a lot of care and attention.

Not that he couldn’t give that now but what about when he went back to his real job with Alejandro? Who would ensure that she was safe and protected? That she ate and drank and took care of herself?

“See what I mean?” She leaned back to glance up at him. “I’m messed up.”

“It’s not messed up,” he told her firmly. “It’s how you feel.”

“But it’s not normal or fair. This is real life, not some fairy tale,” she told him.

“Although it’s not like Jenner wants me.

Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. That made it sound like I’ll take you because Jenner doesn’t want me.

I didn’t mean it like that. I meant that I don’t know why I’m angsting over him when he doesn’t want me. ”

Fuck.

Was this a test?

It had to be a test, because he knew that he could sway her right now into his arms. And that he could put a wedge between her and Jenner.

He opened his mouth to do just that, then shut it again.

Fuck. It.

“Think you’re wrong about that.”

“Wrong about what?” she asked.

“Jenner wanting you.”

“I’m not. I kissed him and he pulled away from me. He avoided me for ages afterward.”

What a dumb fucking bastard. Maybe Tobias didn’t have to do anything and Jenner would create that wedge for him.

And how happy would Immy be with that?

Fuck. Was he turning into a better man? Was she changing him? He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

“I want you, Immy. I get that you can’t commit to that right now, that you’ve got to sort out shit in your head. So all I’m asking is that you don’t say no. Not right now. See where things go.”

“Is that not . . . is that not using you?” she whispered.

God. She was too fucking sweet.

“Not if I say it isn’t.”

“It still feels wrong . . . to have feelings for two men. You are enough. It’s wrong to want more. I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

He had to hide his smile, not wanting her to think that he was laughing at her. But he had no intention of letting her go. Ever. The only way for her to hurt him was by walking away.

And that wasn’t even an option.

“Don’t worry about that. Although I am going to want one thing right now.”

“What’s that?” she asked breathlessly as he cupped the back of her neck and leaned down so his lips were just inches from her.

He couldn’t resist kissing her. Not any longer. He’d been a fucking saint waiting for this long.

“A kiss,” he told her before his lips brushed hers.

Then her mouth parted beneath his and he took full advantage, his tongue sliding into her mouth to play with hers.

Fucking hell.

He hadn’t thought this through, had he? Because now his cock was hard and pushing against his jeans. Tobias forced himself to draw back before he took this too far.

“Wow,” she said.

There was no artifice to this girl, she didn’t play games. And he found himself smiling as he ran his thumb over her wet lips.

“Just as I thought. As sweet as candy.”

“I did okay then?” she asked shyly.

He didn’t know how much experience she had, but he was guessing not much. “Better than okay. You were perfect.”

He liked that she didn’t have much experience, it meant that he could teach her just what he liked.

Which, if they were alone, would probably involve her on her knees, sucking his dick.

“But that isn’t what we’re here for,” he said reluctantly. “There’s only one thing you need to do.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Trust me to take care of you. Especially to look after your Little. Have some fun right now. Can you do that?”

Immy thought about his words for a moment. She was still buzzing from that amazing kiss.

Could she do that?

She wasn’t sure. All of her thoughts were getting to her. They were overwhelming and even her handbag M&Ms were failing to cheer her up. She’d gone through three tubes in the last two days.

Jenner wouldn’t be impressed if he found out.

But he wouldn’t find out.

And what was a girl to do when he’d taken her candy jar?

She pushed thoughts of Jenner out of her head. Tobias had shown time and again that he was here for her. Sure, he was supposed to be acting as a sort of bodyguard for her, but it was more than that.

Could she let go with him?

She trusted him.

She definitely wanted him.

And she wanted this. To let her Little out. To forget about her worries for a while.

“I want to try.”

“Such a brave fucking girl.”

“You really have to do something about your swearing, though.”

“Told you. I need a subscription rate.” He booped her nose and set her on her feet. “But you are my brave girl. Do you want to go play?”

She nodded shyly.

“You want me to play with you?”

“You play?” she asked, surprised.

He shrugged. “For you, Cherry, I’d do anything.”

A smile filled her face. “You’re a good guy, Tobias.”

“Now that’s something I’m definitely not,” he told her. “But for you, I want to be a better man. Never thought that would happen.”

“Does it upset you?” That was the last thing she wanted.

“No, babe. Nothing about you could ever upset me. Oh, and you want to call me Daddy, you go right ahead. Although I do prefer Papa.”

“Papa,” she repeated. “I like Papa.”

“That’s a good girl. Let’s go play.”