Page 4 of Princess Josie (Littleworld)

Chapter Four

Josie

I keep my face buried in Chase’s chest while he carries me out of the room. He moves fast. I can’t believe he seems to understand what I need. I’ve never met anyone who understood me.

I’ve also never met anyone who could touch me like this and not send me into a panic.

I’m actually clutching his shirt, and I’m wearing his jacket.

It’s all around me. It smells like him. I inhale deeply.

It calms me. Which is strange. I suspect it’s an expensive jacket.

It has a tag at the back of my neck, but Chase folded the neckline down a few inches, which has kept it off my skin.

“You can look now, princess. We’re in the locker room. I bet you have stuff in a locker, right?”

I peek out and look around. No one is in here.

When Chase slides me down his body to set me on my feet, he pulls his jacket around me more fully, covering me.

He understands. I keep thinking this over and over. It’s so shocking. I don’t know how to process it. I’m still shaking from anxiety.

Chase squats down in front of me, putting his head lower than mine like he did before with the lollipop. He slides his hands down my arms, not exactly touching me because my hands don’t even stick out of the bottom of the sleeves. “Which locker, Little one?”

Oh, right . I shake myself out of my stupor and point to the locker where I put my things. I didn’t lock it. I just tucked my stuff in there. No one would bother my street clothes and my small purse.

Chase opens the door, pulls out my bag, and carries it over to me. He sits on a bench next to me and takes out my street clothes before tucking my princess dress into the bag. “Can you sit on the bench for me, princess?” He pats the bench next to him.

I shuffle closer.

He sets his hands lightly on my hips. “May I lift you, Little one?”

I nod. It’s like I’m in a dream. A fairytale. It’s surreal. I love this feeling. I realize it can’t last forever, but I will never forget this night and the kindness this Prince Charming has shown me.

Chase sets me on the bench and then squats in front of me again. “Let’s get these shoes off, yeah?”

I hold out one foot and watch, mesmerized as he gently unbuckles the clear plastic to carefully slide the shoe off my foot. It feels so good to have my tootsies released. Besides being sticky, the shoes pinched me.

“I hate shoes,” I blurt out. I have no idea why. It just comes out.

“I bet you do. They aren’t very comfortable for most people, but special princesses like you probably prefer to go barefoot.”

I smile. My cheeks heat.

After he removes my shoes, he holds up my leggings. “Can I put these on over your shorts, Little one?”

I nod and watch, transfixed as he somehow manages to hold them open so I can stick my feet in without him touching me any more than absolutely necessary.

He told me his sister has sensory processing disorder. I bet she doesn’t like to be touched. I find I really don’t mind if Chase touches me. I feel a strange electric current going through me every time his fingers graze my skin. I sort of crave his touch.

He lifts me to my feet to pull the leggings up over my hips before holding up my sweatshirt next. “Let’s swap that huge jacket for this pretty pink sweatshirt. I bet it fits better, and it doesn’t have any scratchy parts.”

I can’t take my eyes off him as he removes the jacket and sets it aside. Maybe I should be embarrassed. My nipples are so hard, and they feel sensitive against my tank top. But Chase makes everything easy.

“Arms up, princess.”

I lift my arms and let him slide the sweatshirt over my head. In seconds, it’s in place. He doesn’t even mess up my princess buns. He thinks of everything.

After lifting me back onto the bench, he unfolds my socks. “Oh, smart girl. You have special socks without seams. My sister has these.” He looks me in the eyes. “Would you like Daddy to put them on for you?”

Daddy … I can’t believe this. It’s just not possible for me to comprehend.

Obviously he doesn’t mean he’s my Daddy.

He’s just a Daddy. “Yes, please.” If the kindest Prince Charming I’ve ever met in my life wants to help me get dressed, I’m not going to turn him down. I’m going to soak up every moment.

He has to touch my ankles, but he’s very careful and quick to get my socks on and then my slip-on sneakers. They don’t have shoestrings or Velcro or zippers. They just slide on. Plus, they’re pink.

“Thank you,” I murmur, knowing he’s run out of things to do for me. My time with him is almost up. I bet he’ll walk me to the door because he’s so kind, but then we’ll part ways, and things will go back the way they were before tonight.

Maybe next time I come to the club, I’ll be able to look him in the eye. Maybe he’ll smile and ask me how I’m doing. Maybe I’ll be able to respond. I hope so. But I’ll always remember this night for the rest of my life.

“How did you get here, Little one?” he asks as he picks up my bag.

“Uber,” I tell him. “My phone is in my bag. I’ll have them come now.”

He sets his hands on the bench on either side of me. “How about if you let me drive you home, princess?”

I stare at him. Is he serious? “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t have to, Little one. But I’d like to make sure you get home safe. As a Daddy, it makes me uncomfortable putting you in an Uber with a stranger.”

It makes me uncomfortable too, but not as much as driving does. That scares me far more, so I don’t do it.

“How about if you swap phone numbers with Misha at the front desk? That way you will have a buddy to check in with so someone knows you’re safe. Everyone should have a system in place with a trusted friend.”

I think about his suggestion. I don’t want to tell him I already have a system in place. I’m too embarrassed to tell him who it is. He wouldn’t understand. He would think I’m weird. “Okay,” I agree. This is the easiest response.

Chase picks up my bag and reaches out a hand for me. “Let’s get you home, Little one.”

When we get to the front desk, Misha eagerly agrees to swap numbers with me, and I find myself letting Chase enter her information in my phone before also sending Misha a text so she has mine.

Misha smiles warmly. She’s always very kind to me. Either she understands me on some level, or she’s just the sort of person who is kind to everyone. My friend Zia is always kind too. Both of them are club acquaintances though. I don’t see them outside of the Dungeon.

I didn’t see Zia after I first arrived. I haven’t even been here very long. I hope she’ll understand.

“Everything okay, Josie?” Chase asks, his brow furrowed. “Did you forget something?”

I turn my head, realizing I’ve been staring toward the club. “I forgot to tell Zia I was leaving.”

“I’ll let her know,” Misha says.

“Thank you. That’s very kind.” I meet her gaze. I don’t habitually look people in the eye. It often makes me uncomfortable. But I know it’s important. My counselor encourages me to do so. She says it will help me connect better.

I turn my gaze toward Chase and make eye contact with him next. I do feel more connected to him. I have no idea if it’s a good thing or not though. I certainly don’t want to be attached. He isn’t going to be in my life or anything. He’s just being kind.

Chase takes my hand again to lead me out the door. He holds my fingers loosely, never making any sudden movements.

When we get to his truck and he opens the passenger door, he turns toward me. “May I lift you up onto the seat, Little one?”

“Uh huh.” I find myself in the Littlest space I’ve ever been in. He brings something out of me I’ve never been aware of. A calmness is settling in around me. I don’t even mind him touching me, not even my hips as he lifts me into the cab.

As soon as I’m seated, he pulls the seatbelt across me, holding it out far enough that the cross strap doesn’t touch any part of me while he fastens it. Finally, he slowly lowers it across me.

I look down to see there’s some sort of padding attached to the seatbelt, all along the length. It’s pink. I stroke the soft cotton. “What’s this?”

“It’s a special padding that keeps the harsh edges of the belt from touching your neck or arms.”

“Why do you have it?”

“Because my sister has sensitivities, remember?”

Oh right. He mentioned that.

“She rides in my truck sometimes. She says the straps are too itchy. What do you think? Do you like it?”

I nod. I’m shocked. I’ve never seen one of these before. “I love it.”

Chase settles my bag on the floor below my feet and makes sure every part of me is tucked into the cab before shutting the door and rounding to the driver’s side.

He hands me his phone as he starts the truck. “Can you put your address in the GPS for Daddy, Little one?”

I enter it, noticing that it pops up on the dash also. Very safe.

“Perfect. Let’s get going then.” Chase pulls out of the parking lot and heads down the street.

I’m mesmerized. I can’t believe this is happening. The man I’ve secretly had a crush on for months is driving me home. He crawled under the table to help me get out of my itchy dress. He’s the kindest Daddy ever.

“You’re very quiet over there, Little one.” He glances at me before returning his gaze to the road. “Do I make you nervous?”

I shake my head. “No, Daddy.” I gasp as soon as the word comes out of my mouth.

He shoots me a smile. “I like the sound of that, Little one. I don’t like thinking you’re nervous though. I think you’re fibbing to Daddy.”

“Maybe a little,” I admit. “No one has ever been to my apartment. Are you going to come inside?” The idea stresses me. What will he think of me if he sees the inside of my apartment? I don’t think I’m ready for that.

“I’d like to at least make sure you get inside safely, Little one. You were pretty shook up at the club. Will that be okay?”

I don’t know. I hedge. “It’s kind of messy,” I lie.

He comes to a stop at a light and looks at me. “I don’t care about the state of your apartment, Josie. I care about you . I have for a while. I’m so glad you opened up to me tonight. I’d like to get to know you better if you’ll let me.”

I stare at him wide-eyed. “Okay.” I don’t know why that response slips from my lips, but his smile makes it worthwhile. He’s pleased. I like that.

When he pulls up outside my apartment building, my nerves return. What will he think? What will he say? What if he judges me?

Chase parks the truck, jumps down from his side, and rounds to my side before I have a chance to consider extricating myself from the seatbelt. I don’t need to because he does it for me and then lifts me out of the truck, sets me on my feet, and grabs my bag. “Lead the way, Little one.”

I rush forward and open the door to my building. I hold it open for him to pass and then lead him to the stairs. “Is this okay? I don’t like the elevator.”

“Of course, Little one. Do I look like I’m not in good enough shape to climb stairs?” he teases.

I giggle. The sound shocks me. He’s made me laugh several times.

It pleases him. He smiles every time. “I think you can make it. It’s just one flight.

My… I mean I think it’s safer on the second floor.

” I catch myself just before admitting my parents chose this second-story apartment.

That’s embarrassing. I’m twenty-two years old.

He doesn’t need to know my parents live close by and check on me ten times a day.

He doesn’t acknowledge my new faux pas. I would have been mortified if he had. “It definitely is, Little one. Smart girl.”

When we get to my door, I type my code into the keypad and open the door. I maybe should have simply taken my bag from him and shooed him away, but he seems determined to enter my apartment. So what if he thinks I’m weird. I shouldn’t care.

I’ll probably never talk to him again after tonight. It will be easier this way. Maybe if I give him a full tour of my space and open every drawer and closet, he’ll be mortified enough to leave quickly. Keeping my private life a secret from him will only prolong the inevitable.

I push the door open and step inside, letting him follow me.