Page 8 of Princess Josie (Littleworld)

Chapter Seven

Josie

The day drags. I go through my normal routine after Chase leaves, eating my breakfast and settling down at my desk to get to work. It’s hard to focus though. My mind keeps wandering back to last night and this morning.

I keep wondering if I imagined things. Did Chase Reynolds really help me get out of the club last night, tuck me into bed, and sleep on my couch?

“He was just being nice,” I repeat several times during the day. It’s hard to believe that lie though because he texts me at least once every hour. He tells me he’s thinking about me. He asks me how my day is going. He reminds me to let him know what foods I like.

I answer him every time. I smile every time too. I remind him I don’t like anything red. I like pizza but not with red sauce. Yes, I like chicken alfredo. Yes, I like salad but not tomatoes or croutons.

I jump in my seat when my mom calls at lunchtime.

“Hey, Mom,” I say as I push the button to put her on speaker. She calls me every day at noon. It’s nice because usually she’s my reminder to take a break and eat lunch. Today I’m nervous.

“Hi, honey. How’s your day going?”

“It’s… slow. I’m having trouble focusing,” I tell her. I’ve never been much of a fibber.

“Chase seemed nice. Do you like him?”

I rub my hands on my thighs. “Yes. I mean I think I do. Do you think I should?”

She chuckles. “I can’t make that kind of decision for you, honey. You’re a grown woman. I know your dad and I sometimes smother you. We worry about you. But we love you, and we just want you to be happy. Just be careful.”

“I will, Mom. Don’t worry. I’m not sure there’s even anything to worry about.

He says he’s bringing dinner over after he gets off work.

Do you really think he will?” I’ve always been an open book with my mom.

I wonder if that will change now. I sure don’t want to tell her that Chase helped me in and out of the bath last night or that he kissed me.

Those things seem private. I’m glad she doesn’t ask.

“He seemed very kind and sincere to me, Josie. I can’t see any reason to doubt him. Has he called you today?”

I giggle. “He’s texted me several times.”

“Then I bet he’ll be there. If you like him, it’s good to spend time with him. Give him a chance. If he can’t handle your sensitivities, he’ll figure that out quickly. Just don’t…” Her voice trails off.

“Mom, I don’t need a lecture about sex. Like you said, I’m twenty-two. I know about sex.”

“Okay, just be careful. Use protection. Just because you’re on birth control doesn’t mean you should have unprotected sex. Remember, when you sleep with a man, you’re sleeping with everyone he’s been with before you too.”

“Mom!” I gasp. We’ve never had this kind of discussion. I’ve never had a man in my apartment. I’ve never had a man even look at me. Or talk to me. Not like Chase did last night. And he’s a Daddy.

“Well, I’m just reminding you?—”

“ Mom , stop. I’m an intelligent, educated woman with a college degree. I know I have some quirks and I enjoy age play, but I’m not stupid.”

“I never said you were, honey. It’s just that you’re my child, and I worry about you.”

I know she worries about me. She and Dad both do. And I appreciate it. Usually. But this conversation is getting too weird. For the first time in my life, I feel like we’ve hit a topic I’d rather not discuss. Or maybe I only want to discuss it with Chase.

Except what am I thinking? I can’t discuss sex with Chase either. And he told me last night he didn’t want to have sex with me.

No, he didn’t. He told you he didn’t want to have sex with you last night .

“I have to go, Mom. I need to get my lunch and get back to work.”

“Okay, honey. Call if you need me.”

Somehow I don’t think I’ll be needing my mom tonight. I’m having dinner with Chase. It’s like a date. Is it a date? He’s bringing dinner to my house. Is that a date?

I know he’s a Daddy, but suddenly I wonder if he only sees me as a Little. Maybe he realizes I’m rather pitiful and just wants to dominate me. That would suck because I certainly see him as far more than a Daddy.

By the time Chase knocks on my door at six-fifty, I’m beside myself from pacing and fretting and wringing my fingers together. He texted me several times to let me know what time he would arrive and update me on the exact time. It was thoughtful.

I’m fascinated by the amount of knowledge he seems to have about my disorder. He said his sister also has sensory processing disorder, but it can look drastically different in two different people. Chase seems to get me more than anyone I’ve ever met.

I look through the peephole before unlocking and opening the door. “You’re here.”

He’s holding a pizza box and smiling. He’s also wearing jeans and a tight, long-sleeved, cream-colored shirt.

I notice it has no buttons which pleases me.

I’ve been thinking about the possibility of maybe leaning against him this evening, and every time I pictured it, I worried I might not be able to do so if he had buttons.

I hate that about me. I hate that I spent time worrying about my date showing up with buttons. I hate that I spent time wondering if this is a date or if Chase thinks of me in that way at all. Maybe he’s just a kind man who likes to take care of people. Maybe he sees me as a project.

“Josie?”

I flinch, realizing I’ve gone into my head and I’m still standing in the doorway, blocking his entrance. “Oh, sorry.” I step back and hold the door open wider.

He steps inside and shuts the door, his gaze heavy on me. “Are you okay? Second thoughts? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Would you rather our first date be somewhere public or at the club?”

I know my eyes go wide. “Is this a date then?”

“Yes, princess. This is a date. Unless you don’t want it to be.”

My shoulders relax. “Okay. I wasn’t sure.”

He sets the box on my coffee table and steps closer.

He lifts his hands slowly in front of me before cupping my face gently and tipping my head back.

“I couldn’t even focus at work today. All I could think about was spending the evening with you.

I couldn’t wait to hold you and kiss you again.

If that’s too fast for you, I can slow down, but this is definitely a date as far as I’m concerned. ”

I swallow. Relief floods me. “I thought about you all day too,” I admit. “And then I paced a lot.” Why must I be so honest?

“I’m sorry. I don’t want you to feel stressed. Tell Daddy why you were pacing.” His hands slide back to cup my neck as he inches closer, so close we’re nearly touching.

I lick my lips. “I wasn’t sure you would really come, and I wasn’t sure if you think of me as a woman or just a Little, and I was hoping your shirt wouldn’t have buttons.”

He smiles slowly. “If you’ll have me, I’ll come here every single day after work until you’re comfortable enough to come to my house instead.

Sometimes there’s an emergency at work that might delay me or make it impossible for me to get here, but I will always call or text you to let you know.

I’m a Daddy through and through, so I adore your Little, but I most definitely also see you romantically as a woman.

I want to nurture your Little most of the time, but I’d also like to earn the right to be your man too.

I hope you can see me like that and eventually you’ll want a physical relationship with me in the bedroom. ”

He glances down at his shirt and smiles. “I kind of figured you weren’t a fan of buttons. I can’t avoid wearing shirts with buttons while I’m working, but I promise to always change into another shirt when I’m with you.”

I stare at him. He’s too good to be true.

When he takes yet another step closer so our bodies are lined up and touching, I set my hands on his waist and smooth them around to his back.

I’ve never been in a position like this with another person.

Not just a man. No one. I don’t really hug my parents that much.

They know it’s uncomfortable for me, and they let me instigate our physical contact.

I at least lean into my mom for a pat on the shoulder every once in a while.

Melissa says it’s good to show my affection.

I’m not having any trouble showing affection right now. In fact, it feels good. Really good.

“You want me to come to your house?” This idea intrigues me. It should scare me, and in a way it is frightening, but also I’d like to see his space. I understand people better when I see their space.

“Yes, Baby girl. When you’re ready. I won’t rush you about anything.

Ever. When I come to your apartment, it’s a date.

A date doesn’t have to mean we leave the house.

This is a date. I know you’re more comfortable in your environment, so that’s what we’ll do for now.

When you’re ready, a date can be me picking you up and taking you to my house too.

You showed me everything in all your drawers and cabinets yesterday. I’ll show you mine.” He grins.

I smile in return. Sometimes I can’t read people and I think they’re making fun of me, but I know instinctively Chase is not. He’s teasing me, but he’s also partly serious. He wants to share his home with me.

“Now, I brought a chicken alfredo pizza that’s getting cold. I bet you’re hungry. Should we eat it?”

I smile, making no move to let go of him. “No red sauce.”

“Of course not. My Little girl doesn’t like red sauce.” He eases his forehead against mine.

I rise up onto my toes and kiss him right on the lips as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. I don’t know what I’m doing, so I don’t linger. It’s just a peck, but it sends sparks through my body.

I’m kind of embarrassed and surprised by my behavior, so my face heats, but Chase doesn’t pull away.

He continues to hold me, smiling broader. “I liked that, Baby girl.”

“I just…” I can’t even explain myself. I hardly know myself. I haven’t for about twenty-four hours.