Page 117 of Ride With Me

Whoops. That’s a bad word.

“I like calling you Daddy,” I confess quietly, toying with the tab of my drink. “I’ve, um, never done this before. Had anyone to call Daddy, I mean.”

“Hey,” he soothes, “you’re young, Bear. You’ve got a lifetime to explore your kinks. But I’m honored you’re starting with me.”

The words confuse me a bit, but I let them go. I don’t feel like being Little is a kink thing for me. It’s just who I am 24/7. I can pretend to be a functioning adult when it counts, but when I’m comfortable being myself? I prefer stuffies, blocks, cartoons, and pacifiers…and not as part of a sex game or because it arouses me (though Idosometimes do naughty things with my stuffies).

Maybe for Vince it’s different. Maybe he’s a scene Daddy and he’s happy to play for a night or two, but for him it is about kink more than it’s about caretaking.

Thinking so is saddening, because I’d like the chance to have him for longer than a night. I want to introduce him to my stuffies, and I want to play pirates with him and ask him to help me build a super tall tower out of blocks.

And maybe…maybe I’d like to do the kinds of naughty things with him that I’ve been doing with my stuffies. My tiger, Sir Roars-A-Lot, could probably use a break.

Oblivious to my thoughts, he asks, “So, are you a student? Do you work?”

“I graduated college in spring. I, um, I’m a programmer and I work from home.”

Even though know I’m good at it, I’m still embarrassed that I’m a stereotypical computer geek who hides in his room all the time. I don’t have many friends and I’ve chosen the most antisocial job in the world.

Daddy gives a low whistle. “That’s impressive,” he says, and I feel butterflies again. “I’m just a doctor.” He snores loudly.

I can’t help bursting into laughter. “That’s not boring! It’s smart and kind! You help people!” I can imagine him looking all serious in a lab coat, and my tummy flips.

“I do like helping people, yeah.” Leaning back in his chair, Vince smiles at me again. “So…what do you do for fun?”

I tell him about playing with toys and building Lego, and he gets really enthusiastic when I mention my Death Star kit. We talk for ages, moving on from the topic of Lego to movies and then our favorite TV shows. But, when I start yawning, Vince stands and offers me his hand.

“I think I’ve kept you out late enough,” he says, and I can’t help leaning into him as he tugs me up out of my chair.

I’ve never really had anyone to cuddle with other than my stuffies, and his embrace feels amazing. I never want it to end.

“Oh, you’re a real snuggle bug, aren’t you?” Daddy teases and my face flames, so I press it into his chest.

“Come on, let’s get you into an Uber home, hmm? Will you be able to stay awake for that?”

His concern adds to that glowy, gooey feeling inside me. “I’ll be fine, Daddy.” I glance up shyly, “If you give me your number, I can let you know when I’m home safe?”

He doesn’t even try hiding his pleased smile before he pulls out his phone and asks for my number instead, texting me immediately so we have each other’s details. Then he orders an Uber and walks me out through the front gate to wait with me.

It’s been a magical night, even though we didn’t do much other than talk. I’ve never felt as comfortable with anyone as I have with Vince, and I don’t know how to tell him that I want to explore that some more.

Thankfully, I don’t have to.

“I’ve had fun,” he says as my Uber pulls up to the curb. “Promise you’ll text me, Baby Bear?”

“I promise.”

“And if I said I want to see you again?”

I’m pretty sure he can hear my heart beating loudly, because my blood is thundering in my ears. “I’d like that, Daddy.”

He opens the rear passenger door, making sure I’m settled before he presses a soft kiss to my forehead. His beard tickles the skin there, and I giggle quietly. “See you soon, then,” he says, and I nod, not trusting my voice.

Then he closes the door. The car pulls away from the curb, but I turn in my seat to watch Daddy waving goodbye until the darkness of the night swallows him up.

CHAPTER 3

VINCE

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