Page 254 of Daddy's Naughty List

“What about a kind of . . . fake tree house?”

“Fake?”

“Like a flat piece of wood, painted to look like a treehouse? And we could use it on stage during the reading of the book, too?”

“That could work.”

Lulu bounced her knees up and down, her enthusiasm infectious. "Yes! And we could put little stuffed animals on the roof, like squirrels and songbirds! Ooh, maybe we could put a wise owl on the roof, and somehow we could make it say things during the event? Maybe if we put a speaker inside it, it could introduce the story?”

Their laughter echoed through the lounge as they playfully debated the merits of talking rabbits versus wise old owls. Ben felt a lightness in his chest, a sense of pure joy that had eluded him for so long. Chuck was right. He liked himself around her. That’s what he’d been missing for so long. It wasn’t like Ben hated himself by any means. But he’d always felt like he had to be helping someone, doing something big and life-changing for humanity, in order to be a worthwhile human being.

Around Lulu, though? He felt like he was enough.

As the night wore on, they found themselves huddled close, sketches and notes scattered around them. Lulu's head rested on Ben's shoulder, her soft breaths tickling his neck. He savored the closeness, the trust she placed in him. But sadly, it was difficult to enjoy the moment, because he knew it was going to end.

Suddenly, Lulu lifted her head, her green eyes searching his face. "Daddy, is everything okay? You seem distant."

Ben's heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by her perceptiveness. He hesitated, the old walls threatening to rise, to shield him from the vulnerability of truth. But as he gazed into Lulu's eyes, he saw only compassion and understanding.

With a deep breath, Ben began to speak, his voice low and measured. "I . . . I haven't always been good at this, Lulu. Opening up, letting people in."

“Really? You seem good at it.”

He told her of his past relationship with Kayla, of the hurt that still lingered like a dull ache. The thing that hurt most of all, he explained, was that he never felt good enough for her. He spoke of his fear of making himself vulnerable, of discovering that he still wasn’t good enough for a partner. The words tumbled out, a cathartic release he hadn't known he needed.

Throughout it all, Lulu listened, her hand gently clasping his, her thumb tracing soothing circles on his skin. She didn't interrupt, didn't offer platitudes or empty reassurances. She simply held space for him.

As his words trailed off, Lulu squeezed his hand, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "Thank you for trusting me, Daddy. I know it's not easy, but I'm here for you. Always."

Ben felt a lump form in his throat, a swell of emotion threatening to overwhelm him.

He pulled her close, his arms encircling her petite frame, and pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head. "Thank you, babygirl. You have no idea how much that means to me."

As they held each other, the crackling of the fire and the distant sounds of the ranch fading into the background, Ben felt a shift within himself. A dawning realization that perhaps, just perhaps, he was ready to take a leap of faith, to open his heart to the possibility of something more.

“Lulu, would you like to take our relationship to the next level?”

She squirmed in his arms. “I would love that, Daddy!”

He felt heat surge in his chest. “Come on,” Ben said, heart pounding, “let’s head to my cabin.”

Chapter Ten

Ben

The walk back to Ben’s cabin was electric. He felt like a teenager, drunk on lust, giddy and desperate to spend time with his babygirl, eager to feel the smoothness of her skin, the taste of her tongue.

“Are you sure you want this?” Ben said, pausing by his door. “When we get into that room, sweetheart, I’m going to claim you. What that means for us in the long-term, we’ll have to see.”

“I’m sure, Daddy,” she said, nodding. “You’re going to claim mefor now. I promise you that’s enough. I’m living in the moment with you. I just want to enjoy this time. Right now.”

He looked at her beautiful face, those gorgeous eyes, and her full, pink lips. He could scarcely believe his luck. And yet, he wanted so much more than this moment. He wanted this moment to never end.

“I’m glad to hear it. Now, I’m going to take control, you understand?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“And I’m going to take everything I want.”

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