Page 239 of Daddy's Naughty List

But as quickly as it came, the moment passed. Lulu withdrew her hand, her smile turning bittersweet. "Thank you, Sir. That means a lot to me."

Ben stood up and walked over to the small kitchenette in the corner of the meeting room. "Before you go, how about another drink to celebrate our progress?"

“I don’t think I could drink another coffee,” she replied. “I’d be bouncing off the walls.”

“Not a coffee,” he said. He grinned, holding up a colorful sippy cup. "I've got just the thing for a hardworking Little like you."

Lulu giggled, feeling a warm flutter in her chest at his playful gesture. "A sippy cup?” she said, trying to push away her embarrassment. “You're definitely in full Daddy mode now."

“Nothing wrong with that,” he returned playfully. “How about we getyouinto full Little mode?”

Why, oh why, was it so sexy when he said that?

He filled the cup with apple juice and handed it to her. As she took a sip, Lulu felt herself slipping into Little space, the world around her softening at the edges.

Ben watched her with a gentle smile. "You know, your whole face lights up when you talk about being Little. It's beautiful to see."

Lulu blushed, looking down at her feet. "It's still new to me, being able to express this side of myself."

"Have you ever been regressed, Lulu?" Ben asked, his voice low and soothing.

She shook her head. "No."

Ben leaned in closer, his eyes locked on hers. "Would you like to be?"

Lulu’s breath caught in her throat. Before she could answer, Ben reached out and gently wiped a drop of juice from her lower lip with his thumb.

Without thinking, Lulu kissed his thumb, a feather-light touch that sent sparks racing through her body.

Ben's eyes darkened with desire. "You don't know how much I want to lean over and kiss you right now."

"Then do it," Lulu whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

Ben closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. When he opened them again, they were filled with a mix of longing and regret. "I can't," he said softly. "I think we had better stop there, don't you?"

Lulu nodded, a lump forming in her throat. She knew he was right, but it didn't make the ache in her heart any less intense. “Yes, Sir,” she said. “We work together. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Plus, you’re not really into me. This is just some sort of . . . festive fling.

With a final, bittersweet smile, she turned and left the meeting room, the sippy cup clutched tightly in her hand.

Back in her cabin, Lulu flopped onto her bed, hugging Flopsy close to her chest.

Had that really just happened?

It had felt like they were going to kiss.

And then they just . . . hadn’t.

"I have to focus on the carnival and my book," she said firmly, trying to convince herself as much as her stuffed companion. "He doesn’t want me. I’ve got to accept it."

She sat up, determined to pour her energy into creating a magical experience for the ranch's guests. Yet, as she settled down to sketch out more ideas, Lulu couldn't shake the feeling that her resolve may not hold for long.

Chapter Six

Ben

He’d made a stupid mistake touching her lip like that. He’d been pushing it with the sippy cup. It had felt dangerous at the time.

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