Page 53 of Daddy Devious

I’m wallowing in a pit of self-pity when the door to my nursery opens. I sit up, determined to greet Daddy with a bright smile to let him know how happy I am to see him.

But it isn’t Daddy. It’s Caleb, and the smile withers on my lips.

“What are you doing here? Where’s Daddy?”

Caleb stops beside my crib, one dark brow raising in a look that turns my tummy. “Your Daddy had an emergency thismorning. I suggest you get that attitude under control unless you’d like to start today the way you ended yesterday.”

He means a spanking, but I don’t care. Let him spank me. Maybe then I’ll get to see Daddy, even if it is just to get my bottom spanked again.

“Whatever,” I mumble, crossing my arms and turning my head so I don’t have to look at the Daddy imposter in front of me.

Instead of scolding me again, Caleb surprises me by laughing as he leans down to lift me out of the crib. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the crib, I see. Maybe a bath and a fresh diaper will help with that sour disposition.”

It does not help. Not in the least. The only thing it does is make me miss Daddy even more. In all my time here, he’s never once skipped our morning routine, even when he’s had a full day of meetings. And with every second that passes without him appearing, the ache in my chest grows.

By the time Caleb carries me downstairs, I’m on the verge of tears. At the bottom of the stairs, I wiggle in Caleb’s arms, doing my best to be set free so I can run to Daddy’s office. Maybe his emergency is over and he can at least feed me breakfast.

Unfortunately for me, all my wiggling earns me is a sharp swat to my thigh. “Be still, Victoria.”

“I don’t wanna be still! I want Daddy!”

“Oh my.” A familiar smoky voice stills my struggles instantly. “What’s this attitude from my sweet little Tori?”

“Auntie Cat!” Twisting in Caleb’s hold, I throw my arms out toward her.

With an indulgent smile, she takes me from Caleb, and I wrap myself around her the way I often do with Daddy. While she’s not quite as tall as him or Caleb, she’s very tall for a woman and I’ve often wondered what her workout routine is for her to be able to hold onto another grown woman so easily.

“There, there, little one,” she croons, bouncing me exactly like one might soothe a fussy baby. “What’s wrong?”

Suddenly, I’m very aware of how childish I’m being and it finally occurs to me to feel embarrassed by my actions. How can I explain to this gorgeous, sophisticated woman that I’ve been an absolute bitch toward Caleb all morning just because I’m missing my Daddy?

I can’t, so I opt for the next best thing. A little white lie. “I dunno.”

“Hmmm. Maybe some breakfast will help cheer you up. Perhaps at the cafe, before we start our girls’ day out?”

The idea of a day out with Auntie Cat brightens my mood immediately. “Shopping?” I ask, flashing the brightest, most hopeful smile I can manage.

Tossing her head back, Auntie Cat lets out a loud laugh. “Absolutely, my sweet girl. Breakfast, a little pampering at the spa, and then we can shop ‘til we drop.”

At the mention of the spa, I pull a face, prompting another laugh from Auntie Cat. “No worries, sweetheart. You are due for another wax soon, but your Daddy would not be happy with me if I robbed him of that particular duty. I was thinking we could get our nails done, and your Auntie Cat is in desperate need of a trim. My hair is getting a bit out of control these days.”

She looks perfect to me, but getting to participate in such Big girl activities with Auntie Cat is an unexpected treat, so I’m not about to argue. “Pink nails?” I ask instead, holding up my hand.

“Whatever color you want. Are you ready, sweet girl?”

“Yes!”

“All right. Let’s go get some food in your tummy.”

Tori

My girls’ day out with Auntie Cat is everything I dreamed it would be and more. At breakfast, she lets me choose whatever I want from the menu, a freedom I never enjoy when I’m out with Daddy. And after breakfast she cradles me and feeds me a bottle of her milk, pumped fresh that morning instead of the frozen and thawed supply I’m normally given. It’s delicious, and I fleetingly wonder what it might taste like directly from the source, but I’m too embarrassed to actually ask.

While I might be all in as Daddy’s Little girl, even just the thought of asking to breastfeed horrifies me enough to keep me from actually giving voice to the request.

When we finish with breakfast, she takes me to the spa where I got waxed when I first arrived. It’s a little scary at first, but knowing they’re only going to be painting my fingers and toes helps me relax, as does the foot massage Luna gives me during my pedicure.

If it weren’t for the fact that I’m sitting on a big, padded diaper, I could almost convince myself I’m a big girl and not a baby.

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