Page 34 of Daddy P.I. 3.0

“I’m proud of you for being a little wonder. For making such an effort to give Olivia every advantage as she starts her life with us. For loving her already even though we haven’t met her yet.”

Emily’s eyes gloss. “Is it bad that I love her already? Maybe it’s too soon, Daddy?”

I kiss the tip of her nose. “It’s not too soon. I love her already, too. It’s not about biology, baby doll. It’s about us getting ready to be her parents. It’s about our hearts making room for her, welcoming her into our family.”

Emily blinks as rapidly as she nods. “I do feel that. I feel like she’s part of our family.”

“I can tell. Thank you, baby. This means a huge amount to me.”

Her smile breaks through. “That video of her with Max and Mr. De Leon got you in the feels, didn’t it?”

“So much. So, so much. I’ll warn you in advance that I might get a little emotional tonight.”

Her smile widens into a grin. “It’s manly to cry, Daddy.”

“Hmm, I must have missed that day in Masculinity 101.”

“Well,Ithink it’s manly to cry. Anyone who says different is a poopy-head and you shouldn’t listen to them.”

“Good to know, sweetie. Good to know. I still might try to control myself in front of Manny, Max, and Myles. I think they might have missed that class as well. But just know that even if I’m quiet, I’m feeling a lot.”

“We can share feels when we get home.”

“That’s a deal. Manny should be here in twenty minutes. Can I help pull things together to take in the car?”

“Just the baby seat. It’s in the closet under the stairs on the high shelf if you could get it down. I have everything else packed. I’m going to make a bottle to take with us now that the milk’s arrived but otherwise, I’m ready.”

I kiss her forehead. “You really are a little wonder.”

She beams and, when I release her, skips off through the great room toward the kitchen. We may not have as much Daddy-little time after tonight but I plan to make the most of it. My little wonder deserves a big reward.

I find the car seat and leave it by the door. Then I head upstairs to tell Mac and Brenna we’re setting off before I stop in our bedroom to pick up the book I’ve been reading to Emily. We’ve got a drive ahead of us to the private airstrip where De Leon’s landing. Manny volunteered to take us in his limo, so I’ll have time to read Emmy a story or two. We recently finished Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I only learned the whitewashed versions when I was a kid, so the bloodthirsty originals were a surprise. Then we moved on to Angela Carter’sBook of Fairy Tales. They’re no less bloody than the Brothers’ Grimm stories but they’re funnier and dirtier. I’ll admit I’m more engaged by Carter’s tales.

I pack the book and pull on a sweater. It’ll be dark by the time we get to the air strip and the nights are cold now. I consider Emmy’s side of the closet for a moment. These adorable but slightly macabre, pieces have been sneaking into her wardrobe. I noticed a new one recently: a black sweatshirt with a cartoon kitty embroidered on the front in hot pink. The kitty was missing one ear and its eyes were Xs, like they’d been buttons but the buttons fell off. Underneath, pink glitter letters spelled out: “Perfectly Imperfect.”

Which is my baby doll to a T.

I find the sweatshirt, fold it over my arm, and pad downstairs to meet my perfectly imperfect little girl.

She’s set a duffel bag by the door. It’s bulging with baby supplies: soft blankets, spare diapers, a fresh onesie, a funny, armless sleeping bag that Emily’s friend Gracie swears by. I pop the book and sweatshirt into the top of the bag and wait for my little girl. She’s only a minute or two, rushing in soft-footed, dark curls bouncing, eyes bright. She’s wearing what I dressed her in today: black tights, a pink plaid, pleated mini-skirt, black top with corset lacing on the bodice and sleeves. She’s adorable in everything, anything but her schoolgirl look kills me. I’vebeen half-hard all day. By the time we pick-up Olivia and return home, it’ll be close to Emily’s bedtime but she’s getting such a fucking before we sleep.

I let her tuck the insulated bag with the bottles in it into the duffel before I open my arms. She throws herself into them the way she always does. I lift her onto my chest and hold her there so we’re nose to nose, her feet dangling.

“Wolfy-Daddy will be making an appearance at bedtime.”

Her eyes round, pupils expanding. “He will?”

“Indeed. He’s going to bite all these laces off you.” I shift her in my arms so I’m holding her with one arm, fumble for her hand, lift it to my face and snap my teeth at the ribbons dangling from her wrist. “And then he’s going to bend you over and spank your pussy for being such a mighty temptation.”

Emily shivers and stares.

“And then he’s going to eat his Little Red Riding Hood all up.”

“Including her bottom?”

Ah, is someone asking for a rimming? Emily’s slowly getting past her fears about anal sex but remains hung up about it being messy. After talking about it with both Niall and Warrin, I got some dental dams and have been using them to rim her without the kind of extensive clean-out we did the weekend of the collaring ceremony. But she hasn’taskedfor it.

I rub my nose against hers. “Yes, including her little rose.”

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