Page 19 of Maddox

Maddox smiled softly at the sight of the teddy bear. "And who's this?" he asked, his voice warm and free of judgment.

I clutched Mr. Snuggles tighter, feeling both comforted and embarrassed. "This is...Mr. Snuggles," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've had him since I was little."

Maddox's smile widened. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Snuggles," he said warmly. "I'm glad Clare brought you along today."

His gentle acceptance made something inside me soften. I felt my shoulders relax slightly as I hugged Mr. Snuggles close.

"Would Mr. Snuggles like to help you color?" Maddox asked, his tone light and playful. "We could prop him up so he can watch."

A small giggle escaped me before I could stop it. "Maybe," I said shyly. "He always liked bright colors."

Maddox grinned. "Well then, we'd better make sure to use lots of bright colors in our picture. What do you think, Clare? Should we start with some reds and yellows?"

I nodded, feeling a spark of excitement. Carefully, I selected a bright red pencil and began to color, Mr. Snuggles propped up against my leg. As I focused on staying within the lines, I felt some of my anxiety start to melt away.

I finished the picture and at Maddox’s gentle encouragement, my hot chocolate. I realized in my bubble of coloring he’d been silent a while, and I looked up to find him watching me.

“I wondered if you’d like to see the rest of the house?”

I hesitated for a moment, but curiosity won out. "Okay," I said softly, still clutching Mr. Snuggles.

Maddox smiled warmly and held out his hand. I stared at it, and just as he began to drop it, I lunged forward and clasped it. He closed his large fingers around mine and just carried on as if nothing had happened, as if my heart wasn’t pounding so frantically, I could barely hear what he said. As if this wasn’t the first time I’d voluntarily touched a man in months. Even my brother seemed to know to keep his distance.

And after a few moments I decided I liked the feel of his strong fingers, and for a dizzying second, I wondered what they’d feel like somewhere else. That thought startled me so much I nearlytripped, would have if Maddox hadn’t been holding my hand. “Are you okay, princess?”

Princess?

I nodded because I couldn’t have found words if my life depended on it. Princess was a special word. I’d never been a princess, and it made my belly warm, and now that I’d thought about it, other parts of my body as well.

Little girl.That had been Blakeny’s name for me. Said with a sneer, or accompanying an order to do something impossible so he could punish me, but somehow princess felt special.

He led me through the house, pointing out different rooms—the kitchen, his office, a guest bedroom. Everything was tastefully decorated, warm and inviting without being overwhelming.

Then we reached a closed door. Maddox paused, his hand on the doorknob. "This is the playroom," he said gently. "It's okay if you're not ready to see it yet."

My heart raced. Part of me was terrified of what might be behind that door. But another part, the part that was starting to feel safe with Maddox, was intensely curious.

"I...I think I'd like to see it," I whispered.

As the room was revealed, I gasped softly. It was a playroom, but not like any I'd ever seen before. One wall was lined with bookshelves filled with children's books and stuffed animals. Another had a crafting area with paints, clay, and other art supplies. There was a cozy reading nook with bean bags and soft blankets, and even a small indoor slide. My eyes widened as I took in the princess daybed with the gauzy pink canopy, and what looked like…a changing table. I was glad my nervous squeak was silent.

My heart raced as I took everything in. It was beautiful, magical even—everything a Little girl could dream of. But it alsoterrified me. This room represented everything I'd been trying to suppress, everything I'd been afraid to want again.

"We don't have to go in," Maddox said gently, noticing my hesitation. "I’ve only just finished unpacking everything. I just wanted you to know it was here, if you ever felt ready."

I swallowed hard, torn between the urge to run and the desire to explore. "Did you...did you do all this for me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Maddox nodded. "I wanted you to have a safe space, if you chose to explore your Little side. But Clare, there's no pressure. We only do what you're comfortable with."

Tears pricked at my eyes. The care and thought he'd put into this room overwhelmed me. It was so different from Jeremy's cold, clinical "playroom" that had been more like a prison.

"Can we...can we just look?" I asked hesitantly.

"Of course," Maddox said warmly. "We can look at anything you'd like."

Clutching Mr. Snuggles tightly, I took a tentative step into the room. The carpet was soft under my feet, and the air smelled faintly of crayons and Play-Doh. I wandered over to the bookshelves, running my fingers along the spines, smiling at the copy ofThe Little Prince.

Without thinking I picked it up, and two of the larger books toppled and hit my hand as I didn’t pull it away fast enough. Maddox frowned, and gathered my hand in both of his, examining it carefully to check that I still had all my fingers attached. It hadn’t even hurt but I was speechless at the genuine concern on his face. He really cared.

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