Page 63 of Daddy's Muse
Pappa stilled as he placed the knife he’d been using on the counter, the sound a little too loud in the quiet kitchen. “Back,” he repeated, like the word was offensive.
My throat tightened. “Back to campus. Classes, tutoring, my shifts at the diner… if I don’t show up, they’ll fire me. And I can’t just—”
“You can,” he cut in, his voice firmer now. “Colby, you’re still shaken. You can’t tell me you feel safe going back there. Do you?”
I opened my mouth, then shut it, chewing my cheek. The truth was… no. Just the thought of the dorm halls made me feel suffocated again. But still—
“I need my jobs,” I whispered, almost like I was trying to convince myself. “What if…” I swallowed hard. “What if you get tired of me? If you change your mind, and I’m left with nothing?”
His chair scraped back, and in the next second, he was kneeling in front of me, his big hands cradling my face. His expression was fierce and not entirely gentle. “Don’t youeversay that. I will never get tired of you. Do you hear me? I will never leave you without help.” His thumb brushed a tear I hadn’t even noticed slip down. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to cling to scraps anymore. Let me give you more than scraps. Let me give you everything.”
I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to so badly. “But we haven’t even been together for that long…”
“That doesn’t matter to me, Colby. All that matters to me is that you’re taken care of. Quit the diner at least,” he urged, voice softer now. “You don’t need to break your back for pennies. I’ll take care of you. Isn’t that what you want? Someone to finally put you first?”
I hesitated, then nodded slowly, a tremor running through me. “Well, yeah… but—”
“Please, baby. Working takes too much time away from us.”
“It just feels like a lot,” I said nervously. “I don’t understand what you’d get out of it—of paying for my stuff, of letting me live here… You deserve someone who can contribute to the relationship. I have nothing to give.”
Pappa frowned. “You give me all that I’ve ever wanted. I don’t know how to make you believe that, though. Please, tell me howI can prove it to you, baby. I’ll do anything. I would do anything to keep you here with me. Please, sweetheart.”
“I’m just scared, Pappa,” I whispered brokenly. “I’m so scared… because—because you’re like a dream come true. It doesn’t feel real.”
“Don’t be scared. I… I didn’t want to say this—I wanted to make it special for you. But, Colby… I love you. I know it’s fast, but baby, you’re it for me. I just know it. If it’ll help, I can promise that if we ever do break up, I’ll help you find a nice job and leave you with some savings. Just—please, stay with me.”
My breath hitched at his words. Helovedme. He actually—
“Pappa…” My voice cracked, tears stinging my eyes.
He kissed the corner of my mouth softly, then my cheek, then pressed his forehead to mine. “Shh, sweetheart, it’s okay. Just say yes. Quit the diner. Stay here where I know you’re safe. That’s all I want.”
The way he looked at me—it was desperate and pleading, but there was something steady underneath too, something that made my heart quiver. I’d never been anyone’s priority before. Never been someone’sfirst choice.
“I… I’ll quit,” I whispered, the words tasting both terrifying and relieving on my tongue. “And—and I love you too…”
Pappa’s exhale came out shaky, like he’d been holding his breath. His arms wrapped around me tight, pulling me into his chest. “That’s my good boy. Thank you, baby. You won’t regret it—I promise. Gods, I love you.”
My fingers curled into his shirt, clutching him like he was the only thing tethering me down. “But classes,” I murmured against him. “I can’t just stop school.”
“Of course not,” he soothed, kissing the top of my head. “But I checked, and your professors all have remote options. You don’t have to set foot on that campus until you’re ready. You can do it all from right here.”
I leaned back just enough to see his face, startled. “You… you looked into it?”
He smiled faintly, brushing my hair back from my forehead. “Of course I did. I’ve been thinking about what’s best for you. It’s my job as your Pappa.”
My chest tightened, heart aching. He’d thought about me—planned for me—before I even asked. Nobody had ever done that. “Pappa…” My voice cracked again, and I buried my face in his neck before he could see the tears threatening to spill.
His arms squeezed me close, his hand rubbing circles on my back. “I’ll keep you safe, keep you happy. That’s all I want. You believe me, don’t you?”
I nodded into his shirt, trembling. “Y-yeah. I do.”
“Good boy, such a good boy.” His lips brushed my ear, his voice dropping lower, warmer. “And good boys get rewards.”
A shiver ran down my spine. “R-rewards?”
His chuckle was soft, dark, vibrating against my skin. “Mhm. For listening to me. For trusting me.” His hand slid slowly down my side, lingering at my waist. “I’ll spoil you until you don’t even remember what it felt like to struggle.”
