Page 56 of Daddy's Muse
“Pappa…” I murmured, resting my cheek against the soft plush of the bunny.
“Ja, lille prinsen?” he replied, voice soft but firm, taking a seat beside me, one arm around my shoulders, the other stroking my hair.
“I… I like this,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “I like… all of this. That you’re… taking care of me.”
His lips curved in a satisfied smile. “I know. You don’t have to do anything but be my little one. Let Pappa handle the rest.”
I closed my eyes, hugging the bunny tighter, and let myself snuggle into Pappa.
“I’ve been thinking—there are a few things I want to keep you safe from, and some rules will help.”
“Rules?” I murmured, not entirely sure what he meant. The thumb that had snuck its way past my lips without me even noticing slipped from my mouth as I shifted up slightly to look at him.
“Yes,” he said. “For one… no using the stove or oven while I’m not around. You’re tiny, and that stuff can hurt you more than anything else. I’ll cook, you’ll eat, and you’ll be safe.”
I nodded slowly. It made sense.
“Also,” he continued, brushing a loose curl from my forehead, “no walking outside alone for now. Even in daylight, I don’t want you worrying about what’s out there. We’ll go for walks together, or I’ll carry you if we need to. No wandering off. Never go near the shed at the edge of my property. It’s not safe for someone so small.”
I swallowed, the small lump in my throat making me blink. No one had ever cared this much about me—not really. Not enough to make rules meant only to protect me, not to boss me around.
“Anything else?” I asked quietly, almost afraid of the answer.
“Nap times,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Meals at regular times. And you get to stay in your pajamas or comfy clothes unless I say otherwise. That way, you’re cozy and I always know you’re warm enough.”
I nodded again, letting a small shiver of relief ripple through me. No one had ever done this for me before. No one had ever stood up for me like this, deciding what I needed even when I couldn’t or wouldn’t think to ask for it. My entire life had been about fending for myself, keeping my guard up, carrying too much weight alone. But now… now someone was doing the heavy lifting for me.
“You see?” Bodin murmured, his hand cupping my jaw as he leaned closer. “Everything I do, everything I set up, it’s for you. So that you can just relax and focus on being my perfect little boy.”
I leaned into his touch, my chest tightening in that familiar ache. “You… really mean it?”
“Every word,” he said, his eyes locking on mine.
Even as he outlined more things—no hot drinks without him nearby, no using sharp objects—I didn’t protest. Every rule was just another thread in the web of safety he was spinning around me.
I was small. I was vulnerable.
And Pappa loved me that way.
I curled back against him, hugging my new bunny, and whispered, “Thank you, Pappa.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” he murmured, pressing a kiss onto my forehead. “You just need to let me do my job.”
* * *
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Pappa called from the kitchen, voice light.
When I entered, he was leaning against the counter in the kitchen, arms crossed, watching me. The look he gave me made my stomach twist in that new, unfamiliar way—warm, magnetic, and slightly electric.
“Hey, little kanin,” he murmured as I approached. “Look at you…” His eyes ventured the length of my body.
I felt my cheeks heat up, and I hugged my arms around myself. “I… I’m ready for dinner,” I whispered, my voice barely carrying.
He shook his head, a teasing curve to his lips. “No, no. Don’t do that. Come here.” I froze as he stepped closer, tilting my chin gently with his fingers. “Look at me, baby. Don’t hide. Pappa’s allowed to admire you.”
His hands lingered longer than necessary, brushing my jaw and trailing down my shoulders as he guided me to the table.
Pappa sat down, patting his thigh. “Take a seat,” he purred.
