“I don’t even know the names of princesses.” She leans into me, sniffling.
I lift her off the couch and settle her across my lap. Emotions well up inside me. “I think that one is called Elsa, but I don’t know many. We’ll have to learn them together.” I kiss the top of her head.
She slumps deeper into me. “They make all this stuff for adults?”
“Yes. Age play is a growing kink. The more people get over the unnecessary stigma, the more they join in. It’s a huge industry. You can get anything imaginable sized for an adult nowadays.”
She grips the material close to her heart. “I don’t know what to say.”
I lift the second package I brought over and set it on her lap. I feel significantly more confident about it now. “How about you open this one, and then we’ll get you down for a nap.”
She won’t release the nightgown, so she hands me the package. “You open it for me.” It’s hard for her to get a good grip with her right hand, and it probably hurts.
I take it and tear off the top before reaching in and pulling out a fluffy stuffed bear. I deliberated over this guy for longer than necessary before I bought him. I don’t want her to feel like I’m replacing Tedbear. But maybe she has room in her heart for two bears.
She stares at him for a long time before dropping the nightie into her lap and clasping onto him, bringing him to her cheek. “He’s so soft.” A sob escapes her, and she wraps her arm around me. “You’re going to make me cry all the time.”
I rub her back. “Is he okay? I thought you might like a new friend to sleep with. Tedbear is pretty tattered and fragile. Maybe he needs a place on a shelf somewhere so he doesn’t deteriorate further.”
She nods against me. “He’s one of the few things I kept and never showed Pete. Luckily that asshole never found him in my things. He might have burned him or something just to spite me. I pulled him back out after I got my own apartment, but mostly, I just settled him on the spare pillow so I wouldn’t hurt him any further.”
Relief fills me. “So this new guy is gonna stay?”
She nods. “I love him.”
I stand, lifting her in my arms and carrying her down the hall to our bedroom. She holds the nightie and bear, and she doesn’t argue when I stand her on her feet in the bathroom, strip her down to her panties, and pull the nightgown over her head. It fits perfectly.
I set the bear on the counter and guide her to the toilet, and she still says nothing when I pull her panties down and lift her onto the potty. Nor when she pees. Nor when I wipe her and pull her panties back up.
She’s precious and so fucking Little.
In minutes, I have her tucked under the covers with the bear clutched in her arms. I sit next to her and stroke her hair away from her forehead. “You’ll have to think of a name for that guy.”
“Mmm.” She holds him up. “Brownie.”
I turn him toward me and look him in the eyes. “What do you think? Is Brownie a good name?” I pull him closer to my ear, pretend to listen, and then smile. “He likes it.”
June giggles as she snatches him back and rolls onto her side. “I don’t remember when I last had a nap.”
“Well, now you can start a new habit. You’ll feel so much better if you nap after lunch.” We only had smoothies today, but I suspect she got more calories in that smoothie than she normally has for lunch. I’m personally going to make myself a huge sandwich as soon as she’s asleep.
She grabs my hand and holds it tight. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Little one.” I kiss her temple. “Rest. I’ll come check on you in a while.” I stroke her hair for a few minutes until she falls asleep, and it’s downright painful for me to leave her.
But I need to check-in with my team, and my stomach is growling. I need food. Man can’t live on smoothies, even if Little girls can.
After making a giant sandwich, I grab the plate and head to my office. The bedroom door is open so I can hear June if she needs me, but I don’t want to wake her with my phone calls, so I decide to hunt for the baby monitor I purchased.
Five minutes later, I quietly set the monitor on the nightstand. My girl hasn’t moved a muscle. She’s dead to the world. It’s hard to walk away again. I’d rather watch her sleep.
When I leave the room, I pull the door almost closed and return to my office. I’m sure there are dozens of things that need my attention, but I also know my team can manage things without me. By now, everyone in the office will be aware that June is in my life, even if they don’t know the entire story.
I touch base with Rachell, who’s got June an appointment with Dr. Starion for next week. Next, I call Mace.
He picks up quickly. “Hey, how’s June?”
“Doing well. We saw the ortho this morning. She’s relieved she gets to have a soft cast.”
