Page 7 of Daddy's Firm Hand

His handsome face was the picture of sincerity. As I left, he took my hand and shook it.

His skin was smooth and warm, and my hand felt small in his. I had a sudden, strange urge to throw myself at him, let him hold and protect me. But I didn’t. Instead, I just smiled a nervous smile and walked back to my desk.

It was hard to believe that I deserved all this. Had David really felt drawn to me from the very first time we met? I wasn’t that special, was I?”

The rest of the day passed in a haze. I barely spoke to anyone.

That evening, I found myself curled up on my couch, laptop balanced on my knees, chamomile cooling on the coffee table. The soft glow of the screen illuminated my cozy apartment as I delved into researching caregiver/little dynamics. My heart raced with each click, as articles, videos, and forums filled with shared experiences opened before me.

As I read others' stories, I felt a warm sense of belonging flood through me. There were adults like me who found joy and relief in embracing their 'little' side. It was as if the words on the screen were speaking directly to my soul, allowing me to finally understand a part of myself I had kept locked away for so long.

"Could this be what I've been missing?" I whispered to myself, my fingers hesitating over the keyboard. Doubts and fears still lingered in the back of my mind, but they were slowly being overshadowed by a newfound curiosity and excitement.

With every word, I felt the walls I'd built around my heart begin to crumble. And as I continued down this rabbit hole of self-discovery, I knew that no matter how frightening or uncertain this journey may be, the path to understanding my true self was one I needed to take.

Chapter 3

The next morning, Ididn’t waste any time. I didn’t even send a message.

As soon as I got into work, I walked straight to David’s office and knocked three times.

Eyes were on me, but I didn’t care.

I knew that people would be gossiping about me.

Janet, my neighbor, had quizzed me about my relationship with David. I’d said nothing was going on and that we were just talking about my performance. She’d dropped it, but I knew Janet, and it was more than likely that she was chatting to other workers about it behind my back.

I put it out of my mind as I waited for David to respond. It didn’t take long.

“Come in," his deep voice beckoned from within.

I pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside. The office looked different than I remembered - warmer somehow, more inviting. Soft light filtered through the partially drawn blinds, casting an intimate glow. A vase of fresh flowers adorned the coffee table, their delicate scent perfuming the air.

David rose from behind his desk, a genuine smile gracing his chiseled features as his eyes met mine. "Candy, I’m so glad you’re here. I made a couple of changes this morning, so that you might be a little more comfortable in here. In case you decided to come by." He gestured to a cozy seating area, indicating plush armchairs arranged around a funky table.

I nodded, not quite trusting my voice, and followed him over. As I sank down into the buttery leather, I couldn't help but notice how the seat seemed to envelop me like a comforting hug. David took the chair across from me, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

“So?” he asked. “Did you do any research last night?”

I nodded. “I did. It was interesting.”

“I remember the first time I looked into age play,” he said, steepling his long, strong fingers. “It felt like I was coming home.”

I felt a flush of happiness in my chest. “That’s kinda how it was for me. I had no idea that this whole scene existed. To see so many people so happy was really nice.”

“I’m glad.”

“I think . . . I want to explore this stuff with you. Unless you’ve changed my mind.”

“I don’t really change my mind. Not my style.” His smile was infectious.

“I figured as much.”

“I’m that transparent?”

“No. Not at all. You’re just a super-confident, successful man. I get the impression that you probably think things through a lot, then commit.”

“You’re very right. Now, Candy, I want you to know how much I appreciate your openness to exploring this with me. I will do everything in my power to win your trust, little one."

---