She gasped as he reached behind her, fingers skimming her back as he unhooked her bra.
The straps slid down her arms, and for a moment, she felt the flicker of embarrassment—felt herself teetering between her usual mindset and something softer, something deeper.
But King didn’t leer, didn’t gawk. He simply folded her bra neatly and set it with the rest of her clothes before reaching for her pajama nightie.
Ella stared at the soft, frilly fabric, her stomach flipping. It was one of her favorites.
“Arms up, baby.”
Her hands trembled slightly as she lifted them, and when he slipped the nightie over her head, the fabric fell around her, brushing against her bare skin like a whisper.
She swallowed hard, her nipples pebbled and aching. He’d seen her breasts and had acted like a gentleman. Like a Daddy.
Ella’s breath came out in a shudder.
King’s presence, his touch, his voice—it was all so careful, so steady. She felt small, the tension in her body melting away while standing in her nightie and panties in front of him
And that’s when it happened.
That familiar, floaty feeling settled over her, warm and consuming. Her limbs felt lighter, her thoughts quieter. The grown-up worries, the insecurities, the doubts—they all started to fade, replaced by something soft and safe.
She blinked up at King, her fingers curling into the hem of her nightie as she swayed slightly on her feet.
“You okay, Little one?” he asked, his voice a hushed murmur. “Think I need to get you a lovey to hold in your hand when you feel fidgety.”
Ella nodded slowly, feeling small, feeling so incrediblyLittle.
King reached out, running his fingers gently through her hair before cupping her cheek. His thumb brushed her skin, grounding her, anchoring her.
“Yeah,” he murmured, tilting his head as he studied her. “I think I’m gonna have to start tucking you in every night, baby.”
Ella bit her lip, her heart fluttering. She really liked the idea of that.
TWELVE
KING
Fuck, her bed was small.
King sat on the edge, his large frame making the twin-size mattress dip as he watched her snuggle deeper under the covers. She looked so soft, so utterlyLittle, her long lashes fluttering as she peeked up at him through heavy lids. Her stuffed bunny was tucked under one arm, her nightie slightly oversized on her petite frame, making her look even more delicate.
He reached down, smoothing the blanket over her before his voice dropped to a gentle murmur.
“Do you have a paci, Little one?”
Ella’s cheeks burned pink, and her fingers twitched as they rested against the blanket. Slowly, she lifted a hand, pointing at the nightstand.
King followed her gaze, pulling the drawer open. Inside, there was a neat row of pacifiers in a variety of soft pastels decorated with tiny designs—polka dots, rainbows, bunnies. Of course, she would have a bunny pacifier. Something about seeing them nestled in the drawer, knowing she used them, maybe even needed them, made his chest tighten with warmth.
He picked one up, a pink pacifier with a small, white plastic bow on the front of it, and held it out to her.
She hesitated, her blush deepening as her fingers curled around it. For a second, she looked like she might change her mind, but then, after a shallow breath, she brought it to her lips and slipped it into her mouth.
King swallowed hard, watching the way her lips closed around the silicone.
Perfect. So damn perfect.
His hand reached up, brushing a few strands of hair from her face before tucking her bunny closer into her chest. “Sleep, baby,” he murmured. “I’ll text you in the morning. I want to see you tomorrow.”