Page 21 of Make Believe

I rub his back and kiss his now-damp hair. “Would you like to see your presents?” I ask.

He leans back and looks at me in surprise. He’s barely shorter than me, even if he is smaller. “Presents?” he asks with hope and excitement in his voice.

I chuckle. “If I’d known it would be that easy to cheer you up, I would have led with that. Come on.”

I steer him back into the bedroom until he’s standing in front of the closet, which I then open with a flourish. It was empty before, so it was easy for me to hang up all the new pretty garments I ordered.

In the past, I’ve shopped for sugar babies if I want them to wear something specific for our rendezvous. I’ve never bought a series of outfits for one person, especially not a man. But it goes to show how times have changed because one of the online lingerie stores that I particularly like had entire ranges for people without breasts and with cocks. I was able to find a few dresses as well, and then accessories were easier. The jewelry is in the drawers of the dressing table. We can look at that later.

Considering Kiki is only here for a couple of days, it was probably overkill, but I don’t care. In fact, the idea that he’ll take these presents home with him and I’ll be able to continue dressing him from afar fills me with a certain possessive satisfaction.

“This is all for me?” he asks in a small voice.

I stand behind him and kiss his neck. “Yes, beautiful. I might be new to the concept of playing with dolls, but from what I understand, dressing them how you want is a big part of that. While you’re here, I’d love to see you wearing my gifts. They show me you’re mine.”

“Yes, Daddy,” he says softly.

A raw satisfaction seeps through me like warmth from a fire. “Good boy. I got you this to sleep in.” I reach into the closet and remove a hanger that’s holding up a pale pink silk negligee.

“Oh, Daddy, it’s perfect,” he says with a timid excitement. He looks over his shoulder and beams at me. He could be faking his reaction, of course. But I can’t help but feel like he really does like it.

With a nod, I slip the scrap of material from the hanger so I can put it back in the closet. “Lift your arms,” I say, and hecomplies immediately. The nightdress glides over his beautiful body, fitting even better than I’d hoped. The towel naturally falls to the floor.

“There we go,” I say, satisfied. “Now, are you hungry?”

He shakes his head. “Just sleepy, Daddy.”

I’m tempted to put my foot down and insist he eat something. Instead, I decide to make snacks readily available in the kitchen. I have a substantial breakfast planned in any case, having already anticipated that we were going to work up an appetite.

“All right, then,” I say, placing my hand on the small of his back and leading him back toward the bed.

I pull off the blanket that did its job and protected the duvet from our mess, push aside some of the throw pillows, then yank back the covers so he can get comfy. As he lays his head down, I sit beside him, pulling him to snuggle against my side.

“There we go,” I say, content at last that I’ve seen to my doll’s needs. “I’ll stay until you fall asleep, okay, Kiki?”

For a while, I assume he’s not going to reply. That’s okay, I wasn’t expecting him to. In fact, I was pleased that he didn’t fight me on it. But then his sleepy voice rises up from my chest.

“Kadence.”

“Hmm?”

He looks at me and blinks. “My boy name. It’s Kadence.”

Something stirs within me. I know his name. Something tells me that this is his real one.

“Kadence,” I say, brushing back a curl from his forehead. “That’s as beautiful as you are.” He gives me a small smile and is about to turn his head back again when I cup the side of his face, encouraging him to keep looking at me. “I’m Rafferty.”

For several moments, we hold each other’s gazes. Then he nods and snuggles in closer to me.

“Good night, Daddy Rafferty,” he says.

CHAPTER 9

Kadence

Where the fuck am I?

I was so dead asleep that when I wake in an unfamiliar bed, my first instinct is panic. Is this a hotel? It’s certainly not the Sunken Treasure Motel in Paddle Creek. There’s a distinct lake of mermaids, fish, and plastic doubloons.

---