Page 30 of Make Believe

“Good night, Daddy,” I say as he turns off the light, then closes the door, leaving me in darkness.

My mind is whirling, so I figure it’s going to take me forever to fall asleep. But I underestimated how exhausted I am, and soon I’m slipping into unconsciousness.

As I finally succumb, I hope my dreams will be kinder to me tonight.

CHAPTER 12

Rafferty

It tookeverything I had not to crawl into bed with Kadence last night. Not to fuck—he’d quite worn me out by the time I fell asleep.

I just wanted to hold him.

Luckily, I had enough sense to realize that would be a bad idea as things stood. But as I lie in bed, looking up at the ceiling the next morning, I’m aware that the nature of our deal is already shifting, at least on my end.

I want more. Ineedit.

Puffing out my cheeks, I rub my forehead and wonder if I’ve officially lost my mind. But there’s no denying the fact that I haven’t been this relaxed in a very long time.

This happy.

I had a hunch that the sex would be good, and it has. No, it’s been spectacular. But I’ve also enjoyed Kadence’s company. Simply watching a movie with him yesterday was deeply rewarding. I like feeding and bathing him. I want to make his nightmares stop.

Is this what it means to reallybea Daddy? Right now, it feels like so much more than a name to be called in the heat of a scene. It feels like who Iamto him.

That’s…a lot. Not to mention unexpected. I don’t think I can reasonably unravel the way I’m feeling about everything by this evening.

Then I remember that I’m Rafferty fucking McKenna, and I never have to do anything I don’t want to.

Well…aside from the fact that I’m trapped in this sham of a loveless marriage. But indulging in this tryst feels like the perfect rebellion against that.

I rub the scruff on my chin and debate shaving. Kadence is putting so much effort into his appearance for me, I should at least try and meet him halfway. But, Jesus Christ, I’m so over always having to play pretend and put on a show for everyone around me. Whether it’s at the office or at a function or even around my own damn wife. It was such a novelty wearing a T-shirt and jeans yesterday.

I don’t want to be a slob, however, so I still shower and pick out some fresh clothes before heading to Kadence’s room and knocking on his door.

When this started out, I had some fantasy of barging in there whenever I damn well felt like and using my doll any way I wanted. But I love that he makes sure to be all made up for me. As much as I enjoy playing, he isn’t an inanimate object.

I respect him enough to give him boundaries.

Sure enough, I hear a slight commotion and a panicked squeak. “Just a minute, Daddy!” he cries out a second later.

I chuckle and shake my head, even though there’s no one to see me do it. “No rush, pretty doll,” I assure him. “I just wanted to advise you to wear something a little sturdier and more covered up than usual. Come down to the kitchen when you’re ready.”

This time I feel the pause through the door, as if I can see him frowning. “Yes, Daddy,” he says eventually.

I could tell him what I have planned, but I enjoy surprising him. Something tells me that not a lot of people have done that in his life, at least not in a good way. In fact, I have a horrible suspicion that he’s suffered a fair bit at the hands of others. So I want to put a smile on his face.

Besides, I’m Daddy, and I call the shots.

I wait for him downstairs, sipping coffee and reading an article from the Financial Times on my phone. It’s perhaps fifteen minutes before he appears, peering around the corner almost like he’s nervous. I grin, seeing that he’s picked a perfect outfit.

“Good morning, gorgeous,” I say as he slinks into full view.

I was most concerned about his footwear, but he’s got on the ankle boots he wore when he arrived. Sneakers would be better, but I doubt he would have bought anything like that if he was planning on being a sexy doll the entire visit. Besides, they’ll be fine for what I have in mind, I’m sure.

He’s paired them with lace-trimmed socks that just peak over the top, a lilac tennis skirt, a white polo shirt, and a pale pink jacket. Sunglasses hang from the center of his shirt’s collar, and his face looks beautifully done up as usual. His curls are fresh and bouncy, and as he steps closer, I smell how he’s enveloped in a cloud of sweet candy scents.

“Is this okay?” he asks shyly.

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