“Then you shall have one.” Damian guided her to their table on the patio, where the ocean breeze carried salt-tinged air and the distant sound of waves. Elle scanned the crowd as the waiter took their order, searching for a familiar broad-shouldered silhouette.
“When is Daddy Drake joining us? I wanna dance with him, too.” The words came out smaller than intended. Drake’s absence left an uncomfortable void. She had grown accustomed to his watchful presence and the way he seemed to anticipate her every move. Without him nearby, she felt exposed, unanchored… naked.
“Daddy Drake is meeting up with some friends. He’ll be back later tonight. In the mean?—”
“Is he looking for another Little?” The question burst from her lips before she could stop it.
Oh, give me a break. You still intend to leave in a couple of weeks. What does it matter if he is?The mocking voice in her mind brought unwanted tears to her eyes. She blinked them back furiously.It matters because he doesn't know I’m going. He’s supposed to... to…
To what? Fall in love with you while you make plans to leave? How narrow-minded and selfish can you be, Elle?
“Why would you even ask such a question, Elle?” Damian’s voice turned sharp as his eyes flashed with barely contained anger. “We are committed to you. We have been for a very long time. You’re the one we want. You’re the one in our lives. Why would we be looking for another Little?”
“I’m sorry. It’s just... he’s always... we’re always together. I don’t understand why he would…” She stared at her clasped hands, shrinking under Damian’s disappointment. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to insult you. I just... miss him, I guess.”
“It pleases me to hear that, babygirl. It means that you are finally embracing your life with us.”
The waiter arrived with their drinks, an elaborate concoction that made Elle coo with delight at the first sip. Throughout dinner, she forced herself to focus on Damian, to appreciate hisattentiveness and charm. He was her Daddy, too, and deserved more than being treated as a stand-in for Drake.
By the time they returned to their suite, Elle was drunk on more than just tropical cocktails. Damian’s tenderness throughout the evening wrapped around her like a warm blanket, making her feel wanted and, above all… loved.
How am I going to be able to walk away from this… from them?
The midnight hour
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Islands
Elle
Elle leaned against the cool marble tiles with her eyes closed as steaming water cascaded over her curves, soothing her flesh and washing away the day’s tension. A soft sigh escaped her lips. “Heavenly,” she murmured as the luxurious shower interior cocooned her in warmth and comfort.
The click of the shower door opening didn’t startle her since she had been expecting him, anticipating her Daddy’s arrival with a flutter in her stomach. Turning her head, she blinked through the water’s spray. Her breath caught as she took in his powerful form. With trembling fingers, she traced the muscles that had been honed from years of discipline, reveling at the rippling strength under her touch.
“Hi, Daddy,” she lilted and watched with a smile as his eyes darkened with a hunger that sent shivers down her spine. Her gaze drifted lower, drawn to his jutting arousal. Heat instantly exploded in her core.
“Do you always walk around hard and ready?” she asked in a voice barely audible over the shower’s hiss.
A slow, predatory smile spread across his face as he closed the door behind him. “Only for you, babygirl,” he rumbled. His voice resonated through her. “You still have no idea of the effect you have on us, little one. It’s like you were crafted just for us.”
His eyes glowed as he gently tucked a wet strand of hair behind her ear. Electricity jolted through her at his touch. She leaned into his hand, craving more.
“Tell me what you want, little one.” His voice sounded strained as he pressed his thumb against her lower lip.
With her eyes fluttering closed, she leaned into his touch. “I want you, Daddy.” The desire was unmistakable in the quiver of her voice. “I want you to touch me, to take me, to make me yours.”
A low growl echoed in his chest, resonating through Elle’s body like a primal call, sending a shiver down her spine. He captured her mouth in a fierce, possessive kiss with an intensity that left her breathless. His hands roamed over her body, tenderly exploring every curve, every dip, sparking her nerves to life as he mapped her flesh.
“Ohh, Daddy, that feels so good.” The moan crawled from deep within as he cupped her breasts and circled her nipples. They swelled, growing heavy and sensitive under his touch. Each brush of his thumb sent a jolt of pleasure straight to her core. She arched into his touch, craving more as her body ached with a hunger only he could satisfy.
The heat of his hands seared her skin, branding her as his. The slickness between her legs was a telltale sign that her body was ready for him and desperate for a more intimate touch.
“Such a good little girl,” he whispered against her lips.
Every stroke of his fingers, every press of his lips, sent waves of sensation coursing through her. Elle’s body hummedwith awareness. Her senses were heightened to the extent that she could smell the musk of his arousal, the unique scent that belonged to him. She could taste the hunger that matched her own on his tongue.
“Keep your hands against the wall, babygirl,” he commanded in a voice rough with desire. “Don’t move them. Understand?”
She nodded, her breath hitching as she complied and pressed her palms flat against the cool marble. He rewarded her with a slow, sensual smile that promised pleasure beyond her wildest dreams.