Page 48 of Daddy Defender
Bodie’s not just a civilian I’m protecting…
He’s under my skin, and I need to know what this means for him, for us.
My Guard training screams to lock it down, to focus on the mission, but my Daddy side wants to claim him, to set rules that make him mine while keeping him safe. I can’t let this spiral without talking it through, no matter how much I want to stay in this bed forever…
Bodie stirs, his lashes fluttering as he wakes, his blue eyes meeting mine in the half-light. He freezes, like a deer caught in headlights, and I can see the panic flicker across his face. He’s thinking about what we did, about Vince, about trusting me and how it might burn him.
Unless I’m mistaken, his walls are going up, fast, but I’m not about to let him shut me out…
“Hey, boy,” I say, my voice low, steady, keeping my arm loose around him so he doesn’t feel trapped. “We need to talk about what happened. About us.”
Bodie tenses, his breath hitching, and he pulls the sheet tighter around him, like it’s armor.
“Talk?” Bodie asks, his voice small, edged with fear. “What’s there to talk about? It… it just happened, right? No big deal.”
But Bodie’s eyes dart away, and I know he’s lying, trying to dodge the vulnerability. His Little side’s peeking out, scared of being hurt again, and it twists something in my chest.
I shift, propping myself on one elbow, giving him space but keeping my gaze locked on his.
“It’s a big deal, Bodie,” I say, firm but gentle, my Daddy mode kicking in. “What we did—it wasn’t just nothing. You felt it, I felt it. And I’m not gonna pretend it didn’t happen or let you run from it. But I need you to know something.” I pause, making sure he’s listening. “I’ll never push you into anything you don’t want. Consent’s everything,always. I care about you, and I’ll never hurt you. Not ever. You’re safe with me.”
Bodie’s eyes widen, searching mine, and I see the fear soften, just a bit. He swallows, his fingers twisting the sheet, but he doesn’t pull away.
“You… mean that?” Bodie whispers, his voice wobbly, like he’s testing the water. “You’re not gonna… I don’t know, turn out like Vince? All sweet until you’re not?”
The mention of Vince makes my jaw tighten, but I keep my voice steady.
“I’m not him, Little One,” I say. “I’m a Daddy, not a snake. I set rules, I protect, I care. What we did out there—you wanted it, I wanted it, and I’ll always make sure you’re okay with where we go next. You’ve got my word.” I reach out, brushing a strand of his messy hair behind his ear, my touch light. “You don’t have to be scared with me. Well, not likethatanyway.”
Bodie’s cheeks flush, and he bites his lip, his walls cracking as he leans into my touch, just a fraction.
“Okay,” Bodie says, his voice soft but stronger. “I… I believe you. It’s just… hard, you know? Trusting again. But you’re different. I can feel it.”
Our eyes meet, steady now, and the trust there hits me like a wave, warm and heavy.
I nod, my chest loosening.
“Good boy,” I say, the words slipping out, and his blush deepens, his Little side glowing. But I need to build on this, to show him more of me, to keep that trust growing. “You deserve to know who I am, Bodie. Not just the Daddy stuff, but the rest. What I do, why I’m here...”
He tilts his head, curious, sitting up a bit, the sheet slipping to show his freckled shoulder.
“You mean the Guard thing?” Bodie says, his voice cautious but intrigued. “I figured you were, like, some kind of badass soldier or something. But it’s more than that, isn’t it?”
I chuckle, the sound rough but warm.
“Yeah, you could say that,” I answer, figuring that at some point I’m going to need to reveal a whole lot more to the boy.
I sit up, leaning against the headboard, my hands resting on my thighs.
“The Night Ops… well, it’s a black ops outfit, like you guessed,” I say. “We’re not military, not exactly. Private contractors, the kind governments and rich folks call when they need something done quiet and clean. Extractions, intel, taking down bad guys who don’t play by rules. We go where the law can’t or won’t. It’s dangerous, messy, and sometimes it’s a moral gray zone. But it’s what I’m built for. It’s who I am.”
Bodie’s eyes widen, but there’s no fear, just fascination.
“Whoa,” Bodie says, pulling his knees up, hugging them. “I mean, I knew it was something intense, but… black ops? Like, spy movie stuff? I didn’t realize it wasthathardcore.” He pauses, his brow furrowing. “Doesn’t it… I don’t know, weigh on you? All that danger?”
His question cuts deep, and I think of Hicks, the jungle, the scars I carry.
“Yeah,” I say, my voice quieter. “It does. But, like I said, it’s who I am. Protecting people, fixing what’s broken—it’s what keeps me going. Like protecting you.” I meet his gaze, letting him see the truth. “I’m telling you this because I want you to know me, Bodie. Therealme. No secrets.”
