Britney wiggles on his lap again and tucks her face into his neck.
I’ve only seen her as a strong independent woman, so this side of her is mind-boggling.
I lick my lips, aware of the woman next to me who is fidgeting. I realize this is the kind of person she is too. Like Britney, she’d rather be little right now. That’s why she took so long getting ready. She’s chosen an outfit that’s somewhere in between—appropriate in public, but comforting at the same time. I wonder how she normally lives since she doesn’t have a full-time Daddy figure living with her.
“It’s not confusing? Flipping a switch like that?” I don’t even know who I’m asking.
Britney shakes her head. “Nope.”
Davis lifts her chin to meet his gaze. His expression is serious. “I know you’re nervous, but I expect you to speak respectfully to Colt. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” When he releases her chin, she faces me. “It’s not confusing, Sir. It’s just who I am.”
I turn toward Eve. “It’s who you are too.”
She nods, not meeting my gaze.
“It’s freeing,” Britney murmurs. I hope she’s growing more comfortable in my presence. I wish I could say the same for Eve.
I look toward Britney again.
She shrugs. “Some people like to have a drink when they get home from work. Some watch sports. Some sit in a hot tub. I like to leave my adult self at the door and slide into a youthful persona. Kids don’t have any worries or responsibilities. I leave them at the door and shake them from my mind.”
“Makes sense.”
Davis speaks again. “Littles come in all ages. Older ones are called middles. Britney gravitates to about four, which means I do nearly everything for her when she’s in her little space. I’m strict because she likes it that way. We have an agreed-upon dynamic and we take a pause every once in a while to make sure we’re meeting each other’s needs. Usually, I can tell when we need to stop and reevaluate even before Britney realizes it. She tends to get defiant and break the rules when she’s frustrated.”
I’m curious to know how sex fits into this arrangement, but I’m not going to ask.
Davis slides his hand higher up Britney’s thigh, under her short skirt and gives another squeeze. “Sit still, sweetie. If you don’t stop squirming, I’m going to spank you before we’ve had dinner.”
She freezes. “Sorry, Daddy.”
He kisses her forehead. “I know you’re nervous, but I trust Colt to keep our secret, and I’m asking to extend the same courtesy.”
“Yes, Sir.”
One thing is for sure, I would never in a million years break this confidence. “He’s right, Britney. I’m humbled that you’ve allowed me to come into your home to see this side of you. I would never break that confidence. Same goes for the club. I appreciate you preparing me for what I’m going to see at Surrender. It means a lot to me. I don’t want to stand out and embarrass myself. This is a tremendous help.”
She meets my gaze. “You’re welcome, Sir.”
It feels odd when she addresses me like that, but I’m gathering it’s expected from her.
I glance at Eve, addressing Britney still. “My goal is to keep your friend Eve safe just like Davis did for you. I can do my job better if I understand her better.”
“I don’t want those bad men to get Eve,” Britney says. “Thank you for keeping her safe.”
“You’re welcome.”
Eve has been sitting stiffly this entire time. She finally scoots back into the corner of the sofa and pulls her knees up to her chest in the same position I saw her take last night at her apartment. I assume she feels calmer when she’s curled into a ball. I hate that I’m the reason for her stress.
The odd urge to reach out and hold her consumes me again. It’s unnerving. I can’t act on it. Of course not. On a few occasions in the past, I’ve slept with women when I was undercover and turning them down would have looked suspicious. But this is not that kind of job. Eve knows I’m a cop. I don’t need to convince her. She needs me to keep her alive, not fuck her.
She’s just so…vulnerable. Especially tonight. And though I might not have any knowledge of this aspect of the fetish world, I am a rather alpha sort of man. My inclination right now is to do anything I can to help her relax, including pulling her closer.
It’s not outside of the scope of my job to ensure Eve is comfortable around me. It’s necessary. I’m rationalizing this when Davis speaks again.
“I need to finish dinner.” He pats Britney’s thigh. “Why don’t you take Eve to your room? You can play for a while. I’ll let you know when dinner’s ready.”
“Yes, Sir.” She slides off of his lap and shuffles over to Eve. “You want to go to my room?”
Eve unfolds, nodding, and I watch, my chest tight, as she follows her friend out of the living room. At least I no longer need to make the immediate decision about whether or not to touch her.
Chapter 8
Colton
I run a hand through my hair and draw in deep breaths, hoping Davis doesn’t notice my plight as I follow him into the attached kitchen. My shoulders are tense, and nothing is going to relax me anytime soon.
Davis looks over his shoulder. “You can help me get dinner on the table.”
I nod. “Sure.”
“I know you’re overwhelmed, but damn, Colt, I’m impressed with your open-mindedness.”
I glance at the hallway. Faint noises are coming from deeper in the house. “I’m trying. It’s outside of my comfort zone, mind you, but I want to understand. More importantly, I want Eve to be safe. That’s my job.”
“I’ve never seen her this stressed,” Davis admits as he grabs a salad bowl from the fridge and sets it on the table which is
