Davis sobers. Shit. This is serious. Not random.
“You don’t have to tell me.”
He shakes his head. “No. It’s okay. You met Britney in the same timeframe I did. You know a lot about her story. She wasn’t little when I met her. Or she didn’t know it yet. She had so many signs though, and she quickly let me become a Daddy to her.”
He glances at her and back at me. “You’ve noticed her hair is very long. She had a traumatic experience as a young child with a foster mother who cut all her hair off when she got lice. She never cut it again and developed a phobia of scissors. Once I learned that story, I forbade her from ever touching knives or scissors. It’s calmer for her to know it’s not permitted. She tends to panic when sharp objects are close to her. Even her adult side does.”
I swallow. That’s so sad and yet how fortunate for her that she’s found someone who loves her and suits her so well. “You’re a good man, Davis.”
He smiles at me. “You are too, Colton. I hope you pull your head out of your ass and figure it out soon.”
I stiffen and look down. “It’s not simple.”
“But it is.”
I sigh. His insistence is warranted. He knows I’m going to hurt Eve and myself when this case is over. I’m not sure how he thinks it’s easy though. My job is my life. I’m not trained to do something else. I’m good at undercover work. It’s important to me. Sometimes things don’t go my way, but more often than not, when I solve a crime, I sleep better knowing someone’s life was saved or the course of their existence was improved.
It’s in my blood to fix what’s wrong. People count on me. People who don’t know me yet or have never met me are counting on me. I could never be so selfish as to throw that away. The guilt would eat at me. Nor would I be so selfish as to drag Eve down into my gutter. She would never be happy, and neither would I. Plus I’d worry about her all the time. She needs a full-time Daddy, not a part-time undercover cop.
I turn my attention to Eve. She’s giggling and splashing, so carefree and relaxed. A one-eighty from how she was earlier in the week before I encouraged her to be herself.
I suspect she’s drastically different from before I came into the picture too. She’d been alone with no one guiding her at home. She craved this level of age play; she just didn’t realize it. Or maybe she was kidding herself about keeping her life so compartmentalized because she hadn’t met the right person who could give her what she wanted.
I inhale deeply at that last thought. My chest tightens. I’m going to hurt her.
I. Am. Going. To. Hurt. Her.
Chapter 26
Evelyn
I’m having the best day ever. Hands down. If I totally ignore the reason why we’re here and pretend my life isn’t in danger, that is.
I’ve never been in my little headspace for this long at a time. Evenings are the longest I’ve ever gone, and even then, I’ve never had an actual Daddy around to take care of me like this.
Colton is a natural, and I know from the way he looks at me that he’s enjoying our dynamic as much as I am. When he doesn’t know it, I’ve caught him staring at me in awe. As if I’m the special one when really it’s him. He’s so dominant and caring.
If I could have created a pretend day in my head that was perfect, I wouldn’t have come up with anything as great as this one. Decorating cookies with two friends. Eating lunch with them. Giggling. Being doted on by Lucy’s amazing cook. And now splashing in her hot tub.
I’m in awe and a bit jealous of Lucy’s life. I’ve always known she lived as a full-time little at home. She works a regular job like me, but when she comes home, she transforms immediately and rarely steps out of her little space.
She’s young. Four or five most of the time. I know her Daddy guides her to different ages to shake things up, but most often at the club, I see her in this age range. It suits her.
Britney is newer to age play, but it’s been eight months. She’s very deeply involved too, and also falls into the same age range. Her Daddy is super strict, same as Master Roman.
Maybe it’s from being around the two of them for several hours in a relaxed environment, but I feel like they have exactly what I never realized I crave.
Granted, I knew they both found age play to be sexual and that thought never occurred to me. I’ve never mixed sex with my little space. Colt thinks it’s because I never met the right Daddy. Maybe he’s right. Or maybe he’s cocky. That thought makes me giggle.
“You keep laughing,” Lucy points out. She’s bobbing up and down sitting on a noodle.
“I’m having fun,” I tell her.
Britney is grinning. “You’re happy. I’ve never seen you this happy.”
“Me neither,” Lucy agrees.
I shrug and glance at Daddy. His expression is very serious, which worries me. I know he’s concerned about whatever happened this morning on the phone, but that’s not the only thing.
“Eve? You okay?” Lucy asks. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
I jerk my gaze back to her. “It’s okay. Just scared out of my mind is all.”
Britney floats closer and pats my back. “That’s understandable. The unknown future sucks sometimes. Are you worried about the human traffickers?”
I shrug again. “Sometimes, but I try not to think about that. Did you worry all the time when
