“A bedtime story, huh?” Max asks, a smile tugging at his lips. “Alright, Little One. Let’s get you settled. I could do with relaxing myself.”
Daddy moves to the stove, pouring milk into a small saucepan, and I watch him, my heart doing that fluttery thing again.
He’s so in control, so steady, and it makes me feel like everything’s going to be okay, no matter what’s waiting outside this cabin.
I grab Felix and shuffle to the bedroom, climbing into the big bed, the sheets cool against my legs.
Max follows a few minutes later, carrying a steaming mug of warm milk, the faint scent of vanilla making my nose wrinkle in delight.
“Drink this first,” Max says, handing it to me as he sits on the edge of the bed. “It’ll help you relax.”
I take the mug, my fingers wrapping around its warmth, and sip slowly, the sweet, creamy taste soothing me instantly.
“Mmm, this is good, Daddy,” I say, my voice already softening, like the milk’s melting away the edges of my restlessness.
I lean back against the pillows, Felix snuggled against my chest, and Max slides in beside me, his arm pulling me close until I’m tucked against his side, his warmth surrounding me. It’s like the whole world shrinks to just this bed, just us, and I feel myself slipping, my mind going all soft and fuzzy, like I’m sinking into that Littlespace I’ve been exploring.
“Ready for your story?” Max asks, his voice low and gentle, like he’s talking to a much younger me. I nod, my eyes wide, the milk mug still warm in my hands. “Once upon a time,” he starts, his hand stroking my hair, “there was a brave little snow leopard named Felix, who lived in a magical forest covered in snow…”
“Yay!” I squeal in delight, already happy with where this story is headed.
I giggle, hugging Felix tighter as Max spins a tale about Felix adventuring through the forest, making friends with talking squirrels and dancing with fireflies under the stars.
My Daddy’s voice is deep, soothing, and it wraps around me like a hug, pulling me deeper into Littlespace.
I feel smaller, younger, like I’m five again, safe in a world where nothing can hurt me. The warm milk helps, each sip making my eyelids heavier, my body softer against Max’s.
I look up at him, his face lit by the soft glow of the bedside lamp, and I see it so clearly—he’s my dream Daddy.
Not just a bodyguard.
Not just a fling.
Max is the one who makes me feel safe, seen, loved. His eyes are steady, kind, and I know he’s not just telling a story; he’s giving me a piece of himself, even if he’s still reserved about his past.
As he talks about Felix outsmarting a grumpy old bear, I realize something else…
I’m a Little.
Really, truly a Little. Not just playing at it, not just curious because of Zane’s stories, but deep-down, in-my-bones sure.
The way I feel right now, snuggled against Max, sipping warm milk, giggling at a sweet cutesy story—it’s like I’ve found a part of myself I didn’t know was missing.
My pop star life, all the glitz and pressure, feels so far away, and I don’t miss it. I want this—coloring books, stuffies, Max’s rules, his care.
I want to be his Little, to let him guide me, to trust him completely. It feels so good, so right, and my heart swells with it, a warmth that’s different from the heat of our forest moment but just as powerful.
Max’s story winds down, Felix returning to his cozy den, and I yawn, my eyes drooping as I finish the last of the milk.
“Did Felix live happily ever after?” I mumble, my voice thick with sleep, my head resting against Max’s chest. “Pweeeasesay he did!”
“Course he did,” Max says, his hand still stroking my hair. “Just like you will, Little One.”
Max’s voice is a promise, and I believe it, even with the danger I know he’s keeping from me—the file, the cryptic stuff he won’t explain.
I trust him to handle it, to keep me safe, and that trust makes me feel lighter than I have in years. Max isn’t Trent—in fact I couldn’t imagine him being any further from Trent if I tried. And that’s a good thing. Averygood thing, in fact.
I set the empty mug on the nightstand, my movements slow and sleepy, and snuggle deeper into Max’s arms, Felix tucked between us.
