Ellery’s face flushed at the mention of their bed, but maybe it wasn’t just the bed, so I decided to add, “It’s the perfect bed for a princess, isn’t it?”
Ellery made a choked sound as a visible shiver ran down their body. Fuck. They bit their lip, tugging it nervously between their teeth. “It is. It’s really comfy and makes me feel small and safe.”
“That’s wonderful, princess. You deserve that and so much more.” Ellery’s body was practically vibrating, and their eyes were so full of heat it made my dick throb. I needed to slow down. Tonight was about Ellery and helping them feel better. Tomorrow, if they were feeling up for it, we needed to sit down and talk.
“Thank you, David.”
“You’re welcome, Ellie. Now, where are your books?”
Ellery smiled, seeming relieved at the change in topic. “They’re on the bottom shelf of my nightstand. Can you please pick one for me?”
The request made me feel like a king. Sure, it was just a book, but the fact that Ellery already felt so comfortable asking me for something and trusted me to choose for them was a heady feeling. “Of course, Princess Ellie, I’d be honored.”
Their smile was pure sunshine, but there was a hint of a smirk underneath. I had a feeling Ellery had a playful side to them that I had yet to see fully, and I couldn’t wait.
“Thank you, Daddy David.” That little brat. They were totally getting back at me for the princess comment, and honestly, I couldn’t blame them. I already thought Ellery was perfect, but damn, they just kept getting better. I wasn’t into the super-bratty type, but Ellery wasn’t a brat. I had no doubt they would brat out occasionally, but it wasn’t who they were. They were the perfect combo of sweet and sassy, and it was addictive.
It was all I could do to keep from reaching my hand into my pants and rubbing my twitching dick. I didn’t want to encourage the direction this could lead just yet, but I also didn’t want them to think I wasrejecting them. “I loved hearing you call me that, princess, but we’ll have to discuss that another time. You’ve had a long day. Please get into bed.”
They nodded and headed toward the bed. I walked over to the nightstand and crouched down to look at the books. All of them were, of course, princess-themed, so I grabbed the one I thought Ellery would like best. The books looked like they were meant for kids aged five to seven. Ellery definitely didn’t regress as young as Tristan seemed to, and that was perfectly fine with me. I wasn’t picky; I just wanted a little to love and take care of, no matter what kind of care they needed.
“Here we go, let’s read this one.” I looked to see Ellery already snuggled in bed under the covers. I sat on the side of the bed next to them, and they pouted. “Sorry, darling, but this bed is far too small for me to sit anywhere else.”
Ellery huffed and then nodded sheepishly. “Okay.”
“Don’t worry, next time I read you a story, I’ll make sure it’s somewhere we can snuggle.”
Ellery blushed, their skin turning a deep pink. “Next time?”
“If you want that, then yes. I would love there to be a next time, but we can talk more about that tomorrow, okay?”
Ellery smiled and snuggled deeper into their blankets. Seemingly satisfied with my answer, they nodded. “Okay”
Ellery’s eyes sparkled with excitement as I opened the book and began reading. The story was about a pretty princess and her loyal furry companion. For the first few minutes, Ellery smiled and chuckledalong with the story. Before we had even made it halfway through the book, their eyes grew heavy and their breathing evened out.
They always looked beautiful, but right then, as they slept peacefully with the blankets tucked around them like a burrito, they took my breath away. I wanted nothing more in that moment than to crawl into bed beside them and hold them throughout the night, but once again, I refrained.
One day, I hoped my princess would let me cuddle up next to them and hold them throughout the night, but until then, I was going to do everything I could to deserve that honor. And I already knew, without a doubt, that Ellery was more than worth it.
The worn edges of the book made me smile as I closed it and returned it to the shelf. I’d already looked at most of them, but I took a few minutes to look through every book. There wasn’t a single one that came close to representing Ellery. Hmm, maybe there was something I could do about that. I wasn’t sure yet, but I was going to try. Everyone deserved something that made them feel seen and included. If there was even a chance to make that happen, I was going to do it.
My thoughts immediately went to one of the littles I’d met at the club. Cameron was a self-published indie author and had been a regular at the club for almost as long as I had. We weren’t super close, but we ran into each other often at the club, and I had no doubt he’d be able to help me make something for Ellery. With the plan forming in my head, I stood up and took one last look at the sleeping princess before leaving the room.
I wasn’t sure how Ellery liked their door when they were asleep, so I left it cracked. That way, they still had privacy, but I’d hopefully be able to hear them from the living room if they needed anything.
The couch was covered in blankets and pillows, so I took off my shoes and settled in under the soft covers. Between tossing and turning all night after Jack kicked me out for losing track of time and spending the day with everyone, the second my head hit the pillow, I was out.
I shot up off the couch out of a dead sleep; the sound of the front door creaking open forced me awake. “What the fu—oh, thank god, it’s just you guys.”
Tristan walked into the living room sheepishly. “Sorry, David, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I flopped back down on the couch, taking a deep breath. “It’s okay, buddy, you just scared the daylights outta me.”
Daniel walked into the room looking as happy as ever. “Sorry to just barge in, but Tristan said he felt good enough to drive, and since I don’t live very far, I agreed. It made no sense for you to have to come get their car and then come back for yours. Even if I’m not happy about Tristan having to drive while sick.”
Tristan ran over to his Daddy and jumped up into his arms, hooking his legs around his waist. “Daddy, I promise I feel a lot better today.”
Daniel’s face softened, and all his earlier irritation disappeared with his boy in his arms. “I know, little one, but you need rest.”
