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The thought echoed in his head.
I want to keep her and make her mine forever.
He’d arrived at Rawhide less than two weeks ago, but would it be reckless to follow Kaylee back to Richmond? Would she think him a lovestruck fool if he tried?
Shit, he was falling hard and fast. Just like he’d feared he would. But he couldn’t help it. The Little girl sleeping soundly in his bed calmed the darkest parts of him and made him want to be a better man.
One month, he reminded himself. She would be spending one month at the Ranch. He hoped to see her every single day for the rest of December. A smile touched his lips when he imagined spending Christmas Day with her.
A tree. He would get a tree for his apartment, and they could decorate it together. A real tree, he decided. Not a fake one. A real tree that would fill his living space with the scent of pine. He compiled a list in his head of all the items he needed to acquire in addition to the tree. Ornaments. Lights. Tinsel. A tree skirt. Hm, what else? Maybe he’d better write it all down. He didn’t want to forget anything.
He wanted to make Christmas perfect for Kaylee.
His heart broke as he thought about how terribly Fuckface Chad had hurt her. He resolved he would do everything in his power to make this a holiday to remember for his adorable Little girl.
Yes, he already felt like she belonged to him.
A sigh escaped the sleeping form on the bed, and Kaylee rolled over and stretched. Her eyes blinked open and she smiled tiredly when she saw him. “Morning, Daddy. Or evening. What time is it?”
“It’s nine thirty at night, baby. You only slept for about an hour and a half. Did you have a good nap?”
“Yep, Daddy, I slept great.” She sat up against the pillows, her pigtails coming undone, and he regretted he hadn’t brushed her hair out before tucking her in. He hoped the hairstyle hadn’t caused her any discomfort as she’d slept.
With a jolt, he realized how out of practice he was, but he resolved he would pay better attention to such details going forward. Not just because he longed to win Kaylee over, but because he wanted to help her heal from the recent pain she’d endured.
He rose from the chair, eager to touch her. Eager to take her in his arms. He settled on the bed and wrapped his arms around her, giving her a tight hug, needing to assure himself she was real and this was actually happening. After too many years of solitude, he was spending time with a delightful Little who radiated pure sunshine.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, baby?”
She peered up at him with a shy expression. “Could I, um, please sit on your lap?”
“Of course, you can, Kaylee. I’d like that very much.” He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the rocking chair in the corner of the room, a recent purchase he’d been unable to resist. It was a thing of beauty, built and carved by Cole, another Ranch employee. He’d met the master craftsman in the first few days of his arrival and they’d hit it off. Though he hadn’t had a Little at that time, Stephen was very grateful he’d had the insight to buy the chair to have on hand. He sat down and got her settled in his lap, cuddling her close.
“Thanks, Daddy. This is nice.” She snuggled against him with a contented sigh.
“I agree, sweetheart.” He inhaled the lavender scent of her hair, and relief filled him when he recalled that he had lavender bubble bath. He was glad he’d purchased a scent she liked.
Kaylee shifted on his lap and her bottom pressed upon his groin. He inhaled a rapid breath as his cock grew hard while she continued wiggling around.
“Little girl, what are you doing?”
She glanced up at him. “Um… trying to get comfy. My butt hurts, Daddy.”
“Ah. Well, that’s what happens when you’re naughty. You end up with a sore, red little butt.” He flicked her nose in a playful manner and kissed her forehead, overcome with affection for her. He’d never been the sort of person to believe in love at first sight. He’d dated Heather for weeks before he’d fallen in love with her. But it was different with Kaylee. He already felt as though he could happily spend the rest of his life with her.
Kaylee laced her arms around him and hugged him back. His heart contracted with warmth. He rested his head atop hers and started rocking the chair. He was glad she’d asked him for snuggles. He would never deny her physical affection.
Suddenly, he recalled how inappropriately she’d been dressed this morning. If they hadn’t crashed into one another, she would’ve gone out in the freezing cold during a snowstorm without proper attire. He needed to make sure she never attempted to do something so dangerous ever again.
Her safety was important to him, and if he was going to be her forever Daddy—he prayed the universe would find a way to let him keep her—he wanted to ensure she understood his rules and expectations when it came to her safety. Protecting her, even from herself, would be one of his most important jobs as her Daddy.
“Sweetheart, we need to talk about something.” He loosened his arms around her, allowing her to lean back and peer up at him. The innocent gleam in her eyes made his cock rock hard.
“What’s that, Daddy?”
“I’d like to know what you were doing this morning when we crashed into one another. It looked like you were headed outside in the snowstorm.”
