She nodded. He understood. How did he always know the right thing to say?
“Okay, dishes first and then into the shower because it will be time for bed soon.”
“I wish we could take a shower together.”
“Oh, I plan on giving you a shower.”
“You’re funny,” she laughed, relaxing against his hard body for the first time since he’d picked her up to have the intimate conversation.
When he didn’t laugh with her, Belinda snuck a glance at him. Pedro kissed her before correcting her, “This Daddy doesn’t joke about taking care of his baby girl.”
“I’m not a baby,” she protested.
“Maybe not all the time,” he agreed. “Up. Let Daddy clean up the dishes.”
“I can help,” she volunteered.
“Daddy’s job. You sit at the counter and talk to me.”
When he was back in the kitchen and she was perched on a stool with Tinkerbell on her lap, Pedro observed, “You’ve stolen my cat’s affection.”
“No! He still loves you best. I just give good scratches.” Belinda demonstrated, finding a perfect spot under the cat’s jawline.
“Have you ever had animals?” he asked.
“I grew up out in the country. We had an assortment of animals thanks to people who drop their animals off in the middle of nowhere.”
Pedro shook his head slowly. “Those people are going to have a fiery place waiting for them at the end of their lives. Tink wouldn’t be alive if I hadn’t spotted him. I bet the same fate would have befallen on those lucky animals that found refuge with your family.”
Belinda nodded before pointing out, “Tinkerbell looks pretty happy now.”
“He definitely learned quickly that I had love and a happy home to share. Even if he does have to ride around in my car every once in a while.”
“Only one more time—when you move to a house.”
“I won’t leave you here. When a house is ready, and when you’re ready to move with me, I’ll check out a larger place on the Edgewater campus somewhere,” he told her as he put the last plate in the dishwasher.
“You want me to move in with you?”
“You’re my Little girl. You belong with your Daddy.”
The conviction in his words made her heart skip a beat. Each moment that she spent with Pedro helped her have confidence in their relationship. He just seemed to get her.
“Time for your shower. Sweaty clothes off,” Pedro announced as he led her into the bathroom.
It was a modest size. Just perfect for one person to move around in. Add his large body and the space became much more intimate. Belinda shifted as Pedro turned on the water in the shower to warm.
“I miss having a tub,” she told him, trying to make light conversation to disperse the sexual tension growing inside her.
“We’ll build a house with a big tub and shower space for us. Little girls need bubble baths,” Pedro said as he pulled her top over her head.
When her face popped free of the material, Belinda asked, “You take bubble baths?”
“I could be convinced to do just about anything to make my Little happy.”
Belinda didn’t know what to say to that. She stood still as Pedro pushed her shorts and panties to her ankles and knelt in front of her to remove her shoes and the rumpled clothing. When he stood, she only wore her sports bra.
Nervous, she crossed her hands in front of her pubic area to shield herself from his view. Belinda jumped when Pedro moved her hands to her sides.