She didn’t feel like she had a safe space to do so. There was no way she wanted her aunt discovering her. So she usually just lost herself in the stories she read.
But there were times, like now, when she just needed the extra comfort. If she closed her eyes, she could almost feel a man curling up around her, holding her tight, telling her that everything would be okay.
Daddy will take care of you, Little girl. You don’t have to ever worry while you’re in Daddy’s arms.
Her imaginary Daddy was usually faceless so she was startled to realize that tonight he had a face. Linc smiled down at her, crooning to her, comforting her.
He gave her definite Daddy vibes. She could picture him taking care of her if she stubbed her toe, being gentle and caring. But also stern when he needed to be. She wondered what it would be like to be taken over his knee and spanked. She’d had a bit of a spanking fetish for years. Even though she’d never once been spanked. Her aunt preferred to verbally abuse her. Or lock her in her room. That was usually her go-to when Marisol was a child. Once she’d locked Marisol in her room all day. She’d had a seizure and knocked herself out. By the time she’d been found, she was nearly in a diabetic coma. She spent a week in the hospital.
Her aunt had stopped locking her up after that.
She started sucking on her thumb harder as she felt her anxiety grow. She wished her snuggly was big enough to wrap around her.
She hugged Princess Nana tight. Thank God, Tiger hadn’t found her. Harry had won Princess Nana for her at the fair. That was the only fair she’d ever been to. Her aunt had tried to make her leave the doll behind when they’d left Harry. But Marisol had managed to sneak it into her bag. Eventually, Rosalind forgot where the doll came from.
Her phone beeped then and she closed her eyes. Seemed reality was hell-bent on interrupting her me time. Some people took baths, others got their nails or hair done.
She sucked her thumb and pretended she had a Daddy who cared. A Daddy who wanted a big Little girl. Like the ones in CJ Bennett’s books. That’s what she wanted.
The phone beeped again. She sighed and heaved herself out of bed. She felt so heavy-limbed. As though she was moving through quicksand. A yawn caught her by surprise. She wished she could watch some mindless TV until she fell asleep. But that would involve going downstairs. And she didn’t want to risk seeing her aunt. Or falling asleep on the couch.
She could read, but she’d finished the paperback she had already. She needed to go to the secondhand bookstore and get some more, since her eReader was gone. But she hadn’t had time to get there today.
Maybe she should read one of the books she already owned. That could be fun, like returning to see old friends. Grabbing her phone, she rested back against the headboard. Only a few people had her number and so she was expecting it to be from her aunt or someone at the spa.
She nearly fell over in shock as she saw the name pop up.
Sexy Cowboy.
She let out a shocked laugh. That’s what he’d typed his contact in as? She rolled her eyes as she eagerly opened his message.
Hi, Mari-girl, just checking to make sure you got home safe. What are you having for dinner?
Oh. That was sweet. She’d never had anyone check in on her. Sure, her aunt didn’t like her out late, but that was a control thing. Not because she actually cared.
Hello, sexy cowboy.
Okay, she sent that before thinking it through.
Why, Mari-girl, thank you for the compliment. *blushes*
She grinned. He was so silly.
I had a sandwich for dinner. You?
No veggies? Tut-tut. That’s naughty. I had pot roast with all the trimmings. I even ate the beans.
Ick. Beans. I like most veggie. But even if I could cook, there’s not much point for just me.
Your aunt isn’t home?
She hesitated before replying. Was it wise to tell him that she was here alone? But she had never once gotten a vibe from him that he might hurt her.
No. Don’t know where she is.
You’ve always lived with her?
Since I was four when my mama died.