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“I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Place like this, I’m sure they have a first-aid kit.” Getting up, he searched through the bathroom, finding one. Walking back to the bedroom, he put it on the bed next to her, searching through it.
“Uh-huh.” He held a thermometer up. “Got it!”
“That’s a rectal thermometer!” she said, sounding alarmed.
“Something wrong with that?”
“Um, yeah, it involves sticking something up my butt!”
“You don’t like having things stuck up your butt?” He couldn’t help but grin at her.
She groaned and put her hand over her face. “Not. That.”
“Ahh, but you will consider having other things stuck up your butt. Good to know.”
“Daddy!” she wailed.
Then her hand dropped from her face, and she stared at him with a mix of shock, trepidation, and longing.
“I’m s-sorry, I?—”
“Don’t,” he bit off. “Do not apologize or regret calling me that. I… that… you”–he paused and took a breath–“what I’m trying to say is it’s a privilege for you to call me that. I’m trying to help you let go and you’re starting to. So don’t diminish that by apologizing. Get me?”
She was still staring at him in astonishment. Great. Now she thought he was an idiot. This time, she was the one who reached out and tilted his head up.
“I… you really think that?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s good then, Daddy. But you’re still not sticking that thermometer up my butt-butt.”
CHAPTER 13
Jolie watched as Brand laughed, feeling pleased with herself.
She hadn’t meant to upset him. She’d never want to do that. And to hear him say her calling him Daddy was a privilege? Well, now she felt bad for all those times she’d silently cursed his name when he was being a jackass.
Especially when he went back to searching through the first-aid kit and found a different thermometer that went in her ear. He placed it in her ear. When it beeped, he drew it back, frowning down at him.
“Still a bit high. My poor girl.” He tucked the covers around her legs once more. “You need another nap.”
“I’m all right. Really.” She was feeling a bit awkward, but that had nothing to do with her fever.
Brand cupped her chin, tilting her head back. “I give you permission to let go.”
“W-what?” She swallowed heavily.
“I give you permission to let go. To slip into Little headspace. Show her to me. I promise to take care of her.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t… I just called you Daddy.”
“Yes, but you haven’t fully let go. Because you don’t trust me to take care of you?”
“No, I-I… just nervous, I guess.”
“There’s no need to be nervous. Not while I’m here to take care of you. Understand?”
