Legendary Daddy by Mia Monroe (each kindness read aloud txt) 📕

“No, you shouldn’t. What do you want from me?”

Gazing into his eyes, I convince myself he won’t turn me away for what I’m about to say. I just need to be brave enough to tell him. Maybe he will be open to it.

“Bentley? What do you want from me?”

Exhaling, I offer a shaky smile. “Love.”

Seventeen

Legend

When I open my eyes in the morning, I’m hot. Bentley is wrapped around me like a koala bear to a tree. My mind instantly runs back to last night and the things we talked about. Bentley made it clear that what went down between us was very emotional for him, and that he’s definitely looking for more than just a casual hookup.

I suppose I knew that going into this with him. It was obvious, even from our first meeting, that he, at least, was infatuated with me. So, of course, the chance that he would develop feelings for me was high. What I can’t get over, though, is how calm I am about it. I thought it would freak me out to even be thinking about a relationship with somebody so soon, but like I told Matteo, Bentley ticks a lot of boxes for me that I thought I would never find in another person. He makes me feel like the man I always wanted to be before things went in a direction I couldn’t stop.

But that’s not the same as willingly going into a relationship with somebody. The damage left behind by Arian is still present. I think about it almost every day. And now that I’ve committed to working with Bentley, I am almost positive those past feelings are going to rear up on me again. Which isn’t fair to him. Bentley deserves everything I could possibly give him. I just don’t know if I’m ready yet, or if I can move past the hurt and mistakes from before.

Can I trust myself? Not only to stay true to my own needs but to honor his as well. There’s so much on the line, including Bentley’s sweet heart. He’s almost too good for this world. Quite possibly too good for me. But I’d be a damn fool to walk away from the boy and not even try. I’m a lot of things, but I’m not stupid.

He starts to move in my arms, indicating the sleep is falling away. I had hoped I could get up and make us coffee before he woke up, but then I remember how much he would probably like to do that for us. So instead I close my eyes and pull him just a little bit closer.

“Morning, Daddy,” he whispers.

“Hey, sweet boy. How did you sleep?”

“So good. It’s so quiet here. No cars, no police sirens, no helicopters.”

“True. That’s why I moved way out here. It’s far away from everything, which is exactly what I needed. It’s like my own little oasis in this big city.”

“It’s perfect, Daddy. I’m so lucky I’m here.”

“I’m the lucky one, sweet boy.”

He gazes up at me smiling, looking every bit as innocent as I could imagine, but knowing full well that he’s far from it. Arian pops into my mind. His innocence was manufactured for the camera. The minute it was off, he was a scathing diva. Initially, his brattiness was a turn-on for me, tempting the Daddy in me to put him in his place. But that’s not how it played out. When I look at Bentley, he settles the chaos in me. Those big, trusting eyes and his absolute submission and confidence in me, stirs a long-dormant part of me back to life. I’m definitely the lucky one here.

“Do you want some coffee?” I ask.

“Oh, can I get it?” His face lights up, just as I imagined it would.

“Yes, sweet boy, you can get coffee for us. Do you want me to come help you figure it out?”

“No, Daddy, I can figure it out.” He rushes from the bed, nearly tripping on himself. He giggles, looking around the floor, and then up at me. “I don’t have any clothes, Daddy.”

“That’s okay. You can go in the kitchen naked if you’re comfortable.”

His face turns bright pink. “Matteo is here,” he whispers.

I laugh, remembering. “Oh shit. I totally forgot my friend is here. No, you definitely cannot walk around naked.”

Bentley laughs. “That’s good, Daddy. I was afraid you were okay with Matteo seeing me.”

“Absolutely not. I’m not okay with anybody seeing you, sweet boy, even my best friend.”

“Why, Daddy? Because I’m just yours?”

I smile. “That’s exactly right, sweet boy, you’re just mine. You’ll always be mine.”

“Do you mean that?” he asks, looking vulnerable and sweet.

I think about my words for a second, remembering everything we talked about last night.

“Come here and sit on Daddy’s lap for a minute.”

He does, looking very nervous. It’s my job to get that look to go away as quickly as possible. He climbs onto my lap, cuddling close to me.

“Bentley, the things you shared last night are important to me.”

“What do you mean, Daddy?”

“The things you want from me. Our relationship. I think that sounds beautiful, just like I did last night, okay? I’ve been thinking about it while you slept.”

“Okay.”

“I was honest with you about not being sure. You know, about what I could offer you as far as a relationship is concerned.”

His face falls slightly. “Yes, Daddy, I know. I don’t want to pressure you.”

“You’re not pressuring me, Bentley. You’re changing the script in my head.”

He perks up a bit. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve been telling myself, ever since things ended with Arian, that I wouldn’t make a good partner for somebody, or that I still have too much to work through emotionally to get back to the man I was before everything went down.”

He nods.

“But the more time I spend with you, the more you erase the script that’s been playing. The more I feel like the old me again.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really, sweet boy.