Dominant Fireman Daddy by Scott Wylder
CHAPTER SIX
Talia
This is the first time I’ve felt safe in forever. I have been living out of my car for a few weeks now. If I thought about it, I could count up the days, but I don’t want to right now. I feel like I can be human again. With Frank, I can be a Little.
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Sweetheart.” Frank says softly. He smells of fresh sandalwood and his pants smell like the comforting scent of name brand laundry detergent. He has got to be in his early 40’s, but he is fit and takes care of himself giving him the vigor of a man half his age.
“My feelings aren’t hurt. It’s just that. It’s just that….” Another crying jag starts again.
“I know Baby Girl, I know.” He lets me cry it out. I had one kind of release last night that had been building up, this is another. After what seems like years of suppressed emotion no one cared to ease before, I finally sit up and look him in the eye. He hands me a tissue.
“I’m ready to tell now.” I blow my nose and take a big breath. “It’s my old roommate’s ex-boyfriend Eric.” I take another big breath. “My old roommate, Sarah, was head over heels for Eric. Before I knew it, he just kind of started living there in the apartment. Like he never left, his stuff started to overtake the place infecting everything he touched, like mold.” Frank made a face. “At first, he seemed so cool. He was too skinny and boyish for me.” I look Frank up and down. “I like men to be older and wiser. More responsible, you know?” Frank nods.
“Anyway, so Eric was messed up with some kind of drug business neither Sarah nor I knew about. After the police raided our place the second time, we were evicted. Sarah’s parents drove up to get her and bring her back to Kentucky. She’s going to finish her degree at some Bible college in the hills. I did not have anywhere to go, so I ended up in my car for a bit. I had lost my job at the restaurant where we both used to work. The owner said that he didn’t like our kind because of being messed up with Eric.”
“And your folks aren’t around?” He asks.
I sigh. “My dad left when I was about four or five. I don’t remember much of him. My mom remarried this Brian dude, and they did their best to try to pretend I never existed. My mom lost one man; she wasn’t going to lose another. She did everything to make him happy even if meant ignoring me. Acting out, getting trouble didn’t seem to work. They just got annoyed. Doing well in school or winning any art contests at school did not seem to impress them much either.”
“You got awards in art?” He seems intrigued.
“Yeah. I had a small scholarship for college, but I wasn’t so used to going to class. No one really made me go before and I kind of got by without it. My grades got so bad by Spring semester I withdrew. No sense wasting money if I wasn’t going.” I twist the blank in my hands again. I am quiet for a moment.
“I see.” Frank says as he pats my knee. “So, what I’ve gathered is this Eric guy might be after you for whatever reason, so you need to lie low for a bit.” I nod. “Let’s get cleaned up and we will go get some things to set you up here, at least for a while.” I feel another rush of tears, this time for happiness. “It’s okay, Baby Girl. Daddy is here.”
By the time I get out of the shower and get dressed, all my clothes are in from my car. I walk into the laundry room, and I see all my clothes in neat piles: whites, darks, and delicate. All laid out like that, I am embarrassed I only have one threadbare towel, an old washcloth, and twin sized sheets with a 90’s cartoon character print that I got a thrift store. I see my ruffled bottomed panties, a rare indulgence, and I am wondering what his reaction. He says nothing.
“I see you are ready?” He asks over the quiet swish of the washing machine. I am looking forward to my laundry smelling as fresh as his. I nod and reach out my hand. He takes it and pulls it to his lips. He lingers on my fingers a beat too long. I feel all gushy and weak. I get so turned on so quick, I want him to take me on top of all these clothes. He releases my hand, looks into my eyes, and smiles. He knows what he’s doing. “Let’s go.” He says and heads towards the kitchen to get his keys. I grab my kitty cat purse and follow.
