Page 29 of Cuddling Carly

He winked, but Carly barely noticed because she nearly passed out.

Chapter Eighteen

Wade could tell his babygirl was uneasy on her feet.

“Careful, honey. Let’s sit down.” Taking her arm, he gently guided her to the seat against the wall next to the sink.

“What are you doing here?” she asked again, a distant quality to her voice.

“Carly, are you good if we step out?” Eli asked.

This seemed to snap her to attention, and she looked at the other man and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll catch up with y’all in a bit.”

Wade waited until the three Littles had filed out. They didn’t go through the dining hall, which would have taken them to the front door, so he figured they were somewhere in the back of the building—probably hanging around to make sure their friend was okay.

He respected that.

He wanted to make sure she was okay, too.

“First of all, are you all right?”

Carly didn’t immediately answer, and it was obvious based upon the look on her face that she was struggling to process his sudden presence. He gave her all the time she needed.

“Yeah. I’m good. I love it here.”

He could tell there was a but, so he waited.

“I’ve missed you, though.”

A smile creased Wade’s lips. “I’ve missed you, too. Honey, have you gotten any of my texts or calls?”

His heart broke when Carly started crying. “I couldn’t bring myself to read them. I knew that you knew I’m a Little. What if you were rejecting me or telling me how disgusting I am? That would crush me!”

That was all Wade could take. He had Carly in his arms within seconds.

She didn’t resist. Instead, she melted into his embrace.

“Carly, honey…what you went through was horrible. I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve that. And no, I don’t think you’re an awful person.” He hugged her tightly but then pulled away just a little to add, “But you had me worried sick, little girl. And I feel like you owed me at least the courtesy of reading my texts. If you had, you would have seen how I feel.”

There was remorse in her eyes as she looked into his. “And how do you feel?”

Wade took her lips in his and kept her in the passionate kiss for almost half a minute, responding to her question in a way that left no doubt as to the answer.

“I’m sorry, Wade. I should have checked my messages and at least let you know where I was.”

He nodded. “Yes, you should have. Again, what you went through was awful. And I aim to have some words with that Kelly woman, that’s for dang sure. But, also, you should have talked to me.”

He planted a kiss on her forehead to let her know that he wasn’t angry.

“Now, little girl, I’m going to do some talking and you’re going to do some listening.” He picked her up, sat her down on the big stainless-steel island, and stepped back enough to look in her eyes while he stood before her and held her hands. “I do not find you disgusting. Nothing could make me feel that way about you. The truth is, when I found out you are a Little, I was so relieved. I mean, I figured you were, but, well…this saves me the awkward conversation of having to tell you I’m a Daddy and then explaining what that is. A lot of women wouldn’t get it. Or want it. But I don’t think I have to cross that bridge with you.”

The sight of Carly grinning from ear-to-ear was the sweetest thing he’d ever seen. “No, sir. But I can’t believe it! You’re really a Daddy?”

“Not just a Daddy. I’m your Daddy,” he replied.

She giggled and hugged him.

After planting a kiss atop her head, he said, “Now, do you want to tell me what all this is about?” He motioned toward the cupcakes.