Babypink nail polish, slender long legs, an adorable tiny ring on her fourth toe. Daphne stands on top of me, bare feet stepping on my own, right above my black leather boots. Her hands are circling my waist, head resting on my shoulder, occasionally peeking up, smiling at me.

The elevator moves slowly, bringing us to the lobby of her friend's apartment building. As soon as the bell signals our stop, she reluctant peers at the ground, studding it as if it's going to open up and swallow her. Her doe eyes, find mine once again, a pleading puppyish look on her face and I chuckle lightly, before I wrap my arms around her thighs picking her up.

Another thing I learn for her tonight, she becomes a brat when she is drunk. An adorable, sexy, little brat.

The image of her slim figure, jumping on her bare feet, right when she felt the ground, will stay forever in my head. Just imagine a pair of parents, dragging their toddlers around the house to get them ready for school. There was whining and running, basically tugging on everything to stay away from the elevator. She didn't want to change her outfit but couldn't wear the heels from before.

Then there was Josh who she insisted to hug, until he started throwing up everywhere. And all that just before she made up her mind, sitting on the ground, denying on going pretty much anywhere. Zoey had already given up, considering the fact she had to take care of her drunk roommate too, leaving just me and my toddler.

After debating for a while, I made my decision, following the most familiar route to me.

Blackmail.

It took only one sentence, (''I'm leaving'') for her to clutch on me like a baby, her whole body hugging my leg, begging me not to go. After a few crocodile tears, she finally admitted in a delirium of slur words, that she didn't want to step on the floor because her feet would get dirty and there is nothing, she hates more than dirty paws (yes she said paws), and real furs.

The last one was just extra information.

Which explains, why I'm carrying her over my shoulder, listening to her giggles, all the way to my car.

A moment of silence passes by, right before I unlock it and then her hand comes in contact with my ass.

''Hey!''

''Nice butt daddy.'' She says chuckling.

Stopping abruptly, I pretend to let her body fall backwards, a yelp coming off her lips in the process. Tugging on my shoulders, she fights to stay up, her feet bending in every way possible to not touch the ground.

''Say sorry.'

Ignoring my words, she keeps moving for a while, until the big round shape of her eyes pierces mine and she is too tired to fight.

''Sorry.'' She mumbles.

Moving forward, I open the door putting her slender body inside, but not before I kiss her head whispering a simple ''Thank you.''

And by the time I get myself in the car, she has already forgotten about it, too busy fighting with the seatbelt.

''Bad belt. Bad.'' She keeps repeating, stretching the object and failing miserably.

My laugh is deep and spontaneous, making her smile in my direction, while I secure the seatbelt across her body. Our eyes lock once again and I can't help myself, but whisper.

''You are crazy you know that?''

Her cheeks blossom under my gaze and she rests her head back, peering at me through her long eyelashes.

''But you like me huh?''

Leaving a last attentive glance on her features, I exhale deeply, mumbling over the loud noise of the engine.

''That, I do.''

The ride home was peaceful, nothing but the occasional sound of the streets. Daphne was sitting in silence, staring outside the window like a real adult...

Wait you don't actually believe this shit, right?

She was living life in the passenger seat.

Her voice kept talking through the whole route, leaving honestly no space for me to answer and you can better bet, I fuckin loved every second of it.

There was something refreshing watching her talking so freely about her interests. I learned all about the last k pop news. How Blackpink after being in hiatus for a year, came back with a BOMB song, which I let her play in the car, the fact itself lead her to tell me she wanted to be a bird when she was younger and she loves travelling on planes.

Her slur speech continued by peeking up random topics, like the last episode of ''Euphoria'' or her new favorite book ''Call me by your name'', how she cried in Nairobi's death, animal testing makes her angry, because she learned rabbits are on the top list for cosmetics and she had a bunny named Fluffy, that loved to cuddle to death.

Literally.

Her face dropped revealing the little secret and I couldn't help but smile, watching her mumble guilty ''I really, really liked to cuddle him.''

When we finally arrived home, the tears had already stopped and she was sitting silent on top of my kitchen island.

''Let's put some ice on your leg, so it won't get swelled.''

Her curious eyes follow my movements, while I put the icepack on her ankle. ''You haven't twist it which is good. I think you are going to be fine by tomorrow. Maybe hurt a little...'' I say, checking her leg.

''Does it hurt?''

There is no response from her side, but when I avert my gaze, I find her looking at me.

''Daphne?''

''Mmm..''

''Does it hurt?''

She responds by nodding her head furiously and I chuckle.

''It's not even red.''

''It hurst a lot!'' She exclaims, rather loudly.

Her outburst just confirms my assumption that she is faking it, but I decide to play along her little game, since it's too fun to ignore it.

''Yeah? Where does it hurt babe?'' I ask walking carefully between her legs.

''All the way from here to here.'' Daphne says, pointing basically to her whole leg.

''Mm...that's not good. What should we do to fix it?'' I whisper huskily and she just shrugs her shoulders avoiding my eyes.

''Maybe...I could kiss it better.''

My words seem to trigger her, because her whole face lights up, the crimson color finding its' way to her cheeks.

''Would you like that?'' I ask, gently rubbing on her smooth thighs.

She doesn't respond, making me move my hand towards her leg, caressing the soft skin underneath. I feel her shivering under my touch, the view bringing a satisfied smirk on my face. My fingers draw light circles between her thighs and I whisper lowly in her ear ''Yeah baby?''

Her breath comes irregular and she just nods her head, eyes focused on the rings in my hand. Mimicking her action, I rest my forehead on hers for a second, before I leave a kiss on the corner of her lips. ''Okay''

Taking a step back, I go down on my knee, gently grabbing her bare foot. My lips find their way to her ankle, leaving a soft kiss there and continue the journey to her calf, slowly prepping the skin with light kisses. I feel her eyes burning holes on me and when I final reach the upper part of her knee, I return the stare, tugging her body by the ankles to bring her closer to the edge.

My action caught her by surprise, a slight gasp escaping her plump lips. Parting her legs to take a better view between her thighs, I watch her resting back on her elbows, chest moving up and down in heavy breathes. My eyes penetrate hers, while I press my lips to her inner thigh, gently sucking on the skin there. I repeat the action higher, right on the side of her white underwear, marking the smooth, milk skin there.

''Tastes so sweet baby.''

She mumbles something under her breath, the sound of my name mixing up with other blurred words and when I finally look at her, she is almost asleep.

The image brings a smile to my face and I stand up, closing her parted legs, before I tug her dress down, covering her dignity.

''Let's go to bed.''

''I don't hear anything...'' Her voice comes right outside my bathroom door.

Chuckling I shake my head minding my business. Crazy girl.

''You lied! You're not peeing. What are you doing in there?''

I refuse to answer, putting a clean pair of boxers and my joggers. There is a moment of silence, when I almost think she might fell asleep again, but her voice appears again lower and more bubbly this time.

''Are you playing with yourself daddy?''

The sound of her words is enough to set a fire in my stomach and suddenly, I have an image of her, sitting on her knees, while I touch myself above her.

Fuck. Don't think about it right now.

Splashing some cold water on my face, I finally open the door, finding her sitting cross-legged on the floor, like a small child. Even though she doesn't look like a child.

At all.

''You are pass you bed time young lady. Come on.''

I carry her to my bed, while she clings on me like a koala, refusing to let go. Her hands dig on my bare shoulders, legs tightly wrap around my waist.

''Nooooo. You are warmer, I don't want to let go.'' She whines, but I manage to toss her on the mattress, her body bouncing three times, before she finally rests against it. Loud giggles erupt from her lips, the image of my black t-shirt, which she almost teared from my body like the little brat she is, along with the simple pair of white cotton panties she has on, is cute.

Almost too cute, considering the fact I know, there is a purple butterfly on the back of her underwear, matching the little bralette bra, she wears underneath.

''Come here daddy.'' Her sweet voice summons me towards the bed, and I find myself climbing next to her.

''Don't call me that babe.'' I whisper, tugging the covers over our bodies.

''Why? I think you secretly like it.'' She says a mischievous grin on her face.

I shake my head, bringing her body closer to mine. ''Not really. But you can call me whatever you want.''

She smiles in appreciation, resting her head on my chest. ''Jackson.''

My name rolls of her tongue like melting caramel.

''Yeah?''

''Do you think Fluffy has forgiven me?''

The question is unexpected, hiding a bit of worry, that only makes me smile wider.

''Of course, baby.''

''I hope he is really happy in bunny heaven. And eat as many carrots as he wants. He deserves it. He was my best friend.''

Her words are cute and innocent, but I don't miss the sadness behind them. And I know it has nothing to do with the death of her pet.

''Why were you drinking today?''

My question brings a sudden moment of silence between us. Nothing but the sound of our breathes, until Daphne intents to break it again, voice just an inch above a whisper.

''I was sad.''

My chest tightens at her words.

''Why sweetheart?''

''Because...everybody leaves.''

There are tears gathering in her eyes. I can tell from the way her eyelashes flatter on my chest and there is nothing I want more than take her pain away. My hands find their path to her hair, gently massasing her sclap and it seems to smooth her down. A few minutes later, her breath is steady and she lays asleep in my arms.

My little angel.

I'll put your pieces back together.