The Situation Changes a Bit (Flirty Demeanor)

---the device buzzes again.

Up above, daddy starts to slide off his little throne with a smile on his face and his eyes locked on me. I suppress the urge to sigh. Much like the rest of the Kingdom, daddy's utterly smitten with me - so much so I doubt James' presence has registered to him at all. You might think this would normally be thrilling, that my own father is included amongst the number aside. You could call it flattering - enticing - exciting, even, but that the men of this kingdom are all so... so...

...maidenly.

It's all coy smiles and batted lashes and the occasional 'subtle' letter and the payoff at the end is a (admittedly cute) little slip of a 'man' wiling about in my hands while I seize the initiative, and then invariably disappointed to be treated as little more than a fling and a one-night stand.

They're all so caught up in the idea of romance that none of them make the sex part any fun!

Even daddy. Especially daddy. I wager this whole business is just an excuse to invite me to dine on tea and biscuits in the parlor, which I would - normally - have no course but to accept. What would follow would be an awkwardly long 'date' wherein I do my best to avoid giving daddy any ideas about my interest while he 'casually' tries to lead me into taking him to bed and...

Ugh! I feel if James had not appeared, I may have gone mad. Truly, the most wicked mark the demon left me that fateful night was that it showed me the pleasure a woman is meant to experience from a man. Fortunately, the Goddess is merciful, and I've James. Now I just need to break the news to Daddy without causing his gentle heart to shatter.

Yet before I can pre-empt Daddy's oncoming invitation--