Daddy has declared that he's taking me on a date today. We live in a small, rural town and there's not a whole lot to do here so I'm assuming we're going to one of the larger cities nearby. I'm not wearing anything fancy (we're not fancy kind of people), just a crop top, jeans and birkenstocks. Daddy said I look presentable enough so I don't change before we go.
Daddy's always in charge of music in the car which is fine by me, most of the time. I hate country music and he knows it so he'll play it to get me riled up sometimes. But today he's feeling like heavy metal is the vibe and I can get behind that.
Daddy's hand rests on my thigh, as it always does when we're in the car, and I slide my hand to cover his and squeeze it. I've gathered that we're headed further into the mountains to the nearby college town that's about 40 minutes away. It's a warm, sunny summer day. Perfect date weather.
I watch the little towns and farmhouses pass in a blur. The mountains are a formidable force that now surround us in every direction. Once we hit the outskirts of the college town, quaint farms are quickly replaced with warehouses, factories and retail shops. I observe them all, content in my role of passenger princess.
Daddy's taking us downtown, I'm sure. Where older brick buildings dominate the area, housing all of the best restaurants and speciality shops in town. Because downtown is so busy and full of life, I still don't have an idea of where we're going when Daddy parks the car in a small parking lot between buildings.
We both exit the car and meet in front of it to rejoin hands before Daddy guides me to the entrance of what looks like a trendy restaurant/bar with rooftop seating. After speaking to the hostess inside, we head up to the rooftop area to claim a table. Daddy snags a table in the shade and right next to the water misters to make sure I'm comfortable.
There's a bartender working on the roof who immediately takes our drink orders and a waitress who gives us our menus. Daddy tells me that this place used to grill burgers on the roof and you could literally get your food right off of the grill which is why he chose this place but it looks like that's not something they do now. Doesn't matter to me.
I tell Daddy what I would like to eat and when the waitress comes back, he orders for both of us - some variation on burgers and fries. Once the waitress is gone, Daddy reaches for my hand and holds it across the table while we speak together in hushed tones.
"What do you think my baby would like to get for your next tattoo?" Daddy asks, conversationally, as his other hand runs up and down my forearm caressing the tattoos that reside there.
I'm building a patchwork tattoo sleeve on my left arm and I have the majority of my forearm covered so the natural answer would be something that fits into my sleeve's theme and available space but I've actually been thinking about this for a while. I want to get a tattoo for Daddy.
"I think I want to get a lunar moth," I reply.
"Why a lunar moth?" Daddy questions.
"Because you're my moth-ew," I say with a giggle.
(It's important to know for context that Daddy's name is Mathew and that I call him Matty in public because Matty sounds like Daddy).
"But also because lunar moths represent transformation and rebirth. They represent femininity and vulnerability and embracing the unknown. All things that have brought me to you."
"I like that," Daddy says with a small smile.
I smile shyly back.
Our conversation drifts to other things and before long, our burgers are brought out and set before us. Just as I'm about to take a bite of the juicy delicious burger in front of me, Daddy excuses himself for a quick trip to the bathroom.
I put the burger down, deciding to wait for Daddy to return before I start eating. He's only gone for a few minutes and when he returns, we both dig into our burgers with gusto. I am usually unable to finish an entire plate when we go out to eat but I must be extra hungry today because I make that burger and those fries disappear.
After Daddy pays the bill, we head back to the car. I am fully expecting to head home but that's not where Daddy takes us. Just a few blocks away is a tattoo shop and he parks right in front of it.
"What are we doing here?" I ask.
"You'll see," is the only answer that I'm given.
We enter the tattoo shop and are greeted by several tattoo artists. The shop isn't busy but it's a clean and welcoming space.
Addressing the tattoo artists at large, Daddy says "Hey, I was just on the phone with you setting up our walk-in appointments?"
The tall, gangly tattoo artist in the back pipes up with an affirmative response. He must be who Daddy spoke to. When did he call a tattoo shop? It must have been the reason behind his very abrupt need to use the bathroom earlier. How very sneaky.
"You ready to go over designs?" the tattoo artist asks Daddy.
"Actually, I'd like to go over designs with you privately as one of these tattoos is a surprise," he says.
A surprise? What is this man up to?
Daddy turns to me.
"Why don't you look up inspiration photos for your lunar moth tattoo while I handle things?"
He motions to the couch indicating that I should sit down. I do. Then Daddy walks to the back of the tattoo shop to consult with the tattoo artist, his back to me. I can't hear what they are saying but I know Daddy's up to something. They spend an inordinate amount of time deciding on the design and I'm just becoming more and more curious.
Daddy finally turns around and announces that his tattoo will be first. He's getting a tattoo too? And it's meant to be a surprise? For me? I have never in my life been valued so much that someone would want to tattoo their body with something that makes them think of me and I'm honestly getting a little choked up about it.
I'm not allowed to see the tattoo in progress. I can, however, tell that Daddy is getting the tattoo on his left thigh. The whole process takes maybe thirty minutes and only once it's done am I welcomed into the back to take a look at it.
Oh. My. God.
Daddy has a tattoo of a woman with tears running down her cheeks, a ball-gag in her mouth and a collar around her neck. Underneath the image is "Yes, Daddy" in beautiful cursive script. Not only has he gotten this tattoo for me, he's had it placed in a spot where I can worship it while I'm on my knees for him.
I probably should be a little embarrassed that every tattoo artist in this shop has just gotten a glimpse into our dynamic, but I'm not. It actually sends a thrill through me that has me squeezing my legs together to relieve it.
"What do you think, baby?" Daddy asks.
My eyes, shimmering with tears, lift to his.
"I fucking love it" is the only acceptable answer to his question and I breathe the words out in a rush.
"It's your turn, baby. Where would you like your tattoo?"
I consider it for a moment.
"On my left shoulder blade," I decide.
"Not part of your sleeve?" he asks.
"No," I say with conviction. " I want you to be able to see it when you're fucking me from behind."
Daddy smiles broadly.
"On the shoulder, it is."
After the stencil has been laid, the tattoo artists gets to work. I love the pain of tattoos. The pain of this tattoo feels extra sweet. Daddy sits with me and rubs my knee throughout the entire process. My tattoo takes a little bit longer to complete but after forty five more minutes, the tattoo artist covers his work with second skin and gives us both instructions for tattoo aftercare.
On the drive back home, I am on a happy little cloud 9. I have this man permanently embedded into my skin, just a physical representation of how embedded he is in my heart.
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One thing can easily be said about Daddy and that's that he's pretty spontaneous rather than a preplanner. It keeps things fun. No sooner have we arrived at home, then I am informed that he got tickets to a demolition derby happening in the next town over and we're meeting his ex-wife/baby momma and her partner for a double date.
I really like Daddy's ex-wife. She's easy to get along with. And we're trying to foster a sense of community/village when it comes to raising his children and mine. Her partner is a little odd but hey, it's a demolition derby and I've never been to one so I'm excited.
