conflicted daddy

so i started this dynamic a year ago basically just as fun and to explore my side of things. but like over time i found myself really into it, like way more than anything else ever in my life, even real relationships. and my girl is totally on board with it all too. she's into me being her daddy, which means everything from setting boundaries to telling her what to do in every aspect of her life. it’s intense but we both agree that it feels right for us. the more i get into this role the more i start to see myself less as a partner or boyfriend and just as someone she looks up to like how a dad would with their kid. but then people ask me about her and i feel weird, like i’m not really dating anyone? we have sex but it’s more than that. there's this whole level of emotional intimacy too. sometimes i think people might see us and just assume she’s my daughter or niece instead of my partner. which is cool with me because the role feels so real to her. but now when someone asks if i’m seeing anyone i feel weird answering. it’s hard to explain what we are, like there's this part of me that doesn’t really want to label us as anything but another part wants everyone else to understand why we do what we do. i mean, she still calls herself my little and i'm her daddy even when we’re not in a scene or anything. i don't know if im the asshole here for feeling weird about calling it dating or being boyfriend/girlfriend stuff with someone who's legally an adult but mentally/emotionally wants to treat me as their parent. what's up with this dynamic and why does it feel so right yet i can’t quite put a label on us?