4. BRODY
Brody carefully wiped down the lighthouse lantern, lost in thought. It was frustrating that even something as simple as trying to clean a lantern was a challenge for him these days. Ever since his injury, trying to get his fine motor skills working was a challenge. Doing up buttons, writing, wiping lanterns clean. Those things were so much harder than they used to be. He also struggled with balance and occasionally slurred his speech.
It was definitely getting better over time, but he was impatient to fully recover. The doctor had said it might be possible, but only might.
Ah, well. At least he had this job. It was tailor-made for someone like him. He could enjoy the beautiful evening light and the ocean and the peace of solitude. All of that stuff helped.
Just then, his phone rang, shattering the tranquility of the moment. He frowned, glancing at the screen before answering. “Mr. Mayor?”
“Brody, sorry to disturb you,” came the voice on the other end of the line. “I wanted to talk to you about a little issue that’s come up. It seems your new acquaintance, Miss Naomi James, has filed a complaint.”
“Complaint?” Brody’s eyebrows furrowed as he recalled his encounter with the feisty marine biologist earlier that day. “About what?”
“She believes you’re breaking the rules of the beach. Letting your dog run free, and so on.”
“But it’s a private beach! I’ve always had my dog there.”
“Technically, yes,” the mayor replied. “It’s your beach. However, Miss James is new in town and there is a sign on the beach saying dogs are forbidden.”
Brody sighed, leaning against the railing as he stared out of the window. “So, what do you suggest, Mayor? Do I have to keep Rufus inside while she’s working here? How long did she say she’d be in town—two weeks?”
“No, no,” said the mayor. “Don’t you worry about that. I’ll give her a call and explain the situation. She left in a bit of a hurry earlier. In the meantime, perhaps you could try to make peace with her? She’s going to be around for a while, after all. And who knows? You two might actually get along once you get past the initial . . . misunderstandings.”
“Right, sure,” Brody said, his voice laced with skepticism. “I’m sure we’ll end up becoming best friends.”
“Good man,” the mayor responded. “Now, listen. Of course your dog is allowed on your own private beach, so no need to worry about that. The sign prohibiting dogs is outdated and unnecessary. It’s been there for years, from back when that was a public beach. I’ll have it removed.”
“Thanks, Mayor,” Brody replied with a nod. “Appreciate it.”
“Naomi means well,” the mayor said. “She just seems to be very rule-oriented. Which is . . . interesting. She didn’t mention that she was a Little in her application to work on the beach, but I’m almost certain it’s the case having met her. Once she knows the new rules, I’m sure she won’t give you any more trouble.”
“All right,” Brody agreed, though he couldn’t help but wonder what else might ruffle her feathers. He didn’t want to feel as though he was walking on eggshells in his own home.
“Assuming I’m correct about her being a Little,” Mayor Cooper continued, “you may find she responds well to being treated as one.”
“You want me to treat her like a Little?” Brody said incredulously.
“I think it might help with your living situation,” said the mayor. “Ensuring she has toys and activities that help her get into Little Space. Not being afraid to dole out the occasional bit of discipline if things go awry.”
Brody frowned. “My living situation? Naomi and I aren’t—“
As Brody tried to press for more information, a knock at the lighthouse door echoed up the stairs. He hesitated. “I’ll call you back, Mayor,” he said, hanging up the phone before descending the spiral staircase.
With each step, Brody felt a growing sense of unease mixed with anticipation. Who could be visiting the lighthouse at this hour? And what was the mayor talking about?
He reached the front door, taking a moment to steady himself, then opened it.
To Brody’s surprise, Naomi stood on the threshold.
“Hi again,” she said. Her eyes held a vulnerability that sent a shiver down his spine. “I guess we’re roomies for the next two weeks.”
Brody blinked, momentarily speechless. The words hung in the air between them like a thick fog. He searched her face for answers, but found none.
“Excuse me?” he finally managed.
“Mayor Cooper arranged it,” Naomi explained, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “I didn’t realize you lived here too until I went to, uh, speak with him earlier.”
Brody narrowed his eyes. “You went to complain to him about me.”
Naomi swallowed and bit her lip, fidgeting from foot to foot. “Yes, I did. And I’m sorry. I know it’s awkward. But rules are rules—“
“Actually, it turns out those rules are not rules,“ Brody said sharply. “Mayor Cooper has just called to say he’s getting that sign on the beach taken down.”
Naomi looked crestfallen. “Oh. I see.” She sniffed. “Well, if I come in, do you promise you won’t hurt me?”
Immediately, Brody let out a hard belly laugh. “Hurt you? Why would I hurt you?”
Naomi wrung her hands together. “Uh, no reason.”
Her demeanor had changed so much since this morning—she was almost unrecognizable. And yet, here she was, in that same floaty white dress, her dark skin gleaming and her beautiful brown eyes, with those long, thick lashes, blinking up at him.
Brody remembered what the mayor had said about treating her like a Little. She seemed so scared right now, he figured it was worth a go. Maybe he hadn’t lost the knack of being a Daddy Dom completely.
“Naomi,” he said, “I can assure you that you are perfectly safe with me, young lady. Now, why don’t you let me take your bags inside we’ll get you all comfy and settled?”
There. That didn’t sound too unnatural, did it?
He wasn’t sure why he was trying so hard to be nice to Naomi. After all, he really didn’t want Naomi to stay with him at the lighthouse. He loved living alone. And he definitely didn’t love the idea of Little Miss Rules Are Rules staying with him.
But on the other hand, the mayor was a powerful man in the town, and he had the final say. Plus, Naomi’s job sounded like it was probably important. And in any case, seeing her looking so small and fragile brought out something strangely protective in him.
“W-well, okay,” said Naomi. “That sounds good, actually.”
As they walked in, Brody felt like he was in a dream. How had he missed the fact there would be someone living with him for the next two weeks? His eyes wandered to the sideboard near the door, where a pile of unopened mail lay. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach as he realized there must have been a letter from the mayor about this living arrangement. He mentally kicked himself for not checking his mail sooner. He might not have been able to stop it, but he could have at least tried.
“This way, little one,” he said, forcing a tight smile.
“Thank you,” Naomi replied, glancing around the circular kitchen. “Wow,” she gasped. “I always wondered what it was like inside a lighthouse. All the furniture is curved!”
Brody smiled. “Takes a while to get used to the curved tables and counters, eh? It’s pretty cozy once you do.”
“No, no, I love it,” said Naomi. “It’s like something from a fairytale.”
“Let me show you around,” Brody said, leading her up the circular stairs. “Here on the second floor is the living room.”
“No way! A circular couch!” said Naomi. “And a round ottoman too!”
Brody couldn’t help chuckling. “The next level up is the bathroom. And after that the guest room. But I haven’t had time to prepare it yet, since I only found out about this,”—he checked his watch—“three minutes ago. So how about you can wait here in the living room while I fix it up?”
Naomi stifled a yawn. “Honestly, I’m so tired after today that I don’t mind if it’s a little messy. I’d rather go straight there, if you don’t mind.”
Brody hesitated. The guest room was cluttered with his old age play paraphernalia. He’d stored it all there for some future time when he finally felt confident enough to be a Daddy Dom to someone again.
If Mayor Cooper was wrong, and Naomi wasn’t a Little, she’d find the room completely shocking. Maybe that wasn’t a bad thing, though. She might just run off straight to the nearest hotel.
On the other hand, if she was a Little, maybe she’d find the things in the guest room reassuring. And exciting.
The thought of that sent an unexpected thrill through Brody.
“Alright,” he agreed, nodding toward the staircase. “After you.”
Naomi went first this time, and as they ascended the narrow spiral staircase, Brody couldn’t help but notice the way her hips swayed with each step. Her white dress was ever so slightly translucent, and he could see the shape of her through it, beautifully curvaceous. He shook his head, trying to clear the unbidden thoughts from his mind.
Upon reaching the fourth floor, he pushed open the door to the guest room, revealing the array of stuffed animals, diapers, and age play accessories boxed up on one side of the room. And then there was the Dom stuff boxed up on the other side: whips, floggers, paddles, even an old spanking chair.
He watched Naomi’s face for any sign of shock or disgust, but instead, she merely raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting décor,” she commented, her lips quirking into a small smile. “Are you, uh, are you a Daddy Dom?”
“Not a currently practicing one,” replied Brody, slightly awkwardly.
“I see,” Naomi replied.
He fixed her with an intense look. Since she’d asked him outright, he figured he was entitled to ask her back. “What about you? Are you a Little, Naomi?”
Naomi cleared her throat. “Not a currently practicing one,” she echoed. She looked around the room, her gaze lingering on the various items before settling on a large teddy bear sitting on the bed. “Anyway, you can leave me now. Is there a lock on this door?”
Her words caught Brody off guard. “No, there’s no lock. The bathroom door has a lock, but not this one. Do you need one?”
Naomi looked at him with those wide, scared eyes again. “I haven’t ever shared living quarters with anyone except my father,” she admitted shyly. “And I’ve heard a couple of things about you . . .”
Brody swore he could feel every single muscle in his body tense at the same time. “Whatever you heard, it’s not true. Nobody in this town knows anything about me.”
“Really? Nobody?” asked Naomi.
“No,” Brody said gruffly. “And I’d like it to stay that way.”
Naomi stared at him for a few seconds. “Okay,” she said. “Well, I’ll be sleeping with some of these, uh, hitty things close by, and if you try anything, I swear, I’ll hit you harder than a fastball from a major league pitcher.“ She held up one of his paddles in the air, showing him how she might swing it at him.
Brody’s eyes widened. “I won’t be trying anything, Naomi. You can trust me.”
Naomi still looked hesitant.
An idea came to Brody. “You know what, little one?” he said kindly. “I have a rule for you. As long as you’re in the lighthouse with me, I won’t enter a single room without knocking first, except for my own bedroom. And I won’t enter your room period. Unless you invite me, of course.”
Naomi smiled and nodded. “Okay. Sounds good.” She winced. “Although . . . can I trust you? You broke all those rules on the beach earlier.”
“Those ones aren’t actual rules, remember? Look, I tell you what, I’ll strike a deal with you. If I ever break another rule in front of you, even one, then I’ll tell you my secret.”
“Your secret?”
“The thing that nobody in the town knows about me.”
“And how do I know what you tell me will be true?”
Brody ran his hand through his hair, exasperated. “Wow, you’re thorough, huh? Look. I’ll provide you with evidence, okay? I’ll show you proof of what I say. But hopefully I’ll never have to, because I’m not going to break a rule.”
“Okay,” said Naomi. “That’s good to know.”
Brody gave her a piercing look. He couldn’t quite believe he was about to say this, but suddenly it felt right. “I do have one rule of my own, though.”
Naomi took a very small step back. “You do?”
“Mm-hmm,” he nodded. “While you’re using my guest room, you’re free to use any of the Little stuff you like. You can wear the clothes, cuddle the stuffies, and fill out the activity books. Just . . . leave the sex toys alone, okay?”
Naomi looked so shocked she practically choked. “Don’t worry,” she replied. “I’m not that kind of girl.”
Brody couldn’t help hide a smirk at that. The fact that Naomi hadn’t run a mile already told him that there was every chance that she was that kind of girl.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Naomi nodded, her eyes darting around the room once more before meeting his gaze. “Like I said, I’m tired. As long as there’s a bed, I’ll manage.”
“Alright,” Brody replied, struggling to contain his curiosity. Who was this woman? Where had she come from? Was she a Little or not? He couldn’t ask any of those questions, though, so he asked: “Is there anything else you need?”
“No thank you,” she said with a yawn. “I’m all good.”
“Okay, then,” he said. “Goodnight, little one.”
“Goodnight, Daddy,” she replied sleepily.
Brody closed the door, his heart racing. Had she really said that? Was it just a slip of the tongue? She mentioned living with her father—was she so used to addressing him that the word had just popped out? Or had being in that room had a strong and immediate effect on Naomi?
Only time would tell . . .
Brody descended the stairs of the lighthouse, wondering what the morning would bring.