Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Everleigh
Prying my eyes open the next morning, I stretched my arms above my head and realized I finally actually felt well rested. I’d slept better than I had in weeks. No, better than I had in months. Something about the way Leo cared for me chased all of the stress out of my body.
Walking to my kitchen, I startled when I saw Leo’s still-asleep form on my couch. I’d nearly forgotten he’d spent the night. My crush was on my couch!
Relax. Nothing has changed .
Except everything had changed overnight.
Leo knew I had a Little side. I was almost certain he was a Daddy. We were both off from the clinic today, and I wondered what sort of plans he had.
Making coffee in my fancy espresso machine, I tiptoed around the kitchen trying not to make too much noise. The machine sounded louder than usual in the quiet din of my small home. Darting my gaze to the couch, I saw Leo push the blanket off and get to his feet. He had on casual clothes, warm-up pants and a navy t-shirt. He waved before disappearing up my hallway.
Be cool.
I told myself I could interact with him as if he hadn’t touched every inch of my skin. As if my breath hadn’t caught in my throat when he slipped my panties off and drank in the lines of my body as his eyes met mine. I was silly for missing the chemistry between us. No, I hadn’t missed it. I’d been convincing myself that Leo was friendly, not flirty. That someone like him wouldn’t date someone like me. Endless reasons that I threw around my head instead of talking to him. I should have, but hindsight was twenty-twenty.
Striding into my kitchen, Leo smiled as he broached the distance between us. “Good morning. You look much more relaxed today. How’d you sleep?”
“Morning. Even with the storm, I slept like I was on cloud nine.”
“I’m so happy to hear that.”
Grinning at him, I motioned toward the coffee station. “Would you like a cup?”
He glanced over the choices, making his selections from my coffee bar. “Yes, but your machine is going to spoil me. I am used to drinking whatever is in the break room.”
“We could sell the coffee in our breakroom. It’s that good.”
Leo busied himself with the task of making some sort of latte. It smelled as good as the espresso in my hands. “Mmm. That’s true. If you ever tasted the sludge I used to drink at the hospital, you’d be horrified.”
“Do you ever miss the hospital?” I slid onto the cozy chair next to the counter. It was one of my favorite places to be in my house and I loved sharing the space with Leo. He sat in the chair next to mine.
“Sometimes, but probably not for the reasons you might be thinking. There’s a difference in the type of patients you see. I sort of miss the adrenaline that a trauma situation brought to the table. Not that I looked forward to it, but the scenarios there aren’t ones we encounter at our office.”
“I don’t think I could function in a place with so much stress. The atmosphere at the clinic, even on our busiest days, isn’t nearly as chaotic.”
Leo took a long sip from his mug. “Yet you seem to be immensely stressed. Is there anything I can do to help?”
His tongue subtly licked along his lip as he asked the question and I fought the mounting urge to kiss him. I completely missed whatever words had eloquently fallen from his mouth.
“What?”
“Can I help ease some of your stress, sweetheart?”
I forced a laugh, slightly embarrassed over my behavior. “Sure. What’d you have in mind?”
“It’s really more something you had in mind. Would you like a spanking before I leave?” He cocked his head to the side.
Leo had seen me raw and vulnerable, but spanking me was an entirely different ball game. I trusted him enough to dish one out, but it was the after that worried me.
“The answer to your question is complicated.”
“Yes or no is fairly simple.”
“I don’t do casual hookups or anything else casual for that matter. A spanking is going to leave me wanting it more often. It could make me spiral. A preview of something I really need in my life.” I finally had what I wanted being offered on a silver fucking platter by my crush of two years and I was hesitating. What is wrong with me?
“I’m not going anywhere, Everleigh. I understand your hesitation, for the reasons we briefly discussed last night but I think our connection is worth pursuing.”
“I haven’t been spanked in two years. I won’t be able to stop crying once I start,” I confessed.
“I’ve handled my share of tears. The offer stands.” He lifted the mug and swallowed the last of his coffee before setting it down.
“Maybe.”
“There were lots of opportunities and chances I didn’t take before I got into medicine. I made a promise to myself to never let one pass, if it was presented to me.”
I nodded, letting him know that I was actively listening. “And I gave you one last night.”
“We’ve come together for a reason, sweetheart. Let’s see where this leads.” Leo took my hand and squeezed it.
I really wanted to follow whatever path we were on, but there was something I’d been dying to know.
“Are… are you a Daddy?” Heat flamed my face. Even with the moments we’d shared last night and the nature of our clinic it could mean he was comfortable with the lifestyle but not in it.
“I...”
“Wait.”
I cleared my throat several times and he paused, allowing me to ask another question.
“Are you comfortable with certain dynamics?”
His mouth turned up at the corners. “Yes, I was hinting at that last night. I didn’t want you to get caught in your head again.”
“My… my last relationship really messed me up.” I hyper- focused on the coffee mug instead of him. Finally, I continued. “Instead of taking a huge leap, I need to take baby steps. Is that okay?”
“I’m willing to go at whatever pace you need. It’s been a while since I’ve had a Little girl.”
A small weight lifted from my shoulders as he spoke. I lifted my head to catch his gaze. “What if we go at a snail’s pace? I haven’t had rules or structure in so long. Things I never let slip have gone to the wayside.”
“Life isn’t a marathon. We don’t have to rush. The goal is to be happy and fulfilled.”
I took a moment to breathe. Leo stared at me with an unreadable expression on his face. He likely wanted some clarification on my vague agreement. Steeling my nerves that were threatening to change my mind, I nodded. “Okay.”
“Good.”
“I’d like to get to know you on a more personal level.”
“And?”
How did he know I wanted to return to the other topic? I pouted. It wasn’t fair for him to be able to peek behind the mask I’d been wearing. Pretending that being single didn’t bother me. The careful facade of a hard-working nurse who was not doing enough to take care of herself. “And if you have nothing better to do, I guess you can spank me.”
“You sound pretty unenthusiastic. As much as I want to give you a release, I won’t pressure you,” he stated softly.
Leo pushed out his chair and set to washing the mug. Part of me wanted him to make the decision, lift me out of my seat and flip me across his muscled thighs without a word. Tossing my brat in his direction likely wouldn’t work to get us there faster because we didn’t have rules established. I had no choice but to go with honesty.
“Maybe you’re mistaking my tone for something else. I’m nervous, Leo.”
He set the mug in the dishrack to dry, and turned to me, observing me silently for a minute before saying, “Go sit on the couch.”
I stared at him, gawking slightly before slowly climbing down from the chair and shuffling across the room. I sank down on the cushions, loving the subtle woodsy aroma that lingered from his cologne as he slept. I pushed the blankets and pillow to the far end to give myself something to do. Leo strode across the kitchen as I stared awkwardly watching him. It seemed like he had ordered me to do something only to see if I would do it. He joined me on the couch.
“What’s your safeword, sweetheart?”
“I, um, I haven’t used one in so long.” Food seemed to be a good choice. Tapping my chin, I racked my brain.
“Simple is best,” he prompted.
“What about echocardiograms?”
“Funny, but a shorter word is a better choice. If you’re trying to remember a mouthful it can be hard to keep it in mind.”
“Rhinoplasty.”
“That’s four syllables, sweetheart.”
“How about gravy?”
“Are you deliberately stalling or do you need some suggestions?” He gave a coy smile.
“Velveeta.”
Leo opened his mouth but I held up my hands to stop his protest.
“No, wait, I’m serious. I hate that freaking cheese sauce with a passion.”
“All right. Do you remember how colors work?”
“Just like a stoplight.”
He patted his thigh. “Very good. Come here.”
I stared at his hand, the posture, his handsome face and froze.
Go . I practically shouted at my body to respond to his order and move. Mentally amping up for the pure bliss that I knew was on the other end of the spanking, I complied. Shifting my body to drape myself over his lap left me feeling more vulnerable than I’d expected. “What if it’s too much?”
“Tell me and I’ll stop. Call your safeword. Call red. Whatever you need, sweetheart. This is for you ,” he said gently. “Your comfort and safety are what matters.”
“Got it.”
Leo traced his finger along the waistband of my pajama bottoms and goosebumps prickled where he touched.
“May I slide these down?”
“Yes, but, um…” I squeaked out more sounds than words. “Quick question. Should I call you something specific?”
“If I pull a title from your mouth, Everleigh, so be it, but I’m not demanding anything.”
“Are there any titles you aren’t okay with?”
“I haven’t found one yet, but we’ll discuss it afterward.”
“So, if I throw something like ‘The Conqueror’ at you…” I was attempting to make a point. If Leo gave me an inch, I’d take three miles.
“If you call me ‘Leo the Conqueror’ I guarantee you’ll have a hard time sitting down the rest of the day. Make with that information what you will.”
“Huh. Then what will happen?” I sassed playfully.
“Then you’ll be writing two dozen appropriate titles.”
“You said you hadn’t found one that you didn’t like to be called,” I stated in my most sarcastic tone. “Guess I found one.”
Leo cracked his palm off both of my upper thighs in turn. I was being a smartass but technically I was correct. He slapped his hand against my full bottom cheeks several times.
“Ouch!” I reached back and rubbed my bottom.
“I am okay with most titles, but since you’re likely going to attempt to call me something ridiculous, I’ll spell them out for you. Are you listening?”
“Yes, Great and Powerful Leo.”
“Naughty little brat.” He tsked. “If you’re across my thighs whether for fun or discipline you can call me ‘Sir’ or ‘Daddy’. Do you agree?”
“Yeah.” I realized too late that my agreement did not contain any sort of acknowledgement of what he’d requested. No, I’d been stuck on the second part of his statement. Spanking me because I wanted it was way more interesting than receiving a correction.
“I would have expected a little more respect in your answer, Everleigh.”
He tugged my pajama pants off and they dragged my panties with them.
Crap .
I’d bitten off way more than I could chew. Leo brought his hand down on my naked asscheeks several times in a row. I groaned, the sting immediately following.
“Yes, Sir!”
“Much better.”
He traced the lowest curve of my butt. The gesture drove me absolutely wild and I whimpered. I had been goading him so he’d hurry the party along, but he hadn’t started yet.
“Are you just going to stare at it, Sir?”
“Last chance to be respectful,” Leo warned, an authoritative twang in his husky voice.
“Or?”
“Or I’ll get you dressed and be on my way.”
“Serves me right. I’ll save you a step and do it myself.”
Oof . That wasn’t what I wanted at all.
Blindly searching for my pants with my right foot, I lassoed my panties. Shifting around on his lap, I rescued them from my foot. Leo plucked them from my hand and stuffed them into his pocket.
I liked those panties! I crossed my arms across my chest, glaring at him. We hadn’t discussed needs, wants, and the like. At least not in the detail needed for him to give me the outcome I expected.
“My intention was to get you a release, one you so desperately need, but I set the pace, sweetheart. You can drop the daggers flying out of your eyes and get yourself back into position–”
“Or what will happen?”
“I wasn’t finished.”
“I apologize. Please continue, Sir.”
“If you don’t do what I asked, I’m going to assume you’ve actually been craving a punishment. If that’s the case, this is going to go very differently.” Leo’s jaw clenched and relaxed.
“Maybe I want it to go differently.”
“Choose carefully.”
Seeing how Leo punished me, regardless if any rules were set, would give me a crystal-clear picture of how things would progress in our relationship. “I want to battle, but I don’t want to fight.”
The corner of Leo’s mouth twitched but he did not smile. “What are you going to do, Everleigh?”
“Which option is going to get me spanked faster?” I studied his face as he processed my question.
“Both options will get you what you want, but you have to decide which choice also involves you getting what you need.”
When he stated it like that it made it hard for me to argue the logic. It would be so much easier if Leo made the decision instead of making me cave.
Regardless, I wanted a release. One that was provided by his hand solidly smacking my behind until I fully submitted to the pain, edging me to the cusp of an orgasm. Once there I’d blissfully freefall into pleasure. A pleasure I’d been craving and missing for far too long. I pouted, climbing across his lap without another word.
“Good choice, sweetheart,” he praised.
Leo slapped his hard palm against the curviest part of my bottom. I anticipated it, bracing for the next. He smacked each asscheek hard enough to sting. The delicious bite of pain eased my overworked mind into relaxation. He hit with precision; each swat delivered for maximum impact while giving me time in between.
The heat was building across the expanse of my ass, likely turning my previously pale skin into a yummy pink. Leo spanked my upper thighs, and I kicked out my legs. Instead of stopping, he scissored one of his legs across mine.
“Your bottom is not even rosy yet. If I stop now, I have a feeling you won’t be satisfied.”
“I’m not sure I’ll be able to face you at the clinic after you’ve thoroughly punished me, Sir.”
Leo paused his onslaught. Kneading his fingers into my warmed bottom cheeks, he increased the pressure.
“This isn’t a punishment, sweetheart,” he said softly, reminding me of the choice I’d made. “I’d like us to get to the heart of the matter. What have you been holding inside?”
“If I didn’t force my ex-boyfriend to be my Daddy, we would still be together.” Confessing to Leo something I hadn’t even shared with my sister or my best friend lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.
“Why do you think you forced him to be your Daddy?”
“I expected too much from him. I worked more than he did, and sometimes didn’t come home until hours after him. Instead of being understanding, Jett made me feel bad. Like I was choosing my career over him.”
“What else?”
“Uh, well, he never had a Little girl before me. I dumped all this info into his lap. I bought things that helped me enter into a much younger mindset. I didn’t know how freeing it could be to allow myself to be completely vulnerable with another person. Before Jett, I never wore onesies or used a pacifier. Instead of supporting my choices, he pulled away.”
I hadn’t meant to share the last part with Leo, it was something I kept to myself. Sobs erupted. Leo carefully moved his leg. He turned me around on his lap, pulling me up against his chest.
“Let it out, Leelee. I’m here. I’m right here.”
He noticed the shift, which meant he wasn’t likely to continue spanking me after I cried all over him.
Once the tears fell, I couldn’t seem to stop them. Leo rocked me as the emotions poured out via seemingly endless tears. He soothed and comforted me as I allowed memories to come to the surface—some good, some bad, all surrounding my previous relationship. Realizing that Jett was never cut out to be a Daddy was the very last realization.
I hadn’t forced him to accept me; he’d claimed he was okay with everything I wanted. But, as it turned out, he hadn’t been okay with any of it. My choices, my Little space, my wanting to spend time being rocked and coddled, had nothing to do with his transgressions.
As much as Jett claimed to love me, he was addicted to harmful habits. Forever chasing dopamine. I supposed I might have been doing the same, seeking it where I could find it. But perhaps I sought it in healthy ways where Jett wasn’t as selective. No, he fell victim over and over again to online scams while trying to make a quick dollar. Gambling was his first love, followed by alcohol and eventually women. At one point he was chatting with four or five different women every night. He’d shown me his true colors and I’d shown him the door.
Clinging to Leo, I buried my head into the crook of his neck. I worried for a moment that I might have been painting a delusional picture of a relationship for the two of us without focusing on reality.
No. Leo was here in the flesh. He spanked me and wanted me to get what I needed.
Something inside of my chest seemed lighter as I came to my inevitable conclusion. Leo enjoyed my company. He wanted to take care of me last night. He cared about me more than just the two of us being colleagues. And that had all happened before he knew I was Little, though he may have had a strong inkling.
The effervescent feeling was quickly replaced with a lead ball in my tummy. If Leo saw me at my most vulnerable, he might judge me or worse want nothing to do with me. Despite the connection and the chemistry, I could not go down that road again. Whatever had been brewing between us needed to end before I was invested.
I shimmied out of his lap and located my pants. Tugging them on, I stood up. “I’m okay now. You should go.”
“Have I done something to upset you?”
“Nope. Thanks for staying last night.” I hurried across the room, stopping at the front door.
I didn’t offer an explanation. No words could make sense of the jumbled mass of panic about to explode out of my mouth. I wanted to tell him why I had been peaceful, almost serene, after the spanking before tumbling into panic but I couldn’t. Not yet. His tender-loving care was stroking my heart. I needed to lock that shit down so I didn’t fall in love with him.
Twirling the knob to open my front door, I glanced over my shoulder. Leo was already behind me. He reached across the front of my body, shutting and locking the door. That was new. It had been so long since I’d been with anyone who made decisions without me having to prompt them.
“I’ll leave in a little while, Everleigh. You haven’t been spanked in a long time. It’s not a great idea to leave you alone.”
“I’m sure you have more important things to do today than worry about me.”
“Right now, you are my priority. We can watch something funny or whatever you want on television. I’ll order us something to eat for lunch. There’s a new Italian restaurant down the road and they deliver.”
“You don’t…”
Leo covered my mouth with his hand. Dominance oozed out of his pores on any given day, but the gesture combined with his resolve was enough to push me over the edge.
I came undone. Little Leelee ran screaming for the hills. The only thing on my mind was the mental image of him pinning me to my bed and fucking me senseless. Proof of my arousal dripped along my pussy lips. I pressed my thighs together as if the movement would help. It didn’t.
He spun me around to face him. Staring into the two deep brown pools of his eyes, darker than usual, I swallowed hard.
“You have no say about what I do or don’t do at any given time, sweetheart.” Leo licked his lips, reminding me of the proverbial cat who was about to eat the canary.
“After lunch, we can look over our schedules and see where they line up. I’d very much like to take you on a proper date. Blink twice if you agree.”
I blinked twice.
“Good girl. Unless you have a sudden pressing matter, I’ve explained how I plan on spending the next few hours.”
I blinked twice more. Leo dropped his hand.
I was in awe of how swiftly he made such a decision. He had absolutely no right to arouse the hell out of me. He also didn’t have any sexy things listed on our to-do list which made me wonder if he wanted to do anything to me. Leo gestured for me to follow him back to the living room.
“Come.”
“I’m soaked, it wouldn’t take much.” I played off his word choice.
“Your response tells me I’m on the right track.”
He traced his fingers down the side of my body, resting them on my hip.
“Are you going to fuck me?”
“Not right now.”
“Because you don’t want to?”
“I very much want to, but we’re going to do things properly. A date. A relationship. Then I’ll take my sweet time licking every inch of your skin from your neck all the way to your…”
“Leo!” I waved my hand in front of my face.
“All the way to your clit,” he finished. “After I’ve given you multiple orgasms, I’ll fuck you until your legs are trembling. Only after you’re completely sated and rolling in pleasure will I stop. How does that sound?”
“Uh. Yeah.”
Lame. What a lame response!
“ I’m caught up in my head about some things.”
“Do you want to talk about them?” He took my hand in his, leading us into the living room.
“No, but my attempt to kick you out was in response to stuff I’m not quite ready to share.”
“Thank you for being honest with me, sweetheart. I hope in time you’ll trust me enough to tell me what’s on your mind.” He laid down on the couch and opened his arms.
I climbed on top of him, pulling the blanket along with me. Leo wrapped his arms around me and I settled in against his body. Planting a kiss on the top of my head, he breathed in deeply.
“I want to tell you eventually.”
“I look forward to getting to know you better, Everleigh.”
“Me too.”
For as much as it scared me to my core, I longed to open up to Leo and start a relationship with him. If my fears and insecurities could stay quiet long enough to allow it.