Chapter Eight
Axel
I woke up to a weight on my chest. Lifting my hand, I brushed through Paisley’s hair. “Did you sleep well, baby?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Her sweet voice spoke from the bathroom door. I turned my head to see her standing in the doorway, holding onto her crutches. I hated that she was so clumsy on those damn things. I wanted to carry her everywhere, but she was so determined to go back to work. I had to let her get used to them. A pain on my chest made me look down.
What the fuck? “Ouch, shit!” I yelled as the cat from hell stared back at me, her murder-mittens ready to pounce again. Quickly pushing the erroneously named creature off of me, I stood from the bed and stretched.
Paisley still stood at the bathroom door. Her eyes were huge and she was staring at my cock. “Wow,” she reverently whispered.
“You’re good for my head, baby,” I whispered, walking over and kissing her on the forehead.
“Which one?”
I hadn’t been expecting that, and a hearty laugh burst from my lungs.
“Can I touch it?” she whispered.
“Can I get some food in you first?”
“Can I get that in me first?”
I smacked her butt as I headed into the bathroom. “No, sassy pants.”
“Bummer,” she mumbled.
I smiled again. I wasn’t even fully awake yet and she already had me grinning like a loon. She really was a delight to have in my life.
As I was relieving myself, I heard a light thumping, then Paisley’s voice calling me through the wall.
“Uncle Axel, someone is at the door. Can you get it?” she asked, slipping back into Little-space mode.
“Yes, baby. Good girl for asking.” I quickly finished, washed my hands, and ran out of the bathroom, pausing in her room to pull on the jeans I’d worn the day before. Once they were buttoned, I ran a hand through my hair and pulled the door open, wishing I’d thought to grab a shirt. Even more so when I was greeted by the sight of a very poorly looking Emily and Onyx.
“We need to talk, if that’s possible,” Onyx said, his tone brusque.
“Yeah, come on inside,” I stood to the side for them to enter, but neither one of them moved. Emily looked wrecked. “Emily, baby. Are you okay?”
Instead of answering, she fell to her knees in the entryway and sobbed. “I’m so sorry.” Her pleas were pitiful and her shoulders shook with each sob.
“Oh, Little one,” I said, kneeling down in front of her. “Let’s get you settled onto the couch, okay?” She allowed me to help her to her feet, and over to the couch, but she was inconsolable.
Bewildered, I looked at Pike for an explanation.
He was looking pretty ragged himself. “She’s been this way since we left yesterday. I agree with letting everyone cool off, but I think in this case, she needs to know you both forgive her and then face her punishment.”
Emily was still wailing from her place on the couch. I looked at him with raised eyebrows. This was a far cry from how she’d been yesterday, and I understood why he’d shown up unannounced. “Yeah, definitely. I’m glad you came by. I’m going to go get Paisley.”
I met her halfway down the hall. “What’s wrong with Emily?” she asked, wobbling on her crutches. I steadied her, set the crutches to the side, and set her on my hip. “Her guilt is really eating at her and I think she needs to apologize. Do you think you’re ready for that? It’s okay if you’re not. Da… Uncle Axel can handle it until you’re ready to talk to her,” I explained, hoping she didn’t notice my slip up. I swallowed the pain that followed my mistake. I’d never seriously considered taking on another Little one before. My word choice shocked me.
“I’m ready to talk to her. Is she okay?” Paisley’s sincerity broke my heart. The world didn’t deserve such a sweet soul.
I carried her into the living room and settled her on my lap on the coffee table in front of where Onyx was holding Emily in his lap on her couch.
Before I even got words formed or an idea of what to say, she was leaning forward and hugging Emily. “It’s okay, it’s okay.”
Emily sobbed harder, but held onto her. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I just was so worried about you. Life is so hard and I know what it’s like to want to fit in. I was worried you would give yourself to Axel to try and earn your place with us, but that was so wrong of me. And I judged Axel unfairly too. That was so wrong of me,” she sobbed out. “I’m so sorry, Paisley. I’m so sorry, Axel.”
It was hard to be upset with her, when I knew where her distrust was coming from. Emily and her sister, Rouge, had been raised in a cult. They’d escaped when they were only fifteen, but the nightmare hadn’t ended for Emily until recently.
Until meeting our friend group, they hadn’t seen any healthy friendships. So though Emily had spoken such harsh words, I believed it was due to her concern over Paisley. She’d come at me like a fierce momma bear and after spending the last two days with Paisley, I could understand why. Paisley was bringing out sides of myself I hadn’t seen in a long time. I also wondered if she saw some of herself in Paisley.
“I forgive you, don’t cry, okay? It’s okay. Axel said you just said those things because you love me,” Paisley patted Emily’s back as her friend sobbed onto her shoulder.“I do. I do love you so much, but I didn’t mean to imply you were fragile or needy in a bad way. We do watch how we say things to you and make sure we give you encouragement. It’s just because of everything you’ve been through. It’s not bad that we do that, it’s just because we want to help you heal and when I thought that Axel had s-seduced you, I was worried you’d be hurt again. I was scared you’d be that same terrified, shy girl you were when we met you.”
Paisley pulled back from Emily just a bit. “Thank you for caring about me and for explaining your words.”
I was so proud of her for forgiving so easily. I didn’t want her to just accept whatever shit was thrown at her as long as the person apologized, but in this case, I truly felt that Emily was remorseful and deserving. She’d been protecting Paisley, not trying to hurt her.
“I didn’t mean to make you feel like you were a burden or anything,” Emily explained.
“I did feel that way at first, and a bit like a project because of how you said ‘all her progress’ but I understand now. Also Axel explained that when we love someone, sometimes we worry about them and that causes us to make mistakes.”
“I do love you so much. I’m so sorry my words made you feel that way.” Emily hiccupped.
“I forgive you,” Paisley said, hugging her friend close..
Finally calmer, Emily looked at me, held my gaze for a second, then cast her eyes downward. “I’m so sorry to you too, Axel. I said such terrible things and I judged you.”
“Why did you judge me, darlin’? I am still trying to figure that one out.”
“I’m not sure, I was just angry.”
“You’ve mentioned me seducing her several times. Is that how you feel? That I seduce women? That I seduce my play partners?” I wondered if I had a reputation around the club. I did indulge in sex with most of my partners, but so did the other Doms.
“No, Sir. You’re just... the girls at the club… the Littles...” She struggled to finish her thought.
I waited, wondering where this was going.
Finally, she sighed, and said, “Everyone talks about how sexy you are. I was worried that Paisley would see it too and you guys would sleep together. Paisley just found her place in the group and I was worried she wouldn’t understand it was casual or if it didn’t work out between you two, that she wouldn’t feel included anymore. But that wasn’t something I should have been worried about because you two are both smart and caring. You could have handled it without me making it worse.”
It sounded like she’d already talked this out with Onyx. I was grateful for what I was sure was his insight. “Thank you for explaining, Emily. It’s easy to see your heart was in the right place. I’m also glad you realized it’s our business and we don’t need your help in making choices.”
She nodded.
“I forgive you too, Little one.”
She shivered in Onyx’s lap before looking up at him.
“Do you need me to take over?”
She nodded.
Onyx nodded, his expression grim before he turned to me and said, “Emily thinks the best way to show her repentance is to let you punish her. I am fine with that, but we wanted to make sure everyone in the room was too.”
***
Paisley
Wow. I hadn’t seen that coming.
I looked up at Axel as he thought carefully.
“You want me to spank you?” he asked Emily, his brow crinkled and the corners of his mouth turned into a thoughtful frown.
“Yes, Sir. I was ugly to you and I didn’t respect you even though you asked me to give you some space. My n-naughty behavior was toward you and I think you should be the one to spank me.”
Axel tensed under me and I looked up at him. Neither of us said anything, and Emily continued.
“I could have broken something really special because I was being egotistical. I was so sure I was right that I put my friendship with both of you at risk and I feel so bad for that. Daddy already spanked me for leaving the house without telling him, but I won’t feel forgiven unless you punish me too.”
Axel nodded. He played with my curls as his eyes took a far-away look. After a few minutes, he turned back to Emily. “I appreciate your respect and trust, Little one. Are you sure this is what you need?”
She nodded.
“I need words, Emily.”
“Yes, Sir. This is what I need.”
“Okay, let me talk to Paisley first and I’ll be right back.”
Talk to me? Why did he need to talk to me?
“Yes, Sir.”
“We don’t have to talk about it, Uncle Axel. I agree too,” I said as he lifted me bridal style into his arms.
“I want to talk it over with you, baby,” he said as he carried me into the nursery and sat with me in the rocking chair.
I nodded, but I didn’t understand. Reaching up, I ran my fingers through his beard.“Why are you worried about what I think? I’m just a play partner too.”
Axel caught my hand in his and held it. “Well, I think that after the last two days, we could be more than that. I feel really strongly about you, baby, and I’d like to explore these feelings if you’re open to that.”
I blinked up at him, momentarily stunned. “You… like me?”
“You find that hard to believe?”
“Yes, I mean look at me… and look at you.”
His eyebrow raised so very high. “I am looking at you. Do you know what I see?”
“A short, chubby girl with a huge birthmark taking up half her face?”
“Oh, baby. You’re playing with fire.”
I bit my lip and looked away.
He grabbed my chin and brought my face back to him. “Answer my question correctly, Paisley.”
I fidgeted on his lap, but his large hands on my thighs stilled me. “Paisley.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what you see,” I admitted.
“I see someone that loves with her whole heart. You would put all of your hurt to the side to forgive a friend. Love pours out of you and into everyone who surrounds you. Pretty pink curls, soft pale skin, and thighs I could camp out between only add to the total package.”
I flushed and tried to look down, but he didn’t allow it.
“No, Paisley, I want you to listen to my words. You are beautiful inside and out.” His voice was so commanding and his words so sincere. It was too hard not to believe him.
“Yes, Sir,” I answered.
“Good girl.”
My tummy fluttered. I loved when he praised me.
“Now, with that all being laid on the table, I need to know if you’re okay with me spanking Emily.”
“Yes, Sir,” I answered, honestly. I wasn’t bothered by it. She deserved it, and I figured it would be good for both of them.
“I can assign lines or a timeout if you feel uncomfortable with any of it.”
“No, Sir. I don’t want you to do that. I don’t believe Emily will feel like she was punished properly.” I also didn’t think he’d get the closure he needed, but I didn’t say that part.
He kissed my forehead and set me between his feet. “Alright, baby. Do you want to stay in here while it happens or do you want to come out into the living room with us?”
“Uhhh.” I wasn’t sure. I didn’t mind either way. I just wanted my friend to feel supported, and Axel to feel comfortable. “What do you want?”
“I would like you with me… and I’m sure Emily would appreciate your support.”
I nodded my head in agreement.
He took my hand and let me back into the living room. Emily sat in Onyx’s lap and he was whispering to her softly. She was tearful, but held her chin high and her shoulders squared.
Pulling away from Axel, I moved to sit on my fluffy couch.Emily would probably be thankful my couch was so fluffy after Axel was done with her ass.
Axel sat on the coffee table again, this time opening his arms. Emily rushed into them and he held her tight.
“It’s okay, Little one. I forgive you and this spanking isn’t to remind you that you messed up. It’s to let you know I love you enough to discipline you to help you think twice before making the same mistake. And because I think highly enough of you to hold you to a better standard of behavior. I want you to understand that I forgive you before the first swat even lands. This isn’t something you need to do in order for me to love you again, I do this because I already do love you.”
His words were like balm to my damaged soul. They soothed pieces of me I hadn’t even known were jagged and mangled.
I was pretty sure Emily felt the same way. “Yes, Sir.” She sobbed the words into his shoulder.
Axel rocked her for a few minutes, then kissed her forehead. “Alright, darlin’. Let”s get this over with so we can help your Little heart feel better.”
She nodded and he set her on her feet between his legs, much like he had positioned me before.
He helped her unlace her Converse and step out of them. After unbuttoning her pants, he slid them down her legs. She obediently stepped out of them.
“I am going to give you the chance to keep your diaper on, Little one. Is that what you need to feel safer in this situation? I understand you might be feeling vulnerable and I’m okay if you need to keep them on.”
“No, Sir. You can take them off.”
Axel looked at Onyx for permission. I loved that he was including everyone in the decision-making.
“I agree,” Onyx said with a nod.
At his permission, Axel slid Emily’s diaper down her legs and folded it to set on her pants. Emily played with the hem of her shirt, but surprisingly didn’t move out of position.
“Alright, Emily. It’s going to be thirty-five for butting into business that wasn’t yours to butt into and thirty-five for not giving us space when I asked you to.”
70 spanks? Holy shit!
“I need you to understand; I am not upset that you had concerns or that you wanted to help. I am displeased about the way you went about it and the way you spoke to me. Have I ever given you a reason to feel like you couldn’t come talk to me?”
“No, Uncle Axel.”
“I also want to make sure you understand the danger you put yourself in when you wouldn’t give me the space I asked for. I will always keep you safe, but what if it had been someone else? Someone who couldn’t control their anger could have seriously hurt you.”
“Y-Yes, Uncle Axel.”