Chapter 14
Rats!
She had to pee so badly. Sitting up fully, Jolie looked around. Where was she? Why didn’t she know where she was? This wasn’t her house.
Suddenly, she started coughing, and she had to press her thighs together. Yeah, coughing and a full bladder didn’t go well together.
Bathroom. There had to be a bathroom here. She stumbled from the bed and fell onto her knees with a groan.
“Jolie? What are you doing? Shit! Did you fall out of bed?”
She gaped up in shock as the light went on and a half-naked man appeared before her.
“Is it Christmas?”
“What? No. Fuck. Did you bang your head? Why isn’t there a crib in this room? I’m going to ask Derek for one in the morning.”
Who? What?
“My birthday?” she asked as he picked her up, holding her against his chest.
“Your birthday? No, that’s another month away. Why are you asking that?” he asked.
“All my wishes are coming true at once.”
Suddenly, he broke out in a grin. “Wishes, huh?”
“Yeah. I must’ve been a really, really good girl.” She licked her lips.
He threw his head back and laughed. Ooh, that was a sexy sound.
“Baby, I like you half-asleep.”
“You do?” she asked.
“You have less of a filter. I get to know what you’re thinking.”
“What I’m thinking is hubba hubba,” she said in a husky voice.
His eyes twinkled. “Are you?”
“Uh-huh. You remind me of that jerk, Brand, though.”
“He’s a jerk?” he asked.
“Yep. He is to me. Doesn’t think I can do a good job. That I’m a flake. But I’m gonna show him. I have got what it takes.”
“I think he knows that now,” the sexy man murmured.
“Dunno. He didn’t seem too happy with me the other night. I was worried he’d figure out I’m a Little. Don’t think he did. And he was actually kind of nice. I should send him a muffin basket. I was gonna, but Addie said no.”
“Did she?”
“She said it would be weird. I’m tired.”
“I think you’re running a fever,” he told her. “Need to get some more medicine in you.”
“Uh-huh, also I needs to go toilet before I pee all over you.”
“Ahh, is that what you woke you up? Or the coughing?” he asked.
“Pee-cough-pee. Hurry!” Okay, she wasn’t making much sense. But when a girl had to go, she had to go.
He rushed her into the bathroom, and she tugged at her pajamas. Except she wasn’t wearing pajamas. “I can’t get them off.”
“Shh. Let me help.” He set her on her feet, facing away from him. And then he undid something at the material over her bottom. Cooler air touched her skin as he lowered her panties without taking off her pajamas. Or whatever this was that she was wearing.
Finally, he turned her, setting her on the toilet. “Stay there.”
Huh? Where did he think she was going?
He returned after she finished using the toilet. She stood, embarrassment filling her as reality started to intrude. “Brand.”
“I said to stay there, baby. If you stand up, you could get dizzy.” He fixed her panties and the back of her onesie.
Embarrassing.
Yet, kind of nice.
“Sorry. I woke up disorientated.”
“Nothing to be sorry about,” he told her as he picked her up and carried her over to the sink to wash her hands. “I think you’re cute. Plus, you seemed to have a spike in temperature.” He set her on the counter and used the thermometer he must have gone to grab to take her temperature again.
“Yeah, it’s a bit high,” he said. “Gonna get you some medicine. Why didn’t you call out to me when you woke up? Or did you wake up after you fell out of bed?”
“No, I, uh, I didn’t even know where I was.” She knew that was one of her rules, to stay in bed and call for him. But she hadn’t even realized he was there.
“I get it. You didn’t know who I was when I picked you up.”
Suddenly, she remembered everything she’d said to him.
“Oh god, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call you a jerk.”
“Yeah, you did. Because I was a jerk.” He carried her to the bed and settled her back in. “But I forgive you. I’ll get your medicine and a drink.”
“Bottle!” She blushed as he gave her a surprised look. “Please.” They hadn’t tried the baby bottle again last night. She had trouble drinking from it when she was stuffed up.
But her nose was pretty clear for the first time in ages. And she wanted the bottle.
“Anything else you need, Bumblebee?”
She shook her head.
“Good girl for asking for what you need. Well, more like demanding.” He huffed out a laugh, and she settled against the pillows, hugging Buzzy tight.
He was the best thing anyone had ever bought her. Although Master Ted was a bit upset. That was the bear that Derek and Sadie had given her.
Master Ted sat next to her in the bed, giving her and Buzzy a grumpy look, so she gathered him up as well, hugging him.
Yesterday, Brand had taken such good care of her. She was still in a bit of shock over everything that had happened.
Glancing over at the clock, she saw it was only three in the morning. But she felt so awake now. How was she supposed to get back to sleep?
When Brand returned, he was carrying her medicine, a sippy cup of water, and her baby bottle that was filled with… milk?
“I warmed the milk up and put some protein powder in it since you didn’t really eat yesterday. It might help you sleep.”
He sat on the bed facing her.
And, oh boy, did that give her a good view of his chest and abs.
The. Man. Was. Built.
“My eyes are up here, baby,” he teased.
She shot her gaze up to his, her cheeks heating as he gave her some medicine, then held up the sippy cup for her to drink from it.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“No need to be sorry. I like the way you look at me.” He brushed a finger down her cheek. “My beautiful girl.”
“I’m not.”
“Uh-uh, you’re not looking for another punishment, are you?”
“No!”
After her nap yesterday, Brand had called Derek to get him to send copies through of their likes and dislikes. It had made for some interesting reading.
Most of their likes and dislikes were very similar. Then he’d gone over the rules with her.
He’d accumulated more than she’d have thought he could in such a short time. They included using her manners, no lying or disrespecting herself or him, no getting out of bed on her own while she was sick or in Little headspace, no running away from him, and if she ever went anywhere without him, she was to text him to let him know where she was going. Also, no putting herself in danger or risking her health.
And he’d told her he was sure he would add more.
Sheesh.
“No lying, then.” Getting up, he shifted her over slightly in the bed before sitting next to her and turning off the light.
“Lean against my chest, baby.”
She snuggled into him, and he pressed the nipple of the bottle to her lips. “Open for Daddy.”
Parting her lips, she sucked on the warm liquid. Vanilla. She managed several sips before her breathing grew more congested.
Great.
The nipple was pulled from her mouth and then a tissue was placed in front of her nose. “Blow.”
Urgh.
She couldn’t deny feeling better afterward, though, and it was easier to suck down the liquid. Her eyes started to drift shut. The nipple was pulled from her mouth, and she yawned.
“Good girl. Time for sleep.” He shifted away from her, and she made a sound of distress, grabbing for him.
“No, don’t leave me, Daddy.”
“You want me to stay until you fall asleep, baby?”
“Stay. All night, Daddy. Please?” she begged.
“Okay. I can’t say no to you.”
Hmm. Well, that was good to know.
“Open up, baby.”
“No thanks, Daddy.”
“That wasn’t a request, Bumblebee.”
“Well, it should have been, Daddy. Because I don’t wanna open up.”
“Someone seems to be feeling better,” he said dryly. “Put your sassy pants on today.”
She grinned at him. “That is where you’re wrong, Daddy. I don’ts have any pants on. I have a onesie!” The same one from last night. She should probably get up and have a shower.
That sounded like it would take a lot of energy, though. And she didn’t have much to spare.
He snorted, grinning at her. “Cute. You’re still eating some food today.”
She wrinkled her nose at the bowl he was holding. He’d come in a few minutes ago holding a tray filled with a bowl of porridge, a glass of orange juice, and her medicine.
After taking the medicine, he’d grabbed the bowl of porridge and a spoon.
“I don’t think that’s actually food, Daddy.”
“Sure, it is. It’s porridge.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Chicken nuggies is food. Toast and jam is food. Muffins is food. That is not-food. See the difference?”
“Not really. Porridge is good for you. And it will be nice on your throat.”
“Ice cream is nice on my throat,” she told him
“Ice cream isn’t good for you when you have a cold.”
That sounded like some Daddy logic right there.
“I dunno, Daddy. I think that porridge is going to set me back. It might even be something that could give me a cold.” She was kind of amazed by how much easier it was to slip into Little headspace with Brand than it was when she was at the club. Or on her own.
She really did trust him to catch her if she fell.
“Five spoonfuls, and then you can have your bottle.”
She sighed. It was a long, drawn-out affair. “If I must, Daddy. But don’t blame me if the porridge has adverse effects on my recovery.”
“Who knew you were such a drama queen.”
“How dare you, Daddy! I’m not a drama queen. I’m a rock queen!”
“You’re both.” Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead.
She could feel herself blushing.
Idiot.
It was just a kiss on the forehead. Wasn’t like he kissed her mouth or anywhere else. But it felt sweet and right, and it made her body sit up and pay attention.
Hopefully, that meant she was really starting to feel better.
“Now, eat up,” he ordered.
He’d already put the bib on her. Not that she’d need it. She wasn’t a messy eater.
The porridge was actually not that bad. Not that she intended to tell Brand that. She didn’t want to find herself eating it on a regular basis.
“How is it?” he asked after she swallowed.
“Didn’t you have it for breakfast, Daddy?” she asked.
“Hell, no. I’ve got a full breakfast waiting for me.”
Her mouth dropped open, and he put another spoonful inside. She didn’t close her lips quick enough, though, and some dribbled down her chin.
“Oops.” Grabbing the bottom of her bib, he wiped her chin clean. “There, all clean.”
She might have been embarrassed at having to be cleaned up like a baby… but he wasn’t even eating the porridge?
“Daddy! If I have to eat the porridge, you should have to as well!”
“Urgh, I don’t want to eat it. Nasty stuff. Open up.”
She closed her lips and glared at him.
“Little girl,” he said sternly. “The agreement was five mouthfuls, and half of the last spoonful spilled down your chin.”
“You has to eat it too, Daddy,” she grumbled. But she took the next mouthful.
Because Jolie was a good girl.
After she finished eating, he wiped her up and then held up the glass of orange juice. She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t likes orange juice.”
“All right.” He drank it down. “I’ll get you a protein drink. Then you can take a nap.”
“I just woke up! I’m not sleepy. And I should try to wash my hair.” She touched it with a grimace.
He snapped his fingers. “I have an idea for that. After we brush your teeth. And I eat my breakfast. Don’t want my eggs to get cold.”
He was terrible.
Half an hour later, he carried her out to the small kitchen area.
Surprise filled her as she noticed that he’d laid a blanket out along the counter. He’d also stacked the two pillows he’d taken from the bed, one on top of the other by the edge of the sink. There were two towels. One on the other side of the sink and one over the pillows.
He’d also put her shampoo and conditioner next to the sink.
“What are you going to do?” she asked as he sat her down on the blanket.
“Wash your hair. I just hope that you’re elevated enough that you won’t cough.”
“I-I think I’ll be all right.” She gaped at him in amazement. “You’re really going to wash my hair?”
“I am. Why, do you not trust me?” He frowned slightly.
“No. Of course I do. It’s just… it’s really sweet.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You don’t think I can be sweet?”
“I didn’t before. I’m beginning to see that I could’ve been wrong.”
“Come here. Lie back. If you are uncomfortable or start coughing, we can move you, all right?”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Hold on to Buzzy.”
Once again, he surprised her as he carefully washed her hair. He shampooed it twice before massaging in the conditioner. Her eyes drifted closed and she very nearly fell asleep as he rubbed her scalp.
Ooh. That felt so good.
“You all right, baby?” he asked quietly as he turned off the water and dried her hair with the towel.
“Better than all right, Daddy.”
Sitting her up, he wrapped her hair in the towel before picking her up and cradling her against his chest.
“That was the best head massage I’ve ever had.”
He sighed. “It’s a curse, really, being this talented. From rock god to hairdresser royalty. I mean… where does it stop?”
She broke into giggles that ended in a coughing fit.
“Right. Time for bed.”
“No, Daddy. Please,” she begged. “I’m missing out on all of my holiday. Can I just sit up and watch TV or something?” Jolie leaned back to give him a pleading look.
“Two hours. Then it’s lunch and a nap.”
“Perfect, Daddy.”
Brand carried her to the sofa and set her down. “I’m going to dry your hair. I’ll go get the blow dryer and your hairbrush.”
“It will be all right if you just let it dry, Daddy.”
“No, I don’t want you sitting around with wet hair. It might make you sicker. And you have to get better before the Fourth of July so you can cheer me on.”
“Why would I need to cheer you on?” she asked in confusion.
“Because I’m the entertainment.” He disappeared into the bathroom.
“You are?” she asked as he reappeared. “Wow.” That must have cost Derek a fortune.
“Hmm, it was how I was allowed to stay here. They sent me an offer. I agreed without Kelly’s input. He wasn’t happy,” he told her as he returned and plugged in the hair dryer. “But getting in here to see you was far more important than whatever deal he wanted to reach. I didn’t realize it then, but I’m guessing it was a test.”
“How?” she asked.
“Well, I think if I’d said I wanted to get my agent involved, or that I wanted money or whatever, Derek would have known that meant more to me than you. But I would have signed an agreement with the devil himself to get to you, Bumblebee.”
Wow.
Just. Wow.