Chapter 11
KYLIE
Ilost track of Patrick when we left The Sphere. He never came back to the office for the rest of the day. The next morning, Collin called to relay an assignment Patrick wanted me to work on. It wasn’t until our meeting with Rayna and Tinley, and their men, that I saw him.
The meeting took place in a conference room on the third floor.
I had arrived first. I sat at the far end of the table, near the window.
The Vegas Strip and The Sphere was in the distance with emojis dancing across the surface.
The one with the sunglasses and puckered lips made me smile.
Giggles erupted as Rayna and Tinley shuffled into the room.
They whispered to each other. Then they spotted me.
“Kylie.” They both said in unison. They were adorable and so in sync. Their easy connection sent a pang of something like envy through me. Kyler and Josh stepped into the room, their heads together, conversing on something.
“Hi ladies.” I stood and crossed the room.
Rayna gave me a quick hug. Tinley waved at me, but smiled. “We had pizza with honey and ranch for dinner last night.” Tinley bounced on her feet. “We call it Kylie's dinner.”
“Oh, I bet it was yummy.”
Tinley’s face lit up.
“Girls,” Josh stepped between them, “Let’s have a seat.”
The formal meeting seemed like overkill.
Patrick had already shared the logistics with Kyler and Josh numerous times since it was first discussed in an executive meeting.
The outing had minimal risk. Kyler was protective or paranoid.
I hadn’t figured out which, but both traits made my skin crawl.
I couldn’t help but wonder how many more women he had subjected to his strict sense of control over the years.
Patrick walked in as the girls found their seats. I moved to sit across from them.
“As you may have heard, little’s night at Quad IV is going to be a little different this time,” Patrick started. “We are going on a field trip.”
Rayna whispered something to Tinley.
“Rayna,” Kyler’s voice filled the room. “Pay attention, please.”
“Sorry, sir.” For a second, she pouted before the lights dimmed and an image of the sphere projected onto the screen.
Tinley gasped and grabbed Rayna’s hand.
The excitement bubbling behind their eyes made me antsy.
“We have arranged to take all the littles and their caregivers to The Sphere for a private screening of The Wizard of Oz.”
“Oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness,” Rana said repeatedly.
“While we don’t expect any issues, we have some specific rules to ensure everyone’s safety.
” Patrick's eyes landed on the two littles in the room, then on me. He paused as if he didn’t want to continue, but he did.
“While we will all be there, Kylie is going to be responsible for the two of you. If she tells you to do something, she has the authority of any of us, and we expect you to listen and behave. This is a trial run, and if it works out and you show us, you can be on your best behavior, then there may be more outings in the future.”
“Without guards?” Tinley spoke unprompted, her tone shaky and fearful. Josh immediately went to her side.
“Kylie will be your guard.” Josh squatted next to her. “She is more than capable, like any one of Patrick’s people.”
“I trust her to keep you safe.” Patrick sat down at the table. “Don’t worry, you know we will never leave the three of you alone. There’s always backup at a close distance.”
“Yeah, don’t worry, Tin. Kylie and I’ve got it covered.” Rayna squeezed her hand and smiled.
“The last time you were in charge, I got a broken nose.” Tinley rubbed at her nose but giggled.
“Let’s just focus on tomorrow,” Patrick continued.
“You can ride in the shuttle with the other littles and sit with them in the theater. Once the show is over, the shuttle will come straight back to the Quad, and if you’re good, your Daddies will bring you to the activities in Quad IV on Friday and Saturday night. Any questions?”
“Nope.” Rayna seemed pretty excited with this new element of freedom from her daddy. Tinley was more unsure, but she put on a brave front, probably for Rayna’s sake.
“I saw a little of the show yesterday,” I said to Tinley. “It’s amazing. We are going to have so much fun.”
“Okay.” She nodded.
Josh kissed the side of her head and whispered. “There’s my brave girl.” She soaked up the praise.
My heart pounded in my chest.
Patrick finished the meeting with more logistics and another warning. Rayna and her daddy left.
“Isn’t it just like the movie we see on TV every year?” Tinley stood next to me. “What’s the big deal? We could watch it at home any time.”
“You like staying at home?” I whispered. She looks around. Josh was on the phone near the back of the room.
“Yeah, it’s safer there.” She wiggled her fingers at her side.
“Well, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” I held out my hand, and she took it. It was weird comforting her. I was only an inch or two taller than her. “But, as far as the show goes, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. You will be amazed. Who’s your favorite character?” I asked.
“The scarecrow.” She giggled. “He’s so funny and clumsy, like me.”
“He is funnier. And the visuals make it feel like you are in the land of Oz.” My voice took on a mystical tone that made Tinley smile. “Like his straw can actually scratch you if you reach out and touch it . I’d hate for you to miss out on it.”
“You’ll be there with me the whole time?”
God, the hope in her eyes killed me.
“The whole time.” I nodded.
She leaned in and gave me a quick hug before turning and skipping over to Josh. He ended his call as she wrapped her arms around his waist. With a head tilt, Tinley waited for her daddy's kiss. They headed out the door together.
She was so trusting. If I went through what she went through, I don’t think I could trust anyone ever again. I gathered my stuff.
Patrick walked back into the meeting room.
“You all set for tomorrow?” He asked.
“Yep.” I nodded. “I know my assignment.”
“It will be fine. We have plenty of backup.”
“What if one of the girls didn’t want to go?” I hugged my notebook to my chest.
“Then they don’t have to go, but I think it’s good for Tinley to push herself and get out more.” He leaned against the conference table.
“How do you know I’m talking about Tinley?” My eyes darted to the ground.
“I know Tinley and Rayna and take care of them as if they were my own.”
“Why don’t you have a little of your own?” I regretted the question as soon as it left my mouth.
“I haven’t met the right one yet.”
“So, you are looking for a relationship like that.” I shuffled from one foot to the other. “Someone who is little all the time, like them.”
“I can’t really say.” He sat down. “I assumed when I met someone and if they were little, they would get to decide what kind of little they were. I would feel honored if they allowed me to take care of them.
Oh, that was a really good answer. A jolt went through my chest, sharp and unexpected, and for a second I forgot how to breathe.
But my brain was ready to remind me what he was and who he worked for.
His phone rang, and he stood up.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” He left without another word.
I nodded and waved. Still reeling from his answer. It was so him answering a direct question and leaving me with less knowledge than if I’d not asked in the first place.
He was a Daddy Dom. He had to know what kind of little he wanted, right?
There’s age ranges to consider. Did he want someone in diapers, or maybe a middle was more his type?
Did he like them bratty or perfect little angels?
Did he want them to have a more traditional BDSM submissive side as well?
How far did his kinks stretch across the spectrum?
Questions. So many questions. I needed to know.
No, you don’t. You’re not volunteering to be his little.
I scowled at my own thoughts, annoyed with the part of myself that was always so ruthlessly practical.
I guess I could ask those questions of myself.
I didn’t really know a lot about my little.
While I enjoyed playing with daddies and other littles, my little wasn’t well defined outside of the club.
To really know your little, you need more time than the few hours I gave her every few weeks.
That was the issue back in New York, but at least she had that outlet.
Here in Las Vegas, she hadn’t been out to play in months.
Maybe I should look at other clubs in the area.
That would give my little the release she craved, and I wouldn’t be pining for every Daddy Dom who spoke nicely to me.
I headed back to my office and waved at Collin as I passed his desk.
He was speaking loudly into his phone. His demeanor was always animated.
“Oh, yeah, she’s super cute.” He laughed. “Kylie.”
I turned around. Collin waved me over.
“Kylie, this is Tyler.” He turned the phone to face me. I knew the name and the face. “He’s another Grant brother.”
“Hi Kylie, welcome to the family.” He sat on a couch in front of an enormous picture window with a view of lots of buildings.
“Nice to meet you Tyler and thank you.”
“So, you’re the little girl Patrick has a crush on.”
Collin pulled the phone back. “Dude, shut up.”
“What? She doesn’t know he has a crush?” His voice came through the phone.
“Who has a crush on me?” I held my hand over my heart.
“Nothing, no one.” Collin shook his head and waved me away.
“On our cutie patootie Patrick.” Tyler giggled. “I don’t blame him; you are adorable, and you can handle a weapon from what I hear. You’re a catch.”
“Girl, you better not let Maddox hear you talking about Patrick like that. You’re practically married to a cutie patootie”
“Maddox is hardly a cutie.” Tyler swooned. “More like a handsome, rugged, manly man. He doesn’t do guns, but he does have a lot of power tools.” He and Collin cackled. “But for real, Patrick is a good man. She couldn’t do any better.”
Tyler and Collin laughed, but then his face dropped when he saw mine. It was as if a secret I didn’t even know about was let out of the bag.
“Oh, shit.” Collin turned the phone toward me. “Tyler, I’ll call you back.”
“I’m sorry—” Tyler said before the phone died.
“We were just teasing; I didn’t mean to hit a nerve.” Collin looked up and down the hall.
Tears were pooling in my eyes and I was shaking, but I didn’t know why.
“Come on.” Collin grabbed my arm and pulled me into Patrick’s office. It was empty. Thank God.
“I’m sorry. I was just kidding.” He grabbed a bottle of water from the bar and handed it to me. “Sit down.” Thankful my knees found the couch before they gave out. Not sure why my mind felt like it was about to separate from my body. I wasn’t embarrassed, I realized. I was surprised.
Patrick didn’t have a crush on me.
What did a crush mean, anyway?
“Oh, no.” I held my hand to my stomach.
“Oh, shoot, are you going to throw up?” Collin's eyes darted around.
The conversation replayed in my head, each word a fresh indictment. My questions to Patrick weren't just probing; they were deeply personal. Highly inappropriate.
“Kylie.”
I focused on Collin. He stumbled behind Patrick’s desk, rummaging for something. He reappeared with a trash can in hand. “Here.” He scurried back to my side. Sitting the trash bin at my feet. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I sat back and took a sip of water, and closed my eyes.
“Patrick doesn’t really have a crush on me, does he?” I whispered. Collin said nothing. I opened my eyes. His lips pressed flat; his gaze fixed on something just past my shoulder.
I turned around.
Patrick stood in the doorway, one hand still on the frame. He wasn’t confused. He had heard every word, and he knew that I knew, and the look on his face was something I didn’t have a name for yet.