Chapter 11
ETHAN
Finally, things seem to be going my way. There were zero mishaps on the job site today, and the Ellorys seem happy, at least for the time being. I’m not usually a big drinker, but between the stress of work and my home life, I figure I’ve earned a couple glasses of whiskey.
I’m in my hotel room, polishing off the dinner I had delivered and nursing my third glass when my phone buzzes.
Sloane.
It’s another picture of Mia, but instead of one of my t-shirts she’s wearing the cutest fucking nightgown I’ve ever seen in my life. The pink ruffled hem just barely brushes the tops of her panties, and the fabric is covered in little dancing panda bears.
What the fuck is Sloane up to?
Maybe it’s the whiskey making me feel brave, but instead of ignoring it like I did the other night, I hit the button to call Sloane’s cell.
“Hi, Daddy,” she says when she answers, and I swear I can hear the smug grin in her voice. “Did you like your picture?”
“What the fuck, Sloane? Is this your idea of a sick joke?”
“Of course not.” Hurt radiates from her tone, but my mind is too muddled to parse whether it’s true insult or something she’s putting on for my benefit. “Why would you think it’s a joke?”
“Well, what the fuck else am I supposed to think when you’re sending me pictures of my ex-girlfriend looking like… that.”
“You’re supposed to think she looks cute as hell and you can’t wait to spank her adorable ass when you get home.”
Closing my eyes, I focus on my breathing and try to organize my muddled thoughts. “Sloane. What are you playing at?”
There’s a long silence before she replies. “I don’t think that’s a conversation for us to have over the phone. Especially when you’ve clearly been drinking.”
“What conversation? What’s going on?”
“We can talk about it when you get home.”
I know that tone. It’s the one Sloane uses when she’s done talking about something and is prepared to dig in her heels about whatever it is.
Fine. There’s more than one way to get the information I need. “Let me talk to Mia.”
“Sure thing. Mia, baby, your Daddy wants to talk to you.”
Emotion crashes over me and I have to close my eyes against the wave. I haven’t been anyone’s Daddy in so damn long, but fuck me if it doesn’t sound so right for Sloane to call me that.
“Hello?”
Mia’s voice, high and sweet with a hint of hesitation like she’s worried she might be in trouble for something only makes that swell of emotion stronger. “Mia, I want you to tell me what’s going on with Sloane. Is she being mean to you?”
“No!” No hesitation now. If anything she sounds as insulted as Sloane that I would even dare to imply there’s anything untoward going on. “Well, I mean, she used ginger oil in my bottom today and that was pretty awful. But I was being really naughty so I kinda deserved it.”
There is so much wrong with that statement, I don’t even know where to begin. “Mia, honey… Do you need me to come home?”
“Why? Am I in trouble?”
Her voice trembles a bit and I can’t help but reach down and squeeze my aching cock.
Mia always was the cutest fucking thing when she was in trouble, and clearly that hasn’t changed a bit.
“No, honey, you’re not in trouble. I just…
I’m not really sure what’s going on. Why is Sloane calling you ‘baby’? ”
“Because she’s my Mommy, silly.”
Five little words, but they rock me to my core. “She’s your what?”
“My Mommy. When are you coming home, Daddy? We miss you.”
I’m too tired and too drunk to fight that sweet little voice. “Soon, baby. Let me talk to Mommy now. It’s almost time for you to be in bed.”
“Aww. No fair!”
Despite how utterly confusing this entire conversation has been, I can’t help but laugh. The more things change, the more they really do stay the same. “Mia Grace, you know the rules. Ten o’clock is bedtime.”
“But Daddy.”
“Do you need a spanking, little girl?” The threat slips easily from my lips and I don’t even bother to try and pull it back. If Sloane is playing some kind of game, then I’ll just play along for a bit, see where it takes us.
And if she’s not, well… I don’t think my heart can handle the crushing hope of what that could mean.
“No, Daddy,” Mia replies sulkily. “I'll get Mommy.”
There’s some shuffling, and then Sloane’s deeper voice coming through the speakers. “What did you say to her?” she asks with a quiet chuckle. “She practically threw the phone at me and then hurried off to bed.”
“It’s her bedtime. Ten o’clock on weeknights.”
“Ah, that’s good to know. Any other rules I should be aware of?”
Closing my eyes, I drop my head back against my pillow. “No sweets after eight, and no sweets after dinner at all if she doesn’t finish her veggies. No swearing, always tell Daddy where she’s going to be and when. There are more, a lot more. I think I still have the list somewhere on my phone.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
It isn’t bitterness in her tone, but sadness, and that does surprise me. “Sloane…”
“Not now.” Her voice is tight, like she’s holding back tears. “I don’t want to have this conversation when you're five hundred miles away. Okay?”
The fog of alcohol is slowly fading. But as much as I want to push her to have this conversation right fucking now, she’s right. Clearly something is going on at home, and I need to get to the bottom of it.
For now, though, I’m willing to let her lead, at least for a bit. “Okay, baby.”
“Thanks.” She clears her throat, and when she speaks again, she’s back to her happy, sly self. “You never did answer my question.”
“What question was that?”
“Did you like your picture?”
“I fucking loved it. But it’s missing one little thing.”
“What’s that?”
“When Mia was my Little, she never wore panties. Only diapers.”
Sloane’s wicked chuckle comes through the speakers. “Ask, and ye shall receive.”
Sloane
I end the call with my husband and head for the stairs, doing my best to ignore the twinge of jealousy in my chest.
Part of me always knew Mia was it for him. That he always has been, and always will be in love with her. But there’s something about hearing him confess he still has the list of Mia’s rules stored on his phone all these years later that has me feeling… less than.
It’s not a feeling I'm comfortable with, so I shove it down for now as I make my way up to the bedroom I share with Ethan—and now Mia. When I reach the bedroom, Mia is already there, sitting up against the headboard and chewing nervously at her thumbnail.
She looks up when I enter, worry filling the golden-green of her eyes. “Was Daddy very mad?”
“No, baby, he wasn’t mad at all. He just wants to be sure you get enough sleep. You are so very Little, after all.”
A blush creeps into her cheeks. “I’m not so Little.”
“Oh, but you are.” With slow, measured steps I approach the bed. “So Little, in fact, that your Daddy pointed out something I failed to notice.”
“Wh-what’s that?”
“Just that you are far too Little to be wearing those grown-up panties. You should be in a diaper, shouldn’t you, babygirl?”
The color in her cheeks deepens to a dark rose. “No. Imma Big girl.”
She doesn’t sound the least bit “big” right now. “I don’t think you are. Come with Mommy, baby, and let’s get you into something more appropriate.”
“Mommy, no,” she whines, shaking her head. “I don’t wanna wear a diaper! Please, I promise I don’t need them!”
I could make her. It would only take a well-worded threat, possibly a good hard spanking to make her comply.
But an even better plan forms in my mind and I nod in agreement. “All right. If you can make it until your Daddy gets home without having an accident, then I’ll tell him you’re a Big girl who doesn’t need diapers.”
Relief flickers across her face. “Thank you, Mommy.”
“Of course, baby. Now, let’s get you ready for bed.”
I help her with her nighttime routine, washing her face and brushing her teeth before tucking her into bed. And all the while, I let the plan in my mind take shape.
One way or another, I’m going to make sure my Little girl understands just how very Little she actually is.