Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Alexis
I’m only halfway paying attention to the conversation around me as Victoria—no, wait, Tori, because she and the others have all told me to use their nicknames—dictates our play. My mind is, as it always seems to be, on my Mommy.
More specifically, it’s on the scene that played out when we first came downstairs. On Tori running to her, clearly expecting to be picked up. On the confusion and hurt in Tori’s eyes when Mommy bent to give her a hug instead.
Was that because of me? Because I told her how hard it is for me to see the other Littles being picked up and carried everywhere, knowing my Mommy will never be able to do that with me?
And if it was… what does it mean?
I’m no closer to the answer when movement from my right catches my eye and I look over to find Mommy and my uncles making their way toward us. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of them, these six powerful beings, with more money than God between them, so focused on us.
On me.
They stop in front of us and Mommy smiles, a hint of mischief sparkling in her eyes that either means something good is about to happen… or something very, very bad.
“Come here, Alexis. Your uncles have some presents for you.”
Presents. Again, could be good, could be bad.
Sending up a little prayer that it’s more good than bad, I slowly push to my feet and make my way over to stand in front of them.
It isn’t until I do that I notice the large white box in Uncle Jasper’s hands.
There’s a pretty pink ribbon tied around it, and it’s stamped with the logo for a store called Little Treasures Boutique.
“Welcome to the family, Alexis,” he says with an indulgent smile, holding the box out for me to take.
I look up at Mommy for permission, which she grants with a slight nod of her head, before taking the box and tugging at the silky ribbon.
What I find inside knocks the air clear from my lungs.
A tiara, with deep green emeralds wrapped in shining silver.
Or maybe it’s white gold, I’m not sure. Either way, it is the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen and it matches my dress so perfectly I have to assume he asked Mommy what I’d be wearing tonight.
“Oh, Uncle Jasper. It’s beautiful.”
“A crown fit for a princess. Here.” Reaching into the box, he carefully extracts the tiara from the tissue paper and places it on my head. “Your Mommy will know how to make it stay in your curls.”
“I do, indeed. Come here, little imp.”
It’s all I can do not to dance in place as Mommy fixes the tiara snuggly in my curls. Uncle Gideon holds up a mirror, and I can’t stop the excited squeal that escapes when I see my reflection.
I really do look like a princess.
“Thank you, Uncle Jasper, thank you, thank you, thank you!” Racing forward, I throw my arms around his neck and he wraps me in a tight hug as his shoulders shake with laughter.
“You are very welcome, pretty little Alexis. Your Mommy said the green would be best with your hair, and I think she was right on the money.”
“It’s perfect. I’m never taking it off.”
Now his whole body shakes as he lets out a loud laugh. “I think your Mommy might have something to say about that.”
“But I’m the princess. That means I’m in charge and I can do whatever I want.”
Behind me, someone snorts, and I turn to see Juju rolling her eyes. “Someone tell that to my butt,” she mutters, rubbing at her diaper.
All of the uncles and my Mommy laugh at that, even as Uncle Jasper tries to look stern. “Even princesses have to follow the rules.”
“Yes, Uncle Jasper,” I say sweetly, though I’m pretty sure I can sweet-talk Mommy into letting me keep the tiara on.
“All right, it’s our turn now.” Uncle Evander steps forward with a smaller box in hand. “This is from me and your Uncle Gideon,” he explains as he holds the velvet box out for me to take.
Inside is the most beautiful locket I’ve ever seen. The burnished gold gives it a more antique feel that I adore, and in the middle of it is my initial in a swirling, intricate font.
“It’s so pretty,” I whisper, running a finger over the etched “A” and looking up at my Mommy. “Can I put it on? Please, Mommy?”
“Of course, little one.” Taking the necklace from the box, she undoes the clasp and gently drapes it around my neck.
“In fact, you can and will wear this necklace every day. If you take it off without Mommy’s permission, you will get a spanking from me and your Uncle Evan. Am I understood, little girl?”
“Why?” Curious now, I lift the locket from my skin and press the mechanism to pop it open. But there’s nothing inside, not even a picture, and I’m even more confused than before. “What’s so important about it?”
“This necklace will help Mommy find you if you ever get lost. And while we don’t live on a very big island, it’s more than large enough for sweet Little girls like yourself to get lost on, as Juliet and Victoria can both attest to.”
I glance over to find them both nodding vigorously, and I make a mental note to ask about it later. For now, Mommy wants me to wear my locket, so I’ll wear my locket. It’s not really a hardship, given how pretty it is, so there’s not really any point in arguing.
“Can we eat now?” Nelly asks, her voice pitching up to a whine. “I’m starving.”
“Just a moment.” Mommy’s eyes sparkle with excitement. “I have one last gift for all my girls. Gavin?”
We all turn as one to the parlor entrance as Gavin wheels a cart inside, a row of dolls seated on top.
But not just any dolls. My mouth falls open with surprise as I realize the doll at the front, with her red curls and bright-green eyes looks just like me.
“It’s me!” Tori squeals, echoing my own thoughts as she races forward to pluck a doll from the cart. “Look, Daddy! She looks exactly like me!”
“That she does, little thief. Your Auntie Cat did an excellent job with them.”
One by one, my friends grab their dolls from the cart, cooing over them as they show them off to their Daddies. Until there’s only one doll left.
“Don’t you like your doll, little imp?”
It’s the note of uncertainty in her voice that has me turning to her. “She’s perfect,” I whisper, the words thick in my throat as I rush forward to wrap my arms around her, my face pressed against her soft breasts. “Thank you, Mommy. I love her.”
“You’re welcome, my love. She isn’t quite as pretty as my little girl, but she’s as close as we could get.”
Rising up on my tiptoes, I tilt my head back, inviting her to kiss me. A smile curves Mommy’s lips before she leans in to brush her lips over mine.
It’s sweet. Almost chaste. And yet my entire body ignites at that simple touch and I press myself closer to her with a whimper.
The kiss changes in a fingersnap, Mommy’s arms tightening around me as her lips move on mine, harsh and demanding.
Forcing me to open for her, which I do with another little sound of surrender.
The world around us falls away as I sink into the kiss, into her, my entire body on fire and aching for more of her commanding touch.
But before I can get more, we’re interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Dazed, I turn my head toward the sound and find Gavin watching us with a twinkle in his eye.
“Dinner… is served.”
Catharina
Watching my little imp strut around with her new tiara, clutching a mini version of herself to her chest is quite possibly the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen.
Cute enough that I don’t bother to scold her when she pouts about being forced into her highchair for dinner, or when she wrinkles her nose at the broccoli on her plate.
Spearing a green tree, I hold it up to her lips. “Open up, little one. You need to eat your veggies.”
“No, thank you.” She says it so primly, I have to fight the urge to laugh.
It takes significant effort to force my expression into stern lines. “Then Mommy will have to spank you, and you won’t be allowed any dessert. Is that what you want?”
Her bottom lip puffs out, trembling slightly. “No, Mommy. But broccolis are so yucky. It doesn’t even have cheese on it!”
God, she’s adorable. Not quite adorable enough for me to relent on the broccoli, however. “It doesn’t, but there’s plenty of seasoning to make it taste better. And you know how important it is for Little girls to eat their veggies.”
“Nuh-uh. That’s just a lie grown-ups tell to make us eat gross green things.”
Down the table, Jasper snorts out a laugh and I turn to level him with a glare despite the amusement bubbling in my own chest.
But Jasper’s laughter doesn’t last very long. Juliet sits back, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed. “I’m not eating any more veggies either!”
Indignant cries ring out around the table, and I bite back a sigh as I turn my attention back to my Little girl. Alexis is sitting up even straighter, a smirk tugging at her lips.
“Alexis Paige.”
Her eyes widen slightly at the steel in my tone.
“You have two choices. Either you set a good example as the hostess of this party by eating your veggies, or Mommy will bend you over this table right now and borrow your Uncle Evan’s belt to spank your naughty bottom until you can’t sit comfortably the rest of the night. Which is it going to be?”
For a moment, I’m almost sure she’s going to choose the second option. Her face screws up in defiance, and the entire table falls silent, waiting for her response.
But then she sighs, her shoulders slumping forward, and she nods. “I’ll eat my veggies, Mommy.”
Pride wells in my chest. “That’s my good girl,” I praise as I lift the little tree to her lips again. She does indeed take the vegetable, her nose wrinkling slightly as she chews, and I make a note to tell Gavin we won’t be having broccoli without cheese again.
Around the table, the rest of my nieces follow suit, solemnly eating little bites of broccoli until they’ve all cleared their plates.
Once everyone has finished, I look around, my gaze landing on each of my “brothers” in turn, excitement building in my veins with each subtle nod of their heads.
This is it. The moment I’ve longed for ever since Maxwell claimed his own Little girl at our very first family dinner. Rising from my chair, I unbuckle Alexis from her highchair and help her down.
“Time for dessert, my sweet little imp.”