Chapter 14
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
L yla felt like she’d fallen into a parallel dimension. Eleven women hovered around her, all dressed as though it were Halloween and they’d agreed to go as children.
Lyla had to remind herself over and over this was their way of life, not a costume party. She kept asking them to repeat their names so she could remember who they were and who their significant others were—their Daddies.
They showed her around the compound, including their various apartments. Apparently, many of the club members had rooms in the clubhouse. Some of them lived here full-time, and some lived in homes in the community—like Rock.
Remi came out of one of the apartments after a bit. She didn’t look any different, but she did wince occasionally.
Elizabeth had left them, and she suddenly returned, skipping down the hall. “Rock said yes !” she exclaimed.
“Rock said yes to what?” Remi asked.
Lyla was wondering the same thing.
A woman named Eden—Lyla thought her Daddy was Gabriel—responded, looking at Lyla, “We thought you might like to borrow some clothes. You don’t have to, of course. But if you wanted, we could lend you something.”
Lyla swallowed, wondering what she meant. She hesitated a moment before it dawned on her. Little clothes. Dresses like they were wearing.
Remi reached out and touched her arm. “You don’t have to,” she repeated. “It’s just… Whatever makes you feel more comfortable. We want you to feel welcome.”
Lyla turned toward Remi. This was Rock’s daughter. Rock had a daughter. And a son. It was suddenly all kind of overwhelming. Because Lyla had fled town and never come back, Rock had married another woman and had two kids.
Remi moved in front of Lyla, blocking her from everyone else. “Hey,” she whispered.
A hushed murmur spread behind Remi.
Remi turned toward the others and said, “Give us a minute, yeah?”
“Of course,” several of them responded at the same time.
Remi opened the door she’d come out of, took Lyla’s hand, and gently pulled her inside. She shut the door behind them and led Lyla to a sofa. “I’m sorry,” she said as they sat.
Lyla wiped her eyes. She hadn’t realized tears had formed. “No. Don’t be. It’s not you. Shoot.” She wiped them again. Damn tears. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying.”
Remi rubbed her arm. “It’s okay. We can be a bit much at times. We didn’t mean to make you feel overwhelmed. It’s just that…”
Lyla swallowed and looked at Remi. If Lyla had had a child, she would be Remi’s age. But she hadn’t.
Remi grabbed her hand. “Do you want me to get my dad?”
“No.” Lyla swallowed back her emotions and shook her head. “No, please. I’m okay. Go on, what were you going to say? It’s just that, what?”
Remi licked her lips. “Well, my Dad’s been alone a long time. When we heard he’d met you… Well, we didn’t know he’d already known you in the past. That didn’t really matter. We were just… I mean, I… I was hoping he’d found someone. We all worry about him. Me. I worry about him the most. He’s alone. And…” Remi’s bottom lip quivered.
Lyla’s tears fell again. She couldn’t stop them. She pulled Remi into her arms and hugged the woman tightly. “I was worried you wouldn’t want your dad to be with another woman.”
Remi leaned back. “God, no. I’ve prayed he would meet someone for years. It’s hard for him. He doesn’t exactly subscribe to dating apps.” She chuckled and swiped at tears again. “Where is a middle-aged widower supposed to find a Little?”
Lyla sniffled, smiling through the tears. “I’m not quite sure I’m Little. I haven’t even thought about it since the last time I saw your dad.”
Remi smiled. “When did you last see him? He didn’t tell us all the details.”
“The night of my prom. He…” Lyla took a deep breath. “I was so young.” Lyla held up a finger. “Eighteen, though.”
Remi giggled and rolled her eyes. “I was a teenager once. I’m not na?ve.”
Lyla drew in a deep breath. “Anyway, you don’t want the gritty details about your dad, but the important thing is that my prom date turned out to be a douchebag. I was upset when I got home. Your dad was there, waiting for me. He comforted me.”
Remi waved a hand between them. “Among other things. I get it. Skip that part.”
Lyla chuckled. “It was the first and only time I acknowledged my Little side. Your dad left town for an internship a few days later, and then I went away to college. We never saw each other again.”
“Why?”
Lyla sighed. “That’s another story. Rock and I haven’t discussed it yet.”
“Okay. I understand. So, you’re here. And you still like my dad.”
Lyla smiled. More tears fell for whatever reason. She nodded. “I do. I really like your dad. It’s like no time passed at all. It feels like I’ve been here weeks instead of one day.”
Remi squeezed her hand. “Do you think you have a Little side?”
“I don’t know. It’s foreign to me right now. Rock thinks I do.” Lyla reached up and thumbed a lock of Remi’s hair. “You’re so pretty. I’m so glad he got married and had you and Atlas.”
“Do you have kids?”
“No. I couldn’t have any. And I’m not sure I was cut out for motherhood anyway. I keep thinking if I hadn’t left… If I had stayed with Rock…” She swallowed hard. “He wouldn’t have you and Atlas.”
Remi reached up and hugged her again. “You’re here now. I know you’re important to my dad. I want you to feel welcome here. Everyone wants you to feel welcome.”
Lyla nodded. “I do. Thank you.”
“If you want to borrow some clothes, I have some things that aren’t black.” Remi giggled. “But maybe it would be better if you stayed in your regular clothes tonight. Observe. Figure out what your style is.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s going to be goth,” Lyla teased.
They both laughed.
Remi winced when she leaned back.
Lyla cringed. “Do you like getting spanked?”
Remi grinned huge. “Love it. I’m sorry I misbehaved in front of you the moment you arrived. I couldn’t resist. I knew Kade would spank me, and I was stressed. I really needed the outlet.”
“Stressed about meeting me?”
Remi shrugged. “Partly.”
Lyla was curious about spankings. “And you feel better after Kade spanks you?”
“Yes. Always. It’s common in age play. Us Littles frequently get up to no good in order to get spanked. It’s like a challenge. We’ve pulled some crazy stunts around here.”
“I bet you have.”
“Have you ever tried it? Spanking, I mean.”
Lyla slowly nodded. “Once.”
Remi giggled and covered her ears. “La la la. I can tell it was that night. Do not tell me about it.”
They both fell into a fit of giggles again.
A knock sounded at the door.
Remi stood and went to open it.
It was Rock. Not surprising. He looked past his daughter. “Are you okay?”
Lyla nodded. “I’m good. Sorry. I just needed a minute.”
Remi grabbed her dad’s arm and rose up to kiss his cheek. “I love her, Dad.” She slipped from the room and shut the door.
Rock leaned against the door. His brow was furrowed with concern. “I was panicking.”
Lyla stood. “No need. I’m good. I promise.”
“Did they scare you off?”
She came to him and set her hands on his shoulders. “No, Daddy,” she said sarcastically. “They didn’t. I’m still here.”
He narrowed his gaze. “As nice as that sounds, don’t say it until you mean it.”
She set her forehead against his. “Okay,” she whispered.
“The girls didn’t talk you into getting changed,” he pointed out.
“No.” She slid her hands up his chest. “I don’t think I’m ready for that, but I’m good. Don’t worry.”
“Do you want to stay for dinner or make a run for it? I won’t be disappointed either way.”
“Let’s stay. I enjoy seeing the dynamic. I’m learning from them.”
“Okay.” He eased his hands up her back. “I didn’t like you being out of my sight.” He kissed her.
“I was always close,” she murmured. “Is one of these apartments yours?”
“Yes. Wanna see it?” he teased.
“Will it cause us to miss dinner?”
“Yes.” He didn’t hesitate.
She giggled. “Maybe we should save that for another day.”
“Bear went all out to impress you with dinner.”
“Then we shouldn’t disappoint him.”