Chapter 19
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
I t was dinnertime when Rock led his girl into the clubhouse. Everyone who was there this evening was at the giant table, talking and laughing and stuffing their faces.
They looked up when he entered with Lyla.
Steele grinned. “Hey. Grab some plates. Bear has outdone himself tonight.”
“Thanks.” Rock guided Lyla toward the kitchen sink, pinned her in, and turned on the water. He set his lips on her ear. “Give me your hands, Baby girl.”
Her breath hitched as he washed their combined hands. He loved that sound and the way she started breathing heavily.
“You okay with this?” he whispered.
She nodded. “I’m good. Starving. It smells delicious.”
“I’m sure it is.” He grabbed a few paper towels and dried their combined hands next. He didn’t ask her what sort of plate she wanted. Now wasn’t the time to push her to let her Little out. She might never be comfortable being Little in front of others. That was okay.
He grabbed two regular plates and nodded toward the counter where all the food was spread out. The members often filled their plates at the counter and then joined everyone at the table. It was more efficient than passing dishes around.
“Oh, God. Fried chicken,” Lyla murmured. “That looks so good.”
Rock filled her plate, glancing up to make sure he was choosing things she would want. She didn’t even flinch. She let him add mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and a roll.
Maybe plastic plates and youthful dresses would never be her thing in front of others, but Rock wasn’t unaware that he was Daddying her in many ways anyway. Filling her plate, pulling out her chair, pushing her up to the table, setting a napkin in her lap, getting her a drink… All of that filled his heart. He wanted to take care of her. That was the most important thing, no matter what it looked like.
She smiled at him as he sat next to her. “Thank you.” She leaned into him and kissed his cheek. “It feels nice to have someone dote on me.”
“I’ll dote on you for the rest of our lives, Little Lyla.”
After dinner, Rock helped some of the other men clean up while Remi and Carlee took Lyla to the library off the common room. It was filled with games and books. It was also where the Littles most often cooked up their shenanigans.
Rock forced himself not to panic. Lyla was a grown woman. She could handle herself. She wasn’t judgmental, so he knew she wouldn’t flinch over the level of age play Remi and Carlee practiced. Lyla was perfectly capable of setting her boundaries.
When the kitchen was clean, he made a beeline for the library but stopped when he saw Kade and Atlas standing outside the room.
Kade held a finger up to his lips.
Rock joined them as Atlas held a hand up to cup his ear, indicating they were spying on the girls.
Rock wasn’t sure he liked eavesdropping on Lyla or anyone else, but as soon as he heard them talking, he relaxed.
At first, there was giggling, and then Lyla said, “So, let me get this straight, you two were childhood friends?”
“Yep.” That voice was Carlee’s. “I had the hots for Atlas, but he was way too old for me, and then he went away to college and didn’t come back until recently.”
“That’s so sweet,” Lyla said.
“Kinda like you and Dad,” Remi added, “only Atlas wasn’t gone nearly as long.”
“Okay,” Lyla continued, “back to the tree. I’m confused about it. There’s a big tree out in the yard and you used to climb it? And it’s still there?”
“Yep,” Carlee said. “So, before I got together with Atlas, I was in an abusive relationship with a previous club member named Silver. He didn’t like that I left him, and he eventually came here to the compound, hunting me down. I got scared and scrambled up into the tree to hide from him. I don’t think Atlas has ever been more panicked.”
Lyla’s breath hitched loudly. “You must have been so scared.”
“I thought Atlas would lose his mind,” Remi agreed. “But the important thing is that we still climb that tree sometimes. We all played a trick on Dad one day and hid up there when he was supposed to be watching us.”
Rock smiled and rubbed his chest. He loved that his woman was comfortable enough to join his daughter and his son’s Little girl. It made him feel whole, like his family was a full unit.
The girls fell into a fit of giggles.
“I wish I had been there to see his face,” Lyla said through laughter.
“Oh, don’t you worry,” Carlee told her. “Pulling stunts on our Daddies is a way of life here. We’ll have you joining in our troublemaking in no time.”
“So, you all plot these wild shenanigans, and then everyone gets spanked?” Lyla asked, still giggling through all the words.
“Yep.” Remi was laughing, too. “We would never drag you into anything you don’t want to participate in, of course. We aren’t mean. It’s all in good fun. If you don’t like to be naughty, that’s okay. And, also, not every Little girl likes to be spanked. If that’s not your thing, I’m sure you and Rock will come up with whatever discipline suits you.”
“I don’t think I have a problem with the spanking,” Lyla admitted, “but I don’t think I’d like Rock to spank me in front of other people. Do they do that?”
“Not if it’s not something you enjoy,” Carlee explained. “A lot of Littles don’t like to be exposed in front of other people. Their Daddies dole out their punishments in their own apartments. A few like to be watched, so they get their panties pulled down right in the common room.”
“But,” Remi added, “only if everyone present doesn’t mind watching that sort of thing. Consenting to being in a room where people are getting spanked is just as important as consenting to have your own bottom spanked.”
“That’s kind of nice,” Lyla muttered.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Remi said. “I’ll let you know when we plan the next great stunt. You can decide if you want to join in.”
Rock had to cover his mouth to keep from chuckling. Atlas and Kade were also stifling laughter. It was time to break up the huddle, though, before Lyla ended up in over her head. He didn’t think she was ready to get corralled into whatever these girls might plot this evening.
Rock motioned toward Kade and Atlas so they would know he was planning to step into the room, and then he rounded the corner. He found Lyla sitting in a circle with Remi and Carlee, just as he’d expected. He narrowed his gaze at all of them. “Are you naughty girls plotting something?”
They all shook their heads, even Lyla.
Kade and Atlas joined him. Kade reached for Remi. “Time for bed, princess.”
“You, too, Carlee,” Atlas said.
As the girls stood, Rock pulled Lyla into his arms. He didn’t know how many moments of sheer bliss he’d experienced today, but this was definitely one of them. Damn, he loved her.