Chapter 21
Twenty-One
Blade
Having Simone over was definitely good for June. She’s more relaxed after the two of them leave. More sure of herself.
I can’t blame her for feeling uncertain.
She’s new to the lifestyle, and she’s been rather isolated since being introduced.
I’m sure she has doubts. She will for a long time.
That’s natural. But the more time she spends with other Littles, the quicker she’ll accept that her feelings aren’t unique.
She’s not the first woman to recognize she has a Little side and nurture it.
It’s more widespread than she realizes, but hearing me tell her that and experiencing it firsthand makes all the difference.
She’s still healing, so she takes another long nap after lunch. As soon as I have her tucked in with her new bear, Brownie, I turn on the monitor, take it with me, and head for my office.
I’ve exchanged several texts throughout the morning with both Mace and Cannon, but it’s time for a call. I didn’t want to worry June by discussing her case in front of her.
When her heavy, deep, sleepy breathing comes through the monitor, I decide to invite my men upstairs for a meeting. I text them both and meet them at the elevator five minutes later.
“Come on in.” I’m carrying the baby monitor, and I point at it to indicate its existence as we make our way to the kitchen.
“How’s she doing?” Cannon asks in a low voice as I make coffee.
“Better every day. I finally had the talk with her.”
Mace chuckles softly. “The Daddy talk?”
“Yes.”
“And?” Cannon asks.
“It went well. It was hard for her to deny her Little side. Just because she’s never heard of age play doesn’t mean she doesn’t actively live the lifestyle. All she was missing was a Daddy and some terminology. Camden brought Simone over this morning. I think that helped.”
I hand everyone a mug of coffee, and we all sit at the island. “Update me.”
Mace begins, “Five minutes ago, I found a match for Stark in her lobby that morning. It was definitely him who broke into her apartment. It helped that he was wearing a particular older gray baseball cap. We’ve seen him wearing the same cap coming and going from the house.”
I nod. “So we know he has breaking-and-entering skills.”
Cannon sets his mug on the island. “Better than that. The man isn’t working in construction.”
My eyes widen, but I let Cannon continue.
“That must be a front for the neighbors. Not that he has many. The house is rural. There are other homes on the street, but they’re far enough apart that no one would hear a domestic disturbance coming from a neighboring house.
Makes our job easier because no one noticed us setting up surveillance cameras around the property.
Easy peasy. The area is mostly impoverished.
Rundown cabins, extremely old motor homes, shacks.
Some of them aren’t inhabited. Nevertheless, Stark comes and goes dressed for work.
People in town probably think he works on a site. It’s a perfect front.”
“Who does he really work for?”
“A locksmith.”
I groan. That explains how he broke into the apartment without leaving a mark. He has a skill.
Mace continues. “Tank and Ghost have been following him. I don’t think his locksmith job is enough to pay the bills. He takes side jobs.”
“Like what?”
Mace sighs. “They aren’t sure yet. He drives to places and then sits and watches. Tank suspects he uses his skills as a locksmith for burglary.”
Interesting. “So, the man probably has a rap sheet a mile long. He’s not just an abuser.”
“Probably not,” Cannon agrees.
I nod slowly. “This could work in our favor.”
Mace nods. “Let’s hope. Ghost is going to break into his house at the first opportunity and do some snooping. He’ll plant surveillance inside as well. I’ll let you know what he finds.”
“Perfect. Anything else need my attention.”
Cannon chuckles. “Don’t insult us.” He stands.
Mace and I rise at the same time.
Mace grips my shoulder. “You’ve worked seven days a week, nights and weekends, for years.
Now, it’s your time to take care of your Little girl.
Get her healed. We’ll update you so you can make sure she’s permanently safe.
Rachell is juggling assignments. Everything you were working on has been redistributed. ”
“Thanks.” I swallow hard. I employ good men who have my back, both professionally and personally. I will have theirs, too, when the time comes and they meet the perfect Little girl to add to their lives.
I see them to the elevator just as Brinkman calls to let me know he’s sending someone up with more packages.
The pile in the living room is growing, and now that June is aware that everything in those packages is related to age play, I don’t hold my breath as tightly each time she opens something new.
After getting dinner prepped for in between her classes this evening, I hear her moving around through the monitor and head toward the bedroom.
“Hey, sleepy girl. How was your nap?”
She pushes out her bottom lip in an adorable pout as I approach the side of the bed. “I don’t like naps.”
I chuckle before leaning over to kiss her forehead. “Is that so?”
“They leave me groggy.”
“You need more rest than usual while you’re healing, Little one.”
She narrows her gaze. “When my arm is better, are you still going to make me take naps?”
“Yes. Absolutely.” I rub her tummy over the covers.
“Little girls need to rest. Even if it’s only for fifteen minutes after lunch.
You’ll rest when Daddy says so—without complaint.
If not, you’ll find yourself standing in a corner before rest time begins.
” I lift a brow. This is the first time I’ve put my foot down and asserted my authority with her.
I watch her closely to see how she reacts.
Her breath hitches, and she stares at me with wide eyes, but that doesn’t give away how she’s affected by my words. The telltale sign that my bossiness is going to send flutters to her belly is the way she slowly pulls her thighs together and squeezes them tightly.
June purses her lips and slowly furrows her brows until she’s shooting daggers at me that are so very pouty and Little, I can hardly contain the loose control I have over my need to laugh.
When she crosses her arms, including awkwardly tucking her right arm under her breasts, I lose the tiny thread of control I had and start laughing as I lean closer to her, putting my face inches from hers. “Fuck, you’re sexy when you’re turned on.”
She gasps. “What? I am not turned on. Why would I be turned on by you threatening to put me in a corner?” Her voice is high-pitched and shaky.
I give her a quick kiss on the nose and lean back, tugging on her good arm as I do so to force her to uncross them. The sheet has inched down so that the only thing between me and her breasts is the nightgown I put on her before her nap.
Holding her good hand at her side, I tap one of her hard nipples before giving it a light pinch. “Naughty Little girls who tell fibs also need a timeout.”
“Daddy…” Her voice is just whiny enough to make her even cuter.
“Yep. And now is a great time to give you a taste of what happens when you need to be disciplined.” I pull the covers the rest of the way down her body, stand, and step back. “Come, Little one.”
I want her to obey me on her own. I could lift her off the bed and carry her to the corner, but it’s better if she fully participates in her punishment.
She blinks, her mouth hanging open. Her legs are still pressed tight against each other. Her hands are now at her sides. With her chest rising and falling rapidly and her nipples hard peaks, the entire picture makes my cock stiff.
I lift both brows and point toward the only empty corner in the room.
She glances that way before jerking her gaze back to me. “You can’t put me in timeout. I’m a grown adult.”
“Can’t I?”
She swallows hard, panting now as she squeezes her thighs even tighter. I’d bet my last dollar her panties are soaked. I know she’s confused by her body’s reaction to my command. It’s normal. She’s never experienced anything like this before. She’s embarrassed. Her cheeks are bright pink.
I remain completely calm, confident that I can wait her out. She’s too much of a pleaser to ignore my order. Plus, she’s curious as fuck.
Seconds tick by before she slowly pushes to sitting and slides off the edge of the bed. She hesitates, tipping her head back to make eye contact with me. She glares for long moments before sighing, rolling her pretty eyes, and turning to stomp toward the corner.
I follow her. “Lean your forehead against the intersection of the walls, Little one. Spread your feet wider and clasp your hands behind your back. Use your left hand to hold on to the fingers of your right this time.”
Her breath hitches, but moments later, she obeys my demands. Goosebumps rise on her arms as she shivers.
I reach up and stroke a hand down one of her messy pigtails before patting her between her shoulder blades.
“Good girl. You’re not actually in trouble this time, Little one.
I just think it’s a good time for you to know what to expect in the future.
No lying to Daddy. I’ll always know when you’re lying to me. ”
“Yes, Sir,” she whispers.
“I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to think before you answer me. I will ask you this question often, and you’ll learn to tell the truth because fibbing will land you in far more trouble.”
“Yes, Sir.”
I lean in and speak close to her ear. “Are your panties wet, naughty girl?”
She gasps.
“Think hard. Sometimes, when I ask you that question, I will also check to see how wet your panties are. Sometimes I won’t. You don’t want to risk being caught telling Daddy a falsehood about how wet your pussy is. Trust me.”
She’s breathing so heavily by the time I finish speaking that I wonder if she might hyperventilate.
“Now, are your panties wet, June? Did your pussy leak all over the cotton when I mentioned putting you in timeout?”
I watch her profile as she licks her lips. “Yes, Daddy,” she murmurs.
I kiss her cheek. “Good girl. You’ll stand here until Daddy says you can move.” I don’t give her a specific length of time because I want her to learn that I won’t always tell her. Timeouts seem much longer when Little girls don’t know how many minutes are left.