Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
If Trixie were John’s Little, he would take her over his knee for a good spanking.
That’s what she needed. Not because he was irritated with her or angry. But because she needed to learn. One of these days, she was going to get herself into a jam she couldn’t get out of. Then, she might be seriously hurt. Or worse. She needed to stop before that happened.
A good spanking might get that point across.
But she wasn’t his Little. No matter how badly he might want her to be.
He was having a hard time not taking her into his arms. Damn. She was as cute as could be standing there in the sideyard, away from the others, her big brown eyes shining in the fading light of evening.
“Thank you for rescuing me again, sir. My name is—”
“Trixie.”
“How’d you know?”
“You told me the other day on that cliff.”
“You remembered?”
John opened his mouth but stopped himself before admitting he remembered because she was the cutest, most beautiful woman he’d seen in his whole life.
Instead, he simply said, “Yeah. My name is John, by the way. I don’t think I properly introduced myself before. There wasn’t really time.”
She laughed. “Nice to meet you, Sir.”
Damn. She was growing cuter by the second.
“The two times I’ve met you have been when you’re doing something dangerous. That makes me think you get yourself into some sticky situations.”
Trixie bowed her head slightly in sheepish apology.
“I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t mean to! It’s just…
I want to help people.” She looked up at him.
“Like the other day. That car was driving in front of me and I could see it swerving and stuff. I was so scared it was going to go right off the side! And when it did, well, I just had to help! I didn’t mean to put myself or you or anyone else in danger. ”
Still resisting the urge to take her into his arms, John said, “That’s admirable.
Helping people is a good thing. And it shows you have a big heart.
But you need to always do it in a safe way.
Professionals were already on the scene.
The best thing to do would have been to wait and let us handle it. ”
She hung her head once again. “I’m sorry, Sir.”
“And what were you doing on the roof tonight?"
Shifting on her feet, it took Trixie a few seconds before she looked back up at him.
He knew he was pushing it. She wasn’t his Little to lecture or chastise. But someone needed to get through to this cutie before she got seriously hurt. Or worse…
“We were all playing a game, sir. One we made up. Sort of like volleyball. Only there wasn’t a net.
And it’s on a trampoline. I had a really good shot, too!
Right before the ball went on the roof. But then when it was Iris’s turn, she accidentally hit the ball too hard and it floated right up to the top of the house.
” She shrugged and gave him a little smile.
“I’m a very good climber, Sir. I didn’t think I’d have any trouble up there, even though my friends told me I should go get Auntie Athena or Trevon.
“Anyway, I didn’t listen to them. Obviously. And when I got up there, I slipped a little. Everyone probably thought I was going to fall. I thought I was too! Those tiles are slippery!” She deflated a bit. “I just wanted to help my friends, Sir.”
John considered her words. It would be easy to let her off the hook without any more lecturing. But he just couldn’t do that. This was for her own good.
“And would it have helped your friends if you would have fallen off the roof?”
Trixie shook her head. “No, Sir. Not at all.”
“And would it have helped you?”
“No. I could have really hurt myself.”
“You could have killed yourself, honey. That’s a long way up.
It might only be two floors, but that’s enough to break your neck.
” John knew what he was about to say was really pushing things, even beyond how much he already had, but he couldn’t stop now.
Little Miss Cute Stuff needed to hear this.
So, he stepped closer, reached out, put his hand beneath her chin, and gently tilted her head up until their eyes were locked.
“You’re such a kind person, Trixie. So caring.
You obviously want to help people. This world needs more people like you in it.
And you deserve to have the best life possible.
To accomplish those things—you thriving and this world keeping you for as long as possible—I need you to promise me something. Deal?”
“Yes, Sir?”
John took a moment to stare into those big brown eyes before answering.
“I need you to promise me you’ll be a good girl.
From here on out, stop and assess a situation before you just rush in.
You know, that’s the first thing firefighters do.
We don’t just charge in. Even when seconds count.
We always stop and assess first. That way, we’re more effective when we actually jump into action.
You need to have a game plan before you just rush into something.
Because if we get ourselves killed, we can’t help anyone else.
So, from this point forward, I need you to think like a firefighter.
Do you think you can do that for me?” He let go of her chin and stepped back again, fearing he was crowding her.
She didn’t seem to be uncomfortable, though. In fact, she looked eager to please as she nodded vigorously. “Yes, Sir! I can do that!”
“Good. Let’s start with the situation in Palisades. What could you have done differently?”
He could tell she was thinking as she tapped her chin. “Ooh! I could have gotten out of my car, stayed safely behind the railing, and assessed the situation instead of just running down the mountain.”
John smiled and once again fought the urge to scoop her up.
He didn’t just want to hug her now; he wanted to shower her in kisses.
He swore she was getting cuter by the second.
“Very good. Now, I want you to close your eyes and think back to all you saw that day, in that moment. Had you actually taken the time to do that, what would your assessment have shown you?”
He continued to watch her as she obeyed.
With her eyes still closed, Trixie finally said, “Oh, boy. Sir, I would have seen that the firefighters—like you—were already there and gearing up to help.” She opened her eyes. “I just sort of made the situation worse for you guys by adding another person to be rescued to the mix, huh?”
He chuckled. “I don’t want to sound harsh, but yeah.” He stepped forward again. “That’s not the most important thing, though. Your safety is. I want you to be alive and thriving. And I have your word that you’re going to be more careful from here on out to make sure that happens. Right?”
“Yes, Sir! Promise!” She extended her hand.
He shook it, but then said, “May I have a hug?”
She giggled and rushed into his arms.
Holding her for that brief moment was the most wonderful sensation John had ever experienced.
He let go, though, not wanting to hold on too long and make her uncomfortable.
Perhaps there would be a chance to hug her again. Soon, even.
John was determined to find a way to make that happen.
“Trixie? Are you around here?” a voice called out.
Jack and Ace stepped around the corner of the mansion.
“Oh, hey guys,” Jack said.
“Jack. Ace.” John shook their hands. “Good to see you two.”
“Good seeing you. You’re on security duty here tonight?” Ace said.
“Yeah.”
“And I see you’ve already met one of the cutest Littles here. Miss Trixie,” Ace added.
John looked to see Trixie’s cheeks turn red as she giggled quietly.
Mmm. Damn. He didn’t want Trixie.
He needed her.
“Sure have. We were just having a little conversation about keeping ourselves safe.”
“And I’m going to do a better job of it, Sirs!” Trixie said earnestly.
It was evident from their smiles that Jack and Ace found her nearly as cute as he did, John thought. Though he knew they were smitten with their own Littles.
“We’re glad to hear that. Especially with all that’s going on,” Jack told her.
The hair on the back of John’s neck stood on end. Was Trixie in some kind of trouble?
It stood to reason that she was. Trouble was just what the Daddy Guard specialized in. If Jack and Ace were helping her with something, then she must be in danger.
“Do you two need any assistance with this?” John asked.
“We might,” Jack admitted. “Can we fill you in later?”
“I’d love that.”
Jack nodded. “Right now, we need to get her back to her hotel and then get on to the mansion so we can start working on some things.”
Ace looked at Trixie. “Honey, are you sure you don’t want to stay with us? We’d love to have you. And we’d know you were safe.”
John’s blood was beginning to boil as his anger at some unknown threat simmered. Was someone trying to hurt Little Trixie?
God help them if they were.
“I’m fine in the hotel, Sir. But thank you.”
Jack and Ace didn’t look too convinced, but John knew they were in a tough spot: they couldn’t force Trixie to change her mind. She was technically an adult and was free to stay wherever she wanted.
“All right. But we are going to see you safely to your room,” Ace told her.
She didn’t protest that, at least.
John told her goodbye, promised to catch up with Ace and Jack at a later time, and watched the trio as they walked around the house and disappeared around the corner.
As much as he hated to see her go—and abhorred the fact that she was in danger—he couldn’t just stand there and sulk about it. It was time to find out more information.
Trevon and Athena would know.