Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Orion
Fuck, she’s so sweet. I didn’t mean to strip her clothes off, but she started it when she removed her blouse and sweater to put my shirt on. She was probably drawn to my scent when she crawled into the closet.
I was concerned for a moment when she didn’t answer the bedroom door, but I simply unlocked it. At first, I couldn’t see my Little girl or any evidence of her in the bedroom, which caused my chest to tighten, but then I noticed her clothes on the floor outside the closet.
To say I was startled is an understatement. I wasted no time crossing the room and opening the door. Instantly, I knew fear had caused her to hide. I can’t blame her.
I was so pleased to see her in my soft shirt that I couldn’t resist stripping off the rest of her clothes. She wasn’t wearing a bra. There wasn’t one on the floor with her blouse and cardigan, and then I discovered there was no evidence under my shirt either.
Good. I’d rather her be natural as much as possible. Of course, I’ll buy her clothes that will be appropriate for stepping out of our home, but when we’re alone, I’d rather she be scantily clad or naked.
The pheromones wafting off her are intoxicating. Her arousal fills the room. It’s unnerving her. I realize she’s never experienced the kinds of feelings she’s having, and that pleases me on a caveman level. She’s mine. No one else has touched her. No one has made her crazed with lust.
She’s purring softly. I don’t think she’s aware. It’s so fucking sweet. I need to feed her, though. I doubt she has eaten well in a long time. She’s a bit underweight.
Keeping one hand on her bottom, I reach around with the other to pick up a sandwich. “Are you sure you don’t want a bite, Little doll?” I ask before sinking my teeth into the pile of bread, meats, and cheeses.
She shakes her head. “No, Daddy. I’m not hungry.”
I suspect that’s not entirely true. She’s freaking out, which is stealing her appetite. What she doesn’t realize is that I’m going to feed her after I eat, and she may or may not like my methods.
Sliding my hand up to the middle of her back, I encourage her to lean forward and rest her body against my chest.
Heaven is how I would describe holding my girl in my arms. My inner lion is pleased and chomping at the bit to fully claim her.
I rub her back while her heart beats against my chest. She’s slowly relaxing in my arms, but it’s going to take time for her to trust that she’s safe and loved. Adored.
She’s been abused for so long that she doesn’t remember what it was like to be taken care of instead of the other way around. I’ll fix that as fast as possible.
I had hoped she would decide to eat at least some of the sandwich, but she snuggles into me and never gives any indication she’s interested in even a bite.
When I’m done, I push the plate away and rise, readjusting her so her pussy is resting against my hip again. Her wet warmth is heavenly.
I carry her with me to the counter, where I open one of the cabinets and pull out a bottle. For a moment, she gives no indication she notices all the items on that particular shelf. But her breath hitches as I grab a container of formula and scoop some into the bottle.
She still says nothing as I fill it with warm water and shake it, keeping my finger over the tip of the nipple. She’s rigid, eyes wide, heart racing again.
Acting like there’s nothing out of the ordinary, I stroll over to the recliner, set the bottle on the end table, spin my Little girl around so she’s cradled in my arms, and sit.
As soon as I lean her back and pick up the bottle, she panics. “Daddy…”
“You have to eat, Little doll. It’s okay if you don’t feel like chewing and swallowing solid foods, but you need nutrition.”
“I’m not a baby, though. I can drink from a glass.”
I smile at her. “You don’t have to be a baby to take a bottle. Try it. I bet you’ll enjoy both the formula and the intimacy.”
She stares at me.
When I nudge her mouth with the nipple, she turns her head to one side and purses her lips. It’s adorable, and my heart soars. I love that she already trusts me enough to be defiant after years of not being permitted to express her opinion.
“Open your mouth, naughty girl. Let Daddy feed you.”
She shakes her head, keeping her lips sealed.
Fuck, she’s cute.
Keeping my voice calm, I say, “In the coming days, you’ll find that many of my people’s customs are odd by human standards. You’ll also discover that they can be enjoyable. Trust Daddy. I promise you’ll be pleased and adjust to your new life in no time.”
She pouts. “Can’t I have a glass, Daddy?”
“Nope. You’ll use sippy cups like the one you had water from earlier and bottles when I feel like feeding you. Like I said, the experience is bonding. You’ll see. I know you’re testing me, and I can assure you I will pass your tests every time. I will never shout at you or hit you in anger.”
“You said that before. Are you planning to hit me when you’re not angry?” she asks.
I chuckle. “If it’s something you enjoy, absolutely. But not right now.”
“Enjoy?” Her voice rises. “Why would I enjoy being hit? I can tell you I hate it. Vincent slapped me across the face more times than I can count. I’ve rarely gone more than a few days without being grabbed too firmly or slapped.
It’s demeaning and insulting. I don’t want to be here if you’re going to hit me, too. ”
“Vincent struck you in anger because he’s an abusive prick. That will never happen here. Lion shifters are by nature far less likely to lash out at others. We’re calm and rational. We love fiercely and will do anything to protect our mates. You’re my world now, and I would never injure you.”
She pushes out her bottom lip. “But you said—”
I shake my head. “Don’t misunderstand, Little doll.
You’re inherently submissive. Fate wouldn’t have put you in my path and caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand at attention if you weren’t perfect for me.
Together we’ll explore what that submission looks like.
We’ll figure out what your needs are. But many Little girls like you enjoy a firm spanking now and then. ”
She gasps, eyes wide. “You would spank me?”
“If it’s something you crave, yes. If not, no.”
“You mean like my butt?”
I chuckle. “Usually. It’s customary to take naughty girls over the knees and swat their naked bottoms to help them release their stress.
I suspect you have years of pent-up stress that needs release, and you might benefit from regular spankings, sometimes on your bottom, sometimes on other parts of your body. But we’ll find out.”
She pushes at me, trying to sit upright. “No way. That’s crazy. I would never agree to voluntarily let you spank me.”
Keeping my arms around her, I rest the bottle between her legs and hold her close to my chest. I kiss her temple. “We’ll see, Little doll. If you hate it, we’ll find some other method of discipline that will give you the release you crave.”
She clutches at my shirt with her good hand.
I know she’s confused. It’s hard to grasp allowing herself to be punished.
It’s not a concept most humans can wrap their heads around.
There is a subset of the population that enjoys the benefits of bondage and discipline, but by and large it’s an unusual practice for the average vanilla population.
I’m not just human, though. I’m a lion shifter. Me and my pride brothers crave the sort of Dominant/submissive relationship with our mates that includes disciplinary aspects.
She jerks her head back to look at me. “What other parts of me do you intend to spank?”
Ah, she caught that. I smile. “Cora, some Little girls really enjoy pain in various forms. You might find you like having your nipples or even your pussy swatted.”
All the blood leaves her face as she stares at me.
She instinctively tries to squeeze her legs together, brought short by the bottle between her thighs.
At the same time, she covers her breasts with both hands over the flannel, protecting them as if I had intended to swat her tender buds right this instant.
“Never,” she blurts out.
I simply smile and shrug. “We’ll see.”
“No, we won’t,” she grumbles emphatically.
“Cora, this isn’t something you need to fret over right now. Focus on relaxing and taking your bottle. I’ve never heard of any Little girl being injured while sucking on a nipple,” I tease.
My girl sighs and leans back in my arms.
I’m pleased. One point for me. This is huge.
This time when I hold the nipple to her mouth, she accepts it.
“That’s my good girl,” I praise. “Suckle for me. Let Daddy feed you.”
Her cheeks pinken as she begins to suck, tentatively at first and then in earnest. I’m sure she’s undernourished and starving.
Not only was Vincent using her for slave labor, but he wasn’t feeding her enough.
This was obvious when he instructed her to make him a sandwich but ordered her not to eat our food herself.
Eventually, her small hand comes up to mine where I’m holding the bottle. I don’t think she’s aware of the gesture. It feels nice as she absently grips on to me.
Her eyes grow heavy as she downs every drop of the bottle. She needed the nutrients, and I’m not surprised she’s tired. I bet she hasn’t slept well in a long time.
When the bottle is empty, she’s dozing, and her lips are still gently suckling as I remove the nipple.
I set the bottle on the end table, open the drawer, and grab a pacifier. It’s easy to get her to accept it in her unconscious state, and I’m so fucking happy. I want to step outside, shift, and roar loud enough for the world to know that I’ve found my mate, and I’m never letting her go.
I should put her down and take care of about a dozen things while she naps, but I can’t bring myself to part from her.
For long minutes, I watch her sleep, her features softer at rest. Her little mouth works that pacifier as if she’s been sucking one for years.
It’s a lifeline. She’ll learn to accept this practice as well as many others because the soothing benefits will make suckling impossible to resist.
My girl is in for a lot of surprises today, but one step at a time. We’ve crossed two big hurdles. Bottles and pacifiers. Granted, she’s not exactly aware of the pacifier, but even without her knowledge, she’s accepting the addictive device.
I have to force myself to tear my gaze away and pull out my phone.
There are several texts in the group chat I have with my pride brothers.
Several of them have acknowledged they’ve heard of my claiming and congratulated me.
They will all cover for me at the logging site while I help my Little girl get acclimated to her new life.
I open some online sites where we will order clothes and anything else Cora needs, but I don’t put anything in the cart. I’ll let her choose when she’s ready.
As far as supplies to take care of her Little side, most of that is already in place in my home.
All of us have been prepared to bring home a mate on a moment’s notice for a few years.
For a long time, I stored everything in a box in the closet, but after Navin claimed Brea, I boldly opened the box and moved everything where it would inevitably belong in the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.
I even had pacifiers stashed in the end table drawer. I was ready.
As soon as she wakes up, I intend to further shock her by giving her a bath. I won’t be leaving her in the bathroom to do so herself. I’m sure it will unnerve her, but from now on, I will enjoy taking care of her in many ways as often as possible. It’s what I’m wired to do.
Cora is just as wired to accept my care as I am to give it. The difference is that the concept is foreign to her, and she’s likely to fight me every step of the way. That’s okay. I’m a patient man when it comes to my mate.
As much as I hate it, I need to remind myself that Vincent was hotter than hell when I told him Cora would not be leaving with him. I thought the man was going to have a coronary, which would have been nice and convenient, especially if he’d died on the spot and eliminated the threat he poses.
He’ll be back. He’s not going to release her so easily. But he’s also not going to get any help from the local sheriff, if that’s what he thinks. He spoke of contacting the authorities a dozen times.
Cora is a grown adult. She doesn’t need her stepfather’s permission or consent to move out of his home and into mine.
There were two people in town my pride brothers and I quickly made nice with and befriended as soon as we bought this logging company—the town doctor and the town sheriff.
We occasionally need the help of a physician, and it’s easier if the man or woman is familiar with lion shifters and our needs.
We also wanted to reassure the sheriff and his deputies that we are a peaceful group that means no harm to the community.
He isn’t going to listen to the ranting tantrum Vincent Jones is sure to bring to his office over the calm reassurances we have always provided him.
That’s not to say we are altogether nonviolent. We can and will eliminate anyone from this planet who dares to fuck with one of our own—including our mates.
I have a strong suspicion this situation with Jones will not end well for him, which means I will need to find a way to eliminate him that won’t cause eyebrows to raise in the sheriff’s office.
It can be done. We’ve done it before. No one will ever know there was a connection between Brea and the asshole who tried to traffic her.
That poor fellow made the unwise decision to go hiking in the mountains in the dark and met his untimely demise by falling off a cliff.
As far as the sheriff is concerned, Mitchel was nothing but a stupid fuck. And we like it that way.
Nothing is impossible.