Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“I guess . . . four. I don’t know.”
“What do you like to play with in Little headspace?”
“I’ve only played at the club. I like the cars and trucks. But also the dolls. I like dressing them up and doing their hair. Although I got in trouble once for cutting one of the dolls’ hair off. One of the other Littles cried.”
“And what sort of punishment did you get?” His face was calm, but there was a note in his voice that made her study him for a moment. He sounded too casual. Jack raised an eyebrow, amusement filling his face. “You see me, don’t you?”
“Yes, I think I do.”
“And I don’t scare you at all, do I?”
“I wouldn’t say that exactly. But you don’t scare me as much as you probably should.”
“And why is that, baby girl?”
“Because I don’t think you’ll use that scariness against me. Rather . . . I should be worried about everyone else who you will turn on to protect me.”
“Very good,” he praised, turning to face her. “I would never harm you . . . but anyone who hurts you needs to watch out.”
Monkeyballs.
Her heart raced. A mix of fear and something else . . . anticipation?
Jack placed his hand around the front of her throat. Not threatening her, but more like he was trying to . . . to anchor her. To ground her. And she felt her fear and nerves fade away.
Jack was here.
He wanted to take care of her.
“What punishment did you get?”
“A spanking.” Her lip wobbled. “I was naughty. I guess I deserved it.”
“Hmm. It was naughty when it wasn’t your doll. I’ll buy you all the dolls you want, then you can do what you like to them.”
Maggie gave him a delighted look. She’d been made to feel like she was deficient or wrong when she’d cut the doll’s hair. But really . . . why did they have scissors in the playroom if you weren’t allowed to use them?
Although she did steal them out of the crafting area.
“Who spanked you?”
“One of the monitors.”
“What was his name?”
She shook a finger at him. “Nuh-uh, you can’t go after him.”
“I could.”
“Well, I don’t know his name, and that’s the truth. You can’t go after everyone who’s ever punished me. He was doing his job. What I agreed to.”
“I don’t like the idea of anyone punishing you but me and Ian. Yeah, I’d like to watch Ian take you over his knee and spank your bottom until it’s red and you’re sobbing.”
Her eyes were wide as she gaped at him. “You sound like you’d enjoy that a lot.”
“I would. But we can’t spank you while you have a sore hip. So I need another punishment for you.”
“You won’t take Ziggy away, will you? Or my new things!” Worry flooded her. “I’ll be a good girl! I promise.”
“Hey, no. I would never take Ziggy. Or any of your other toys.” He carefully lifted her onto his lap.
She could feel herself trembling. Which was a tad silly. Turning her head, she buried it into his chest, breathing in his woodsy scent.
He lightly gripped the back of her head. “I would never do something like that, baby. Ziggy is yours.”
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I guess it’s just some leftover stuff from when I was a kid. After Uncle Willy gave me Ziggy, he became my favorite toy. So my mum would use him to punish me.”
He held her tight, kissing the top of her head. “I had a shitty dad. He was never around and when he was, he’d either be yelling, sleeping, or drinking. But my ma . . . she was amazing.”
“I’m sorry you lost her.”
He tensed and then relaxed. “Ian told you?”
“A little. I know she died.”
“She was in pain and sick, and instead of thinking she better go to the doctor, she just kept working. Thinking about me. What I needed.”
“It sounds like she loved you so much.”
“She did.” He stared off into the distance.
“She wanted the best for you, like a good mother should. I’m sure she’d be proud of you.”
He gave her a strange look. “Would she? I’m not so sure. Is your mum proud of you?”
She snorted. “Not in the slightest. I don’t want to talk about her, though.”
He hummed. “Maybe not now. But one day, we’ll have this conversation.”
She gulped at the warning in his voice. She needed to get off this topic. The last thing she wanted was to explain all the ways her mum thought her a failure.
“So if you’re not going to spank me, how will you punish me?” she asked. “You know it would be a real bummer if I had to eat a whole bowl of ice cream.”
“Hmm, you know you’re right. It would. But I’ve decided not to punish you.”
Okay . . . that didn’t sit right with her.