Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
“I really like being all of me,” Celeste added.
The rest of the Littles agreed with her as Isla remained silent. She looked around the group as they concentrated on coloring. Could she be as brave as them to live her life so completely?
Taking a deep breath, she admitted, “I freaked out before dinner about consequences and being spanked.”
“Oooh. That is a big step. Giving someone that much control,” Zara agreed.
“I’ve been wiggling on a sore bottom all night. I forgot to go to lunch today, and Daddy found out,” Lyra shared.
“That’s not healthy,” Zara scolded.
“I know. Time just got away from me. Daddy set an alarm on my watch. It will drive me crazy to stop in the middle of a piece, but I need to get up and move around. Hours go past when I play, and I lose track of time,” she confessed.
“I may be weird, but I feel better after being punished. It makes all those little voices in my brain turn off for a while,” Celeste shared.
Isla watched everyone else nod in agreement. “Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Yes, but Daddies somehow know how much you need and don’t go past that line,” Juniper added.
“So, the only way I can be unafraid of a spanking is to get one?” Isla asked.
“Yep,” Sadie answered matter-of-factly before she changed the subject completely. Pointing at Isla’s artwork, she added, “You should show that to your Daddy when you finish. He’s going to love it.”
Isla took her time, adding a few embellishments like seaweed and shells. When she knew she needed to stop, Isla put her crayons away. As she folded the flap back into the box, she looked around the group. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank us. We have to band together to survive all that hunkiness,” Juniper told her, nodding toward the guys gathered around Magnus’s computer area.
Giggles burst from Lyra’s mouth, and that set everyone off. As they watched, the men turned to look at them with raised eyebrows. That made the merriment skyrocket—especially when the guys all stood and approached.
“Bedtime, Juniper,” Magnus declared.
“Oh!” the Little girl bemoaned, but Isla noticed Juniper immediately putting her things away.
“I finished my shark. Can we put it on the door?” Isla asked, looking up at Caesar.
“That’s an amazing picture. I love all the details. Of course, we need to put this up. Let’s go do that now. My door has been blank for too long.” A slow grin spread across Caesar’s face, making him even more handsome.
“I’d like that.” Isla stood and picked up her picture carefully so she wouldn’t rumple it. “Bye, everyone!”
“We’ll ride upstairs with you,” Magnus said, and Juniper jumped up to put her hand in her Daddy’s.
Caesar guided Isla to the elevator with a hand on her lower back. She loved that he touched her so often. It made her feel like he wanted to be in contact with her as much as possible. She settled against the side of the elevator, and Magnus held the door for the other couple.
As the car rose, Caesar settled next to her. His arm curled around her waist to hold her close. His warm strength ebbed into her body. The Littles were right. She should enjoy every minute with her Daddy.
A few minutes later, she taped the shark carefully to the plain white door guarding Caesar’s apartment. Isla looked around at all the other doors with satisfaction. Theirs matched now.
“Thank you, Little girl, for creating something special for me.”
“I had fun coloring it.”
“I’m glad. Come on in. It’s time for bed.”
“Do we have time to talk?” Isla asked.
Caesar looked at his watch and back at her. “You’re not going to sleep well if we don’t…?”
“No,” she admitted.
“Then we make time. Let’s go sit at the kitchen table.”
When she was settled in a seat, Caesar grabbed a pad of paper and took a chair next to her. “Let’s set up some guidelines. Your health and safety are the most important things to me. I would like you to get eight hours of sleep.”
“I’m grumpy if I don’t get enough sleep,” Isla agreed. “You need sleep, too.”
“I agree. I’ll put it on the list. I also need to know that you will listen and obey me. I promise you that I’m not a jerk dictator. I won’t order you around unless something important is happening. Your reaction in an emergency has to be automatic. That’s why we practice in small ways.”
“Like when you tell me to go take a nap?”
“Exactly. There’s a reason I’m sending you to nap. I know it’s hard to give up control. I don’t ever want you to feel like I am simply jerking you around.”
“Can I ask for an explanation?” Isla asked.
“If your safety is not in danger, yes.”
“What punishments will you use if I don’t do what you say?”