“Perfect.” Beaming with pride, he turns me to face the full-length mirror, and for a moment my brain short circuits trying to make sense of what I’m seeing.
“Is this… a school uniform?” I ask, pinching the edges of the skirt between my fingers and lifting it as I study my reflection.
“Yes. Juliet and Victoria will be wearing the same uniform for your first day of school.”
Still struggling to comprehend exactly what this all means, I lift my gaze to meet his in the mirror. “You… want me to go to school? Here?”
“I do. Little girls need plenty of activity to keep their brains and bodies healthy. You’ll do three hours of school every morning with Miss Evelyn, then lunch. And after lunch you’ll have an hour of dance.”
It’s the last word he says that has me spinning around to stare up at him. “Dance class? Really?”
“Mmhmm. And would you like to hear the best part?”
“What could possibly be better than dance class?”
“I don’t know.” His voice takes on a teasing lilt, and the corners of his mouth turn up in a smile. “Maybe teaching a dance class?”
I blink up at him. “Teaching who?”
“Victoria and Juliet. They’re both very excited to learn, especially from one of the greatest dancers in the world.”
“Okay, well, first of all that’s averygenerous exaggeration. I’m not even one of the greatest dancers in New York City.”
“Nonsense. I’ve seen you dance. You’re incredible. It’s a crime you haven’t been given a principal spot yet.”
Literally nothing he could say would shock me more than learning he’s attended my performances. “You’ve watched me?”
“Of course, little doll. I’ve been watching you for a very long time. The way you move, like there’s nothing else in the world but you and the music… it’s breathtaking.”
My heart, the one I’ve been guarding so fiercely from him, threatens to shatter in my chest. “You don’t mean that,” I whisper. I don’t want him to mean it. I don’t want him to see me, to see so clearly to who I am at the very center of my being.
Because if he does, then I know I’ll be lost.
Cupping my face, he tilts my head back, a knowing smile curving his lips. “I mean every word, little doll. You don’t dance simply because you were trained to, or even just because you enjoy it. You dance because youmust. Because your soul cries out for it. And that’s why I know you’ll make an incredible teacher for the other Little girls on the island.”
Taking my hand, he leads me out of the closet and toward the stairs. And as we descend, I make note of every window, every door, every possible exit.
I need to get the hell off this island before I do something I can never take back. Like giving my heart to the man I call Daddy.
* * *
Gideon
My brothers and their Little ones are waiting for us in front of the newly built school, Juliet and Victoria looking almost as adorable as my own little doll in their matching uniforms. Victoria bounces on her toes when she spots us, tugging on Maxwell’s hand and pointing in our direction. When he only glances over and waves, she pulls her hand from his and makes to run across the street to us but her Daddy catches her before she can even step off the curb.
Holding Isabella’s hand firmly in mine, we cross the street to the sound of Maxwell’s hand landing on his Little one’s bare thighs over and over as he lectures her on the dangers of crossing the street without him.
“Owie, owie, owie, Daddy I’msorry!” she wails, dancing in place in a vain attempt to avoid her Daddy’s punishing hand.
With two more swats to her thighs, Maxwell wraps up the punishment and places his hands on Victoria’s shoulders, turning her to face him. “We are going to continue this discussion at home, Victoria Rose. I’ve had to spank you for this same exact thing far too many times. You will be going to bed with a very sore bottom inside and out tonight.”
At his declaration, I look down at my own Little girl, who is watching the scene in front of them unfold with wide eyes. Crouching down, I lower my voice for only her to hear. “Do you understand what Uncle Max means, little one?”
“Not really,” she whispers back, not taking her eyes off her friend and her Uncle Max.
“When Little girls are naughty, they get spanked. When Little girls are very,verynaughty, they get spanked and then they get Daddy’s cock in their bottom to make sure they’ve learned their lesson.”
Her head whips around, and the fear dancing in her eyes is so delicious it makes my cock ache to see it. “You wouldn’t do that, would you, Daddy?”
