She drops her head once more, and my heart trips in my chest at the sight ofmyLittle girl nursing at my breast. Everything I’ve ever wanted is finally right here in my arms.
And I’m never fucking letting her go.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alexis
It’s been a month, perhaps even longer since our trip to the farm and so far my plan to be the best-behaved Little girl on the island is experiencing… mixed results at best.
For instance, the first day Mommy tried to send me to school I threw such a tantrum I got my first taste of the thick belt Mommy keeps in her closet. I ended up going to school with so many welts on my bottom I could barely stand to wear my diaper.
Therehavebeen a few days I’ve managed to make it the whole entire day without being punished, but I’ve come to realize it’s actually a lot harder than it sounds to be good all the time. Especially here on the island, andespeciallywith my strict Mommy. Sometimes I wish Mommy was more like Uncle Evan, though from what Nelly says he’s been putting his foot down more, mostly when she does stuff that could get her hurt.
She isnotvery happy about this change. But I secretly am, and not just because it means I’m not the only one getting spanked all the time. Sometimes I really do worry Nelly mightdo something truly dangerous, and it’s a relief to know that her Daddy is taking her safety seriously. Even if she still does get away with being way naughtier than the rest of us.
Between Nelly and Juju, it’s easy to not be thenaughtiestLittle girl on the island. Even Millie seems to enjoy being in trouble more often than not. But Tori and Izzy are so sweet and polite it makes my teeth ache. And the monster that lives inside my chest always seems the most active when Tori is around, especially when she goes to my Mommy for snuggles instead of her own Daddy.
Then there was the day Mommy took us all out to get our nails done. A girls’ day, she said, and I put on a brave smile because she seemed so happy about taking all of “her girls” out to do something special. But my determination to be good only lasted about an hour.
I still don’t know exactly what happened. All I know is that Tori was asking Mommy what color she should get on her nails, like she really was just a baby who couldn’t make her own decisions. And the next thing I knew, I was snapping at Mommy and rolling my eyes until she finally pulled me right up out of the pedicure chair to spank my bare bottom in front of the whole salon.
It wasn’t all bad, though. After my spanking, Mommy cuddled me until I stopped crying and she paid extra attention to me the rest of the day.
Not for the first time, I find myself wondering if maybe I’m going about this the wrong way. Maybe being good isn’t the answer. Maybe just being naughty all the time so Mommy has no choice but to pay attention to me is how I win the battle against the thing that lives in my chest.
“What are you thinking so hard about, little imp?”
The question jolts me out of my contemplation and back to the present, where Mommy is trying to feed me a bite ofpancakes smothered in real maple syrup. Guilt stabs at my chest as I force a smile for her. Here I am, with the most gorgeous woman in the world feeding me by hand, and all I can think about is how to get more of her attention instead of being happy with what’s right in front of me.
“Nothing, Mommy.” I open my mouth so she can push the soggy pancakes between my lips, hoping it covers my lie.
No such luck.
Setting the fork aside, she studies me with those dark eyes that always seem to see too much. “Are you worried about going to see Solene today?”
It’s a decent enough cover, considering Ihavebeen stressing a lot about our upcoming shopping trip. “Maybe a little.”
Sympathy warms Mommy’s eyes. “I know it’s uncomfortable for you, baby. But Solene has lots of brand-new dresses just for you, and anything you find in the store that you like can be made to your measurements. And I think once you actually meet Solene, you’ll see she’s just a Little girl like yourself.”
Except she’s not. She’s brilliant and she spent her entire adult life surrounded by supermodels. I’m still not convinced she won’t take one look at me and laugh me right out of her store.
But Mommy wants to take me shopping, and there is pretty much nothing I wouldn’t do to make Mommy happy. So I force a smile and nod. “Okay, Mommy.”
“That’s my good girl. Are you all done with your breakfast or do you want some more?”
Leaning back in my chair, I pat my tummy, trying to not think about how round it looks in the onesie she put me in for bed last night. “All done.”
“Then let’s get you cleaned up and dressed. Your Uncle Max and Victoria are meeting us at the boutique in about an hour.”
That ugly, twisting jealousy is back, making it difficult to keep my breakfast where it belongs? “What? Why?”
A frown tugs at Mommy’s lips. “What’s this attitude, little girl?”
“I don’t have an attitude. I just wanna know why they’re coming.”
“Because they’re our family and I invited them.” Her eyes narrow slightly and I have to fight the urge to squirm in my chair. “Do you not want them to come? I thought it would be a fun surprise.”
“It is. I just… I thought maybe it could just be a Mommy and Lexie day.”
