Again taking me by the hand, she leads me to her bed and helps me under the covers before stripping her clothes off and climbing in beside me, completely naked.
“Come here, little one.”
Setting aside the odd moment from earlier, I shift closer and when she presses gently on my head, I lower my lips to her breast, gently pulling her nipple between my lips. With a soft sigh, I close my eyes and suckle, and I fall asleep with the sweet taste of her milk on my tongue.
Lexie
I wake in a cocoon of softness I immediately recognize as Mommy’s bed. Without even opening my eyes yet, I smile and roll toward her, burying my face in her bare breast. The scent of her milk lingers on her skin and I instinctively nuzzle her, seeking her nipple.
“Such a hungry little baby.” Beneath my cheek, Mommy’s chest rumbles with laughter. “Drink up, my love.”
As I feed, my mind slowly joins my body in the waking world and my eyes flutter open to stare up at her. Mommy smiles down at me, her hand brushing a stray curl from my face.
“There’s my pretty baby. Good morning, little one. Do you need to potty?”
Unwilling to let go just yet, I nod with her nipple still in my mouth.
“Go on, baby. Mommy will change you when you’re done nursing.”
Humiliation floods my body as I screw my eyes shut and focus on doing exactly as she’s asked, emptying my bladder into the soft cotton while her milk fills my tummy.
“Such a good little baby you are,” she praises softly. “Mygood little baby. All mine.”
There’s something in her tone that has the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. But I try to ignore the sensation, focusing inside on drinking my fill before releasing her nipple with a sigh, my heart and tummy both full.
“We need to discuss the rest of your punishment, little one.” Her voice is quiet, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear I almost hear regret in her tone.
Lifting my head, I pout up at her, hoping she’ll be feeling tender enough after the events of last night to show me some leniency. “But you already punished me. My bottomstillhurts.”
“Mmm. And I suspect it will be even more sore by the time we’re through.” Instead of the mercy I’d hoped to see in her eyes, all I find is a stern determination that makes my bottom clench. “Mommy needs to make sure that what happened yesterday never happens again. So for the next week, you are grounded entirely. Your friends may come by for supervised visits, but there will be no lunches at the cafe, no toy shopping, no trips to the farm. That is the first part of your punishment for sneaking out of the house and scaring ten years off your Mommy’s life.”
Tears blur my vision, guilt settling so heavily in my chest it’s a wonder I can breathe at all. “I’m really, really sorry, Mommy.”
Her expression softens, just a fraction. “I know you are, baby. But what you did was incredibly dangerous and I intend to be very sure it never happens again.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
“And while you are grounded, we will be addressing your other naughty behaviors. Taking your locket and your diaper off without permission, throwing your locket in a tree to distract us, wandering the island all by yourself, sneaking onto a boat full of lumberjacks.”
“I don’t think the last one should count,” I grumble. “They’re your friends, so it’s not like I was in any danger.”
I can tell before she even speaks it’s the wrong thing to say. “While I trust Gray and the rest of the Thorne family with my life, they were not the only people on that boat. And a cargo ship like that is no place for a Little girl to go wandering aroundunsupervised. You could have been hurt or killed a million different ways, Alexis Paige.”
“Yes, Mommy. I’m sorry.”
“Believe me, Little girl. You will be by the time your punishment is over. Mommy’s hairbrush is going to get quite a workout. Not to mention what Uncle Evan has in store for you when he comes over later.”
Great. I’m never going to sit right again.
“But before we get to all that, we need to have a serious discussion.” The onyx of her eyes glints with a hint of mischief. “And serious discussions call for do-dos.”
“Do-dos!” Even knowing I have a series of painful punishments coming, excitement sparks inside my chest. “I can make those!”
“I know you can, little one, and we are going to have plenty of time for you to make me all the do-dos you want this week. But I had Gavin run out this morning and get us some do-dos from the cafe. Let’s get that wet diaper changed and we can have our breakfast.”
Catharina
With my Little one freshly diapered and changed into a pretty green dress that makes her hair look like living fire, we settle into our chairs at the table in my sitting room. Leaning forward, I open the lid on the pink box Gavin left for us in the middle of the table. “What flavor do you want, baby?”
