“I can’t possibly be Little while also being a strong, loving Dominant to Eli.”
“Why?”
“It’s impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible. Do you judge Eloise for being Little?”
I didn’t like where he was going with this point. “Of course not.”
“Then let it go. She’s not going to do that to you, not when she’s been judged for her whole life.”
“You’re right.”
“I know, Reed. Plus, she’s never explored her Little space with anyone but herself. Wouldn’t it be incredibly fulfilling to both of you, if you did it together? Mmm. I know that look. You don’t want to give in. Well, I’ve been planning something. Do you want to hear what it is?”
I controlled my facial expression so I didn’t glare at him. No, I was already in over my head and he hadn’t punished me yet. “Yes, please. What are you planning, Daddy?”
Kingston moved to the huge garden tub and turned on the water. I wasn’t a big bath guy. Most days I preferred the shower but when he added lavender and vanilla bubble bath, I knew why he’d picked it. I’d relax. He crossed the huge bathroom, slowlyundressing me out of my suit, piece by piece. It was intimate without being sexual and I liked it.
“Get into the tub, little prince. I’ll tell you all about it while I give you a bath.”
The same flutter that had tickled my heart when he first called me the sweet endearment did it again. Nodding, I stopped fighting and sank into the bathtub.Damn it. Not only did it feel so good on my muscles and joints, easing tension and chasing away stress but I stayed in my younger mindset. “Are you going to punish me after I get out of the tub, Daddy?”
Kingston shut off the water. “No, I’m not. Sometimes behavior needs to be redirected or slightly adjusted without resorting to a punishment. But don’t push your luck. If you start acting out again, it will be back on the table.”
“Thank you, Daddy. Please tell me what you’re planning.”
“You and Eloise have been working and stressing for far too long. It’s not lost on me that I’ve been overworking a bit, but it was due to circumstances at the firehouse. Now that Dalton is Lieutenant things have improved dramatically. I put in for two weeks of PTO and it was approved.”
“Daddy–”
“Let me finish. I called Grant and spoke to him about securing time off for Eli. We have a meeting tomorrow. Even though she’s not going to appreciate my interference right away, I hope she will in time. I’ll text you the dates. When you go to work tomorrow you can request the same time off.”
“But–”
“Do not interrupt me when I’m speaking. There is no discussion to be had. You have banked a lot of vacation time, more than you’ve ever used. I know your boss is supportive when it comes to resting and recharging. Especially since you never take advantage of it.”
Kingston worked the shampoo into a lather, rubbing it into my scalp. He spoiled me fully and though I didn’t deserve it, his gentle caresses eased the last bit of tension out of me. I wanted to argue about the logistics or tell him that my manager wouldn’t allow vacation, but it wasn’t true. I simply refused to take more than a few days off here and there throughout the year. Two weeks would be like winning the lottery. Spending that time with my Daddy and my adorable submissive would be even more meaningful than if I was alone. But I did not want to give in at all.
“I’m not going,” I said firmly.
“Do I need to call your boss too?”
“Take Eli wherever the hell she wants to go, but I’ve got to work. It’s better if the two of you get a real break, time together without interruptions.” My headspace flipped back and forth between my younger space and my Big space. Cursing should plant me back into my Bigger headspace, at least in theory.
“Adjust your tone when you’re speaking to Daddy and tell me the real issue.”
Fire burned through my stomach. I hated the way I was acting. Might as well really act up so that he’d realize I was not worthy of being his not by a long shot.
He rinsed my hair, following with my fancy conditioner. Once he finished, Kingston leaned down to pull the plug for the tub.
I was feeling exceptionally raw.Might as well go out with a bang. Reaching my hand to him, I waited for him to grab it before pulling him into the tub. He surfaced, sputtering and spitting water as he pushed himself away from me.Shit. I had thought for one second it might be funny but the stern look brought the feeling of butterflies inside my body. Kingston carefully extracted himself from the tub, stripping off his wet clothes while maintaining eye contact. If I wasn’t in over myhead, I might have been turned on from the anticipation of what might happen next.
“You have thirty seconds to explain yourself, Reed.”
“You should go home.”
“I’m not going to do that. Twenty seconds.”
