“Well, that’s just bullshit.”
Venom dripped from Kylie’s words and when Addison turned her head, she found the matching fury in Kylie’s dark eyes. She was sitting up now, her expression one of an avenging angel, and Addison wouldn’t have been surprised to see a magical wind whipping around her even in the dead stillness of the restaurant.
“What did you say?”
“I said, that’s bullshit. Did she evertellyou that she felt like you were being too mean? That she was struggling to let her Little out around you?”
“Well, no, but I was her Mommy. I should have known.”
Rolling her eyes toward the ceiling, Kylie scoffed. “Last time I checked, being a mind reader wasn’t a requirement for being a Mommy.”
“She’s right.” Reaching across the table, Daniel threaded his fingers with hers. “It was Deanna’s job to communicate to you that her needs weren’t being met. If she didn’t do that, then how could you have known?”
“You don’t understand. That’s not the point.”
“I think it very much is the point, Addison.” A hint of steel infused Daniel’s voice. “You want to keep us at arm’s length because some other Little didn’t tell you she was hurting until it was too late. But that’s not fair to you and it sure as hell isn’t fair to us. Why should we have to miss out on having the Mommy we both want just because you weren’t a good fit for another Little?”
“I like control. A lot of control. And when you break the rules, there will be punishments. Sometimes harsh punishments that will leave you sore and bruised for days.”
“Addison, we’re already all in, you don’t have to keep selling yourself,” Kylie teased with a soft giggle.
Addison shook her head. “Littles need softness. I don’t know if I can be soft.”
“You were plenty soft this morning when I had my meltdown. And you knew the pacifier would help when even I didn’t know that was something I’d like.”
“That was just… you don’tunderstand.”
Daniel squeezed her hand. “We understand you’re scared. And that’s okay. We are, too.”
“Of me?”
“No, never,” Kylie rushed to assure her. “We’re scared that we might ruin our friendship. What happens if things don’t work out with you? Do we go back to just being friends? Or what happens if one of us decides we want out? Will we still be able to be friends after that? There’s a lot of unknowns, but we both really, really want to try anyway.”
Glancing between them, Addison felt the physical tug on her heart from both of them. “You promise you’ll tell me if my rules are too much? If I’m being too harsh?”
“We promise to be as open and honest with you as humanly possible, if you promise us the same in return,” Kylie said, glancing over at Daniel who nodded his agreement.
Picking up her wine, Addison downed the rest of the contents, her head spinning a bit. A part of her was still convinced this was a horrible mistake, destined to blow up in her face.
But the other part was still back in Derek’s office, listening to him tell her she’d regret it for the rest of her life if she didn’t at least try.
And Derek Hawkins, much to her eternal annoyance, was rarely—if ever—wrong.
“All right, then. If you’ll both have me, I’d be honored to be your Mommy.”
Danny
He had a Mommy.
Holy shit.
Dinner had been something right out of a dream. Once Addison had said she wanted to be their Mommy, she’d stepped right into the role like it was the most natural thing in the world.Right down to cutting up Kylie’s asparagus and wiping her face clean when she smeared barbecue sauce all over herself.
And when Danny had tried to order two desserts, she’d frowned so sternly at him he’d nearly slid to his knees right there in the restaurant.
Having a Mommy was fuckingawesome.
But now they were back at the Ranch, about to say their goodbyes. Addison had walked them to Kylie’s room, and she was wearing that knowing little smile that made him want to let her do any manner of horrible things to him. Things he’d always been too scared to let anyone else try.
