Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

Four days later …

Ava

I’m groggy when I wake up and look around. I’m in my bouncy seat in the middle of the great room, which is where I’ve found myself often for the last several days. I’m strapped in tight. There’s no chance of me unfastening the buckles because I only have one hand. My left arm is in a cast that reaches all the way to my fingers.

Papi is sitting at the kitchen table. His computer is open in front of him, but I don’t think he’s working. I don’t think he has worked much since I got hurt. All he does is pace and watch me and look a bit green.

I pull my pacifier out with one hand as I stare at him. He feels responsible for my fall, which is crazy. It was my fault. I broke the rules, and I got hurt.

For the first time in days, I feel more myself. Papi didn’t inject my arm this morning because the doctor told him to stop so we would know if my arm hurts without the pain-killing effects of his serum.

My mind is clearer, and I need to make things right with Papi. I have a million questions, but I think I’ll start with an easy one. I clear my throat, which causes him to jerk his attention toward me. “What do you do for work, Papi?”

I haven’t spoken a single word to him in two weeks that wasn’t coaxed out of me with bribery. I’m a bitch.

He’s shocked. His eyes are wide. But he pushes his chair back and comes to me. I’m not far because he never leaves me anywhere unattended now. I’m pretty sure he has slept the past four nights in my nursery in the rocking chair. He has to be exhausted.

He squats in front of me. “Hey there, Little one. How does your arm feel?” He strokes my other hand.

I flip it over and grab on to one of his fingers. His hands still mesmerize me with their size. I can grip one finger and hold on to him as if I were an actual child. It makes me feel like the Little girl he says I am, and I think I like it.

“My arm is fine, Papi. It doesn’t hurt at all. The doctor said it would heal faster than on Earth. I’m sure it’s almost better.”

He strokes my fingers, but his brow is furrowed. “I’m sorry you got hurt, Baby girl. I should have been paying closer attention.”

I shake my head. It’s time to put him out of his misery. “It was my fault, Papi. You told me I wasn’t permitted to get out of my crib or even stand in it, and I defied you. I deserved to fall and get hurt. I thought I was strong enough to land on the floor, but it was farther than I imagined, and my legs weren’t ready for standing. I reached out with my hand to stop my fall, and my arm broke. You couldn’t have prevented it.”

He swallowed. “I should have. It’s my job to keep you safe.”

“Nope. It’s your job to love me, and that includes disciplining me when I do things that aren’t safe. I owe you a punishment for my behavior.”

He drops onto his knees and leans in to kiss my forehead.

I release his finger and reach up to wrap my hand around his neck. “I’m sorry I’ve been so naughty and stubborn. I’m struggling with this arrangement, but it’s not your fault, and I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

“It’s okay, Little one. Some Little girls need more time than others to acclimate.”

I shake my head. “There’s no excuse for how rude I’ve been. It’s not your fault that Fate put us together. I can feel the pull of the bond. I know you feel it the same. Will you forgive me and give me a chance to be good?”

He leans back a few inches and cups my face. “Nothing to forgive, Baby girl, but I miss you so much. I just want you to be happy and healthy. I want you to be able to talk to me so we can work out the things that are bothering you. I want you to be my partner in life.”

I grip his neck harder. “Your idea of a partner is not what I had in mind. In fact, to be honest, I never wanted a life partner. My parents were terrible at it. I hated what I witnessed growing up, so I vowed I wouldn’t ever get married, and I certainly didn’t expect to find myself claimed by an alien from another planet,” I tease.

He chuckles. I love that sound. After a few seconds, he asks, “Was your father dominant? Is that why it bothers you so much?”

“Yeah, but I realize now it’s not the same. My father was abusive. I should say he is abusive. Even though I haven’t been home in years, I assume nothing has changed. He wants my mother to keep the house perfect, have meals ready, and jump at his every beck and call. He’s an ass, and I hate him.”

“I’m sorry, Little one. That must have been hard. I see why you didn’t want to end up like your mother. I promise I will never ask you to cook or clean. I’ll do all of that in our home. I would never hit you out of anger either.”

I don’t know when I’ll be able to fully embrace this way of life, but I do know that I have to eventually. It’s my life now. Denying it isn’t helping. It’s only making both of us miserable.

Papi leans in closer. “Your submission to me is not the domestic sort. You’re not my maid, my cook, or my cleaning lady. You’re my Little girl. My intention is to spoil you rotten for the rest of our lives, not put you to work.”

I shudder. For the last few days, I’ve spent every conscious moment thinking of a list of things I want from Papi. I need to be brave and voice them. Hopefully he won’t turn me down. I’ll be devastated if he does.

“I have some requests. Do I get a say in anything?”

He leans back and lifts my hand to his lips to kiss my knuckles. “Definitely. You don’t get a say in matters of safety. No, you may not climb out of your crib again. No, you may not touch the hot stove. No, you may not leave the house alone and wander off. I’d have heart palpitations.” He grins.

I sigh, worried about my list.

“Ava, my intention is to keep you safe and happy. I’ll keep telling you that until you believe it. I can’t provide things that don’t exist in my society either, if that’s what you’re going to ask for. Some things aren’t possible. Little girls don’t wear clothes, for example, so I can’t magically provide you with dresses, nor would I want to.”

I draw in a deep breath. That part is weird. “Never?” I haven’t fully wrapped my head around the concept.

“Never, Baby girl. And the second most common argument from new mates is about bathrooms. They don’t exist. They are not going to exist. Eleadian males instinctively want to take care of our mates in every way. We can’t fathom letting our Little girls wander off alone or giving them privacy. It’s not in our DNA.”

I nod slowly. “Well, I suspected both of those things, so they aren’t on my list. But I would like you to consider my requests carefully and not shoot me down before I even have a chance to finish my sentence. Human women have feelings. You will hurt mine if you don’t think carefully about what I’m saying before you start shaking your head.”

“Okay, Baby girl. I promise.”

“I’d like five things.”

He swallows, looking concerned.

I bravely plow forward. “First, I’d like you to take me to your office and show me what you do for work. You’ve never mentioned it, and I’m curious.”

He smiles. “I’m more than happy to do that.”

“Second…” I hesitate. My list is all over the place, and I hope he doesn’t think it’s madness. “I’d like you to restrain me to the changing table, remove my diaper, and use that evil clamp on my nipples one at a time until the pain chases away some of my self-loathing.”

His eyes widen, and he blinks. “Really?”

“Yes. I’ve craved that sharp pain ever since Dankin introduced me to it. I want to feel it again.”

He licks his lips. For a moment, I worry he’s going to turn me down, but then he nods. “I can do that, Baby girl.” His voice is gravelly, and he shifts his weight. I hope that means the concept excites him.

“Third, that clamp is going to make me come harder than I ever have in my life because my arousal has been steadily growing ever since I woke up two weeks ago. After that first orgasm subsides, I’d like you to fuck me clear into tomorrow.” No sense sugarcoating it.

He chuckles. “Done.” He’s starting to relax. I’m guessing he’s less worried about the rest of my list.

“Fourth, while my nipples are still sore from the clamp, can we go get them pierced?”

He’s taken aback. “Today?”

“Yes.” I chew on my bottom lip.

He narrows his gaze. “Coincidentally, I’ve already chosen the perfect stones for you and had the hoops made.”

I grin. “Really?”

“Yes. Ekert came by a few days ago while you were sleeping. I’ll call him and make sure he’s available this afternoon. If he is, we can go. However, I do want you to approve the stones I chose. They will dangle from your pretty nipples for the rest of your life. It’s important that you love them. If you don’t like them, we’ll pick different ones, and Ekert can reset them.”

I smile broader. I can’t believe he’s willing to accept my input on this topic. I’m beyond shocked. “I will love them.”

He narrows his gaze. “You don’t even know what color they are.”

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. If you selected them, I will love them. I know you put a lot of thought into choosing what you wanted for me, and that’s all that matters. Whatever you chose is exactly perfect, and I will cherish them for the rest of my life.”

Papi actually looks choked up. All he can do is nod and kiss my fingers again before rubbing my knuckles back and forth across his lips. Eventually, he whispers, “You said you had five requests. What’s the last one?”

“I want to see Mia. I’m ready. I promise I’ll be good.”

He drops my hand so he can lean over and kiss me, a sensual deep kiss on my lips that lasts for several minutes and leaves me breathless. When he breaks contact, he says, “I love you so much, Ava.”

I smile. I’m finally able to return that sentiment. “I love you, too, Papi.”