Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

The snow crunched under Forrest’s boots as they made their way back toward the lodge. The horseback ride had been a wonderful distraction, but his mind kept circling back to Jessica. He couldn’t help but notice how her nerves seemed to settle as they rode, the tension slowly unwinding from her small frame. But now, as they walked toward the snowman-building competition, the quiet between them felt heavy.

Forrest hadn’t been able to shake the guilt gnawing at him since earlier. His reaction to her question had been... well, bad. He could see it in her eyes, the way she’d tensed, like she was bracing herself for something worse. The look had made his chest tighten because he recognized it. It was the look of someone who had been hurt badly before. Someone who expected more pain when they let their guard down, even just a little.

His gaze drifted to her as she walked just ahead of him. Small puffs of breath escaped her lips, her cheeks flushed from the cold. Her hands were shoved deep into her pockets, her fingers no doubt fidgeting with her sleeves like she seemed to be prone to do when nervous. He had noticed that about her—the smaller things. The way she fiddled with the hem of her skirt, shirt or sleeves, the way her smile started hesitant, almost shy, before it bloomed into something brighter. The way her eyes would light up when she talked about something that excited her. She didn’t seem to realize how expressive she was, how easy it was to read her emotions, even when she tried to hide them.

Forrest stopped short as the weight of his thoughts hit him. He was more attracted to her than he had realized. It wasn’t just her looks, though she was undeniably beautiful in a way that made his heart beat a little faster every time she smiled. It was her spirit, her bravery, her resilience. She’d agreed to spend time with them, even though it had been evident she was clearly scared and wary because of something in her past. From the way he’d triggered her this morning, he’d bet she’d had some harrowing experiences in her past, yet Jessica had shaken it off and was enjoying their time together immensely if her giggles were anything to go by.

There was something about Jessica that pulled at him, made him want to protect her, but also made him want to know every part of her—the parts she kept hidden, the parts she was learning to trust others with.

“You okay?”

Her soft voice pulled him from his thoughts, and he blinked, realizing she had slowed down to walk beside him. She looked up at him, concern in her eyes, and he could see the worry etched into her expression. He forced a smile, trying to shake off the weight of his emotions.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m good. Just thinking,” he replied, his voice sounding more casual than he felt. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her what was really going on in his head.

They reached the field where Sebastian and Rowan were already plotting out their snowman strategy. An error if you asked Forrest, because any Little worth their salt would have their own ideas on what their snowman should look like, so Forrest hung back. He watched them with only half his attention. Surprising him, Jessica stayed with him, her small form bundled in her coat, looking up at him like she wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how to start. He let her. Forrest wouldn’t be pushing her anymore today.

After a beat she spoke, her voice quiet. “Did I... upset you earlier? When I asked about why you stopped being an instructor?”

Forrest felt his chest tighten at the question. She sounded so hesitant, like she was afraid of the answer, but he was so proud of her for pushing through her fear to ask the question, anyway. “No, babygirl. You didn’t upset me. Not really. I just didn’t expect to talk about it.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not used to opening up about that part of my life anymore.”

Jessica frowned, and he could see the wheels turning in her head, always trying to understand. She stepped a little closer, her presence grounding him in a way that was both comforting and unnerving. “Why not? It sounds like you were really good at it.”

A strained chuckle escaped him, though it didn’t hold much humor. “I was. But things changed, and I guess I lost the passion for it.” His gaze softened as he looked down at her. “And then seeing how my reaction triggered you earlier... I just felt guilty. I never wanted to be someone who made anyone feel unsafe. Especially not you.”

Jessica blushed, her cheeks turning a becoming shade of pink as her hand reached out, resting lightly on his arm, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Her touch was so gentle, but it carried the weight of trust—trust he sensed she was still learning to give, even after everything she’d been through.

“You didn’t make me feel unsafe, Forrest,” she said quietly, her eyes meeting his. “It’s just sometimes I get reminded of things from my past, and it’s hard to separate that from what’s happening in the now. But I know you’re not like that. There is no way you could hurt me like that. Right?”

Her words were like a balm to the guilt that had been gnawing at him. “Never, babygirl. I’d sooner cut off my face than hurt you.” He exhaled, the tension in his body easing as he allowed time for his words to sink in.

She needed to trust him. And his friends. If they wanted to make any kind of relationship work between the four of them, it would have to be built on trust. Already she was building the first foundations of trust with them, and it was more than he could have hoped for, given how guarded she was.

“Do you have any idea how special you are, Jessie?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly dropped her gaze, her fingers twisting her sleeve, reminding him of his previous observations. It made him smile, but there was something deeper behind that smile, something he couldn’t quite put into words.

“I’m not that special,” she mumbled, kicking at the snow. “I’m just... me.”

“You’re so much more than that, Jessie,” Forrest replied, the sincerity in his voice catching even him off guard. “You’re brave. You’ve obviously been through so much but you’re still standing. If that isn’t special, then I don’t know what is.”

There was a long silence between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Forrest watched her, waiting for her to say something, though he wasn’t sure what. Then out of nowhere she spoke again, her voice quieter this time, almost hesitant.

“When you were a kink instructor... did you ever teach someone like me?”

Forrest blinked, thrown off by the sudden shift. “Like you?”

Jessica bit her lip, clearly nervous about what she was asking. “I mean... someone who’s a Little, but who hasn’t really explored the kinky side of things.” She shuffled her feet and tugged at the hem of her coat. “I mean, I know I’m a Little. I like my binkie, my blankie and all the stuffies in the toy chests. I’ve known that for a very long time. But I’ve never done any of... that, in the bedroom, I guess. It’s always scared me too much. I’ve never trusted anyone enough to go there.”

Forrest’s heart skipped a beat. The vulnerability in her voice, the way she was opening up to him about something so deeply personal, made him feel both honored and terrified. He kept his voice steady, careful not to overwhelm her. “I’ve worked with a few people like that, yes. People who were curious but needed time, patience. I’ve never pushed anyone beyond what they were ready for.”

Her next question hit him like a freight train.

“Would you... ever want to teach me? Help me explore it?”

Forrest’s breath caught in his throat. He wasn’t ready for that. Nothing could have ever prepared him for the intensity of his reaction to her words, to the idea of being the one to guide her through something so intimate, so vulnerable. His eyes darkened for a moment, the weight of her request settling in his chest.

But then he looked away, exhaling softly. “Jessie, that’s a big step. I don’t want to rush you into something you’re not ready for.”

“I’m not asking you to rush me,” she said quickly, determination clear in her voice. “I’m asking if you’d be willing to... you know... guide me? Be patient with me. I feel like I can trust you, Forrest. You, Sebastian, and Rowan. And if I’m ever going to explore that part of myself, I want to do it with someone who thinks I’m special.”

Forrest felt his heart pound in his chest. The weight of her trust was overwhelming, and he knew what she was asking wasn’t just about kink—it was about safety, vulnerability, intimacy. And goodness, he wanted them to be that for her. He wanted them to make her feel safe enough to explore. To heal.

Finally, he nodded, though his voice was quiet when he spoke. “If that’s what you want, Jess... I’ll be here. I’ll teach you, guide you. But we’ll need to talk with Rowan and Seb first. And this will all happen at your pace. No pressure, no expectations.”

Her smile was small but genuine, and it eased the tightness in his chest.

Before they could say anything more, Rowan’s voice rang out across the field. “Hey! You two joining us or what? This snowman isn’t going to build itself!”

Jessica laughed, and the sound of it warmed Forrest more than he could’ve imagined. As they walked toward the others, Forrest’s mind buzzed with everything that had just happened. He had a feeling that this was just the beginning—of what; he wasn’t sure. But whatever it was, it was something worth waiting for.