Page 24 of His Love

As I was relieving myself, I heard a light thumping, then Paisley’s voice calling me through the wall.

“Uncle Axel, someone is at the door. Can you get it?” she asked, slipping back into Little-space mode.

“Yes, baby. Good girl for asking.” I quickly finished, washed my hands, and ran out of the bathroom, pausing in her room to pull on the jeans I’d worn the day before. Once they were buttoned, I ran a hand through my hair and pulled the door open, wishing I’d thought to grab a shirt. Even more so when I was greeted by the sight of a very poorly looking Emily and Onyx.

“We need to talk, if that’s possible,” Onyx said, his tone brusque.

“Yeah, come on inside,” I stood to the side for them to enter, but neither one of them moved. Emily looked wrecked. “Emily, baby. Are you okay?”

Instead of answering, she fell to her knees in the entryway and sobbed. “I’m so sorry.” Her pleas were pitiful and her shoulders shook with each sob.

“Oh, Little one,” I said, kneeling down in front of her. “Let’s get you settled onto the couch, okay?” She allowed me to help her to her feet, and over to the couch, but she was inconsolable.

Bewildered, I looked at Pike for an explanation.

He was looking pretty ragged himself. “She’s been this way since we left yesterday. I agree with letting everyone cool off, but I think in this case, she needs to know you both forgive her and then face her punishment.”

Emily was still wailing from her place on the couch. I looked at him with raised eyebrows. This was a far cry from how she’d been yesterday, and I understood why he’d shown up unannounced. “Yeah, definitely. I’m glad you came by. I’m going to go get Paisley.”

I met her halfway down the hall. “What’s wrong with Emily?” she asked, wobbling on her crutches. I steadied her, set the crutches to the side, and set her on my hip. “Her guilt is really eating at her and I think she needs to apologize. Do you think you’re ready for that? It’s okay if you’re not. Da… Uncle Axel can handle it until you’re ready to talk to her,” I explained, hoping she didn’t notice my slip up. I swallowed the pain that followed my mistake. I’d never seriously considered taking on another Little one before. My word choice shocked me.

“I’m ready to talk to her. Is she okay?” Paisley’s sincerity broke my heart. The world didn’t deserve such a sweet soul.

I carried her into the living room and settled her on my lap on the coffee table in front of where Onyx was holding Emily in his lap on her couch.

Before I even got words formed or an idea of what to say, she was leaning forward and hugging Emily. “It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Emily sobbed harder, but held onto her. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I just was so worried about you. Life is so hard and I know what it’s like to want to fit in. I was worried you would give yourself to Axel to try and earn your place with us, but that was so wrong of me. And I judged Axel unfairly too. That was so wrong of me,” she sobbed out. “I’m so sorry, Paisley. I’m so sorry, Axel.”

It was hard to be upset with her, when I knew where her distrust was coming from. Emily and her sister, Rouge, had been raised in a cult. They’d escaped when they were only fifteen, but the nightmare hadn’t ended for Emily until recently.

Until meeting our friend group, they hadn’t seen any healthy friendships. So though Emily had spoken such harsh words, I believed it was due to her concern over Paisley. She’d come at me like a fierce momma bear and after spending the last two days with Paisley, I could understand why. Paisley was bringing out sides of myself I hadn’t seen in a long time. I also wondered if she saw some of herself in Paisley.

“I forgive you, don’t cry, okay? It’s okay. Axel said you just said those things because you love me,” Paisley patted Emily’s back as her friend sobbed onto her shoulder.

“I do. I do love you so much, but I didn’t mean to imply you were fragile or needy in a bad way. We do watch how we say things to you and make sure we give you encouragement. It’s just because of everything you’ve been through. It’s not bad that we do that, it’s just because we want to help you heal and when I thought that Axel had s-seduced you, I was worried you’d be hurt again. I was scared you’d be that same terrified, shy girl you were when we met you.”

Paisley pulled back from Emily just a bit. “Thank you for caring about me and for explaining your words.”

I was so proud of her for forgiving so easily. I didn’t want her to just accept whatever shit was thrown at her as long as the person apologized, but in this case, I truly felt that Emily was remorseful and deserving. She’d been protecting Paisley, not trying to hurt her.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel like you were a burden or anything,” Emily explained.

“I did feel that way at first, and a bit like a project because of how you said ‘all her progress’ but I understand now. Also Axel explained that when we love someone, sometimes we worry about them and that causes us to make mistakes.”

“I do love you so much. I’m so sorry my words made you feel that way.” Emily hiccupped.

“I forgive you,” Paisley said, hugging her friend close..

Finally calmer, Emily looked at me, held my gaze for a second, then cast her eyes downward. “I’m so sorry to you too, Axel. I said such terrible things and I judged you.”

“Why did you judge me, darlin’? I am still trying to figure that one out.”

“I’m not sure, I was just angry.”

“You’ve mentioned me seducing her several times. Is that how you feel? That I seduce women? That I seduce my play partners?” I wondered if I had a reputation around the club. I did indulge in sex with most of my partners, but so did the other Doms.

“No, Sir. You’re just... the girls at the club… the Littles...” She struggled to finish her thought.

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