Page 1 of Promising Little Poppy

CHAPTER 1

Poppy

Looking up to the sky with wide, green eyes, Poppy Miller watched as snowflakes fell down around her faster than she had ever seen in her entire twenty-seven years on Earth.

It was colder than she remembered it being last year at this time, and she knew for a fact that, while they had seen flurries last year as early as October, they didn’t have any substantial snowfall until halfway through December. But now, in late November, snow came down in curtains so heavily she could barely see the large building that held the resort and Littles’ Wing of Rawhide Ranch through the sheet of white before her.

Sure, she could have used the tunnels that ran beneath the Ranch. Climate-controlled to keep employees, residents, and guests safe and comfortable, they were ideal for days when the southwestern Montana weather was not cooperative. And in an area that saw over ninety inches of snow each year, that was more days than the average place.

Yet there was something about the cold weather—something about the chilly, wild wind and fresh, crisp scent filling the airwhen the snow came down–that Poppy loved in small bursts. Given the warm, cozy tunnel or the cold yet invigorating outdoor walk from the Ranch University’s dorm, Poppy would choose the outdoors every day.

It took her longer than usual to reach the front porch off the lobby given the less than ideal conditions outside. Her long, blonde hair hung down around her shoulders wet from the snow, and her nose was nearly frozen by the time she pushed through the massive double doors.

If the cold was king, walking into the toasty, welcoming warmth of the building was the queen who greeted her like an old friend.

Kicking her snow boots along the doorframe, Poppy relished the change of temperature as she tried in vain to leave as much of the powdery white stuff behind as possible. With anxiety over her upcoming meeting with the Ranch’s owner deep in her tummy, she missed more snow than she shook off and a trail of wet puddles and footprints followed her across the wooden floors of the lobby.

She waved at Luna, who was hard at work checking someone in at the front desk. A pretty woman Poppy had never seen before turned to look in her direction, a serene smile appearing on the woman’s lips as she took in the surrounding lobby with a sense of wonder on her beautiful face. A weird, tingly sensation happened in Poppy’s stomach as she watched the woman admire the double-sided stone fireplace that stretched toward the ceiling. As the stranger’s eyes glided across the lobby to take in the numerous guests and residents who milled about the space between their day-to-day tasks, classes, jobs, and chores, Poppy realized the feeling in her belly was pride.

Ever since she’d arrived at Rawhide three years ago, she’d loved being part of the Ranch, feeling a sense of belonging she had searched for her entire life. It was a feeling she held on tostrongly but feared was slowly starting to slip away as she inched closer and closer to her spring graduation date from Rawhide University.

Ugh.

Suddenly, that sense of pride was gone and nervous anxiety quickly took its place in her belly once again. The uneasy energy forced her forward through the grand space that always took her breath away as if it were the first time. Her boots continued to leave puddles as she crossed the room, yet she paid them no mind, too focused on getting where she needed to be on time.

Continuing her journey toward Master Derek’s office, Poppy took a quick peek at Erika’s office, confirming the sometimes receptionist and all-the-time Jill-of-all-trades wasn’t present and quietly let herself into Derek’s office through the lobby entrance.

In hindsight, maybe she should have chosen to sit upon one of the wooden benches outside Master Derek’s office until she was told to enter. But Poppy had never been called to the office before unless it was for discipline and, for the life of her, she could not remember doing one thing that would have earned her a punishment worthy of being sent to the Ranch owner’s office.

She had been good since the incident with the slime during her chemistry lab.

Until the incident with the glitter during her spring costume-design course.

But since then, she had been as good as gold—an old saying her mom used to tell her once upon a time that she still kept close to her heart. Though some days, she still really wasn’t quite sure what it meant. And she certainly didn’t feel as worthy as the precious metal used to symbolize everything from wealth to a promise of forever when slipped around a finger in a simple or ornate-banded form.

Seated on the couch across the room from his desk, Master Derek sat with a young woman draped over his lap. Poppy had seen many punishments as they happened throughout her time on the Ranch. And yes, she had even received a few of her own punishments over the last few semesters at Rawhide Ranch University. But, she had never seen a grown man give a grown woman dressed like a princess a spanking before outside of a dungeon setting.

The scene before her did something unexpected, creating a feeling she had never been able to place a name on before. It was like someone had turned on the television to one of those channels filled with nothing but black and white static and placed that television inside her chest cavity, butfirstthey had warmed that static up before placing it inside her, making sure it would soothe her as much as it intrigued her curious mind.

Master Derek paused, his hand hovering over the bare skin of the woman across his knees. Her backside was red, several welts that looked like fingerprints blooming across her buttocks.

“Miss Miller, our appointment isn’t for another ten minutes.” He said the words as he held Poppy’s gaze. “Is it appropriate for you to walk into my office without so much as knocking first to seek permission?”

An uneasy sense of dread filled Poppy. She hated disappointing anyone, even though it was something that seemed to happen often.

It happened when she forgot her notes for class and had to be sent to Master Grant’s office for discipline, often writing line after line stating she wouldn’t forget them again. It happened when she couldn’t please the last person she was in a relationship with, when she couldn’t live up to the expectations her family placed upon her, when she forgot important appointments no matter how many reminders she set.

“I’m sorry, Sir.” Averting her eyes, she made to move for the door, but Master Derek stopped her.

“Please, have a seat Poppy. We are just finishing up here.”

As she turned and lowered herself into one of the leather chairs across from Derek’s desk, the man’s hand connected with the woman’s backside. She squeaked out a weak numbertenas their flesh connected. Poppy found herself equal parts scared and ready to run from the room while just as equally intrigued by what that type of punishment would feel like on her own bare bottom.

Feeling like an intruder, Poppy watched as Derek righted the woman, helping her pull her bubblegum pink panties up before again helping her smooth down the princess dress that had been hiked up around her body to expose her bottom to the Ranch owner and disciplinarian. She hadn’t met the woman before, but knew her as Elise, one of the Littles who lived on the Ranch. She averted her eyes as the two shared quiet words not meant for her ears, watched as Derek helped Elise dry her eyes with a cloth handkerchief, and then looked away once again as he gave her a gentle hug, sending her on her way.

When Derek and Poppy were alone in the room, he finally turned his attention to her, a stern look on his ruggedly handsome face. He sighed and Poppy felt the disappointment as it radiated off the man like waves crashing upon a hot summer shore.

What felt like hours passed between them in stilted silence when in reality it couldn’t have been more than thirty seconds.

---