Page 12 of Promising Little Poppy

Poppy

Standing at the foot of her bed, the butterflies that had taken up residence in Poppy’s tummy over the last few days began to violently flap their wings as one.

Subconsciously, she knew that she and CJ would eventually move their dynamic into more intimate territory. That while their relationship was platonic, there was a time where CJ would expect to take over some of the day-to-day tasks Poppy usually completed on her own as a way to help with the constant state of being overwhelmed Poppy had confided to CJ she felt on a near daily basis.

But as she looked at her ridiculous reflection in the mirror across the room, she was terrified to finally give in, to sink more into what she had learned was often called Little Space. Poppy was afraid that if this last-ditch effort to change her life didn’t work, that she would be out of options. Destined to fail at whatever life put in her path until the day she died.

The gentle knock on her bedroom door made her jump.

“Is it okay if I come in?” CJ asked softly from the opposite side of the door, never entering without permission despite the fact she was the Caregiver in the dynamic. Poppy had expected it to be strange, living with a near stranger full time, but CJ made sure they were both comfortable with each of her careful actions.

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

Giving Poppy a small smile as she came to stand in front of her, Poppy watched as CJ’s eyes did a quick once over Poppy’s voluptuous body. Poppy knew CJ had been waiting to see Poppy dressed like this, dressed like a Little girl.

Poppy’s breasts nearly spilled out of the thin tank top that CJ had gotten for her at the gift shop. A puppy wearing oversized sunglasses in a unicorn pool floatie was on the pastel, pink top, the wordstoo cool for schoolwritten in a chunky, thick font above the adorable cartoon. Along with the tank, Poppy had pulled on a lilac pair of shorts that CJ had laid out alongside the top. The elastic waist was a little tight and the ruffles across her backside stretched a little too wide, but Poppy didn’t think that either of those flaws were as bad as the thick strip of flesh that was on display between where the fabric of the shirt stopped and the fabric of the shorts started.

She felt like a can of busted biscuits. A ten-pound sausage stuffed into a five-pound casing.

And as CJ continued to stare at the sight, Poppy took the silence for disapproval and quickly averted her eyes. “I knew it was gonna be too small for me. Most times, places don’t have sizes for me on hand. I’m sorry I don’t have anything better to wear that...”

Before she could continue, CJ was in front of Poppy. With firm but not unkind fingers, CJ took Poppy’s chin and tilted her head upward until they were staring at one another.

They were close.

Close enough that Poppy felt the gentle heat of CJ’s breath against her skin as the woman studied her with an unintelligible emotion on her angular face.

Poppy was certain CJ could look into her very soul and it made her squirm with vulnerability, knowing the other woman could certainly see her fears and biggest secrets.

And when CJ finally spoke, her voice was rough and deeper than normal. “Sweetheart, there is absolutely nothing wrong with how you look in this outfit. I’ve been dying to see you dressed like this—to see what you would look like in a sweet, little ruffled pair of shorts and adorable, cutesy top. Everything about it, aboutyou, is perfect. You take my very breath away.”

“Then why do you look angry with me?” Poppy’s voice was breathy when it came out and she tried to turn her head but CJ wouldn’t allow it.

CJ’s face instantly morphed into something different, something Poppy would have sworn was desire. But as quickly as it was there, it disappeared, a stoic mask slipping back into place. “I just don’t appreciate hearing you say such negative things about yourself. Come on, let’s go take a look at your journal. I think we should look at the affirmations you’ve been writing the last few days.”

It was uncomfortable for Poppy at first, learning to sink into a place where she felt like she could let go of some of the adult fears bogging her down. But with CJ by her side, they read through the first few days of affirmations that Poppy had written and then with CJ behind Poppy on the couch in their suite, gently brushing her blonde hair in soft, careful strokes, Poppy read aloud from her journal, reveling in the tasks she had already completed for the week.

They shared room service for dinner—a delicious meal of wild salmon and fresh steamed vegetables for CJ, a grilled chicken sandwich and French fries for Poppy. And when Poppygave in after pouting when CJ tried to feed her a piece of fish, she was rewarded with chocolate cake for dessert and the newfound knowledge that just maybe, not all fish tasted like she imagined the Jersey Shore smelled.

And as they watched a Disney movie together, the gentle glow of the electric fireplace casting a magical ambiance over the room, Poppy initiated contact, sliding closer and closer until she was sweetly tucked against CJ’s firm side.

When CJ looked down, Poppy again witnessed a flash of emotion in the woman’s eyes, or perhaps it was just the cartoon flickering in a kaleidoscope of colors across CJ’s face that had her suddenly look a bit sad even as she smiled down at Poppy’s upturned face.

The credits began just as Poppy tried—and failed—to suppress a yawn. “Can we watch one more?” she asked hopefully.

“Not tonight, sweet girl, even though I’d love to as I’ve truly enjoyed this evening with you. But I know a tired Little is often a cranky Little the following day. I think it’s about time for a bath. It’s getting late and you need to be getting into bed soon.”

Wiggling closer to CJ, Poppy protested on a whine. “I don’t want to take a bath tonight. Can’t it wait until morning?”

Glancing at Poppy, a wide smile stretched across CJ’s face. “You see, I would say that it could wait until morning, but from where I’m sitting, it looks like most of the bubblegum ice cream I so graciously let you have halfway through the movie is on your face. Did you even get any of it in your tummy?” Shifting on the couch, she pulled Poppy into her lap, tickling her under the chin and on her sides until Poppy was giggling and gasping for air. “Jesus, woman, you even have sprinkles in your hair!”

They broke out into a fit of giggles, Poppy continuing to squirm as CJ assaulted her with tiny tickles.

Then suddenly, CJ’s face fell, all sense of humor gone, a serious question etched across her brow that Poppy thought somehow made her even more beautiful than any woman had a right to be.

“Poppy, would you let me...” She stopped, as if warring with herself over the question she was about to ask. “Would you let me bathe you tonight?”

It wasn’t something that was a hard limit for Poppy. Rather, it was something she’d initially told CJ she would prefer to revisit at a later date.

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