Page 34 of Cage

The words almost slip out. If I weren’t so nervous right now, they probably would have. Thankfully, I catch myself before they do. “Okay.”

He studies me with a slight frown but doesn’t say anything. Was he hoping I’d call him Daddy?

When he releases me and steps back, I immediately miss his touch. Maybe I should ask him to stay. He wouldn’t want to watch me, though, and he certainly wouldn’t want to play with me.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” he says as he reaches into his pocket. “I want you to use this instead of your thumb.”

He sets a pastel-green pacifier on the small art table before he walks out of the room, leaving me staring at it in shock.

12

CAGE

Cage:What information do you have for me?

I drop my phone on the worn desk and turn my attention to the fixed baby monitor camera mounted on one of the tree branches. Since I’ve come to my office, I’ve gotten nothing done other than watching Ember on the security cameras and sending a text to Ruth. What I should be doing is digging for my own information instead of relying on our CIA handler, but I’m so fucking enthralled by the Little girl in the playroom.

So far, Ember has only explored the room, though she’s been spending most of her time by the dolls. She’s also gone over to the art table a couple of times to check out the pacifier I left her. There are so many questions I want to ask to learn about her Little. I want to get to know both the womanandthe Little girl. I also want to keep her. I’ve never wanted to keep anyone in my life. Not like this. Not like I want her to belong to me in every single way possible.

She deserves so much more than me. I can’t give her the city life she’s used to. With me, she’d be locked down and smothered. Kept on this property ninety percent of the time because I knowthat’s where she’s safest. It’s ridiculous to think she’d want that kind of life. Hell, she’s only twenty-two. Ember hasn’t even begun to live her life yet. As much as I’m drawn to her and have this overpowering need to Daddy her, I have to remember that this is temporary. While she’s here, I’ll get my Daddy fix. Once she’s gone, I’ll continue living my life here while she returns home to DC.

“What are you doing?”

I have one good thing going for me after Ember leaves. I’ll always have this Little girl to brighten my day.

Rowie shuffles in, a bright smile on her face that warms my heart. She has on a footed bear onesie with the hood pulled up. The little ears flap about as she moves, and I can’t help but laugh. Fuck, I love this girl.

“Oh no, a bear,” I cry out, holding my hands up defensively.

Rowie giggles. “I’m not a real bear, silly. Sheesh. For such a badass, you sure get scared easily.”

Narrowing my gaze, I fight the smile playing at my lips. “Rowena Black, no swearing.”

She stops and stares at me, then rolls her eyes dramatically. My palm twitches. As it often does around her. We’ve never spanked Rowie, though. When my brothers and I realized she was Little, we sat down as a family and went through boundaries, rules, and limits with her. Because of her past, we didn’t even present spankings as one of her punishments if she misbehaved. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to give her a good hard swat every now and then. Lovingly, of course. Because even when she’s naughty, she knows we’re going to love her no matter what. We’ve made sure to reassure her over the years.

“Such a buzzkill,” she murmurs as she rounds my desk.

Then she throws her arms around me, and all thoughts of punishing her go out the window because I’m too busy melting for her.

“I’ve missed you,” I whisper as I pull her onto my lap.

“I know,” she says confidently.

When I shoot her a stern look, she breaks into a grin. “I missed you, too. I always miss you guys when you’re gone.”

Sometimes I forget out fucking lucky I am. How differently my life could have gone if Deke hadn’t shown up at that shitty detention facility. I’d be dead if it hadn’t been for The Agency. I was already on the fast track to being six feet under when I was recruited. I never would have known what it’s like to be missed. To have people to come home to. It means everything to me.

“What are you up to today?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Mostly wandering around terrorizing you guys. Ghost took away one of my Good Girl Points, so I put slime in his boot, then got the heck out of there before he found it.”

“Rowena,” I scold weakly because it’s actually funny as hell. I’ve been the victim of her sliming my shoes. While I didn’t find it amusing at the time, I wish like hell I could be a fly on the wall when Ghost discovers his gift.

“Well, he was being grumpy for no good reason. Maybe he needs to get laid.”

“Rowie!” I bark, pressing my fingertips to my eyes. “Jesus Christ, Little girl.”

She wiggles off my lap and goes over to a chair across from me, her expression turning serious. “You seem to really like Ember. Is she going to be your Little girl?”

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