Page 215 of Giddy Up, Daddy

“And if part of your hangup about telling Cade about your Little side is that you don’t have enough experience, we can help. You’re not going back to your suite until lunch, right? That gives us a few hours to show you the ropes. Travis and Arlo are holding down the fort with the animals so that we could both have the morning off.”

I pulled my tray back in front of me and picked up a piece of sausage. Taking a bite, I chewed slowly as I considered the offer.

It would be stupid to say no.

But what if I don’t like it?

Then I tell them.

Rawhide is a safe space.

I might never get this opportunity again.

“Okay, I’ll do it,” I blurted before my brain took a negative turn and I could talk myself out of it.

“Yes!” Wren pumped her fist in the air. “We better hurry then, or we’re going to be late.”

“Late for what?” I asked in complete confusion.

“Morning recess.” Reese smiled.

Chapter Nine

Ripley

Recess was exactly what it sounded like. We couldn’t use the outdoor playground because it was super rainy, but the Ranch had an indoor playground that looked like an adult-sized Chuck E. Cheese when they still had the play places and ball pits. Minus the big creepy rat and animatronic characters. There were Littles playing tag, some cheering each other on at the arcade games, and others playing in the tunnels, slides, and ball pit.

My heart rate picked up as excitement began to wash over my body.

“This is amazing.” I turned to my friends. “This is like… the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!”

“Right?” Reese bounced on her toes. “What do you wanna do first?”

“Slides,” I answered without even having to think about it. Sliding into the giant ball pit looked like so much fun.

“Last one up is a rotten egg!” Wren called before taking off in the direction of an area with shoe cubbies. She had her shoes off and was darting away before I even got there, and Reese was hot on her heels, but that was okay. Their excitement was infectious,and actually helped me feel more comfortable with my own feelings.

Recess was more fun than I could ever remember having in my entire adult life, and I never wanted it to end, but when a bell rang announcing it was time for class, Reese and Wren both insisted we leave. They were determined to help me have some experiences before I had to talk to Cade about everything.

If I would have known those experiences were going to land me outside Master Derek’s door with the two of them, the three of us covered in finger paint, I’m not sure I would have gone along with it. But time machines hadn’t been invented yet, so I was definitely shit out of luck.

“What’s going to happen?” I whispered, intensely embarrassed about how hard and fast I had fallen into Little space. I mean, what forty-something got into a paint fight with two other grown-ass women?

“Master Derek will give us a talking-to, and then call our Daddies.” Wren swung her feet like this was old news and she didn’t have a care in the world.

It was such a mindfuck how all the furniture was made. It really made you feel like you were a little kid about to visit the principal’s office. Reese at least looked a bit more remorseful.

“But I don’t—” I tried to get the words out, but was interrupted by the sound of a throat clearing.

“Ladies?” Master Derek stood larger than life in front of us, hands on his hips, face as stern as could be.

“It was my fault,” Wren announced quickly.

“Mmhmm. I’ve heard. Would the three of you join me inside, please?”

He swept his hand toward the door, but his request was very clearly not a request. We stood in unison and made our way inside. Master Derek took his place behind his imposing desk.

“You three can stand. I don’t want paint on my furniture,” he told us. “Now that we have some privacy, Wren, go ahead and explain.”

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