Page 32 of Saul

I sat frozen, staring at my laptop, and after a moment glanced at Ricky who was facetiming me on my phone. “How did you get this?”

“The venue?” He shrugged. “Well, actually it was Mickey.” He grinned. “And I don’t mean the mouse. I mean Daddy’s computer expert slash hacker. She’s amazing.”

I gazed back at the screen. I knew who the Little was and on paper everything was good, but I wasn’t expecting to see Saul like this. He was perfect as a Daddy. Emily hadn’t been left alone for a second, and I was so jealous I wanted to rage. Saul had even gone into the women’s restroom and made sure it was safe for her before she entered.

The expressions on the faces of the three women who had run out after Saul had gone in were funny, or they would have been if I hadn’t been wishing it was me Saul was clearing the way for. It might have been if I hadn’t thrown my chance away.

It had been the longest two and a half weeks of my life. My boss Sharon had been stunned when I’d handed in my notice a week after the wedding, but Christopher had called and begged me to move closer after Ricky’s business idea had exploded, since Christopher didn’t have time to run it with him. They hada room we could use as an office, and I was going to stay with them while I decided what to do. I had adored my job, but I wasn’t silly enough not to know it was a coping mechanism. I’d been convinced it was the best job in the world because it let me pretend to be a Little. And, well, now I wanted the real thing.

But I didn’t know exactly what I wanted the real thing to look like. Something I couldn’t have, definitely. But I didn’t want to be on my own anymore and now that Steven and I were well and truly over, I didn't have to stay here. And if the business was going to be as much of a success as Ricky was convinced it was, then I could afford to live closer.

“I also sent him the list we made for the perfect Daddy. I thought it was something we could use as part of the interview process. I’ve already got thirteen applicants.”

“You sent who a list?” I asked but I already knew. “Wouldn’t Christopher be able—”

“Absolutely, but my Daddy won’t be escorting any Littles so I thought it would be a good idea to get Saul’s opinion.”

“He’s going to do it?” How could I be anywhere near him and not have my heart broken seeing him do for others what I wanted for myself? Even if it was a little late for that.

Ricky pressed some buttons, and I opened the attachment that he sent me. He’d curbed it a little, thank goodness, from what he’d suggested before. But now it came with handwritten alterations.

Daddy Characteristics.

1.Extremely possessive and devoted.

It was crossed out and now read “Would unalive any threat.” I gulped. Ricky giggled, knowing what I’d just read.

2.Be involved in every aspect of their Little’s daily lives.

That was also crossed out and changed to “Is in charge of every second of their Little’s waking and sleeping moments, including scheduling proper naps and play time.” My mouth fell open.

3.Will agree on rules beforehand and consequences of breaking them.

He’d also crossed that out completely and added “Safe word established. Unless the Little uses it, every infraction will involve the Daddy’s hand meeting the Little’s ass.”

My own ass tingled. I hadn’t been punished that weekend, and I knew I’d deserved it. I stared at the screen for a very long moment, knowing every word he’d said was perfect.

“Well?”

A quick glance at my phone showed Ricky beaming at me. “I thought you said he’d quit.” That might have come out a little sulkily.

“He did,” Ricky agreed, “but I begged him to do this job for us.”

“Us?” I asked weakly. “Does Saul know I’m moving?”

Ricky shrugged just as there was a knock on the door. “I have to go, it’s my pizza.” Ricky blew me a kiss and said he couldn’twait to see me tomorrow. I got up and trudged to the door, grabbing my wallet, opened it, and gaped.

Saul was standing on the step scowling at me. “You don’t have a camera, and you didn’t even ask who it was before you opened the door,” he said, stepping right past me. He turned around because I hadn’t moved or answered him. “Maybe if you behave and don’t do it again, I’ll keep your punishment light.” He watched me carefully. “Or maybe we should get this spanking out of the way now, so you can start with a clean slate?”

I still didn’t move. Maybe I was asleep or maybe the leak from the apartment upstairs had finally made the ceiling fall in while I was in bed, and I’d been buried under a bath. He arched an eyebrow.

My lips parted of their own accord. “Saul, what—"

“You’re really racking them up, huh? I think you want to feel my hand warm your ass.”

I shivered, because yes, yes, I really did. But punishment? “I—what?” What else had I done?

He prowled back to me and closed the door, locking it. Then he took me by the hand and walked into my mostly empty bedroom, took in the pile of boxes, and then, turning, drew me into his strong arms.

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