Page 12 of Cherishing Little Charlee

“Fall in love with you.”

I’d expected more sass from her mouth and instead received something sweet and romantic. My heart wasn’t prepared for that answer. I wiped my thumb across her bottom lip.Don’t do it, Pierce. Don’t fall for your friend.Especially not when said friend wasn’t Little. All I’d been wanting lately was a Little girl of my own. Not as a replacement for Abigail. And not to fill in the holes left behind when she passed. Though my heart had been battered and bruised, having a submissive truly fulfilled me in so many ways. Daddy was my favorite role. I wanted someone else to rely on me. For me to be able to guide, cherish, and discipline my partner meant the world. But Charlee? I hadn’t really envisioned the two of us getting into a relationship. At least not without a fight on her end.

“I’m a Daddy, sweetheart. Even though it’s been a while, it’s the role I’m most comfortable with. The one I enjoy the most.”

Her face fell and I wanted to take my words back just so I wouldn’t have to see the pain in her eyes.

“Of course you are, Pierce. You’re a Daddy but you’ll never become my Daddy because I’m not…”

Cupping her face, I tilted her chin up so she’d have to look at me. “Pause the spiral. I see you. Please don’t get caught in your head. Please, Charlee? Give us a chance. Then you can get whatever it is that you need.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll give us a chance.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what she meant, romantic or dynamic wise but I wasn’t going to push. Not when we were making progress. Nodding, I planted a kiss squarely in the middle of her forehead.

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

She stared up at me, her eyes huge as I buckled her in and closed the passenger side door. I wasn’t perfect, but no one expected perfection. Not as a Dom and certainly not as a partner. Though I’d never do anything to cause her any grief. Acknowledging those feelings for myself didn’t make my heart get on board. It would take a leap of faith, a huge one, but I owed it to myself to try. I cared about Charlee. She’d been harboring a not-so-secret crush on me since we met. She’d be shocked to know, I felt the same way. I needed to tell her about my concerns. In doing so, we’d hopefully get on the same page today. However, it was likely she needed a red-hot bottom to make her believe my words.

CHAPTER 3

CHARLEE

Phew. My heart and brain were working in direct competition with each other. My heart was not on board. Not when it came to being involved with Pierce in any capacity other than as a friend. Nope. Not even one bit. My brain was a tiny bit easier to convince. Logical Charlee knew having Pierce watch me for the next three weeks, helping with the production, and keeping me in line was a win-win situation all around. Emotional Charlee stomped her feet and screamed. Scratch that. My brat wanted to throw a full tantrum. That wouldn’t solve anything. And yet I understood the problem.

Pierce had lost his Little girl to a devastating disease. He hadn’t ventured into a relationship or dynamic of any sort since then. His heart was therefore heavily guarded. After all this time he seemed willing to explore with me. But was I willing to do the same?

“Are you going to punish me for not listening, Pierce? Uh, from yesterday? At the theater, I climbed a ladder. Alone. At night. I didn’t heed your warning earlier in the week. I got hurt.”

Pierce rubbed his mouth as he pulled into his neighborhood. He glanced at me once before making a left hand turn. There were gorgeous homes on every street pulling my attention outside the truck and our conversation even though it was important. Reminding myself to venture out more in Porter’s Corner seemed important. Too often I kept to my bubble on the Ranch and did not explore.

“No, Charlee,” Pierce said gruffly.

I shifted in my seat to look at him. He shook his head as if trying to dislodge his own nagging thoughts. Maybe he was as annoyed by my behavior as I was.

“Ishouldhave listened to you.”

“Yes, you should have, and Iwishyou did, but I can’t punish you for something you did before we establish anything.”

“Do you intend to make rules for me?”

“Yes, darling. If you agree. For the next three weeks you need frequent breaks to rest your wrist. I have a feeling you’re going to skirt the instructions the doctor gave you. Doing so won’t help you at all.”

“What exactly are you going to do if I don’t follow these rules?” My question didn’t clarify what the heart of my problem was, though I wasn’t sure I understood it myself. “I need to know how you’re going to keep me accountable.”

The mental image of Pierce tossing me across his muscled thighs, yanking down my pants and leaving my ass red and sore made me squirm against the passenger seat. He pulled the truck into a long driveway. It wasn’t steep but it seemed to stretch for a mile. The large log cabin came into view and I gasped. His knowledge of construction, architecture and materials crafted a masterpiece. The cabin stood out like a majestic beacon in an otherwise boring landscape. I was completely distracted by the rustic wood and rock textures featured on the outside. Warm, cozy vibes radiated off the structure alone. Something about itcomforted me. Like when my family and I would camp in the mountains over the summer and I’d spy the cabin knowing how much fun we were about to have.

“I’m not ignoring you, Charlee. I guess it depends on what you neglected to do. It also depends on your limits. Discipline is in my wheelhouse as I’ve mentioned. You don’t believe me now, but your bottom will.”

“Noted.” I kept my flirty, bratty reply to myself. If he was looking for an excuse to lay me across his knee, I wasn’t going to give him one. Yet.

“Noted, hmmm? No sassy remarks in your reply?”

“Your home could be featured inBetter Cabins and Woods…” I trailed off playing on the old magazine title my grandmother used to subscribe to. His porch was going to be my new favorite place to relax. A huge wraparound with inviting couches, wooden loungers, and small tables. Lights were strung along the top beams. At night it would feel even more relaxing when lit up. I couldn’t wait to spend more time here.

“Did the thought of me keeping you in line settle your mouth or is it something else?” Pierce held out his hand.

“I’ll let you know,” I said and winked. When Pierce put his words into action, I’d be very sore. And I’d love every minute of it. Well, maybe not in the moment but after? When I curled up in his lap, sniffling and promising to be a good girl? Then I’d enjoy it. Would we get there? My brat sure hoped so.

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