Page 14 of Cherishing Little Charlee

“So, what? You want to be my Dom for three weeks, not forever. You don’t need to change my perception. You’re concerned about me resting my wrist, not bolstering my low self-esteem.”

“Feisty today,” he observed, chuckling. “I’m hoping by the time three weeks is over you’ll be mine. What do you think?”

“We aren’t compatible, Pierce. We–”

“Hang on. I can hear those wheels turning in your head.” Pierce sat up. “The temp’s dropped out of the blue. Let’s go inside. You can warm up by the fireplace while I make lunch.”

Reluctantly getting out of the swing, I waited for Pierce to lead us inside. This was really happening. It was either going to be the best three weeks of my life, or the worst decision I’d ever made.

CHAPTER 4

PIERCE

Three weeks. Three rules. Simple in theory if I could get Charlee on board. My fireplace was a wood-pellet stove and she was splayed out in front of it. She fit into my life better than I hoped. Leaving her side to go into the kitchen I surveyed what I had. Fixing lunch of toasted sourdough bread, smoked turkey and white cheddar cheese plus lettuce and tomatoes kept my hands occupied. Charlee entered the kitchen about fifteen minutes later.

“I’m all cozy now. Do you want me to set the table?”

“Sure, sweetheart. Feel free to explore my cabinets. You don’t need a step stool to reach anything.” I winked. She moved around the room with ease, seemingly more carefree than she’d been a little while ago. Admiring her curves for longer than appropriate, I saw her smirk.

“Sandwiches look yummy. Did you make the bread yourself?”

“No, but I wish I had baking skills. Do you know how to make bread?”

Charlee grinned as she finished setting napkins and kettle chips on the table. “I do! Heaven Leigh taught me. She had a class a few months ago. We learned a few basic recipes: sourdough, rye, biscuits and then a fancy one! We made braided breadsticks.”

“I’ve never tried to bake anything more complicated than chocolate chip cookies. Was it hard to do?”

“No, it wasn’t too hard. I enjoyed punching down the dough after it doubled. I think it’s my most favorite part,” she said as she flopped into the seat grinning.

Carrying the sandwich plates to the table, I nodded at the condiments. “Thanks, sweetheart. Maybe you can show me sometime.”

“Maybe. I think it would be fun.”

Taking a few minutes to add mayo and mustard to the bread I thought about the best way to dig into our rules conversation. “Have you ever followed rules?” I asked directly.

“Sure, I have a driver’s license. My first job was in retail. I had lots of rules to follow there.”

Technically she was correct, but Charlee knew what I’d been asking. Taking a generous bite of my sandwich, I chewed and swallowed. Though she didn’t know, the urge to scoop her out of her seat and manhandle her across my thighs for the remainder of our conversation was growing. I adjusted my question and asked almost the same thing. “Have you had to follow rules in a romantic relationship or any sort of Dominant and submissive dynamic?”

“Not really. You asked me last night if I’ve ever had a Dom. I have not had someone focus their priority solely on me. However, there have been people in my life who have held me accountable for different tasks and such. So, I understand the basic dynamic but I haven’t beeninone.”

“What sort of ways were you held accountable?”

Charlee took her first bite of the sandwich, her eyes rolling back in her head. “Oh, wow. I can’t believe this is turkey and cheese. It’s delicious!”

“I bet it’s the turkey. My friend owns a smoker. I’m spoiled. I won’t buy it from the deli anymore. Now get back on track, Charlee.”

“It’s so yummy. I’ve never eaten a sandwich that made me want to savor every bite! Mmmm. Okay, back to our topic,” she babbled sweetly. “I’ve been held accountable via lines. Writing lines I mean. Hmmm? What else?” Charlee looked deep in thought. “Oh, yeah. I’ve had my mouth soaped for cursing.”

“Here?” I asked curiously. There were certain places that had specific rules such as no curse words, but they were mainly only where Littles gathered. As Charlee kept saying she was not Little it was important to clarify.

“Yeah. Here on the Ranch. I don’t know if you know this or not but Professor Kai doesnotlike the rules being broken. Especially in Study Hall and if you’ve already been told more than once. I should have known he was serious after two sets of lines. Haven goes there a lot and she warned me too. I didn’t listen. I argued that I shouldn’t have to follow the rules if I’m not Little. But that didn’t fly.”

“Kai is a stickler for rules. Are you friends with Taz?” I asked about Haven’s sister. She was Kai’s Little girl.

“I guess we are. Sorta. She’s great, but I’ve been keeping to myself even before she moved here. I’ve been meaning to get out of my bubble. I don’t fit in.” She sighed, setting her sandwich down.

I very much wanted to ask her why she’d chosen to become a professor on a Ranch that catered to different types of dynamics if she truly believed she wouldn’t fit in but it would prolong the back and forth. We needed to establish rules now so that she knew I was serious. “Have you ever been spanked, sweetheart?”

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