Page 28 of Petting Penelope
“Well, as the weather’s lovely, there’s a pool party this afternoon,” Reese offered. “There’ll be lots of people there—and lots of Littles, which usually results in pranks—but it should be good fun. I think the kitchen staff are setting up a barbecue and there’ll be lots of floaties.”
Rachel grinned. “I’m neither jetlagged nor suffering from top drop, so I think I’d be up for this. At least for a little bit.”
“Excellent!” said Reese. “It’ll be so much fun.”
She took them round the rest of the petting zoo, and though the cows were indeed lovely, Penelope secretly loved the bunnies the most. Because who didn’t love bunnies?
But when the time came to leave, so they had enough time to change for the pool party, Rachel wasn’t letting Penny head back to the Ranch without her tail back in place. So it was back to the stall, and back on all fours with her skirt flipped up over her arse.
From her position on the ground, Penelope could see hay in a stack in the corner, and the grooves in the wood of the gate where hooves had hit them at some point or another—she wouldn’t have been surprised if the stall they were in had held goats at some point, considering how many dents there were.
And when she closed her eyes and concentrated, she could really feel everything floating away.
The quiet headspace that came with submission, that had been what she got out of kink. Subspace and floating and not having to make decisions or be in charge anymore.
And if there was anyone she trusted to be in charge, it was Rachel.
Rachel must have sensed her change in mood because she didn’t tease her this time, but instead sat on the floor next to her and started to slowly stroke Penelope’s hair. “I didn’t bring your hairbrush so I can’t properly brush you down here,” she said, “but I look forward to doing so. I think we’d both like it.”
Penny mooed gently in agreement.
“You’ve done amazing this morning, with your tail-plug, plug-tail, whatever it is; and being my perfect little hucow. But play like this is really intense, so I’m checking in. Are you good?”
Penelope went to moo again but realized that wouldn’t really answer Rachel’s question.
“Yeah, I’m good,” she said quietly. “I’m feeling really content.” She looked around the stall and then back at Rachel. “Yes, I might be on all fours in a random stall, but I’m with you.”
CHAPTER 24
Rachel
Even as Penny spoke, Rachel could see panic flaring in her eyes. All serenity gone, she started to try to speak, tripping over her words.
“It’s okay,” said Rachel, smoothing her hair. “Penny, breathe.”
“Willow,” gasped out Penelope and pushed herself up from all fours. “Willow willow willow.”
Rachel’s stomach plummeted as she stepped back, giving the other woman space. Her submissive looked thoroughly freaked out. “What do you need? Water?”
“No. I don’t need anything.” Shutters were coming down in her eyes and in a moment everything that they’d been building seemed to have crumbled. “Please, can I just…”
“Of course,” said Rachel and backed out of the stall.
Reese looked curiously as she walked over. “Where’s Penelope?”
“She needs some… time.” But the truth was that Rachel didn’t know what Penelope needed. She didn’t even know exactly what changed, only that something had. Something vital.“If you don’t mind staying in here, in case she needs you? I might wait outside for a minute.”
She wasn’t running away, but she could tell right now that going back and trying to talk to Penelope would only make things worse. She’d safeworded, and Rachel had the sneaky suspicion that she was trying to safeword out of her emotions.
Emotions didn’t work like that though, and Rachel knew that there was no way that she’d be able to safeword out of her own emotions.
She stood outside the barn, the fresh air cool against her skin. Her eyes pricked with tears, and the thing was, she didn’t know how to help. She didn’t know what to do in this situation, and all she could do was respect Penny’s wishes.
“Hey.” Penny came up behind her, and Rachel turned round slowly, cautiously.
“Hey. Are you alright?”
Penelope nodded, but there was something different, something guarded in her manner. “Maybe we just head back to our suite for a bit?”
