Page 48 of Coulda

Immediately, she carefully tucked Limey back into her bag and looked around to see if anyone had noticed.

“You’re okay, Ella. Did you have a nice nap?”

“You’re working?” she asked and grimaced at the thought. “I guess we can’t stay on vacation all the time.”

“You’d miss nursing,” he guessed.

“Most days, I’d agree. Others…” She allowed her voice to trail off before looking past him into the aisle. “I think I need to go to the bathroom.”

Rio quickly marked his spot and jotted a few notes. With that done, he closed his computer. Before standing to let her scoot past, Rio leaned over and instructed, “Take your panties off, Little girl, and bring them to me.”

She looked at him in astonishment before hissing, “I can’t sit on the plane without underwear on.”

“You can.” Rio stood and stepped out of the row.

“I’m not going to do that,” she muttered at him as she passed.

“Guidelines,” Rio reminded her.

He watched as she shook her head no the entire trip up the aisle. She turned to meet his gaze at the door. When he nodded, she darted into the small airplane restroom.

Watching her settle into her role as a Little girl enchanted him. Change was always hard, but for someone who had hidden that Little girl inside herself for twenty years, it was a challenge. Rio would never push her past her limits, but he definitely intended to challenge Amber. She needed to learn to accept his authority.

A small line formed outside the bathrooms as he waited for her to return. When the door finally opened, Amber dodged the other passengers in the aisle to return to him. She did not meet his gaze.

Without a word, Rio stood and allowed her to scoot past him into the window seat. Immediately, Amber pulled her skirt down as far as possible and pulled the blanket over her lap and chest.

“Let me help you with your seatbelt, Ella.” Rio leaned under the blanket to find the two ends and connect them fully.

He placed one hand on her thigh under the cover and met her gaze. “Are you a good girl, Amber?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “This is ridiculous, Rio. You don’t have to tell me to do something just to prove you’re the one in charge.”

“You assume incorrectly that this was just a power move.” He held his hand out.

Seconds passed before she reached under the blanket and tugged a small scrap of material from her pocket. Wadding it up, she placed it in his hand.

“Thank you, Little girl.” Casually, he lifted it to his nose as if he were covering a yawn and inhaled.

“Daddy!” she protested softly and slumped back against the seat when he relented and tucked the small garment into his laptop case. “Hey. Give those back. I’ll go put them back on in a few minutes.”

“You’ve lost the privilege of wearing panties for twenty-four hours.”

“Would you like anything to drink?” their flight attendant spoke from beside them.

“Ella?” he asked as if she hadn’t interrupted anything.

“Can I have a diet cola, please?”

“Of course. And you, sir?”

“Ice water, please.”

When she moved on to take the next row’s orders, Rio sat his laptop case on his lap and opened a pocket. Palming a small oval-shaped item, he turned slightly in his seat and blocked the view of his motions with the large computer bag on his lap. Before she could guess his intentions, he slid his hand under the blanket and pulled the hem of her skirt up.

“Spread your legs, sweetheart.”

“Rio. No! Stop whatever you’re doing.”

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