Standing this morning in the beautiful Castle library, Rylee felt the same kind of thrill that she used to feel every day she walked into a library. She’d even endeared herself to Master Collins, the strict schoolteacher, when she’d organized books for his students’ assignments. She’d expected the older Littles to hate her for adding to their work, but they’d loved finding the naughty books that she had placed on a secret shelf just for them. Each day they found her in the library, they had a new request for information. Rylee loved to research for them.
Suddenly, her eyes welled with tears that cascaded down her cheeks. Back home, she hadn’t allowed herself to dwell on how much she hated her job. The memories of the head librarian’s constant criticism and blame for anything that went wrong crashed over her. Rylee kept trying to pretend that everything was great, but really she felt like she was sinking deeper in a quagmire of despair and hopelessness.
She collapsed to the floor. Seeming to understand she needed comfort, Karma climbed into her lap as Rylee leaned back against a wall of books and cried at the thought she would have to go back. Hidden in her small space, the Little girl allowed herself to grieve for all that she would miss: the library, being Little, and most of all, her Daddy.
“At least I get to take you home, Karma,” she whispered over the soft fur as the black kitten nestled under her chin.
“Sweetness! What is wrong?” Dallas’ deep voice made her cry even harder. Her heart broke at the thought that she wouldn’t see him again.
“Daddy!” she wailed, lifting her arms up to him, silently asking to be held.
Dallas immediately picked up his princess and began to walk back and forth, trying to help her calm down. Between his sweet words and kisses and the kitten’s purrs, Rylee’s tears began to slow and then stop. Nestled in her Daddy’s arms, Rylee clung to him as if he would disappear at any time.
“I don’t want to go home, Daddy. I want to stay here with you. I want to stay at the Castle and keep organizing this fucked up library.” Rylee never cursed, but it would kill her to leave this beautiful collection of books to be nothing more than a display that no one could really use.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk!” a tall blond man remarked from the doorway to the library. “That sounds like a princess who needs a reminder to use polite words.”
Rylee peeked over Dallas’ broad shoulder. That voice didn’t sound like one she should ignore. At the sight of the dominant man, she swallowed hard. She’d seen this man before. The other princesses had told her that he was Important, with a capital I. They’d also told her to avoid his office because he spanked—hard.
“I’m so sorry, Master Marshall. I didn’t mean to curse,” she said quickly. Then, realizing that she had criticized the library, “Your library is really very nice. Just a bit disorganized.” She sniffed and tried to wipe her face dry to be presentable.
Pressing her lips against Dallas’ ear, she whispered, “Please, put me down, Daddy. He’s important.” At her Daddy’s low chuckle, Rylee looked appalled. They were going to be sent away early. “Please?” she begged.
“Of course, sweetness.” Dallas set Rylee on her feet and took her hand. Pulling her forward, he held out his hand to the new arrival. “Thank you for coming, Master Marshall. And yes, Rylee’s language will be addressed. Later,” he said, looking sternly at the nervous Little next to him.
“Just call me Marshall when we’re alone, Dallas,” the imposing man instructed. He turned to Rylee.
Instantly, the little girl tried to redeem herself. She tugged her hand from Dallas’. Awkwardly, she held out the sides of her full skirt and attempted to curtsy. Thank goodness Dallas was close and steadied her. Looking up at the man who had taken such good care of her, Rylee whispered, “Thank you, Daddy.” Tears filled her eyes once again. How many more times will I be able to call him Daddy?
Turning her attention back to Master Marshall, she whispered, “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll never cuss again.”
“I will count on that.” He held his hand out to Rylee. When she timidly placed her hand in his, he held on to it firmly. Looking very seriously at her, Marshall asked, “Have you enjoyed your stay here, or are you ready to go back home?”
One solitary tear rolled down the Little’s cheek. She raised a corner of her skirt with her free hand and dried her face. She knew that some guests gladly returned to their vanilla lives, content with the memories of their experiences at the Castle, but she wasn’t one of them. Putting on her courageous face that she’d hidden behind for too long at home, Rylee quietly answered, “The Castle is a magical place. I love it here.” Looking back at Dallas, who smiled at her, she continued, “I met my Daddy here. I wish I could stay here forever with him.”
Her eyes escaped from his gaze to scan the library. It was such an incredible find. She loved the feel and sight of the room. “Your library could be so much for so many. Please find someone special to love it and take care of it. It deserves an amazing librarian to make it come to life,” she said bravely. Karma twisted in and out between her feet, giving Rylee all the support and love a little black kitten could. Rylee lifted her eyes back to meet Master Marshall’s. “Please find the right person.”
The tall man looked thoughtful and paused a moment before nodding his agreement. “Princess Rylee, I think you are correct. I am going to take your advice. I think I have found the perfect librarian to make sure this beautiful space is never described with curse words again.”
Rylee tried to maintain her composure while her heart was breaking. Someone else would be working here each day. Someone else. She turned, tugging her hand from Master Marshall’s to bury her head against her Daddy.
Wrapping his arms around her tightly, Dallas softly said to his little girl, “You need to listen to what Master Marshall is saying. He has found the perfect librarian. I believe he thinks the person who will care most for this collection of books is standing right in front of him, sweetness.”
Her breath caught in her chest. The only librarian in the room was… her. Rylee looked up at her Daddy. “Really?” she whispered. Her heart shone in her glittering blue-green eyes. At his nod, she whirled around to look at the now smiling blond man.
“Me? I get to stay?”
“I would like to formally offer you the position of Head Librarian at the Castle. Will you take on the challenge of taming our mess?” he asked, gesturing to the nearest books. His eyes landed on one volume. Pulling it out, he read the title aloud in a murmur: How to Discipline the Undisciplined . I’ll count on you to check this one out to me.” Tucking it under his arm, he looked back at Rylee, waiting for her answer.
“I love this library already. But I can’t stay here without Daddy,” she blurted, honestly.
“Your Daddy has already accepted a position as the personal trainer for our security force,” Marshall replied with a nod of approval. “All princesses need their Daddies.”
Rylee turned to launch herself through the air at Dallas. There was no doubt that he would be there to catch her. As his strong arms again sheltered her, those blue-green, disbelieving eyes met his. “Really?”
“Really,” he answered with simplicity. He had not discussed his meeting with Jackson with Rylee. As he wished to share everything with his Little, the secret had been simmering inside him. The look on her face now made the delay worthwhile.
A crowd began to flow into the library. Two more of the original Masters also attended to welcome her, as well as many of the staff and a few guests like Cecily, the school boys and girls, and her Daddy. Master Collins, the stern schoolmaster, even winked at her when the school kids chanted her name before he slammed a cane on top of one of the library tables, getting his charges back under his rigid control.
Rylee didn’t think she’d ever stop grinning… or kissing her Daddy.
Chapter 17
O n that eighth day at the Castle, Rylee clung to her Daddy’s hand as the bus of departing guests pulled away from the front gate to the Castle. She
could have been on that bus going back to cry in her battered car that would have returned her to the disheartening existence that her life had been. Only in comparison to her happiness now did Rylee realize how much of herself she had been losing each day in that small town.
Looking up at Dallas next to her, her heart melted just a bit more. Her Daddy was taking care of everything. Her battered car had been driven from the guest lot to the hidden employee parking area, and their things had been moved from the guest room into the employee housing. The Castle was becoming their home.
The final steps dissolving her ties to her old life were underway. She had faxed her letter of resignation to the town council, notifying them that she would not be returning to the local library. She would have to go back to empty her apartment eventually, but her lease required a thirty-day notice, so she had time to settle in here first. The manager had been sorry to hear that his least troublesome renter would be leaving. It was comforting to know that someone would miss her.
Rylee squeezed her thighs together tightly. She was a bit tender from her Daddy’s special treatment with that foreign-sounding vibrator he had purchased on their first day here. He had plans to return to the store today. Something in the display had caught his eye. She had a feeling that she would enjoy anything he selected as long as he was taking care of her.
For his part, Dallas compared the shattered young woman he had rescued from the bus with Rylee now. Her inner strength had helped her fight through all the challenges that could have kept her from living her fantasy, if only on a short vacation. Now, looking at the glowingly happy Little next to him, he thanked the Castle and its inhabitants for offering them a chance to live out their dreams together. Only here could Rylee have been restored to her optimistic self.
As the black kitten jumped up, Dallas caught her easily and helped her ease onto his broad shoulder. Rylee always giggled at this favorite perching spot. Laughing with his Little at the antics of the small fuzzy kitten, he tugged on the thick braid lying over Rylee’s shoulder. Dallas knew that the Castle had been helped by Karma as well.
The End
Pepper North
Pepper North is an indie author whose contemporary and erotic romances have won the hearts of many loyal readers. She published her first book in July 2017 without telling anyone. To her surprise, Zoey: Dr. Richards’ Littles 1 was an instant hit. Sixty days later, just before Amazon deposited her first month’s pay, Pepper, finally, revealed just what she had been doing, to her husband’s astonishment.
Now, she has over forty books and collections available on Amazon in four series. She is one of Amazon’s Most Popular Erotic Authors, rising as high as 2nd in the top 100 and is a PAN (Professional Authors Network) member of the RWA (Romance Writers of America). She credits her success to her amazing fans, the support of the writing community, her dedication to writing, and her astonished husband’s love.
Visit Pepper’s website here:
https://4peppernorth.club/
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Don’t miss these exciting titles by Pepper North and Blushing Books!
Masters of the Castle: Daddies of the Castle – Restoring Rylee
Educating Ella
Katie Douglas
Acknowledgments
The quotes from Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Hamlet are all attributable to William Shakespeare. These works are in the public domain and the versions I quoted are from these free, open-access sites where you can read and enjoy them, too:
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/full.html
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/full.html
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/hamlet/full.html
Chapter 1
Ella
“ H ello?” I didn’t want to talk to anyone when I was on the bus. I hadn’t looked at the caller ID before I answered and now I felt wrong-footed.
“Huang Jinli ,” Uh-oh, my mother was using my Chinese name. I was in trouble. “You should answer your phone promptly.”
“Sorry, Mother. I’m on a bus; this isn’t a good time.” I lived in hope of her ever understanding that I couldn’t just drop everything whenever she decided to call me. Mostly, I wanted her to wrap this up so I could turn my phone off.
“What are you doing on a bus? We didn’t raise you to take public transport!”
Oh, no. I’d said too much. One day, I’d freak her out by telling her what it had been like when I’d been working in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Sometimes, a bus is the only way to reach the destination,” I said, trying not to rack my brain for some proverb to throw in her direction, although I was sure one existed. I wasn’t feeling facetious enough to wind her up, and it would only prolong this conversation. “Anyway, why did you call?”
She sighed. We both knew she would never understand my choices. “Your brother’s fortieth birthday is coming up soon. We are having afternoon tea at the New York Ascot on November tenth.”
Ugh. It sounded stuffy. “I can’t go.”
“What do you mean you can’t go? It’s his fortieth birthday!”
“I’m scheduled to go back to the Congo.” I had to get close to the new military dictator and try to interview him.
“The Congo? What do you need to go there for? It’s just jungle and madmen. No. You will stay in New York and go to Charles’s birthday tea.”
It was almost comical, the way she would just decide what I was doing like this, but I’d long since learned to politely handle her bossy opinions.
“Mother, I can’t just drop my career. You know what I do.”
“I know you should have stayed with Ling and been raising my grandchildren by now.”
That hurt. She knew why I’d left him, and why we’d never had children.
“Fenton Ling is dating his third personal assistant this month.” He was a Wall Street exec in all the worst ways. But he came from a good family with a lot of money, so my mother loved him.
“That’s because you didn’t work hard enough to keep him. A good wife doesn’t run around the world interviewing dictators and photographing refugees in warzones. She cooks. Makes a home. Teaches her children real Chinese values.”
I’d been to China more recently than my mom. I was pretty sure I had a better idea about Chinese values than she did. Women in China didn’t stay home and raise babies; it was considered lazy. They worked. As for ‘real Chinese values’, I was pretty sure they’d changed considerably over the past thirty years, too. But I knew better than to argue with her. She had her idea of what it meant to be Chinese, and I had mine.
“When are you going to go back to your husband and ask forgiveness?” My mother’s broodiness for more grandchildren was mildly infuriating.
The bus slowed to a stop and I stared at the imposing Scottish castle rebuilt brick-by-brick in Ohio. It was just like I remembered it from before… before the bomb had gone off last year. A sense of nostalgia washed over me and it was several seconds before I realized my mom was still talking, as everyone got off the bus.
“…He’s from a good family, Mary. His mother and I—” I got up to leave the bus, and I rolled my eyes, although I noted that she’d calmed down enough to use my Western name, now.
“I signed the divorce papers last month, Mother. So did he. It’s done and—"
Stepping into the aisle, I collided with something solid and my phone fell to the ground.
I looked up.
“I’m so sorry!” I babbled.
“I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“No, I’m sorry,” he insisted, and I heard a refined British accent. I looked up and saw a tall man, with slightly scruffy brown hair and deep chocolate eyes. His skin was the exact color of milky coffee and, shamefully, I wanted to touch his eyebrows, just to know what the texture would feel like.
“Uh… I’d better get going.” I reached for my phone and hopped off the bus. It was ringing again, and when I checked the caller ID this time, I saw it was my mom.
“Mother, I can’t talk about this right now. Please, put your energy into Charles’s birthday party and stop trying to find me a husband.”
“Well, if that isn’t the rudest thing anyone ever said to a complete stranger! Where’s my son?” a British accent snapped out of the phone.
“Son?” I did a double take. Standing in the grass beside the bus, I looked around. The British man was holding my phone to his ear. He looked put out, like he was getting a similar tongue-lashing from my mother. I walked back over to him.
“Wrong phone,” we both said, swapping our iPhones for the correct ones. I ended the call to my mother and switched my phone off. He did the same.
“Idris.” He extended a hand.
“Uh…” I tried to remember not to use my real name. “Ella.”
“Sounds like our mothers would have a field day if they ever got together,” he quipped.
“Indeed. Sorry for the mix-up. Uh… I’d better go sign in.”
I’d stared down Gaddafi before Libya fell. This was harder. My usually cool exterior was thawing way too fast and I needed space. I was here to blow off steam between the divorce and my assignment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
I didn’t want to be attracted to someone so strongly that I thought I might stop breathing as I dragged myself away. He was a total stranger and I didn’t need the complication. Anyway, my mom and my ex-husband had made it very clear I was incapable of holding a relationship together because I had this crazy idea that my wants and needs were just as important as my husband’s.
Daddies of the Castle Page 16
