by Maggie Ryan
No one relaxed until the door had closed behind Greg, and Barbara slumped down in her chair. It was several minutes before she looked up, her smile growing as she reached up, unpinned her hair, and shook it out. "God, I hope I never have to play lawyer again," she said, throwing pencils, pads of papers, law books and other paraphernalia into the depths of her open briefcase. She squealed when she felt her chair being pulled away from the table, and herself lifted from her seat.
"If that was playing, I pity anyone who ever came up against you when you were being serious." Logan hugged his sister to his chest before releasing her to Liz.
"We can't thank you enough," Liz said, taking her turn to give Barbara a hug. "I don't think we could have made it through this without you."
As Craig enveloped Barbara in his arms, he felt the tension she had been carrying for the past few weeks finally release as she relaxed within his embrace. "Who knew my Bunny could also be a little pit-bull?"
Barbara shook her head as she leaned against Craig and looked at the people who made up her family. "Greg will never be allowed to step a foot back inside Texas state lines again, and I pity whatever state he decides in which to set up his shop."
The conditions of the final agreement forced Greg to close his firm in Houston, and agree not only to leave the city, but to stay out of the state. Though he had grumbled out in the hall, forcing Charles to try to get a few points changed in his favor, it had merely been a last ditch effort. Being faced with the knowledge that Elizabeth seemed willing to undergo whatever was necessary to see his client prosecuted, seeming not to care that her name would be dragged through the mud, had given Charles pause. When Nancy had also promised to press charges for his breaking the order not to come within five hundred feet of her or Liz, and with all the other party goers, one an actual Houston cop, willing to testify that Liz had been a total innocent in the attack, Charles had told his client that his recommendation was to shut up and take the offer.
With Logan and Jason glaring at him, and Barbara in his face, bringing very unpleasant possibilities to mind, Greg had wisely taken his lawyer's advice. It had become clear that to him that his firm had no chance of ever digging itself out of the hole his actions and his jealousy had dug. Remembering his lawyer's suggestion that another state, one far outside the influence of Garrett Foster's firm, was actually an opportunity to begin his life again, Greg had capitulated, accepting the offer, and allowing everyone to put that night's events to rest.
After a dinner celebrating their victory, Craig led his lawyer back into the house. When she immediately began tearing off her suit, he grinned, knowing exactly what she was saying without her speaking a word.
He helped her into the purple drop seated pajamas after she stepped out of her bubble bath, having allowing her a long soak before bathing her tenderly. There hadn't been time recently to give her such attention, not that he hadn't wished to, but he understood she'd needed to keep her entire focus on her professional role. She had been so wrapped up in the case, spending every waking hour in preparation, that when he called her every evening, they'd bypassed the 'tucking in' ritual she adored when it became clear that she would simply throw back the covers and work on the case until total exhaustion forced her to fall into bed in the wee hours of the morning—only to wake up a few hours later to begin again. Craig had made sure she knew he was there by preparing meals and leaving them in her fridge, which she could then pop into the microwave and eat while poring over the legal books that covered her dining room table.
Climbing onto Craig's lap where he sat in her large armchair, Barbara felt the tension and pressure finally beginning to dissipate, but she also knew she needed more than a bath and a cuddle. "Daddy?" she said hesitantly, her face buried in the side of his neck.
"Yes, baby?"
"I still feel unsettled inside." Barbara sighed and sat up. "I keep picturing myself as a pit-bull, snarling and threatening. It isn't a picture that I like anymore."
Craig didn't belittle her feelings. While the others had been surprised but thrilled to see the pit-bull come out, he knew what it had cost her.
They had spent the last several months slowly building up their ageplay dynamic, delving ever deeper into their roles, and discussing taking their play to the next level. After leaving the harsher side of her life behind her, having to step outside the world she had chosen in its place and be that person again had been more than hard on her—it was unsettling enough to have her struggling to find the true persona that had led her to peace and security in both herself and with the man who loved her.
"Baby, when I called you a pit-bull, it was to let you know how very proud I was of you. It was amazing to see you work so hard to find a way to put everything behind us, but in a way that didn't leave lasting scars for your family and friends. You are a magnificent attorney, Gracie. It takes a great deal of strength to do what you did. I'm not only talking about today and the case, I'm also talking about your decision months ago to stop practicing law and pursue the life that makes you truly happy. It was a great gift you gave Logan and Elizabeth, sweetheart, especially knowing how it made you feel inside. You are an incredible woman."
Barbara let his words flow through her. It was true that she had made the decision to leave her firm, but she'd only found the strength to do that with this man's help. He had been the one person who seemed able to see past the attorney she had become to focus on the woman struggling with that choice of career.
"Thank you, but even though I cooked Spenser's ass, I'd much rather cook with you, Daddy. I'm not saying I won't be willing to put on that awful suit again if my friends or family need me to, I'm just saying I'd much rather put on my overalls and help run Haven, or don my apron and cook meals with you in that fabulous kitchen. I just need to know that I can put the pit-bull aside and be your Bunny girl again. I've really missed that part of me."
"You'll always be my Bunny girl." As her daddy, it was up to him to address her feelings and find a way to lead her back into the world of being Little. "How would you like to invite Angel's family for dinner this weekend? Perhaps spending time with another Little will help you discover that you will never lose that part of yourself, even when you have to step out in the Big world."
Barbara's smile told him that she was thrilled at the suggestion. She bent forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Daddy, I'd love that." Snuggling down into his arms again, she sat back up just a few minutes later. "I said some mean things, Daddy. Daddy, I even told Logan to shut up. That wasn't very nice, was it, Daddy?"
Craig grinned, wondering whether she realized she'd called him Daddy with every sentence she had just uttered. He figured she did—after all, you didn't become a successful attorney without knowing the power of words. It seemed that his Bunny was using that power to let him know of her needs. He knew she was really reaching for an excuse to go over her daddy's lap—a place she hadn't been in weeks. She had certainly done nothing to deserve a spanking, but he knew that was exactly what she was asking for.
He lifted her chin to meet her eyes with his own stern ones, accepting that there was one more thing she needed to let her close her own case. "No, it wasn't, Bunny. In fact, it was very naughty of you. I think a spanking might help you remember that your daddy will always be here to set your fanny on fire when you need it. What do you think? Would that let my Bunny release those feelings that are clearly eating her up?"
Barbara gave him another kiss before sliding from his lap, only to lay herself across it. As she felt him lowering the flap of her PJs, she lifted her hips to allow him to lower her panties, baring her bottom. When his hand rubbed over her cheeks, she turned her head back to look at him. "Thank you, Daddy, I knew you'd understand."
"No, thank you, Bunny, for trusting me to take care of you. Now, no more talking. I've got a beautiful little bottom to turn scarlet."
Her eyes widened at the mention of the hue she could expect him to create, but it was with a sigh of contentment that she lowe
red her head.
By the time he tucked her into bed, her bunny in her arms, she felt better than she had since the costume party. Her bottom throbbed hotly, the heat trapped inside the pajamas, but the spanking had definitely worked to release her sense of unease. This was exactly where she belonged, and exactly who she wished to be.
"I love you, Bunny," Craig said, bending to kiss her cheek. "You rest now. Daddy will come to bed in a little while." He waited for her response, but smiled when he realized she was asleep. He hoped she would find the rest her body needed, as she hadn't truly slept well in days. Flipping off the light, he gathered up the discarded business suit, praying that she wouldn't have to don it again for a very long time—but knowing that if she did, he'd be there to guide her back into the world she had chosen with her heart.
Chapter 8
"Girls, you need to clean your plates before you can play."
Angel and Barbara looked at each other. Though both were anxious to get to the fun part of the evening, it was obvious to Barbara that Angel was not particularly thrilled with the Brussels sprouts that remained on her dinner plate.
"Yes, ma'am," Angel sighed, and shoved one of the green balls with the back of her fork, watching as it rolled off her plate. Glancing up quickly, she saw that her mommy had returned her attention to the two men at the table. At the realization of the success of the accidental movement, the other two sprouts joined the first, only to be gathered into her napkin.
Barbara had put one of the vegetables into her mouth, as she found it tasty with its spice of garlic and bacon. As she speared and ate another, she saw Angel holding her napkin open beneath the table, using her fingers to motion that Barbara should add her last sprout to the growing pile. Suddenly, the idea of doing something that she hadn't done since her real childhood, was irresistible. Sliding her eyes across the table as if to make sure the move would go unnoticed, she pushed the sprout off her plate and covered it with her hand. Reaching for her glass, Barbara took a drink, hiding the fact that the hand containing the ball disappeared beneath the table and opened to drop the sprout into the waiting napkin.
Satisfied that the ploy had worked, and anxious to talk to her friend, who had been too busy to visit for weeks, Angel wadded the napkin and slipped it into the pocket of her overalls. Making sure to finish her own glass of milk, she waited for a pause in the adult conversation before speaking.
"May we be excused?" she asked politely, knowing that rude little girls would not be allowed any time to play. Betty looked up to see both plates had been cleaned, and rewarded her girls with a smile.
"Yes, you may, sweetie."
Barbara slid from her seat, her hand reaching for Angel's. As the two walked around the table, both were jerked to a stop as John reached out and grabbed Angel's arm.
"Just a minute. You've got a bit of a milk moustache," he said with a grin. Angel relaxed, accustomed to having her face wiped by one of her parents. She returned his smile until she realized he was pulling the napkin, one white tip having not been tucked out of sight, from her pocket.
"Wait," she cried, dropping Barbara's hand and trying to get to the napkin before her daddy freed it completely. The sight of four small green balls dropping to the floor told of her failure.
"Angelica Jolene Dennison!" Betty said sternly, the guilt clearly written on her Little's face.
"I'm sorry," Angel cried, dropping to her knees and gathering the evidence of her naughtiness into her hands. "I'll eat them, I promise."
"Oh no, sweetie, you mustn't," Betty said, taking Angel's hand and plucking the balls from her palm to pile them on the table. Angel's look was priceless as it showed her disbelief that she had been forgiven so easily. Perhaps she believed her mommy's leniency was an early Christmas gift, though the holiday was still over a month away.
"I didn't—"
"I suggest you think before you speak," Betty warned. "Adding a lie to your deceit will not bode well for your bottom. I didn't say you would not finish your dinner. I said you won't eat those. Only animals eat off the floor, young lady." Turning to the bowl that remained on the table, they all watched as she lifted a spoon and three much larger sprouts were allowed to roll onto Angel's plate. About to return the spoon to the bowl, Betty paused. Looking at the pile of discarded sprouts, her eyes slid from the table to Barbara. Saying nothing, she tipped the spoon again, the fourth and largest sprout of all joining the pile on the plate.
Barbara's eyes went to find her own daddy's. When he beckoned her to him, giving her a reassuring smile, she realized that he had no idea that one of those sprouts belonged to her. Looking to Angel, she saw her friend giving her head a slight shake, silently stating that there was no need for both of them to get into trouble. Despite her certainty that she was making a big mistake, the guilt she felt at just that one knowing glance from her Aunt Betty, made her do the right thing. Stepping away from Craig, she walked to stand beside her friend, unconsciously reaching down to take Angel's hand.
"One is mine, Aunt Betty," she confessed, her eyes studying the tips of her black Mary Janes.
"Thank you, Bunny," Betty said, transferring one of the Brussels sprouts to Barbara's plate. "I know that was hard for you, and though I've very pleased that you told the truth, you realize that your bottom is going to be spanked as well."
Swallowing hard, Barbara nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry."
"So am I. It has been so long since we've had a nice evening together." Shaking her head, she looked down at the two miscreants. "It's just a pity that, instead of getting to play, you are both getting your bottoms blistered." Her smile belied her statement as she turned to her husband. "John, perhaps you can take Bunny over your knees while I tend to Angel? Is that all right with you, Craig?"
Craig looked from her to Barbara, searching for any signs that she was not ready to take a step that she'd known was a very real possibility from the moment they'd invited their friends. Seeing her face flushed but no sign of distress, he nodded. "Please, go right ahead. I must say, I'm very disappointed myself. I can't imagine what caused them to be so naughty." He had to hide his grin. Knowing that Barbara liked Brussels sprouts, he could only conclude that her part in the mischief was a play that had backfired on her. "Perhaps we should adjourn to the living room?"
The men stood and walked into the living room of Craig's house, Betty following with one naughty girl's hand in each of her own.
"Come here, Bunny," John said, taking a seat on the couch. He watched as his Little niece took the three steps necessary to reach him, her eyes wide as she raised them to meet his.
Taking her hand, he drew her to his side, feeling her hand tremble in his. "Craig, why don't you come sit beside me. That way, Bunny will know her Daddy is nearby." Barbara's sigh of relief made both men smile as Craig took a seat on the other end of the couch.
Betty led Angel to an armchair, guiding her to stand to her right as her mommy took a seat.
"Tell me why you are going to get a spanking," John said, not surprised to see color creep up and stain Barbara's cheeks. Was there any Little in the universe who wasn't embarrassed at having to confess her crime?
"I-I didn't eat all my dinner," Barbara said, her stomach flipping as she realized that she was about to be spanked for the first time by another man. Her honorary Aunt Betty had spanked her months ago, but only Craig had reddened her rear since then. She was so focused on her own dilemma that she didn't realize Angel was making her own confession to her mommy.
The sound of Angel's voice finally broke through Barbara's thoughts as the young woman began to plead for her mommy not to take her panties down. "Not in front of Uncle Craig, please, Mommy!"
"Don't be silly," Betty said, easily sliding her adult Little's panties off her bottom to join her overalls at her knees. "Spankings are given on the bare, as you well know, and Uncle Craig has seen your hiney many times. Now, get across my lap, young lady."
Barbara gave a small yelp when she realized that her own skirt was be
ing lifted. Her face turned red as her eyes sought her daddy's, only to have him lift his finger and twirl it, indicating she was to pay attention to her Uncle John. "I'm going to pull your panties down, Bunny," John said, knowing that this first time was difficult for the young woman.
"Ye-yes, sir," Barbara whispered, her eyes finding Craig's again, his gentle smile and nod of approval giving her the strength she needed. She held her breath as she felt her panties being pulled down, baring her bottom to the room. When John gave her a gentle tug to help guide her across his knees, she practically threw herself down into position. She buried her burning face in her hands as John and Craig exchanged a look that daddies to all the grown women who played the role of Little girls understood.
Angel's spanking began a second before Barbara's, but it was Barbara who broke first. "Please, I'm sorry," she wailed, her hands dropping to brace herself against the floor as she discovered that, honorary or not, her Uncle intended to make sure she knew better than to try such a stunt again. She could feel her bottom bounce under each crack of his hand, knowing it was growing redder and redder by the minute, and that her daddy's eyes were taking in her every reaction. Soon the two girls' wails were almost in stereo as the spankings increased in both tempo and intensity.
"Such a shameful thing to do," Betty was saying, as she reddened Angel's round cheeks. "Not only did you do a very, very naughty thing, you pulled Bunny into your scheme. You should be ashamed of yourself, young lady."
