“What jerks,” she said angrily.
“Well, at least there are positives.”
“There are?”
“Hmm. Yes, it gave me the push I needed to give up my boring job and do something I had always wanted to do. I got a job here as a ranch hand and worked my way up. I decided that if I ever found someone I wanted, someone I thought could be mine forever, then I wouldn’t hesitate, wouldn’t wait. I’d tell her what I wanted and I’d make sure she knew she was mine.” He kissed her. Hard. Hot. “You’re who I want, Mari-girl. For always. I don’t expect you to tell me the same. Not yet. But I have no doubts. You’re gonna be mine.”
There was something so safe in his confidence. There were doubts, she couldn’t deny them. Worry that they hadn’t known each other long. That the newness would rub off and he’d realize he didn’t want her anymore. But for now, she felt special and cared for.
“All right. Enough procrastinating. Limits. We’ve already talked about anal play. So that’s okay.”
Eek. Talk about jumping right into it.
“Now I read that diabetes can give you nerve damage, so I think we’ll skip any sort of bondage.”
“I don’t have any nerve damage. My diabetes is pretty well controlled. There are times when I go too long without eating or get a bit stressed or when I’m ill that I can have problems. But we could just try tying my hands? And for a short amount of time?”
“We can talk to Doc about it.”
“Talk to Doc? Do we have to?” she squeaked.
He grinned. “It won’t be the weirdest question he’s had, I promise you that. You gave me the list of everything to watch for and what to do. But what about any other injuries? Allergies?”
“No, nothing else.”
He nodded. “We’ll ease into things. I’ll only use my hand and the small paddles we bought you today. Punishments will be short, not prolonged in any way and I’ll check in with you often.”
It was a relief how seriously he took her health. She knew that she could trust him with it. Which was amazing since she’d never had anyone she could rely on.
“You always have your safeword. Like I said before, I fear I could be too indulgent with you. Maybe I should just take you over my knee and spank you each evening to make up for my indulgence during the day, to cover any naughtiness I miss while I’m working.”
“What! No!” That didn’t sound fair at all.
“No? Oh, wait, I just had another good idea.”
She was starting to see that his idea of good ideas and hers were vastly different.
“What?” she asked suspiciously.
“Each evening, after you’ve had dinner and gotten ready for bed, you can sit on Daddy’s knee and tell him all the mischief that you got up to. Then we’ll add ticks to your naughty girl chart.”
“I don’t have a naughty girl chart.” And she didn’t need one.
“I’m sure we can make you one. I’ll get another whiteboard for it.”
She groaned. “You’re one of those people aren’t you, Daddy?”
“One of what sort of people?”
“Someone who really loves their lists.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You have something against lists? Isn’t it good to be organized?”
She shook her head. “Organized. Lists. How did we ever become friends?”
“Must have been my irresistible charm.” He grinned at her. “And yes, Mari-girl. I love lists. You’re going to love them too.”
Somehow, she doubted that.
“Any more limits?” he asked her
She dropped her gaze to her hands. “Just don’t humiliate or call me names. I think that’s the one thing I couldn’t ever take.”
“Never, baby. Never. My little princess will only ever hear how beautiful and lovely she is. I promise. Now, we’re going to have to do your rules when we get home because we’re meant to meet with Doc in fifteen. And that man is grouchier than a bear with a sore paw when he’s kept waiting.”
23
“I really don’t think I need to go see the doctor,” Mari whined as Linc had her hold onto his shoulders while he pulled on her old sneakers. She needed some winter boots. The shoes he’d bought her wouldn’t be suitable for the snow and ice.
After tying them up, he stood and grabbed one of his old coats from the coat closet. It was miles too big for her, but it would keep her warm. When he put it on, she looked like a girl playing in Daddy’s clothes.
Too damn cute for his peace of mind.
He did up the buttons, then rolled up the sleeves so they weren’t hanging off the end of her arms.
“We need to check with him that you’ve been getting the best care up to now. Which I don’t think you have. Didn’t you say there was a pump you could use to keep watch on your blood sugar levels?”
“Yes, but they cost money.”
“And I explained that’s going to be covered.” He cupped the side of her face. “Stop worrying. Let’s meet with Doc and see what he says.”
She chewed her lip. “I don’t like doctors, they always make me feel stupid. I never understand what they’re saying. And I always feel like I’m doing something wrong.”
“Hey, Doc isn’t going to make you feel like that,” he told her in a kind voice. “Okay? Sure, he’s grouchy and has a terrible bedside manner.”
She frowned and he inwardly cursed himself. He wasn’t doing the best job at soothing her.
“But he’s not ever going to be mean or condescending. Doc will just want what’s best for you, like I do.”
“So he won’t be mean to me?”
Damn it, why had no one taken care of this sweet girl? Well, none of that mattered now. He’d ensure that no one was ever mean to her again. “Do you really think I would ever let someone be mean to you?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“That’s right. Never. I would never let anyone harm you, Mari-girl. Because you are precious to me. Even if I wasn’t there, Doc wouldn’t be mean. I promise you. Bossy, yes. Mean, never. Remember, he’s got his own Little girl.” He reached into the closet for a hat and scarf for her. “You might even have heard of her.”
“Of course I’ve heard of her. I’ve met her, remember?” she said as he wrapped the scarf around her neck and then plonked the hat on her head, covering her eyes. “And is all this necessary? It’s not that cold and we’re driving.”
He crouched down, searching through the basket at the bottom of the coat closet for some smaller gloves. “Can’t have you getting a chill. I don’t think I have any gloves that fit. Oh and I know you met Caley. I just meant you might have heard of her pen name. Caley is an author. She writes Daddy Dom books, she goes by the name CJ Bennett.” He spotted a pair that he thought might do. They were too small for him. “Ah-huh, here’s a pair!”
He turned, only to find she’d disappeared. What the hell? What happened to her? He’d thought she was just a bit nervous about meeting with Doc? Had she become so scared that she’d run off?
“Mari-girl? Mari? Where are you?” He strode into the living room, through the kitchen and then into the bedroom. Finally, after calling for her and searching everywhere, he thought of the closet.
Opening the door, he found her crouched on the floor. He breathed out a sigh of relief. Logically, he knew that she hadn’t been in danger. It wasn’t like Tiger could have snuck in and snatched her out from under his nose.
But still that fear had held him by the throat for a moment.
“Mari-girl? What happened? Why did you run off?”
She put her hands over her eyes, taking deep, shaky breaths. What was going on? Was she scared?
“You’re not really scared of going to see Doc, are you? I told you that Daddy would look after you. Mari?” he asked.
“No, it’s not that! Why didn’t you tell me that Caley is CJ Bennett?”
Huh? This was why she’d panicked and run off to hide in the closet?
He sat down. They were goi
ng to be late and Doc wouldn’t let him hear the end of it for months to come, but he could hardly carry her there, kicking and screaming.
Well, he could. But he wouldn’t.
“Mari-girl, come out here.” He reached a hand out to her.
She stared at his hand. “I’m not going. I can’t. Not like this. I have to . . . to . . . oh man. I can’t meet her!”
With a deep sigh, he reached in and drew her out onto his lap. When she attempted to struggle, he gave her one sharp smack on her ass.
“Ow,” she complained but she stilled in his arms. He knew it hadn’t really hurt. It was more to get her attention and help her settle.
“Stay still, little girl,” he warned. She needed a bit of firmness right now. And he was going to have to make it clear that she wasn’t to run from him like she had. “Now, tell Daddy what the problem is.”
“She’s my favorite author!”
“And that’s a problem because . . .”
“I . . . I . . . I don’t know,” she finished lamely. “I guess I got excited and scared and nervous and then it just all became too much.”
“So you ran away from Daddy?”
Her mouth dropped open then she grimaced as though realizing she might just be in trouble.
“I wasn’t running from you, Daddy. I just . . . I’m not sure why I ran in here. I was overwhelmed.”
“Okay, I don’t get why you’re so scared to see Caley. I thought you’d be excited.”
“It’s just . . . I don’t know . . . it’s kind of like meeting the President or royalty or something.”
He had to bite back his smile. “Right. You’re nervous then.”
She nodded her head.
“Got it. What I could have told you if you had mentioned all this instead of running off, is that Caley is extremely sweet. She likes her privacy which is why I didn’t mention this before. But I know you wouldn’t tell anyone what her pen name is. You’ve seen how gossip works in Wishingbone.”
“Oh, I’d never say a word. Wait, she’s got two daddies, right? Doc and his brother? Wow.”
“That’s right. She does. And remember, you’ve already met her, you know how nice she is.”
She thunked the palm of her hand against her forehead. “I did CJ Bennett’s nails.” She spoke with wonder. He had to bite back another smile, because he wanted her to know that he was very serious about this next bit.
He set her on the floor so she was facing him and gently grasped hold of her chin. “I want you to listen to me now.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not to run from Daddy like that again, understand? Not when I don’t know where you’ve gone or why. I was worried when I couldn’t find you.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“I know it was just instinct. And given some more time, Daddy is hoping that you run to him rather than the closet for safety. But if you keep doing it, then Daddy might just have to buy you one of those baby leads.”
Her eyes went wide. “I won’t, Daddy.”
“All right, let’s go. We’re already late.”
Marisol studied Doc as Linc pulled up outside his cabin. It was larger than Linc’s place and it was clear that it had been added to.
“Doc has a clinic at JSI headquarters as well, but they just built this extension and he decided to add a clinic here too. I think he just doesn’t like leaving Caley for long. They all have their own office.”
That was a good set-up. She moved her gaze back to Doc, he didn’t look happy. In fact, if he’d been a cartoon character, steam would be coming from his ears.
She leaned back in her seat, waiting for Linc to come get her. He opened her door, and then undid her seat belt, lifting her down. In truth, it was a relief to get out of the hot truck. She was wearing so many clothes and Linc had had the heater blasting as they’d driven here. She was starting to overheat.
“You’re late,” the other man barked. He was handsome, with dark-blond hair, a neatly-trimmed beard and piercing blue eyes.
“Sorry,” Linc called out. “Bit of a delay. Mari panicked when I told her that Caley writes books as CJ Bennett.”
Doc’s eyes narrowed as he stared down at her. She huddled into Linc, her hand firmly wrapped in his.
“And why would that make you panic? Don’t you like Caley’s books?” he snapped.
“What? No!” Her eyes widened. “I love them. I love her. I can’t believe I met her and I didn’t even know.”
“Ah, you’re a fan?” Doc’s face softened and she swore he nearly smiled. Maybe.
“Her biggest fan. I’m so nervous now.”
“She’s writing at the moment. She’s having problems with a character, so if you hear someone occasionally yelling, just ignore it.”
“Ohh.”
“Come in. It’s cold out. Although I see you’re wrapped up for the arctic.” Doc sent Linc a look as they followed him into what had to be the waiting room. It held a sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table with some magazines on it. There was an open door to her left that she saw opened into an exam room. There was another closed door to her right. She wondered if that led to Archer’s office. And the wall directly ahead of her had another door that she thought must take you into the main part of the house.
Hot air assaulted her and she started to sweat. Gross. She tried to pull off her scarf. Linc helped her pull it off.
“Poor girl is sweating under all those layers,” Doc told him.
“Didn’t want her to catch a chill.”
Linc drew off her coat then his and she let out a sigh of relief. He left everything in the waiting room before grabbing her hand again, urging her after Doc. She listened in vain for any yelling. How cool would it be to hear her favorite author at work?
They walked into a bright office that held an examination table, a wooden desk and some cabinets.
Doc sat behind the desk and picked up a pen. Linc led her to one of the two chairs sitting in front of the desk. She bit her lip nervously, her leg moving up and down.
Doc didn’t look up. “You can sit on Linc’s lap if that makes you less nervous. Although I promise not to bite.”
“Oh, umm.”
“Most Littles prefer to sit on their Daddy’s lap when they come to see me,” he told her conversationally. As though they were making small talk about the weather.
She felt herself going bright red. “Is it that obvious?”
This time, he did look up. “What?”
“That I’m a . . . Little?”
Suddenly, his face softened with a smile. “No, sweetie. Well, maybe if you’re looking for it. But I asked Linc when he made the appointment and he said you were.”
She glanced at Linc, not sure that she wanted people to know. Then again, didn’t she know about the other Littles on the ranch? That Caley had two daddies?
“He only told me in case you wanted to slip into Little space while you’re here,” Doc told her in an almost gentle voice. “Some Littles prefer to come to the doctor in that headspace. Some don’t. It’s up to you.”
“Doc, how come you’re never this nice when I come to see you?” Linc grumbled.
“Because you’re late,” Doc snapped.
“This is the only time I’ve ever been late.”
“No, you were late for your very first appointment with me.”
Linc sighed. “Eight years ago. Jesus, Doc, you have to let things go.”
“Why?”
She knew they were bantering back and forth to give her time to figure things out. Doc turned to her.
“Um, I think I’m too nervous to be in, uhh, Little headspace.”
Doc just nodded. Then he started asking her a series of questions. Linc reached over and took her hand in his. She gave it a grateful squeeze, pleased she didn’t have to do this all on her own. The questions were all straightforward, though.
Then he started asking her questions about her diabetes.
“So you don�
�t use a continuous glucose monitor?” he asked.
“No, my aunt’s insurance wouldn’t fully cover the costs. Or at least that’s what she told me.” Who knew if it was really the truth? Maybe the insurance would cover the monitor and her aunt lied to her out of spite.
“So if I order a monitor along with a supply of sensors, you’ll use it? And would you use an insulin pump?”
“Oh.” She looked at Linc. “Well, yes. If that’s okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be okay?” Doc gave her a bewildered look.
“She’s worried about the cost, Doc,” Linc told him.
“Why the hell would you worry about that? It’s under Linc’s insurance. Not your job to worry about it. Got me?”
“All right.”
“Sounds like you’re doing good with managing it. But this will make your life easier and ensure that we are taking good care of you. You can now get some that are incorporated with insulin pumps. You can personalize them to your lifestyle and can get your blood glucose levels sent to your phone and to Linc’s and mine if you agree to that. It will better help us monitor your health.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“You talked through her health with her? Triggers? Concerns? Play?”
She blinked at him then realized he was talking to Linc. “We’ve talked about it. We’ve decided on limited bondage. We’re going to ease into any play in the bedroom. During Little time, I’ll have to keep a closer eye on her, of course.”
“The CGM will help with that. You know the signs of low and high blood sugar?”
Linc rattled them off, much to her shock. She’d given him the list but she hadn’t expected he’d have it all memorized.
“Good. And if you have any concerns, you call me right away.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
“So I talked to Linc about how meal timing can be important. You likely already to that?”
“Yeah, I try to stick to regular meal times as much as I can.”
“Good.”
“I have an idea of how to help with that too,” Linc added.
Daddy in Cowboy Boots (Montana Daddies Book 9) Page 22
