Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
I don’t even know where all that fire and venom comes from. Sure, I’ve always thought Ava was gorgeous, but I’ve never been overly jealous of her. Not irrationally so. That’s not what I’m spewing. My word vomit has nothing to do with Ava’s body. It has to do with my emotional state, which is apparently frazzled to the point of explosion.
“Mia,” Papi admonishes on a gasp. “None of that is true. You are absolutely perfect just the way you are. You don’t need to look like anyone but you.”
I squirm and tug at the strap across my tummy. “I need to get up. Let me see her. Let me speak to Ava. She must be scared and angry.”
Papi doesn’t release the strap across me, and I can’t reach the location where it’s fastened. When I struggle harder, he grabs my wrists and holds my arms over my head.
I keep wiggling and fighting against him. “Let me go!”
I barely hear Dankin telling Papi we are cleared for transport before he leaves the room.
“No!” I scream. “We can’t leave without Ava. I need to see her, Papi.” I don’t even know this side of me. I’ve never met her before. I’ve never been so defiant and naughty. I’ve known I was Little for almost as long as I can remember, but I’ve always been the good, sweet Little girl. I’ve never had a tantrum in my life.
Papi sets his free hand on my pelvis, easily keeping me from squirming as much as I want to. He doesn’t look the least bit frustrated, which infuriates me even more. He simply holds my wrists in one hand and my pelvis with the other, seemingly waiting for me to stop fighting him.
I start crying, huge sobs that won’t stop. “I need to talk to her, Papi, please.” I buck and twist and use every ounce of my energy to get away from this man who is so much bigger and stronger than me until I’m worn out and unable to keep up the fight.
I’m panting and sniffling with tears drying on my face and snot running out of my nose when Papi reaches up to fasten my wrists above my head, freeing his hand.
Without a word, he grabs a damp cloth and wipes my face, even though most of the wind is knocked out of my sails, and I try to turn away from him. His calm demeanor is keeping me angry. How can he be so level while I’m having the tantrum of my life?
Maybe I’m testing him. It’s not a conscious decision. But this man is about to take me away from my planet, and I’ll never be back. That’s scary. What if I’m not good enough for him?
“What do you need, Baby girl?” he asks as he strokes my forehead.
“I need to see Ava,” I shout, though my voice is losing steam.
“I can’t fulfill that wish, Little one. Ava needs to make her own way without your interference. You can see her a few weeks after we get home.” He puts a period on that sentence.
“But she’s not like me, Papi,” I whine. “She’s probably scared. She needs me.”
“She’ll be fine, Mia. I promise. You and I are going to board a transport vessel soon. She’ll be on the next one right behind us.” His voice is firm. His decision is final. It always will be.
I finally look at him through my swollen, teary eyes. He’s not mad. There is a slight furrow to his brow, but his concern is for me.
“I love you, Mia.”
My breath hitches as I blink. Now all the wind is out of my sails. All of it. “Papi…”
He smiles. “I wanted you to know how I feel about you before we get on the transport vessel. I don’t want to spend the next six months without saying those words. You are my life, and I love you so much it hurts. Nothing you ever do will change that.”
“But…” I swallow over the emotion welling up inside me. “I just had the biggest tantrum ever.”
He smiles broader. “No tantrum will ever change how I feel.” He sets his hand on my chest. “Can you feel it too? In here? Can you feel the powerful bond, Baby girl?”
I nod. I do feel it. Maybe a part of me was even intentionally naughty not simply because I want to see Ava but because I wanted to know what Papi would do. And he’s stunned me beyond belief with his declaration. “I love you too, Papi.”
He beams. “Can I unfasten you now? I’d rather get your punishment out of the way so I can hold you in my arms until we board the transport vessel.”
“Are you going to spank me?”
He nods. “Harder than before. Do you know why?”
“Because I was so naughty,” I whisper.