Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“I’ll put mine and Jack’s numbers into your phone so you can text us. We’ll carry you to the bathroom.”
And now she resembled a tomato again. Great.
“You can’t carry me to the bathroom.”
Ian loomed over her. “We can and will. You’re to rest that foot. Or you will be in trouble.”
“You know, you shouldn’t listen to popular opinion. Bossiness isn’t sexy. It’s annoying.”
“I’m wounded,” he replied dryly before bending down and lifting her into his arms.
Whoa.
She liked being carried by him a bit too much.
Obviously, she needed some sort of test to see if she was going nuts.
You are definitely going insane.
Ian walked up the stairs and into her room. He plopped her down on her bed and she quickly glanced around, making sure that she hadn’t left any of her underwear around. Whew.
“What do you want to wear? I’ll get it for you.”
“I can get it myself.”
He just stared down at her.
“Fine,” she grumbled. “In the top drawer of the dresser there’s an oversized T-shirt.”
He moved over to the drawers and opened the top one. Then he paused, and Maggie suddenly remembered what else was in there.
Idiot!
She stood, moving toward him. She winced as her foot protested. “I’ll get it.”
“Sit down,” he barked as he pulled something out. “What is this?”
“A woman has needs too!” she cried as he drew out Ziggy.
She let out a deep breath. Good. He’d only found Ziggy.
Monkeyballs. He’d found Ziggy.
“What’s this?”
“A zebra. Sheesh, your education is sadly lacking, huh? Z is for zebra.”
He frowned down at her. Then he blinked. “What are you doing on your foot? Get back to bed.” He pointed at the bed.
“Sheesh. So grumpy.” Turning, she limped back toward the bed. Then she let out a screech as he lifted her into the air and carried her back, plonking her down.
He loomed over her, waving a finger in her face. “Stay still.”
She saluted him.
He looked like he was about to explode.
It was kind of becoming their thing.
Then she noticed that he was still holding Ziggy in his hand. In fact, he was holding him . . . by his tail.
She let out an outraged squeak and grabbed her poor toy, cradling him against her chest. Then she patted his head and crooned to him soothingly.
Did she look like a crazy person?
Yes.
Was she going to stop?
No.
She waited for Ian to say something derogatory. For him to give her that look that said he thought she was insane.
Instead, weirdly, his face softened. Like he thought she was cute or something.
It was strange. Yet she wanted more.
“What’s its name?”
“His name is Ziggy.” She swallowed heavily. She could feel the need to fall into Little headspace. All she wanted was to be carefree for a while. To forget that she had worries and responsibilities.
But you can’t. This isn’t a safe space.
She was shocked that the urge was so strong. Typically, she only allowed herself to go into Little headspace when she was alone with the door locked.
And even that never made her feel entirely safe. So why did it feel like she could slip into Little headspace right now?
“Ziggy is cute.” Ian crouched in front of her, almost as though he was trying to make himself seem less intimidating.
That was weird.
And it didn’t work. He’d be intimidating even if he was lying down. She couldn’t imagine a time that he wouldn’t be intimidating.
“Shh.” She covered Ziggy’s ears. “You’ll give him a big ego.”
“Sorry. I’ll refrain from calling him handsome.”
She nodded solemnly. Then she closed her eyes for a moment. What was she doing? There was no way she should let this man see her Little.
It wasn’t safe.
“Maggie? You okay?”
“Can we just pretend you never saw Ziggy?” she asked in a small voice without opening her eyes.
There was a beat of silence.
“Little Misfit,” he murmured, placing his hand on her thigh.
“Please.” It killed her to beg. But she didn’t want anyone to know . . . she didn’t think she could survive the embarrassment.
Imagine if her parents ever discovered this about her? Her siblings? Uncle Willy?
Even Uncle Willy wouldn’t understand this.
She wouldn’t hurt him like that.
You’re an embarrassment and a failure.
“Maggie, are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Opening her eyes, she stared down at him. “Lots of adults have toys that they cuddle. And act like they’re real. With feelings. It’s called being lonely and pathetic.”
Shoot. Was it better to be known as lonely and pathetic than to have people know she was a Little?
Monkeyballs. She wasn’t sure.
“Lonely and pathetic?” he repeated. “You will not talk about yourself like that.”
Sheesh. So bossy.
He reached up as though he was going to touch her, then dropped his hand.
What?
Did he not want to touch her now that he realized she cuddled a soft toy?
It wasn’t like Ziggy was her emotional crutch who made her feel better when she touched him.