Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
“What even is it?”
“Daddy! It’s obviously a puppy and I love it. Please?” She couldn’t remember ever asking anyone for anything. But this was something she wanted.
More than anything.
If she had her own money, she would buy him.
“If you’re sure,” he said skeptically, handing the dog to her. “You really don’t want the bunny? She looks so soft.”
“I’m sure she is. She’ll make someone else very happy. But I want this guy. I’m going to name him Atlas. He’s so cute.”
“Not sure that I’d agree that thing is cute.”
Her bottom lip dropped on a pout. “Don’t you like him, Daddy? I can put him back if you want.”
Something swirled in his gut.
Something that felt suspiciously like panic. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d panicked. But he felt that now.
Panic and chagrin.
“Here.” She held out the ugly toy as her lower lip trembled.
And he held his hands up, taking a step back. “No, no, you keep it, Little one.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to not like Atlas.”
“I like him. He’s . . . unique.”
He was definitely that.
“Yay!” She hugged the ugly thing tight while giving Salem a huge smile. And he knew he’d done the right thing.
He grabbed the handle of the cart and kept pushing them through the store. He had to keep a close eye on her to see the things that she gravitated toward. Because she didn’t ask for anything else. But there was a large, fluffy sage-green beanbag that caught her eye. It barely fit in the cart, but he shoved it in.
Along with a soft blanket that she claimed was the color of the ocean. She didn’t reach for any more toys. But he could always bring her back later for those. At the moment, he wanted to get her some clothes.
Something other than the black outfits she wore all the time.
They strode through the punishment implement aisle first, though.
“Daddy, I don’t think I like this aisle,” she told him.
He swallowed a smile. “I don’t think any Littles ever like this aisle.” As well as a huge selection of paddles, there were also riding crops, floggers, and a few canes. None of which he’d use on his girl.
Although he did see a heart-shaped paddle covered in a soft leather that looked appealing. He picked it up and tested it against the palm of his hand.
She jumped at the noise it made. “Daddy, no!”
“No?” He raised an eyebrow. “Hmm, I don’t know. This might make a very nice imprint on your naughty bottom.”
“That’s just mean,” she grumbled.
He put it back and then looked over the handcuffs.
“These?” He held up a pair with some soft fluff on the inside of the cuffs.
She shrugged and nodded.
Salem picked up a ball gag next and watched the way she shook her head.
Right. Definitely a no.
Interesting.
Next, he moved to the pet play area. He grabbed a pair of puppy ears that were attached to a headband. There was also a matching tail that you secured to an anal plug.
“These are cute. Similar in color to Atlas.”
She shook her head again. There was a small blush on her cheeks.
“No, my pet?” he murmured. “You like to be patted and coddled as my pet, but you don’t think you’d like to look the part? Perhaps get a doggy bed? A cage?”
He was pushing her. Maybe harder than he should.
And to his surprise, she raised her thumb to her mouth and started sucking.
Shock held him still. He really hadn’t been expecting that reaction. And the way her eyes widened told him that she hadn’t consciously intended to do that.
“Maybe this isn’t quite right, hmm?” Perhaps they needed to spend some more time together as Pet and Sir to figure out exactly how that dynamic would work best for them. He put those things back. He’d told her that she didn’t need them to be his pet, and he’d meant it.
Then he walked over to her, cupping the side of her face with his hand. “It’s all right. You don’t have to worry. I won’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Perhaps I’ll push sometimes, but you can always use your safeword, understand?”
She nodded and he tapped her hand. “Would you like a pacifier instead of sucking your thumb? Sucking your thumb can be unhygienic.”
Salem pushed the trolley into the baby and toddler area. They were getting closer to the clothes, but he wanted to see how she reacted to the things in this aisle.
“Ahh, here we go. Some pacifiers. Do you see anything you like?”
She shook her head.
But he caught her studying the pacifiers. He reached out for one with a puppy face on the front of it and held it out to her.
She drew her thumb out of her mouth. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know how you feel about it?” he asked.