Page 39

“Yes, please!”
Before I can stop her, Juliet hurries down the stairs and takes Cat’s hand.
Emotion lodges in my throat at the sight of them together, and for the first time I truly understand Maxwell’s vision for us. Our island is more than just some kinky getaway for the rich and depraved. It’s home.
It’s family.
I give myself a moment to collect myself before joining the others in the parlor. Just in time to see my Little girl throw her arms around Evander’s neck, her loud laughter filling the room.
“Oh my gosh, Evander! It’s lovely to see you again!”
Evander’s low chuckle joins with her bright, happy laughter, and that same possessive feeling from earlier claws at my chest when he reaches down to swat her bottom. “It’s Uncle Evan to you now, little girl.”
Pulling away from his embrace, Juliet makes a show of rubbing at her bottom, though I doubt she felt that swat much if at all through the layers of tulle and cotton covering her. “Meanie.”
She’s flirting. Right in front of my face. And judging by the eyebrow Evander raises as he looks over at me, the scar that runs down the side of his face crinkling with the movement, he knows it just as well as I do.
Stepping into the room, I plaster a welcoming smile on my face as I gesture to my bratty little sister. “Lift your skirt up, princess. Show your uncles your pretty diaper.”
That makes her pause, her eyes round in her face and pink flooding her cheeks. “No, thank you.”
“But it matches your dress so well.” I’ve always loved flustering her, in the way big brothers tend to, but this is different. This is about reminding her of her place. Of who shebelongsto. “And I just know your uncles would love to see it.”
“I don’t wanna.”
Does she know how adorably Little she sounds? Her voice has pitched up a bit, and even her words have taken on a younger tone.
All eyes are on me as I slowly cross the distance between us to cup her chin in my hand, nudging her head back. “Don’t you want to be a good girl for Daddy?”
Emotions swirl in her eyes, and it’s a delight to watch the struggle play out. She wants to pretend, as long as possible, that she’s still a big girl. Our equal.
But she isn’t. And that may be the most difficult part of all of this, accepting that she is no longer part of society, even here on the island, but a naughty Little girl whose every word, every movement is at her Daddy’s discretion.
Without actually answering me, she reaches for her skirt, slowly pulling the layers of tulle up to expose her diaper.
“That’s my good girl.” Releasing her chin, I step back, slowly moving my finger in a circle. “Give us all a twirl, princess. Slowly, so your uncles and your Auntie Cat can all see how pretty you are.”
Her cheeks darkening with every passing second, she slowly turns, showing off her dress and her matching diaper as our family watches on hungrily. Over her head, Gideon’s gaze meets mine, and even without words, I can see the need burning in hisgaze. He, like the others, cannot wait to have a Little girl of his own and I wonder how long he’ll be able to resist claiming some poor unsuspecting soul for his very own.
“Oh my gosh!” An excited squeal draws our attention to the doorway where Victoria is bouncing on her toes, the fluffy skirt of her pale purple dress flouncing around her. “We’re twins!”
They aren’t, not quite, though they are both wearing shades of purple. But it’s always a pleasure to see how excited little Tori gets over the small pleasures in life. It’s a reminder that, unlike everyone else in this room, she never had much growing up and even less as an adult thanks to her mother’s illness and the piles of medical debt she was left with.
My heart leaps to my throat as Tori rushes forward to wrap Juliet in her arms. “You look so beautiful! Like a real-life princess.”
Juliet freezes in place, her skirts still hiked up around her waist, her diaper on display as her horrified gaze latches onto mine. For a moment, time stands still around us, and I hold my breath waiting to see how she’ll respond.
To my immense relief, she drops her skirts to return Tori’s embrace. “Thank you. I feel a bit like a princess. Did you see my tiara?”
“I did! It’s almost like the one Uncle Jasper got for me when I first got here, but mine is blue and silver like my Cinderella dress. I have one for each princess. I can’t wait to show you! Daddy, can we please,pleasehave a tea party soon?”
Chuckling softly, Maxwell steps forward to scoop Tori up in his arms. “Patience, little thief. Juliet’s only just gotten to the island. Why don’t we give her a few days to settle in and then we can discuss Juliet coming over for a playdate.”
Pink rushes to Tori’s cheeks as she flashes him a sheepish smile. “Yes, Daddy.”
Off to the side, Juliet is watching them, an unreadable expression on her face. Because I can’t tell exactly what she’s thinking, it seems like the best course of action not to give her too much time to think at all.
“And on that note, I believe dinner is waiting for us. Gentlemen, Cat, if you’ll all follow me.”