Page 13 of Daddy’s Pursuit (The Daddy Guard #1)

Chapter Thirteen

Iris awoke the next morning, sat up, and for a split second, wondered where she was.

The bed was huge! And comfortable. But way too big for her.

Sunlight filtered in through the curtains that hung over the window. How long had she slept? And where was she exactly?

For a moment, she wondered if this was a dream. It sure wasn’t her apartment! Perhaps she was imagining some mansion or something. That rags-to-riches fantasy she’d had so many times before.

But then it all came back to her.

She really was in a mansion.

Auntie Athena’s mansion.

Jack Daddy had dropped her off there the night before. After she’d been evicted.

With a groan, Iris fell back, her head sinking into the plush, overstuffed pillow. Snuggles was laying beside her, smiling.

She giggled. Just the sight of her stuffie made her feel wonderful.

A moment later, she gathered her wits enough to swing her legs off the bed and put her feet on the floor.

That’s when she heard the loud crinkle and realized she was wearing a diaper.

How had she forgotten? she wondered. The cotton and plastic were so bulky that she couldn’t close her legs all the way.

That made her giggle, too.

She could get used to waking up like that.

What made it even better was the knowledge that somewhere nearby was Auntie Athena.

Was Jack Daddy still there? Probably not, she decided. He had a very important job. He was probably out solving crimes or chasing bad guys.

That thought brought a shudder.

She hoped he was okay. The idea of him getting hurt or something bad happening to him almost made her sick.

Standing, she felt the diaper sagging low between her legs.

“Whoa!” she said as she pressed in on the squishy front.

Had she slept so hard that she’d just peed her nappy? It wasn’t too surprising. She’d had some accidents before, though it embarrassed her every time—even though there’d never been anyone around to know about them.

Padding softly to the door, she opened it and stepped into the hallway. The thought that she should be more modest briefly floated through her mind. She was clad in only a short tee and that diaper. But somehow that just felt right at Auntie Athena’s.

“Hello?” she called out as she walked down the hall. “Is anyone here?”

The hall was long and the hardwood floor was covered in the center by a thick, ornate runner. At the end was a window that allowed the brilliant California sun to spill inside. Between her and that, though, there were doors on both sides.

“Well, good morning, cute stuff.”

Iris spun around to see a lady had stepped out of one of the doors behind her.

“Hi.”

She had never seen this woman before, but it was immediately evident that she possessed the same matronly air that Auntie Athena did.

That’s where the similarities stopped, though.

While Auntie Athena had that silky raven hair, bright-red lips, and a vampish quality, this woman looked like a typical suburban mom. She had wide hips, a full figure, short, blonde hair and kind blue eyes. She looked to be about forty-five.

She was gorgeous.

“I’m Auntie Caroline. I work here at the nursery but was off yesterday. It’s so nice to finally meet you, Iris. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“You have?”

“You bet. All the Littles are excited you’re here. So is Athena. Now, come here. sweet girl. I need to check that diaper—though I can already tell it’s wet.” She chuckled.

As if one cue, the already sagging nappy slid another inch down. Iris worried the tapes were going to give way and it was going to fall straight to the floor.

Reaching out, Auntie Caroline gently spun the Little around and pulled the back of the diaper away from her skin so she could check. “A clean but very wet diaper!”

For a moment, Iris was mortified. But that passed quickly. For some reason, this all just felt so right. It was as if she was home and this was the most natural thing in the world.

“Come on, lovie. Take my hand. We’ll get you changed and tidied up in no time. Then you need to eat breakfast. Auntie Athena is downstairs in the kitchen preparing it right now.”

Five minutes later, with a fresh, dry diaper between her legs, Iris found herself sitting on the banquette at the table in the breakfast nook, watching as Auntie Athena and Auntie Caroline finished making breakfast.

The smell of sizzling pancakes and bacon hung in the air, and her stomach growled. It had been a long time since she’d started the day with a meal like that! This almost didn’t seem real. It was truly a dream come true.

“I’m so glad Jack found you last night,” Athena said. “Honey, don’t ever try to sleep on the streets like that again. You have a place right here. Always.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” she said. “I just didn’t want to put you out.”

The Auntie flipped a pancake atop the griddle on the stove and then shot the Little a smile from across the room.

“You’re never putting me out. Don’t forget that.

” That smile morphed into something sterner.

“But if you ever try something as dangerous as sleeping on the streets again, I’ll get my paddle after that cute bottom of yours. Do you understand, little girl?”

Iris gulped. “Yes, Ma’am.”

Carrying a pan of bacon toward the table, Caroline said, “And when she’s finished with you, I’ll be waiting. I have a leather strap that would pair nicely with her paddle. Keep that in mind.”

Iris nodded. “Yes, Ma’am! I don’t want ouchies on my bottom!”

For a faint moment, she was shocked at how easily she’d slid into Little Space. She’d only met Athena yesterday, while she’d known Caroline even less time. But the women just had a way of drawing it out of her. Once again, she found herself reflecting on how perfectly natural this all seemed.

Before anyone could say another word about it, a knock at the door interrupted the conversation.

Out of habit, Iris tensed, before remembering this was not like her garage apartment.

When someone dropped by there, it was usually a bill collector.

Or worse, someone wanting to take advantage of her in some way.

That area wasn’t all bad, of course. But it could be rough.

Here, though, she was behind a locked gate. Not to mention Trevon was somewhere around. She wasn’t in any real danger—for once in her life.

From her vantage point in the breakfast nook, she couldn’t see the back door and out the glass panes on the upper half. But a moment later, after Auntie Caroline placed the bacon on the table and then rounded the corner and opened the door, she heard Jack say, “Good morning, ladies.”

A giggle escaped her lips.

Jack Daddy had arrived.

Kicking her legs slightly, she realized just how excited she was.

That man drove her all kinds of crazy. But she didn’t want to be too obvious about that!

There was no way he’d ever want her as his Little.

If he was even looking for a Little. A guy that hot probably had women crawling all over him.

He wasn’t interested in the poor, skinny girl in tattered clothes.

Well, right now she was wearing a new tee provided by Athena and that bulky diaper. But the idea was still the same: Jack didn’t want her .

Or did he?

As the morning unfolded, Iris grew more and more confused.

“Good morning. Did you come to arrest one of us?” Athena asked.

Iris heard Jack laugh. “Hardly. I came to check on that sweet Little I dropped off yesterday. I tossed and turned, thinking about her all night. Damn. I can’t get that woman out of my head.”

Iris covered her mouth as she blushed hard.

“Well, FYI, she’s right around the corner there sitting at the table, about to dig into a good breakfast,” Caroline said.

“Oh shit. I wish I would’ve known before I ran my damn mouth off,” Jack said.

Iris just giggled.

“What you should be doing is watching your language!” Athena snapped. “There are Littles around here.”

“I apologize.” Jack stepped around the corner, smiled down at Iris, and offered a little wave. Keeping his eyes trained on her, he said, “I’ll sincerely do my best to rein that sort of bullshit… I mean language… in.”

Iris nearly fell out of her chair as laughter shook her.

Athena laughed, too, before saying, “Jack, don’t make me ask Trevon to throw you out.”

Jack chuckled. “Hey, he’s the one man I might actually be afraid of. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Iris didn’t believe Jack was really afraid of anyone. Nor would Trevon toss him out. But the conversation was all in good fun.

Pulling a chair out across the table, Jack eased into it and said, “How you doing, kiddo?”

“I’m not a kid! I’m twenty-six!”

Jack chuckled yet again. “Uh-huh. And I’m willing to venture that you’re wearing a big, thick diaper under this table.”

She could feel her cheeks glowing red as she suppressed a grin, but she didn’t answer.

Her blushing got worse, though, when Caroline offered, “You should have seen how wet her diaper was this morning. I’m surprised this cutie didn’t leak all over the bed.

” She walked around to the side of the table where Iris was, placed a platter of pancakes in the center of the table, and then kissed the Little on top of her head.

“But that’s okay. That’s how it’s supposed to be for Little girls like her. Now, cutie, eat up. That’s an order.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Iris said. She forked some pancakes onto the pink plastic plate she’d been provided, but Jack reached over.

“Let me help. I’ll cut ‘em up for you. But first, we need to get all that good butter and syrup on them.”

Iris didn’t protest, instead watching as he went about the task of preparing her breakfast.

“So you’re getting all settled in?” he asked.

“Yes, Sir. And thank you again for bringing me here.”

“Don’t mention it. There’s no way you’re going to sleep on the streets, kiddo.

I’ll make sure of that. So will your Aunties here.

” He cleared his throat and kept cutting the pancakes.

“But I’m pissed—I mean, ticked—at the way that new owner threw you out last night.

I know he sent notices to the old owner of the property, but you weren’t notified.

You have rights as a tenant. Hell—I mean heck—even squatters have rights! ”

Iris giggled.

Jack looked up at her. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s hard for you not to curse, isn’t it?”

He smiled, too. “I’m a cop. What can I say?”

“You can say only clean words, that’s what you can say,” Athena said from across the kitchen.

Jack smiled, held up a hand with an extended middle finger, but never looked back.

“Hey!” Athena said.

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

Iris was back in stitches, laughing loudly.

“Don’t make me get my paddle!” Athena said, laughing, too. “You’re such a bad example for these Littles. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”

Before Jack could reply, his cell rang. He stood, passed the pancakes across the table back to Iris, and then said, “I need to take this. Excuse me.” He grabbed the device off the clip on his belt and pressed it to his ear as he left the room.

“This is Detective Kimble…” Iris heard his fading voice say.

She wished he didn’t have to go. It would be nice to talk to him all day. Perhaps one day she’d get a chance to do something like that.

The pancakes and bacon were so good, and the milk and orange juice so refreshing, that she ate in silence, shoveling bite after bite into her mouth.

A few minutes later, Jack strode back in, returning his cell back to its clip. “I gotta run.”

“Something big?” Athena said.

“I hope. Possibly a development regarding our old friend.”

Iris noticed the look Athena gave the detective.

She wondered what that was all about—and who their old friend was—but didn’t ask. It wasn’t any of her business.

She smiled when Jack looked back toward her. “I’m glad you’re doing good here, honey. How about I pick you up later after I get off and take you out for some ice cream?”

Excited butterflies danced in her stomach. Was this a date? She wasn’t sure. But whatever it was, she’d gladly accept time with the hot, sexy cop!

“That would be awesome!” she said, not bothering to try and hide the excitement she felt welling up in the pit of her stomach.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll see you tonight, about seven.” He smiled one more time at her, told the Aunties goodbye, then hurried out the back door.

Iris didn’t know what was going on, but it was obvious it was something big.

She just hoped Jack Daddy was safe.

Because she already couldn’t stand the thought of something happening to him.