“ W hat the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Immy let out a cry of surprise. She turned on the step-stool to find Tobias glaring up at her.

“Oh, hello,” she said. “What are you doing?”

Tobias raised an eyebrow. “I think that’s the question I should be asking, don’t you?”

“Umm, well, I think it’s obvious what I’m doing.” She smiled at him. “But now that you’re here, you can hand me things.”

“That’s not happening.”

She stuck her lower lip out. “Why not?”

“Because there is no way you’re standing on that ladder while I hand you stuff.”

“I’d hardly call it a ladder. More like a tall step-stool.”

“Immy, get down. Now.”

“You are so bossy,” she grumbled as she started moving down the steps. “It’s not attractive, you know.”

He reached up and grabbed her hips, lifting her the rest of the way. “You like it.”

“That’s a rather arrogant statement,” she said, even as she discreetly sniffed him.

God, he always smelled so good. She couldn’t really describe his scent. A little spicy, a bit woodsy. All masculine.

“You’re bossy and arrogant,” she told him, spinning and putting her hands on her hips.

“You’re just full of compliments today,” he told her.

“Those weren’t compliments!” She tapped her feet and pointed at him. “Arrogant and bossy are not good things to be.”

“Seems to be working out okay for me. Now, naughty and sassy, those are not good things to be. At least, for your butt.”

She gasped so hard that she nearly tripped over her own feet. “Are you saying I’m naughty and sassy?”

“Yep.”

“And that you’ll . . . you’ll . . .”

“Smack your butt? Yep. I’ll smack your butt if I see you climbing a ladder again.”

Tobias eyed her closely as he said that. She guessed he might be testing how she would react to that threat after the way she’d reacted the other week when he’d actually smacked her butt.

She tried not to think about her reaction. Things between them had been a bit strange since, but he hadn’t tried to spank her again.

And it wasn’t like she was scared of him, she’d been taken by surprise, so she just gave him a sassy look back.

“Huh. Rude. And, again, it’s not a ladder, it’s a step-stool.”

“Sweetness, it’s over four feet tall. It’s a ladder. What were you thinking?”

“That I wanted to get a head start on the Christmas decorations.”

“Cherry, Christmas isn’t for another eight weeks.”

“Actually, it’s seven weeks. Way past the time that the Christmas decorations should be up.”

“Don’t they go up in December?”

“No, no, no. I am not spending three days putting up Christmas decorations only to enjoy them for three weeks! I want to enjoy them for at least six. But now that you’re here, you can help.”

“Three days? Who spends three days putting up Christmas decorations?” he asked.

“Me! Because I’m not a Grinch. Which I’m starting to think you are. Oh, that reminds me. I need to get you Christmas pajamas.”

“I don’t need pajamas,” he told her.

“Sure you do. What size are you? Extra-extra-large for your ego?”

“Brat. I’m not extra-extra-large. And I don’t wear pajamas.”

“Then what do you wear to bed? A T-shirt and boxers?”

“Nope.”

She stared up at him expectantly. Then he grinned. It was a wicked grin.

“Well?” she said impatiently. What was the big secret?

“I don’t wear anything at all.”

Oh unicorn poop.

She really shouldn’t have asked.

“I shouldn’t have asked.” She put her hands over her eyes as though he was naked right now.

He started to laugh and she moved her hands, staring up at him in wonder. “You’re so sexy when you laugh.”

Oh cupcakes!

Why had she said that?

“I mean, uh, I mean, I like your laugh!”

“You think I’m sexy.” His eyes were half-lidded as he gazed at her.

“No, no, no. I do not think you’re sexy! I mean you’re handsome, but you’re not sexy!”

“Is that so? What if I took off my shirt, would you think I’m sexy then?” He reached for the bottom of his T-shirt and she squealed, covering her eyes again.

Only this time, she parted her fingers slightly so she could peek out.

Hey! A girl could only be so good. And she was willing to bet that he had an amazing body.

“I can see you peeking,” he told her. “Want to see what I’ve got under this T-shirt?”

“No,” she squealed, dropping her hands as he picked her up and carried her to the sofa, setting her down on it. “And what is with everyone picking me up and putting me wherever they want to?”

He crouched in front of her. “You don’t like it?”

Oh cupcakes.

“And before you answer, you should remember that I don’t like to be lied to.”

She sighed, shoulders slumping. “I don’t think it’s lying, exactly. More like exaggerating the truth.”

He gave her a stern look.

“Fine. I like being carried around.”

“You say it like it’s a bad thing.”

Immy bit her lower lip until he reached up to pull it out of her teeth. “Isn’t it?”

“I don’t think so. You can like what you like, as long as it’s not harming anyone.”

“But isn’t it harming everyone’s backs?”

His face grew serious. “Are you saying you’re too heavy for me to carry?”

“Um, considering I’m a grown woman, yes.” Why was he upset about that?

“That’s the last time you’ll do that.”

“Do what?” she asked, feeling bewildered.

“Put yourself down. Don’t like it. Don’t do it.”

Oh yeah. He’d told her that before.

“I don’t really consider that putting myself down. But, let’s leave that and go to the other issue. You don’t like it so I shouldn’t do it? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Exactly what I’m saying. Glad that’s clear.”

“You’re not actually the boss of me.”

“Had this conversation, don’t need to have it again. I am the boss. I’m in charge. You do what I say.”

“Is there something worse than arrogant?” she asked. “Can you be double-dose arrogant? Because that’s what you are. You’re the DD of arrogant.”

“Being cute ain’t gonna get you out of your scolding.”

“I’m being cute?” She sat up straighter, smiling.

“Yeah. You’re being cute. You’re always fucking cute.”

“That’s a dollar.”

“Except when you’re telling me I owe you money for swearing.”

Another gasp escaped her as she leaned back against the sofa. Hey, she couldn’t help it. If he kept saying things like this, she was going to gasp. And if she was going to gasp, well, she was going to do a good job of it.

No point in doing a half-assed job.

“I’m not cute when I tell you that you owe a dollar?” she repeated.

“Nope.” His lips were twitching for some reason.

“Do you find this funny?”

“Yeah, forgot to mention that. You’re funny.”

“I feel like that might be an insult.”

“It’s not. Now, you want to tell me what you were thinking putting those up on your own?” He nodded to the decorations that she’d been hanging above the mantelpiece of the huge fireplace which they rarely used.

“How else was I going to put them up?” she asked.

“You put them up yourself every year?”

Okay. So this was dangerous territory. She’d been warned against lying, but she also didn’t want to admit the truth. “I think I might plead the fifth.”

“You don’t get to plead the fifth.”

“You don’t get to make all the rules,” she grumbled.

“Again, I’m in charge. You’re not. Making the rules is exactly what I get to do.”

“You’re like a dictator. You’re DDD arrogant.”

“Immy, you cannot tell me that you are allowed to use a ladder and put those decorations up by yourself.”

“I really don’t think I like the word ‘allowed.’”

He snorted. “You wouldn’t.”

“Hey!”

“Because you know you’re not allowed to do that. And that you shouldn’t be doing it. And that you’re gonna be in big trouble once the others find out what you were doing.”

Oh shoot.

That was a good point.

Good one, Immy. Did you not think they were going to notice once they got home? And wonder how those decorations got up there?

Everyone except Isaiah was away until tomorrow.

“I can see I have to rethink my plan,” she muttered.

“Might be wise,” he agreed.

Immy snapped her fingers together. “You can do it.”

Unfortunately, Tobias did not look all that enthusiastic at her announcement. “I can?”

“Uh-huh. If you put up the decorations, then I won’t get into trouble for using the step-stool to put them up. Perfect, it’s solved. Now, you’ll have to listen carefully and please try to accept direction. I know it’s not easy for you to listen to someone else.”

“Is it not?”

“No, it’s clear to me that you like to do just whatever you want. But these decorations go in very specific places.”

“What if I say I’m not going to do it?”

She started to sniffle. “You won’t do it?”

“Uh-uh, don’t think you can get away with that.” He tapped her lower lip that might have snuck out. “Might work on your friends, not me.”

“What?” she asked innocently.

“Pretending to be upset.”

“I’m not pretending.” Maybe just exaggerating a bit, but not pretending.

He simply grunted. “Make you a deal.”

A deal?

“What sort of deal?” she asked suspiciously.

“I’ll help you, if you drop the shield a bit.”

“What shield?” Now she was really confused.

“Shield between you and your Little. Let her out.”

Immy stiffened. Her first thought was to reject that idea immediately. She didn’t have a Little and she wasn’t shielding her, and she couldn’t just let her out.

“Before you protest, you should know I’ve been in relationships with Littles before. You’re a Little and you might have your reasons for denying that. But you’re safe with me.”

Immy sucked in a breath. “I know I’m safe with you.” But she didn’t have a Little to let out.

Right?

Who are you kidding, Immy?

“Nope. Don’t think you do.” He cupped her face between his hands. “You’re safe with me, Immy. I will not harm you, won’t let anyone else harm you. I swear this.”

She’d always denied it to herself, even if she’d known deep down that she was like Cat and Maeve. Actually, she thought if there was a scale, she’d be the littlest Little of the three of them.

Did that sound silly? Maybe she meant that she would regress the furthest?

Or maybe what you really think is that you’d like to live your life in a sort of permanent Little headspace.