Page 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

NICO

Ma

When was that dinner invitation coming?

Nico

Funny you should mention that… I was just about to text you.

Ma

I didn’t know I raised a liar.

Nico

Not a liar. Maybe a fibber?

Ma

So that invite?

Nico

As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted. Would you like to come to dinner on Thursday night?

Ma

I would love to. Should I bring Nonna and the twins?

Nico

Nonna, absolutely. Copy and Paste, meh.

Ma

What did I say?

Nico

Ugh. I’d love to have the twins join us.

Ma

I’m not sure if they’re available…they might be working.

Nico

Fingers crossed.

Ma

For which one?

Nico

You told me not to lie.

Ma

I cannot with you. Your dad, Nonna, and I will see you on Thursday night. Twins, maybe. I’ll bring dessert.

Nico

Love you.

Ma

Love you more.

* * *

“Good morning,” I said to Babbo when I let myself into his kitchen. After yesterday’s request for a maintenance spanking, I couldn’t exactly not show up for the first one. I was nervous as hell. My first worry this morning had been wondering what one wore to a morning spanking. I spent fifteen minutes thinking about it before I decided it was best to head over before I got dressed at all.

I had been watching—never stalking—Babbo in the mornings, and he always got up early for a quick run and then ate breakfast in his kitchen. I might have had the perfect vantage point from my own kitchen to watch him sitting at the kitchen table. Most of the time, he was working, but occasionally, he read a book there while he ate breakfast.

“Morning to you too,” Babbo said with an easy grin. I came over to the table, and he snagged my hand and pulled me in for a firm, quick kiss on my mouth. I sat down at the table with them. It was all domestic, but I didn’t feel the need to break out in hives. Weird.

“So…umm…yeah.” It was hard to believe that outside of this dynamic, I was considered competent, collected, and calm under pressure. In fact, some people were terrified of me. Tye, my favorite foreman because he left his job sites so clean, shook in his boots when he saw me coming. But in this kitchen, I felt so goddamn unsure of myself. I always felt Babbo could see right through me.

“I hope you’re here for your spanking.” Leave it to Babbo to get straight to the point. He wasn’t the kind to beat around the bush, which I appreciated and hated in equal measure.

I nodded.

He grinned.

Please don’t let this be a mistake.

Babbo pushed himself away from the table and stood without a word. He took my hand and led me into the living room. Thankfully, he did it all without speaking. If he’d talked, I would’ve found a way to make an excuse to avoid it. As scared shitless as I was, I craved and needed it just as much.

“Sunshine, lie across my lap.” I followed his instructions, draping myself over his legs. Babbo moved my limbs this way and that to ensure I was as comfortable as possible in the awkward position. I wasn’t exactly uncomfortable in this position, but with my ass in the air and my hands lying across my folded arms, it was awkward.

Every other time I’d been in this position, I’d been concealed in a darkened hotel room. It had never been in someone’s living room on a random weekday morning. The universe refused to give me any darkness because the morning sun was already bright in the sky. This was the Pacific Northwest, for god’s sake—it was supposed to be overcast. I needed some cloud cover. And if the powers that controlled it were feeling generous, moody rain would be appreciated too.

I felt his hand rub against my still-clothed bottom.

“Sweet Boy, what are your safewords?”

“The stoplight,” I answered.

“What color are you right now?”

“Green because I want it, but yellow because I’m nervous.”

“Being nervous is normal. I’d be more worried if you weren’t at least a little nervous.” As he spoke, Babbo continued to rub soothing circles across my ass with no move to pull down my pants. “Do you want pajamas on or off?”

“Will I ruin it if I say on?” I hated the uncertainty in my voice.

“You’re not ruining anything by voicing your needs. If you want pajamas on from now until forever, that’s fine. If we try this, and you decide it’s not for you after all, that’s fine too. If you want to try it with your pants off, still fine. My only job is to give you what you need and that can change. If it takes a few different tries to figure out what works best for you, that’s fine too.” Babbo spoke with such calm, measured tones that it lulled me into a calmer frame of mind. I felt myself drifting toward the fuzzy edges of my mind.

“Thank you for making it less weird for me.” He chuckled above me but continued his rhythmic movements.

“It’s just one of the many services I offer. What color are you?”

“Mostly green.”

“What’s your hesitation?”

“I don’t even know how to explain it. I’m not even sure I understand it.”

“I won’t ever do anything you don’t want to happen.”

“Babbo, will you please give me my spanking?”

At my words, Babbo made affirmative noises above me. I laid my head across my folded arms and forced my body to relax with the way my legs dangled off the edge of his lap. When I held myself less rigid, the position became much more comfortable.

“I’m going to give you five spanks today, and we’ll go from there.” He rubbed a few more circles before adding, “I’m gonna give you some warm-up before we get to the actual spanking part, so it won’t be so jarring.”

Babbo started lightly smacking me. There wasn’t any pain at all, but I could feel it through my clothes, and it warmed my bottom. I imagined my skin turning a light shade of pink. After a few seconds, my skin felt warm but not hot, tingly but not prickly.

“What color are you?”

“Green. All green.”

“Sweet Boy, I want you to count your spanks for me. All you have to do is give me the number. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Babbo.”

I knew it was coming and thought I was prepared for it. The heavy side of his hand against my ass made me yelp. What had been pleasantly tingly was a much heavier thud.

“Sunshine, I need you to remember to count.”

“One.”

“Good job, Sweet Boy.” The next couple were in quick succession in different spots around my bottom. Because he moved around, the pain never overwhelmed one location. He offered me words of praise while he did it. Babbo told me how good I looked, how proud he was, and what a good boy I was. The words seeped into my brain easier than when my body was distracted by the pain caused by his hands. By the fourth one, I was straight-up crying and my bottom was on fire. Babbo paused before giving me the final blow.

“Last one, Sweet Boy. I’ve never been more proud of anyone than you right now. Count this last one for me.”

Babbo’s hand crashed down on my ass, and it sent a thunderous wave of release through me. I managed to croak out five but then dissolved into a pool of tears. He flipped me over, and I curled into his lap. He pulled me in and wrapped his arms around me. I recognized the pain wasn’t worth all the waterworks, but the feeling of relief infinitely was. My muscles felt heavy and light at the same time. It was all a jumble, but I felt centered and moored. It took me a few minutes, but I managed to steady my breathing and dry my tears.

“Are you all right, sunshine?” The concern in his voice was evident, and it made me feel some kind of way. But whatever that way was, I damn sure wasn’t going to examine it. Not now, and maybe not ever.

“ I… I…think so.” My mind felt so clear, even if I still felt unsteady.

“Good, but we’ll stay here as long as you need.” Babbo made no move to get up, but I knew his schedule. He’d be expected to be in the office soon, and I had a meeting with Gabe for obvious reasons.

“I think I’m all right to get ready for work now.”

“Same time tomorrow?” Babbo asked.

“Same time, same place.”

* * *

Juggling two coffees made it difficult to knock on Gabe’s office door. Luck was on my side because I somehow managed to do it.

“Come in.”

As expected, Gabe sat behind his desk as I fumbled through the door, set a cup on his desk, and sat across from him. There were no visible signs of recrimination or judgment. Unfortunately, I had a vivid recollection of what had happened. In hindsight, I wanted to sink into the ground for having been so colossally unprofessional at work. I would’ve been more worried about being fired if Gabe hadn’t Venmo’d me money with a request to stop and get coffee for both of us. Gabe wouldn’t fire someone after asking them to pick up coffee.

“Before anything, can we just talk about what happened yesterday?” On the way to work, I’d decided to address the incident head-on. Now that I’d done exactly that, I wished I could swallow the words and instead pretend it never happened.

“Absolutely. But before you say your piece, please let me say mine.” I nodded, and he continued, “You don’t owe me a damn thing, not even an explanation. Yes, you had an incident at work, but shit happens. It doesn’t change that you’re my assistant and are damn good at your job. We all have moments and sometimes they can be at incredibly inconvenient times. If it had happened in front of a client, I’d be more concerned, but it didn’t. Rory is worried he somehow triggered you and now you can’t be friends.”

“Oh, absolutely not. Rory didn’t do anything wrong. He just happened to be there when I had my meltdown.”

“Was it a meltdown? Was it regression?” Gabe visibly hesitated before he offered his next suggestion. “Or was it a panic attack?”

“Gabe, you cannot seriously suggest that regression is the same thing as a panic attack.” Even as my boss, there was no way I could let him get away with that bit of nonsense.

“Fuck no. I’m suggesting that maybe you started having a panic attack and your brain, to help you avoid that, decided to go into regression instead.”

Oh . At his explanation, I was left deflated. The anger that I had immediately disappeared, and in its wake was the horrifying realization that he was probably right. On the heels of that was the even more terrible thought that Gabe likely now realized he’d made a mistake by thinking I could handle a non-friend client account. He likely regretted offering me the contract.

“Assuming it was a panic attack, they happen. Sometimes, it’s a one-off, and sometimes, it’s a pattern. Either way, if you want to manage the botanical house project, it’s yours.”

“Do you honestly think I can handle it?”

“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t think you could do it. I know I won’t be lucky enough to keep you as my assistant forever.”

“What do you mean?”

“Natalie didn’t handle the lodge. That was all you. Yeah, Barrett is a friend of mine, but it was a complicated job that went well beyond personal assisting. You were the project manager for it and did a fantastic job. Granted, you could’ve been a little nicer to Tye. He’s a sensitive man and you terrified him, but besides that, you were outstanding. My question to you is, why haven’t you chosen to do anything with the talent you have?”

“Wow. I’m not even sure what to say at this point, Gabe. The opportunities you’ve given me with the lodge and this botanical house make me beyond flattered that you think I can handle it. And just to clarify, I very much want the opportunity to demonstrate that I can.”

“Wow, so formal.”

“I don’t have a great answer for you, but it’s something I’m working on getting an answer for myself.”

“Yeah, I mean, technically, it’s not my business, but I do think you have an absolute talent for it. The only thing I want is for you to be happy and fulfilled. If that means doing the job you’re doing now, then keep doing it. But if it’s project managing, then I want you to transition to doing that here at my firm. We good?”

“Yeah, we’re good. Can I get back to work now”

“Yes, but before you get started, would you please text Rory and let him know you’re all right.”

“Done.”

* * *

Nico

Hey, sorry about yesterday.

Rory

Don’t you dare apologize. Are you okay? I was so worried.

Nico

Yeah, I’m fine. My brain just moved too fast.

Rory

Or I triggered you.

Nico

No! You didn’t do anything like that at all. It just happened.

But I have something I could use some help with, but it’s a lot for a chat.

Rory

From me? Or from the group?

Nico

It could probably use a few extra perspectives.

Rory

They’ll be thrilled.

* * *

Rory

Cuddle Crew, we have a mission.

Jakob

Yes.

Anders

Jakob, you don’t even know what it is.

Jakob

Okay, but the answer will still be yes.

Owen

What if Rory wanted you to do bad things?

Jakob

Rory, do you want me to do bad things?

Rory

Why would I want that?

Jakob

Exactly. So my answer is yes.

Anders

Nico, are you feeling better?

Nico

Why wouldn’t I be?

Anders

I stopped by Rory’s yesterday, and he said you weren’t feeling good and went home sick.

Nico

Oh.

Yeah, I’m fine.

So…yeah…I’m kinda the one that needs help.

Jakob

Yes.

Anders

We are ready and willing. What’s up?

Nico

It’s kinda hard to explain over text, but I know you all have lives.

Jakob

We’re friends. We’ll be there. What day?

Rory

Beverly Hills is tomorrow…

Jakob

Whoop! Whoop! I’ll bring the wine.

Rory

That was for the wine. I’ll bring the pizza.

Anders

Nico, do you have extra blankets?

Nico

Umm, no? I don’t have a clear understanding of what’s going on.

Owen

A cuddle party while watching Housewives and fixing your problem. I’m bringing plates and stuff.

Rory

Don’t worry about the blankets, Anders. I got them. You just bring you.

Anders

I will bring me. And a dessert.

Nico

Ummm, seven?

Anders

See you then.