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T here was a small café off to the side where Jack bought them two bottles of water.

“I’m fine, Jack.”

“You look like you winced before.”

“Probably because I’m super unfit,” she lied. Well, she didn’t exactly lie. She was unfit. It was kind of embarrassing. But the reason she winced wasn’t because of that.

He opened one bottle and gave it to her. “Drink.”

Sheesh.

“You’re so bossy.”

“Am I?” He looked amused.

“It’s not a compliment.”

“I wouldn’t dare take it as one,” he said solemnly. “So . . . how is my surprise?”

She threw her arms around him, knocking the bottle of water he held against his chest so it splashed down his front. Some of it got on her.

But most of it was him.

“Oh no. I got you all wet.”

“And I thought that was my line.”

“What?” she asked as she grabbed napkins. Then what he’d said registered. “Jack!”

He grinned. “It’s all right, baby. It’s just a bit of water. It will dry after a minute of walking outside.”

He was probably right. Still, she felt like a bit of an idiot. “Sorry. Only I could turn a hug of gratitude into a disaster.”

“Interesting skill to have.”

She sighed. “I really, really love the surprise. Thank you. I . . . it was exactly the sort of distraction I needed.”

She wondered what made him think of it. “Did Ian tell you about me?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“That I’m a Little,” she whispered. Almost as though she was embarrassed. Which she wasn’t.

It was just . . . she didn’t go around blurting it out to people. She spent a lot of time worrying that her family might figure it out. The only person who knew was Indie. Well, and the people at the club, but they wouldn’t go around blabbing.

“Yes, but I already knew.”

“You did? How?”

“I figured it out.” He tapped his nose.

She had to grin. “You’re a Little bloodhound, aren’t you?”

“Hmm. No. I can’t sniff out every Little. But I’ve spent a lot of time studying you.” He tilted his head to the side. “Are you worried that I’m going to think differently of you now that I know?”

“I guess I might have been. I’m thinking that was silly?”

“Very silly. I would never think less of you for your needs, baby.”

Damn. This got serious fast.

“What about you? Your needs? Ian said you’re a Dominant, but he didn’t say if you were a Daddy Dom.”

He grinned. “Probably because he doesn’t know for sure. I’ve spent time with Littles. Usually playing with them and teasing them. I’ve never been interested in one of my own. Until now.”

Yikes. She couldn’t deny that that went straight to her head.

“Now, are you sure it’s not my turn to get you all wet?”

“Jack! You can’t say things like that!”

All of a sudden, he turned the bottle he was still holding over her, tipping out the remaining water onto her head.

“You didn’t!”

“And now you’re all wet. As promised.”

A giggle escaped from her. “I’m going to get you!” She threw some water back at him.

“Oh, it’s on!”

With a squeal, she turned to race away. Her leg nearly gave way, but luckily, he grabbed her, picking her up in his arms. He threw her onto the pillow. She landed with a laugh.

Then he crawled over her. “Now, I have you at my mercy!”

He started tickling her until she screamed for mercy. “Pee! I’ve gotta pee!”

Standing, he reached for her, picking her up in his arms. How he didn’t drop her as he raced across the pillow, she had no idea. But they were at the bathroom door before she knew it. To her surprise, he carried her right in.

“Jack! You can’t come in here!”

“Why not? It’s a family bathroom.”

Looking around, she saw there were just two toilets and a large changing table that was too big for an actual baby.

She blushed as she studied the set of drawers, which were all named with things like: diapers, pull-ups, spare pants/panties, and wipes.

“I thought you had to go, baby?” he asked.

“By myself.”

“Hmm. I don’t know.” He tapped his chin. “Perhaps I better supervise.”

“Jack!” she cried. “You can’t supervise! I can’t pee with you here.”

“But a good Daddy wouldn’t leave a Little unattended. How young is your Little?”

She swallowed heavily. Did he know how those words affected her?

“Jack, I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Why? Because you don’t think I’d make a good Daddy?”

“No! Because this can’t go anywhere and it will hurt when it ends,” she confessed.

“Do you always go through life not doing anything good because you fear being hurt?”

Did she?

She didn’t used to . . . but now? Yeah. She guessed she expected the worst.

A knock on the door made her squeal.

“Sorry!” a voice called out. “Just letting you know that your time is up in five.”

“Thanks,” Jack called out. His voice didn’t show an inkling of the intensity on his face as he stalked toward her.

“Jack?” she whispered as he cupped her face between his hands. “What are you doing?”

“Staking a claim.”

“You can’t . . . Ian . . . Jameson.”

“Let me worry about them.” He kissed her hard and deep.

What did that mean? That he would make them come around to wanting to be with her?

But she had to leave after the wedding. There was no way Uncle Willy would stay here. And she couldn’t leave him on his own.

“Jack,” she whispered.

“Daddy,” he countered.

She couldn’t . . . she just couldn’t. A tear dripped down her face.

“Hey, no tears.” He wiped her cheeks with his thumbs. “I’m going to take care of everything.”

“Jack. I don’t live here. And you moved here to find someone to fit in with the three of you. That’s not me. I’m going to leave with my uncle. Thank you for today, it’s been the best afternoon I’ve had in forever. But I can’t . . . I can’t let my Little out again. It will hurt too much when I have to leave.”

“It will be all right, baby. I promise.”

Just this small taste of being in Little headspace was enough to make her want more. To crave them.

Jack was so sweet and understanding. And she wanted that so badly. But she also wanted Ian’s bossiness, his overprotectiveness.

And Jameson’s charm. His calming nature.

Crap.

This last hour had been more fun than she could remember having in years. Imagine having that often. With Jack, life would never be predictable and boring. With Ian, she wouldn’t have to worry so much. With Jameson . . . well, that was a bit more of a mystery since she didn’t know him so well. Although she got the feeling that he could help her turn off her brain. Also, she might self-combust looking at his gorgeous face all the time.

“Just trust me.”

It wasn’t a matter of trust. It was reality. And unfortunately, her reality was non-negotiable.

“This really was the best afternoon I’ve had in forever.”

She could see in his eyes what she was saying. That there wouldn’t be others. That there couldn’t be.

But there was something else in his eyes. Determination. A stubbornness she hadn’t seen before.

And it made her feel nervous.

As well as a bit excited.

Then her bladder let her know it was past time she peed. And she remembered where they were.

“Jack, I can’t pee with you here and I really have to go.”

“All right. I’m going.” He turned away and moved to the door. “This time.”

“I liked you better when you would give me whatever I wanted,” she grumbled.

“No, you didn’t.”

Rude.

She didn’t bother locking the door. She was pretty sure that she wouldn’t have time to get to the door and back to the loo.

Sitting down, she sighed with relief as she ran his words over in her mind.

He’d never wanted a Little until her.

And it made her Little dance with happiness. She wanted to fully come out. To play. To ignore all of her Big worries for a while. And to let Jack protect and care for her.

And Ian.

Imagine the two of them together.

She cleaned up and took a moment to compose herself. Her Little had been on the surface for the last hour and she’d had an amazing time.

But she had to lock her back away. Protect herself.

“Baby? You all right in there?” he called out through the door.

“Yes. Coming!” She tested her hip and found she could walk without limping. Bonus.

Her T-shirt was still slightly wet from where he’d poured the water over her.

Jerk.

She couldn’t quite imagine Ian doing that. But then again . . . Jack was unique.

Jack walked them back through the toy store and she tried not to sigh longingly. She’d never allowed herself to buy any toys. She had Ziggy and that had to be enough.

But that made walking through this store a form of torture.

“Do you want to explore? Have a look at the toys?” he asked.

“No, thank you. Although I could look for something for Indie’s baby.” Hmm. Could she justify spending the money? It would be cool to bring her something back from here for bubs.

“Indie’s baby?”

“My best friend, remember? I was making a list of names for him or her.”

Jack nodded. “Jack’s at the top.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say the top,” she told him.

He put a hand to his chest and staggered as though he’d been shot. Maggie couldn’t help but giggle.

“Wounded. I’m wounded.”

“Stop! You’re so silly.” She grinned and grabbed his hand. “Come on.”

“I thought you wanted to look?”

“No. I think I better get back to Uncle Willy.”

He eyed her as though he could sense the lie. But she did need to get back. She also didn’t think she could look at these toys with her Little so close to the surface. Not without her Little side taking over and wanting to throw herself in the pile of stuffies she’d spied in one aisle.

A bed full of stuffies. Now, a girl could only dream.

But all of her money had to go to Indie. She needed it more.

For a moment, panic overwhelmed her as she thought of everything they had to do to prepare for when Indie had the baby. Of how much money they needed.

Of course she could ask Uncle Willy for money, but he had already done enough. He paid for expenses and gave her a great salary. She’d never be able to do this working minimum wage waitressing. If she could even be on her feet all day, which she doubted.

“All right,” Jack gave in.

They stepped outside.

“But we’re going for ice cream.”

“Jack!” she protested. “We don’t need ice cream.”

“Who are you?” Jack gave her a shocked look. “Don’t need ice cream? Everyone needs ice cream. It should be a necessity on the food pyramid.”

He took hold of her hand, swinging her arm back and forth. She giggled. He didn’t seem to care who saw them and the people walking around just smiled.

They stopped at an ice cream parlor that had so many flavors it was nearly impossible to choose just one.

Jack had four.

“How are you so fit when you eat so much ice cream?” she asked as they left after finishing their treat.

She was walking slightly behind him.

He turned to her, wriggling his eyebrows. “Were you just checking me out?”

“No!”

She was such a liar. She’d totally been checking him out.

Grinning, he grabbed her hand. “Stop walking behind me. I need you where I can see you to keep you out of trouble.”

“I never get into trouble.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Uh-huh.”

A strange feeling worked its way up her spine, and she turned, but couldn’t see anything.

As they approached the corner, she spotted several people in the distance holding signs in the air.

“Polyamory isn’t right! You need to be cleansed! Man and wife is the natural way!”

“Motherfuckers,” Jack muttered.

She glanced up, surprise filling her. She’d never seen this look on Jack’s face before.

Dark. Intense.

Suddenly, two of them broke off as they spotted her and Jack, walking toward them with signs in the air.

“Get out of our way,” Jack said, pulling her close to him. As they moved past, one of them reached for her, gripping her arm. Unfortunately, he grabbed the wrist that Uncle Willy had bruised. While it was mostly healed, it was still tender and his touch was so hard that it made her cry out in pain.

“You must—” he started saying before he was cut off.

Jack moved so quickly that she didn’t even have time to react. He had the older guy pinned to a building, his hand on his throat. “Do not touch my woman! Understand me!”

What . . . who . . . her heart raced in shock. Who was this guy? She had never heard Jack sound quite this . . . dangerous.

And his woman?

Yikes.

“Get off him! This is assault!” the other man screeched.

Monkeyballs! Jack was going to get into trouble. She rushed over to him. “Jack, let him go! Now!”

“He hurt you!”

“I’m fine. It was only because it was my sore wrist. I’m good, he didn’t hurt me. Please, Jack! I need you.”

Jack let the guy go and he slumped on the ground, taking deep breaths as he stared up at Jack in fear.

“Jack,” she said shakily. Her entire body was trembling. Then she was pulled against Jack’s firm body and held tight as he moved them past the group who were glaring at them.

She was still shaking when they reached his truck, which he’d already unlocked. Opening the door, he lifted her in and reached across her to grab the seatbelt.

Maggie didn’t even try to take over; she just sat there and let him take care of everything.

Running to the other side, he climbed in and drove off.