Page 17 of Rekindling Little River (Littles of Rawhide Ranch #14)

Dave

So many things made so much more sense now.

The way River was a completely different person when they let go, for example.

They’d had years of training instead of years of growing up.

They’d been trained to have grace, and their Little naturally had none.

They’d been trained in science, but their Little was more artistic.

Their imagination had been stifled, but their Little often got lost in their head.

River’s Little was an accumulation of all the things River’s parents had trained out of them.

Meanwhile, Big River was constantly on guard and had a hard time letting go of everything that had been ingrained in them.

Their grace wasn’t natural but had been beaten into them so hard it seemed to be.

Their calm wasn’t so much calm, as having learned to mask their emotions at an early age.

Work ethic, inability to let go, distrust, independence, and difficulty forming lasting connections were all part of their training, not who they really were.

Every time Dave encountered River’s Little, it seemed he was encountering the real River.

The one who had never been given the opportunity to be free and careless, to grow up slowly and naturally.

The hidden origins of the grown-up River that everyone knew.

He’d never felt more grateful for anything than he did to be the one trusted with their true self.

Dave gathered a few of the items he’d purchased and put them in a bag, before taking River’s hand and leading them and Rhett to the room next door. Within moments he’d positioned River in front of the bed and began undressing them.

“Someone needs to catch up on years of missed sleep,” he said as he worked. “Daddy’s going to start getting you caught up with nap times.” He bent down and removed their shoes, before instructing, “Lie back on the bed for me,” and helping River into the position he wanted.

Dave watched River’s face closely, looking for any hints of discomfort, fear, or anxiety. When he found none, he kept going. Dave knew this was something River had wanted for a long time and they’d discussed safe words so unless River used theirs, Dave was going to keep going.

He waited until River was completely undressed before reaching into the bag for what he’d brought with him. First, he removed baby powder. Then, a thick, absorbent diaper. Finally, he pulled out a snap-crotch onesie with the new paci-clip already attached to it.

He quickly unfolded the diaper and checked once again to make sure River was okay but he needn’t have worried.

River watched him with wide, fascinated eyes and a smile so bright that it practically screamed their excitement.

He took their ankles in one hand and lifted, quickly sliding the diaper beneath them.

River’s cheeks heated with the most adorable blush when he spread their legs so he could powder them and fasten the tabs of the diaper.

But once it was on, they wiggled, making it crinkle, and then experimented with squeezing their legs together.

Their blush grew with each passing second, but they also seemed to be enjoying the experience.

Dave pulled the onesie on, snapped the crotch, and clipped River’s babysaurus paci to the strap before popping the nipple into River's mouth, snuggling Rhett into River’s arms and tucking them snug into their blankets.

He sat next to River, running his hand softly up and down River’s back until they’d fallen fast asleep.

River

River’s beautiful dream slowly faded into the background of their consciousness, and they softly floated to reality.

Their eyes remained closed, and the sound of rustling pages tickled their ears.

Cool air warmed their cheeks, while under the blanket, their own body heat created a delicious and comforting warmth.

They shifted slightly, clutching their new stuffed friend close when the sound of crinkling plastic reminded them of what they were wearing.

They experimented with shifting their legs together, reveling in the thick padding that rubbed their most sensitive areas.

Did it make them a freak that the feel of the padding rubbing them sent tingles through their blood and straight to their core? God, were they sick to be aroused by the feel of a diaper?

“Well, hello, babysaurus. Did you sleep well?”

Finally opening their eyes, River gave their Daddy a nod as they nervously sucked on the paci still in their mouth.

Daddy made his way from the chair he’d been reading in and sat at the edge of the bed. Brushing stray hairs from their face, Daddy cupped their cheek and leaned down to whisper in their ear, “I hope you had the sweetest of sweet dreams, baby.”

“I ’id,” they mumbled around the oversized nipple in their mouth.

“Good, baby. I’m glad.” He leaned over again and ever so gently his lips pressed to their forehead in a sweet kiss that had their heart—and other parts of them—melting.

“Ready for more adventures?” Again, River nodded enthusiastically but didn’t make a sound.

“Right, so, once you relieve your bladder, we’ll get you changed so you can go out and about. ”

The pressure in their bladder said they did need to go potty first. River rolled over and started to throw the covers off so they could climb from the bed, but Daddy’s hand covered theirs and stopped them from doing what they were doing.

“You have what you need right there in bed with you. No need to get up.” He didn’t seriously want them to use the diaper, did he ? They had friends who used diapers. They also had friends who only wore them, like a comfort thing.

River’s ponderings were seemingly answered as Daddy reached down and started rubbing their abdomen, gently increasing pressure with each soothing circle. “It’s okay, baby. Just let go. Daddy’s got you.”

The steady increase of pressure on their full bladder was making them squirm, their cheeks felt like they were on fire, but despite knowing this was what Daddy wanted, they couldn’t seem to relax enough for it to happen.

“It’s okay. I know it’s hard to let go.”

River let out a deep breath. Daddy would understand when they couldn’t do it.

“Daddy will help.”

Before the words had processed, Daddy had pressed down firmly on their bladder.

Warmth filled their diaper and a relief so great it caused tingles of goosebumps on their body swept through them.

They’d thought their cheeks were hot before, but now it felt like their entire face was an inferno as embarrassment almost equal to their relief swept over them.

But to their shock, Daddy was praising them.

“That’s my good babysaurus. Such a good baby, using your diaper.”

River flushed with pleasure at their Daddy’s words. Daddy wanted them to use their diaper. Daddy liked it. They’d pleased Daddy.

“Ready to get changed now, baby?”

River couldn’t seem to form words, so they simply nodded their head again.