Chapter 14: Daddy Devious: Chapter 13

Victoria is on her best behavior all through breakfast. She doesn’t even protest being put in a highchair while her Auntie Cat feeds her, which I’m thankful for. While Cat is enjoying her “doting aunt” role for the time being, I wasn’t exaggerating when I told Victoria she’s just as strict as I am. If not more so. One little tantrum is all it would take to have Victoria out of that chair and over her Auntie Cat’s knees, getting her bottom paddled with a wooden hairbrush.

For now, however, the two are the best of friends. And it makes my chest ache, in the best way, to watch them together. Cat is in her element, smiling and laughing in ways I’ve never seen before as she feeds my Little girl her breakfast.

This is what I’ve always dreamed of. The whole reason we built the island. So we could live our lives freely, the five of us becoming the family we were always meant to be. Not hiding our lifestyles away in our mansions, terrified of what the world might say if they knew.

“Are you ready for your muffin, Tori?” Cat asks, breaking off a piece of chocolate chip muffin and holding it to Victoria’s lips.

Eyes bright with happiness, my Little girl accepts it, making little “yummy” sounds as she munches on her treat.

“Where are we headed after breakfast, Maxwell?” Glancing over at me, Cat breaks off another piece of muffin and feeds it to Victoria.

“The boutique, and then we have an appointment at the spa. You’re welcome to join us, if you’d like.”

“I’d love that. Has she had any milk this morning?”

“No.” I let my lips curve. “Doctor D wanted to do some fasting blood work, and I thought you might like the honor of her second bottle.”

“Oh, I would love that!” Turning back to Victoria, Cat beams and holds out another piece of muffin. “Last bite for now, and then you need to drink your milk, sweet girl.”

Pink slashes across Victoria’s cheeks and she shakes her head. “No milk.”

The corners of Cat’s mouth dip down, just a fraction. “Victoria. You’ve been such a good girl for me this morning. You don’t want to ruin our time together with a spanking, do you?”

I know damn well it wouldn’t ruin a single thing for Cat. In fact, if I know her, she’s secretly hoping Victoria will act out so she can have the pleasure of turning my Little girl’s bottom a nice bright red.

Wide-eyed now, Victoria gives her head an even more vigorous shake. “No, I don’t want a spankin’!”

“Then no more fussing. Come, let’s get you out of that highchair.”

Cat makes quick work of unbuckling Victoria from the chair and lifting her out, settling her onto her lap as a waiter brings a fresh bottle of milk to the table at my signal.

Victoria whines a bit when Cat brings the rubber nipple to her lips, but a quick swat to her hip from Auntie Cat settles her right down. I watch, transfixed, as she suckles the nipple, her eyes drifting closed as she drinks. One delicate hand grips Cat’s blouse, forming a perfect little fist, and it’s as though my heart has leapt right from my chest into my friend’s arms.

“She’s perfect, Max,” Cat whispers, rocking gently from side to side as Victoria feeds. “I can’t wait to have one of my own.”

At the longing in her voice, I reach over and give her arm a squeeze. “Your time will come, Cat. Pretty soon this island will be overrun with naughty Little girls and you’ll be whining to all of us that your arm is tired from all the spankings you’re giving out.”

Another of those brilliant smiles stretches across Cat’s face. “Guess I’ll have to be more diligent about going to the gym.”

“Couldn’t hurt. We should all probably get some more cardio in. I have a feeling our Little girls are going to give us a run for our money.”

Tori

Being fed by Auntie Cat isn’t nearly as embarrassing as I thought it would be. It’s actually kind of nice, being held and rocked while I drink my milk. So nice, in fact, that the rocking lulls me into a sort of trance, a place where I’m floating on a sea of peaceful waves, without a care or worry in the world. I can’t even hear what the grownups are talking about, and I don’t really care. If I could float here, forever, I would.

But soon my bottle is empty, and we leave the restaurant to walk back across the street to Solene’s, the clothing boutique. It’s hard to feel too pouty about being forced out of my happy, floaty place though when I’m surrounded by the prettiest dresses I’ve ever seen.

Solene reminds me of a tiny Snow White, with her pale skin and dark hair falling in perfect ringlets down her back, and she’s dressed just like me in a puffy white dress covered in purple flowers. “Victoria!” she squeals with excitement, throwing her arms around my neck. “My Mommy said you were finally here! I’ve been dying to meet you!”

Finally? I just got here yesterday and she’s acting like I’ve been hiding somewhere for weeks. “Um, thank you?”

Behind Solene, a tall woman with dark hair pulled up in a tight bun clears her throat. Myra, her name tag says. “Solene. We’ve discussed this. No accosting your customers without their consent, little one.”

Pulling away, Solene blushes prettily as she brushes at her dress, and I get the impression she’s trying to look more grown up and professional. Which is admittedly difficult given she’s dressed like a toddler on Easter Sunday. “Sorry, Mommy. Victoria, your Auntie Cat had me set up a dressing room for you already, with some of her selections. But feel free to look around. And if there’s anything you like but you want it in a different color or something, just let me know and I’ll be happy to customize it for you.”

Daddy lets go of my hand and nudges me forward. “Go ahead, little one. I can’t promise to buy you everything you want today, but we can at least get a few items.”

Back in New York, clothes were a weakness I couldn’t really afford. Despite being in one of the most fashionable cities in the world, most of that fashion was off-limits to me.

And while the clothes in Solene’s little shop are a far cry from what you’d find in The Big Apple, I’m still in awe. Dresses in every color of the rainbow surround me, along with adorable overall sets, onesies, footed pajamas, and even⁠—

“Oh my god!” Squealing with delight, I race toward a display of princess dresses. They’re not exact replicas, but they’re so close I could swear whoever designed them must have worked hand in hand with the animators. “Daddy, please, please can I have a princess dress?”

“You may pick out one princess dress to play with, but you need some real clothes, too.”

I want to argue that I have plenty of “real clothes” in my gigantic closet back at his house, but I don’t want to risk upsetting him and losing out on my chance at an honest-to-goodness princess dress. “Yes, Daddy. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome, little thief. Now, which one do you want?”

A dilemma, to be sure. All of my favorite princess movies are represented, so how am I supposed to choose just one?

Putting on my prettiest pout, I look up at Daddy. “Are you sure I have to just choose one?”

My tummy does a nervous flip at the stern look he gives me. “Yes, Victoria. Just one.”

“They’re all so pretty, though,” I say with a heavy sigh. “I don’t know how to choose.”

“Oh, don’t be such a stick in the mud, Maxwell.” With a roll of her eyes for Daddy, Auntie Cat leans down and taps the end of my nose. “Which ones do you want, sweet girl? Auntie Cat will buy them for you.”

“Catharina…” Daddy trails off with a sigh. “Very well. But when she thinks she can just pout and get whatever she wants from Auntie Cat, don’t complain to me. You’re creating a monster and you know it.”

“Nonsense. It’s never hurt a Little girl to be spoiled a bit.”

An hour later, we leave the store, with a promise from Solene that our packages will be waiting for us when we get back home. Auntie Cat bought every single princess dress, even the ones I tried to convince her I didn’t need, much to Daddy’s aggravation. And I was so excited about trying on all the pretty clothes, I mostly forgot to be embarrassed by my diaper.

Mostly. I don’t think I’ll ever reach a place where it’s not a little embarrassing to be seen in it, but Auntie Cat made such a fuss over how adorable I looked, the humiliation faded quickly.

Now we’re on our way to the spa, but I’m still not sure why, exactly. Daddy and Auntie Cat are both being very secretive about it, and it’s making my tummy feel weird.

The weird feeling gets worse when the beautiful blonde woman at the front desk greets us with a toothy smile. “Hello, Little Victoria. Welcome to the Cozy Cradle Spa. Luna is waiting for you in the back. Your Daddy and your Auntie are welcome to go back with you, of course.”

Well, that’s good, because if it weren’t for Daddy’s hand firmly clamped around mine, I’m not sure I wouldn’t turn around and run straight back home.

If I knew where home was, that is.

“Thank you, Anya. Come on, little one.”

“Daddy, what are we doing here?” I whisper as we follow Anya down the dimly lit hall.

Just like he has every other time I’ve asked the question, Daddy just smiles. “You’ll see in a moment.”

I try to tell myself that it’s a spa, not a torture chamber, and whatever they have planned for me can’t possibly be worse than what Doctor D put me through. But I’m having a hard time convincing the butterflies in my tummy that everything is okay as we step into a sweet-smelling room and I spot the exam table sitting smack dab in the center of the hardwood floor. Maybe that’s not what it’s called, but it looks so much like the table from Doctor D’s office, panic immediately grips me by the throat.

“I don’t wanna be here, Daddy! Take me home!”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, sweet girl,” Auntie Cat tries to reassure me in the same soothing tone she’s used before. But now it sounds too sweet, like she’s trying too hard to make me believe something she knows isn’t true.

“I don’t care. I wanna go home.”

Picking me up, Auntie Cat cradles me in her arms as she settles on a plush couch. “Not just yet. This is something that will make your Daddy very happy. Don’t you want to make your Daddy happy?”

Of course I do. But I’m also scared of what might happen next. “Yes, Auntie Cat,” I say with a sniffle, hoping they’ll take pity on me if I’m sweet enough.

Fat chance.

“There’s a good girl. Now, you should potty before you get up on the table. Do you want to use your diaper?”

While the embarrassment of being seen in the diaper may have faded somewhat, there is still absolutely no way I’m actually going to pee in it. “No, I wanna go to the potty.”

“Very well.” Auntie Cat is still smiling, but just like with Daddy, I can’t help but feel like I’m letting her down and my tummy twists at the thought of disappointing her. “Maxwell, do you want to take our girl to the bathroom and I’ll let Luna know we’re almost ready?”

“Thank you, Cat. Come on, little one.” Scooping me up from Auntie Cat’s lap, Daddy carries me through a door off to the side of the room, into a small bathroom where he strips my diaper off and places me on the toilet before I can even open my mouth to assure him I can do it myself.

Not that it would do any good, as I know from experience. But I still feel like I should at least say it.

The humiliation I’ve lived with pretty much nonstop since the moment I signed that stupid contract floods my face once more as I relieve myself with Daddy watching on. He cleans me up, but to my surprise does not replace my diaper before carrying me back into the room and placing me on the exam table.

A woman enters the room almost as soon as he sets me down. Everything about her is pale, so pale she’s almost ethereal. That other-wordly quality isn’t diminished in the least by her dreamy smile. “Victoria. How lovely to meet you, at last.”

“Why is everyone acting like I’m some hermit who’s been hiding away for the past ten years?” I grumble, crossing my arms and hunching in on myself.

My attitude earns me a sharp smack to my thigh and a glare from Daddy. “Victoria. Don’t be rude.”

“I’m not being rude, I just don’t understand why everyone keeps saying they’re ‘finally’ getting to meet me!”

Turning his back on Luna and Auntie Cat, Daddy places his hands on either side of me on the table, his thunderous expression making me shrink back. “Little girl, you are being very rude, and I will not allow it. You will lose this attitude right now, or I will bend you over this table and take my belt to your bottom until you are a very, very sorry Little girl. Am I making myself perfectly clear, Victoria?”

The fight drains from me with that threat and I nod. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Much better.” Straightening, he turns back to Luna, who is watching us with the same dreamy expression, as if nothing out of the ordinary has just happened. “Luna, you may proceed.”

“Thank you, Mr. Stone. If you wouldn’t mind putting her feet up in the stirrups for me, I’ll go get the cart. The wax has been heating all morning, so it should be ready.”

Once again, fear sends my heart pounding against my rib cage as Daddy grips one of my legs to strap it into the stirrups. Over the sound of my own blood rushing in my ears, one word stands out from all the rest.

“Wax?”