Dr. Daddy Dom (Little Lake Bridgeport 2) Read online

  "I know you're lonely, honey, but you need to honor Sri's advice. Our friend isn't familiar with our lifestyle and, in fact, might be getting a divorce if this plan doesn't work. I'm going to need your help in letting Ian see what we are about. Can I depend on you?" Caine interjected.

  "Of course, Caine." Her tone instantly matured when she saw his serious expression and she slid out of Layton's arms and sidled onto a tall kitchen barstool. "How can I help?"

  "Answer his questions honestly and be on your best behavior. I don't want to have to spank you in front of our guest, but I will if you don't put your best foot forward. We need our good girl when Ian is here."

  "I'll do my best, I promise."

  "Caine? How is Ian going to see this aspect of our lifestyle if she isn't allowed to be in her Little?" Layton asked.

  "I didn't say she wasn't allowed, I just asked her to behave herself. Like I just said, I don't want to be forced to discipline her in front of him, but I won't hesitate if she pushes."

  May screwed up her face and leaned her chin on her hands. "I guess that means that we aren't going to be able to play while he's around."

  "We don't want to scare him off, baby." Layton leaned across the marble island and grabbed her hands. "We get a little noisy when we mess around in the rec room."

  "You mean the torture chamber. Besides, you get noisy. I just go to sleep." She giggled. "I love subspace."

  "We know you do. I'll tell you what, if you can get through Ian's visit without making too much trouble, I'll give you a session of your dreams."

  "You always give me a session of my dreams." She kissed his knuckles. "But can you define exactly what you mean by 'too much trouble'?"

  ***

  "I'm starving," May whined, lightly kicking Layton's thigh as they sat on the couch. "When is he going to get here?"

  "Any minute now. The ribs are still on the grill and the potato salad is cooling in the fridge. Grab an apple," he said, flipping the channels on the large screen television.

  "I don't want an apple. I want real food."

  "I'll give you something to chew on," Layton offered, reaching for his zipper.

  "Cool!"

  "No! I'm not going to have Ian walk into our house and catch you getting a blow job. Will you two please behave?" Caine begged as they began to laugh. The doorbell echoed through the house and with a, "Thank God," he rose to answer it, with his family at his heels.

  "Ian! Come inside. You remember Layton?" Caine said.

  "I'm so sorry about what you're going through, buddy. Let me know how I can help," Layton said, quickly embracing the surprised man before he could respond. "This is my wife, Maybelle. May? Ian used to work for Pop on the ranch. If I recall, he was quite good with bull riding and lassoes. My girl here is a barrel racer."

  "I love lasso work. Please, come in and make yourself comfortable. Can I get you something to drink? A beer?" May asked.

  "I gave up drinking the night that Lyle Marshall dragged me away from that bar and helped me clean up my life. He saved me," Ian said.

  "He saved me, too. He was a good man," May said, her eyes glazing with tears. "He raised me some good boys to love. Caine told you that we are poly, right?"

  "Yes. I—oh, thanks," Ian said as Layton handed him a can of ginger ale. "You remembered."

  "We were close friends once. It's hard to forget how many times you complained about burger places not having ginger ale on the menu."

  "About that; I never had a chance to apologize. I'm really sorry. It was a stupid move, and—" Ian's words were cut off by a crushing hug.

  "It's in the past, and everything happens for a reason. I would never have ended up with my little May if that relationship had continued." Layton reached for his wife and tucked her under his arm. "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me, and that was just one incident that put me on the path that led to her."

  "You are adorable, Miss May. Do these men treat you well?" Ian said.

  "They are the bestest! I mean, the best. They spoil me."

  "And do you like being spoiled?"

  "Oh yes!" She nodded her head up and down. "They give me everything I've ever wanted."

  "Like what? I'm not seeing anything sparkly," Ian commented.

  "I don't like jewelry. I like puzzles and stuff. Do you wanna see my room?"

  "I would love to. Oh!" Ian said as she grabbed his hand and started leading him upstairs to the bedroom that was decorated in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles style, including a bathroom that looked like a sewer.

  Caine lifted an eyebrow as he watched the exchange. Ian brought out May's 'little' persona without even knowing it, and his response was ideal! He and Layton exchanged glances and followed them upstairs, silently watching as May introduced their visitor to the world of age-play.

  "Food is done. Are you ready to come and eat?" Caine asked, leaning against the doorway as the two sat on the ground with May's new Lego set.

  Ian's face turned bright red. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry. I didn't even bother to ask if I could help! She asked if I liked Legos and—"

  "Don't apologize. Do you have any idea how many hours Layton and I have spent in May's version of Lego Land? Maybelle, go wash up for lunch, please."

  "Yes, Daddy," she said absently, running to obey.

  "So, this is what you were telling me. It seems so natural for her," Ian said.

  "She's a gem. I also noticed that you took right to it, as well. This is her playroom and where she has to stay when she gets herself on restriction."

  "It's not a bad place to be grounded in," Ian said with a chuckle, looking around. "It has everything a kid could want to keep herself occupied."

  "Except for us. The bond that is shared by a Little and her Bigs means more than any amount of toys or other distractions. When she's grounded, she's allowed access to us only for meals. There is no playing, no watching TV together and, in our particular situation, no sex. Needless to say, she avoids that particular punishment as much as possible. We all do."

  "It sounds as tough for you as it is for her." Ian watched May slide under Caine's arm.

  "It's pure hell, my friend. Let's go eat and then I'll show you around the house. Ask any questions you want, and I promise that we will answer them truthfully. May will be a valuable resource from a submissive point of view."

  "Come on, Uncle Ian. Lemme show you the bathroom so you can wash up. Daddy won't let us come to the table with dirty hands." She reached her hand out for his and led him away. Ian glanced over his shoulder at Caine and broke into a large grin.

  ***

  "That was delicious. I haven't tasted a rub like that since the Sunday picnics on your old ranch." Ian leaned back and rubbed his stomach.

  Layton grabbed May's face in his hand, licked the edge of a napkin, and wiped the sauce from her face. His fingers tightened as she wrinkled her nose and attempted to pull away. "This is Pop's recipe. After we got married, May came up with the idea to celebrate him every Sunday this way."

  "I hate spit rags," she grumbled, wiping her face with the back of her arm.

  "Then use a napkin and wipe your own face," Caine said as he tapped her on the nose. "How about you clear up for us while we talk with Uncle Ian?"

  "Do I get an extra prize for doing the dishes by myself?" May asked hopefully.

  "What special prize do you want?" Layton asked. He smiled as she whispered her request in his ear, then he raised his eyebrow. "That's up to Daddy, babygirl."

  "Will you ask him? Please?" She blinked innocently.

  "Ask me what?" Caine said.

  "She wants you to reconsider what you want to do about Sri's list and her flip-flops."

  "I've already told you that I don't want anything to do with Sri's requests. As for the flip-flops, I think we can talk about that later. I—oh!" Caine yelped as May flung herself against him and covered his face with kisses.

  "Thank you, Daddy!"

  "I didn't say yes! Hey!" he called as she skipped happily bac
k into the house with her arms full of dirty dishes.

  "How far do you go with this, Caine? Don't you guys even let her buy shoes without permission?" Ian asked.

  "Shoes? That isn't—"

  "What Layton was going to say is that we really try to keep in close contact with everything she does. She has a certain amount of freedom in specific things, but generally the three of us are most comfortable with a more structured environment. Her persona ranges from about eight to ten years old, and she occasionally slips into a pre-teen with the associated smart mouth," Caine said.

  "So, like a child, she is required to ask for permission and be accountable," Layton further explained. "It's not a dictatorship in the least. We involve her in family decisions and she is allowed to make most of her personal choices on her own. She has rules that are non-negotiable, though."

  "What kind of rules?"

  "For safety, respect, and how she expected to behave in public. She also has chores and other responsibilities as part of the household." He waited until May had picked up the second armload of dishes and returned to the kitchen before he continued. "Girls like May thrive in strictly structured environments where they are encouraged to experiment without fear of judgment. They know where they stand at all times, so the fear of the unknown is removed."

  "Is this need something that comes from trauma?" Ian asked.

  "Not necessarily." Caine poured himself some sweet tea. "Some age-players come from healthy, happy homes. Others, like Maybelle, did not. She was raised in a neglectful home around a part-time alcoholic father and a spiteful aunt, and when she didn't fit into the 'good girl' crowd, she tried her hand on the other side. It ended in tragedy for her, but Pop found her and worked his magic, and then he gave her to us."

  "Did you know that we both met Savannah when she was a freshman in high school? She dumped a Slurpee on my lap during a football game." Layton laughed. "Caine said that you've been married three years. How did you hook up?"

  "My kid brother introduced us during one of his frat parties where I was asked to be a bouncer. She was flying around the room and flirting with all the guests, pretty as a picture and wilder than a bee. As the night progressed, she started drinking and, the next thing I knew, she was being shoved about by several of the men she had been teasing. My brother called me in to get her out of there before she was gang-banged. She fought me tooth and nail even then," Ian said.

  "Is that when you started dating?"

  "Not exactly. I took her home and met her parents when I carried her to the door. Her father started shouting at us, calling her a slut and me a low-life. He then accused me of taking advantage of a drunk girl and threatened to call the cops. He wouldn't listen to a word I said. Not then and not now."

  "You can see where she gets that from, can't you?" Caine asked.

  "Now that you bring it up, yes. She started screaming back and announced that if he hated me so much, then there had to be something good about me. She kissed me right in front of him and then stumbled into the house. I figured that I'd never see her again, but the next thing I knew, she showed up at the arena where I was training. Waltzed right in and kissed me without so much as a howdy-do."

  "And like a well-bred Texas gentleman, you couldn't embarrass her in front of the other cowboys and tell her to leave, could you?" Layton asked, his eyes twinkling.

  "Hell, no. She started showing up every day, bringing me food and staying to watch me practice. She was pretty, smart, and made me laugh, so I played along even though I knew she was out of my league. Eventually, I started looking forward to her visits, and finally got up the guts to ask her out. I fell in love with her and four months after we met, I asked for her hand. The first few months were great, especially since her father was so pissed that he left for months and wouldn't speak to her, but then things started to change." Ian paused as May rejoined them and snuggled herself on Layton's lap.

  "The occasional glass of wine grew to an entire bottle, and then she started going out with her friends while I was at competitions. Eventually, she stopped coming to see me altogether, and was only concerned about the amount of money I won, not my placing."

  "That must have hurt your feelings very much," May said softly. "Maybe she was getting worried. Rodeos are dangerous, especially the bull pits."

  "It did, but I understand that people get bored, so I didn't think twice about her not being there. Plus, she started flirting with the other competitors and I guess a part of me didn't trust her. Not that I trusted her friends, either, but at least it wasn't in my face."

  "Neither Caine nor Layton would have ever allowed me to act like that." The young woman shook her head.

  "Not everyone lives the type of life that we do, honey. You know that," Layton explained.

  "Yes, but he's got the vibe. Why didn't he use it?"

  "What are you talking about, Maybelle?" Caine asked as Ian frowned slightly and tilted his face with confusion.

  "The Dom vibe. Not like yours, Layton, but more like Caine's. When we were upstairs playing Legos, I snatched one of his pieces from his hand and he gave me that look. Don't you remember, Ian?"

  "I did? I'm sorry," Ian said.

  "No, don't be sorry. It's the same warning look that Caine gives me when I push him. I handed the piece right back to you because of it."

  "Honey, just because he knows how to give a stink eye doesn't mean he's a Dom."

  "I know that, Layton. I can't explain it, but we sense these things. It's a submissive's secret power. We can sniff out a dominant without even thinking about it. Doms are like submissives, too. They can't be themselves if they aren't in an environment that supports them."

  "She's right," Layton said thoughtfully. "My ex-wife wasn't a submissive, and her constant opposition to my authority thwarted me to the point of becoming passive. A dominant without a submissive is like a forest without trees. What do you think of May's observation, Ian?"

  "I don't know what to think. My natural inclination is to take charge and call the shots, but a man can only be beaten down for so long. I guess I lost my fight a while ago."

  "That happens when we are with a woman who emasculates us. After my divorce, I was empty of passion and stopped caring. Caine here knocked some sense into my head and brought me back to reality," Layton said.

  "Did you love your ex-wife?" Ian asked.

  "I thought I did. It wasn't until I met this little weasel that I discovered what true love felt like."

  "I'm not a weasel!" May scowled, climbing off Layton's lap and making her way to Caine's. "I'm just a very lucky girl who knows what she wants and how to get it."

  "Or get out of it," Layton added. "Did you just stick your tongue out at me?"

  "Maybe." She grinned.

  "Let's get you settled in and then we can talk later, if you want. You need to rest, or you aren't going to be any good to Savannah or yourself," Caine announced, sliding May to her feet as he stood. "I have to do a twenty-four hour shift starting tomorrow, and then I'll be done except for the wrap up. Layton and May can show you around town and introduce you to everyone this week. I've also ordered a hospital bed for the Lake Bridgeport house, along with some other items that will help you care for her. Any questions?"

  "Not at the moment. Thanks for being here for me. All of you."

  "You're welcome, Uncle Ian," May said, hugging his waist. "And you can play with my Legos anytime you want to, 'kay?"

  "You don't let me touch your Legos without your permission. What gives?" Layton asked.

  "You always want to use a hammer if they don't fit the way you want, so they are off-limits to you."

  "You're cruising, kid." Layton wagged his finger.

  May offered a half-smile. "Promises, promises…"

  Chapter 4

  "It's time for bed, little one," Caine said softly, nudging May as she dozed with her head on his lap.

  She lifted her head groggily and then plopped it back down. "I don't wanna go to bed."

  "I'
ll take her," Layton said, gathering the sleepy young woman in his arms.

  "Does that girl ever run out of spunk?" Ian asked as May continued to argue that she wanted to stay up with the 'grown-ups' and that she was just resting her eyes.

  "No, and I hope that she never will," Caine said with a hearty laugh. "Now, back to business. Everything is being moved into the house tomorrow, and Savannah is being transported via ambulance on Friday. Will that give you enough time to settle in?"

  "It's perfect, thanks. I mean it. I can't believe that it's been ten days since the accident," Ian said.

  "Savannah's doing great, and the surgeons are very pleased with her response. The orthopedic surgeon wanted me to remind you to schedule an appointment for wrist and jaw x-rays in about four weeks following her discharge. She'll be able to travel without any discomfort by then," Caine said.

  "I'll do it first thing in the morning. I really appreciate everything you guys have done, especially with letting me borrow May. She's been a tremendous help."

  "Now that I'm done with the rotation, you've got me if you need me. Layton is in court all next week, but he'll be home at night. Have you had any problems with your father-in-law since Layton picked up Savannah's phone when he called and read him the Riot Act?"

  "Not a peep. He threatened to get the cops involved, but Layton took care of that, too. I wish we could have seen the look on the old man's face when Counselor Cranky Pants took control. I almost lost it when Layton ripped him a new one and then hung up on him." Ian grinned.

  "Counselor Cranky Pants? You've been listening to May."

  "I have to admit it, but I'm really enjoying this thing that you do. It's very freeing."

  "You're only seeing the fun part of it, my friend. She's been on her best behavior and we haven't had to get ugly. She knows that if she acts up in front of you, there will be hell to pay, and she won't like it," Caine said.

  "I thought you were kidding about busting her ass."

  "Not at all. Remember when she mentioned the flip-flops? She was supposed to get a spanking that night for disobeying me. I let it slide because you were here, but she knew that she was on thin ice."