“Can I put my own in, Daddy?” Natasha asks, apparently taking her cues from Simone.
Jameson chuckles. “Not a chance, naughty girl. You’d end up with the bag of marshmallows spilling all over the table and ignore the cocoa altogether.”
“You say that like hot cocoa is sooo nutritious on its own,” she sasses. Her tone is the naughtiest I’ve ever heard from her. Natasha is notoriously submissive and obedient. She doesn’t like to get into trouble.
Simone’s eyes go wide.
I agree with Simone. I’m shocked. I’ve never heard Natasha sass Jameson like that.
Jameson doesn’t look as stunned as I would expect. He smirks. “First of all, hot cocoa is made from milk, naughty girl.”
“Nuh-uh,” Natasha blurts out, leaning forward. “It’s made from water and hot cocoa mix. I bet there is nothing remotely milk-related in hot cocoa mix.”
Have we slipped into another dimension? Who is this naughty girl? And what aliens took Natasha?
Simone covers her mouth, but she’s giggling behind her hand.
I set a hand on top of Natasha’s head. “I’ll have you know that I make my hot cocoa from scratch, and I definitely started with a pan of milk.”
She tips her head back and cringes. “Oops, sorry.”
I keep my palm on the top of her head. “But more importantly, who are you, and what have you done with Natasha?”
I’m aware that Lillian is sitting in stunned silence, watching this interaction. I wouldn’t ordinarily be so rude toward a guest. None of us would. But this new Natasha is shocking both me and Simone.
Jameson crosses his arms, tucking the bag of marshmallows under his elbow. “Meet Natasha two point oh. I found her in California while we were on the beach. This Natasha likes being reprimanded, and now she enjoys pushing my buttons.”
I chuckle. That’s hilarious.
Jameson sobers and shoots a glare at Natasha. “As I was saying before you interrupted me, naughty girl, would you like me to spank your bottom in front of Simone’s sister or wait until we get home?”
Natasha’s shoulders drop. “When we get home, Daddy.”
“That’s what I thought. And would you like to tell everyone what will happen if you sass me again?”
She shakes her head, her cheeks turning red. “No, Sir.”
“Then, maybe curb Naughty Natasha for a while, huh?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Jameson lowers his arms, opens the bag of marshmallows, and holds it out in front of Lillian. “Take as many as you want, Lillian.”
She tips her head back. “Uh, maybe you should just give me the same amount you’re going to give them.”
I smirk. “Smart girl.” Is she Little? Her cheeks are pink. Could be nerves. Could be shock. Could be a lot of things. But one of those possibilities is that she’s simply never witnessed this dynamic and is intrigued.
Jameson dumps some into her mug before moving to Simone’s and then Natasha’s. He pauses to tip his Little girl’s head back. “Are you going to curb Naughty Natasha, Little one?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.”
I sit next to Simone and face Lillian. “What are you doing in Seattle, Lillian?” I ask to open the lines of communication between the sisters.
Lillian takes a deep breath and turns toward Simone. “You were lucky you got out when you did.”
Simone winces. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you before I left. I couldn’t take the risk. I didn’t think I could go forever without Mom and Dad finding me, but I wanted to get as far away as possible.”
