“Oh, this room is better,” Simone declares. “At least you’ve got a daybed and some toys.” She wanders closer to the bed. “So pretty.”
“Thank you. Want to sit?”
“Sure.” She bends down and unzips her boots before kicking them off and climbing onto the bed.
I join her, feeling awkward.
Simone is more outgoing than me. I knew this the other night. I’m more introverted. She takes my hand and gives a gentle squeeze. “I wondered if you had a Little side when I met you. I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t say anything. It was a stressful day as it was, and you were exhausted and hurting.”
“I didn’t know a thing about age play at the time, so I probably would have thought you had two heads if you’d shown me this side of you.”
Simone chuckles. “I understand. I’m careful around people who aren’t in the lifestyle or don’t know about it. My best friend, Natasha, is Little. We went to college together. Her Daddy is Camden’s best friend. Anyway, when I started thinking she was Little, she had no clue. It took a while. Now she’s totally comfortable and so unbelievably happy.”
“It’s like I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole.”
“It can feel that way. I’ve known I’m Little since I was pretty young, so I never really went through this awakening. I did have to deal with the stigma, though, especially when my parents found out.”
I wince. “How did they take it?”
She groans. “I haven’t spoken to them in four years. That’s how. I left when I was eighteen and never went back.”
“Oh wow. I’m sorry. That has to be hard.”
She shrugs. “Not anymore. I have a family with Camden now. And you met my sister the other day. Lillian. She just left home and moved here, too. A part of me feels sad for my parents, but mostly, I feel like it’s their loss. They’re choosing to be narrow-minded, so they’re missing out.”
“Is Lillian Little, too?”
Simone shrugs. “I’m not sure. She’s known I am for a long time, so she’s not shocked by my lifestyle choices, but she’s watching with hesitation.”
“I’m glad she supports you.”
“Do you have any brothers and sisters?”
I shake my head. “No. Thank God. My father was abusive. He went to prison for how he treated my mother. He died in prison. She passed when I was eighteen.” I don’t tell her it was suicide. We don’t need to go there this morning.
“I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “Like you said, I have Blade now. Who needs blood relatives?” I try to sound light-hearted.
“Daddy said you were married before.”
I cringe. “Technically, I still am. Turns out, people raised by abusers tend to marry abusers. He refused to sign the divorce papers. I was in hiding until he saw me on the news. Now it would seem he’s found me.” I shudder.
Simone squeezes my hand. “You’re safe here.”
“I know, but I worry Blade isn’t going to sleep until he…” I bite my lip. I don’t know for sure what Blade is planning to do. It scares me.
“Blade will handle it, I’m sure.”
Fears I have not voiced bubble up inside me. “What if he goes after him and gets in trouble?” I mutter.
“He won’t. These guys who work at Black Blade are good at their jobs. I’m sure he has one singular goal—keeping you safe. He’ll do whatever it takes.”
I nod. I know she’s right, but what will it take? What if Pete never gives up? What if he hunts me down and Daddy loses his temper?
A part of me hopes that’s exactly what happens. I won’t rest easy until I’m certain Pete can’t get to me. I know I’m totally safe as long as I’m here in this apartment. No one can get to me. But I can’t stay inside forever. And I’m not sure what Pete is capable of.
Except that’s not true. I do know what he’s capable of. He’s shown me. Bile rises in my throat every time I think about what would happen if he found me. He would kill me. I know it deep in my soul. He would kill Blade, too, if he had the chance. For daring to touch me.
