Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
I stare at the bottle as he lifts it and shakes it a bit. “I don’t know,” I murmur, eyeing the bottle.
“Do you ever use a bottle, Little one?”
I shake my head, which hurts and makes me wince.
“I bet you’ll like it. Bottles are perfect when you need to get some calories in bed or when you want to sit on Daddy’s lap.” He holds it out. “Try it?”
I tentatively reach out my hand.
He uses his other hand to gently lower my wrist. “Let Daddy do it, Layla.”
My heart races when he calls himself Daddy as if he were my Daddy. It sounds so nice, but I won’t let myself think about the possibility. I’m already going to be very sad when this ends—and it will because I’m not lucky enough to find a forever Daddy. It would be dangerous for me to think of Theo as my Daddy, but it surely won’t hurt if I let him feed me, will it?
I lean back against the pillows and open my mouth.
Theo is so pleased; he beams as he pops the nipple between my lips. “It takes a second to get the hang of it. Wrap your tongue around the nipple, figure out what’s comfortable, and start sucking.”
I do as he says, and soon I’m sucking hard. Whatever is in the bottle is delicious, and I’m suddenly famished. It tastes like a vanilla shake. I wish the hole were larger so I could guzzle it.
Theo brushes a lock of hair from my face with his free hand. “Slow down, Little one. You’ll get a tummy ache if you drink too fast.”
I try to slow, but it’s so good. Eventually I start to drift off.
Theo jiggles the bottle. “Try to finish it, Layla. Then you can nap. I’ll check on you every half hour or so to make sure you’re still doing okay.”
Soon I’ve drunk enough for his satisfaction, and he gently eases the extra pillow away and helps me lie back. He carefully tucks the blankets around me and kisses my forehead.
My mouth seems to want to continue sucking, so I absentmindedly bring my thumb to my lips.
Theo stands and tucks the stuffed bear in my arms. I think he’s left the room for good, but a minute later, he’s back. I can hear his footsteps, but I’m too tired to open my eyes. I whimper when he gently tugs my thumb from my mouth. “This will be better for you, Little one.”
Something else slips into my mouth. A nipple. It startles me, so I open my eyes to see Theo holding a pacifier in my mouth. I try not to panic. It’s not like he doesn’t know I’m Little. Apparently he likes his Little girls to play at a younger age.
The truth is the nipple feels so good in my mouth, and I easily start suckling. It calms me. It feels good. Why have I never tried a bottle or a pacifier before? I’ve never considered experimenting with a younger age. It wouldn’t be practical since I live alone and don’t have a caregiver.
Managing bottles and pacifiers on my own would be tedious. I’ve hovered at a slightly older age in my apartment and at the Dungeon. But this feels…nice. I might like it.
I’m smiling behind the pacifier as I drift off.
Chapter Five
When I wake, my skull feels like it’s going to bust out of my head. I whimper at the pain and wonder how long I’ve been asleep. I clasp the sides of my head with both hands and turn toward the two bottles of medicine sitting on the nightstand.
I haven’t taken any yet, and part of the reason is because I didn’t want to tell Theo that I’m not good at swallowing pills. I never have been. But my head really hurts.
“Hey there…” Theo rushes toward me. “Oh, sweet girl. Your head must be pounding. You fell asleep so fast, I didn’t have a chance to get some painkillers in you.”
I whimper again, realizing my mouth is full of the pacifier, keeping me from speaking.
Theo has a sippy cup with him this time. It looks like it’s filled with water. I’m suddenly very thirsty.
Theo pops the pacifier from my mouth before he reaches for one of the bottles, twists off the top, and shakes a giant pill into his hands.
My eyes go wide and I gasp. Even though it hurts, I shake my head. “Can’t…”
“Can’t what, Little one?”
“I can’t swallow that,” I admit, my lip trembling. I really want to, but I’ll feel even worse if I gag and vomit.
I’m surprised by how easily Theo puts the pill back in the bottle and replaces the top without argument. I’m still staring at him as he grabs the other bottle. “Good thing Connor called in two forms of medicine then, huh?”