Page 9 of Arion
Arion jiggled the nipple a bit in her mouth. “Can you try to take a bit more, Little mate?” he encouraged.
She stared at him for a moment as time froze on this weird precipice before she resumed sucking.
His heart raced as she submitted even though she probably wasn’t fully grasping the implication yet.
After several more long draws, she let go of the nipple.
Arion wouldn’t force her. He pulled it away, not wanting her to panic.
“Why are you feeding me?” she whispered.
He set the bottle on the little table at his side and held her with both arms, cradling her close. “I knew you most likely didn’t eat much this morning and would wake up hungry. The formula will get some nutrition in you.”
She licked her lips, still holding his gaze. And his pinky. “But that’s a bottle,” she murmured.
“Uh huh. Easiest way to get nourishment in my Little girl. Plus, I get to hold you and rock you while I feed you. It’s bonding. I like being close to you. I couldn’t stand the idea of putting you down when we arrived,” he admitted, hoping to endear himself to her.
As if suddenly realizing she was gripping his finger, she released him and lifted her hand to swipe at a loose lock of hair across her face. She rubbed her eye next. So adorable.
She squirmed a bit in his lap, alerting his cock, once again, to her presence.
He feared she might be anxious. Nerves were probably eating at her from the proximity to him. Though they were mated, and that bond would grow and make them inseparable in the coming days and weeks, right now she would still be feeling uncertain and nervous.
“Let me hold you a few more minutes, Little mate. You’re still feeling the effects of the potion. If you get up too fast, you might wobble and fall on your bottom.”
Her small tongue reached out to lick her lips again. He wanted to taste her. He wanted to lick those lips himself.Patience, Arion.
She let her gaze roam around the room before returning to his. “Where am I?”
“Your nursery, Little one. A place where you can relax and play and enjoy yourself. I filled it with everything I could think of, but if there’s something missing, we’ll add to it.”
She pushed herself more upright and twisted in his lap as she regained more muscle control. “This is for a baby,” she murmured.
He helped her turn more fully to face the room, wrapping his arms around her and holding her against his chest. He set his chin on her shoulder. “It’s for you, Little mate. A place you can be carefree at whatever age you feel like.”
She swallowed hard.
This would be the toughest discussion he would have with her. He was armed with every possible explanation, but he couldn’t anticipate every reaction she might present.
“There’s a crib and a changing table and stuff for a baby. And you fed me a bottle.” Her voice was soft and filled with concern.
He slid a hand up to her cheek and stroked it. “As the mate of an Alpha Protector, you’ll be coddled more than most of the Little girls in the pack. Pampered. Cherished. Spoiled.”
Her voice wobbled when she spoke again. “Am I supposed to wear diapers and sleep in a crib?”
“When you’re feeling especially Little and submissive, yes. I don’t want you to fret about it right now. We’ll figure out the best dynamic that works for us together in the coming days.”
When she didn’t respond, Arion lifted her by the waist and stood, settling her against his side on his left hip. “How about if I show you around? My cabin isn’t huge. It won’t take long, but I’ll give you a tour.”
She slid a hand around his shoulders and held on, though he wasn’t sure if she did so with reluctance or instinct.
Her breathing slowed down when he stepped out of the nursery. He wasn’t surprised. The first time Little girls saw their nurseries was nearly always a shock.
He stepped through the adjoining door and into the master bedroom. His cabin was arranged so that his Little girl’s nursery was as close as it could be to his own bedroom. He would easily hear any whimper from her, and she would be protected from the world in her special room with him between her and the front of the house.
She gasped. “That is the biggest bed I’ve ever seen.”
He chuckled. “I’m a big guy, plus I need room for you.” He lifted a brow.
