Page 18 of Novalie's Little New Year

“What are you up to for the rest of the afternoon?”

Nova looked up at him, and there was something in her expression that told him she was still solidly in Little space. So it wouldn’t even be a good idea for her to go back to work yet. That was a surefire way to get overwhelmed in a hurry, and maybe he’d be able to coax her to spend some more time in this low expectation, easygoing headspace instead of rushing back headlong into the high pressure world of her job. Even if it wasn’t with him.

“There’s a cookie-decorating activity Nanny J told me about. I wasn’t going to go because there are so many other Littles here for the holidays, but she assured me there are lots of supplies, plenty of room, and reminded me I was always welcome. There’s also a fort building and snowball fight activity going on at the same time that will probably draw a lot of the Littles so cookie-decorating shouldn’t be too crowded. I thought I’d go do that after I get some work in.”

“That sounds like fun, and some good Little space time,” he told her, putting as much approval and encouragement as he could into his voice. “I think you need to take a rest too. Your bottom must be awfully sore and I bet you’re tired. Getting your hide tanned can really wear a Little girl out.”

Her yawn answered for her, and she looked annoyed that her body would betray her like that. It felt a bit like defiance when she scrambled off his lap, righted her clothes, and crossed her arms in front of her chest. More so when she put her nose in the air and proclaimed, “I’m not sleepy.”

Her assertion was followed by a yawn she tried to cover but just ended up pulling a face. Stubborn Little girl who he’d like to take over his knee again if that was allowed, but he’d respect her limits. And as much as he wanted to, he wouldn’t toss her over his shoulder and bodily tuck her into her bed with Custard. Instead he stood and took a few steps toward her.

“Will you nap for an hour, please?” he asked, hands on his hips.

He thought they both knew it wasn’t really a request. It wasn’t exactly a command either, though. Couldn’t be. He’d be delighted to make it one if he thought that would work, and goddamn right he would if she were his. As things were, Nova scowled at him.

“Half an hour,” she countered, glaring at him. He’d still count it as a win.

“An hour,” he told her, tilting his head in a way he hoped conveyed how serious he was. “A half hour isn’t gonna do you any good. By the time you fall asleep you’d probably have to wake up in a few minutes and that’s not going to help anything.”

“Forty-five minutes?” she offered hopefully, and he wanted to laugh. Yep, this was better than he’d hoped for and told him he wasn’t overstepping.

“An hour,” he insisted.

“You’re really bad at negotiating,” Nova grumbled.

“Maybe so. But I’m really good at taking care of Little girls, and I can tell that you, shortcake, could use a nap. An hour, and that’s my final offer.”

“Fine.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I said, ‘Yes, Sir’,” she amended.

“Better.”

The rope workshophe’d finally made it to had been great. He’d headed there after dropping Nova off at her office, and watching while she set a timer on her phone so she’d know when it was time to go back to her apartment to take a nap before the cookie-decorating activity.

Linc had still been thinking about Nova for most of the time he was tying up another woman, but learning a new skill was a much better way to keep his attention than the small talk expected of him at something like the Snow Squall dinner. The woman he’d partnered with for the session was genuinely great but not a Little, so they’d had fun and worked well together, but he wouldn’t be pursuing her.

He was on his way to the door when he was stopped by a tall, imposing man in jeans, a white button-up shirt with a bolo tie, and cowboy boots.

“Excuse me, are you Lincoln Donall?”

“Sure am. What can I do for you?”

The big man held out a hand and Linc shook it.

“Just wanted to say hello. I’m Derek Hawkins, I own this operation.”

“Quite a place you’ve got here. And I met your wife on the way in, she’s a real firecracker.”

“Sadie is the hostess with the mostest for sure,” Derek said with a smile. “How’re you enjoying your stay so far?”

“This place is great,” Linc told him honestly. “You’ve got everything a kinkster could ever want.”

“Including a lot of single women. I hear you’re on the lookout.”

It was strange Derek would know that, but maybe he’d just taken a look at who signed up for the Snow Squall dinner and recognized him.

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