Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“One more, naughty girl, and you’re not allowed to come. Understood?”
My breath hitches. Not allowed to come… I’m not sure I can prevent that from happening.
“Bailey…”
“Yes, Sir,” I murmur.
“Yes, what, Little one?”
“I won’t come, Papi. I promise.”
The third swat makes my teeth chatter. Who am I, and what happened to Bailey? Where is the rule-abiding girl who was scared out of her mind to sneak out and go to a club tonight? She has ceased to exist. In her place is a new human. One who is apparently going to break all the rules and enjoy doing so for the rest of her life.
Papi quickly spreads a cream on my folds before securing me in a diaper.
I’m trembling uncontrollably as he scoops me into his arms and cradles me close. I continue to whimper while he feeds me a bottle. It takes a long time for the pulsing need to subside enough that it’s no longer a constant distraction.
Papi rocks me in his arms after the bottle is empty. He pops a pacifier in my mouth and continuously kisses my forehead, smiling like he won the lottery. I’m pretty sure I’m the one who won. I’ve been granted a one-way ticket to a foreign planet where I will live happily ever after. At least that’s what I hope.
Is it possible I’ve been duped in some way? What if things aren’t as glamorous with Zingar as he promises. What if we get there and he grows tired of me? What if I’m too annoying? After all, he wasn’t expecting me to start breaking all his rules. The woman he picked up in the club was far more compliant than the one he’s holding in his arms.
But he hasn’t stopped grinning. He’s pleased. I sense no malice from him. Adoration fills his eyes. They’re twinkling.
Another planet, though… I should be scared out of my mind.
But I’m not. I’m excited.
I’m also tired. I can’t hold my eyes open. I try because I know once I fall asleep the next time I wake up I’ll be on Eleadia.
Papi lifts one of my hands to his lips and kisses the tip of my middle finger before pricking it. I know in an instant he’s injected me with something to help me sleep, and I lose the battle.
Chapter Ten
Six months later…
Zingar
The six months seemed like an eternity, but the first three days back on Eleadia have felt like a year. It’s been brutal waiting for Bailey to fully wake up. I’ve taken her to the clinic every morning for three mornings. She’s not rousing as quickly as other mates.
Thabo and Chadka are still upbeat, but I can tell by their furrowed brows that they’re starting to grow concerned.
She’s lethargic. She barely opens her eyes, and when she does, it’s not for long. She eats but it’s a challenge every time to get her to swallow enough of her bottles, and then she goes back into a deep sleep.
I pace. I watch her, and I pace some more. I’m glad that my friend Strogan invented a railing for Papis to use on their Little girls’ side of the bed. I had it installed before we even arrived. At night I like her next to me so I can keep one hand on her. The feel of her warmth and heartbeat is the only thing that keeps me from losing my mind. The barricade isn’t really necessary because she’s nowhere near ready to roll over or sit up. She’s not going to fall off the bed because she never moves from where I put her in the center.
During the day, I lower her into her crib occasionally, but I’m always sitting next to her, watching her sleep. It’s painful. She looks normal enough. She sucks her pacifiers. She wets herself. She empties her bowels. But when she’s awake, she doesn’t try to speak. She barely acknowledges me.
I don’t think she’s upset or unhappy. I think she’s practically unaware, and I’m in a near panic.
It’s like she’s in a partial coma. No one has seen this happen before, so they aren’t sure what to do.
It’s the fourth morning, and I’m back at the clinic. Both Thabo and Chadka are in the room. I’m holding my Little girl, rocking her in my arms. She’s dead asleep.
Thabo is frowning. He rubs his chin and glances at Chadka.
Chadka clears his throat. “The good news is there’s no indication she’s in distress. Her brain activity is normal. Her heart rate is normal. I really think she’s just struggling to wake up more than we’ve seen from any other human. It’s something we’ve always known could happen. After all, six months is a long time to suspend a human female in stasis.”
“It’s like she’s drugged,” Thabo adds. “I would expect her to react like this if she were coming out of anesthesia.”