Full-time littles happened in books, not in real life. I imagined there were places in the world where people lived that way: on BDSM cruise ships and maybe some remote islands somewhere. Maybe right here in Las Vegas. I had heard of communities all over the country where the residents lived similar lifestyles and communed together. To an outsider, it might look like a cult, but I’ve seen the watch list for cults in the United States, and Daddy/Little relationships weren’t part of that world. All those alpha daddies in one place would be hard-pressed to agree to one supreme leader. But maybe it’s something I’d have to investigate.
“Kylie.”
Tinley pulled me out of my internal rabbit hole.
“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry.” I grabbed a vanilla sandwich cookie from the tray, broke it apart and nibbled on it. The snack plate contained three of each small treat. It made me smile. It was nice to be included. “First, I want to apologize for my behavior after theWizard of Oz.I got the wrong idea about something, and when my brain is stuck on one path, it’s hard for me to redirect. Even when the opposite is staring me in the face.”
“What idea did you have?” Rayna asked. She grabbed the other two cookies and handed one to Tinley. Maybe getting these girls to trust me was going to be harder than I thought.
“I wanted to know what happened to the women after their rescue. I mean, hopefully they get reacquainted with their families or go back to their lives, but I also knew not all of them had a life to go back to.”
“Or a life theywantto go back to,” Tinley added. She crossed her legs and leaned forward.
“Yeah, and so I did some research, and discovered a few of the survivors seemed to vanish. Like they had disappeared off the face of the earth again, and it got me worried. Then when I realized both you and Tinley were here with Kyler and Josh, I jumped to conclusions.”
“What conclusions?” Rayna asked. Her eyes cut to Tinley.
“That maybe you were being held here against your will.”
Tinley’s eyes grew wide.
Rayna's mouth spread into a thin line, but neither of them spoke.
“And I got in my head that the two of you and probably others needed to be rescued again.” I wrung my fingers together. “Like maybe Kyler was running his own sex trafficking ring and worked with the FBI to shut others down so he could steal their territory or their operation.”
“And the women, too?” Rayna asked.
“Yeah, but I didn’t think he was…” I didn’t quite know how to describe it, “loaning you out.”
Tinley's face turned a sickly shade of green. She set down the piece of cheese she snagged and held her stomach.
Rayna huffed, opened her mouth, but then closed it and crossed her arms over her chest. She rocked back in her chair. The legs came off the floor, and she dropped back down with athud. Her face scrunched together, but she was also able to cast a serious eye roll in my direction.
“I am really sorry. I don’t think that anymore,” I said.
“How could you ever think that about my daddy?” It was Tinley who was quick to defend. “And I want to be here with my Daddy. Right, Rayna? Don’t you want to be here with your Daddy? I mean you tried not to be, and you still chose him. And I had a choice, too. Tell her.”
“Tinley.” Rayna dropped her hands and stepped around the table to comfort her friend. “She knows her theory was bullshit. Our daddies don’t share.”
Tinley gasped and looked at Rayna, and then at the door. Like her cursing might conjure the daddies through the door.
“I don’t think that anymore, Tinley.” I reached out, but Rayna blocked my hand. “I promise.”
“Our daddies don’t force us to be their littles.” Tinley pushed Rayna’s arms away. “We choose to live this way, and it is with mutual consent. Ever heard of it.”
Tinley was getting sassy, and I was proud of her for standing up for herself, but it made me feel awful. Tears pooled in my eyes. Staying strong and adult to finish this conversation was a struggle, but I had to explain.
“Tin, it’s okay.” Rayna sat on the fluffy chair and pulled Tinley down next to her. “She didn’t know us yet.”
“Well, I don’t like her talking about my daddy like that, or Uncle Kyler.” She huffed. “They love us and would do anything for us. I thought you were a little. If you were, you would understand.”
“I am little.” My face formed a pout. “I know all about consent, but in my job, I see too much how powerful men take advantage of vulnerable women, and it got into my head.”
“What gets me is that you never even asked.” Rayna spoke up. “It’s like you were ready to snatch us from our lives without explanation. Been there, done that, didn’t like it one bit.”
“I know. You’re right.” I wiped my eyes. “I am so sorry to have doubted either of you. To be honest, I have never felt safer and more seen in my life than I do here. But then, I think about my sister and I don’t know. Logic gets away from me.”
“Wait.” Tinley sat up. “What happened to your sister?” She blinked her eyes rapidly.
