Page 9 of Echoes of Desire
“More like a naturally submissive bundle of perfection,” I sigh, ignoring my brother’s tantrum. “I think I’m in lust, Taylor.”
“Well, tuck your lust away. Ollie’s inside, and he’s a mess.”
Ollie is one of our regular Little’s who has been coming to Oasis for years. He’s a full-time Baby, and his Daddy died years back. It’s been tough on Little Ollie. He’s had to learn to turn off his Little side to make it in the big world. He always seems stressed, even on days when he’s here or on a playdate with Knox.
“What happened?” Steel says. I can hear the worry in his voice, even if others can’t.
I wonder if Raven would be able to notice it?
“New guy wanted to play Daddy with him,” Taylor says, his face raging with fury. “When Ollie went potty in his diaper, the man went ballistic and took him to the quiet room for a punishment.”
“What the fuck,” I yell, stepping around Taylor to reach the Little room.
“I was out getting a refill of the snacks and came back in to all the Little’s hovering in a corner and Ollie’s cries from the quiet room,” Taylor says before I can open the door. “I didn’t want to interfere at first. I would be pissed if another person stopped a deserved punishment of Knox, but when I asked what had happened, Knox told me that he went potty. I got the fucker out of there, but Ollie is inconsolable.”
Steel’s entire demeanor shifts, his posture going rigid as a cold fury settles over him. “Where is he?” he asks Taylor, his voice low and dangerous.
“In your office,” Taylor answers. “I didn’t lay a hand on him, but I’m telling you now, if I hadn’t thought you’d want to handle it, he’d be in worse shape.”
Steel nods sharply, his jaw clenched tight. He doesn’t have to say anything else; his body language says it all. He’s pissed.
I glance toward the Little Room, where Ollie is, before looking back at Steel. “I’ll take care of Ollie,” I tell him. “You handle the rest.”
Steel pauses for a moment, his eyes meeting mine. A silent understanding passes between us. Turning, Steel heads toward our office, and I turn the handle and walk into the Little room.
I step inside and immediately spot Ollie curled up on the couch, clutching a stuffed animal to his chest. His face is red and blotchy from crying, and his whole body shakes with quiet sobs.
Knox, Taylor’s husband and his Little, is sitting beside Ollie, gently rubbing his back and murmuring soft reassurances. The other Littles are clustered together in a corner, their faces pale with worry.
“Knox,” I say gently, crouching down in front of them. “You did the right thing telling your Papa what happened.”
Knox nods, his eyes wide and brimming with tears. “Ollie didn’t do anything wrong, Uncle Blaze. He didn’t,” he says, clearly still in Little Space. “He was just being a good Baby.”
“I know,” I say, placing a hand on Knox’s shoulder. “You were brave, buddy. I’m proud of you.”
Knox sniffles but manages a small nod before stepping back toward the other Littles.
I turn my attention to Ollie, who hasn’t looked up from his stuffed animal. “Ollie,” I say softly, sitting on the couch beside him.
His shoulders shake as he sobs harder, curling into himself even more.
“Hey,” I say, my voice low and soothing. “You’re safe now, Ollie. No one’s going to hurt you. I promise.”
It takes a moment, but eventually, he peeks up at me through tear-filled eyes. “I… I didn’t mean to,” he whispers, his voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to be bad.”
Typically, Ollie doesn’t speak. Most of our Babies don’t. So, I’m surprised to hear his voice.
My chest tightens, and a wave of anger surges through me. Not at Ollie, but at the bastard who made him feel like this.
“You weren’t bad, Ollie,” I say firmly, leaning closer. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You hear me? Nothing. That man didn’t know how to be a Daddy, and he won’t ever step foot in here again. I promise you that.”
Ollie’s lip quivers and a fresh wave of tears spills down his cheeks. I pull him into a gentle hug without pulling him onto my lap and hold him close as he cries into my shoulder.
My mind wanders back to Raven. Could she handle this part of our lives? Will me cuddling a crying Little make her feel jealous?
Would I be willing to stop if it did?
These are things I think my brother and I need to discuss.