She shifts her attention to my arm and stares at it before looking back at me with fire in her gaze. “Thabo, I’m not going to fall.”
Shit. “I know you’re not.”Because I’m not going to let you.
Suddenly, she flattens her body and slides under my arm. It happens so fast, and I’m so stunned by her obstinance, that I don’t react quickly enough to stop her before her feet hit the floor and she takes off running.
I jump to standing immediately, uncertain if I should grab her or let her work this out. She needs to blow off steam, but I need her to be safe.
She’s not steady on her feet yet. She only took her first unassisted steps a short while ago, but her adrenaline is pumping hard, so she has more stability than I would have expected.
I don’t know her intentions, but she aims for the kitchen area and touches everything. The fridge, the stove, the oven. She has to rise onto her tiptoes to touch the burners, and I wince inside, panicking.
She turns from there and rushes down the hallway, totally unaware of how adorable she is at the same time. Her tantrum is very cute. I would never tell her that, but I’ve heard from other men that human females sometimes throw tantrums, especially in the first few weeks.
Janie had accepted her life with such ease up to this point that I’d begun to think she wouldn’t go through this phase of rebellion. I should have been more prepared. She’s reached that moment when it has slammed into her. She’s not on Earth any longer. She’s never going back. She’s my Baby girl and always will be.
A good number of Little girls go through this stage. Some more than others. I hope for Janie it doesn’t last too long. It’s breaking my heart, and I fear for her safety.
I know I can stop her at any moment, but I’ve heard it’s best to let her wear herself out. She’ll need to be disciplined, but we’ll deal with that later. For now, I need to ensure she’s safe while I let her have her tantrum.
She darts into my room and looks around before turning around and running past me back toward the living room. When she reaches the front door and grabs the knob, I decide that’s taking things too far.
I close the distance between us in two strides, wrap my arm around her middle from behind, and lift her off the floor.
She kicks her small feet back at my thighs and tugs on my arms. “Let me go.”
I say nothing as I hold her back to my front. With one arm resting under her breasts, I wrap the other around her waist. She can kick back all she wants. She’s not strong enough to injure me.
“Papi,” she screams. “Let me go.”
When she doesn’t settle, I resort to more nefarious means. I capture her earlobe between my lips and prick the soft skin.
She jerks her head to one side. “No. No no no. That’s not fair.”
I prick her neck next. The adrenaline rush combined with my serum will overwhelm her.
She struggles harder. “I hate you. Stop it.”
That hurts my heart, but I know she doesn’t mean it. I’m out of options now, though. I don’t want her to injure herself, so I take the easy route and sink my quill into her shoulder to release a different serum and put her to sleep.
She gasps and twists her head to look at me. “You didn’t.”
I turn her around in my arms until I’m cradling her against my chest as she quickly falls asleep.I did.
ChapterTwelve
Janie
The first thing I notice as I come out of a deep sleep is that I’m too warm. I realize I’m in Papi’s arms. I don’t usually sleep in his arms, so I’m confused.
The second thing I notice is that I’m suckling my pacifier, viciously.
The third thing I realize is that I’m hungry. Why that occurs to me so quickly, I don’t know. Probably because Thabo has my meals so regulated that missing one is incredibly obvious.
Why did I miss a meal?
I stiffen as my memory comes back. The realization that I’m meant to submit to Thabo as his Baby girl at all times for eternity. The panic I felt and the need to show him I won’t get hurt and the tantrum.
He pricked me.