by Moore, Tina
"Well then, how about after you finish, we go for a walk around the lake. It's beautiful this time of year," Stacey replied before quickly adding, "I'll see you in two hours by the south side dock," before hanging up. I knew she was bad news. I could feel it in my blood, but there I was, two hours later waiting for her. She reminded me of the woman I had spent months hiding from, the one who had taken me in and created a safe space for me to turn that space into a nightmare. I knew the look Stacey had in her eyes, I'd seen it before, but I couldn't seem to shake it. I decided it was best to stay away from her, and I turned around to go back to my car but saw her walking towards me. Damn, I thought to myself.
"Hi there," Stacey said, pulling me into her and kissing me on the cheek.
"Aren't you just the cutest," she said, holding my hand and taking a long look at me. I wasn't wearing anything particularly special, just some baggy jeans and a t-shirt, my hair in a ponytail and a navy cap. I had decided it was warm enough to wear my new orange flip flops so my toes where freshly pedicured. I guess I did look good, but she looked at me as though she was about to devour me, our opinions didn't match.
"Thanks," I said as she took my arm in hers and began slowing walking around the lake.
"Who hurt you, baby," Stacey suddenly said, breaking the silence and making me pull away from her, my guard going up instantly. I looked at Stacey, full of rage.
"What the fuck is your game?" I said, almost growling at her. Stacey's gaze softened from its usual playful challenge, and she slowly reached for my hand.
"I can tell I'm not the first person to call you baby, B," Stacey said tenderly.
"First of all, you don't know shit, and secondly, I'm out," I said, turning and leaving her standing alone.
I was almost back at my car when I heard her running after me. I had half a mind just to ignore her and drive away, but something made me stay. I turned around and saw her doubled over and panting.
"Just...wait," Stacey panted. I waited, but I also watched. I watched how to had to take deep breathes to regain her composure, I watched how she had to pace up and down with her hands on her head to get her breathing under control, but I watched how she changed from her usual arrogant demeanor to something kind and soft.
"Why do I excite you?" I asked just before she was about to speak. Stacey closed her mouth and looked at me, and I could tell she was tossing up, giving me an honest answer or not.
"Honestly, you look like prey, and I'm guessing that's what excites most people. Maybe even the one who hurt you. But I see more than that, and I don't want to hurt the small spaces of you," Stacey said, and I was happy she was honest. I looked down and thought about how to reply.
"So you want to love me, take me home and make me yours?" I said plainly.
"Something like that," Stacey replied, taking a step closer towards me.
"Don't," I said, making her stop.
"Gosh, you're just like a little pound pup all angry and snappy," Stacey said.
"Yeah, so back off and give me time," I replied, happy to see her nod her head and take a step back. We stayed like that, just looking at each other and resting in each other's energy.
"You wanna tell Mommy what happened baby?" Stacey said as the sunset. She had come to rest on the side of my car and had stood beside me, watching the sun dip behind the mountain range.
"Not really," I said, resting my head on her shoulder. She reached up and stroked my cheek affectionately and didn't seem to mind me flinching under her touch.
"I'm not going to hurt you, sweetheart," Stacey said, standing up and turning to face me.
"That's what she said too," I replied. Stacey waited for me to speak again, and when I didn't, she reached her hands into her pockets and rocked back and forth on her boot heel.
"Aren't you cold?" Stacey said shivering. I hadn't noticed the weather change until then.
"But I don't want to leave," I replied, giving her a chance.
"Then let's not, but could we go somewhere warm?" She asked. I liked that she asked me instead of just planning it. I nodded and unlocked my car, but she waited until I smiled at her and she got in.
"Where are you taking me, baby?" Stacey asked, reaching for my hair to stroke. I didn't flinch this time. I smiled and moved my head to find her hand.
"Mine," was all I said in reply. I drove in silence and Stacey seemed to think that was her cue for sharing her expertise with me.
"I've done this a couple of times before. I like having a baby to look after, and I knew you were a little girl the minute I saw you. I couldn't figure you out though like usually babies don't make me wait to love them. Usually, it's me pushing them away because they get too attached too quickly," Stacey said as I took a long way home. Not because I didn't want her in my space, but because I was enjoying her rambling and found her voice sexy.
"But you, you put me on ice straight outta the gate, and I figured someone like you ending up in a town like this wasn't for any good reason and when you were flinching before...I'm sorry someone hurt you," Stacey continued. I pulled into my driveway and turned to her, turning the car off.
"It wasn't just someone. It was a list of someone' because I let them. I'm trying to break that pattern. So, don't be like them, because I'm not trying to recreate my past anymore," I stated. Stacey nodded and followed me inside.
"I hope you know nothing is going to happen, Stacey, tonight," I said leading her through the house, giving her a quick tour.
"I know that. I honestly don't think anything will happen for a long while yet, but that's just fine with me," Stacey said. I couldn't believe how different she was to the absolute hurricane I had first met. Here she was calm, patient, and almost soothing.
"Here," I said, passing her a beer and clinking the top of hers with mine. She smiled and drank deeply before looking at me.
"So, I grew up here, but my family comes from upstate. They moved here when I was three so this town is all I know. I've gone overseas on holidays, but I always come back, it's got that magical feel to it," Stacey said, giving me the knowledge I didn't ask for. She looked at me, and I took a deep breath knowing it was my turn now.
"I grew up on the east coast, I'm not telling you where, and I moved here to escape a person who used being a 'Domme' as a cover up for being simply, abusive," I replied taking another sip of my drink. I could tell she wanted more and decided I'd allow her to have her answers I continued.
"She took punishments way too far for me, isolated me from my friends and said awful things about my family. She didn't listen to my concerns and didn't respect my limits and tried to dominate the things I didn't submit to her. She wasn't like that at the beginning so I stayed with her thinking that she'd go back to who she was when we first got together and it took me way too long to realize that she was never kind or caring or loving, that it was just her way to lure me in," I replied. Stacey had finished her beer by the time I had finished telling her my story, and she listened fully, making me nervous about having someone so present.
"That's worth hiding from," Stacey replied. I like that she didn't try to touch me. I looked at her, and she smiled at me, making my heart flutter.
"And there you were, with all your bravado and confidence do you see why I ran from you?" I asked, making Stacey laugh.
"Bravado?" She questioned, nodding her head, accepting my judgment.
"Well, bravado aside, I've liked this. We should do it again sometime," Stacey said, getting up and heading to the door, not wanting to stay her welcome out. She reached for the door handle, and our hands touched as my hand found it's placed on top of hers, making her turn to me.
"Don't," I said this time making her unsure of what I was meaning. Stacey didn't seem to mind as I took her hand and led her to my room.
"B, I," Stacey started to say but was cut off by my kiss. I liked that she tried to push me back before she got lost in my kiss and reached around to hold me close to her. Her breath was hot on my neck as she held my head and kissed down m
y body.
"You are beautiful," she whispers stopping herself as she grabbed the top of my jeans pulling a fist of denim passionately wanting to be let in but accepting when I shook my head no.
"Feel this," Stacey said, taking my hand and placing my fingers on her pulse.
"I'm racing," she added, making me pull away slowly and look at her.
"You stopped," I said happily making her confused.
"Of course I did," Stacey replied as if it was the only option in the world.
"You asked me to, remember?" She said, making me laugh.
"Yeah, I'm just happy you did," I said, sitting on my bed.
"I'm not a rapist; only rapists don't stop. You can't call them anything but that if they don't stop when you ask them too little one," Stacey said, laying down next to me. She pulled me close, and I snuggled into her, noticing her sweet perfume for the first time. I buried my face between her warm breasts and let her stroke my hair as she slowly rocked me.
"I know you're going to be guarded for a long while yet baby girl, but Mommy is here now and I'll wait for you, always," Stacey said lovingly. I giggled and pulled away to look up at her.
"That should be your campaign slogan, you could be like, vote one for Mommy," I playfully said, resulting in hearing Stacey's hearty laugh and feeling her tickle my tummy.
Baby Girls Get Sippy Cups
"Last drinks," came the routine call from Lacie, the bar owner of the 67th. The 67th was the only bar for miles on a strip of dirt that called itself a road, in the middle of two towns. The 67th had been in Lacie's family for generations, and anyone in 100 miles could tell you about their own story of the 67th.
"To the big fella," someone yelled, and the local crowd raised their glasses to the photo of Lacie's Dad which hung over the beer taps. This always happened after the last drinks were called, and she had grown to love the way her Father was remembered. Closing the bar, Lacie walked out to the carpark and smiled up to the stars. Her Father had been gone for five years now, but every night it felt like he was still there, shining in the bright stars over the desert dunes and wiping their faces with sand as he used to with the bar towels. He was always so playful like that, Lacie thought as she sat on her motorbike.
"See you all tomorrow," Lacie said to a group of men still talking out the front as she revved her bike, driving off into the early morning sun as before she could hear their replies.
Lacie tiredly walked into the tattoo parlor a few hours later and fell asleep while her right half sleeve was finished.
"Only Lacie could fall asleep while getting ink done," the artist said laughing as she worked. She left Lacie in the seat for the next 5 hours knowing she would be working again that night.
"Whoa, guys you should have woken me up, sorry," Lacie said sleepily waking up as a customer came in making the bell chime.
"You're right, don't even worry about it," the artist who did Lacie's sleeve replied, receiving a large tip. She looked at Lacie questioningly.
"It's sleep money," Lacie said, laughing before she walked out and got on her bike. She drove to the bar; she knew she didn't have to work for a few hours but didn't mind going in early; it hardly felt like work. It was more how she spent her life. She liked the local guys and their stupid traditions, ongoing pool and darts competitions and jokes. She liked watching the newly legal kids rock up and try to fit in, nervous about being there or overconfident to try and hide their nerves. She liked watching lovers and fly throws, the people that needed a drink and people that used it as medicine. She liked it all, and yet; it felt hollow. It didn't matter how those nights were filled, who she gave free drinks too, who she made sure got home safe or who she threw out when the lights got turned off, and the sun came up, it was like she had been in a dream.
Lacie restocked the bar and waited for her 7 pm regulars, setting up their snacks in their spots knowingly. She had turned around to pour herself a shot of tequila and choked on it as she turned back to see a blonde hair girl with brown eyes staring back at her.
"Jesus girl," Lacie coughing and hitting her chest to push the alcohol down. The girl looked down and giggled making Lacie smirk back once she had stopped coughing.
"I'm going to need some ID sweet thing," Lacie said, shaking her head, disbelief that this girl could be a minute older than 21. The girl rolled her eyes just adding to Lacie's amusement and slid her ID over the bar.
"Some face you've got there," Lacie said quickly calculating the girl's 26 years of age.
"Yeah, I get that a lot," the girl replied. Lacie leaned back against the shelf of spirits and slung the bar towel over her shoulder.
"What'll it be then?" Lacie asked. She saw a couple of regulars make their way in and was happy they knew better than to interrupt her.
"What am I allowed?" The girl replied, making Lacie bite her bottom lip and raise an eyebrow.
"It'll be cocktails all night then, think you can handle that?" Lacie replied. The girl took out a black Amex and flicked it across the bar.
"Can you?" The girl said making Lacie laugh as she began making the girl's first drink.
As the night progressed, Lacie made it very clear who her priority was and was happy most people respected that. The locals ordered but didn't make a point of overstaying their welcome at the bar, and Lacie was happy the sweet girl she was happily getting drunk turned down the people who asked her to dance.
"Are you turning them down because you can't dance or are you worried I'll kick your drunk ass out when you try to stand and fall back down again?" Lacie teased making the girl take a piece of ice and throw it at her.
"My my baby girl, you are naughty," Lacie said, taking the girl's chin in her hand and making her head shake. Lacie watched as the girl's drunk eyes settled back before she pushed her hair back affectionately.
"I reckon you're done after that one sweetpea," Lacie said, handing the girl, who she had learned was called Cleo, her card back. She never had any intention of charging for this night. Unknowingly, Cleo smiled and put the card back into the top pocket of her denim overalls and happily accepted the water Lacie replaced her unfinished cocktail with.
"This had been fun," Cleo said as she stumbled getting up.
"But I need to go," she added. Lacie nodded knowingly.
"Yeah, I was wondering how long you'd last. The bathroom is just behind that wall there," Lacie said, pointing around to the corner making Cleo laugh.
"No I mean I need to go home," Cleo said making Lacie wonder how she could hold all those drinks.
"I can't let you drive home sweetie," Lacie said, snapping her fingers to a guy at the booth who stood up and came to the bar.
"Lock it up for me, I'm taking her home," Lacie said and the guy, her cousin, nodded and began to get to work.
"You don't have to, I can just catch a taxi," Cleo said, holding onto Lacie as she led her out of the bar.
"Doubt it, there's no taxi's at this hour baby," Lacie said going to her bike.
"Here," she said, helping Cleo on. She felt Cleo's body resting on her as she slowly drove off and reached her strong arms around Cleo's body, pulling her close as she turned into the street address Cleo had given her.
"Nice digs," Lacie said, turning the bike off and helping Cleo off.
"Thanks," Cleo sleepily said.
"You can't come in," Cleo said nervously, suddenly very awake.
"Alright, I won't," Lacie said, laughing, wondering why Cleo was so nervous.
"It's not that I don't want you to it is just that. Um, I, my house is messy," Cleo said, obviously trying to find any reason as not to allow Lacie in.
"What do think I would do? Just barge in and set up camp?" Lacie said, kissing Cleo on her forehead.
"I'm glad you're home safe, bring your cute self back to mine some time," Lacie said, turning on her heel and heading back to her bike. Cleo stayed standing by the front door as she watched Lacie drive off into the night before she quickly opened her door and felt her diaper become wet und
er her overalls.
Lacie hadn't seen Cleo for a couple of weeks and had all but given up having a second chance with her when Cleo was suddenly sitting in front of her one quiet night.
"Jesus, will you stop doing that," Lacie said, once again chocking on her drink.
"I am just sitting here, you're the one who is not aware of what's going on around you," Cleo said cheekily.
"Is that so," Lacie replied. Cleo smiled and pointed to the premixed drinks in the fridge.
"No cocktails tonight?" Lacie laughed as she passed Cleo a pink bottle of premixed vodka and raspberry flavoring.
"No, definitely not!" Cleo exclaimed sipping her drink and looking at Lacie.
"I felt it you know," Lacie said taking a gamble. The night she had ridden Cleo home, she had felt the softness of her diaper when she had turned into the corners and held Cleo close. Knowing she was right in her guess by Cleo's fearful eyes and stunned silence, Lacie smiled.
"You don't have to be worried, I think it's cute," Lacie said making Cleo breath again but look around nervously.
"As if I'd out you little girl," Lacie said, placing her hand on top of Cleo's, happy when she didn't pull away.
"Is that why you didn't want me to come in?" Lacie near whispered. Cleo nodded her head and looked down.
"I kinda don't know what I'm doing with it, I'm sorta new," Cleo whispered back.
"I don't think there's a right or wrong way baby, there's just your way," Lacie said tenderly making Cleo smile and sit back.
"So, what now?" Cleo said, wondering what all this meant.
"Hold that thought," Lacie said as she spent the next 20minutes serving an out of town football team who seemed to make it their nights mission to drink the bar dry.
When Lacie turned back to where Cleo had been sitting, she saw an empty chair. Rushing out from behind the bar, she ran out to see Cleo leaning on her bike.
"Baby," Lacie said involuntarily, relieved Cleo wasn't gone.
"Want to go?" Lacie asked as she walked over to Cleo, who was nodding her head.
"Can I come in this time?" Lacie asked buckling a helmet under Cleo's chin.