She took a deep breath in, then another. She stared over at Zac then to Lara. “You weren’t going to hurt her. I knew that. I did. I just…” She ran her fingers through her hair. “Oh no, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I did that. I’m so sorry.”
Ink drew her close and she buried her face into his chest. He could feel her shaking. Picking her up, he gave Zac a small nod. The other Dom looked down at Betsy in worry. Lara moved up to his side and he wrapped his arm around her.
He carried her into the quiet room. Luckily, it was empty. He snagged one of the blankets that sat on top of a chest and walked to the rocking chair, where Littles who enjoyed bottles were often fed.
Sitting, he settled her on his lap and tucked the blanket around her.
“Soft.” She grabbed a piece of the blanket and rubbed it against her cheek. Liked soft things, did she?
He started rocking, just holding her tight, letting her feel the safety of his arms. Gradually, her shaking stopped. He wanted to press her for answers. To discover why she’d reacted the way she had but he forced himself to hold back.
Damn, it was difficult, though.
“I’m so sorry, Daddy.”
“I know, button. It’s all right.”
“I interfered. Isn’t that naughty?”
He paused, thinking that through. Under normal circumstances, possibly. But it had been clear Betsy hadn’t really been in the room with them. Something else was going on.
“Generally, yes. But I get the feeling that it wasn’t really Lara and Zac you were seeing. You know he wouldn’t really hurt her, right?”
“I know. I do. I just, when I heard him talk to her that way, I flashed back to a memory…”
Fuck. Fuck.
“Tell me.”
“Mama, she had a number of gentleman callers. Her words. But many of them weren’t gentlemen. And one of them, he…he hurt her. I saw the bruises, but I didn’t understand, not until I woke up one night to yelling. I walked down to the living room to see him standing over her, his arm raised. I ran forward, tried to get between them. He hit me. I don’t know if he meant to or whether I just got in the way. I slammed against the wall. I remember my mother screaming at him. And then the police turned up. I think the neighbors must have called them. He never came back.”
“Button, I’m so sorry.”
“Me too,” she whispered. “I didn’t always get on with Mama. Most of the time she was a hard person to care about. But I did love her. I didn’t want anyone to hurt her.”
“Of course you didn’t. You were a brave girl, standing up for her.”
The door to the room opened and she tensed as Zac and Lara walked in.
Betsy sat up and he reluctantly let her. “I’m so sorry Master Zac, Lara, I don’t know why that set me off. I think because I think of Lara as my friend and I don’t have many of those. I just reacted without thinking. I understand if you don’t want to be my friend anymore.”
Ink stiffened. They better not fucking reject her.
He need not have worried. Lara raced forward and practically threw herself onto Betsy’s lap so Ink had two Littles on his lap.
Betsy let out a small oomph then laughed as Lara peppered her face with kisses.
“Love you, boo,” Lara told her. “And I’ll always be your friend.”
Betsy glanced over at Zac who still stood back by the door. “Master Zac?”
He gave her a gentle smile. “It’s okay, Betsy. I’m glad Lara has such a good friend. But I wish you had a bit more faith in me.”
It was just a gentle scolding. Ink still wasn’t sure he liked it and he sent the other man a warning look.
“If it’s any consolation, it wasn’t you I was seeing. I promise.”
Zac nodded then held out his hand. Lara rushed towards him. “Bye Betsy, see you next week.”
“Bye, Lara.” There was a sad note to Betsy’s voice that he didn’t like.
He ran his hand up and down her back and she snuggled into his chest. “What would you like to do now, button?”
“Can we….could we stay just like this for a while?”
“For as long as you need,” he promised. He started rocking again and she relaxed against him. “I have you. Daddy has you.”