Moving a Little Heart (7 page)

"I'm Matt, your official big brother and the voice of reason in this circus. Damn, you're short. We need to get you a step ladder for hugs. Cute dress, by the way. You're just missing the frilly panties."

"They're back at the house."

"Are they making you wear it for Halloween?" he asked, plopping down on her couch and crossing his long legs. Baylor nodded, fidgeting with the short hem. Matt noticed and patted the cushion next to him. "Don't worry about your modesty, kid. I don't know if they told you, but Terry and I are partners. So what happened in there? Did Hayden forget to brush his teeth?"

"No," her response was bashful. "I just got scared."

"At what?"

"It's stupid. Do you want a soda?"

"Water, please. I live with those doofs. Just tell me."

"I've never really been kissed before."

"No? Maybe you should have let Jake break you in. We already know he can run his mouth, maybe he is good at using it in a different way."

Baylor shook her head. "No, I mean, it's not that. I was married before, and his kisses always made me want to wipe off my mouth. Hayden's were, well,
nice
."

"Okay, then why were you hiding and making them probe at you with a stick? Did they think you were a lizard living under a rock or something?"

"Who knows what those two think?"

"That is very true." Matt laughed heartily. "Spill it. You got spanked. You got kissed. And you ran. Why?"

A blush heated Baylor's face.

"Do you think I didn't see a handprint or two sticking out from under your little white panties? I know those dorks too well. Talk."

"Jake walked in."

"Yeah, so?"

"He walked in while I was kissing Hayden."

"And the problem?"

She stared at him. "Don't you get it? It's not normal to be attracted to two guys at once. It feels like I'm
cheating
or something."

"You do know that they are polyamorous, right?" Matt straightened his face.

"Yeah."

"Do you know what that means?"

"Yeah. I guess," she muttered.

"Let me explain something, B. The word means loving more than one. Jake and Hayden? Well, they are deeply committed to each other, and because of that, they have never had the notion that there is only enough room for one in their relationship. Think of it like this—look at me and Terry and how we fit into this picture. The four of us share a home and a life; we are a family. We each have a special role in each other's lives and, when a lover is brought in for the boys, T-Bear and I have a place that we belong. No one is excluded."

"It's just so strange to me."

"A poly relationship is strange to most people who don't understand it. It's not much different to a gay couple, when we publically declare our commitment to each other. By openly acknowledging a shared partner, the Paterson boys are declaring that they love, support and respect her. That doesn't change, even when she's cranky or weepy, and the daddy part of them comes to surface." Matt tweaked her nose. "For them, it would be unimaginable to hide the nature of their relationship or pretend she is just, well, a neighbor."

"Don't they get jealous? I would simply die if I saw one of them with another girl," Baylor admitted, ashamed. "I mean, we just started this thing that we are doing, and there wasn't supposed to be any romantic involvement. I've never done anything like this. What do you call it?"

"Age-play?"

"I guess. Anyway, I made it clear that I did not want any romantic involvement… and then I go ahead and throw myself at Hayden like I was a common whore. My ex father-in-law was right about me, after all."

"If your ex in-laws said that, then why do you give them power by believing it?"

"If it's the truth, then they already have the power," she said.

"Or does giving them the power turn a lie into the truth?"

"Are you a philosopher, Matt?"

"I am a student of life, nothing more."

"That's not what the boys told me. They said you are an instructor."

"I've learned to survive in some of the harshest environments in the world," Matt stroked her ponytail absently, "and none of them is as hard as a relationship that lacks trust. Give them a chance. Give us a chance."

He waited a moment while Baylor digested his words. She finally looked up into his long-lashed brown eyes and nodded.

"Okay, I'll try. I have one more question. Do you support this spanking shit?"

"Yes, ma'am. Now, as your big brother, my primary job is to help you make mischief." He elbowed her playfully. "But if I tell you something, I do expect you to listen to me. I'll put you across my knee in a second if you don't."

"This really isn't fair."

"Just be a good girl and you have nothing to worry about. Unless, of course the boys get into a mood."

"Should I be afraid to ask?"

"Yeah. Be afraid. Be very afraid." He stood up and extended his hand. "Let's go back home and exchange those plain panties for the frilly ones before the boys get any more ideas about reddening that backside of yours. It's very spankable, by the way."

"I don't even know how to respond to that," Baylor said, as she accepted his hand and rose to her feet.

"You don't have to," Matt said with a chuckle. He smacked her on the rump and led her out the door.

Baylor hid behind Matt as he pulled her into the living room, where the other three men were sitting on the couch and watching TV.

"Look what I found! The cutest little mouse that ever hid under a doormat."

"Baylor? I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable," Hayden said.

"You didn't make her uncomfortable. He did. Take her." Matt gently shoved her in Jake's direction. "It's your turn."

"His turn for what?" Baylor asked, confused.

Her question was answered by Jake's lips crushing against her own. Her legs wobbled and he caught her in his arms, slinging her around and then lowering her to the couch.

"Yikes," Baylor whispered, touching her mouth. She glanced around to see Hayden grinning. "What are you smiling about?"

"It's a major turn on watching you get all hot and bothered. I'm a kinky bastard, what can I say?"

"What do I have to do to stop the swearing around her?" Jake frowned.

"You could spank the midget every time one of us cusses," Terry suggested, wrapping his big arm around Matt's shoulders.

"Hey!"

"If you pull her panties down, I might just agree that's a good idea." Hayden laughed, shoving Baylor with his shoulder to get her to make room for him on the couch.

"Matt! Tell them to stop!" she demanded, deciding to play along.

"Can't."

"And why not? You said you're my official big brother. That means you need to protect me."

"And take away the fun of watching your adorable little ass turn nice and red while you squiggle? Nah," Matt said.

"This is so…"

"Not fair," all four men said together.

"She really
is
adorable when she pouts, isn't she?" Jake asked, pinching Baylor's cheek.

She smacked his hand. "Don't do that, you big old bully."

"Ha ha, she called you old," Hayden teased.

"I heard. Terry? You're the grandpa around here. What should I do?"

"I dunno, Jake." Terry shrugged, taking a bite of an apple. "Maybe get yourself a walker and some of those adult diapers?"

"And some Geritol and denture glue!" Matt added.

"Don't forget the wrinkle cream." Hayden snickered.

"What are you laughing about, Chuckles?" Jake jabbed his brother in the arm. "We're only a year apart."

"Only a year?" Baylor repeated. "I thought you were like ten years older or something. You act so
old
."

"That would make me Terry's age, and I am not ready to trade my motorcycle in for a wheelchair just yet."

"Them are fighting words, boy," Terry announced, cracking his knuckles.

Baylor found herself yelling alongside the other two as Jake and Terry began to wrestle on the living room floor. Matt elbowed her.

"Get some ice and let's cool them off," he whispered in her ear.

"Will we get in trouble?"

"
We
won't," Matt said. "You might."

"Oh, what the hell!"

She waited until Terry had Jake pinned down before sneaking up behind him. With an evil grin, she dumped a cup of crushed ice down the back of his shirt—which was, incidentally, tucked into his jeans. She jumped out of the way as Terry launched off the ground and tried to shake the ice from his clothing.

"Which one of you smartasses did this?" he boomed.

Matt and Baylor both pointed to the other. Unfortunately, Baylor still had the red cup in her hand, which she quickly hid behind her back at the same time as Terry noticed it.

"Did he put you up to it?"

They both answered simultaneously.

"Yes."

"No."

"He had to have. My little girl would never have done anything like that on her own," Hayden said, wrapping his arm around Baylor's shoulders. "Not when her butt's at stake."

"That's right," she agreed, fully enjoying the game. "I'm innocent."

"May I?" Terry asked Jake, who was still lying on the floor.

"Go for it."

"No!" Baylor squeaked, taking off in a dead run. Terry easily overtook her on the stairs, slung her over his shoulder, and brought her back into the living room.

"What a naughty little girl you are," he scolded, plopping her across his lap as he sat on the loveseat. He lifted the hem of the dress to expose her white cotton panties. "I like her wearing little girl clothes. It gives us easier access to her bottom," he declared, patting her wriggling backend.

"Nooo!" Baylor laughed, trying to escape by twisting and turning.

"Where do you think you're going?" Terry asked. "What you did was not very nice, and Uncle Terry needs to spank you for it."

"No, you don't! It was Matt's fault."

"Tsk, tsk. Blaming your big brother is not how a good little sister behaves."

"Blaming her brother is exactly what a little sister is supposed to do. Ow! Not so hard!" Baylor yelped, reaching back to protect her bottom.

Terry snatched her hand in his big, bear-like paw. "I love it when they offer us their hands like this, don't you?" he asked his audience.

"I was trying to
cover
my bottom, not… Owie!"

"We should do a gauntlet on her one day," Hayden suggested, as Terry landed another playful smack over Baylor's panty covered backside.

"What's a… OW! What's a gauntlet?" Baylor asked. "Let me go."

"I'll let you go when your bottom is nice and pink."

"How can you tell with those panties in the way?" Matt asked.

"Whose side are you on, anyway?" Baylor growled, as Terry popped her with four more smacks. Her bottom was actually starting to sting, but in a pleasant way.

"I always take my side," Matt stated. "Here, try this and see what she thinks."

Terry accepted a broad, wooden spoon from his friend, ignoring Baylor's genuine protests. "Hmm, is this new?"

"Yep. I made it during my trip from a piece of ironwood. Try it."

"Nonononooo…"

Terry wedged the panties between Baylor's cheeks and rested the flat back of the spoon on the crest of her bottom. A single swat sent her into a frenzy of movement.

"That thing hurts!" she yelled.

"I do like my spoons," Terry said, aiming for the other cheek. The swat caused the exact same reaction. "Guys, this needs to go into the arsenal."

"It leaves a nice blanch mark before turning color, doesn't it?" Hayden observed, touching the area the spoon had kissed. "I would hate to see what it would do if used for punishment."

"Please, let me go," Baylor begged.

Terry released her with a hug and a pat on the rear. She adjusted her panties and stood away from the four, her lower lip sticking out like a perch for some stray bird.

"You guys are so mean," she said, rubbing her stinging backside.

"You're welcome!" they responded.

"Hurry and finish dressing, Bay. It's almost time to go Trick or Treating," Jake said, rising from the floor and knuckling Terry's thigh.

"But it's broad daylight."

"He has to work tonight, so we're going to start early," Hayden said. "Need some help getting those frilly panties on?"

"No!"

Standing between the four men, dressed like Little Miss Muffet, Baylor felt very much like a little girl. They took her to the homes of their friends, the ones who had helped her move, and made her ring the bell and call, "Trick or Treat!" For someone who had never done this in her entire life, it was an adventure that Baylor was never going to forget.

Happy to have a woman in the area, particularly one who 'belonged' to the Paterson boys, all their male neighbors seized the chance to mess with her. Even in the light of day, Baylor screamed as she was snuck up on from behind, or a scary monster or twisted clown jumped at her from the concealment of a bush. She was the only 'trick or treater' in the all-adult neighborhood, so she soon found her bag loaded with candy and special gifts. Her escorts were also carrying bags filled with soda, beer and frozen steaks—hinting at another barbeque.

Baylor was disappointed when Jake announced it was time to return home. To her dismay, Terry hefted her trick or treat bag high above her reach, with a promise to rummage through it after Jake returned home from his shift the next morning.

"You look tired. Would you like to take a nap with me?" Jake asked with a yawn.

"I'm not sleepy."

"You don't have to sleep. Just lie down next to me. I need to grab a few hours or I won't be able to function tonight."

"Go on," Hayden urged. "After he leaves, we can make some popcorn and watch a movie."

Baylor glanced around the room, aware of the hopeful expression on the faces of her new family. With a sigh, she nodded and accepted Jake's hand.

"This is a little overwhelming for you, isn't it?" he asked kindly, as he wrapped his arm around her and snuggled her back into the spoon of his body.

"Yeah. But I think I'm getting used to it. I do like the play aspect. I've never had that before."

"I told you, didn't I? As long as you keep yourself out of trouble, you have nothing to worry about."

***

Baylor knew it was time to start worrying when Terry asked to see her weekly 'health' report. Because she had been so cooperative after the first week, he had gifted her with a reprieve from her nightly reports and shifted his monitoring to once a week. However, with Hayden and Matt called out to hunt down a lost hiker, and Jake working the night shift, Baylor had disregarded her meal and medication schedule.

She was working on taking pictures of a bug in her front yard when Terry came up from behind her, capturing her in a huge bear hug and lifting her off the ground.

"How was your day, Angel?"

"Huh? Oh, hi! I've been applying for jobs in the papers and some magazines. Jake is going to check with forensics to see if they have any openings coming up."

"Excellent. It's Friday."

"Yeah, so?"

"Where's my report?"

Baylor was silent. She sighed when he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. I got so caught up in everything that I forgot to write anything down."

"That's okay. Let me take a look at the glucometer. You have been monitoring your blood sugars, right?"

"I kind of ran out of strips," she confessed.

"Kind of? When?"

"About a week ago," she lied, feeling a sense of panic begin to rise under Terry's disapproving gaze. "Everything got misplaced in the move and I couldn't find the extras. I haven't done much unpacking because I've been hanging with you guys."

"You've been here for a month, young lady. Have you been taking your blood pressure medication?"

"I ran out of that a few days ago, too."

Terry's jaw clenched. "Are your daddies aware of this?"

Baylor gulped and shook her head, lowering her eyes to the ground. She truly felt like a little girl in the shadow of this monster-sized man. But he wasn't the one she was worried about. His spankings were always in play. Jake's were not.

"Jake is off tomorrow. You and I are going to have a little talk with him after he wakes up from his morning nap."

"Please don't say anything. He's going to be livid."

"I'm not going to say a word. You are."

"But, Terry—"

"You are grounded to your room until tomorrow afternoon. I will bring you something to eat; other than that, you are not to set foot outside your bedroom door until I come for you. There will be no watching television, talking on the phone, or playing on your computer."

"Terry, I am a grown—"

"Don't argue with me, young lady. Even I have a line that is not to be crossed."

The flicker in his eyes told her that he meant business, and she was not about to test the limits of his patience. There was no doubt in her mind that his punishments would be potent, especially since his primary targets were men involved in hardcore BDSM.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"I am, too. I'm afraid that you're going to be feeling what a real spanking is like, and I know you won't care for it one bit. Into the house with you, and get to your room right this minute."

His words rattled in her mind throughout the rest of the evening and well into the night. She found herself wishing that Matt was available to help her weasel out of the mess. He was good at conniving, and if anyone could devise a means of escape, he could. On second thought, he would probably back up Terry since it was her health at stake. Baylor plopped back on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Yeah, she was 'knee deep in rotten kimchee' this time.

A knock at her door startled her out of contemplation. It was Jake.

"Hey, babygirl. I just wanted to say goodbye before I left for work. Is everything okay? Usually you're at the house when I wake up."