Sweet Tooth (Little Cakes, #11)(27)

“Honey, I know you’re embarrassed, but there’s no reason to be. No one is judging you, Elizabeth. Please open the door?”

Elizabeth finally unlocked the door and slowly eased it open. She took a deep breath. “I’m truly sorry for my behavior last night,” she said without looking the woman in the eye. “I don’t know what came over me. I hope you won’t blame Tom for my oddness. He’s a great guy. I’m the one who’s—”

Susan reached out and stroked Elizabeth’s cheek. “Little?”

Elizabeth’s breath hitched. She lifted her gaze.

Susan was smiling so kindly. “No need to apologize for who you are, honey. There’s nothing wrong with being Little.” She took a step closer, filling the doorway. “I understand because I’m Little too.”

Elizabeth’s heart stopped. She blinked several times. Her mouth fell open, but no words came out.

Susan nodded. “So is Mary. The gene skipped Margaret, but she would never kink shame anyone. She’s known about her sister and her mother for many years.” Susan shrugged. “She’s still submissive. Her husband is a strong Dom, but they have a different dynamic. I don’t fully understand theirs, and she doesn’t fully understand mine, and that’s fine.”

Elizabeth swallowed hard. She thought she might faint.

“I assume you ran off because you were embarrassed?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Mortified.”

Susan smiled before she took another step closer and pulled Elizabeth in for a hug. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. I hate that you felt that way. No one in our family will ever judge you for living your life the way you’re most comfortable.” She leaned back and held Elizabeth by the shoulders. “I’ve suspected Tom took after his dad for years, but we never specifically discussed it until last night. I’m so glad he found the perfect woman to be his soulmate.”

Elizabeth gasped. She shook her head. “I’m not perfect. I’m a mess. I can’t be anyone’s soulmate. I’m sure he’s furious with me.”

Susan shook her head. “He’s not angry, Little one. He’s scared and so worried about you.”

“Where is he? I came over to apologize and he never came home.”

“He spent the night outside your apartment. It never occurred to him you might come here. He refused to leave until you came home. He was probably close to calling the police because he was so worried.”

Elizabeth fidgeted her fingers in front of her, staring down at them. “I didn’t mean to scare him,” she murmured. “I was waiting for him, and I fell asleep. I wanted to apologize.”

“Come on. Let’s get you something to drink. I bet you’re thirsty.” Susan threaded her fingers with Elizabeth’s and led her toward the kitchen.

Elizabeth was struggling to think what to say. She was too stunned to piece this all together. Susan was Little? So was Mary? They knew? They didn’t care?

“Are you sure Tom isn’t mad at me?” she asked in the Littlest voice she’d ever heard.

“Not at all.” Susan pulled out a chair from the table. “Sit, honey. Would you like some juice or some milk?”

“Juice, please.” Why did she feel so Little? It was irrational. She was with Tom’s mom. The woman was caring for her as if she were a Mommy instead of a Little.

As if she’d read Elizabeth’s mind, Susan turned to glance at her as she pulled apple juice from the fridge. “I raised five kids, honey. I’m a mother. I’m very nurturing. I loved every minute of having a house full of kids, and I still do now that they’re all adults. I love that they’re finding their significant others and one day my five kids will be more like ten or maybe more.” She shrugged. Was she suggesting one of them might have more than one partner?

Susan pulled a sippy cup down from the cabinet and filled it with juice before screwing the lid on and bringing it to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth took it from her, so out of body it was hard to focus.

Susan sat in the chair next to hers. “My point is that I love mothering my kids and their partners. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like to lock my bedroom door at the end of the day and let Cecil Daddy me. It fills my soul. It energizes me and makes me a better mother when I get up the next day. It hasn’t always been easy, but Cecil and I have found a way to honor our preferred kink at least part of every day for our entire marriage.”

Elizabeth finally lifted the cup and took a sip of juice. She was still in shock as she heard Tom’s truck pull into the driveway. She couldn’t imagine what was going to happen next, but she needed to be brave and face her fears.

Was it possible all her worrying had been for naught?

It was also possible she had alienated Tom by running away from him and not giving him a chance to explain.

She hoped not because right about now all she could think about was sitting in his lap and letting him rock her until she felt like she might be able to live through this trauma.





Chapter Thirteen





“Elizabeth,” Tom called as he ran into the house.

“We’re in here,” his mom called from the kitchen.

Tom burst into the room and walked immediately to Elizabeth’s chair, dropping to his knees beside her. To his relief, she threw herself into his arms. He hugged her tight and whispered, “I thought I’d lost you.”