Linc narrowed his gaze. Shoot. Had she messed up?
“Sorry,” she said quickly. “Should I not ask those sorts of questions?”
“It’s not that you shouldn’t ask them. But it’s not something we would talk about with people who don’t live on the ranch. You’ve heard the rumors going around about the ranch from Mrs. Long.”
Oh. About the men spanking women on the ranch and not letting them do anything without permission.
“Abby seems really happy here. Not like she’s being held against her will or anything. Although she did say she was going to get in trouble if she didn’t get home and rest. Does that mean Kent would spank her?”
He’d just taken a sip of beer and he started to choke.
“Are you okay?” She jumped off her chair and rushed into the kitchen to pour him a glass of water. She handed him the glass, lightly patting his back as he sipped it. He placed it down then pushed his chair back. To her shock, he grabbed hold of her, bringing her onto his lap.
“Right. You need to eat. Or it won’t be Abby who has a red bottom.”
Her mouth dropped open at his words. “You’d spank me?”
He forked up some shepherd’s pie, feeding her. He didn’t answer until she ate it.
“First, answer a few questions for me. Are you a Little, Marisol?”
He’d answered her question. She couldn’t do any less, right? “I think so. But I’ve never had a Daddy. I don’t really know how it all works in real life. Or what I’ll like or dislike. Reading about something doesn’t mean I want to do it.”
He fed her again. “I get that. What do you like to read about?”
“I guess I’ve always loved books with protective men. It didn’t have to be a love interest. Books where the older brother or a friend took charge or protected the heroine has always been my thing. When I was fifteen, my aunt was reading this really sexy book. I remember being surprised because she didn’t read much.”
She looked away with a blush. “Turns out, she was using the book to get ideas for seducing husband number three or was it four? No, I think it was four. I’m not sure that number three could still, umm, get an erection.”
By now her face was flaming red, but he was listening attentively.
“Anyway, when she was done with the book, I decided to read it. She didn’t care. It had a lot of sex in it. Elements of power exchange. And spanking.” She looked down at the table. “I’ve kind of had an obsession with alpha heroes and spankings and punishments since.”
Marisol snuck a glimpse at him to see how he was taking this. But he didn’t say anything. His face didn’t change. “Then a few years ago, I found age play books. It finally clicked with me. I loved the more nurturing side of the power exchange. And I also identified with the submissive. The Little.”
She ate another mouthful. “I didn’t have much of a childhood. There were no stable, long-term influences in my life. I can’t remember my mom. My dad left before I was born. There are times when I feel like I have always been an adult.”
She pinched the top of her nose.
“Headache?” he asked.
“A little bit.”
“You need rehydrating.” Placing the fork down, he reached across the table and grabbed her glass of water. But instead of handing it to her, he held the glass to her lips.
It was the sort of thing that she thought she shouldn’t like, but did. Him taking care of her in small ways. After she’d drunk her full, he drew the glass away and set it down.
“We need to watch that you’re drinking enough,” he muttered almost to himself. “Do you need some painkillers?”
“No. I think I’m just a bit tense.” She glanced away, thinking. “I don’t remember a time where I didn’t have something to worry about. Where I could be carefree. Where I could give over decisions and worries, even if just for a short time, to someone else. The idea of watching cartoons while eating cookies and crafting, it seems bizarre to some, I’m sure. To me it sounds like heaven. Having someone that I could actually rely on, who I could trust. Who would care about me, my best interests. I’ve never had that. Not for any length of time, since Harry.”
“What about giving someone else control? Having rules to follow? Consequences if you don’t? Do you want that as well?” he asked.
“I think so,” she whispered. “It’s not just that I’ve never been in an age play relationship. I’ve never been in any sort of relationship. I’m not good with people. I’ll probably mess it up.”
“Nobody said that,” he told her sternly. “Did your aunt have rules for you?”
“I’m to work for her. I’m to keep the house tidy. And I’m not supposed to take the car without permission. As a child, I just had to stay quiet and out of her way. Not complain.”