T
he afternoon had gone much more smoothly than the morning, and Max had only to cock an eyebrow at Izzy and point toward her dress in warning to pull her away from the puppies. They had played games with other Littles on the playground, and gone to a party, where he had indulged her with far too many goodies and sweet treats. After a quick stop at the gift shop for bubble bath and a large pink rubber duck, they were headed back to the room.
“Now remember, Izzy,” he warned with his hand on the doorknob. “The rules are different today. When we step through this door, you are still Daddy’s little Izzy. Right now, Daddy’s little Izzy is going to have a bubble bath and maybe a cartoon after, but that can easily be adjusted if you don’t cooperate.”
“I remember!” she whined. “Open the door. I want bubbles. Flicker slobbered all over me!”
Confident that she was deep in Little space and would stay there, Max opened the door and led her inside.
“Okay, into the bathroom we go,” he instructed, happy when she bounced in there ahead of him and sat on the toilet to watch him as he drew the water and added a generous amount of bubbles. When the tub was filling and the bubbles were rising, he turned his attention to Izzy.
Taking off her headband, he placed it on the counter and stood her up, facing away from him, while he worked the buttons on her dress and pulled it over her head. Then came the panties, shoes and stockings.
When she was naked, it took everything in him not to touch her, but she was Little now, and he had worked hard to get her there. He wasn’t going to jeopardize that just because he was weak.
“Okay, into the tub,” he announced, patting her bottom. “And be careful, it’s slippery.”
“Oh Daddy, you’re silly. I’m fine,” she answered gleefully as she slid down into the water with a splash. The bubbles covered her naughty bits and he breathed a little easier.
Shutting off the water, he handed her the duck and picked up a washcloth from a pile nearby. “Daddy needs to wash you, little one.”
“Play first!” she exclaimed, splashing the water. Droplets flew up and hit him in the face, and soaked the collar of his shirt.
“Oh you!” He pretended to scowl. “I’m going to need a wardrobe change after this too, huh?”
“Yup!” Gripping the duck by the top of its head, Izzy slammed the toy against the water, covering it in bubbles and creating a wave in the large tub.
“Be careful or you’re going to get water all over the floor and have a big mess to clean up.”
Izzy looked up at him, blinking innocently. Mischief sparkled on her face. “But Daddy,” she protested. “Splashing is the fun part, and I’m just a little girl. Little girls don’t hafta clean up big messes. That’s what Daddies are for.”
Oh, she had him there. For a minute, Max considered scolding her and telling her that she would indeed have to clean it up, but she was being so cute and little, he decided to let her have her fun. That was the whole point of this exercise, getting her to remember to rely on him. If that meant he had to clean up a big water mess, then so be it.
Matching her mischievous grin with one of his own, he reached into the tub, holding the washcloth, like he intended to start washing her, and instead, dropped it beneath the bubbles and flicked the water with his hand, splashing her neck and chest.
“Daddy!” Izzy exclaimed, her mouth open in shock. “That was naughty!”
Max laughed and flicked the water again. “Oh, so it’s fun when you do it, but naughty when I do it?”
“Yes, ‘zactly,” Izzy answered with a decisive nod. “Little girls are supposed to be silly and have fun, and Daddies are supposed to be boring and ’esponsible.” Her speech was getting littler and littler by the minute. Max couldn't be more pleased, and Izzy seemed to be enjoying herself as well.
Giving her a sad sigh, he shook his head. “Okay,” he agreed. “Back to being a boring and responsible Daddy, I guess. That means you get a few more minutes to play, and then it’s time for me to wash you up.”
“Okay,” she agreed happily, barely looking at him as she bounced her duckie in and out of the bubbles, singing softly to herself.
While she played, Max retrieved his abandoned washcloth from the bottom of the tub, wrung it out, and lathered it with body wash.
“Time to wash off all that puppy slobber,” he announced, waving the washcloth in the air as he advanced toward her with it.
Izzy squealed and splashed as she tried to get away from him. “No washcloth monster! I like my puppy slobber! Lemme alone! I’m playing!”
“Washcloth monster!” he yelled, placing it on the crook of her neck and rubbing softly. “Do you know what washcloth monsters like to eat for lunch?” Max teased, playing along as he dragged the soft cloth around her neck and down her collarbone before plunging it into the soapy water to rinse.
“Little girls?” Izzy shrieked as she wiggled around the tub, dodging his hand.
“What?” He frowned and shot her a confused look. “No, silly! They eat dirt and grime.”
He reached for her once more and she shoved his hand away. “I’m not dirty. The bubbles washed it all off, see?” She arched her back, bringing her body half out of the water, and he bit back a moan. “I’m squeaky clean!” she announced.
“Okay, princess.” He gave in with a sigh and handed her the washcloth. “You have to wash your princess parts, and let Daddy wash your hair at least,” he told her, reaching for the shampoo.
She obeyed, splashing and singing all the while, while he dutifully washed, rinsed, and conditioned her hair.
“There you go, princess. Now you are squeaky clean and smell like peaches. Let’s get you out of here before you become a wrinkly little raisin girl.”
He helped her out of the tub and wrapped a fluffy towel around her, blow-dried her hair, and got her dressed in a frilly nightgown he had purchased from the gift shop.
“Now brush your teeth, and then Daddy will tuck you in.”
“I don’t want to go to bed!” She stomped her foot, and he could see she was getting ready to pitch a fit.
Before she had a chance, he lifted her nightgown and landed a half dozen swats on her bottom.
Turning her around to face him, he regarded her sternly. “It’s bedtime. Now, do you want a bedtime story? Or a bedtime spanking? Your choice.”
He saw the war play out on her delicate face and waited. Finally, she sighed and reached behind her to rub her bottom ruefully. “A story.”
“That’s what I thought. Go brush your teeth.”
This time, she obeyed. While he waited, Max undressed, pulled back the covers and climbed on top of the bed to wait for her.
The Izzy who came out of the bathroom was not the same Izzy who’d gone in. She was subdued, and sleepy and eager for her story as she climbed into bed.
Max tucked the covers around her, and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.
“You did so good today, little one.”
She smiled up at him. “It was a fun day, mostly. I like you taking care of me.” She paused and frowned. “But I’ve had enough of Little time, I think. Do I gotta be little again tomorrow?”
“No, sweet girl. Tomorrow is our last day at the Castle. We will have a nice relaxing morning in the room, and you can be whatever age you want.”
“Good. I think I’ll want to be Big tomorrow,” she decided. “But right now, I want my story.”
Max pulled her close, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and leaned back against the pillows.
“Once upon a time…”