A/N: So Chapter two is up. As I'm sure those reading both stories realize this story is a lot less crass than Strip My Heart. It will have sexual content in the future though. So be warning my prudish readers! 💕❤️
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When Puppy and I got up in the morning I sent him to get his work book.
He had resisted to all the tutors I hired so I decided to cut my loses and try to teach him myself. He had come to me uneducated, convinced he was stupid. It killed me to hear him thinking so lowly of himself. Especially when I knew he was capable of much more than he thought he was.
Puppy came back in the room, hugging the hard covered work book to his chest. "Uhm I tried to the stuff you left me with but... I can't remember my little letters."
I frowned, taking the book. His upper case letters were improving but they still held the skill level of a preschooler. Most of his lower case or "little" letters were scribbles. "Why didn't you ask Bailey? He was here with you all this time."
He pushed out his bottom lip. "Because I don't want him to know I'm stupid and can't read or write."
"You're not stupid. And these look like you tried really hard. I'm going to make you an example and you can spend the morning copying them over on this page okay?" I turned the page to a fresh pair of large lined paper. I marked it by folding over the corner and set it aside. "Why don't you get dressed while I take a shower?"
He nodded his head and I patted him on the bed before making the bed. It was the same comforter my first sub Danny picked out. He would make the bed every morning... Now I did it because I reminded me of him.
I took a short, cold shower. The day would be almost unbearable hot and it was nice to start out the day cold. As I finished I picked up the bottle of strawberry shampoo--Danny's shampoo.
I treasured it. I missed the sweet smell Danny would leave whenever I held him to my chest, burying my nose into his silky tresses. I can still hear his voice reminding me he was out of conditioner the morning before...before. I shuddered a bit to myself as pain stabbed into my chest.
I missed him so badly it hurt.
I squeezed the bottle, leaning my face over to inhale the scent. As usual tears prickled my eyes. I clenched my teeth.
I miss you Danny. I miss you so badly.
I capped the container putting it back on the shelf.
It's label had long since peeled away. It had been devastating but I finally conceded with the fact it was off and glued it in the scrapbook I had. It was full of all the bits and pieces he had left me. I kept the three books I had wrapped in plastic, sealed in a box under the bed. I didn't want light to fade a single item.
My therapist called it 'obsessive'.
I call it mourning.
***
Blue eyes watched me as I looked over his work book.
"Really good Puppy. Although your zs and ps are backwards and got your bs and ds mixed up."
He looked down. "Okay."
"You're doing very well though Puppy. Why don't we work on it tonight and give your brain a little break?"
He smiled. "Okay. Maybe I can make you lunch?"
"That's very kind of you Puppy but Lisa made cookies and I ate about four. Maybe next time, okay?"
He nodded his head. Truthfully I was starving but I knew I couldn't stomach another obscure sandwich spurred from Puppy's good intentions. "Go put it away and you can go outside."
"Is Bailey here?" He asked excitedly.
"No. Remember what Kyle said? He won't be back until Wednesday next week."
His face visibly fell. "Oh."
I ruffled his hair. "I'm sure you can keep yourself busy without Bailey here. Just try not to get under anyone's feet alright?"
He nodded his head.
***
I was more than happy to step into the air conditioned house that evening.
Puppy had retreated from the heat a few hours after wandering the property. I found him in his room, sitting on the floor in front of the air conditioner watching TV.
"Must be nice to be all cool and relaxed all day," I teased.
Puppy spun around to look at me, cheeks red. "I'm sorry!" He said instantly.
"Don't worry about it," I chuckled. "I was just teasing."
I shifted a mound of stuffed animals and sat on the bed. There was a good two weeks were getting Puppy to sleep in here was impossible and every night was a fight. He finally relented and now was more than comfortable sleeping alone.
Puppy crawled up beside me. "You're sticky," he commented.
"I know. I'm all sweaty and gross," I frowned. "I'm going to take a shower in a minute."
"You don't have to! We can just lay and watch tv!"
"I don't want to get you all sweaty too. I'll be back in a few minutes. Why don't you get your work book?"
He whined in refusal, shaking his head. I paused in surprise. Sometimes Puppy resisted but he'd never really told me 'no' before. I asked again in a firm tone, no longer phrasing it as question. "Puppy get out your work book now."
"Scott, no." He argued, pulling away to slip back down to the floor.
There was no mistaking his disobedience this time. I sat up, taking the remote in hand and turning off the TV. "Put it back!" Demanded Puppy.
"You're about to get a spanking Puppy. Work book now."
"But I don't want to!" He wailed, falling dramatically to lie on his back, eagle spread. "It's hot and I'm tired and I just want to watch TV not write stupid letters."
"Well I'm not giving you a choice," I snapped.
I reached, lifting his body easily despite his resistance. He really was small for his age. I pulled him over my lap, holding him still with my forearm while I pulled his pants down.
Puppy began to cry then, apologizing profusely. Funny how he's sorry when he's about to be punished. But I had given him a warning. I couldn't back down. This was the first punishment I'd ever given him.
To I say I was anxious was an understatement. But he'd been with me for about a month now--it was bound to happen eventually. "Hush. You'll receive five for your disobedience. Can you count that?"
"Y-yes Scott."
"It's Sir right now Puppy."
His body grew rigid. "Yes Sir."
"Good boy," I praised, giving his bottom a comforting rub before I struck his bottom sharply.
He protested with a whine but counted. By the third was crying and by the fifth sobbing. I rubbed his back, pulling him against my chest. He pressed closer, further wetting my shirt win his tears. "It's all over Puppy. You did really good. I'm so proud of you." I placed a kiss at his hair line and then lifted his chin. "What's going on bud? You've never did 'no' to me before."
"I'm stupid," he sniffled. "I still don't remember the letters shapes and-and I only remember up to g--that's the one that comes after m right?"
It could be a learning disorder. "Maybe we should take a break for a few days?" I said after a moment. "You're probably just a little overwhelmed right now."
Puppy sniffled and nodded his head. He gripped my shirt, drawing my attention. "Do you forgive me?" He asked worriedly.
I smiled. "Of course I do. You're always forgiven after a punishment. Do you want me to tell you that?"
He looked away. "If-if you don't mind. It's that...Sir--er, Connor would tell me I was a bad boy. He never told me I was a good boy before he sent me away. I'm not, am I?"
My heart shattered as I looked into his blue orbs. How someone could deny this boy assurance was beyond me. I understood the body language change when I prompted him to call me 'sir' during a punishment.
It didn't do anything but remind him of the rejection he'd suffered.
"Of course you're not a bad boy Puppy. You're perfect. As for Connor--forget him. You're with me now. I'd never do anything to hurt you like that."
Puppy's first days with me were hard on him. Connor made him sleep in a kennel at the foot of his bed. He had to adjust to a bed in his own room as well as sleeping alone. Puppy hadn't been educated though that was partly due to his auction house past but Connor hadn't done anything to change it. Now he was struggling to learn the basics at eighteen. Connor made him eat from a bowl only the ground without silverware. Now Puppy was having trouble grasping the concept of a spoon. Connor forced new foods into Puppy too quickly. Now Puppy was unwilling to eat anything beside his nutritional oatmeal.
The affects were still seen today. With his learning difficulties, messy meals, and emotional dependency, Puppy could be a handful at times. But all subs were and I took solace in the fact that Puppy really needed me.
"Now I really need a shower," I explained. "You can turn the TV back on if you'd like."
Puppy did so hesitantly, bringing Milo with him.
His childlike interest in them was probably something to be discouraged. It meant he hadn't had a childhood so he was grasping at it now as well as finding comfort in them rather than opening up to other people. He hadn't reached the same maturity people his age should have reached. Bailey had asked me privately if Puppy was 'off'. He wasn't--he just wasn't at the same level. Then again I'm not exactly a psychologist so that probably wasn't the right diagnosis of the situation.
But Puppy was smart. He made good conversation and was just as aware and capable as those around him. He just processed things differently.
Bailey had accepted this and I could tell he was doing everything in his power to corrupt the boy. Puppy had a new word for me to define every day. The most recent was 'dildo'.
That was a fun one to explain.
With all that said, Puppy really was one of the sweetest, most innocent subs I'd ever met.
He was compassionate and caring to a fault. Once a lost cat happened upon the house. Puppy was devastated when he found out he couldn't keep it. He was terribly worried about his new friend Bailey and convinced that his Dom and my friend Kyle was 'just a meanie'.
His words. Not mine.
As I finished up my rinse and took in the heavily scent of Danny's shampoo I realized how different they were. Danny was a take-charge kind of Sub. One who forcefully put himself into a working position.
He even roped himself a stallion that I kept separated from the rest, in the same pen Danny left him in before he died.
I dried off, pulling on a pair of loose shorts.
It was an easy day. Everyone was gone at this point and the horses all stalled up for the night. This gave Puppy and I plenty of time to catch up. Back in the room I was pleased to see Puppy hunched over the work book, his back to the door. The TV was playing quietly in the background. Normally I wasn't a fan of the TV being on when he was working but he seemed to be doing perfectly fine.
Puppy would be fine, I surmised.
I looked over his shoulder and my stomach clenched.
His head his black marker and was scribbling feverishly on the page with all his work. I could see tear drops falling against the paper.
Or maybe not.