And she was awful.
His face popped over the edge of the sofa. “Found you.”
She buried her face in her knees.
“Come out?”
She shook her head. Nope. She wasn’t ready to face him yet.
“What happened?”
She shrugged. Speaking was beyond her right now. She wished she had Chompers. She needed the comfort.
She sensed him moving away. That was good. He should just leave her be. Suddenly the sofa was shifted. A gasp escaped her and she glanced up at him.
“What are you doing?” she asked
“You wouldn’t come to me, so I’m coming to you. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t deserve any of that stuff,” she whispered.
He sat facing her then reaching over, pulled her into his lap, wrapping his big arms around her. She wished she could just give in to the comfort he was offering.
“Why not?”
“I lied! I’m a terrible person and you should just send all this stuff back ‘cause I don’t deserve to be your temporary little girl.”
She’d lied? About what? Obviously, it was about something bad given her reaction.
He tensed, ready to push her away. He detested liars.
“I didn’t eat the omelet. I fed it to Mr. Fluffy instead. I’m sorry!” she wailed.
Wait. What?
That was the big lie? Not eating the omelet?
“Now you know I don’t deserve all these toys you bought me. I’m so sorry! You should send it all back as punishment. Or give it to a good Little girl.”
Dramatic little thing, wasn’t she? He thought it through for a moment. It wasn’t that big of a deal. But she did lie. And she had been sneaky. However, it wasn’t the end of the world either. There had to be a balance here.
He could scold her. But that didn’t seem like enough, not when she felt this guilty. He definitely wasn’t sending all of this back.
“Well?” she cried, drawing away to look up at him.
“What?”
“Are you going to send all this back? Or are you . . . are you going to send me away?”
Send her away? Was she insane?
Gently, he grasped her chin, tilting her face up. “I would never send you away. You did something naughty. But you didn’t betray me. You didn’t hurt anyone. This stuff stays. And you’re definitely staying. Understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Have you eaten anything?”
She sniffled. “A Twizzler and some M&Ms I had in my bag.”
He frowned. “That isn’t breakfast food. Skipping meals isn’t allowed.”
“I know. You really won’t give my toys to some better-behaved Little girl who deserves them?”
“I have a good Little girl who deserves them right here.”
She heaved a sigh. “I’m really not, Daddy.”
“You made a mistake. You’re still good.”
“So I gets to keep them all?”
“Yes.”
A bright smile flooded her face. Christ, he loved seeing her smile. “I’m not getting punished?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Oh.” She chewed her lip. “How am I getting punished then?”
“They’re three things you did wrong. Not communicating that you didn’t want the omelet. Lying about eating it. And skipping a meal to have candy instead. Five spanks for each transgression, so fifteen in total. Followed by fifteen minutes of corner time.”
Her mouth dropped open and then she gave him a pitiful look. “Isn’t the spanking enough, Daddy?”
“No. It is not.” And he was glad he’d added on the corner time. He thought that might be more of a punishment for her than the spanking since she’d have to stay still and silent. Not things she was good at.
“And you’ll give Daddy your candy stash.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Daddy, no!”
“I’ll make sure you don’t eat too much at one time.” He set her on the floor. Standing, he leaned down and helped her up. Then he gave her a sharp swat on the ass.
“Ouch! Are we starting my spanking now?”
“Nope. That’s an extra for saying you don’t deserve the things I bought you.”
“I don’t though. I’m only going to be here a short time. You shouldn’t have spent the money on me. Although I suppose you could keep them if you ever have another Little girl.”
The sadness in her face did strange things to his insides. He tried to harden himself against the feeling.
“There won’t be another girl after you. Never intended to have another one after Jacqui died.” He inwardly winced, knowing he could have worded that better.
But all she did was nod understandingly. “You sure you still want to do this with me? I get it if you don’t.”
“I don’t say or do things I don’t want to do.”
“If you want to stop, you’ll tell me?”
So he gave a sharp nod. “And if you want to stop, you’ll tell me.”
She smiled and nodded.
“What’s your safe word?”
“Sausage.”
“Good.” He took hold of her hand and led her over to one of the chairs in front of the desk. “Stay here. Gonna put the dog out. Don’t want him getting upset.”
Grabbing the dog, who was dressed in a top that had, I love my Mommy, written on it, he set him down out in the hallway. The puppy gave him a reproachful look as he shut the door.
He resisted the urge to apologize to him. Turning, he moved to the chair. Millie was right where he’d left her. Sitting on the seat, he patted his lap.
“Over you go.”
25
Oh hell.
Swallowing heavily, she looked at him nervously. He gave her a calm glance back.
“Do you think you don’t deserve this, baby doll?” he asked gently.
Okay, that wasn’t what she expected him to say. She’d almost thought he might grab for her, force her over his lap.
Instead, he was asking what she thought. What did she think?
That you most definitely deserve a spanking. That you need it to let go of the guilt.
“I deserve it,” she whispered and lay herself over his lap. She fleetingly worried about the sight she must make with her ample ass on display. Then he didn’t give her a chance to think anymore. He just grabbed the bottom of her skirt and raised it up over her ass.
“Eek!” she cried out.
“Spankings are on the bare unless we’re in public,” he told her as he drew down her panties.
Oh hell.
His hand touched her ass and she jumped, startled even though it was just a light touch. He rubbed then pulled his hand back, giving her a sharp smack.
She let out a small cry. More in surprise than pain. Another spank to her next cheek.
Two more. Smack! Smack!
Slap! Slap!
Her breath came faster, her pulse racing as her bottom grew hot. The spanks became heavier and she let out another cry. Two more and she started kicking her feet as the pain increased.
“Daddy!”
He paused. “Are you using your safeword?”
Was she? No. While the spanking was painful, it wasn’t anything she couldn’t take. And she had been naughty.
“No, Daddy.”
“Seven more.”
Smack! Smack!
She cried out again, unable to stop herself from wriggling around.
Slap! Slap!
Oh the last few really did hurt. Her bottom was throbbing by now. And she knew she wasn’t going to be comfortable sitting for a long while. But as he turned her over, and held her against his chest, careful to keep her weight off her hot bottom, she felt lighter.
The guilt was gone.
“Okay, baby doll?”
“Yeah, yeah, I am.”
He rubbed his big hand up and down her back. “Why’d you get a spanking?”
She snuggled into him. Ooh, this was nice. If she got held
like this every time she got a spanking she might have to earn more of them.
Bad Millie. You can’t act up just to get a spanking.
“For not eating my omelet and pretending I did. And for eating candy for breakfast.”
“Are you going to lie again?” His big hand squeezed one red bottom cheek.
“No, Daddy,” she squeaked, raising her hips up to try to get away from his grip.
“Good. Because do it again and the punishment will be harder. Went easy on you because it was your first spanking.”
Yikes. That was easy? Maybe she wouldn’t act up to get another spanking then.
“Gonna go make you something else to eat while you stand in the corner.” He grabbed hold of her chin, raising his face. “Take it you don’t like omelets?”
She wrinkled her nose. “It was more the spinach and mushrooms in it.”
“Right. My fault for not asking you what you liked in it first.”
“I still should have eaten it. I was rude. I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“Forgiven. How about scrambled eggs on toast? You like that?”
“No veggies?” she asked suspiciously.
“No veggies.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
He kissed her gently. “You’re a good girl, baby doll. And you deserve the world. Don’t ever forget that.”
* * *
Millie spent a painful fifteen minutes in the corner. Painful because she’d had to stand still, with her skirt up over her red ass and her panties down around her ankles.
And because she couldn’t talk. Oh, the horror. That was far harder than getting spanked. In fact, she’d rather have two spankings than experience corner time again.
That was for sure.
Now, though, she’d done her time, eaten the second breakfast he made her and they were back in his office with all those tempting boxes.
“I think we need to talk about the bag of counterfeit in my safe.” He shifted one of the end tables by the sofa then pulled up a section of the floor to reveal a safe.
“That is so cool! What do you keep in there?”
“Some cash. Not much else.” He opened it and pulled out the bag. It took up most of the room in the safe. Opening it, he examined it. “Shouldn’t keep this here. Should burn it.”
“Daddy, no! Dan will be so upset.”
He muttered something and set it back. “Figure something out.”
“Can I start opening things now? Please?”
“Go ahead, baby doll.”
With an excited squeal, she started opening packages.
“Wow! Oh Daddy, look at this! It’s so cool!” she yelled, ripping the packaging on the microphone. Then she moved to the karaoke machine. She oohed and aahed over the coloring pens and book. “And look at this! So cute!” She grabbed hold of a huge stuffed dinosaur. It was almost as big as she was. And she didn’t remember ordering it. “So, so cute!” She dived on top of it.
Suddenly, she realized Spike wasn’t saying much. Turning, she found him just watching her.
Darn it, Millie. What are you doing? You’re acting like a crazy lunatic over a big, stuffed toy.
“What you gonna call that huge beast?” He nodded over at the dinosaur.
“Daddy, there’s only one thing to call him.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Tiny!” She raised her arms into the air and giggled like a loon. Her giggles turned to cries of mercy as he tickled her to the ground. Mr. Fluffy got in on the act, barking and trying to pounce on her as he licked her face.
Gradually, she called for mercy, fearing she was going to pee herself.
But the huge smile didn’t leave her face for a long time afterward.
26
Spike knew he was going to have to tell her about Steele’s idea to find the traitor.
But right now, he liked that she was carefree. Every night, she slept in his bed, after he’d given her a bath. Then an orgasm to help her sleep. He hadn’t let her return the favor yet, and he knew she was starting to wonder why.
He wasn’t quite sure himself. There was something holding him back from going further.
Maybe it was because he felt like he would be betraying Jacqui.
He strolled into the living room with a bowl of popcorn in his hand. Millie was sitting at the coffee table, coloring. Well, she was kneeling not sitting because earlier today, she’d earned herself a punishment for saying something derogatory about herself. He’d given her ten with his hand, followed by five with the back of her hairbrush since this was something she continued to do.
Then she’d had to spend fifteen minutes in the corner, which he knew was pure torture for her.
The woman sure did like to chat. And she was very rarely still. He’d often catch her dancing around the house, singing loudly. The first time he’d heard her voice . . . well, he’d been shocked. She had this big, deep voice that seemed to fill the whole house. He’d stood there frozen as she’d used the microphone he’d bought for her and belted out a song that he thought came from some cartoon movie.
Then she’d danced around the room. When she’d seen him standing there, watching her, she’d frozen, her eyes wide.
Silly girl seemed to think he’d be embarrassed by her. Everything she did was so genuine. She was an open book. Well, almost. She didn’t talk much about her reason for being here. He’d heard stories about the people in her hometown. They all seemed crazy as hell. She filled the house with her chatter, normally talking to the dog since Spike spent most of his days in his office.
He’d come out to make her meals. To bathe her and put her to bed or down for a nap but otherwise, he kept some distance. Tried to convince himself that he didn’t feel anything other than affection for her.
“How is the picture going?” he asked, setting the popcorn down. Tonight they were watching a movie called Sing. He glanced at her picture, wincing slightly. What was that?
“It’s going great! What do you think of it, Daddy?”
“Hmm. Looks great.”
“What color should I do this?” She pointed at some sort of scribbly mess that went along the bottom of the picture.
“Uh, black?” he suggested. He had no freaking idea since he couldn’t tell what on Earth it was.
“Black? Daddy those are the flowers in the garden! You can’t get black flowers!”
“You can’t?” he asked.
“I don’t think you can. Maybe there’s black tulips. I like tulips. Okay, Daddy. I’ll do some black for you.”
“Movie’s on soon.” He sat in the chair and felt something sharp pushing into his back. Standing up, he pushed aside the cushion. “What the fuck . . .”
He drew out a chop bone. “Baby doll, you want to explain this?”
Millie looked up at him in surprise. Then she glanced over at that fluff ball dog of hers. Today he was dressed up like a dinosaur. “Mr. Fluffy, did you put your chop bone on Daddy’s seat?”
The puppy yawned, looking completely unconcerned.
“Did you give him a chop to eat?”
“He was hungry.” She gave him big, innocent eyes.
He shook his head. Damn dog was always leaving chewed up things around. But only where he sat or slept. Or in his boots. The day her toys arrived, he’d found a chewed-up sausage on his office chair.
“It’s only because he loves you that he leaves you these presents.”
Uh-huh.
“Come sit with me.”
Leaning down, he picked her up and carried her to his large recliner.
“My Daddy, what big muscles you have.” She slammed her hand over her mouth after blurting that out.
He rolled his eyes at her. She really was crazy.
And you like it.
She was so different from Jacqui . . . he put that thought out of his mind. Jacqui had been the love of his life. The only woman he would ever love. Maybe that’s why he was okay with getting involved with Millie. She was so different that he wasn’t likely t
o want anything more.
Jacqui had been quiet and reserved. Graceful. He usually had to prod and push her until she would tell him what was going on inside her head.
Not so with Millie. Generally, if she thought it, she said it.
He settled them both into the recliner.
“Big muscles, huh?”
“Can’t believe I said that. Of course, they look even bigger when you’re working out in the gym. And who knew that sweat could be so sexy.”
“You’ve been watching me in the gym?” he asked casually. He knew she had. There were mirrors on one whole wall of the gym. He’d caught her that very first day, but he hadn’t said anything.
Truth was, he kind of liked the way she watched him. Drooled over him.
“Oh crap.” She smacked the palm of her hand against her forehead. He grabbed hold of her hand, pulling it back. “Umm. Maybe. Sorry?”
“You should join me next time.”
“Me? Workout? With equipment? I don’t think so. Last time I tried exercise; I accidentally kicked my gym instructor in the balls. I got banned from that gym for life.”
He gave her an incredulous look and she just grinned. But he thought he saw a hint of something in her gaze. Hurt? Vulnerability? Whatever it was, she was trying her best to hide it.
“Let’s watch Sing, Daddy. Trust me, you’ll love this one. It’s got a singing pig. Who doesn’t like a singing pig?”
He had no reply to that.
But he did spend the next hour and a half watching her as she sang and laughed her way through the movie.
* * *
She yawned as Spike finished drying her off after her bath. He insisted on bathing her every night and she never said no. She actually liked this time the best.
Well, and the orgasm that usually came after.
But instead of helping her climb into one of her onesies, he wrapped a towel around her and picked her up. He was constantly carrying her around, usually telling her to stay put in that rough, gravelly voice of his. She knew better than to protest, though. Her bottom was still a bit tender after her introduction to the hair brush earlier today.
Protector Daddy Page 19