“Actually, that was something I wanted to talk to you both about,” Harry told them. “How would you feel about coming to stay with me for a while, Marisol?”
She was confused. “Come to stay? Sure, we will once Linc has some time off.”
Hadn’t Linc just said that?
“Ahh, yes, actually, I meant that you could come stay with me by yourself. You’re not working so you don’t have to worry about getting time off. You could come anytime. Stay as long as you like.”
Oh. She got it now. And she felt terrible. For the first time, she saw a hint of loneliness in Harry’s face. She wondered why he’d never remarried. She’d already discovered that he’d had a few relationships but none of them had gone anywhere.
How had she not seen that he was lonely? She felt terrible.
“I get you want to spend time with Marisol,” Linc said quietly. “But I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable with her coming here on her own.”
“I’d look after her.” Harry’s eyes narrowed.
“Maybe we could think about it?” she said to Linc, not wanting to hurt Harry’s feelings.
Linc’s gaze turned hard. She could see the refusal hovering on his lips but he gave a sharp nod and she breathed a bit easier.
“You’re always welcome to come visit us,” she told Harry. She didn’t expect that he would. He seemed to be a workaholic. Maybe that was why he hadn’t remarried. It wasn’t too late, though. How old could he be? Fifty? Fifty-two?
“Visit you? In Montana?” Harry asked.
She nodded. “You could come for Christmas.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Disappointment filled her but she nodded.
“We’d best go. We have an early morning flight and Marisol needs to get to sleep, ”Linc said.
“Of course.” They all stood and Harry walked with them outside. The sky had turned dark and stormy.
“Would you like a ride back to the hotel?” Harry asked.
Linc shook his head. “It’s only a few minutes’ walk. We’ll be fine.” He held out his hand, shaking Harry’s. “Good to meet you.”
Marisol moved into Harry’s embrace. “You know, you always loved Christmas as a child. I didn’t really celebrate it with Rosalind until you came along. And I haven’t really celebrated it since. But this year, I actually have something to be thankful for. Thank you for coming back into my life, banana.”
“I missed you so much. Harry. Please think about coming for Christmas.”
He smiled down at her gently as Linc took her hand. “I will. Keep her safe for me,” he said to Linc, shaking his hand again.
“Always.”
* * *
They got back to the hotel just as the rain started to come down in big droplets. Linc had a tight hold on her hand the entire way. He led her to the elevator, hitting the button. When they were inside, he drew her against his chest.
He kissed the top of her head. “All right, teeny?”
She sighed. “Yeah. Just a bit sad to be leaving him.”
He didn’t reply and instead led her off the elevator and into their room. It was a studio with an enormous bed, luxurious bathroom, and floor to ceiling windows that looked out at the Houston skyline.
Rain pelted down outside as she stared out the window. He came up behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her neck gently.
“Are you upset with me?” he asked, surprising her.
“Because you threatened to spank me?”
He snorted. “No. And you’re getting your butt reddened very soon.” He turned her to face him. “Because I don’t want you visiting Harry without me.”
“Oh no. I’m not upset. Truth is, I don’t want to go anywhere without you. Not now at least. Maybe after a few months, I will.”
He placed his hand on his chest. “I’m wounded. Are you saying that you plan on getting sick of me?”
She giggled at his theatrics. “Of course not! Maybe you’ll get sick of me. You’ll put me on a plane just to get a break from me.”
He cupped her face between his hands. “Never. You understand me? I would never get sick of you. It’s not possible. I just don’t like the idea of you out of my sight. That something might happen to you because I wasn’t around to protect you, that scares me.”
She knew that he was thinking of how close she’d come to being sexually assaulted by Tiger. And now she got more of an idea of why he’d been so upset earlier when he’d lost her in the toy shop. She’d been perfectly fine, but he must have been so worried for those ten minutes he couldn’t find her.
“I’m okay, Linc. Nothing is going to happen to me. But I don’t want to go anywhere without you. Harry can visit us or we can come down when you’re free.”
He let out a relieved sigh. “Thank you.” Reaching out, he tilted her chin placing a kiss on her lips. “But what do you call me?”
“Daddy,” she whispered.
“You were naughty today, weren’t you, teeny?”
A blush filled her cheeks. “Yes, Daddy.”
“What did you do that was so naughty?”
“I let go of your hand and took off without you.”
“That’s right. Daddy was worried something had happened to you. you’re lucky that we had to go to dinner or I might have taken you into the bathroom and given your bottom a good spanking right there and then.”
“Daddyyy!”
“Don’t Daddy me. The next time you run off on me like that, I might just spank you out in the open where anyone can see you.”
She knew he wouldn’t, but the threat was likely enough to make sure she didn’t do that again.
“I is sorry, Daddy.”
“I’m sure you are. But you’re still getting a spanking. Strip off and get yourself into the corner. I want your nose against the wall, bottom pushed right out.” She hurried to do as ordered. She now wore a continuous blood sugar monitor. The sensor was attached to the top of her arm. It meant if her blood sugars spiked or dropped that she’d get a warning on her phone and so would Linc.
It was a big relief.
Her insulin pump was tubeless and both of them could access data as well via an app. It also sent data to Doc.
She stood in the corner, hearing him moving around the room.
“All right, teeny. Out you come.”
She turned to find him sitting on the edge of the bed. There was a present wrapped in Christmas paper sitting beside him on the mattress.
Okay, that made her suspicious.
“Come here, teeny.” He crooked a finger at her and she walked slowly towards him. She stopped between his open legs. He grabbed the gift, holding it up for her.
She unwrapped it slowly. “Why am I getting an early Christmas present?”
“You’ll see in a moment.”
“Daddyyy,” she complained as she looked down at the round wooden paddle. It had an image on one side of a smiling Santa, with the words, Santa’s Bad Girl Paddle, written on it.
“What?” he asked.
“You can’t give me a paddle as a gift. That’s a terrible present.”
“For you, maybe.”
She stuck her lip out. Then a horrible thought occurred to her. “I’m not on Santa’s naughty list, am I?”
“Hmm.” He tapped his finger, pretending to think about that. “I’m not sure. You were pretty naughty today. That might have tipped the scales.”
“Does that mean Santa’s not going to visit me? Because I’ve been so n-naughty!” She burst into tears.
Linc looked shocked. He grabbed hold of her, lifting her into his lap. “Hey, hey. I was only joking. Baby, don’t cry. You’re not on Santa's naughty list, I promise.”
“B-but I might b-be. You don’t k-know.”
“I do know. I know you could never be on his naughty list because you’re my good little girl.”
“But you gave me a bad girl paddle with Santa’s face on it.”
Traumatized. She was completely tr
aumatized.
“I thought it was cute.”
“Cute? Really!” She was aghast. How could he think it was cute?
“Somehow this moment completely backfired on me.”
“Are you gonna spank me with it, Daddy?” she asked sadly.
“Well, not now that I’ve traumatized you with it.”
Oh, good. She let out a deep sigh of relief. She really hadn’t been looking forward to the plane trip tomorrow, sitting for all those hours on a sore butt.
“I’ll just have to use my hand instead.”
“What? You’re still gonna spank me?” Mierda!
“Of course I’m still going to spank you. I just won’t paddle you with Santa’s face.”
Now that wasn’t something you heard every day.
“But Daddy, don’t you think I has been traumatized enough?”
He snorted. “I don’t think you’ve been spanked enough. Are you trying to play me, little girl?”
“I don’t know what you mean, Daddy.” She sniffed as though offended. Maybe she’d been trying to wriggle out of her punishment. Just a bit.
“Is that so?” He grasped hold of her chin, tilting her head up. “You could never be on Santa’s naughty list, teeny. And I’m sorry for even joking about it. However, you were naughty today and you are going to get your butt reddened. Now, do you want to lay over my lap or over the end of the bed?”
Oh. Darn it.
Linc sat there and waited for her to decide. He could see her thoughts flashing across her face. Knew she was trying to decide between a rock and a hard place. No matter her decision, she was still getting her butt spanked.
He looked down at the paddle. Now, that really did backfire on him. He thought the idea was kind of cute. Then again, he should have remembered he was dealing with a Little. One who adored Christmas. This would be her first real Christmas in years, since it sounded like no one had bothered to give her a decent one since Rosalind and Harry separated. She said Rosalind’s other husbands had sometimes tried to give her gifts at Christmas. But once she got older, Rosalind would get jealous if they gave her any attention, so she just tried to avoid Christmas altogether.
Poor baby.
He was determined to give her an amazing Christmas. He’d been buying her things online for weeks. He’d had them sent to the main house, where Clint was stashing them away in the attic for him. That would stop her from doing any snooping.
His heart had nearly stopped when Harry asked her to come visit. Without him. He’d nearly told him hell no then dragged her out of the restaurant. But then he’d seen the lonely look on the other man’s face. He wasn’t trying to steal Linc’s girl.
Harry just wanted his banana back.
Linc understood. He couldn’t imagine not having Marisol in his life. But that didn’t mean he would allow Marisol to travel across the country on her own. Just the idea of it made his stomach chill.
Not. Happening.
But Harry was welcome to visit. He’d need to see about a spare cabin for him since Linc didn’t want either of them to have to hide what and who they were for long.
“Over your knee, Daddy,” she finally said with the cutest pouty look on her face.
He reached out and carefully helped her over his lap. Her torso and legs rested on the bed as he positioned her.
“Need me to hold your hands, teeny? Or can you keep them out in front of you?”
“I be okay, Daddy.”
“Good girl.” He rubbed her bottom. “Do you know why you’re getting spanked?”
“Because I wandered off when I was supposed to stay with you.”
“And?”
“And that scared you because you didn’t know where I was.”
“That’s right. I don’t want anything happening to you, teeny. You’re my whole world. When I couldn’t find you for those few minutes, it killed me.”
Some people might think he was overreacting, but it was his job to keep her safe and he took that very seriously. And he was all too aware that nobody knew where Saber was. He didn’t have any reason to think that the leader of the Devil’s Sinners would come after her. But he wouldn’t take any chances either.
Until Zander managed to track down Saber then he’d be careful with her safety.
“I is sorry, Daddy. Really.” She glanced over her shoulder at him.
“I know you are. I also know that you need this reminder to always mind Daddy when it comes to safety, okay?”
“Just safety?” she teased. Sassy brat.
“In all things,” he growled sternly. “But especially when it comes to your safety.”
He drew his hand back and she turned her head away with a squeal. His hand landed firmly on her rump, pinkening her skin. Several more smacks and her bottom was starting to turn red. He paused after around ten smacks to give her time to catch her breath and check in on her.
“All right, teeny?”
“I think it’s enough, Daddy.”
“Halfway there.”
She groaned and he had to stop himself from caving in. Stopping now wouldn’t be good for her in the long run. Not when she needed a reminder of how seriously he took her safety.
He started spanking her again. Her feet tapped against the bed, small cries escaping her.
“Daddy, no!”
“Just a few more, teeny.” The last ones were applied firmly. Then finally, he was able to turn her over. Lying back, he positioned her on his chest. He rubbed his hand up and down her back as she cried on his chest.
He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, teeny.”
“Love you too, Daddy.”
12
Sunny and Duke
12th December
Sunny yawned and poured another coffee. Her hands trembled slightly. How many coffees had she had today? She wasn’t sure. And it was only midday. She turned the radio on for some noise. It was too quiet here.
Duke had gotten a call this morning and disappeared, telling her he’d be back later. The tattoo parlor was closed today and she’d been hoping they would have time to talk.
They hadn’t had the talk she’d asked for the other day yet. It seemed like something kept coming up. He’d been working longer hours too.
Maybe they had money trouble.
Shoot. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Maybe that was why he was working longer hours. Oh no. Now she felt terrible. She’d spent so much money on Christmas gifts and hadn’t once considered that perhaps they didn’t have the cash.
And Duke would keep something like that from her so she didn’t worry. Her ex had always been so focused on money and making her pay her own way for everything even though he’d earned more money. Duke had never wanted her to stress over money and over time she’d stopped worrying about it.
But had she grown too careless?
“And in other news, a good Samaritan dressed in a Santa outfit has been dropping off bags filled with gifts to homeless shelters throughout the city. Nobody has been able to catch sight of his face, but the shelters are full of praise for him.”
Huh. That was nice.
She bit at her thumbnail and drank her coffee as she sat at the small table. Hatter came over and sat in front of her, looking up at her with big, round eyes.
“Hey, puppy. Shall we go for a walk soon?”
There was the sound of a vehicle pulling up and Hatter left her to race to the front door. She heard it open and Duke greet the dog, before he walked in, looking tired.
“Hi! I wasn’t sure what time you were coming back.”
“Sorry about that.” He slumped into his chair.
“Want some coffee?” She jumped up and poured him one, placing it on the table in front of him.
“Thanks, baby. You take good care of me.”
Did she? Maybe she needed to do more. Especially with all the hours he’d been working.
“I like taking care of you. Is there anything else you need?”
“How about a hug from my girl.”
He pulled her onto his lap so she was straddling his thighs, facing him. Her feet didn’t even touch the ground as she wound her arms around his neck and squeezed.
“Ahh, I needed this.”
“Anytime you want a hug, I’m here,” she told him.
“Yeah? That’s good. Because I think they might be magical hugs.”
“That’s silly, Daddy. I’m not magical.”
“You’re not? Hmm. You sure? Maybe I can find your magical parts. Let’s see. What if I kiss you, will they come out?”
He leaned in and kissed her. She hummed with pleasure.
Tapping his chin, he studied her. She realized that she hadn’t seen this side of Duke in a while. They were so busy lately there hadn’t been any time for play.
She missed it.
“Not quite right. Ahh, I have an idea. What if I wriggle your nose?”
“That was from that witch on TV, Daddy!”
“Was it? Okay, then what if I tickle it out of you?” He tickled her sides until she screamed with laughter.
“Daddy, stop! Stop!” she yelled.
He stilled and grasped hold of her chin, smiling down at her. “There it is. Magic.”
“What?” she whispered.
“You. Your smile. My Sunny-girl. Generous, sweet, and kind. Sometimes she’s a little rebel, but that’s cute too. As long as she’s not in danger.”
She blinked back tears at the words. He wasn’t always one to talk this way. But when he did, it meant even more.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too.”
She cuddled in against him. He ran his hand up and down her back, both of them quiet.
She started shifting around on his lap.
“You okay? You need to go to the bathroom?” he asked
“Umm, no. Not yet.” She reached for her coffee pulling it close and taking a sip.
“How much coffee have you had today?”
“Not that much,” she said vaguely.
“Sunny,” he warned in a low growl.
“I lost track after four cups.”
“No more coffee for you.” He grabbed it, taking a big gulp. “Urgh, what’s in this?”
“Peppermint mocha creamer. My coffee is feeling festive.” For Christmas day she had eggnog latte creamer. Delicious.
A Little Christmas Cheer Page 9