“Sam, please, you know how much it scares him. He deserves better than this. He’s not the only one who worries. We aren’t ready to let you out of our sight yet.”
“I am not a child, Michael,” her agitation growing as portions of the well-known Jenkins temper (inherited from her mother’s side) sparked. “You two need to stop treating me like a baby.”
“You aren’t a child, although you act like one at times. You know darn well that as long as you are under 21, Dad and Scott still consider you a kid. Hell, I’m 22 and they still try to treat me like one when their mood strikes. That’s our family, like it or not. One thing you do forget is that as your superior officers, we are responsible for you. You need to start behaving like the adult you claim to be and consider how your poor behavior reflects on Dad and Uncle Scott,” he lectured firmly.
Sam’s eyes started to smolder with anger. “I don’t need to hear this from you, Michael. You think you know everything and you don’t.”
“We can discuss this further once we get home. Move it,” he ordered in a no-nonsense voice. Sam stared at him, stunned. He sounded exactly like his father! Not that it was a bad thing she worshipped the ground Dr. Quimby walked upon! He could do no wrong in her eyes. She hesitated, debating whether to challenge him or just let him have his way. The little voice in her head screamed the latter. After a quick, angry glance at her tall brother, she silently dove into the gray water.
No words were exchanged as they swam towards the ship. Michael pulled himself onto the diving shelf and, with a single arm, easily hauled his sister up next to him.
“You are to get showered off and return to the lab,” Michael commanded softly, pushing her in the direction of their cabins. “I’m going to let Dad know we’re back.”
“Yes, Michael,” she whispered as she turned on her heel and departed. Grabbing a towel, Michael headed towards the offices.
“Enter,” Dr. Quimby’s deep voice rumbled.
“We’re back. I told her to get cleaned up and return to the lab. No problems and everything is fine.”
“Thank you. I’d like you to meet me in my quarters tonight after chow. We will deal with her then. Did you say anything?”
“No Sir, although…” he humorously shared his sister’s response to his tone.
A smile lit across Dr. Quimby’s face. “Your mom used to respond the same way when I got ‘manly’ with her. Needless to say, once I learned that trick, we never had any arguments.” He chuckled. “I’m guessing, after tonight, Sam will learn some things about the men in her family.”
“Yes, Sir, I hope so. She tends to be a little hard-headed.” His father’s confidence did nothing to convince Michael.
“No more than you or I am. I’m fairly certain that I can get my point across to her. Go get cleaned up and back to work. I’ll see you tonight.”
Michael paused to watch his sister as she propped on the edge of a large tank, decked in sweat pants and a t-shirt, with her bare feet dangling in the water. Unknowingly, she entertained her crew by speaking to the lemon sharks that swam gracefully around the tank. Using every form of verbal enticement and vocal tone she could muster, including some very sultry sounding, lewd promises, she captivated her male audience as she tried to lure the sharks to her.
“My darling little sister, have you considered that the shark might be a female and that your seductive prose means nothing to her?” he teased, watching her blush. She hadn’t seen him standing there.
“I, uh, um, I’m doing an experiment!” She blustered as her crew broke into gales of loud laughter. Her glare elicited a sudden dispersal.
Michael grinned as he lifted her off the edge and then playfully tugged her high, long ponytail. “Yeah, in seeing how many of the guys you can get to flock around you. Nice uniform, by the way. Ready to work on the I-band?” he held his hand out for the collar she had around her neck. The rest of the afternoon was happily spent engrossed in their work.
***
“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Michael said, escorting his sister from the chow hall that evening, “Dad wants to speak with us.”
“About what? When?”
“Now,” Michael simply responded, taking her hand and leading her to the upper echelon where the officers were quartered. His grip remained firm as he tapped on his father’s door, opening it on the familiar ‘enter’. Dr. Quimby was leaning back on his couch, book in hand.
“Hi Daddy! I haven’t seen you all day,” Sam said gleefully as she pulled away from her brother and parked herself comfortably on her father’s large, strong lap. She wrapped her arms happily around his neck and kissed his rough cheek. He hugged her lovingly, returned the kiss, and then placed his hands on either of her shoulders.
“We need to have a serious talk, young lady,” he began, trying to ignore the melting of his heart when she blinked sweetly at him with her big, blue doe-eyes.
“We do? Are you ok?” she questioned, managing to appear completely innocent of any wrongdoings.
Michael hid a smirk- this girl was good! She had perfected the art of wrapping her father around her little finger years ago. His too, he admitted shamefully. She had not been as successful with Scott.
“We do. No, I’m not ok. I’m very unhappy with you right now, little daughter of mine,” Dr. Quimby said firmly, meeting her gaze. “We are going to incorporate some immediate changes regarding you and your activities.”
“Oh, ok. What do you need me to do?” she feigned cooperation as she slowly blinked her long, dark lashes. Michael rolled his eyes.
Dr. Quimby frowned. He was onto her! “I need you to start obeying me. Your defiance to my orders is unacceptable and must cease immediately. This includes your attitude toward your brother as well. For now on, you will be facing some severe consequences should you choose to disobey either of us.”
“But Daddy, I don’t understand,” she blinked sweetly again, snuggling him close and feeling his heartbeat. “What did I do?”
“Don’t ‘Daddy’ me, youngster,” he said, pulling her off his lap to deposit her next to him on the couch. He held her chin in his large hand, staring directly into her eyes. Yes, he saw the manipulation and conniving through her exquisite beauty.
Leaning against the edge of a table with his arms crossed, Michael continued to observe the events with amusement. Dr. Quimby launched into a full lecture regarding his youngest child’s inappropriate behavior, defiance, and stubborn persistence to bite off more than she could chew. He additionally reminded her that she was only 18, and onboard the vessel due to special circumstances. Michael watched carefully—she had tuned out her father at word one.
“Am I understood, young lady?” Dr. Quimby asked firmly. Sam popped out of her daze, nodding contritely.
“Yes, Daddy. Of course.”
“Good. Then I hope we will have no more problems. Comments, Michael?” Dr. Quimby asked, looking at his son.
“Yes, Sir,” he said, “I strongly suspect you just wasted your breath. Please ask our perfect little darling exactly what you just told her. She has a near eidetic memory so it shouldn’t be difficult for her.” He watched his sister pale slightly.
Dr. Quimby raised an eyebrow, slowly turning back to face his daughter. She looked at the floor, fuming about being busted. The man stood slowly, patting his son’s shoulder as he walked to the other side of the room to distance himself from his defiant child. He took a deep breath, hands on his hips. “Samantha Anne, I’ve tried to be patient. I’ve given you every opportunity to redeem yourself and what do you do? Blow me off. I’m sorry, but this will not go unpunished. Michael, if you would please excuse us, I have some business with your sister.”
Michael nodded, noticing Sam’s confusion. She had no idea what was coming her way! After hugging his father and planting a kiss on the girl’s forehead, he silently left the room. Dr. Quimby pointed to his sleeping quarters at the back of the cabin. “Go into the bedroom. Now,” he ordered. Slowly, the girl obeyed and watched as he
r father closed the door behind them.
He sat on the edge of the bed. “Come here,” he held his hands out to her, meeting her eyes. He looked sad.
“Daddy, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you so upset,” Sam whispered, feeling guilty for causing pain to her beloved father.
Dr. Quimby squeezed her hands. “Things are going to change, my love. Tonight. You best pay attention this time. Your brother and I feel that you need to be reminded of some important details. One, 18 or not, I still consider you a child. Your lack of maturity confirms that. Two, you are in a unique situation which requires you to be focused and self-disciplined to keep you and your brother safe. Three, I am not only your father, but your superior officer. Since all methods of communication have failed to make you take us seriously, I have decided to revert back to a method which used to be quite effective in getting you to mind me. At least, for a week or so.”
“What are you talking about? You can’t ground me, I have things to do!”
“No, I’m not grounding you. I will be spanking you.”
“What?” The girl flushed, her hands still in her father’s grip. “I am 18 and an officer! You can’t do that!”
Pleased with her immediate aversion to the prospect, Dr. Quimby continued calmly. “Thus far, it seems that nothing else has managed the gain your attention. I have also given your brother full permission to take you in hand if needed. I am not to hear one word of complaint from you if he feels you require discipline. If you snitch, expect a repeat performance from me. Understand?”
“Why are you being so mean? This is barbaric!” Sam cried out, tears in her eyes as she tried to break his grip. “It’s not fair!”
“No, Sweetheart, what’s not fair is how you repay our trust and confidence in your abilities by defying, disobeying and deceiving us. No, baby girl, that stops now. Over my lap. This isn’t the first time you’ve been in this position.”
“But I was 10,” came the reply with a struggle to escape. She remembered that time clearly. It occurred after she took off to find her brother without permission. It had started with a very painful strapping.
“My mistake. I should have listened to Scott and not have stopped. You never pull this stuff with him around and now I understand why. I’ve been too lenient and have allowed you too much freedom. No, my love, boundaries and consequences are back. You have until the count of three, or I will get the belt and use it on your bare backside. One.... Two....”
Fearfully, the girl positioned herself over her father’s muscular, broad thighs, grabbing his calf to keep from falling over. She held her breath as he rested his hand on her small, shapely backside. The first smack over her sweats startled her, but did not particularly hurt. She kept silent as he landed several more swats across her bottom. He stopped, seeing no response. “It doesn’t look like I’m getting through. You have a choice, sweats down with my hand or they stay up and I use my belt.”
Gasping, his daughter twisted to look at him. Was he serious? Yes, his expression told her there was no question of his intent. She also knew that he wouldn’t use the web belt from the uniform closet. “Please, Daddy, no belt,” she whimpered, remembering way back when he had used his belt on her over her jeans. She hadn’t been able to sit for two days. She hated that thing. She buried her head in his pant legs as he skimmed her sweat pants down to her knees.
“These are not regulation, young lady,” Dr. Quimby said with disapproval of the pale pink, scanty satin undergarments.
Sam quivered slightly and bit her lip. "Please, Daddy... not too hard."
Dr. Quimby didn't answer, just rested his warm hand on her bottom. "Samantha, you will not disembark this ship again without my permission or knowledge, do you understand me?" he lectured, lifting his hand and giving each of her cheeks a solid smack. No reply was needed. He resumed his assault on her soft flesh, this time receiving satisfactory yelps, pleas, and attempts to escape. He was a strong man with a heavy hand, and in less than 5 minutes, managed to reduce his wayward daughter to tears mingled with promises to be good and listen to everything he and her big brother told her to do.
"Owww! Owwww! Yes, Daddy!" she answered.
"You will not talk back to your brother—SMACK SMACK—you won't show anymore disrespect to your elders—SMACK SMACK—understood? SMACK SMACK SMACK!"
"Yesssss, Sir" she cried.
He kept up the rhythm, alternating cheeks, lighting bottom on fire. "Owwwwwwww, Dadddddyyyyyy... pleeeease,” she begged. "Please stopppp."
"No, honey," he answered, now concentrating on the sit spots. "You intentionally disobeyed me and I'm teaching you a lesson. I'm far from finished."
That sentence made her cry even more. She started to howl and all she could do was concentrate on was the rapid fire being inflicted upon her aching bottom. She kicked as best she could, squirmed a little to attempt to dodge smacks, and clasped her hands together with her face buried into them. "Daddddddyyy," she bawled, "I'm sssooorrrrrryyyy!"
"I know, Sammi. I know," but he kept spanking, occasionally hitting the sit spots and her thighs. He even started spanking harder, which she did not believe was possible.
She began choking on her tears. "P-leasee... I w-on't d-do it-t again!" she sobbed. "I'll be g-good!"
She could not feel his heart breaking with her pleas. "I'm sorry, baby. I have to do this."
Even though she was bobbing up and down and kicking with all her might, she knew he was right—he did have to do this. She deserved it, as much as she hated to admit it. Her sobs increased as the spanking neared its end. She finally held onto the couch and buried her face into the cushions, not squirming or kicking anymore, just crying.
He took this time to deliver a final smack, covering her entire backside, and then rested his hand there. "Sammi, you're my baby girl and I love you so much. I’m so afraid of losing you.”
"I’m really sorry, Daddy . I love you, too," she cried, feeling like a five year old. With the fight well spanked out of her, Sam was released. She crumbled to the floor, crying pitifully into her hands.
Without a word, her father handed her a tissue before joining her on the floor to hold her tightly. “Please don’t make me do that again,” he whispered, kissing the side of her head.
She sniffed, leaning into his shoulder. Stroking her hair, the man sighed. He wished it would be the last time he would have to resort to old-fashioned methods, but knew that wishes rarely came true when it came to his youngest child.
Chapter Two
Still sniffling, Sam moved quietly—and painfully—down the ramps towards her cabin. She wanted to avoid the crew and having to explain her red eyes. The men were not accustomed to her tears. She had even earned a reputation of being emotionally composed. While she practiced a good sense of humor with her crewmates and laughed whole-heartedly with them when playing frequent pranks on her brother, she also maintained a façade of strength and unwavering focus. They had only seen her cry once—when her father had tears streaming down his face the day she had regained consciousness. Even then, she maintained control. She slipped silently into her cabin, catching her breath. She didn’t realize had been holding it.
“You ok?” a deep, warm voice asked. Startled, she turned to her brother who lounged comfortably in his sweats on her couch. Her eyes filled with tears again as she approached him, allowing his strong arms to wrap protectively around her as he pulled her into his lap to cradle her closely.
“You knew what Daddy was planning. Why didn’t you warn me? You’re supposed to protect me,” she whimpered as she buried her face into his broad, muscular chest.
Michael kissed the top of her head, stroking her arm. “It wasn’t my place to say anything. I’m sorry you had to go through that, but you know you deserved it.”
“Yeah, I know,” she admitted, leaning against his shoulder. She loved her snuggle time with her big brother. He always made her feel so small and delicate. “I guess I’ve been asking for that for a long time. I’m sorry I’ve
been such a little brat, Mike.”
“Just understand that I won’t hesitate to do the same, ok? I don’t care what it takes to remind you that you are not invincible and what your life means to me,” Michael said softly, hugging her close. “Somehow, you’ve forgotten the huge emphasis our family places on the value of respect and obedience. Sweetie, he and Scott are the only family we have. They are our parents and we need to give them everything they have given us. It isn’t that much that they are asking. Will you please make an effort and try to be considerate of them?”
He stayed quiet as his sister cried softly into his shirt. He knew he had gotten through to her (combined with the memory of a sore bottom). He also suspected that her remorse was temporary. Urging her to get to sleep, he promised a few hours of flying the following afternoon. The prospect cheered her up and she obediently changed for bed, falling to sleep shortly after the older brother tucked her in with a gentle kiss on the cheek.
Closing the door behind him, Michael ventured to his father’s quarters. Tapping lightly on the door, he waited for the invite before entering. “Hey, Dad, I was just checking in before bed. Is everything alright?”
“Come on in, son. Sit a spell. How is she?” Dr. Quimby asked, taking off his glasses to look up at his son.
Michael joined him on the couch. “She’ll be fine. You knew I would check on her, huh?”
Michael smiled, accepting the bottle of water being handed to him.
“You did that when she was little so why would I expect it to change? You also help get the point across. Your lectures are almost as good as mine. Did you?”
“I hope so. I promised her to take her flying tomorrow. I know I should have asked you, but I took it upon myself to make the decision. Is it ok?”
“I would never make a liar out of you, you know that. You are as bad as she is. Easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission,” the man grunted, although amused.
The Siren, the General's Daughter Book One Page 2