Brody shifted his focus to her upper thighs, but slowed down the pace. “What did you lie about?”
He paused to knead the tender skin at the juncture of her thighs and bottom. One more round in that area would leave more than a lasting impression. It would remind her of her misbehavior whenever she sat for the next few hours.
“I wanted a cigarette and I talked Bailey into smoking. She didn’t really want one! I’m so sorry! Her daddy was really disappointed in her.”
Brody let out a long breath. “Is that why you didn’t want to tell her daddy about the frozen clothing?”
Kara sniffled a few times, then nodded. “Yes. I should have fessed up, but I didn’t want you to be mad at me.”
“So, do you think Bailey got punished for no reason?”
“Well, no…” Kara managed to reply before he brought his palm down on the already sensitive skin just under the curve of her bottom. “Ow! Oh! It hurts there!”
“We’re not done yet.”
Brody decided to move the spanks back up to her blushing cheeks. They were only rosy, rather than the deep pink a paddle would have made them. His hand fell into a steady rhythm as it danced across her skin and left a handprint in several spots. Kara sobbed openly as all the fight drained and she lay limply across his knees. She let go of the pillow and laced her fingers in his free hand.
“I’m really sorry.”
Brody pulled her pants and panties up, then situated her on his lap so he could pull her against his chest. “Despite you placing the blame on her, Bailey made the choices she did. She didn’t have to have a cigarette and she didn’t have to ruin your pretty lingerie.”
“I know. I hope I can find a way to get out those stains.” Kara curled herself closer to him. “I won’t lie to you again. I should have accepted responsibility for what I did. I won’t blame someone else either.”
“Good.” Brody slid her off his lap. “Stay here until dinner. I’ll call you, and then it’s an early bedtime for you. For the next two weeks you’re grounded. I hope your sudden free time gives you plenty to think about, young lady.”
“Yes, daddy,” Kara pouted. “I’ll listen this time.”
Brody patted her head and kissed her cheek. “You better.”
Then he left her alone in her room to sort out her thoughts. He’d never grounded her before this, though he supposed there hadn’t been a reason up until now. Lying and having her friend take the blame was serious. He only hoped she would understand as much.
* * *
Kara bit her lip as Brody strode into the kitchen. She’d woken up early since he set an early bedtime for her last night, and she’d been cleaning like a crazy person this morning. The hall, living room, dining room, small bathroom, and stairs almost shined from her hard work. She normally handled the cleaning since Brody’s hours varied so much, but she really outdid herself today.
He raised an eyebrow as he met her at the counter. She had just set the coffee machine to brew, but his presence in the room distracted her from the coffee.
“You’ve really outdone yourself. The house looks amazing!” Brody kissed the side of her head, then planted another kiss on her lips. “Maybe I should send you to bed earlier a few times a week.”
“I’d rather you not. I just wanted to say sorry again. I shouldn’t have lied to you. I also got my friend in trouble, and I really didn’t mean to.”
“I accept your apology, Kara. Find a way to make it up to Bailey. I’m sure she will understand when you explain yourself.”
“Yeah, I hope so.” Kara’s mind drifted back to their sleepover. What could she do to make it up to her?
Chapter Nine
It was four days after Bailey and she had their sleepover, and Kara still couldn’t believe Brody had grounded her! Now she had to wait until he left for work to survey the fridge.
Thank goodness she had the right ingredients to make Bailey one of her amazing cheesecakes! She had bought raspberries earlier in the week and had the perfect sauce recipe to use them in for the topping.
Kara ransacked the cabinets and freezer and found some expensive white chocolate. Oooh! She could sliver that into shavings to sprinkle on top of the fruit.
She tied a pretty apron around her waist and turned up her iPad so she could listen to music as she baked. The cake itself didn’t need to bake but the crust did, so she popped it in to firm it up. Kara bobbed around the kitchen, happily thinking loving thoughts so when Bailey ate the dessert she would feel them. It was true about adding love to your recipes. It made everything taste better.
Kara brushed a piece of hair out of her face and texted her friend.
Hey! You home?
Thirty seconds or so passed and a message came back.
Is this a trick question?
She giggled.
I have to bring you something!
Two minutes passed while Kara glared at the screen, waiting.
Like a get-out of jail free card?
Was Bailey mad at her? She should be, her brain reminded her. She had blamed their sleepover antics solely on her friend when they were both responsible, which was why Kara was now grounded too.
Brody is at work. Be over soon.
Bailey wrote back immediately.
Don’t get in trouble!
Kara rolled her eyes. No one was home, so it didn’t matter.
The oven beeped and she quickly opened it. She carefully pulled out the pie plate and set it on the counter on top of a pot holder. It cooled down as she cleaned up the kitchen and then scooped the cream cheese mixture into the bottom of the plate and spread it all out evenly. Next she carefully spooned the sauce with the berries on top. It looked so yummy!
She set the masterpiece in the fridge and went to change into her punky clothes. Brody had taken her car keys so she would be walking over to Bailey’s house.
* * *
Kara studied her outfit in the mirror one last time, then headed back downstairs. She glanced at her cell phone and confirmed that Brody was still several hours from coming home. It would be plenty of time for her to run the dessert over and get back. She put the finishing touches on the cake, carefully wrapped it in Saran wrap, and headed out with a huge smile on her face.
Her smile faded as she got halfway between the houses. She had completely forgotten to lock the door! She contemplated going back to lock up but decided against it. It was a gated community after all, so hopefully no one would notice.
Kara nearly skipped up to the door and knocked. Bailey would have to forgive her now!
After a minute without an answer, she pulled out her cell phone. It would be impossible to text one handed, though, so she turned around and cradled it against her cheek to try to text talk. That would work.
Suddenly, the door opened behind her and she spun around.
“Oh! I was just about to text you!” Kara thrust the pie towards Bailey, but it wasn’t her friend. She swallowed hard as Ian raised an eyebrow.
“You were about to text me?” Ian stood there with his arms crossed over his chest.
“No… I… what I mean…” Kara fumbled for words. “I felt really bad about Bailey getting punished because it was all my idea. I made her favorite dessert. It took me all day!”
“Did you get permission to come here?” Ian’s mouth turned up at the edge in a surprised smile. “I thought you were grounded.”
Kara pouted. She didn’t know what else to do. Of course Brody had talked to him. They’d gone out the other night and had done whatever manly adult men did. She felt her lower lip tremble and she suddenly made the decision to lie. Maybe he’d just assumed she was grounded and hadn’t actually talked to Brody.
“Of course I got permission.” Kara gave him her best smile. “I baked Bailey a cheesecake. It’s got raspberries and white chocolate on top!” Her cell phone rang, still clutched awkwardly in the crook of her neck. From the ring tone playing she immediately knew it was Brody.
Shit. I’m about to be in a
lot of trouble…
Ian’s smile widened. “I’ll get that for you.”
His eyes didn’t look amused as he tugged it away from her, and before she could protest had clicked ‘answer’.
“Kara’s phone? Yes… uh-huh… really? Well, why don’t I put you on speaker?”
Kara felt sweat pool around her armpits and trickle down. She was really, really in for it now. She didn’t say anything as Ian clicked the speaker button.
“Go ahead and say that last part again.” Ian cocked his head to the side as he studied Kara.
“I came home early to surprise Kara but I didn’t find her at home. In fact, not only is she not here, but the door was unlocked. Anyone could have just waltzed in and taken whatever he wanted.” Brody’s irritated tone filtered through her phone. “I texted her without an answer, so I called thinking she was busy, but the last thing I expected was someone else to answer.”
“I’m sorry, daddy!” Kara finally began to cry. “I felt terrible about what happened with Bailey and—”
“Kara, I don’t really want to hear it right now,” Brody firmly stated, then cleared his throat. “Hey, Ian, keep her there, will you? I’ll come get her in about five.”
“Sure thing. Not a problem.” Ian took the pie plate from Kara, then stepped back to allow her to go inside. “See you in a few.” He clicked ‘end’ and handed the phone back.
Kara took the phone but didn’t go through the front door. She really just wanted to go back home so she resigned herself to taking very tiny baby steps. Maybe if she barely moved by the time she actually got all the way into the house, her daddy would be there and she wouldn’t have to face Bailey’s daddy alone.
“Go sit in the kitchen. Hurry up. I don’t like being lied to, and when your daddy hears about that on top of what you did, I’m sure it will be very hard for you to sit down for quite a while.”
Kara nodded as she hurried to the kitchen. Bailey sat at the table and was reading while drinking something out of a mug, and she raised her eyebrows when Kara strolled in.
“I told you not to get in trouble!” Bailey shot a look at Ian. “I didn’t tell her to come over!”
“No, wait, I didn’t say you did. I felt really terrible about blaming you at our sleepover. So, I, uh, made you a cheesecake.” Kara sank down into the chair next to her. “I lied to your daddy and mine, so I’m in a lot of trouble.”
Ian set the dessert down in front of Bailey. “Next time make sure you ask for permission. It’s easier than asking for forgiveness, not the other way around.”
A loud knock sounded on the front door and he went to answer it.
“This looks delicious. And I do forgive you,” Bailey whispered into her ear. “But please, don’t get in more trouble. Just be good so you can come over for real.”
Kara sighed. “I’m really sorry.”
Ian returned to the kitchen with Brody tailing him.
Brody took her chin in his hand and tilted it upwards to catch her eyes in his stern gaze. “I thought something terrible happened to you. I was ready to call security because surely you couldn’t have done something so irresponsible…”
“Well, I did. So can we just go now? I’m sure as hell not welcome back here anytime soon.” Kara not only interrupted him, but she shook off his hand and stood up. She was embarrassed to be scolded in front of her friend and just wanted to get out her house.
“If Bailey spoke to me like that after already being in hot water, she’d be sent to the corner for five minutes,” Ian spoke up, though Bailey shook her head. “Do you have something to add?” he asked Bailey sternly, and she dropped her head down and looked at her book.
“Hmm? Do you have any corners around here?” Brody tapped his chin, then shifted slightly to look at Ian. “I mean, I hear they are the latest fad.”
“You are in luck, my friend!” Ian grinned. “I happen to have four of them in this room alone.”
Brody took Kara’s hand firmly in his and led her over to the corner nearest the kitchen sink. “I think this one is quite lovely. Kara, turn around, please.”
She did so, hesitantly, and glared over her shoulder. It earned her four well placed smacks against her bottom and drained all her fight. Now she was beyond mortified.
“I’ve got a paddle upstairs if you need one.” Ian had a hint of amusement in his tone, but there was a serious note there as well. She didn’t want to push either one of them.
In fact, Kara didn’t appreciate their tones at all. They actually sounded like real daddies, and it confused her for a minute. She thought it would make her mad to have them playfully talking about her being punished in front of everyone, but it didn’t.
It was that they both cared enough to correct her behavior. That was something she wasn’t used to, and that thought alone made the floodgates open up. She hung her head and cried, no longer ashamed to let it out.
After a few minutes, Brody came over and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Come on, honey. Let’s go home and we can talk about it.”
Kara wiped at her eyes and shuffled out of the corner. “I’m sorry I lied to you.” She raised her head to catch Ian’s gaze, then glanced to Bailey. “And I’m really sorry I came over without asking. I hope you like the cake.”
Bailey stood up and made her way over. She reached for Kara and hugged her quickly. “I really do forgive you, and I’m sure it will be awesome.”
Brody guided her to the door. “Thanks for letting Kara borrow the corner. I should get some of those installed.”
“No problem. Once these two get their privileges back, Kara is welcome to come over.” Ian shot a look to Kara, who still had tears falling down her cheeks. “But not before then.”
Kara nodded. “I promise.” She looped her arms around Brody and the two of them went outside. She would be in for a heck of a punishment once they got home, but for now she was just happy to see him. He really loved her. Even with her crazy antics.
* * *
Brody pulled the car into the garage and shut it off. He hadn’t said a word to Kara, and though he hated to let the tension build this way, she needed to understand how scared he’d been.
Earlier, when he’d walked inside and seen the front door unlocked, her car in the driveway, and no sign of Kara, he had immediately freaked out. He had called Joe Roberts, wondering if she had gotten sick or hurt or something worse, but the doctor had assured him she hadn’t stopped by.
Then he’d called Ian’s cell phone, but it had gone straight to voicemail. He’d been ready to call the main security office but had taken a chance and dialed Kara’s cell phone. Of course he’d never expected, not in a million years, to have Ian answer her phone. And even worse, the other man’s voice had sounded slightly amused, as if anticipating the sort of events that were about to play out.
They had talked at length yesterday about Kara and Bailey, respectively, and how each of them had set rules and expectations. Ian had told him a lot about their dynamic, but it was obvious they were both still learning. Every day was a new challenge, either in regards to how to be a daddy, or just how to be a good partner in general. Brody hadn’t thought that Kara would sneak out, not even once. But now they needed to go through another punishment, and he needed to do something different to get through to her.
When he’d grounded her and had taken away her car keys, except for during an emergency or for school, she had turned into a little hellcat. She’d argued and set out counter points like a politician caught in a scandal, but he’d meant business. And now she’d lied again after getting her new friend in trouble over something silly. All of this could have been avoided if Kara had simply listened and obeyed the rules set for her.
He motioned for Kara to get out of the car and the two of them went inside.
“I know I did wrong by going out when you grounded me,” Kara started as they entered the kitchen. “I didn’t think you would be back, but that just adds to the awful choices I made.”
“Giv
e me your phone.” Brody extended his hand and waited for her to hand over her bedazzled, pimped-out pink cell phone case with the expensive smart phone inside. She used it constantly to text, play games, and connect with her friends online.
“Okay.” Kara easily handed it over, obviously not realizing why he’d asked for it. “Are you going to spank me for sneaking out?”
“Go get your laptop and bring it down here.”
“My… laptop? What do you mean, bring you my laptop? I bought it with my own money!” Kara glared daggers at him.
Brody reached into the top cabinet and pulled out a thick wooden spoon. He laid it on top of the counter. “Your laptop. Now. Otherwise, I’ll bend you over the table and spank you until you go and get it.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Kara shot another look at him. “You can play dance of the wooden spoon fairy all over my bongo drums and I still won’t give it to you.” She sounded bratty with a capital ‘B’ as she threw her arms across her chest defensively.
“Okay, but I’m thinking Flight of the Bumblebee will get my message across.” Brody took the spoon in his hand and quickly rounded the counter. Kara took two steps backwards, as if seeing too late that he meant business.
“No… no… no…” Kara protested but he had already reached her and had taken her upper arm in his hand. He led her firmly to the kitchen table and as promised bent her over until her hands were spread out across the top. “You can’t just take my stuff away!”
Brody reached under her, unbuttoned her jeans, and worked them down over her hips. He followed suit with her panties, but to his surprise, Kara reached her hands back and covered her cheeks. He lightly rapped the spoon across her knuckles.
Kara let out a string of curses, but yanked her hands away. “What the—” Her words died on her lips as he spanked her upper thighs with the spoon. He knew that would sting and get her attention. “Ow! Ow!”
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