“Somehow, I don’t think I’ll ever not be embarrassed about being asked that,” she said dryly.
He just grinned.
4
He heard her murmur something and turned away from the fireplace to walk over to the bed. It was still early, but he wasn’t one to sleep in. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked blurrily up at him.
He settled himself next to her on the bed and carefully maneuvered her so she was sitting up slightly, resting back against his arm. Then he held the sippy cup to her lips.
“Bear?”
“What do you call me?” His voice was rougher than he would have liked, worry for her making him a bit short on patience.
“Sorry, Daddy. What ya doing?”
“Helping you drink.”
“Oh okay.” She took a few sips.
“Have some more,” he encouraged. “You’ve drunk hardly anything and your pee has been bright yellow.”
“I know I should be embarrassed that you know that, but I’m just too tired.”
“I told you nothing is embarrassing between a daddy and his little girl. Now, drink some more or I’m going to have to get strict with you.”
“What? Why? I’m a good girl, Daddy.”
She was slipping into Little space. Hmm, was it his voice that did it? Or his words? For some Littles it was what they wore or did. Others it was more verbal.
“Of course, you’re a good girl. You’re Daddy’s very good girl. Which is why you’re going to do what Daddy says and drink down all this yummy water.”
She wrinkled her nose.
“If you don’t drink it then Daddy will have to punish his naughty girl, won’t he? And when you’re feeling better, I’d bet you’d much rather play than be taken over my knee for a spanking.”
“Never had a spanking.”
“Your parents never spanked you?”
“No. If they were mad at me, they just ignored me.”
Jesus. He’d been expecting her to say she had to go to time out or write lines or she’d had something taken away. What sort of parents took away their attention?
“Well, I’ll never ignore you as punishment, baby girl. I’ll tip you up over my knee, pull those cute panties down until your bottom is revealed then I’ll start smacking that little ass until it turns pink then crimson. Then when you’re crying out, your feet kicking, I’ll move my hand to the top of your thighs. If what you did was really bad, like risking your health or safety, I might make you stand in the corner with that bright red bottom on display. Then after a while I’d have you come back and lean over the back of the chair or the bed and I’d get my paddle or belt and given you some extras to remind you of who you belong to and what my expectations are of you. So, you’ll know that next time you put yourself at risk that there is someone who lo—,” he cut himself off, “who cares about you and is holding you accountable.”
Her eyes were wide as she stared at him. Good one. Way to terrify her.
“So, you won’t stop talking to me for a week?”
“How am I going to take care of my girl if we’re not communicating? And once a punishment is given then that’s it. All is forgiven.”
“Really?” She looked at him in amazement as though that was a completely foreign concept. Given her upbringing he guessed it was.
“Yes,” he told her firmly. “Unless I’ve told you that you’ve earned yourself more punishment. But that would be rare.”
“I like your way better than my parents’.”
Yeah. So, did he.