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“Good girl. Four more.”
My bottom is on fire already and the next four swats are agony. But when Auntie Myra leans in to rub my back and tell me what a good girl I am and how much she loves me, more of that pressure in my chest dissolves.
“All right, little elf. Your turn to tell Kerry what you love about her.”
“Well, I mean, pretty much everything. You’re my bestest friend in the whole world, Kerry. Your Mommy and Daddy are lucky to have you and they better not ever forget that.”
I look up to find Solene glaring at my Mommy and Daddy, and despite the pain in my bottom, a giggle breaks free.
“There’s that adorable laugh,” Auntie Myra says, her tone light and teasing. “I think for Solene’s five we’ll just have you say ‘I am a good friend’. How does that sound, little elf?”
“Perfect, Mommy.”
The next five are both harder and easier to take. Harder, because my bottom is on fire and every swat only makes it burn worse. But easier because the pressure in my chest grows lighter with every one.
“We love you, sweet Kerry,” Auntie Myra murmurs as she rubs soothing circles over my back. “When you’re feeling up to it, we’d love to have you over for a playdate. Wouldn’t we, Selene?”
“Yes, Mommy. Oh! Can we have a tea party? Kerry can try out my new line of dresses with the matching outfits for her stuffies!”
Jerking my head up, I look at my own Mommy and Daddy. “Can I, please?”
They both smile as they slide knowing looks at each other before Daddy steps forward to tap a finger on the tip of my nose. “Whatever our angel wants, our angel gets. But first…”
He holds out a hand, and Auntie Myra places the handle of the thick paddle in his palm. Giving it a few testing swings, he looks down at me, his expression shifting from indulgent Daddy to stern disciplinarian.
“We have a punishment to finish.”
Chapter Fourteen
Graham
As long as I live, I know I’ll never find a sweeter sight than my Little girl staring up at me with those pleading, tear-filled eyes.
“But Daddy, I learned my lesson, I swear! My bottom hurts so much!”
Poor little angel. If I were a better man, I might be inclined to show her some mercy, considering the paddlings she’s already taken.
Unfortunately for her, I am not a better man.
Taking my place behind her, I tap the wood against her reddened bottom, drawing a low groan from our Little girl. “Five from me, then five from Mommy and we can be done. You’re taking your punishment so well, angel.”
On the couch, Celeste smiles and runs a hand over Kerry’s blonde curls. “You really are. We’re so very proud of you, baby.”
“R-really?”
“Yes, little one,” I answer her. “You make us so proud all the time. At work, at home. Wherever we are, you are the Little girl we’ve always dreamed of.”
“But I’m not that Little girl.” My heart breaks at the misery in her tone. “What if I change and you realize you don’t actually love me? That I’m not who you wanted after all?”
“That will never happen.” Just the thought of being without my babygirl turns my tone sharp, and Kerry flinches at the sound. “I don’t love you because you turned yourself into this imaginary Little girl you think we wanted. I love you because you’re smart and caring and beautiful and so many other things I can’t even name them all. I fell in love with your heart, angel, and no matter what else changes, that will always stay the same.”
Again I tap the wood against her bottom, drawing her attention to the punishment she’s earned. “For this five, I want you to say ‘My Mommy and Daddy love me, exactly as I am’.”
“O-okay, Daddy.”
Lifting the paddle, I count to three, drawing out the anticipation before swinging it down again. The force of the swat drives Kerry up onto her toes and she cries out loudly as she bounces in place, her adorable little bottom jiggling with every movement.
“Ow, ow, owie! Daddy, that’s too hard!”
