When Peter finally lowers my legs again, fresh pain flares in my bottom as my scorched skin presses against the cushion beneath me. Choked sobs well in my chest, making me cough as I struggle to drag in air.
“Shh, little one.” Surprisingly tender now, Daddy unstraps the leather from across my waist and scoops me up into his arms. “I’m afraid we have one more bit of unpleasantness to deal with, but then you can have a bath and Daddy will hold you for as long as you need.”
In the bathroom, he tries to put me on my feet, and despite the cramping in my stomach, I cling to him as the sobs rack my body. Even though he's the cause of my distress, he’s also my only source of comfort, comfort I desperately need in this moment.
“Peter, will you remove her plug for me? I don’t think I’m going to be able to put her down until absolutely necessary.”
It’s a testament to how overwhelmed I am from my punishments that I don’t even have the energy to be humiliated by Peter touching me in such an intimate way. Burying my face in Daddy’s shoulder, I continue to sob out all the pain and frustration of the last couple of days, barely paying any attention to the man tugging at the plug in my ass.
But as soon as the plug is free, I realize just how desperately I need to use the bathroom. Panicked, I try to wiggle free, and Daddy immediately puts me down on the toilet.
Fresh sobs burst out of me as my sore bottom touches the cold porcelain, reigniting the pain from my spanking. And when my bowels empty themselves, rather violently, all I can think is how fucking miserable I am.
And that I will never, ever give my Daddy a reason to punish me again.
ChapterTen
Gideon
My poor little doll. She’s still crying when Peter and I help her up from the toilet to clean her up. I had Peter start the bath when she first sat down, and while the tub isn’t quite full yet, it’s full enough for the two of us.
“Will you hold her for just a minute?” I ask softly, passing the sobbing bundle in my arms off to him.
Nodding, Peter takes her, his expression full of sympathy as he sways gently from side to side with her in her arms while I strip down to nothing. When I’m as naked as my little doll, I take her back from Peter and step into the tub, slowly lowering us both into the warm water.
“I think that will be all for now, but don’t go far. Just in case.”
“Of course, sir.” Bending down, Peter presses a kiss to the top of Isabella’s head. “Your Daddy will take good care of you, sweet Isabella. I’ll be just in the other room if either of you need anything.”
With that, Peter disappears from the bathroom, leaving me alone with my Little one. Her sobs have quieted by now, and she sniffles pitifully as she scrubs at her red-rimmed eyes.
My heart constricts at the sight of her. The punishment she just endured was necessary, but harsh even by my standards. And yet, here she is, curled up in my arms, clinging to me as if I’m her only source of comfort in the world.
I could not be happier than I am at this very moment.
Cupping her cheek in my hand, I brush at her tears with my thumb as I nudge her head back, forcing her to look up at me. Her lashes are darker than usual, thanks to the wetness still clinging to them, and her face is flushed from crying.
She’s beautiful.
“I trust you’ve learned your lesson about lying to Daddy and using naughty words?” I can’t bring myself to speak too harshly to her, not when she’s looking so adorably miserable, but the question needs to be asked.
“Y-yes, Daddy. I’m s-sorry.”
Pulling her close, I press a gentle kiss to her swollen lips. “I truly do not want to repeat either of those lessons, Isabella. Are you going to be my good girl from now on?”
“Yes, Daddy. I’ll n-never be naughty a-again.”
She will certainly be naughty, and she will certainly earn her fair share of spankings in the future. Especially with Juliet as an influence. But I keep that thought to myself. For now, I’m content to let her believe she will be on her best behavior for the rest of her life, and I’ll settle for being on her best behavior the rest of the day. While I trust Doctor D with my Little one’s life, we are all aware he does not tolerate naughtiness and the thought of her enduring a punishment at his hands brings my protective instincts to the surface. Better for her to suffer a bit now, than to put herself at the good doctor’s mercy.
Setting her in the water between my legs, I lean forward to shut the tap off. There is something undeniably sweet about being in the bath with her like this, even more so with her still sniffling and whimpering as she shifts on her sore bottom. Perhaps I’ll give her all her baths this way, rather than kneeling beside the tub like before.
Picking up the clean washcloth Peter left for us on the ledge of the tub, I fill it with body wash, making sure it’s nice and sudsy before scrubbing it lightly over Isabella’s skin. My little doll sighs, her shoulders slumping slightly forward as I run the cloth over her upper back. I work in silence, soaking in the simple pleasure of giving my Little one a bath while she surrenders quietly to my ministrations.
“Up on your knees, little one.” I keep my voice soft, both to preserve the air of stillness around us and to avoid startling her.
Isabella doesn’t argue, but simply shifts her weight, leaning forward on her hands and presenting her beautiful, red bottom to me. Peter did a very thorough job, and pride fills me at the sight of my Little one’s well-spanked backside.
Unable to resist, I cup one cheek in my hand, giving it a firm squeeze, eliciting a loud yelp from Isabella.
