Bertram nodded and clenched his fists, digging his claws into his palms as a low growl escaped from his throat.
Pino’s face turned scarlet red as his eyes widened in fear. “Mi dispiace, signore. I think I got all the blood out this time. I’m sorry, sir,” he squeaked, and his little legs trembled.
“I understand, Pino. Thank you for your honesty. You may return to your duties.”
“Grazie, signore.” He fled as fast as his legs would carry him.
Bertram counted to ten and inhaled, then released the breath. Then he knocked on the door, three quick raps.
“It’s about time, Pino. What took you so…” The young woman with the strawberry blonde hair stopped what she was saying when she saw it was him and wrapped the robe more tightly around herself. “Oh. Hi, Daddy.”
“Little Redd.” He strode into the room and shut the door. He took in the haphazard appearance of the room andwatched as she nervously made the bed. “So, how’s your day going? Anything interesting?” He sat on the edge of the bed and watched her flit around, picking up dirty clothes and towels.
“Um, nothing interesting, Daddy. Just the same old. You know. Stuck here in the middle of a blizzard. Boring!” Her eyes did not meet his.
“So, you did not go against my orders, and you stayed in the lodge, correct? No hunting?”
“No, sir, you said quite specifically, stay in the lodge during the blizzard. No hunting.”
“Then what is this?” He handed her the outfit, cleaned and pressed lovingly by her little hero worshipper, Pino.
Her eyes got wide and she twirled a strand of red hair as if trying to figure a way out of her lie.
“Well, little one?”
Her streaked hair brightened to an almost cherry shade of red, which matched her embarrassed cheeks, and she turned and went on the offensive. “My, what big ears you have, Daddy!”
“The better to hear you disobeyed me and went slaying in the blizzard, my dear.”
“You have no freaking idea what it is like being locked up in this place for two whole days during a stupid blizzard! There is evil out there, preying on innocents, even more so now that I am stuck in this place!” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him defiantly. “I saved a family of four last night from ghouls. They needed me.”
He rose to his feet, feeling the anger pulse in him. “Watch your language, young lady, and speak respectfully.”
“Bite me!” Her eyes darkened and her hair blazed as if on fire.
“Wrong answer.” He yanked her toward him, placing her firmly over the foot of the bed and shifted her robe so itcovered all of her body except the one spot to which he needed access.
“No, you can’t do this!” She flailed her arms and bucked her body.
With all his might, he brought his palm crashing down onto her bare bottom, leaving a huge hand print that covered both cheeks.
She screeched, “Nooooooo, Daddy!”
He spanked her again and again, putting almost all of his strength into his strikes, turning her white bottom, red in a short matter of minutes.
“Please, Daddy, I’m sorry!” she wailed. “I—needed—to get—out!” she yelped in staccato in between each hard slap. She slumped over the bed and started crying, her body shaking.
He knew he had pushed her hard. Almost to her limit. He picked up his sobbing submissive and held her on his lap as she curled up and cried into his shoulder. He held her tightly. “Shh, shh, it’s okay. I forgive you.”
She sniffled and raised her head, her tear-filled eyes nearly breaking his heart. When he had agreed to take in the little hellion as his platoniclittleshe was 18 and a danger to herself. Three years later and she was still a danger, and he worried more for her every day. He loved his “little” as much as any daddy could love a sub. And he hadn’t wanted her out in this blizzard for more than one reason. He couldn’t protect her if he couldn’t track her. And he lost most of his sense of smell during a blizzard. He would die if anything happened to his little girl.
“Daddy,” her tentative voice came muffled from his shoulder, where he had pressed her face to comfort her.
“Yes?” He released her and looked into her troubled eyes, so much older than they should have looked at 21 years old.
“Daddy, I’m sorry I disobeyed you. I wanted you to beproud of me. And honestly, I feel a little confined in the lodge.”
“I understand.” He ruffled her hair. “I feel the same way. We’ll have to figure out a compromise. Maybe I’ll feel better if we get a partner willing to go with you. And if you tell me where you are going, truthfully. And it would help if you also started taking your cell phone with you.” He gave her a stern look.
