“What the fuck, Sloane? Is this your idea of a sick joke?”
“Of course not.” Hurt radiates from her tone, but my mind is too muddled to parse whether it’s true insult or something she’s putting on for my benefit. “Why would you think it’s a joke?”
“Well, what the fuck else am I supposed to think when you’re sending me pictures of my ex-girlfriend looking like… that.”
“You’re supposed to think she looks cute as hell and you can’t wait to spank her adorable ass when you get home.”
Closing my eyes, I focus on my breathing and try to organize my muddled thoughts. “Sloane. What are you playing at?”
There’s a long silence before she replies. “I don’t think that’s a conversation for us to have over the phone. Especially when you’ve clearly been drinking.”
“Whatconversation? What’s going on?”
“We can talk about it when you get home.”
I know that tone. It’s the one Sloane uses when she’s done talking about something and is prepared to dig in her heels about whatever it is.
Fine. There’s more than one way to get the information I need. “Let me talk to Mia.”
“Sure thing. Mia, baby, your Daddy wants to talk to you.”
Emotion crashes over me and I have to close my eyes against the wave. I haven’t been anyone’s Daddy in so damn long, but fuck me if it doesn’t sound sorightfor Sloane to call me that.
“Hello?”
Mia’s voice, high and sweet with a hint of hesitation like she’s worried she might be in trouble for something only makes that swell of emotion stronger. “Mia, I want you to tell me what’s going on with Sloane. Is she being mean to you?”
“No!” No hesitation now. If anything she sounds as insulted as Sloane that I would even dare to imply there’s anything untoward going on. “Well, I mean, she used ginger oil in my bottom today and that was pretty awful. But I was being really naughty so I kinda deserved it.”
There is so much wrong with that statement, I don’t even know where to begin. “Mia, honey… Do you need me to come home?”
“Why? Am I in trouble?”
Her voice trembles a bit and I can’t help but reach down and squeeze my aching cock. Mia always was the cutest fucking thing when she was in trouble, and clearly that hasn’t changed a bit. “No, honey, you’re not in trouble. I just… I’m not really sure what’s going on. Why is Sloane calling you ‘baby’?”
“Because she’s my Mommy, silly.”
Five little words, but they rock me to my core. “She’s your what?”
“My Mommy. When are you coming home, Daddy? We miss you.”
I’m too tired and too drunk to fight that sweet little voice. “Soon, baby. Let me talk to Mommy now. It’s almost time for you to be in bed.”
“Aww. No fair!”
Despite how utterly confusing this entire conversation has been, I can’t help but laugh. The more things change, the more they really do stay the same. “Mia Grace, you know the rules. Ten o’clock is bedtime.”
“ButDaddy.”
“Do you need a spanking, little girl?” The threat slips easily from my lips and I don’t even bother to try and pull it back. If Sloane is playing some kind of game, then I’ll just play along for a bit, see where it takes us.
And if she’s not, well… I don’t think my heart can handle the crushing hope of what that could mean.
“No, Daddy,” Mia replies sulkily. “I'll get Mommy.”
There’s some shuffling, and then Sloane’s deeper voice coming through the speakers. “What did you say to her?” sheasks with a quiet chuckle. “She practically threw the phone at me and then hurried off to bed.”
“It’s her bedtime. Ten o’clock on weeknights.”
