“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl. Lean down a bit more.”
Adjusting myself on the cushions, I braced myself for the next round. “Six. Seven.”
Sam inhaled sharply over my head, but strapped as fast as I spoke.
“Eight. Nine. Ten,” I finished and bit my lip. I already knew how he’d play this out, at least if he acted the way he used to. I guessed correctly as the belt seared three fast lines into my flesh. The world blotted out around me as tears poured furiously down my cheeks and I screamed. My ass burned hotter than I ever remembered it feeling.
“Shh, babygirl. Shh.” Sam soothed me gently as I bawled. Sometime later, my breathing evened out, and the tears finally slowed.
“Good girl,” he said, stroking his hands over my bottom. “You took that better than I thought you would.”
“Define better,” I said but there was no heat in my tone. Not when my bottom screamed from the sting. Even with a burning ass my heart seemed lighter. I’d take that as a small victory. I’d missed the spankings he used to deliver more than I realized.
“You knew deep down that you needed that, as much as I needed to correct you.”
Sam fixed my pants, his fingers gently tugging the sweat pants into place. He assisted me to sit on the couch, then sat on the cushion next to me and pulled me against his side.
“I can’t wash my hair or get dressed easily with my arm like this. When the pain eases I’ll be okay but right now I feel gross.AndI’m really sore, Sam.” I wanted to call him Daddy, it feltright but I was still too scared to allow that feeling out in the open.
“I can give you a bath. Would you like that? The rest of your belongings will be here soon. I forgot to mention that earlier, so you’ll have all your things.”
“Yes, but sitting in the bathtub with my ass burning will make it sting worse, won’t it?”
A very slow grin formed across his mouth. That wasn’t nice.
“Yes, Mickie. You’re correct. Taking a bath right now will increase the discomfort. But that’s not something I’m overly concerned about. What you did was reckless for the sake of being reckless. Your stunt was solely to see if I’d keep my promise.”
I wanted to snap and tell him that he was wrong, but he wasn’t wrong. My brat desperately needed validation. I never had anyone in my life stand up for me and fight for me the way Sam had. “Yes, I know. Please forgive me?”
“Of course, babygirl. I’m not mad at you. I just need you to understand that I’m serious when it comes to you. Let’s get you in the tub. The soak will do your muscles some good.”
“Not my ass muscles.”
“Come on, little brat. I’ll add that lavender and vanilla bubble bath you love so much.”
Jealousy sparked through me. “Who do you spoil with that?”
“Don’t get crazy, sweetheart. Bonnie sometimes needs to get out of the inn and actually relax. She stocks my bathroom with her favorite things because I have a huge soaking tub. Judd will drop her off when she’s stressed. Bonnie loves taking care of others, but she needs a quiet space sometimes without a ton of guests.”
That might have been the sweetest thing I’d ever heard. “Bonnie comes over and takes a bath and relaxes? Like when she’s been crazy busy all week?”
“Not all the time, but yeah. The inn doesn’t give her a lot of privacy. Judd and Knox are planning on building a home but she’s stubborn. Doesn’t want to leave her safe space.”
I nodded. How come she hadn’t told me? Her soon to be husband, Judd, and his brother Knox worked in construction. They could easily craft and plan and build a house probably in a short amount of time. “No, not stubborn. She doesn’t want to leave because it reminds her of her Nonna.”
“Yeah, that’s more accurate. Mimi fashioned the inn to hide things she loved in every corner of that building. I think Bonnie connects to her memories there, but it doesn’t give her and Judd much privacy when they are fully booked. Anyhow, we are off topic. Bath. Dinner. Early bedtime.”
“I’ve slept enough,” I said, whining. I didn’t want to cave to his plans though everything would help me relax.
“Come on, babygirl. No arguments.”
Sam lifted me into his arms as he had done so many times before, but I melted into him as I always did. His strong arms wrapped around me grounding me in the best way possible. “Do you know I love you?”
“I do but it makes me so happy when you say it.”
“I love you, Sam.”
