That needy ache between her thighs only worsened as she watched him cross the room to her closet. “What kind of surprise?”
Glancing over his shoulder, he pinned her with a look that did nothing to ease that ache. “The kind that only good girls who listen to their Daddies get. Go take a shower and I’ll pick out something for you to wear. Do you have a suitcase?”
“Why would I need a suitcase?”
“Because we won’t be coming home tonight.”
Annoyance pricked at her, smothering the lust she’d awoken to. “Would you please stop being so freaking vague about shit and just answer the question?”
The second the words slipped past her lips, she knew she was in trouble. And that instinct was only confirmed when his entire body tensed before he slowly turned, one eyebrow raised in a look that was so utterlyDaddy, she nearly whimpered.
Standing in front of her closet, he crossed his arms, and her stomach twisted at the stern expression on his face. “You have about ten seconds to convince me you don’t need your mouth washed out with soap and your bottom paddled red, little girl.”
And just like that, shewasa Little girl, squirming uncomfortably under her Daddy’s stern glare. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have cussed at you like that. I’m really, really sorry, Daddy.”
Everything about him softened at the use of his title, but he didn’t move. “Apology accepted. But clearly you’re upset about something. What’s wrong?”
“I just wanna know where we’re going.”
The corners of his mouth dipped down, the way they did when he was thinking something over. “Atlanta,” he said at length. “I got us tickets to the aquarium, and World of Coke, and a hotel for the night. Figured we’d have a fun day, then a nice dinner and not have to worry about driving home super tired. Something for Little Sam and Big Sam.”
“Oh.” Her heart tripped in her chest. “That’s… incredibly thoughtful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Tilting his head to the side, he studied her, and she had to fight the urge to squirm under his gaze. “Do you not like being surprised with stuff like this?”
“Um, I don’t know. I’ve never… Nobody’s really ever done it before.”
“I see.” Finally uncrossing his arms, he ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t check with you first, to see if you’d enjoy the surprise. I made an assumption, and I shouldn’t have.”
For a moment, all she could do was blink at him. “You’re apologizing to me?”
“Yes, baby. I should have communicated more clearly, and I didn’t, and it obviously upset you. That’s on me. Forgive me?”
“You don’t need to apologize. I'm the one who should be apologizing for being such a bitch about it.”
Again he raised that damn brow and she had to fight the urge to squirm under his gaze. “I’m starting to think youwantyour mouth washed out.”
“No, but I deserve it. I’m really sorry, Daddy.”
Stepping closer, he gripped her chin between his fingers, forcing her head back. “Who decides when my babygirl deserves to be punished?”
“Um… you do?”
“That’s right. So if I decide you deserve some leniency because you were clearly upset, what should your response be?”
“I don’t really know.” Nobody had ever offered to just let something go after a fight before, and she wasn’t entirely certain what to do about it.
“You say ‘Thank you, Daddy’ and then you do as Daddy says and get that cute bottom in the shower before Daddy changes his mind.”
Well, who was she to argue withnotgetting the punishment she clearly deserved? “Thank you, Daddy.”
“Good girl. You get in the shower and Daddy will pack a bag for the both of us and find you something to wear today.”
“You’re going to pick out my clothes?”
Her stomach fluttered at the amused look he sent her way. “Unless that’s a hard limit for you, yes, yes I am.”
“It’s not a limit, really. But, um, some of the stuff in my closet might not fit.”
