“That’s not fair!”
“It’s entirely fair.”
Rebellion welled in her chest as she glared up at him. “Nuh-uh! I’m a big girl and I can have a sweet treat if I want one!”
The look he pinned her with was so utterlyDaddyshe nearly whimpered as she shrank back against the couch. “Little girl, if you so much as step foot in that kitchen without Daddy’s permission, I will use the brand-new paddle I just ordered and spank your bottom bright red. Am I understood?”
Uh-oh. That sounded like he meant business. So even though she didn’t really want to, she gave in with a nod and a sigh. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl.”
He carried their dishes into the kitchen and she sank into the couch with a huff, her arms crossed over her chest as she glared at the tv.
Shewasa big girl. A whole adult. If she wanted a damn brownie that she’d bought with her own money, who was he to tell her no?
Daddy. He’s Daddy.
Yeah, but that didn’t mean he could just boss her around like that.
Okay, well maybe it did.
Butstill.
She was still in a full sulk when he returned to the couch, plucking Doc Ock from the space between them to drape an arm around her shoulder. “I know it’s hard when Daddy tells you no, but I’m proud of you for listening, baby.”
Guilt twisted in her tummy. Here she was, being a complete and total brat about being told “No” and he was praising her for it.
And yet, she couldn’t seem to snap herself out of the sulk, even with his praise. “Whatever.”
Beside her, he went still and her heart slammed against her ribcage. Was he going to spank her for getting an attitude?
She almost hoped he would. A good hard spanking would probably help a lot with the ugly feelings in her tummy.
But then he relaxed with a sigh and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Let’s finish our movie, babygirl.”
Resigned to missing out on the yummy brownies they’d bought the day before, she forced herself to relax against him. And as the movie played, most of the aggravation over being denied faded. So that by the time the credits rolled, she was feeling much more like herself.
“Do you need to potty, baby?”
“Oh mygod, Dylan,” she groaned, embarrassed heat rushing to her cheeks. “You did not just ask me that!”
“I did. And unless you want to be sitting on the toilet with a red-hot bottom, I suggest you remember what you call me, little girl.”
The humiliation heating her face grew even hotter. “Sorry, Daddy. It’s just embarrassing when you ask stuff like that!”
Capturing her chin, he forced her to turn her head to look at him. “Believe me when I tell you I can be much,muchmore embarrassing if you give me a reason. Go potty and I’ll get the next movie started.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
As soon as he released her, she hurried to the small half-bath just off her kitchen to do her business.
But when she stepped out again, the container of brownies sitting on top of her island caught her attention. It reallywasn’tfair that she couldn’t have one, just because she hadn’t eaten the stupid strawberries.
Glancing one direction and then the other, she tiptoed into the kitchen. Excitement and fear playing tug-o-war in her tummy, she reached for the corner of the plastic container and pulled.
The crinkling of the plastic might as well have been an alarm going off, screaming that there was a naughty girl sneaking brownies for how damn loud it was. Freezing in place, she waited, not even daring to breathe for fear it would bring her Daddy running.
But when he didn’t come storming into the kitchen, paddle in hand after a count of ten, she slowly let her breath out and pried the container open. It was still loud,tooloud, but maybe it only seemed extra loud to her because she was being naughty.
