Is Mace babying me? I don’t think so. I think he’s protecting me. I should trust him. I do trust him. But I also want to know what they’re saying.
I break away from my new friends, staring at the open doorway as I shuffle in that direction. Pausing with my toes up to the line, I take a deep breath. I realize what I’m thinking has nothing to do with Mace’s meeting with Blade and Cannon. That’s not why I’m going to cross the threshold to this room.
Nope. I’m going to step over this line because I’m stressed, and I need the release I’ll get from disobeying Daddy.
Eloise and June flank me. Eloise strokes my arm. “Do you want him to spank you?”
I nod.
“In front of us?” June asks.
“Yes.” I glance at June and then Eloise. “Is that okay?” I should ask them first. This isn’t just about me. If they watch me get punished, they will be included in a way that might make them uncomfortable. I should have thought of that earlier.
Eloise threads her fingers with mine. “Have you ever been disciplined in front of other people?”
I shake my head. “No. Not in real life. Until I arrived here, I’d never even faced my Little outside of my head. The only times I’ve been spanked were in my imagination, but sometimes in my mind, I like other people to witness my humiliation. Is that weird?” I’m trembling, hoping my new friends don’t run from the apartment and never speak with me again.
“Not at all,” June says. “Lots of people like witnesses to their punishment. It’s a common kink. And I don’t mind being a voyeur if that’s what you need.”
“I don’t either,” Eloise agrees, giving my hand a squeeze.
“Does Mace know this is something you want?” June asks.
Eloise giggles. “If he didn’t before this morning, he does now. Autumn pushed his buttons the moment I arrived. I don’t think he’ll be surprised.”
“Do you think he’ll be mad?” I ask. After all, he’s sort of working. Even though the case he’s focused on involves me, this is his job. It’s what he does for a living. I don’t think he will ordinarily appreciate me interrupting him when he’s in a meeting.
“I’ve never seen Mace mad,” June says.
“Me neither,” Eloise adds. “I’ve never seen any of the men who work with Blade get angry. Not at us anyway. They might get furious when they discuss taking down a bad guy, but their Daddy side doesn’t allow them to take their frustration out on women.”
That’s good to hear. My heart is racing as I stare at the threshold. I need this. I want Daddy to purge the stress and pain from me. I know he can do that with his palm, and I bet the experience will be even stronger if I misbehave with June and Eloise as witnesses.
Not just June and Eloise, but also Blade and Cannon. That’s an important detail. But for some reason, I’m more focused on my friends. In my mind, I’ve visualized them empathizing with me. They’re the ones who will wince on my behalf. After all, they have also been spanked, right?
I jerk my gaze back and forth between them again. “Do your Daddies spank you?”
June smiles. “Nearly every day.”
Eloise covers her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Same.”
I blow out a breath. Thank goodness. Is there anything else about this odd plan that needs any other consideration?
“It’s okay,” Eloise says, releasing my hand. “Do what you need to do. We’ll follow you.”
My mind is made up. I step over the line into the hallway and march into the great room. I can feel my friends at my back as I approach.
Daddy is sitting at the island with Blade and Cannon. They each have a mug of coffee in front of them. Daddy lifts his gaze. His expression is startled for a split second, brows raised, mouth open, but then he softens and almost smirks.
“What are you doing, naughty girl?”
I stop a few feet away and plant my hands on my hips. “I want to be included in your meeting. It’s not fair for you to discuss things that affect me behind my back.” My voice is sassy. There’s no way for him to take me seriously.
He rounds the island, approaching me. “What did I say, Baby girl?” he asks, cupping the back of my neck.
My friends were right. He’s not mad. He’s going to play along. I can sense it. I’m trembling. This is a huge step. It’s something I need.
I realize I haven’t answered his question when he lifts a brow.
