Page 99 of Merciless Daddy

“In a minute.”

I returned to the report. At twelve-five, I reminded her again. At twelve-ten, once more.

Each time, my voice stayed calm. Each time, she gave me a different excuse.

The chapter was nearly finished.

She was not tired.

Olimpo needed company, though Olimpo was asleep under my desk.

At twelve-fifteen, she turned another unread page and stretched both legs out.

Her bare feet came to rest across my lap.

I looked down at them.

Then up at her.

She held my gaze over the top of the book. The challenge was quiet. Clean. Deliberate.

She wanted to know whether Daddy existed only in ink.

Whether I would remain steady when obedience stopped being easy and praise stopped being enough.

Desire entered me hard and immediate.

I put the report aside.

“Close the book,” I said.

She closed the book slowly and left her feet where they were.

“Sit up.”

She did. The book went onto the table. Her feet remained in my lap, but her posture changed. Alert now. Her pupils were wide.

“Did you forget bedtime?”

“No.”

“Were my instructions unclear?”

“No, Daddy.”

“Did you deliberately stay up because you wanted to test whether I would enforce the rule?”

Her breathing quickened.

“Yes, Daddy.”

The answer heated every part of me that needed to remain controlled. I closed one hand lightly around her ankle. Her pulse moved fast beneath my thumb.

“What consequence did we agree could follow deliberate, low-stakes disobedience?”

“Corner time.”

“What else?”