Page 47 of Tessa

Dax wielded the spoon like he was born to do it and soon her bottom was covered in dark red, circular splotches. “Did you hear what Daddy Beau said? You are getting a big spanking because you are such a lucky girl you have three Daddies to keep happy. Of course, I bet you don’t feel so lucky right now do you?”

“Yes!” Tessa shrieked as the spoon bounced across her sit spots. “Yes, I’m still lucky! It doesn’t matter how good you spank me. I’m lucky, and I know it, and I won’t say otherwise!” Even as she said this, her voice broke and her shoulders began to shake. With a silent raise of his eyebrows in Beau’s direction, Dax laid down the spoon.

“That’s right, you are lucky and we are lucky to have you too. You know we punish you because we love you, and we want you to always forgive yourself and remember to do better right?”

“Yes, Daddy Dax,” Tessa whimpered.

This was why he’d had Dax go second, Beau realized. He would always be more tender than Beau was and always be better at managing big emotions. Together they made a good team.

“All right, Tessa,” Beau said, as he finished the knot in his tie and stepped up behind them. “You took your spanking like such a good girl. Now turn around and give your Daddies a hug.”

She rolled over and shoved off the bed, wiping her eyes with balled-up fists. Dax and Beau held out their arms and she stepped into them, creating what she liked to call a Daddy sandwich.

“I’m sorry I was naughty.” She sighed against Dax’s chest.

“It’s okay little, one. We aren’t upset. It wasn’t a big naughty and you’ve been punished and forgiven. And we learned that your Daddies make a good team.”

“Yeah,” Tessa agreed with a sniffle, stepping back to look up at us with red-rimmed eyes. “You really do and I really am a very lucky Little girl to have both of you, and Baze. But I hope that someday I’ll just have the two of you,” she added hopefully.

“I hope that too,” Beau admitted, “but that is not a discussion for today.”

Tessa wiped her eyes one more time and stared up at him with a gasp. “Daddy Beau! You changed. What time is it? Are you gonna be late for your meeting?” Her lower lip wobbled with worry.

“Don’t worry, little one. I still have fifteen minutes until I need to get on the road and I’ll get there in plenty of time.”

“But… but you didn’t have breakfast! It’s the most important meal of the day!”

“It’s the most important meal, but it’s not the most important thing. Making sure my Little girl was taken care of before I left took precedence.”

She opened her mouth to protest and he cut her off with a shake of his head. “I’ll get a smoothie and a breakfast sandwich on the way,” he promised.

“Thank you, Daddy. That’s much better.”

Beau beamed. He had to admit, he spent so much time taking care of the two of them that it felt good to be the one being fussed over for a moment.

“Well, then I guess I better hit the road early in case there’s a long line at the smoothie place.”

He gave her one last hug and she pulled up her pajama pants and diaper, walking him to the door with Dax.

“Have so much fun with Daddy Dax when I’m gone, and be good,” he warned with a kiss on her cheek before gathering Dax in for a side hug. “Take good care of our girl. I’ll see you tonight.”

And with that he was gone.

Chapter Thirteen

Dax

“Take good care of our girl.”

It wasn’t so much Beau’s instructions that rang in his ear as what he hadn’t said. He hadn’t told Dax to be good. And as stupid a thing as it was to be upset about, Dax was, in fact, upset.

Beau had told Tessa to be good but not him. And even though Dax could tick off a dozen logical reasons for that, and he knew they would all be true, it still bothered him. Beau never left Dax alone without those two simple words.

And now, because he had, being good was the last thing Dax wanted to do.

It was a horribly immature, un-Daddy-like response, and he knew that as well, but it didn’t change the ache in his heart or his sudden inclination to be more of a playmate to Tessa than a Daddy. Pushing those feelings aside, he forced a smile.

“Well, little one, what do you want to do today?”