Page 117 of Mob Princess

I land a second.

“Ten, cailín. Can you do that?”

“That’s all?”

“I will never just spank you over and over until I get too tired or get bored or fear more will harm you. Ten, little one. You’ve already had two.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

My hand crashes down again.

“Three. Thank you, Daddy.”

Smack.

“Four. Thank you, Daddy.”

Smack.

“You don’t have to thank me, Lina. I didn’t demand you ask for a punishment. I doubt you’re feeling grateful for the way your arse already feels and what you guess it will feel like. I won’t make you promise false gratitude.”

“I’m thankful you care enough to punish me.”

I land the sixth, and she kicks her feet. She says nothing, and I hear her labored breathing.

Seven and eight are in quick succession. She clings to my ankle to keep from reaching back. I aim number nine at her horizontal crack. She howls. I glance at the door. She turns her head to do the same before looking up sheepishly at me.

My guess is they’ve figured out I’m spanking her not fucking her. I’m ninety-nine-point-nine-recurring sure Dillan and Finn would do this to their wives.

“Ten.”

The last one covers the top of her thighs and horizontal crack. She lays limply across my lap. I help her stand, and her knees are shaky. I ease the dress over her head, then guide her to straddle my legs while standing. I unfasten my pants and pull down my boxer briefs. This isn’t about pleasure.

She slides down my cock and clings to me. She bursts into tears. I hold her as she sobs. This isn’t the burning skin from her spanking. This is her fear finally finding an outlet. She’s tucked her head against my chest, and I’m looking across the room. I’m fighting not to cry, too. My fear hasn’t dissipated completely.

“Daddy, your heart is racing, and it wasn’t a moment ago. You’re breathing heavier, too. What’s wrong?”

She sits back. Her face crumples when she sees mine. Her anguish mirrors mine.

“I thought you were dead, Lina. I thought someone took you. Or that you’d run, and someone got you. I came here to beat the truth out of Lucy if I had to. I’ve never killed a woman before, but I would have if it meant I found you. I was calm when I spotted you for the sake of you finishing what you started. I didn’t want the risk to be for nothing. But fecking hell, Lina. I thought you were dead.”

I did. I didn’t admit it to anyone, though I think the guys knew how I felt. I think they might have believed the same thing. My fear is why I need to be inside her. It’s not just to comfort her right now, to show her we’ve reconciled everything between us. It’s for me to know she’s truly alive and well.

“Daddy, I’m so sorry I made you that scared. I feel like I’m feeling your fear now, and it’s greater than I imagined. But it’s the same as mine.”

“I know, little one. Let me hold you.”

“Always.”

We sit together for a long time. Until it grows quiet in the living room. We could hear the cleaners moving around. I’m certain they want to get in here and make sure we’ve left no evidence behind.

“We need to go, don’t we?”

“Yeah.”

“I know my punishment doesn’t come with pleasure. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy it. Let me?—”

“No, Lina. Forgiveness is given with no expectation of something in return. My feelings are unconditional.”

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