“Please wear it for me? It would make me so happy,” she presses, and whatever resistance I had crumbles.

I can’t say no to my girl.

“Okay, pretty girl,” I concede, taking the skull mask she’s holding out to me. “But you better remember how to say thank you properly later.”

She beams like I’ve handed her a gold medal, bouncing on her feet. “I will,” she promises. “Okay, now wait here while I get dressed!”

She grabs a bag and bounces into the bathroom, and I can’t help but wonder what costume she decided to wear. Whatever the hell it is, I know she’ll look fucking edible.

I’m wearing a plain black suit, the plastic skull mask the only real part of my costume, but I know Trent will get a kick out of me dressing up at all. He complains every Halloween, when he throws his annual party, that I don’t turn up in costume. His outfits are always over the top. Last year, he was a mummy covered head to toe in bandages, the only part of him visible was his mouth and eyes. I chuckle at the memory just as the bathroom door opens and Delaney walks out.

All the air leaves my body in a rush, my blood running south, as I take her in.

My baby girl is dressed like a bunny, with a black headband in her blonde locks with big fluffy ears. Her outfit is white and tight, lined with faux fur—a crop top that covers just her breasts and a mini skirt with a pom pom tail attached at the back. Knee-high white socks finish off the outfit, and she hasn’t put on shoes yet.

She looks … I have no words. I’m torn between wanting to show off how gorgeous my girl is and refusing to let her leave the house so that nobody else gets to see her like this but me.

“So?” she asks expectantly, a thread of self-consciousness in her tone as she spins for me before meeting my gaze. “What do you think?”

A feral growl rips from my throat before I can gather enough of my thoughts to speak coherently. “I think,” I say, stalking toward her. I wind a strand of her silky hair around my finger, tugging lightly and making her eyelashes flutter. “That if you’re going outlike that, then you’re doing it with my come inside of you and my handprint on your ass to remind you who you belong to.”

Her blue eyes widen for a second before a sultry smile pulls at her full lips. “You’ll need to catch me first,” she giggles, taking off running.

Instinct takes over immediately, and I grin as I pull the skull mask over my face. She wants me to wear it, so I’ll make her wishes come true. The squeal she makes when she glances off her shoulder and sees the plastic skull mask covering my features has adrenaline shooting through me.

I chase her as she darts around the bed and out into the hallway. Her feet slip on the wood, slowing her down as she throws her hand out to catch herself against the wall. I lunge at her, but she dives away, my hand missing her waist by a fraction. She darts into the lounge, and I follow on her heels, a fox chasing the rabbit. I’m starving for her, a feral predator high on the chase of prey.

Delaney tries to sidestep to the kitchen, but I’m faster. I grab her, yanking her to me and pinning her to the sofa. She shrieks, fighting playfully against me, her skin flushed from exertion and excitement. Her hair tangles in the bunny ear headband and fans out over the cushions.

I wedge my thigh between her legs, making her gasp and go still beneath me, and lower my face to hers. The skull mask makes my vision dark at the edges, but I can still see the way her pupils widen, and her body shivers as I get close to her.

“Run all you want, pretty girl,” I say darkly. “Nothing will keep you from me. I will always catch you.”

Her nipples are peaked and hard, visible through the thin material of her crop top, and I pinch one between my fingers. She jolts, moaning.

“Such a naughty girl,” I whisper. “Do I need to teach you how to behave, baby girl? Do you need a lesson?”

She blinks, lips parting. “Yes, Daddy,” she agrees. “Punish me. Teach me how to behave. Show me how to be your good girl.”

Fuck, those words from her lips set me on fire. I grab her, slinging her over my shoulder. Her skirt rides up around her waist, exposing her lace-covered ass. I smack my palm down on the soft flesh, loving the way she gasps in response.

I stride to the bedroom, wasting no time in throwing her down onto the bed.

“On your front, face down, ass up,” I instruct, satisfaction flooding my as she scrambles to obey. I ruck up her skirt higher, smoothing my hand over her ass. “How many do you think you deserve for that blatant bratty behavior?”

She trembles, pushing her ass back against my palm. “Um, five?” she says, sounding uncertain. She’s such a natural at this that it’s easy to forget she’s never done it before, not the kink but the sex, too. I’m her first, and fuck do I like that. It also means that I have the responsibility to guide her through things properly, make sure she enjoys everything (including punishments), and keep her safe.

All responsibilities I take with deadly seriousness.

“I think you can take more than that, baby girl,” I say, slipping my hand down to where she’s already growing wet. “You deniedme what I wanted. You ran from me, pretty girl. That deserves more than five measly swats, don’t you think?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she agrees, turning her head so her cheek is pressed to the pillow and she can look at me from the corner of her eye.

“Let’s do fifteen, and you can consider this a warning,” I tell her. “Besides, you need to be able to dance tonight. Can’t have my baby girl’s ass so bruised she can’t move that perfect body against me on the dance floor, now, can I?”

She nods, biting her bottom lip in a way that drives me crazy.

“Count for me, baby girl,” I say. “You miss one, you get an extra. Understand?” She nods, and I tap my hand against her lace-covered pussy in warning. “Use your words, Delaney.”