Page 73 of Daddy's Naughty List

“I don’t see why not. As long as you stay in the front yard where we can see you.”

Her bottom lip pushed out. “Okay, but only if youpromisenot to spy on us.”

Jesus, she was cute when she was this deep in her Little space. “We can’t promise not to check on you, but we promise not to spoil the surprise.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Matt’s eyebrows wing up toward his hairline. Even Dom and Rex, the least strict of their group, exchanged a meaningful look.

But it was difficult to care about any of that when his Little girl was positively beaming at him. “Thank you, Daddy!”

“I have some stipulations,” Matt said, stepping forward and pinning Taylor with a stern glare that had her eyes going wide.

“Sir?”

“All of you are to stay in the front yard, as your Daddy said. No tools, andespeciallyno power tools. If you need something that even requires a hammer, you are to come inside and ask a grownup for help. Do not involve Edie’s animals in any way, shape, or form, without Edie’s explicit permission. Am I clear, Taylor Grace?”

Another blush stained her cheeks as she nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl. I will be holding you personally accountable for making sure your friends are aware of these rules, so if any of the Littles breaks a single rule, you will be getting a spanking from me on top of whatever punishment your Daddy decides to give you.”

A knot of unease twisted in Ian’s gut. Matt laying down rules and threatening punishments for all the Littles was nothing new, and it wasn’t like he was being unreasonable. Using any kind of tools when they were deep in Little space was a recipe for disaster.

But a protective instinct welled up inside Ian, and he very nearly opened his mouth to tell Matt he could handle his babygirl’s discipline if it came to that.

Taylor nodded before he had a chance to step in, however. “I understand, Matty. We’ll be good, I promise.”

Matt’s eyes narrowed, as if he could discern whatever naughtiness they might have up their sleeve through sheer force of will. “All right. Have fun, sweetheart.”

Taylor paused long enough to throw her arms around Ian’s neck and squeeze. “Love you!”

“Love you, too, Tayter Tot. Be good!” he called after her retreating form as she hurried back to the living room.

“So who actually buys that bullshit?” Leaning back against the counter, a smirk on his face, Rex looked every bit the bad boy he was known to be. “And what do you think they’re actually up to?”

“Who knows, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on them,” Matt grumbled before looking over and glaring at Ian. “What the hell has gotten into you?”

Irritation ran up Ian’s spine. “Me? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the fact that the Daddy Ian I know never would have sent his babygirl on her way without the third degree. Look, dude, if you don’t want to be Taylor’s Daddy anymore, then you need to tell her that instead of stringing her along like this.”

He wasn’t sure he could have been more shocked if Matt had straight-up slapped him across the face. “What the fuck are you talking about? I love being Taylor’s Daddy. I loveTaylor. I’m not stringing her along.”

From the opposite side of the kitchen, Edie snorted. “Really? Is that why you’re completely disregarding her need for discipline?”

“Edie, that isn’t any of your business.” Grant’s tone held a note of warning that was pure Daddy, but Edie merely rolled her eyes in response.

“It is my business when he’s not doing his job and he lets one of my girls get away with doing dangerous shit.”

Silence, heavy and oppressive fell over the kitchen, and Ian was aware of five sets of eyes watching him. Judging him. “I didn’t let her get away with anything.”

“That’s not how I heard it.” Fire flashing in her eyes, Edie crossed her arms, her chin jerking up. “She did something dangerous, you promised her a spanking. Did you spank her?”

Now it was embarrassment creeping up his spine. “Like Grant said, that’s not any of your business. I handled it the way I felt was most appropriate at the time.”

“Okay, guys, I think everyone needs to take a deep breath.” Hands held up in a ‘time out’ gesture, Dom stepped to the middle of the room. “How Ian chooses to deal with his Little girl isn’t any more our business than howanyof us choose to deal with our Littles is anyone else’s business. If their relationship has evolved to a place where Taylor is in less need of discipline, then we should honor that.”

He should have known Dom, of all people, would understand. “Thanks, man.”

“But they?—”

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