“The next time someone gives you rules meant to keep you safe, I expect you to follow them, Taylor Grace. Whether it’s me or your Daddy or any other grown up in this room. Am I making myself perfectly clear?”

“Yes, Matty.”

When that first swat came, she instinctively kicked her feet up, squealing in protest as the pain exploded across her backside. She’d forgotten justhowmuch harder Matt spanked than her Daddy.

“Feet on the floor, little girl. Now.”

“Sorry, I’m sorry!” She rushed to put her feet back down, pressing her toes hard against the wood floor to hopefully keep them in place. “I didn’t mean to, Matty!”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Just try to keep your feet down or I’ll have to spank your thighs to help you remember. Okay?”

“O-kay.”

“Good girl.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, she focused on keeping her feet in place as his hand connected again and again with her bare skin. With every swat, the burn in her bottom grew hotter, and the pain inched a little closer to unbearable.

Fuck, he spankedhard.

“I’m sorry,” she wailed when his attention shifted to her sit spots. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I won’t ever be naughty again!”

“I’ll settle for not putting yourself in danger ever again, Taylor Grace,” Matty growled, and the next few swats were somehow even harder than the ones that had come before. “I care about you too much to letanyof you do things that could get you hurt. We all care about you.”

The guilt that had been sitting in her chest grew even heavier at his words. “I won’t, Matty, I swear!”

“I’m glad to hear that. We’re almost done.”

Tears were streaming down her cheeks by the time he laid the final few swats down across her burning bottom. And when he gathered her up to sit on his lap, she threw her arms around his necks, sobs shaking her body as he rocked her. “I’m s-so sor-ry, Matty.”

“I know, sweetheart. We’re good. I love you, Taylor.”

“I l-love you, t-too.”

“Good. Now, I think there’s someone else who would really like to cuddle you for a bit.”

Looking up, she found her own Daddy hovering beside them, a worried look on his face. Letting go of Matty, she launched herself into his arms, not even caring that her panties were down around her ankles. “I’m sorry, Daddy!”

“Shh, Tayter Tot. It’s all right. Daddy’s got you.”

Those three simple words settled something inside her. And though the guilt was still there, sitting like a lead weight in her chest, she felt like she could breathe again for the first time since they’d gotten caught.

“Are you still very mad?” she whispered, sniffling against the tears still slipping down her cheeks.

“No, baby. I’m not mad. But you’re still getting the paddling I promised you, and we have a lot to talk about when we get home.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

Pulling away, he cupped her face, wiping the tears from her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. “I love you, so fucking much, Taylor. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you. And if keeping you safe means keeping your bottom red and sore, then that’s what I’m going to do. You’re my everything, baby. You know that, right?”

If the guilt in her chest got any heavier, it might actually smother her. “I do. I’m sorry, Daddy, I really am.”

“I know, baby. Do you need a few more minutes or are you ready to get this punishment over with?”

Part of her would have delayed it forever if she’d been able. But the part of her that was slowly being crushed beneath the weight of her guilt just wanted it done. “I’m ready, Daddy.”

“Good girl. Go line up with your friends. Oh, and hand me your panties. You won’t be needing them the rest of the day.”

Now that she wasn’t in the midst of a hard spanking, she was becoming more and more aware of the aching need between her thighs. An ache only made worse by the humiliation of bending down to pick up her panties, placing them in her Daddy’s open palm, and watching his eyes darken as he stuffed them in his pocket.