Page 82 of Daddy's Naughty List

“If you don’t, I can promise this punishment will seem like a walk in the park, little girl. You are too important to me for me to let you get away with taking unnecessary risks with your life.”

Tears pooled on Taylor’s lashes at those words. She hadn’t meant for anyone to be in danger. That was part of why she’d volunteered to go up the ladder, along with her apparently wrong assumption that her Daddy would go easier on her than the others.

God, she wished she could go back and tell herself the truth.

“Here you go, Ian.”

Matt’s words had her attention snapping right back to the present. To the fact she was bent in half, waiting for her Daddy to paddle her already sore bottom. And the fact that she would be receiving even more swats when he was done.

Warm wood tapped against her bottom, and she couldn’t quite fight back the whimper. “Five for you, Taylor Grace. I trust I don’t need to remind you why you’re here?”

“No, Daddy.”

“Good girl.”

The wood slammed into her with that same sharpcrackshe’d heard so many times already. Only now, the sound was followed by an explosion of pain across her ass.

“Ow, ow, Daddy, I’m sorry!”

Her only response was another swat of the paddle, another thousand bee stings covering her skin. Then a third, and a fourth, by which point silent tears were sliding down her cheeks once again.

After the fifth swat, her Daddy leaned down, his voice gentle and soothing in her ear. “You took that so well, baby. I’m so proud of you. Do you want a hug?”

Popping upright, she threw her arms around his neck. The pressure in her chest eased somewhat when he pulled her close, rocking her gently from side to side as he whispered praise in her ear.

“My good girl. I know this isn’t an easy punishment, but you’re doing such a good job, baby.”

She didn’t feel like a good girl. Not yet. But his words helped to ease the worst of her pain, and soon she felt herself relaxing into his embrace.

“There’s my girl. Are you going to be a good girl and get back in position for the rest of your punishment?”

“O-okay, Daddy.”

“That’s my baby. Hands back on the couch.”

Sniffling quietly, she pulled herself out of his arms and bent over again, placing her palms on the cushion. Carly slid her hand over, linking their pinkies together. “We’re almost done,” she whispered, offering up a watery smile of support.

“Yeah. Hopefully Edie’s nottoomad.”

That hope was dashed when Edie cleared her throat and began lecturing. “I’m very disappointed in all of you girls. Every one of you knows that if I tell you ‘No’ about something, I have a damn good reason for it. But you decided to completely disregard my wishes and do what you wanted anyway. So not only am I disappointed, but I’m hurt. And it’s going to be a long road to rebuilding the trust you broke today.”

The guilty rock in Taylor’s chest, which had finally begun to lighten, grew heavier and heavier again with every word out of Edie’s mouth.

“We’re really sorry, Edie,” Carly said, her voice quivering. “We never meant to hurt you.”

“I know, Carly-girl. I’m still going to give you all the five swats your Daddies promised you from me. And Jesse?”

“Yes, Mommy?”

“Your Daddy and I will be having a discussion with you as soon as your friends leave. AsmyLittle girl, you should know better than anyone to accept ‘No’ for an answer.”

“Yes, Ma’am. I’m really sorry.”

“I know you are, babygirl. But you’re all about to be a lot sorrier.”

With that came the first crack of the paddle, followed by Ginny’s short shriek of pain. The rest of the swats followed swiftly after, meaning Edie wasn’t even giving anyone a moment to absorb one swat before the next landed.

Which also meant it was far too soon before she was standing next to Taylor, tapping the heavy wood against her bottom again. But instead of swinging away like she had with the others, Edie leaned down to whisper in Taylor’s ear.

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