Page 8 of Daddy's Naughty List

Sobering, she shuffled the pages. “It really does, but I’m thinking the cruise might cost as much as the house.”

“Don’t worry about what things cost right now,” he replied. “You have your entire life to make those wishes come true.”

“I know, but—” She gasped and clutched at the door, letting her bucket list scatter. “Oh, no! I forgot my elf costume!”

“No problem.” He peeked into the back seat to make sure his Santa costume was there, then did a quick U-turn. “It won’t take long to go back for it.”

Without warning, Susan burst into tears. “I’m so sorry. It was the most important thing, and you asked if I had everything, and I didn’t, and?—”

“Honey, it’s okay.” Walt found a wide spot on the shoulder and parked. He jumped out and hurried to the passenger side and opened the door. “Let’s get you calmed down.”

She took a deep breath, then nodded and slid from the seat into his arms. Instead of letting him hug her, she hunched and kept her eyes on her feet. After turning to face the truck, she unbuttoned her jeans and yanked them down over her hips, revealing blue panties and the wicked cane scars he remembered from her evidence photos.

Tightening his hands into fists, he squeezed his eyes shut and forced his anger down. Just the memory of what the Shepherds had done to her had the power to send him into spiraling rage, and knowing she expected a beating for a simple mistake…

Resting her elbows on the seat, she said, “I’m ready for my punishment, Sir.”

Susan

“Oh, baby, no.”

Walt tugged her jeans up and zipped them, then turned her to face him before enveloping her into a tight hug. His spicy aftershave filled her lungs, and she wanted to bathe in it until it was all she could smell.

She’d forgotten everything she’d learned since escaping the Shepherds. Women weren’t supposed to be beaten for making a mistake. They apologized, fixed it, and moved on. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, and she pressed her hot face against his chest.

“I’m sorry, Sir,” she mumbled into his soft cotton sweater.

“Shh. I promise I will never punish you like that.” Still holding tight with one arm, he cupped her cheek and tilted her face up to look at him. “It’s okay. Do you know why?”

She blinked, trying to stall more tears. “No, Sir.”

“It’s okay because I had to look in the back seat to make sure I remembered my Santa costume.” When she giggled, he rolled his eyes. “And we’re less than ten minutes from your apartment. It’s no trouble to go back, and I’m happy to have extra time to listen to your bucket list.”

“No.” She wriggled free of his embrace and grabbed the papers from the floorboard. “It’s all just stupid wishes, and I’m never going to do any of it.”

She heard a crack of sound before her ass lit up from a hard barehanded spank and nearly stumbled as she whirled to face him. “You said I wouldn’t be punished!”

It hadn’t hurt—well, not much, but he’d promised.

“You didn’t get a spank because you forgot your costume.” He laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. “You got a spank because you put yourself and your wishes down. Even if you change your mind about them, your wishes are valuable, and so are you.”

“No, I’m not.”

A vein pulsed in his temple, and he cursed under his breath as he lifted her into the truck. “It’s like you want me to spank you again.”

The sting from his palm across her bottom faded into tingling warmth. She tried not to squirm but couldn’t help wishing he’d give her another spank.

How could one harmless smack affect me so much?

“I don’t understand.” Except maybe she did. Walt didn’t spank her because he got off on hurting her—he spanked her because she hurt herself.

She might have been wrong, but she didn’t think so, and it opened up a whole world of possibilities.

He sighed and reached across her to fasten her seatbelt. “Susan, I will never spank you for a simple mistake, nor will anyone else, but it drives me absolutely insane when you talk down about yourself.”

“But—”

“Stop.” He cupped her cheek and made her look at him. “You’re strong, smart, and brave. It might take time to get where you want to be, but there’s no doubt in my mind you will.”

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