Page 28 of Mountain Man Daddy

“Get those long underwear off, little girl.”

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Panic welled inside her as she watched him unbuckle his thick brown belt. His brow rose, and she whimpered. She had so many emotions running through her. He was going to help her? After what she’d done? And he didn’t hate her—not like she hated herself.

“Should I have you pick a switch, too?” He gave a quick hard tug, and the belt sliced out of the loops and whispered through the air. “Six good stripes across your bottom with a switch might cure your hesitation.” He folded the belt in half and let it dangle as he crossed his arms. She scrambled to remove the warm waffle knit one-piece. She shivered, covering her chest with her arms when it dropped to the floor in a heap. He grabbed a gray sweatshirt from the drawer straightforwardly.

“Arms up.” She lifted them, exposing her breasts with their hardened buds. He didn’t gawk, just slipped the sweater over her head. Her nipples tightened further as the material brushed across their sensitive tips in a no-nonsense manner. Heat blasted her core despite the punishment. Her mountain man daddy was so damn sexy, so damn caring, and so damn authoritative.

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“Better?” he questioned her sternly, but with concern, and she nodded. “Turn around and lean over the bed.” She didn’t hesitate at all this time, so he gave her bottom a soothing rub. It was hot to the touch, and he was sure it was throbbing. The sweatshirt hung loose and wrinkled at her wrists like elephant skin.

“Good girl. That shows me you’re learning.” He soothed a few more seconds and then stood by her side. “Keep as still as possible, so I don’t strap anything but your bottom, eh?”

When she remained silent, he reached back and let go a searing stripe across the lowest part of her bottom where it met her thighs. She squealed and squatted so her bottom rested on her heels. He took a handful of her hair and buried his fingers in it, not gently but not too harshly either.

“Ah, God, that…Jesus! Daddy!” The last word trailed out in a whine, and when he turned her head so she was looking at him, tears pooled in her eyes.

“Do you want every stripe to land there?” he asked, holding her head in place so she couldn’t look away. “Avery, how do you respond to me?”

“Yes, sir. I say yes, sir.” She tried to shake her head, but he still held her head. She sniffled. “No, Daddy. I don’t want every stripe to land there.” He stooped and set his lips against her temple before releasing her. She righted herself and leaned back over the bed. He gathered a breath.

“That’s five more now.” He touched the inflamed red stripe, pressed his lips together, and shook his head. “You need to listen, little girl.”

“I know, Daddy. I’m sorry,” she whispered out her response, and he closed his eyes, feeling empathetic. He patted her lower back to comfort her. Knowing he was in charge would take away her burden, he decided to reassure himself.

“Okay, I’m going to go fast now so we can get this over with. I’ll give you a break after five.”

“Yes, Daddy. Thank you, Daddy.” She sniffed, her knees trembling a bit, causing his heart to stutter in his chest. He reminded himself this was for her.

The belt whizzed through the air and cracked again, but before she could let out a strangled cry, it landed again, leaving another welt across the fullest part of her globes. She was shivering by the fifth. He gave her time in between as he promised before he switched sides and doled out the next five. Her shivering was her way of controlling her emotions. He needed her to let go, so he gave the last two with a little more force.

She collapsed to her knees as soon as he stopped, finally releasing the emotion she’d been holding. He sat beside her on the bed and rubbed her back. He gave her five minutes to weep into the mattress before he stood again.

“Last five, Avery. Up you get.”

“Please, I’ve learned,I’ve learned.” Her last word trailed on with a sob. He took her hips and lifted her up and back into position.

“Five more, as promised. You need to know I’ll always do what I say, whether that’s spanking your bottom or saving your life. I am a man who sticks to my word, sweetheart.”

She covered her face and shook with sobs, before gathering her breath and composing herself. She stilled, stuck her bottom out, and swallowed audibly.

“I’m ready, Daddy. It hurts but I can handle it because I know you’re disappointed in me, and I’m disappointed in myself.”

His own eyes misted. Both her vulnerability and strength moved him. She trusted him. It had been a long damn time since he’d had someone’s trust. He adjusted the belt again and stood at her side, putting his left palm on her lower back. He swung the belt and let her holler and stamp out her pain as more stripes blossomed pinker across her already rosy cheeks. He gave her four more swats, fifteen in total, the last five far less severe than the rest because all he wanted to do was hold her and make all her pain go away—the pain of loneliness, the pain of fear, and the pain of disappointing herself.

When he was done, he dropped the belt with a clink and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back against him. She turned her head to lay it on his shoulder and let him hold her against his front. He spun her after a moment and held her chest to chest.

“Come here, little girl. Let me hold you now. We’re all done.” She sniffed into his chest, and he soothed her. He didn’t let her get too comfortable though. She wasn’t done yet. As soon as her hiccupping sobs quieted, he spoke again.

“Now, I want you to take that naughty sore bottom and put everything back where you got it.” He sat on the bed. “When you’re all done, you can come snuggle.” He patted his chest. “Daddy’s saving this spot for you.”

She wiped her eyes with the heel of her hands before reaching behind her to rub. Mike was sure it was scorched, and that rubbing eased some of the burn.

“I’ll even do that for you.” He winked at her, nodding to her hands moving on her backside. “Now get going. No more rubbing, young lady. And don’t bother getting dressed. There’s no one here to see you but me, and I love what I see.” And he did. Her reddened cheeks peeked out beneath the sweatshirt as she left the room, hardening him instantly.

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