Page 29 of Mountain Man Daddy

Instead of feeling embarrassed by her nakedness, Avery felt desire coil deep in her belly. She ignored the heat building in her as she collected the things from the bed and put them all back exactly where she’d gotten them. She was supposed to be thinking about her actions after all. She took extra care with the pictures, putting them gently back in the now dented lockbox. They meant something to him. Avery stared a moment at the two women, wondering who they were.

When she returned to the room, he was lying on the bed with his arms propped behind his head.

“Right here, baby.” She felt his voice as much as she heard it. He opened his arms for her.

She climbed onto the bed and immediately tucked into his side and buried her face. He enveloped her and she sank into him, feeling boneless after his spanking had drained all the tension from her.

“Did you mean it when you said you’d forgiven me?”

“Of course I did, honey.” He trailed his fingers gently along the skin of her shoulder and arm.

“And when you said you’d help me?”

“I won’t let you down, Avery. We’ll get through this together.” He gave her head a peck and then his hand drifted to her bottom where he began massaging. It should have hurt, but instead, it felt glorious. She let her lids drift closed, listening to his heartbeat. She could worry later, she decided. There would be time to discuss what was to come. She trusted him to take care of her. The blonde and the sickly thin brunette in the pictures were on her mind though.

“Who were the women in the pictures?” There was a long silence. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. I understand.”

“I don’t, but then you didn’t want to talk about your stuff either, and although you haven’t told me everything, you did trust me with part of your story.”

“I don’t want you to tell me because you owe me.”

“As you’re beginning to trust me, Avery, I’m starting to trust you, too. Ella was the blonde and Lydia the brunette.”

“Was?”

“Yes. They’re both dead.”

“Dead?” Most people would have softened it and said, ‘passed on,’ but not her tough mountain man.

“Yes.” He gathered a breath. “My wife, and a girl who deserved justice.”

“How did they die?”

“Unpleasantly, and too young, and that’s all I’m going to say for now.” He tipped his head down and tilted her chin up, so they were face to face. “I haven’t spoken of either of them in years. That will take time, honey.” He pressed his mouth to hers and gently kissed her.

“Okay. I’m sorry for your loss though,” Avery said, nuzzling her head back against him. “I’m here to listen if you want.”

“I’d like that.” He patted her bottom. “But…” She put her hand over his lips.

“I know, I know. You want me to nap.” He laughed through her fingers and then moved them to kiss the tips. “Am I that predictable?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Half the time you open your mouth, it’s to tell me that.” He gave her bottom a solid swat. It stung but only for a second and then morphed to a tingle of want.

“How do you feel?”

She shrugged and his brow knitted.

“Well, my butt hurts.”

“You know what I meant, little girl.” She blinked innocently, and he swatted again, making her growl and attempt to shimmy away. “On your tummy,now.”

She pleaded with her eyes a moment, but his stern glare had her rolling onto her belly and giving him full access to her burning bottom.

“Try again. This time without the growling,” Mike said, and Avery sighed forcefully and then yelped as he spanked sharply again.

“Okay!Ow,Daddy, it hurts!” She gave him an injured look and then smiled. “I feel a lot better. Languid even.”

“And from the accident? Still exhausted, achy?”

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