Page 24 of Wilderness Daddy

“I’d like to go home now,” she says and suddenly there’s no animosity in her tone. “This isn’t going to work.”

I stab a finger at the floor. “Stay put. I’m going to settle up the bill and send the server over so you can apologize.” My lip curls as she rolls her eyes. And I grab her, spinning her to land a sharp swat on her backside, before turning her back to face me. Her mouth is open and her eyes wide. “You’ll apologize, Akari, or I’ll continue smacking your ass until you do and then it won’t be just a hand spanking when we get to my truck but a full on strapping with my belt.”

“Fine!” Her jaw tightens and she looks away.

“Fine.” I turn and leave her there with flushed cheeks and a scowl. I’m more determined than ever to get us out of this merger now. Because if I have to spend any more time with Akari Takahashi I’m going to be arrested for blistering her backside with my belt in public. I’ll be lucky if I’m not under arrest by the time I get her home because if she keeps it up the damn belt is coming off.

She apologizes and seems to do it convincingly enough that I decide my belt can stay where it is, but as I walk her to my truck I can tell she’s worried.

“Landon, you’re not really going to spank me, are you?”

I look down at her with raised brows. “Did I say I was going to spank you?” I watch her swallow hard and nod. “I always keep my word, little girl.”

“But... here? In the parking lot of a packed five-star restaurant?”

When I don’t say anything she starts to resist.

“But people might see!”

“Did you care that everyone saw our server’s humiliation?”

Luckily my truck is too big to fit near the front of the building so I parked around the back in a spot that’s shrouded by trees because I plan to spank her here to reinforce this punishment for her own good. But I’d rather not have someone call the cops.

I open the door to my truck and put our packed-up food in the back. “Pull your skirt up, and lean in.”

“Landon, please. I’m sorry.” She reaches for my arms, but I cross them.

“Honey, I’m running out of patience.” The light in the parking lot spills down on us and I see her expression close off, a scowl pulling on her mouth.

“This is bloody ridiculous!” She grits her teeth, gathers a breath, and stamps her foot just a little before looking around and turning to face the seat of my truck. Her hands grasp the edges of her skirt and she shimmies it up, wiggling her ass. Her stockings are lacy at the tops and held up with a garter belt. The sight of her pretty, plump ass framed by the garter makes my blood pound but I ignore the swelling in my groin. This isn’t about sex. It’s about what Akari needs. And that’s not just a lesson in proper behavior but in self-respect too.

“Lean your hands on the seat and stick your ass out.”

She growls and her fists tighten on the hem of her skirt. “You’re an asshole, Landon Steed.”

“Maybe so, but I don’t really trust your opinion now.”

She spins on me. “What the hell does that mean?”

My brows rise. “It means your opinions tend to reflect your emotions rather than reality.”

Her eyes widen but she clamps her mouth shut so I continue.

“There was nothing wrong with our server or the food but because you were in a pissy mood, you put your shit on everyone else. And you made yourself look like the jerk, Akari. Exactly the kind of behavior that’s going to earn you the label ‘difficult to work with’ at Steed or anywhere else.”

I watch her tight mouth relax to a small frown as my words sink in, but she still doesn’t say anything. Instead, she turns back around and leans her hands on the seat.

Looking back with something resembling a resigned pout, she sticks her ass out. The silky white panties won’t offer a lick of protection but I pull them down over her round ass anyway. I want the anticipation to build and add to her embarrassment.

The first swat is sharp but not too harsh, just enough to leave a light pink mark and let her know how serious I am. She doesn’t make a sound. I continue with the same vigor, warming her skin and keeping a consistent and predictable rhythm. She’s stoic and still, probably brooding. Akari needs more than physical chastisement.

“You deserve this, don’t you, little one? You need a little sting on your naughty bottom to pull you out of your snit so you can see how your attitude affects others, yeah?”

The brat ignores me, still stiff.

“Use your words, Akari.” My pace tempers but my swats intensify, leaving crimson prints to flourish on her cheeks. Her hands grip the seat tighter. “Akari?” I concentrate the next spanks in the same spots, across both cheeks simultaneously.

“Yesss,” she hisses after the fifth spank, but it still sounds angry. I don’t let up.

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