Oh, she should have realized that was why the chair was there.

“You’d be sent to sit in the corner and think about your answer and how you might choose something more appropriate. And then you’d come out of corner time and walk over to me to give me that answer.”

“And then what?

“Then you’d get a spanking and all would be forgiven.”

“Forgiven? Really? Does a punishment really work like that?” she asked.

She was skeptical. Because in her experience, forgiveness was impossible to come by. And from what she’d seen of other people’s relationships, things were often brought up over and over again. It didn’t seem that humans found it easy to forgive and forget.

Then again, sometimes they shouldn’t forgive and forget because some things were simply unforgivable.

“It does for me. Once a punishment is given, that’s it. You’ve paid your dues and hopefully you have learned from your mistake.”

“Well, hopefully.” She wasn’t so sure.

“Do you want to ask any more questions?”

“Umm.”

Questions. What kind of questions could she come up with to delay this?

“I can see that you don’t have any questions,” he said dryly.

“I might! I’m just trying to think of some.”

Salem chuckled. “Little one, I don’t think you’re meant to tell Daddy that you’re trying to delay your spanking.”

“Ohh. But you said not to lie, Daddy.”

He shook his head. “Brat. So I did. Let’s get this spanking done before you say anything that’s going to get you into more trouble.”

She groaned. But that was actually a good idea. She really didn’t want to add to her spanking.

He reached for the top of her pants and she took a step back.

“Daddy, what are you doing? You haven’t even bought me dinner.”

“I’ll buy you dinner later,” he told her. “But this isn’t about sex. We need to strip off your pants for your spanking.”

“What? Why? And do we really have to do this here?” She glanced around the room. “What if they have cameras in here?”

He glanced around as well. “Who are they?”

“I don’t know . . . someone . . . anyone . . . the Ox. What if the Ox is watching us right now? Do you really want him to see my bare bottom?”

“He’s not watching. There are no cameras.”

“Are you sure?”

“It would be illegal to film us without our permission.”

“I hate to tell you this, Daddy. But the kind of person who would film someone getting their butt paddled, isn’t really gonna be concerned with permission or legalities.”

He thought about that for a moment. “Point taken.” Then he got to his feet and started searching the room.

Huh.