Page 29 of Her Bossy Daddy

I gagged and he reacted at once. Liam threw the washcloth into the sink and grabbed tissues. Blowing my nose and wiping my face with him so close added to my humiliation, but I had no other choice. He gestured to the cup of water by the sink and I rinsed out my mouth as well. The bitter taste lingered though and I longed to brush my teeth.

“I’m sorry, Daddy. I won’t snap at you again.”

“When we’re done, I imagine not.”

He led us out of the bathroom, and we returned to the bedroom. Liam sat down on the bed then pulled me over his lap. One swift tug yanked my pants and panties to my knees, and his palm danced across my cheeks. Over and over it landed. The burn spread up to the fullest part of my cheeks, and then all the way down to my hated sit spots. “Ouch!”

“Why am I spanking you, Lacey girl?” He paused to run his palm over each of my burning globes.

“I refused to go to bed.” A flurry of smacks met my upper thighs and I screeched. “And other things!”

“I want to hear all the reasons, right?”

“I didn’t do what you said! Doesn’t that cover it all?”

“Are you getting cheeky again?”

“No, Daddy.”

“Why are you being spanked?”

“Because reasons!”

“Jesus.” Liam flipped me around on his lap so we were face to face. “What am I going to do with you?”

I shrugged, unable to put my thoughts into words. He had so much more patience than I did. I squirmed as if I could get off his lap, but he was stronger than me.

“What is the real problem? I want to hear about it right now.”

“You put up with a lot more from me than I ever would from you.” I wanted to take the words back because they were literally the core of my insecurities and if he started to pull back the layers he would see the grime underneath the glitter. I didn’t want him or anyone to see my true self or at least how I saw myself under it all.

“Well, the beauty of our relationship, love, is that I don’t see this as putting up with you. I want to be in this sort of dynamic as much as you do. It’s why we do so well together.” He fixed my pajama bottoms, and then helped me to my feet. “Do you think this reveals some deep dark secret about you?”

“Doesn’t it?”

“Can you stop answering every question with a question?”

“Can you?”

“Damn it!” He threw his hands up in the air over his head and then dropped them. “Why can’t you follow one simple order?”

“Still asking questions,” I pointed out with another shrug.

“It’s clear you aren’t going to be happy with any plans I’ve set. Get out of those pajamas, and pack your things. I’ll bring you home as you wanted in the first place.” Liam squeezed my hand tight and then left the room.

After he walked out, a huge pressure settled on my chest. I sank down into the floor and buried my head in between my knees. Sobbing, I tried to catch my breath but failed. He didn’t deserve my attitude. He didn’t deserve my disrespectful comments and behavior. He deserved a real fucking princess, not a brat like me. A sharp pain shot through my chest, and I gasped for breath. Shit. I’m going to pass out, and he is too mad at me to know it. I tried to call out, but I didn’t have enough air. What the hell is this? Black spots appeared in my vision, and it scared me even more. Something hard pressed against my back, and I wiggled my fingers until I could get it into my hand. A shoe! I chucked it with all the strength I had left, and then did the same with a few more shoes. Each one bounced off the door.

Tears poured freely down my cheeks, and I coughed in vain to calm down. Nothing worked, and the harder I tried the more out of control I spun. I’d fucked up a lot today, but Liam would make it better. Just like he always did.

Relief prickled through, but those dark spots appeared again. I didn’t want to pass out; instead, I thought about the sound of kittens meowing. The wetness of first-morning dew on the grass under my feet when I went outside to get the paper for my grandpa when I was little. The delicious smell of warm apple donuts fresh from the oven at my Mima’s house. The crisp bite into a granny smith apple while walking through the apple orchard. The sparkling holiday lights of the house across the street from mine growing up, which reminded me of icicles. I repeated each of these in my mind using the memory of all five senses to lure me into a sense of security but the exercise didn’t work this time, because all of the terrible ways I’d been treating Liam kept breaking into my thoughts. I didn’t deserve someone so patient and loving. The door opened after some time had gone by, though I had no idea if it were minutes or longer.

“What the hell’s going on?” Liam scooped me up, and then set me on the bed. One of his hands pressed my head down toward my knees while the other touched my wrist. “Small breaths, Lacey. Breathe in through your nose. Out through your mouth. Small little breaths, not big ones. Just stay here one second. Breathe. I’ll be right back.”

Thank goodness. He would take care of me, no matter what.

* * *

Liam

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