Page 16 of The Captain's Little Girl

“Bye, Cricket! Thanks for being there with me,” River called over her shoulder.

“Go, team!” Cricket cheered tiredly.

“Come on, baby girl.” Mark picked up the bag by her feet before taking Cricket’s free hand to lead her to the passenger door. After opening it, he lifted her up into the seat so she didn’t have to climb.

Cricket leaned against the padding and closed her eyes. Blindly lifting the burger to her lips, she took another bite and chewed.

“Don’t fall asleep until you finish that,” Mark warned.

“I’m not asleep. I’m just resting my eyes,” Cricket assured him after swallowing.

* * *

“Hold on to Daddy, Cricket,” Mark’s deep voice wrapped around her as his arms scooped her out of the vehicle.

“Did I finish my burger?” she mumbled, still hungry, as she looped an arm around his neck.

“It’s in your hand,” he said with soft chuckles.

“Mmm!” Cricket took the last bite.

“Do you need to wake up to eat this other one?” Mark asked as he carried her through the door into the kitchen.

“No. I just want to go to bed, Daddy.”

“I think that’s the best place for you, Cricket.”

When he laid her on the utilitarian comforter covering his bed, she curled up in a ball, never opening her eyes. Cricket heard water running but dismissed it as unimportant.

“No. Just let me sleep,” she mumbled, pushing at the arms that wrapped around her to pick her up.

“You’re sticky, baby girl. A quick bath and then bed. You’ll sleep better clean.”

“Nooo!” she wailed quietly as she struggled.

Whack!Heat blossomed on her bottom at the sharp swat. It wasn’t a playful spank like she’d gotten in the past. This was a ‘I mean business’ spank. Immediately, Cricket relaxed against her daddy’s shoulder.

“Good girl,” he praised as he carried her into the bathroom to stand her next to the filled tub.

Cricket groaned at the sight of the warm, steamy water waiting for her. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all. She reached for the bottom of her T-shirt to tug it over her head, but Mark’s hands closed over hers.

“Daddy’s here to help.” He brushed her hands away and added, “Raise your arms, baby girl.”

When Cricket followed his directions, Mark gently pulled the garment over her head. Her bra joined the discarded shirt in the corner soon after. The thought she should be self-conscious flitted through her head, but Cricket quickly let that evaporate. She was too tired to worry about anything as he took care of her.

“Step into the tub, Cricket,” Mark urged when she was nude.

Sinking into the warm water with a sigh of delight, Cricket leaned back against the tub and closed her eyes. She heard him kneel next to her on the tiled floor and peeked under her lashes to watch as Mark wet a washcloth and added a dab of sweet-smelling liquid soap.

“You don’t use that to shower,” she mumbled as he lifted her arm from the water and smoothed the cloth over her skin.

“You don’t think I need to smell like a beautiful flower?” he asked.

“No. You need something rugged like… mesquite-flavored shower gel or whiskey,” she rambled. “Then you’d taste good. I mean, you already taste good. Well, at least the parts I’ve gotten to lick.”

At his chuckle, she squinted up at him. “It’s awfully light in here. I can’t go to sleep with all that brightness.”

“We’ll turn off the light soon. Lean forward. Let me clean your back.”

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