Before she could continue that line of thought the bedroom door opened and Rick had returned. He looked less annoyed, until his gaze landed on her. Then his mouth thinned, and his eyes narrowed. “So, young lady, now that I’ve dealt with our guest… it’s your turn.” He closed the door firmly behind him and moved toward the bed.

A shiver rolled down her back. It wasn’t entirely unpleasant. She did love it when he got stern with her. “Daddy, listen, I think we just need to chalk this up as a very unfortunate series of events.”

“Is that what you think?”

“Yeah huh.” She nodded firmly. “And there’s really no need to punish me because it’s never going to happen again.”

“It definitely isn’t going to happen again, but why would you think that would mean you don’t need consequences?” He crossed his arms over his chest as he stared down at her.

“Isn’t the whole point of punishment to teach me a lesson, so I learn not to do something again? I mean, in this case the lesson is learned for sure.” She didn’t actually think this line of argument was going to work, but she felt obligated to try.

“Sometimes punishment is about teaching, and sometimes it’s about atoning for wrongdoing so we can both move on. You can let go of any lingering guilt and I can let go of annoyance. And I have alotof annoyance to work through right now, Little girl.”

“But, Daddy, I—”

“The only butt relevant to this conversation is yours, which is about to get a real spanking. One that I can assure you won’t be any fun at all.” He picked up the discarded Valentine’s paddle and she winced. “Oh, don’t worry,” he assured her. “This isn’t what I’m going to be using on you.”

“But my bottom is already sore from the fun spanking. You did spank me areallllylong time, Daddy.” Maybe he’d forgotten. Maybe reminding him that her butt was already hot and sore would make him change his mind.

Apparently not, because he took the paddle away to the closet while saying, “Good, then we can skip the warmup,” which wasn’t what she’d meant at all.

Their large walk-in closet didn’t just hold clothes. It also held a ton of kinky equipment and toys. Some hung from the racks on carabiners, and many more were neatly organized in a set of drawers. It was her job to keep everything neat, maintained, and in its place so Daddy could find exactly what he needed.

That was why he was able to return in less than a minute with the exact implements he planned to use. Her eyes flicked to what he held in his hand and then she pulled the covers up higher. “Those are too mean,” she blurted.

Rick scoffed. “They are exactly the right amount of mean. Now, I want you out of that bed and your nose in the corner before I count to three. Otherwise you can expect to repeat all of this tomorrow night.”

“Daddy, please, I—”

“One.”

“Wait, don’t count!”

“Two…” He extended the word, dragging it out to give her time to move, but it wasn’t until he finished and opened his mouth for the third number, that she moved.

Maya scrambled out of bed and raced to the corner, making it just before he finished the count.

“Nose to the wall, Maya.”

She hated that. It forced her to bend slightly, and it wouldn’t be long before she’d begin to feel it in her lower back. Corner time was the worst, but there were always ways to make it even less pleasant. Her Daddy knew them all.

There was a creak of springs as he sat down on the bed to watch her. “You know, this was not how I planned to spend Valentine’s Day with you. I had a late evening in mind, with lots of pleasure for both of us. Instead, you’re standing with your nose to the wall, waiting to get your bottom roasted.” There was a tsking sound.

She risked a peek over her shoulder. “But it’s a special day, Daddy. It’s our anniversary. Can’t you just let it go?”

“Eyes front, young lady. Don’t make this worse,” he snapped. He didn’t answer her until her face was back where it belonged. “Can I let it go that you made a big decision and then didn’t even bother to tell me about it?”

He snorted. “No, I don’t think I’ll be letting it go. You deserve to have a sore backside for this one, Maya.”

Her lips pouted and she let out a huff of air. “What about after the punishment? We could um, still have a good night after that…”

“Oh, I intend to get my pleasure, Little girl. I’m not the one in trouble so there’s no reason for me to be punished.”

Her mouth dropped open and a sound of protest emerged. She didn’t quite dare to glare at him, so she stared hard at the wall instead. How could he be so mean on their special day? If she hadn’t been barefoot she might have kicked the wall, but there was no sense hurting her toes too.

And just in case she didn’t get the point, he continued, “So, you can look forward to me claiming that sassy ass of yours when it’s nice and sore.”

Even with her head going in and out of Middle space the threat made her clit pulse. She pressed her thighs together with a small moan of need. “That’s not fair, Daddy.”