Page 8 of Twice the Love

“Sorry! I’m sorry!” she cried. Her tone pulled at my heart. She was sorry for a lot more than her bad behavior.

“I know you are, baby,” I soothed as I ran my hand through her blond curls. I sat her back on my lap so I could see her face. “Reagan, you know that you can tell me anything. If someone did something bad to you or even if you did something bad to someone, you can tell Daddy and Uncle Maddox.”

“Bad to me?” she asked as she wiped her eyes with her hands.

I pulled up the bottom of my shirt before dabbing at her red-rimmed eyes. “Yes, baby. I know someone was mean to you at the club, but if that Little or anyone else did anything to hurt you or make you feel bad, you can tell us.”

“Nobody hurt my feelings besides Dollie,” she answered with a little head shake. Dollie was the little shit who pulled her hair and called her names.

“It doesn’t just have to be your feelings, baby. It could be your body.” I could see by the look on her face she was a bit confused.

“If you were in the playroom and somebody touched you in a way that made you uncomfortable, you can tell Daddy. Daddy wouldn’t be upset with you. Even if we’re at a play party, it doesn’t—”

I was silenced when Reagan’s hand suddenly covered my mouth. She moved it to rub my face softly. “No, Daddy. Nothing like that happened. I would tell you or Uncle Maddox,” she said. “I promise.”

“But youarekeeping something from us and we’re both worried about what it is. I understand it’s a heavy secret because it’s making you sick.”

She bit her lip and played with the collar of my shirt before looking up and meeting my eyes. My heart leapt in my chest as she nodded. Maybe we were finally getting somewhere.

“You can tell Daddy whatever it is, baby. Even if maybe it’s not something you think Daddy wants to hear,” I said as I gently squeezed her hips.

“Anything?” she asked.

“Anything.”

She dropped her gaze again but took a deep breath. “Sometimes my tummy…I think that…” she stopped and tried again. “Sometimes my body gets confused when—”

Maddox walked through the door of the office. By the way her facial expression changed, whatever she had to tell me had to do with Maddox. That fact alone alleviated some of my anxiety. Maddox would never harm her intentionally, and that meant whatever it was, we could get through it.

“Okay, baby love, let’s get this over with,” he said as he held out his hand.

Chapter Four

Maddox

I knew from the moment I held out my hand that I had interrupted a special moment between Travis and Reagan. A light flush covered Reagan’s body, and a look of frustration crossed Travis’ face.

“Actually, why don’t I…”

Reagan climbed off Travis’ lap and took my hand. “No, we can talk later,” she said as she waited for me to direct her.

I looked at Travis and he nodded for me to continue. I didn't want to continue though. I wanted to give Reagan a pass for today. Did they make those? Get out of trouble passes for Little ones who'd had a bad day. I thought maybe I should look into that.

I sighed and focused on the task at hand. I hated this. I hated this feeling of heaviness that had been interrupting our life lately. I hated whatever secret she was hiding. I hated that I’d thought the threat of a firmer punishment would stop her tantrum earlier and now I had to follow through. If I were completely honest, I even hated that Travis got to have special moments with her. I felt guilty for feeling jealous. Travis had saved me from a really dark time. He’d become my best friend, and here I was harboring deep feelings for his wife. His very sick wife. I really was the worst.

I led her over to Travis’ desk and kissed her forehead gently. “Put your chest down in the middle of Daddy’s desk and hold onto the edge,” I said as I placed my hand on her back and gently guided her over. She white knuckled the edge of the desk. I rubbed her back for a minute as I worked through the feeling of disgust churning in my stomach. She suddenly let out a sob, and I found myself wanting to cry with her.

“You’re being a good girl, baby,” I said as I set the belt on her pale bottom. “It’s a count of ten.”

“Y-yes, sir,” she sobbed.

“I think ten is a good number, baby. Good girl accepting your consequences,” Travis said as he worked to support Reagan’s emotions and mine. “It’s okay to be scared.” He stood and walked over to the front of his desk. He knelt, stroked Reagan’s hair out of her face, and kissed her nose. “Daddy’s gonna stay right here, okay? When it’s over, we’ll all have a big snuggle in bed.”

He looked up at me and repeated his words. “It’s okay to be scared.” He was right. I was scared. I hadn’t ever done this before.

She nodded and gave a pitiful sob.

“Let’s get this over with, baby,” I said as I drew back the belt.

---