Page 52 of Their Forever Daddy

“Feet on the floor, little girl. Now.”

There was an edge to her Daddy’s voice that told her he was about out of patience with her. She’d dragged her feet—figuratively as well as literally, necessitating him physically picking her up to position her over the couch—when he’d announced she still had to go through with the second half of her punishment.

But it was hard to focus on being a good girl for her spanking when all she wanted to do was find Edie and knock some sense into her brain. Why couldn’t she see how good they could all be together? It was the perfect solution, but she was just too stubborn and set in her ways to see it.

Unfortunately for Jesse, her Daddy wasn’t the type to accept any excuses when it came to a well-earned punishment. So she quickly lowered her feet back to the worn wooden floors, her gaze still locked on Edie’s face.

“Are you ever going to run away without your phone on and fully charged, little girl?”

“N-no, Daddy.”

Another crack of the thick leather across that same tender spot had tears slipping down her cheeks and her breath hitching as she tried to inhale.

“Good. Because if you ever”—he whipped her again, this time just a little higher, but with enough overlap to have her crying out—“worry me like that again, little girl, you will be grounded for the rest of your natural life and the spanking you’re getting right now will seem like nothing more than a few love taps. Am I making myself perfectly clear?”

“Yes, Daddy! I’m sorry, I’m so s-sorry!”

At the next snap of the leather, she collapsed over the thick padded arm of the couch, her breaths coming in loud, hiccupping sobs. And then his arms were around her, picking her up and cradling her as he settled on the couch.

“That’s my good girl. Let it all out, baby.”

Clinging to him, she did exactly as she was told, weeping out the guilt and frustration and outright fear she’d felt over the past few days. It was, as much as she hated to admit it, exactly what she’d needed to finally cleanse her soul.

As her sobs slowed, another set of hands, smaller and gentler than her Daddy’s, tilted her chin up. A cool washcloth brushed away her tears, and she nearly wept again at how right it all felt.

“Poor babygirl,” Edie murmured before pressing a kiss to Jesse’s forehead. “You had a lot of big emotions bottled up in there, didn’t you?”

“Uh-huh.”

Daddy’s arms tightened around her, and though the gesture put more pressure on her chest, for the first time in weeks it felt like she could breathe. “You took your spanking so well, baby. Daddy’s so proud of you.”

They were familiar words, ones she’d heard countless times over the course of their relationship. And yet, they never failed to make everything inside her light up with pure joy. “I really am sorry I made you worry, Daddy.”

“I know, baby. It’s all forgiven now.” He paused, and she felt his head raise. “Isn’t that right, Edie?”

An eternity passed in the seconds it took Edie to answer. An eternity where it felt as though Jesse’s entire future hung on whatever answer she gave.

“Yes. All forgiven, little one.”

Something inside her, something she hadn’t even realized was out of place, settled. Like when you’re trying to put together a puzzle, and you can’t quite get a piece to match but then you realize it was just facing the wrong way. So you turn it and it just… clicks. And while she didn’t for a second think Edie was saying she forgave her for everything, she’d been forgiven for this at least, and that was enough for now.

The only thing that would make this moment better would be Edie saying she’d give them a chance.

Baby steps, Walker. Baby steps.

“Edie, could you do me a favor and sit with Jesse for a moment?” Daddy asked, his voice soft and gentle the way it always was after a harsh punishment. “I don’t think our…” He stopped and cleared his throat. “I don’t think Jesse is going to feel like putting her jeans back on anytime soon.”

“Of course.”

The couch dipped a bit beside them, and then she was snuggled up beside Edie, her head resting on Edie’s breasts. Gentle hands stroked her back soothingly, and a moment later she heard the soft, familiar sound of Edie’s voice.

Closing her eyes, she let herself drift, buoyed by an old melody she’d all but forgotten. It was an older country song, and it took her a moment to place the lyrics.

When she finally did, the memory hit her full force. Out by the lake where they’d first explored each other's bodies, one of those nights between falling in love and being torn apart, dancing in the headlights of Edie’s old pickup to a playlist Edie had made just for her. The song Edie was singing now had been on that list, a woman with a sweet, high voice singing about how much could be heard when her lover was being completely silent.

Now, just like then, she was struck by how much the song reminded her of Edie. Her woman had never been big on grand declarations of love, but she said so much in those long silences.

“You have an incredible voice.” Daddy’s tone held a hint of awe. “You could give Alison Kraus herself a run for her money.”

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