Page 23 of Daddy's Firm Hand

I headed straight to Molly’s café and knocked at the door. She opened up, her face lighting up when she saw me, arms opening wide for a hug.

I practically fell into her embrace, breathing in her familiar vanilla scent. Molly gave the best hugs, wrapping you up until the world felt a little less overwhelming.

"Chamomile with honey?" she asked.

“Yes please!”

She passed a mug over to me. "Now, tell me what's going on in that pretty head of yours."

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to gather my scattered thoughts into cohesive words. "It's . . . It's about David," I began, my voice trembling. "You know how he's been mentoring me at work?"

Molly nodded encouragingly, her blue eyes filled with gentle understanding.

"Well, something happened during our last session. Something . . . intense." I bit my lip, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

Reaching across the table, Molly took my hand in hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. "You can tell me anything, Candy. I'm here to support you, not judge."

Bolstered by her reassurance, I took a shuddering breath and let the truth spill out. "He spanked me, Molly. Not just a playfulswat, but a real punishment spanking. And then . . . then we kissed."

Tears finally broke free, trickling down my cheeks. "I thought it meant something special, but he's been away ever since. And now he’s going to be away for another week! He's canceled all our meetings and hasn’t told me where he is. I'm so confused and scared that I've ruined everything."

Molly leaned forward, offering me a tissue from her purse. Her brow furrowed with sympathy as she listened patiently.

"I can't stop thinking about it, replaying every moment. Did I misread his signals? Did I do something wrong?" My voice cracked as I confessed my deepest fears. "I feel like such a foolish little girl, thinking he could ever want someone like me."

Sobs wracked my body, releasing the pent-up emotions I'd been holding in for days. Molly moved to kneel beside my chair, wrapping me in another hug as I cried into her shoulder.

"Shh, it's okay, sweetie. Let it all out," she soothed, rubbing gentle circles on my back. "You're not foolish at all. It sounds like there's a real connection between you two."

“What if I just imagined it?”

As my tears subsided, Molly pulled back to meet my gaze. "I know it's scary, but you need to talk to him, Candy. Directly and honestly. You deserve clarity, and he owes you an explanation."

I nodded, sniffling. Deep down, I knew she was right. But the thought of confronting David, of bearing my soul and risking rejection, terrified me to my core.

Molly must have sensed my apprehension. She smiled reassuringly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear in a soothing gesture. "I know you can do this. You're stronger than you realize. And no matter what happens, I'll be right here, cheering you on."

Taking a shaky sip of my tea, I let her words of encouragement wash over me. I had to be brave, to trust in myself and theconnection I'd felt with David. Even if it meant facing my fears head-on.

I took a deep breath, resolve slowly replacing the knot of anxiety in my stomach. "You're right, Molly. I need to talk to him. I can't keep hiding from the truth."

She beamed at me, pride shining in her eyes. "That's my girl. You've got this."

When I returned back to my place, I was surprised to see a package, waiting outside on the porch.

My name was on it, so I picked it up and took it inside. I didn’t recognize the writing.

As soon as I got in, I ripped the parcel open. There was a note.

“To my baby girl. It’s not much, but I hope this will give you some comfort while I’m away on business. I promise you, it’ll be worth the wait. While you use this, I want you to be kind to yourself. Remember to think something honest and good about the person you are. You deserve it.”

Inside, was a large pacifier. It was pink and covered in tiny hearts. I’d never used anything like this before, but I had a strong feeling that I’d enjoy it.

“Well, Geoff, I do need comfort,” I said to myself, so I slipped the paci into my mouth.

I felt the soft rubber against my lips, the familiar shape filling my mouth with a comforting presence. The weight of it brought an unexpected sense of security, like a shield against the uncertainties swirling in my mind. A wave of calm washed over me as I sucked gently on the pacifier, the rhythmic motion lulling me into a state of peace.

With each inhale and exhale, I found myself sinking deeper into a space that felt both foreign and strangely welcoming. It was as if the act of embracing this simple yet significant object allowed me to let go of the burdens I carried, if only for a moment.

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