Page 51 of King

TWENTY-TWO

KING

King leaned against the counter of the small kitchenette in his apartment, arms crossed, watching Ella, who was hunched over her laptop at the small table in the corner. The soft glow from the screen flickered across her face, highlighting the determined furrow of her brow as her fingers danced over the keyboard.

He sighed and glanced at the clock. “All right, Little one,” he said, his voice steady but firm. “It’s time for bed.”

Ella barely spared him a glance. “I’ll go in a little while,” she mumbled, still focused on her screen. “I just have to finish this first.”

King’s jaw ticked as he stepped forward. “Baby, it’s already thirty minutes past your bedtime. You can finish that tomorrow.”

“I know,” she said sweetly, though she still didn’t look up from her laptop. “Just a few more minutes, Daddy.”

King narrowed his eyes slightly. She was testing him.

“Ella.” His voice dropped lower, laced with warning.

She finally glanced up, wide-eyed and innocent, blinking as if she had no idea what he was about to do. “What?”

King tilted his head, his tone firm but calm. “I said it’s time for bed. That wasn’t a suggestion.”

For a moment, guilt flickered in her eyes, but instead of closing her laptop, she turned back to the screen and typed faster. “Just a few more minutes,” she insisted.

King let out a slow exhale, his patience thinning. “All right, baby. Have it your way.”

In three long strides, he was at the table. Before Ella realized what was happening, he reached down and plucked her right out of her chair.

“Daddy!” she squealed, her laptop snapping shut as she kicked her feet. “I wasn’t done.”

King ignored her struggles, adjusting his grip as she wiggled wildly in his arms. “You’re done for the night, Little girl,” he said evenly. “And since you didn’t listen the first time, I think you need a reminder about what happens when you ignore Daddy.”

Ella gasped, realization dawning in her eyes. “Nooo, Daddy, wait! I didn’t?—”

“Oh, you did,” King interrupted as he walked them both toward the bed. “You knewexactlywhat you were doing.”

She squirmed harder, whining in protest, but he was stronger. He sat on the edge of the bed and effortlessly adjusted her so that she was face-down over his lap, her bottom perfectly positioned for what was coming.

Ella whimpered, her body tensing.

“I just wanted to finish my work,” she pouted.

“And I just wanted you in bed on time. You’ve been working a lot of hours this week and staying up late, and I’ve been allowing it because I know how important this is to you. But, as your Daddy, it’s my job to take care of you and draw the line when it’s affecting your health or happiness. You’re not going to be able to do either of those things if you’re so exhausted you can’t function,” King countered, rubbing his large palm over the curveof her backside. “Your job as my Little girl is to obey me, which you chose not to do. And now, you’re going to learn why that was a mistake.”

He lifted his hand and brought it down with a loud smack over her thin leggings. Then he did it to the other cheek, and almost immediately, she started wiggling.

“I’m sorry, Daddy.”

It was much too late for that. His girl was going to learn a lesson, and then he was going to tuck her into bed where she belonged.

“You’re not sorry yet, but you will be when I’m done.”

Over and over, he spanked her, alternating cheeks. She whimpered and apologized with almost every swat. The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt his girl, but this was part of their dynamic. And King suspected that she needed this spanking more than she realized.

He was so proud of her for all the hard work she’d been doing, but she was spreading herself too thinly, and he wouldn’t continue to allow that. The fundraiser wasn’t worth harming her health. In fact, he probably should have had Doc give Ella an exam as a precaution. He would have to talk to his friend about that tomorrow.

When he could feel the heat of her bottom through her leggings and panties, he tucked his hand in the waistband of both and pulled them down together. Ella let out a cry of protest and tried to reach back to stop him, but he was too quick. He grabbed hold of her wrist and pinned it to her lower back, then started spanking her once again, peppering her entire bottom.

“I love you, Little girl. It’s my job to take care of you, and I take that responsibility very seriously.”

---