Page 74 of Break Me, Daddy

A sad smile curved his lips. “You never really told me why you pulled away.”

She wanted to pull away right then, to change the subject the way she had so many times before. But if she owed anyone an explanation, it was him.

“I was embarrassed. And I felt like you deserved better.”

For once, he didn’t simply push aside her statement with pretty words about how there was no one better for him. “How so?”

“You’re so… you.” She couldn’t help but laugh at herself, even if it came out shaky and uncertain. “I know that’s not helpful, but I don’t know how else to say it. You’re just sosureof yourself. And you’ve been a Dom for so long, and you deserve someone who knows how to be the kind of submissive you want and need. Not someone who falls apart because you stood your ground and refused to compromise your beliefs.”

“So instead of talking to me and telling me your fears, you just figured you knew what was best for both of us and made my decision for me?”

Anger rippled beneath his words, anger she knew she deserved, but it stung all the same. “I suppose you could say that.”

“I swear, nobody has ever made my palm itch the way you do, Francesca Legare.”

“I don’t think you can spank someone for breaking up with you.”

“Maybe not. But I’m damn well tempted to, anyway. So let me make this as clear as I possibly can, little girl. The next time you want to make decisions that affect someone else without consulting them first, you will find yourself face-down over Daddy’s knee getting your bottom paddled. Am I understood?”

The threat did what his pretty words couldn’t, washing away so much of the worry and guilt she’d been carrying with her since that fateful day. “Yes, Daddy.”

“I suppose that’s a good enough segue into our next topic. Your punishment for lying to me about your therapy appointment.”

Dread settled like a rock in her stomach. “Can’t you just spank me?” She knew she was whining, hated herself a little for it, but couldn’t seem to stop the words from slipping free. “I already feel awful about it.”

“A spanking is an option,” he said slowly, much to her surprise. “But there is a catch.”

“What kind of catch?”

“I wouldn't be the one spanking you.”

He was going to let someone else punish her? That was a twist she hadn’t seen coming. “Who?”

“Braden. He already spoke with Lottie and they’re both on board if you are. I want to be very clear, though, that you have every right to refuse. I have other ideas if you don’t want Braden to spank you.”

“What kind of ideas?”

“An essay, for starters, on the importance of therapy during recovery.”

“Ew, no thank you. I’d rather have the spanking. I trust Braden and I trust you.” Heat crept up her neck into her cheeks. “And I really do deserve a spanking. I’m not sure I can forgive myself for getting Lottie in trouble if I get off with writing an essay or whatever when I know damn well she got her ass busted for covering for me.”

“Which is why I chose Braden for this. It was his babygirl you dragged into your lie, so it only seemed right.”

“Why can’t you spank me?”

“Because I want to be very sure that this punishment is completely separate in your mind from your binge. If I spank you, it’s too easy for you to group the two issues together. And I already told you, I refuse to punish you for something out of your control.”

Damn him for knowing her so well. Looking up at him through her lashes, she gave him her best pout. “So are you just never going to spank me again?”

His lips twitched with clear amusement. “Hardly. But we will be having a lot of discussions about your binge, what triggered it, how we can keep it from happening again before I will spank you again. Something to keep in mind if you want to play the brat to try and force my hand. You should know by now I have plenty of other ways to keep you in line.”

“Yes, Daddy,” she said with a sigh, even though her heart was doing that funny little fluttering thing in her chest.

“Good girl. Now, time to choose. A spanking from Braden or another punishment? It’s entirely up to you, little siren.”

As humiliating as the idea of being spanked by anyone else was, she also needed it. Deserved it. If for no other reason than to make things right with Lottie.

“One question.”

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