Page 13 of Daddy's Little Patient

Kelly's eyes widened slightly, a mix of vulnerability and need flickering across her face. She squirmed a bit but didn't protest as Cole carefully guided her to roll onto her tummy.

"That's my good girl," he praised softly. "Let Daddy take care of you completely."

With utmost tenderness, Cole bent her over the foot of the mattress, propping her tensing bottom up on two pillows for no other reason than so he could watch her sink into a state of deeper submission.

Cole gently rubbed Kelly's lower back, soothing her as she lay tense beneath his touch. "Relax for me, babygirl. Daddy's going to check your temperature to make sure you're not getting sick."

He reached into the bedside drawer and pulled out a digital thermometer and a small tube of lubricant. Kelly tensed all over again when the cap pop open.

"Shh, it's alright," Cole murmured. "This will only take a moment. Can you be my brave girl?"

Kelly gave a small nod, her face half-buried in the comforter.

He spread her cheeks gently with one hand, exposing her tight pink pucker. With careful precision, he applied a small amount of cool lubricant to her opening and the tip of the thermometer.

"Deep breath for me, baby," he instructed.

As Kelly inhaled, Cole carefully inserted the thermometer. She let out a tiny squeak at the intrusion, her muscles clenching reflexively around the thin probe. He rubbed her back, sliding the thermometer deep enough to do its job and holding the end so it wouldn’t fall out.

It beeped twice, letting him know it was done, and he checked the results. His eyebrows arched. She actually was running a slight fever. It wasn’t high enough to be a true concern yet, but he would have to keep an eye on it.

Relief swept him. Seeing that slight evidence of fever made him feel better about what he was doing. Not feeling good on top of all she’d suffered was enough to explain her bad mood. She needed Daddy time.

No, he promptly amended. She needed Little time, to give up control to someone ready, willing, and fully able to give her what she needed, whether she knew she needed it or not.

“Okay,” he said, firm in his decision. “Roll over. Let’s get this diaper on.”

“Please don’t make me hafta use it,” she whimpered even as she obeyed, carefully shifting onto her side before flopping over on the quilt.

"Shh, relax for Daddy," Cole soothed, content not to answer either way. She hated having to use her diaper, the mortification of him laying her down on the floor so he could clean up the mess she’d made. However, that same mortification could be a good teacher upon occasion, and she hated it just enough that he knew she would spend the rest of the day being very mindful of her behavior.

Lifting Kelly's hips, he slid the diaper underneath. The soft crinkle of the material seemed loud in the quiet room. Her blush deepened, and she covered her face with her casts as he sprinkled a light dusting of baby powder between her legs. The familiar scent wafted up, enveloping them both in its comforting aroma.

Cole's movements were slow and deliberate as he pulled the diaper up between Kelly's legs, securing the tapes snugly around her hips. The thick padding puffed out, making her look small and vulnerable. Kelly squirmed a bit, still hiding her face behind her casts.

"There we go, all nice and protected," Cole soothed. He gently pried her hands away from her face, kissing her flushed cheeks. "You're being such a good girl for Daddy."

She groaned.

With infinite patience, he guided Kelly's casted arms through the sleeves of her onsie, easing the soft, cherry-dotted fabric over her bruised body. He zipped up the back, encasing her in its cozy warmth.

"Now for one more thing to keep my little one safe," Cole said. From the closet, he pulled out a white canvas straitjacket. Kelly's eyes widened in recognition.

“No, no, no, Daddy!” she cried while her eyes glowed with anticipation and she raised herself up on her tiptoes in a very, very restrained version of a happy bounce.

This was why ‘no’ should never be used as a safeword, Cole mused. He hid his smile as he straightened straps and tightened buckles, binding her arms crisscross over her chest as he swaddled her upper body in restrictive canvas. Experience had long ago taught him that this was nothing more than a knee-jerk objection, not what she really wanted. She hated not being able to do things for herself, but sometimes the jacket was the perfect thing to reinforce in her stubborn brain that he was Daddy. Itwas his place to take care of her, not hers. And no matter how bullheaded she tried to be, eventually the confinement would lull her back into the deepest babygirl mindset, at least for as long as she was in it.

Gathering Kelly into his arms, he cradled her against his chest as he carried her to the living room. She squirmed and whimpered softly, but didn't struggle outright as he settled them both on the plush sofa. The straitjacket hugged her, a visual reminder of her submission.

"Shh, it's alright babygirl," Cole soothed, stroking her hair. "Daddy's got you."

Kelly buried her face against his neck, inhaling his comforting scent. Cole could feel the tension slowly ebbing from her body as she relaxed into his embrace. He held her close, savoring the warmth of her small form against him.

After a few minutes of gentle rocking, Cole shifted Kelly to sit beside him.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, dropping a kiss upon her nose. Switching on the TV, he took a moment to put on Disney’sLady and the Trampbefore disappearing into the kitchen to make her a bottle of chocolate milk. Plucking a couple of chocolate chip cookies from the cupboard, he took both out to the kitchen.

Kelly was humming along to the opening credits when he plopped back down beside her.

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