Page 44 of Hearing Little Hadley

“You were my first too, Peeps. Did you know that?”

She shook her head back and forth, her eyes wide. “No, Daddy. I didn’t know that! All those times atThe Dragon?”

Chuckling, he retucked the errant strand before saying, “I never touched anyone, baby. I was waiting for you.”

“Oh, Daddy,” she said, her lips trembling as she lowered her head to kiss him.

He kissed her mouth possessively, his heart filled with more love than he’d ever thought one person could hold. When she pulled back a bit, he said, “I’m so glad we could share our first time with each other.”

“It was beautiful, Daddy. I love you.”

“I love you too, Peeps.”

Chapter Sixteen

“No, Daddy!” Hadley cried, clinging to the door frame. She couldn’t go. She just couldn’t.

“Hadley, baby. We made a commitment and we need to keep it.”

“I don’t want to keep my ‘mmitment,” she cried.

“I know, Peeps, but sometimes being a good friend means doing hard things and you are a good friend. The other Littles are counting on you to keep your word and help them with the reindeer.”

“I’m just a baby! I can’t take care of a reindeer!”What kind of grownups put babies in charge of Santa’s reindeer? It was a terrible plan.

“There are going to be lots of people around to help you with the reindeer. Lots of grownups to help you,” Finn promised.

“Why can’t you stay?” she cried. That’s why she was the most upset. She wanted Daddy to stay with her. It was a new thing in a new place and she’d already used all of her brave up.

“I have to help Master Derek with something, but I promise I will be there as soon as I can,” he soothed.

“I wanna help Master Derek with something too,” she sobbed, now clinging to his legs.

“Baby, it breaks my heart to see you so sad, but we’re going and you’re going to keep your word. Your only choice is if you go with a red bottom or not,” he said firmly.

“You’d spank me?” she wailed, collapsing onto the floor.

“I will and it would be so sad if you had to sit on Santa’s lap with an ouchie butt.”

“That’s so mean. You’re going to be on the naughty list!”

Hadley didn’t know what had gotten into her. She never acted like this, but she really wanted to stay with Daddy tonight.

“Hadley, I’m going to count to five and if you’re not off that floor and holding my hand, like a good girl, I am going to spank you.”

“One.”

Hadley processed his words.

“Two.”

Finn wouldn’t really spank her for being scared.

“Three.”

He was totally bluffing.

“Four.”

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