Page 12 of Claimed By Daddy

This time, she went too far.

With every floor that passes, my anger bubbles more, fiery and sharp, behind my ribs. Because this isn’t about control. It’s not even about rules. It’s abouther.About giving her whatshe needs. Someone to teach her how to listen. How to behave.

I rub my clammy palm against the thigh of my pants as I watch the final few floors pass. By the time the elevator dings and the doors slide open, every cell in my body is bristling, tense with frustration and… need.

Leaning against the wall beside the penthouse door, I wait for Enzo to come up the elevator to let me into the apartment. I tap my heel against the floor and absently flip through one of the books Enzo bought me. I’m pretty sure he would’ve let me pick however many books I wanted with shirtless men on the cover without any judgment—well, maybesomejudgment.

Still, it was nice. Getting out with him. It was… fun… and surprisingly easy.

I expected Enzo to be right behind me. I glance at the elevator and sigh, eagerly waiting to confirm I survivedthe big, scary crosswalk without him holding my hand. Chuckling to myself as the elevator dings, I lift my gaze as the doors open and my pulse stutters.

Enzo is not amused—not even close. As he steps out, his jaw is clenched and his eyes are narrow—something dark simmering behind them. He doesn’t look like the man teasing me in the romance section, not more than twenty minutes ago. This version of Enzo is furious.

“I told you not to leave my side,” he sternly reminds, stalking toward me—his breathing heavy and nostrils flaring.

The mood shifts instantly, and my shoulders tense. “It was just across the street.” I shake my head, blinking at him. “I came straight up?—”

He doesn’t give me time to finish. He steps forward, swipes to unlock the door with one hand, and pushes it open with the other—the gesture is sharp and precise. His hand presses against my back, guiding me through the door without another word, and it closes behind us with a dull thud.

“I told you to wait,” he admonishes, walking me toward the kitchen.

I set my books and jacket on the island. Spinning around—feeling defensive even though I’m not sure I did anything wrong—I snark, “You’re seriously mad about that?”

“I’mseriouslytrying to keep you safe. To keep you alive.”

A nervous laugh erupts from me—because I don’t know how to react to him right now—as I step toward the living room. “It was maybe fifty feet. What? Did you think I’d get kidnapped in broad daylight?”

“Eavan,” he barks in a tone that causes me to stop cold. “You have no idea what you’re playing with when you act like this. No idea what it does to me.”

My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. Before I can respond, he wraps his hand around my arm—not tight, but firm. It isn’t rough. It isn’t mean. But it’s not gentle, either. He starts walking, and I stumble once, trying to keep up with him, my boots clicking against the hardwood as he practically drags me across the living room.

“Enzo, what are you doing?”

He doesn’t answer as he tugs me toward the couch. He sits down and yanks me toward him—and I brace for a scolding in that low, quiet tone he’s perfected. But he doesn’t pull me to the seat beside him.

I let out a gasp. The sound catching in my chest when he drags me across his lap. “Enzo!” He steadies me—one hand braced at my waist and the other resting on my back—and my body tenses from head to toe. I don’t fight him, but I don’t relax either.

“You push every boundary you’re given,” he gruffs. “You think it’s all fun and games. Just a littleplayfulbratting. But what happens when I’m not there to protect you? When someone else is watching—someone who doesn’t have your best interests in mind?”

“I’m not helpless. I can take care of myself.” I try to twist, to look up at him. “And you aren’t my father.”

“You’re right, princess…” He rubs his hand along my waist and over my hip. My cheeks burn, and I’m not sure if it’s embarrassment or guilt… or something else entirely.

He’s quiet for a second. I feel his heavy breaths whisper against the back of my neck, steady but tight as his hand roams lower on my hip. It slides over the swell of my butt cheek and lifts the skirt of my dress to bare my ass—my entire body immediately growing rigid.

“You didn’t listen to your father…” His hand cracks against my panty-covered skin, and a breathy, startled cry blows over my lips. “But you will listen to your Daddy.”

Enzo’s rough palm dusts over my still-warm skin, and I’m completely frozen with shock. I want to fight. To push myself from his lap. To scream,I’m not a fucking child.“You need this to learn how to behave, don’t you?” he asks, roughly palming my ass. I open my mouth to shout ‘no,’ only to surprise myself when I silently nod.

“You promised me that you’d be a good girl.” He spanks me again, and the burn radiates across my ass cheek. My heart slams against my ribcage, and I struggle to catch my breath. “But you weren’t a good girl, were you?”

Before I can answer, he swats twice in quick succession, my skin on fire from the repeated strikes. With one hand resting on my searing flesh, the other slides up my back and tangles in the hair at the nape of my neck. He fists it just hard enough to pull my teary eyes up to meet his gaze. “Do you even care howI felt when I saw you disappear into that crowd?” he asks, his eyes riddled with fear.

I swallow hard at his question. I hadn’t stopped to think about that.He’s not just mad.He wasscared.“I… I didn’t mean to upset you,” I mutter, my voice much smaller than intended.

“I don’t like it when you don’t listen.” He shakes his head, his tone softening as he tenderly rubs his hand over the heat of the palm prints I’m certain he’s left behind. He’s no longer holding me down. I could get up if I wanted to. But despite my complete and utter vulnerability, I don’t move.I don’t want to.

Enzo’s fingers dip beneath the thin fabric of my panties, and he slides his hand over my ass cheek. His fingertips teasingly rest at the crease of my upper thigh. With his chocolate eyes locked on mine, he whispers, “Tell Daddy you’re sorry, princess.”

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