“Go stand in the corner, Kitten.”

“In the corner,” she echoed, sure she’d misheard him.

“Put your nose on the paint. When your head feels better, tell me and I’ll spank you.”

“I don’t want a spanking,” she whispered.

“In the corner, Lark.”

Slowly, she turned and put her feet on the ground. Allowing him every opportunity to stop her, Lark stood and walked to the naughty corner. When she looked back at him, her Daddy pointed to his nose. With a deep exhale, Lark pressed her nose to the paint.

Silence filled the room. Is he going to stay there and watch me? The quiet seemed overwhelming, forcing her to replay last night’s events. Had she ever called her Daddy to tell him she was headed to Little Cakes? The number of missed calls flashed back into her mind. He must have been worried about her.

“I’m sorry, Daddy.” she whispered.

“I’m glad, Kitten. If Tarson hadn’t called me, I would have tracked your phone down. How’s your head?”

“I’m ready for my spanking,” she whispered.

“Come here, Kitten.”

“How many swats do I get?” she asked, walking slowly to his side.

“Until my hand hurts.”

Lark dropped her chin and crawled over his lap. She felt him pull her nightgown up to bare her from the waist down and shivered at the rush of air over her skin. Knowing what came next, she dropped her head down.

“What did you do wrong, Kitten?”

“I didn’t tell Daddy where I was. I didn’t answer my phone, and I got drunk,” she whispered. It sounded terrible when she said it out loud. “I’m sorry.”

The first swat landed, and she froze on his lap. It was followed quickly by more that peppered over her skin. The sting soon morphed into a burning sensation that made her wiggle over his hard thighs. Those drinks had been good, but not worth this. She vowed always to remember to call her Daddy and to turn on the ringer, so she’d hear his calls.

“Ouch!” slipped from her lips when he spanked the sensitive crease between her thigh and buttock.

“Have you learned a lesson?” Wyatt asked, continuing her punishment.

“Yes, Daddy. I’m so sorry.”

When his hand smoothed softly over her punished skin, Lark hissed at the sensation. She wouldn’t forget this punishment for a long time. A flashback to laughing with her friends popped back into her mind. Lark tried to be angry with them because she’d gotten in trouble but knew it was all her fault. Plus, there was a good chance all of them were in a similar predicament today. She’d bet punishments were being doled out all over town.

She clung to his neck when her Daddy lifted her to sit on his lap. Resting her face against his broad chest, she cried until her tears were all gone. Wyatt wiped her face dry and continued to rock her gently, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

“Do you forgive me, Daddy?”

“I forgave you the minute you said you were sorry. The spanking was for you. Do you feel better?”

“My bottom hurts,” she whispered.

“Of course it does. How do your mind and heart feel?”

She thought about it for several seconds before admitting, “Better.”

His kiss against her temple was tender. “I love you, Kitten.”

“I love you too, Daddy.”

Chapter Four