Page 36 of Daddy's Laws

As if on cue, a hard, stinging swat landed on her bare backside. Squealing indignantly, she covered her bottom with her hands and spun around.

“Bryant!”

“Corner, now. And you can leave that bottom bare, little girl.”

Embarrassed heat flooded her cheeks, and she looked over at their guest.

“A naughty, well-spanked bottom is nothing Dean hasn’t seen before. And unless you’d like to give him a demonstration on how I handle disobedience, you will go put your nose in that corner right now.”

“Fine!” With a final stomp of her foot, she walked to the corner, leaving her hands over her exposed bottom the entire time.

“Hands folded behind your back, princess.”

Growling with frustration, she moved her hands behind her back. The cool air caressed her bare skin and she instinctively clenched her cheeks together.

Behind her, someone let out a low whistle. “Looks like someone was naughty. She’s going to have some pretty marks, Bry.”

“And still as sassy as she was before I took the bath brush to her.”

If she didn’t know any better, she’d have sworn he almost sounded proud.

Dean laughed. “You always did like the brats. Nice to see you found someone who won’t bore you to death.”

“Have you been talking to James?”

“Nah, not in a bit. Heard about that craziness with his Livvy, though. Some maniac tried to kill her?”

Closing her eyes, Shannon tried to block out their conversation. She was not going to lethimruin this vacation.

“Yeah. Jail is too good for him, if you ask me.”

“Agreed. What he did to those poor women. Didn’t Liv have a friend who was attacked, too?”

The memories she’d so carefully tucked away broke free, overwhelming her. Brutal punches all over her body until the pain seemed like it might kill her. Hands around her throat, cutting off her air until the world went black. Waking in a hospital bed, beaten and broken and terrified. She couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped any more than she could stop herself from taking her next breath.

“Shit. Baby, come here.”

A second later, she was scooped up in familiar arms and carried to the couch in the living room. Looping her arms around his neck, she pressed her face against his skin, willing the memories away.

“Shhh, baby. Daddy’s got you. You’re safe, Shannon.”

“Aw, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.” Dean’s voice was thick with concern.

“It’s okay. It’s my fault.”

It wasn’t. It was her fault for not being stronger, but she couldn’t force the words past the tightness in her throat.

“I’ll get out of here and let you take care of your girl. Shannon, can you look at me, sweetheart?”

The soft, soothing cadence of his voice gave her the courage to lift her head and peek up at him.

“There we go.” Another one of those surprisingly sweet smiles graced Dean’s face. “I’m sorry I upset you, sweetie. Forgive me?”

“It’s okay,” she whispered, but she didn’t release her hold on her Daddy’s neck.

“Hopefully the next time we meet, I won’t be such a doofus. Wanna know a secret before I go?”

“A secret?”

---