Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
She bit into her lower lip and held it, not saying a word as he started on her hair.
It took Arion a few minutes to get her hair sorted. Even though he’d watched his father braid his mother’s hair many times, this was his first experience. He didn’t want her to hate it, so he took his time. After parting it, he gathered one side in three sections and created a long braid behind her ear.
He thought he did a pretty good job, and by the time the other side was done, and they were both even, he turned her toward the mirror. “What do you think?”
She reached up and stroked her hands down the long lengths of blond braids. “You did a good job, Daddy.”
“Thank you, Little one. Now let’s get your spanking over.”
She groaned. “I was hoping you would forget,” she said as he led her back to the living room.
He chuckled. “I might be older than you, but I’m not that forgetful yet, Bella mine.” He sat on the sectional, guided her to his side, and lowered her over his lap.
After pushing her shirt up her back, he gathered her hands to hold them steady, and palmed her bottom. It was still slightly pink from earlier, so he wouldn’t strike her very many times, but it was important for him to be firm with her. If he let her get away with naughty behavior now, she’d continue to try that play again and again.
Without saying more, he lifted his palm and spanked his Little girl’s tush a bit harder than he had earlier.
She yelped and lifted her head. “Owie.”
He smiled. She had no idea how Little she was sometimes.
He watched her closely as he swatted her firmly, over and over until she was crying. When he stopped, she finally seemed contrite. He wanted to hold her, rock her, pop her binky back into her mouth, and cradle her in his arms, but first she needed to spend some time in the corner.
Arion stood her on her feet and tipped her chin back. “You need a timeout now.” He turned her toward the naughty corner and pointed. “Nose to the wall. No fidgeting.”
She pursed her lips and lowered her face.
“The longer it takes you to get there, the longer you’ll be standing there.”
After taking a deep breath—during which he figured she was trying to decide if she should argue or not—she met his gaze. “Can I have panties?”
“No. When you’re in timeout, you can display your red naughty bottom for Daddy. And your time is growing.”
She humphed and then shuffled toward the corner.
He watched her until she was in position. “Clasp your hands behind your back and spread your feet wider, Little one.”
It was hard not to react to her mumbling discontent. She obeyed him though.
Arion used the time to start dinner. He put all the ingredients for a hearty beef soup in a pot. He didn’t hurry. It took a while. His Little mate needed some time to think, and she needed to understand that his word was law.
When the soup was compiled, he put the lid on and turned toward her. “Okay, Little one. Your timeout is over. Come sit with Daddy.”
She turned around, looking far more chagrined than she had when she’d first stepped up to the wall.
Arion held out a hand and led her to his favorite armchair. After lowering himself into the seat, he lifted her onto his lap.
She winced when her bottom touched his jeans.
He tried not to jostle her more than necessary. “I’m proud of you for taking your punishment so nicely.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t like it.”
“Then you learned a lesson.” He patted her thigh. “How about we go outside for a while?”
She lifted her gaze. “Can we?”
“Yep. I’ll take you out on the back patio, and we can watch the sun set. How does that sound?”
She gave him a smile. Finally. She also didn’t put up a fight when he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the nursery. She didn’t argue as he put a fresh pair of panties on her either. Nor did she complain when he added a little pink skirt that matched her pink shirt.
She giggled when he picked her up and settled her on his hip. “I’ve never gone outside without more clothes on than this, Daddy. I’ve never even left my bedroom dressed like this.”
He smiled. “New home. New rules.”
“What if someone sees me?”
“No one is going to see you on my patio today, Little one. Every Alpha Protector is aware we are recently mated. They won’t come by anytime soon.” He opened the sliding glass door and stepped outside.
“It’s so pretty out here, Daddy. I always wondered where you might live and what it might look like high up in the mountains.”