Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“I know, Juni. That doesn’t change your punishment.”
Again, she nodded, feeling miserable. The silence was overwhelming. Tears leaked from Juniper’s eyes as her brain focused on all the things that could have happened to her. She jumped as he removed the thermometer.
“You may release your bottom now. You are very lucky, Juni,” he announced after checking the gauge. “Your temperature is normal. Go stand in the corner while I go put these away.”
He helped her to her feet and pointed to an empty corner. When she pleaded with him with her eyes, Magnus said, “Go on, Little girl.”
Shuffling her feet, she huddled in the corner. Juniper pressed her forehead to the cool wall. Listening intently, she heard him moving around. The soft sounds of water and drawers opening and closing reached her ears. Finally, she detected the whisper of his shoes on the carpet as he walked back into the room.
“Come here, Juni.”
Juniper turned from the corner and saw him sitting on the edge of the bed. She dragged her feet as she approached. He didn’t hurry her as she searched his expression for any hint of anger. His face was calm and relaxed.
“Lie down over my lap.”
“Are you going to spank me a lot?” she asked. Her hands automatically covered her bottom as if she could protect it.
“How badly could you have gotten hurt?”
Freezing as she recreated that move to the tree limb and the climb downward, Juniper knew luck had kept her safe. Without another word, she stretched her body over his hard thighs.
Whack, whack, whack.
She closed her eyes as tears tumbled to the carpet. The heat building on her skin made Juniper bite her lip. He paused to run a finger over her mouth.
“I need to hear your sounds, Little girl.”
She released her teeth immediately and moaned as he swatted her bottom three more times in rapid secession. No longer trying to be quiet, Juniper heard her own gasps and pleas to end the spanking. The punishment continued.
Everything blurred together. The tension in her muscles evaporated, and she drooped over his lap. Daddy was in charge.
“Five more swats for not following directions,” he announced. Those last five seemed the hardest to take because she knew she’d earned them by not doing as she’d been told.
Finally, he gathered her into his arms and lifted her to sit on his lap. Her bottom was on fire. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she buried her head in the crook of his neck. His hands smoothed over her back as he whispered to her.
“You did good, Juni. Daddy’s proud of you. All those bad choices are wiped away. You’re safe and in Daddy’s arms. I love you, Little girl.”
“Even when I’m bad?” she whispered. Her voice was husky from crying.
“All the time, Juni. You’re mine. My Little girl. I love you.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“What are you going to do differently next time, Juni?”
“I’m not going to climb out a window. I promise I’ll talk things over with you in the future.”
“Thank you, Juni. It would kill me to lose you now.”
“Daddy? What about the money?”
“We’ll have a big meeting about the money this afternoon. Right now, you’re going to let Daddy give you a bath, and then you’ll go take a nap.”
She nodded. That sounded heavenly. Juniper peeked up at him again. “I love you, Daddy.”
His mouth captured hers in a kiss that made her toes curl with delight. When he lifted his lips from hers, Magnus looked at her with the best expression. His lips were tipped up at the corners just enough to make his eyes crinkle. She could feel her heart doing flip-flops in her chest.
Everything would be all right. Her Daddy would make sure of it.
Chapter Twenty
Walking out of the elevator to dinner that night was uncomfortable for several reasons. Her bottom hurt despite the cream her Daddy had slathered on it. Juniper was embarrassed to have acted so rashly and didn’t know if her friends would want to be around her anymore.
The sound of rushing steps made her look up from the floor. All three Littles wrapped their arms around her to hug her tightly. Looking at them, Juniper knew her surprise showed on her face. “You guys aren’t mad at me?”
“Why would we be mad?” Celeste asked.
“You were fierce! And part monkey!” Zara said in awe. “Coco was very impressed.”
“Little Swan, remember that talk we had about encouraging others to do bad things,” Kestrel reminded her.
Zara winked at Juniper and flexed her bicep subtly so her Daddy couldn’t see.
“I thought I saw you in the hallway, but that shirt and the hat threw me,” Sadie shared.
“And…” Rocco prompted.
“I now promise to always let someone know that something is wonky even if I don’t really know something is wrong,” Sadie recited.
“Good girl,” Rocco praised her.
Sadie turned to hide her eye roll from her Daddy.