Page 40 of Daddy’s Hunted Bride

Behind me, Dane goes still, his cock swelling as he empties himself into the deepest, most humiliating parts of me. His breaths are ragged, uneven, letting me know he’s as affected by our interlude here as I am. Pressure blooms in my chest and it takes me a moment to identify the sensation as pride.

What the actual fuck is wrong with me?

I’m still grappling with that question when he nuzzles at my neck, a gesture full of such unexpected sweetness, it may actually be the most devastating thing he’s done to me in the past twenty-four hours.

“You take me so well, little fox.” His voice is tinged with awe, and that combined with the nuzzling is almost more than I can bear. “I know I’m being harsh with you, but it’s important that you learn the rules so we can keep you safe. You are far too precious for me to take risks with.”

Precious? The word is such a jarring contradiction to his actual treatment of me, I can’t wrap my mind around it. Is this how they convinced Josie and the others to stay? By making them believe these monsters actually… care?

Those thoughts are far too dangerous to speak out loud, especially in a forest filled with more switches for him to punish me with, so once again I’m forced to swallow my pride. “I understand.”

I can feel his lips curve against my skin, and the pressure in my chest increases. “My smart Little girl.” Pulling back, he sighs heavily as he pulls his softened cock from my bottom. “We should get home. A certain someone missed lunch, and we’ll both need plenty of fuel after that chase.”

As if on cue, my stomach growls, and Dane chuckles at the sound as he unwraps the belt from around my wrists, freeing me from the tree. “See? Even your cute little tummy agrees with Daddy.”

I roll my eyes, but don’t bother to argue as he wraps me up in a fresh diaper he pulled from somewhere and fixes my overalls. Once I’m fully dressed again, he takes my hand firmly in his and we begin our trek back to the house. Every step is agony, with the edges of the diaper rubbing against so many of my welts as I walk. As a result, I’m much slower than usual, a fact that does not go unnoticed by Dane.

Pausing not too far from the tree where he switched and fucked me, he frowns. “What’s wrong? You’re moving slowly, like you’re injured.”

Annoyance and embarrassment make my voice sharper than is probably wise as I scowl up at him. “I am injured. My butt hurts and the stupid diaper isn’t helping things!”

His frown deepens for a moment before understanding dawns. “Ah, I see. Hop on, then.”

Turning his back to me, he crouches down, and I can only stare at him in shock. “You can’t carry me the whole way back! I’m too heavy!”

“Nonsense. You’re only a Little girl.”

If he keeps this up, my eyes are going to roll right out of my head. “I’m still adult-sized, even if you insist on treating me like a toddler. You cannot carry me, Dane. I’m fine walking, just a little slow.”

“Vanessa.” Though his voice is firm enough to have my ass instinctively clenching and sending a fresh wave of pain through my body, it’s also tinged with amusement. “It will be faster and easier for us both if I carry you for a bit. Will you please stop being so stubborn and just do as you’re told for once?”

All my life, I’ve been told how ornery I am, and maybe it’s the truth because defiance wells inside me at his words. “I can walk.”

“Walking is going to be even more uncomfortable if I have to bare your bottom for another spanking, little girl. Which is exactly what I will do if you keep defying me.”

Just the thought of another punishment nearly brings me to tears. It’s enough to compel me forward, onto his offered back.

Strong arms wrap around my legs, hoisting me up even further, and a shocked squeal slips from my lips as I wrap my arms tightly around his neck.

“Ah, loosen up a bit, babygirl,” he says with a strained laugh. “If you strangle me, we’re both going down.”

For a moment, I’m tempted. But the terrifying truth is that with all the running and changing directions I did while trying to escape him, I have absolutely no idea where I am or how to get out of these woods. Which makes him the lesser of two evils, so I loosen my grip as much as I dare.

“Good girl.” Again his praise sparks something inside me, something I don’t want to examine too closely for fear of what I’ll find there. “Let’s get you home, so your Auntie Gray can fuss over you.”

We begin our journey once more, back toward the place I have been trying so hard to escape. And with every step, I try to convince myself the relief I feel is only because I won’t have to die alone in the Colorado wilderness.

But I’m not a very good liar. Especially to myself.

CHAPTER 17

DANE

Ever since my siblings and I moved to Colorado, I’ve spent nearly all my free time exploring the woods around our home. There is nothing I enjoy more than being alone in the woods, with nothing around but my thoughts and the wildlife to keep me company.

Until now.

With nothing to do but enjoy the ride, Vanessa is full of questions about my woods. The types of trees, various wildlife I’ve spotted during my explorations, what kind of vegetation is safe to eat.