He rubbed her back. She was calming down. She’d begun crying almost as soon as he’d started smacking that glorious bottom, which had alarmed him so much that he’d paused to check she was all right. She’d told him she was fine.
Obviously, she’d just had some strong emotions that needed a release. He got that it was that way for some subs who held things deep inside them. They needed a way to let them free, a reason to let go of that control.
“They clear my head.”
“What does, Duchess?”
“The spankings. I get overwhelmed sometimes. My thoughts. The anxiety. The worries. The spankings help. They clear it all away. It’s so peaceful.”
Okay, he hadn’t realized that. His hand paused as he thought that through. But he couldn’t see how it was a bad thing.
“I’m glad it helps, baby girl. You know, if you ever need a spanking just to help clear your head, I can do that. You don’t have to be naughty and earn one.”
“What? Just ask for one?” She leaned back to look up at him skeptically.
He nodded.
“Isn’t that weird?”
He grinned at her. “No weirder than anything else.”
She smiled back at him. “Guess that’s true.”
Cupping the side of her face, he ran his thumb over her cheek. “You’re so beautiful.”
She made a scoffing noise. “With my red eyes and my messy hair and my too-thin body.”
“Yes, you are. And that sounded like you were putting yourself down. Is that allowed?”
“No, Daddy.”
He grunted with satisfaction. She peeked up at him. “Thanks for letting Xavier stay for dinner.”
“Baby, you don’t have to thank me for that. He’s your friend. We might have had a rocky start, but I’d never demand you stay away from him.”
She let out a small sigh of relief. Then she chewed her lip, looking off in the distance.
“What’s worrying you?”
“What isn’t?” she countered. “Reuben going silent. Xavier acting kind of strange. Zombies attacking and eating my brains.”
Okay.
“Well, zombie attacks are frightening.”
She nodded.
“But I think we can push that worry aside for now.”
She sighed. “Okay, Daddy.”
He wasn’t sure where that fear came from. “I don’t know Xavier, but it seems he’s a bit . . . lost?” Fuck, he wished he was better at this.
“It feels like he’s kind of been sad for ages. He doesn’t have the best relationship with his parents. They always want him to be better than what he is.”
Brick frowned. He had great parents who had always supported him. They were currently doing a world trip, but they talked every month.
“Better than a respected doctor?”