“And I won’t do it again,” she sighed.
“Damn straight, you won’t. Especially after I spank your ass so hard that you don’t sit for a week. Come here.”
Calm. Calm.
Xavier let out a deep breath. He’d been avoiding punishing her. Brick had given her all the punishments she’d earned. And now, the other man wasn’t even here while he gave her this first punishment between them.
He didn’t know why he was so hesitant. Some part of him thought he might go too far. But that was ridiculous. This was Juliet. His heart.
He’d never harm her.
He adjusted her on his lap with her legs dangling over the side. He squeezed her plump ass. She needed this. And he needed to give it to her. She’d nearly turned him gray when he came home to find her about to ride over that ramp.
Lord help them. She was coming totally out of her shell. Reuben had once told him she’d been a daredevil as a child, but he’d never seen it.
He had a feeling that he was going to be seeing more of that side of her.
But putting herself at risk was never going to be acceptable.
He rubbed her ass then started smacking it, using quick, firm spanks. He covered the two cheeks turning them from white to pink to red. She started off squirming, protesting, then trying to push her way off his lap. But he held her firm, applying spank after spank. He stopped partway through.
“Okay, sweetheart?”
“No,” she sobbed.
His heart stopped for a moment until rational thought returned. That wasn’t her safeword.
“Are you saying your safeword?”
She sniffled. “No, Papa.”
“You’re ready for me to continue?”
“Do you really expect me to say yes to that, Papa?” she asked in a tart voice that let him know she wasn’t hurting as bad as she was letting on.
“Awfully sassy for a girl getting her butt walloped, aren’t you? Maybe you need some extras. Maybe I’m being too lenient on you.”
“No, Papa, no! You’re not. I promise. I’m sore. I won’t sit down for a week. I’ll never do anything naughty again.”
He found himself grinning. She was something else. “I don’t think you need to promise that. Especially as you won’t be able to keep that promise. Right, here come the rest.”
He spanked her. Sharp, hard spanks that soon had her crying again and kicking her legs. Eventually, all the tension in her body left her, and she lay limply over his lap, accepting her punishment.
He lifted her, then turned her so she straddled him, her weight off her sore ass. She leaned into his chest, sobbing her poor heart out.
Rubbing her back, he made soothing noises as she calmed down.
“Good girl. You’re okay. You’re Papa’s good girl, aren’t you?”
“I’m s-sorry, Papa,” she told him.
He drew her back then kissed her lightly on the lips, ignoring the tears flowing down her cheeks. “I love you, sweetheart. I want you here for a long, long time with me. I hate when you’re hurt or sick or sad. I know you just wanted to have some fun, but it was dangerous. Please don’t do that again.”
“I won’t. I promise. I love you too.”
She flung her arms around his neck and held on tight. He rocked her back and forth. After she’d calmed down, he grabbed some tissues and cleaned up her face.
“Now, how about I grab a baby bottle and you can take a nap.”