Daddy’s Little Sunshine

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

D onovan

Donovan swore under his breath as he maneuvered the bulky grocery bags through the elevator door. Did people really do this shit all the time? There had to be a better way to feed a family.

Not that he had a family now, he reminded himself for the umpteenth time. He’d made it his entire adult life without one, and there was no sense in getting attached now. Even if the attachment did come with legs a mile long and smoke gray eyes a man could lose himself in for hours.

Dropping the bags in front of this apartment, he dug his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the door. He kicked it open and once again was tasked with shifting and juggling a fuck-ton of food through the small doorway.

“What the hell did you do? Buy the whole grocery store?” Lainey was stretched out on the couch, watching him with obvious amusement.

Glaring at her, he kicked the door shut behind him. “I didn’t know what you liked.”

“Oh.” She at least had the grace to look a little ashamed. “That was nice, but you didn’t have to.”

“Yeah, I did.” He hauled the bags into the small kitchen. “I don’t know how long you’re going to be here, we need to eat, and I can’t risk dragging you out in the open right now. And I’m sure there’s a reason we shouldn’t eat pizza every night, even if I don’t know what the hell it might be.”

She rolled off the couch and padded over to the kitchen. Fuck him, she was wearing those tiny little shorts again. And when she bent over to grab a bag off the floor, they rode up high enough for him to see the bruises his belt had left on her ass. Maybe it made him an asshole, but damn if he didn’t enjoy seeing his marks on her.

“So, um, I’ve been thinking.” Her tone put him on alert. “I can’t stay here forever.”

“I know.” Opening the fridge, he dumped the fruit he’d randomly selected into a drawer. “I’m working on it. I know some people who might be able to help.”

“Okay. But I was thinking, what about the church?”

“The church?” It took a minute for him to realize what she was talking about. “You mean those whackos who believe we’re all gifts from God or whatever? No way.”

“Why not? They have connections. They’ll help us.”

Shaking his head, he grabbed a box of cereal and tried to figure out where the hell it should go. “I don’t trust them. They’ll want to put you on display, which will just make you a bigger target.”

She rolled her eyes. “They have tons of members and none of them have been attacked by anybody.”

“That you know of.” Picking a cabinet at random, he shoved the box of cereal inside. “The answer is no. It’s too big of a risk. End of discussion, little girl.”

“Ugh.” A cabinet door slammed shut and lightning flashed outside as she stomped back to the couch. “Fine. I guess you’re stuck with me. Asshole,” she mumbled.

Jesus. How the hell had he gotten himself into this mess? By being a goddamn Good Samaritan and look how that had turned out. Not that it was fair to her, either. She’d lost her job, her home, basically her entire life in the space of twenty-four hours. Of course, she was pinning her hopes on whoever she could find. Who could blame her?

Donovan blew out a breath and put the last of the groceries away before joining her in the living room. Sitting on the edge of the coffee table, he dangled his hands between his knees, and grudgingly offered a compromise. “Let me call some people and put some feelers out about the church. Then we can decide if it’s a good move. Deal?”

She pouted and rolled her eyes. “You mean you’ll decide if it’s a good move.”

“Probably. Which I know pisses you off, but you have to trust me, sunshine. I’m trying to protect you.” He tried for a playful smile. “Daddy knows best.”

Her lower lip was still pushed out, but she couldn’t hide the flush on her cheeks. “Okay.”

“Okay.” Donovan tapped his fist on his knee, wracking his brain for something to cheer her up. “Since we’re stuck together, how about a little practice?”

The pout finally disappeared. “Practice?”

“Yeah. Hiding you away isn’t going to help anything if freak storms follow you around. You need to learn to control it.”

Shifting in her seat, she shrugged. “I’m working on it.”

“Good. Stand up.”

Pushing off the couch, she crossed her arms and scowled at him. “What now?”

“Watch the attitude, sunshine,” he warned. “Or this won’t be nearly as fun as I want it to be.” He left her standing there while he went back to the kitchen and filled a bowl with water. Despite her still crossed arms, he could tell her curiosity was getting the better of her. Donovan placed the bowl on the table before sitting in the middle of the couch and patting his knee. “Come on, sunshine.”

She eyed his lap warily. “Why?”

It was a legitimate question, given their short history together. He reminded himself to be patient with her. “Because I said so. And good girls do as they’re told.”

“I don’t want a spanking,” she said with a whine he should have found grating, but it was damn near adorable coming from her.

Grinning up at her, he patted his knee again. “You’ll like this one. Promise.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she placed herself over his lap anyway. Ignoring her squeal of protest, he tugged her shorts and panties to her knees. “Got some bruises, sunshine,” he said, giving each cheek a gentle squeeze.

“Whose fault is that?”

“Good question. Who didn’t obey the rules?” He squeezed harder, until she drummed her feet against the couch cushion.

“Ow! Daddy, stop!”

“I love hearing you whine and beg, sunshine.” Her little growl just served to harden his already painful erection. With more than a little reluctance, he released his hold on her ass. “All right. Time to practice. Focus on the water. See if you can make a cloud.”

“A cloud?”

Chuckling, he patted her bottom. “Yeah. Like in the sky, but smaller. With just that water.”

She turned her head to the side to study the bowl. “I don’t know how to make a cloud.”

“Well, neither do I. Just think fluffy. Fuck if I know.” He couldn’t help but smile at her delighted giggle.

“Think fluffy? Really?”

“Yes, really.” He rubbed her bottom to help her relax. “How are clouds made? It’s just water, right? The water evaporates and then it kind of, you know, clusters up and then it falls down again.”

“Listen to you, Professor Daddy.”

“Smart ass little girl. Focus on the damn water, would you?”

“Yes, sir,” she replied with a snappy salute. He answered with a solid smack to the middle of her ass, making her yelp.

“Okay, okay! I’m focusing!”

For several seconds, nothing happened. Lainey kicked her foot against the couch again and huffed. “It’s too hard!”

“No, it’s not, sunshine. Just focus.” He tried to think of what might help her as he rubbed her bottom. “Think of the summer sun on a lake. Think of how the sun feels on your skin. Imagine the heat of it. Can you feel it?”

“Sort of.”

“Okay. Now, imagine that heat on the water. Slowly warming it until it evaporates and turns into a big, fluffy cloud.”

Another minute passed in silence before she kicked the couch again. “I can’t do it! I’m too stupid.”

Donovan lifted his hand and swung it down hard enough to make her jump. “You are not stupid. If you keep talking shit, you’ll go another round with my belt.”

Her demeanor changed instantly from pouty insolent brat to sweet and agreeable little girl. “Daddy, no! I’ll be good!”

“Then stop making excuses and make a cloud,” he growled, swatting her again.

She sighed with more than a little aggravation, but she didn’t protest further. The seconds dragged by, but after a bit, a light fog began to form on the surface of the water.

“Oh!” Lainey jerked away from the bowl like it had tried to bite her. “Oh my God! Daddy, look!”

“I see, sunshine.” The fog was already fading, but she’d done it. “Focus. Try to lift the fog higher. We want a cloud, remember?”

“I’ll try.”

She went quiet again and the fog grew denser with each passing second. When it was more white than gray, it shook a bit and raised up an inch or so above the bowl.

“There you go, sunshine. Just a little higher and then hold it there.”

“It’s hard,” she whispered.

“I know. But you’re strong.” The cloud lifted another couple of inches. “Good girl. I’m going to spank you now and I want that cloud to stay where it is. Got it?”

The cloud began to darken. “Don’t want a spanking.”

“Cheer up, sunshine.” When he swatted her again, she let out a low moan. Oh yeah, little Lainey liked having her bottom smacked as much as he enjoyed smacking it. The cloud started to dissipate, so he smacked her again, a little harder. “Focus on the cloud, Lainey.”

“I can’t focus right now!”

“Why not?” He spanked her again, two heavy swats to each of her sit spots. The cloud began to break apart with her squeals.

“Because you’re spanking me, dumbass!”

“Focus on the cloud, little girl. You’re annoyed with me? Fine. Channel it. Use it.” The little cloud steadied and darkened some more. “I’m going to spank you again. A lot harder this time, because I’m not too keen on you calling me names. If that cloud disappears, I’m going to get mean.”

“You are mean.”

“Yeah, I know.” With that settled, he focused on paddling her cute little bottom. From the first swat she was squealing and squirming over his lap. “Focus, Lainey. Whatever you’re feeling, put it into the cloud.”

“It hurts! Daddy, I’m sorry, I won’t be bad anymore!”

Ignoring her pleas, he moved down to the tops of her thighs. He glanced up, pride washing over him when he noticed the cloud was in place. It was darker than before and he could have sworn he saw a mini flash of lightning, but she kept the cloud intact. When her bottom was a nice, bright pink, he stopped and rubbed her heated skin. She whimpered pitifully, which should have made him feel like a heel. But he couldn’t quite bring himself to feel bad about it. Especially when her whimpers turned to moans and she lifted her hips, pressing her bottom more firmly against his hand. “Ready for your next lesson, sunshine?”

“Yes, Daddy. Oh, God.” She moaned when he slid his hand between her legs to where she was soaking wet for him.

Her little cloud wasn’t as dark anymore. Rubbing her swollen clit, he smiled when she and the cloud both shuddered violently.

“Please.” Her voice pitched to a needy whine. “Daddy, please.”

“Such a good girl. You want to come, sunshine?”

“Fuck, yes!”

Chuckling, he slapped her bottom and she jolted over his lap. “Ow!”

“Language, sunshine.”

Whatever smart ass response she’d been planning was lost when he slipped his fingers between her lips again. It didn’t take him long to bring her to thrashing, screaming release over his lap.

And through all of it, her little cloud stayed put. It was smaller than it had been, but damn if he wasn’t proud of her control. As she came down from her orgasm and her breathing began to slow again, drops of rain began to fall from her cloud.

And just below it shone a perfect little rainbow.