8. BRODY
Brody made his way toward Naomi, who was already knee-deep in the water. Her hair was unwrapped today, and he loved seeing her tight, dark curls shining in the light. He couldn’t help but admire the way her yellow sundress clung to her hips, too. As she lifted it so it didn’t get wet, he caught an enticing glimpse of her long, tanned legs.
“Morning, Naomi,” he called out, and she looked up from her work with a beaming smile. “Need a hand?”
She turned to look at him. “Sure,” she replied, gesturing for him to join her in the water. “I could use some help with these samples.”
As Brody waded into the surf, he noticed Naomi was humming under her breath and smiling to herself.
“It’s good to see you starting to look more at home here,” he said. “You seem much more relaxed.”
Naomi chuckled. “Do I? It must be the sea air.”
Something about the way she said that sounded slightly suspicious, but Brody was probably imagining it. The sea air was good for relaxation, after all.
“Well, I’m feeling good, too,” said Brody. “On a normal day, I might have cracked open a beer by now, but this morning, I stuck to one coffee followed by a herbal tea. I read that sage is good for the brain. Tasted like drinking a roast chicken, but I feel pretty good!”
Naomi laughed. “I guess there are worse things than the taste of roast chicken.”
“Indeed,” Brody said with a smile. “Anyway, how can I help? I’m free of maintenance chores this morning, so I’m very much at your disposal.”
“Here, let me show you what to do,” Naomi said, handing him a test tube. “We’re looking for specific types of plankton today, so make sure you fill the tube all the way.”
“Got it,” Brody replied, nodding as he carefully followed her instructions.
As they worked, Brody’s thoughts kept straying back to what Naomi had told him about her father. It was such a shame that someone as intelligent, beautiful, and sweet as Naomi had ever been made to feel anything other than perfect.
His thoughts strayed to his own father, too—the strained relationship he’d had with the man who had raised him, who had led him in the Navy, and who had affected the course of Brody’s life so deeply.
As he watched Naomi work beside him, he knew he wanted to protect her from any similar family dynamics that might threaten her happiness.
“Hey, are you okay?” Naomi asked, her brow furrowing with concern as she noticed his distant expression.
“Y-yeah,” Brody stammered, shaking off the memories. “Just lost in thought, I guess.”
“Your thoughts seem pretty intense,” she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Care to share?”
Brody looked out to the horizon, his eyes clouding over as memories flooded back. “I was thinking about my father, actually.”
“Oh? What were you thinking?” Naomi asked as she collected another sample.
“My relationship with my dad wasn’t great,” Brody admitted, his voice low. “He expected nothing less than perfection from me. Everything was about discipline, control, and following orders. But . . . not in a fun way. Not in a nurturing way.” He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “He wasn’t a kind man, Naomi.”
Naomi reached out, her fingers brushing against his as she offered him a comforting touch. “I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she said softly. “But for what it’s worth, I think you’ve turned out to be an amazing person.”
“Thanks,” he murmured, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “It was definitely in spite of him, not thanks to him.”
Naomi looked at Brody and nodded. “I get what you mean.” She looked down at the sample she had just collected. “I think we have enough of these. Let’s take them back to the beach.”
They waded back onto the sand together and sat down as Naomi began to fix labels on the pots. Brody loved the fact that she wasn’t pressing him for information and asking too many questions, but still, he wanted to open up to her.
“I’d like to tell you more about my injury,” he told her. “I had a pretty tough time in the Navy, truth be told. My captain was old-school. If we ever stepped out of line, or didn’t make our beds properly, or even looked at him wrong, well—let’s just say he gave us punishments that weren’t exactly by-the-book.”
Naomi’s eyes widened.
“Marooning us on islands for days at a time,” Brody continued, “rigging work in dangerous conditions, reducing our rations, confinement in the brig, running the gauntlet, even ducking us under cold water from time to time.”
“Oh, Brody,” said Naomi. “I’m so sorry. That’s terrible. I can’t even imagine. Did your captain ever punish you?”
Brody swallowed. “Many times. More than I could count. He’d punish me for looking at him wrong, for being slow to carry out orders, for tiny things like spilling water, or a lack of enthusiasm. He punished me more than any of the others, in fact.” Brody rubbed his head as he remembered the most painful memory of all. “This one time . . .”
Naomi reached out for Brody’s arm. “What happened? You can tell me.”
“He accused me of poor performance. He took away my rations and had me up on the rigging in the pouring rain for two days straight. I got ill after that, and it took me a while to get out of bed one day. I was aching all over.” He paused. “Well, he dragged me out of bed by the ankles and took me to the nearest bucket of cold water. Dunked my head in it.”
“Oh no . . .”
“And when I tried to struggle free, he hit the back of my head with a plank of wood, trying to force me back down.”
Naomi’s hand flew to her mouth. “That’s how you got your brain injury.”
Brody nodded. “I couldn’t speak for weeks afterward.”
“How could he be so cruel? Why did he single you out?”
“Because,” Brody replied with a tight jaw, “that captain was my father.”
Naomi’s mouth gaped now.
“He had higher standards for me than any of the others,” Brody explained. “Maybe he wanted to prove there was no favoritism. Maybe he was genuinely disappointed in me. In any case, my injury led to me being discharged from the Navy, so he did me a favor, in a way. I got away from him.”
“Does he still work there?”
“No,” said Brody. “He retired shortly afterward. Or maybe he was made to leave. I never found out and I didn’t ask. He never reached out to me. And I sure as hell won’t ever reach out to him.”
Naomi wiped her eyes and Brody saw she was crying.
“Oh, little one, I’m so sorry. Was it too much to hear that? I wanted to be honest with you, after you asked about my injury. And I wanted to let you know that I understand what having a difficult father can be like.”
“Mine doesn’t seem half as bad as yours in comparison,” said Naomi. “And please don’t apologize. I want to know. I want to understand you, Brody. Even if it makes me sad.”
Brody nodded. “I want to understand you, too.”
There was a moment between them, long and deep, where Brody wondered if he might kiss her. She was so fragile, so beautiful, that he hoped that somehow a kiss might mend everything for both of them.
But then Naomi spoke. “There’s something I need to confess now,” she said hesitantly, biting her lip. “I broke one of your rules yesterday. I used one of your . . . toys. I’m really sorry.”
Brody felt his heartbeat quicken at her admission. “Thank you for telling me,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “It’s good you’ve been honest with me.”
“Are you going to . . . punish me?”
Brody smiled kindly. “I’m going to nurture you. It will be a form of discipline, yes, but it will be the kind of discipline that grows you, not shrinks you.”
“Wh-what kind of discipline?”
“That’s something that we’ll decide on. Later.” Brody stood up. “For now, Naomi, you carry on with your work. We’ll talk more once you’ve finished for the day.”
Relief washed over Naomi’s face. “Thank you. Yes, I’d like to finish my work.”
“Don’t worry, babygirl,” said Brody right before he left her. “I promise you’re going to enjoy this.”
Naomi nodded, her eyes sparkling. And then Brody walked away, his heart feeling lighter than it had done in years.
Of course, he wasn’t angry with Naomi for breaking his rule. But he looked forward to their relationship continuing to deepen. And there was no better way for that to happen than with a true test of their trust in one another. Brody was about to show Naomi that he was nothing like his father.
Or hers, for that matter.
***
The flickering of the lighthouse fire was reflected in Naomi’s eyes. Rufus lay curled up near the hearth, his soft snores blending with the crackle and pop of burning wood.
The lighthouse had never felt more like a home. It felt good. Really good. And it was about to get even better.
“Naomi,” Brody began, his words carefully measured, “Before we take things any further, it’s important that we sign a contract. We need to discuss the terms of our agreement, to make sure that both of us feel completely safe and happy before we embark on anything.”
Naomi nodded. “A contract. Okay. That sounds a little scary, but good, I think.”
Brody reached for an envelope that rested on the nearby table. He handed it to her, watching her fingers tremble as she opened it. He had spent the afternoon preparing this, and was satisfied that he’d got it just right.
“I want us to be clear about what we expect from each other and ensure we’re both comfortable with our boundaries,” he explained. “As I said before, the power is all yours when it comes to what we do and don’t do. I promise to never, ever do anything that you don’t want.”
“Thank you, Brody,” she whispered.
They began going over the document.
“First, let’s talk about hard and soft limits,” Brody suggested. “If there’s anything on this list that you never want to do, then that’s a hard limit and we put a cross in one of these boxes here. And if there’s something that you’re not sure about, and it’s a maybe, we mark it down as a soft limit.”
“I think anything involving solitary confinement would be a little tricky,” said Naomi shyly. “I don’t want to feel abandoned.”
Got it,“ said Brody. “That makes perfect sense. So, how about spanking? Are you happy to be spanked in a variety of different ways? That way, I’d always be close to you, making contact with you. I’d look after you very well afterward, too. But if it’s too much, then—“
“I’d really like to try it,” said Naomi quickly. “It’s something I’ve always fantasized about.”
“Good,” said Brody with a smile. “Then I’m more than happy to oblige.” He paused. “And how about . . . sexual activity? I’m very attracted to you, Naomi, but—“
“I’m interested in exploring those kinds of things with you,” Naomi admitted, her cheeks flushed pink. “But I need to tell you that I don’t want to have intercourse before marriage.” She bit her lip. “I guess I can’t completely escape my conservative upbringing.”
Brody blinked, momentarily taken aback. He had expected many things, but not this.
“It’s no problem at all,” he said, his voice soft yet firm. “I understand and will respect your boundaries. In fact, I love the fact you just came out and told me that so clearly. Well done, little one.” He paused. “And you don’t need to make excuses for your beliefs or your desires. You want what you want and that’s perfect.”
Naomi smiled, her relief apparent as she leaned into him.
“So, what do you count as intercourse, exactly?” asked Brody. “Let’s be clear about that now so there are no misunderstandings.”
Naomi screwed up her nose. “I think we could try a lot of, uh, different things . . . except actually having your . . . you know . . . inside me.”
Brody nodded. “I understand. And how do you feel about anal play?”
Naomi bit her lip. “I’m not sure. I think that might be . . . a soft limit? Is that weird? That I don’t want to have sex but I’d do . . . that? Is it worse, maybe? Hmm, maybe I’d rather wait until after marriage for that.”
Brody looked her in the eyes. “Naomi, there’s nothing bad or naughty about any of this stuff. Exploring your body and what it finds pleasurable is the most wonderful thing in the whole world. It’s self-love, remember? But if there’s something you’re uncomfortable with, that’s another matter. And one-hundred percent you can wait until after marriage for any or all of this stuff.”
“I think intercourse and solitary confinement are my only hard limits,” said Naomi quietly. “Oh, and nothing involving . . . fire. On me. My dad’s always talking about the fires of hell, and as much as I like this crackling fire here, I don’t want to feel like I’m getting literally burned in hell.”
Brody nodded. “I understand completely.”
As they continued discussing and fine-tuning their agreement, Brody felt a profound sense of contentment. They were building a foundation for their relationship, one that would allow them to explore their desires while maintaining an unwavering bond of trust. And for Brody, there was nothing more precious than that.
It was also kind of exciting, he had to admit, to agree to not have full-blown sex with one another. It made him want it even more, which was quite thrilling.
“Alright, now let’s choose a safeword,” Brody said gently, his eyes intent on Naomi’s face. “Are you happy with ‘whalebone,’ which we mentioned yesterday?”
Naomi giggled. “Yes. Whalebone.”
“Perfect,” he agreed, making a note on the contract. Once they were both happy with everything, they signed their names, and Brody felt a thrill run through him.
“Now, there’s something else we need to address.” He looked at her seriously, but his voice was warm and understanding. “I appreciate your honesty about using the sex toy, but I want to make sure you understand the power dynamics of our relationship. As your new Daddy, I’m responsible for your pleasure and well-being. If you want to make yourself come, you have to ask my permission first. Understand?”
Naomi felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized what he meant. She swallowed hard, anticipation mingling with nerves. “I understand, Daddy,” she whispered.
“Good,” Brody replied, his tone firm yet gentle. He stood and gestured for Naomi to come to him. “Now, I want you to bend over my knee.”
Her heart pounded as she obeyed, lying over him and baring her bottom.
“Oh, Naomi,” he said, running his hands over her plump, dark flesh. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” she said quietly.
Brody’s hand rested on the small of her back. “Remember, this is about trust. You can always use the safeword if you need to,” Brody reminded her, his voice steady and reassuring. “I hope that this is a release for you, sweetheart. It might hurt a little, but that’s not the main goal here. The goal is that it takes you to a place of deep inner peace.”
“Okay, Daddy,” Naomi murmured, her voice trembling just slightly.
With that, Brody raised his hand and spanked her once, making her gasp. He paused for a moment, allowing her to process the sensation, making sure that she didn’t want to use her safeword. Then he delivered four more measured swats.
Naomi fidgeted and groaned each time he spanked her, and he noticed a wetness glistening between her thighs.
“From now on, the only one who’s allowed to use the sex toys on you is me, when I say so,” he told her firmly.
He turned Naomi around to face him and then cradled her. Tears pricked at the corners of Naomi’s eyes, not from pain but from the overwhelming emotion that welled up inside her.
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude. “I understand.”
Brody sat there, his arousal a tangible force, pulsing in the air between them. He wanted so badly to relieve the pressure that had built up inside him, but he forced himself to wait. He wanted to take his time with Naomi, to earn her trust completely. She needed to feel totally safe around him.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, little one,” Brody said gently as he guided her toward the bathroom.
The vintage clawfoot tub gleamed invitingly in the circular bathroom, its porcelain surface smooth to the touch. Brody ran the warm tap and added some bubble bath, then Naomi allowed him to undress her. As he did so, Brody took a moment to appreciate Naomi’s body, her full breasts and gorgeous stomach and the slight tremble in her limbs.
He noticed, at that moment, that his hands hadn’t trembled at all since they’d signed the contract. He’d spanked Naomi firmly, and when he touched her, his hands felt strong and confident. Was she the medicine he’d been looking for all this time? Better than beer, better than solitude, better than wallowing in his own misery . . .
Carefully, he helped Naomi into the bath, making sure she was comfortable before he set about washing her. As he lathered soap onto a soft washcloth, he couldn’t help but let his mind wander to the erotic thoughts that had been plaguing him all day.
“Naomi,” he began, his voice gentle but firm as he looked into her eyes, “I want you to know that I’m proud of you for loving yourself, even if it meant breaking my rule.”
She blinked up at him, surprise flickering in her eyes. “Really?” she asked hesitantly.
“Absolutely,” he replied, smiling reassuringly. “It’s important for you to feel good about yourself, and if that means touching yourself now and then, I’m not going to stand in your way. But from now on, any time you want to make yourself come, you have to do it in front of me.”
“Okay,” she whispered, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink. “I can do that.”
“Good girl,” he praised, his voice warm and approving.
Brody watched Naomi’s delicate fingers slide over her own body. Her breathing grew heavier. “Like this, Daddy?” she asked, her voice a mix of innocence and seduction.
As he continued to wash her, his hands moved with slow, deliberate strokes, the intimacy of the act making his arousal even more difficult to ignore.
“Exactly like that, little one,” he replied, his voice rough with desire.
Naomi’s eyes locked on Brody’s as she continued to touch herself, and he could see her confidence growing with each passing moment.
He found himself holding his breath as her moans grew louder, echoing off the tiled walls as she brought herself closer to the edge.
“Please, Daddy, may I come?” she pleaded, her voice breaking with desperation.
“Go ahead, little one,” he granted her permission, his own arousal straining to be set free.
With a final gasp, Naomi let go, her body trembling with the force of her climax. As she came down from the high, she looked to Brody with trust-filled eyes, seeking his approval.
“Good girl,” he praised her, his chest swelling with pride.
Gently, Brody lifted a warm, fluffy towel from the nearby rack and wrapped it around Naomi’s glistening wet form. As he did so, he leaned in and pressed a tender kiss upon her lips. She tasted magic: of strawberries and pancakes and whipped cream.
“Would you like me to touch you now, Daddy?“ asked Naomi, blinking up at him.
Brody looked down at the swell in his pants and gritted his teeth. “Not tonight, little one,” he told her. “Tonight was about you.”
He took Naomi to her bed and helped her put on a nightgown. He offered her a diaper and she sheepishly accepted, then he read her a cute bedtime story about a family of clownfish.
“Goodnight, darling,” he said softly as he left her room. “Thank you for a very special day.”
“Goodnight, Daddy,” she murmured back. “You’re the best.”
He smiled as he walked back to his room, knowing that he had handled today just right.