Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Bliss blinked her eyes, stalling for time, which only served to aggravate Connor more.
Clenching his jaw, he leaned in and grabbed her arm, pulling her out of her car.
“I don’t think blinking will give you long enough to come up with an excuse for not wearing your seatbelt.
We’ll discuss this inside, but you should note for the future I treat stalling the same as lying. ”
Connor watched the way her lashes fluttered, the one tell that she was buying time. His little trouble always did that when she knew she’d been caught. And God help him, it made his cock harden even while irritation burned through him.
Holding her hand, he led her to the opposite side of the car. “I’ll get Sadie and Sophie. You take Nori.” He kept his grip firm but careful. He was in charge, but she was still precious to him. He had no intention of leaving bruises.
Once the girls were in their cribs and sleeping, Connor pulled Bliss back into the great room. He led her to the corner next to the front door. “You know the drill. I want your nose in this corner until I tell you to do something else.”
The corner was a quiet time to reflect and plan what to do next. And right now, he needed to do both. Then again, this wasn’t his first time spanking her naughty little bottom.
After grabbing a wooden spoon from the kitchen and sticking it in his back pocket, he propped against the back of the couch with his ankles crossed and sucked in a slow breath through his nose. It did nothing to change the blaze in his chest.
He walked past Tipsy, ignoring the stuffie at first. Tipsy had seen better days. She was sagging in the front and overstuffed in back, just the way he’d expect since Bliss had apparently brought Tipsy with her when she got away from the Society and headed back to Darling.
Still, Tipsy was clean and well loved. He picked the lynx up and carried it with the wooden spoon back to the great room. Bliss had one hell of a spanking coming. She could probably use Tipsy’s comfort.
The idea of her driving around, of her having another blowout or wreck, and not having on her seatbelt made him physically ill. His mind kept playing scenes of metal twisting, glass breaking, and Bliss hurt. The image damn near sent him to his knees. Much better to put her over them.
It was time to let her know the plan, and if she kicked him out.
.. well, if she kicked him out, that would suck.
But he’d go. If he didn’t do something, she was going to wind up dead.
Connor Davis had spent his entire adult life protecting people.
There was no universe where he stood by and watched this woman destroy herself through stubborn carelessness.
Walking to the corner, he handed Tipsy to her. “Thought you might need a friend.”
Without moving her nose, she held out her hand. She hugged Tipsy to her chest. “Thank you, Daddy.”
He leaned against the back of the couch again.
“I’m going to share the plan I’ve come up with to set everything, and everyone, straight.
You will keep your nose to that corner and listen without interrupting.
When I’m finished, you may turn to face me, and we will discuss any reservations you have. Am I clear? Yes or no.”
His tone was calm, controlled, the voice of a Daddy used to being in control. But underneath it, his pulse hammered. She nodded, and that small motion softened something deep inside him even as he forced himself to stay firm.
He barked out, “Words!”
She jumped but answered. “I understand, but—”
“That’s one,” he said, cutting her off before she could say anything else. The subtle hitch in her breath had him fighting the urge to smile. She always forgot how serious he was about rules.
He was glad her back was to him because his lips twitched when she slowly raised her hand to speak. She was adorable even while she was frustrating the hell out of him. How could she make him want to kiss her senseless while simultaneously putting her over his knee? “What is it, Trouble?”
“One what?”
He kept his tone stern. She needed to hear her Daddy right now. “One strike. You don’t want to reach three, trust me. Now, tell me, do you remember our conversation in Vegas before we made love? Yes or no.”
It was a memory he never forgot. There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t think about the neon lights outside the window of their motel room, her hair across his pillow, the way she’d looked at him like he was the only man in the world.
She stiffened, but after a pause slowly nodded her head. “Yes.”
That quick hesitation didn’t escape him. Oh, she remembered. He’d thought she would. He hoped she remembered every detail of that day, just like he did. Because he remembered every second like it had been carved into his bones.
“Good. Do you remember the part where I told you that if we made love, we'd give our relationship a serious try? Specifically, that you were coming to Darling and we would continue the commitment we made. Yes or no?”
“Yes?”
That came out like a question. Her uncertainty tugged at him, but he’d take it. He decided he’d rather watch her face during this conversation.
“Turn around and face me, naughty girl.” He needed to see her eyes. Needed to read every flicker of emotion.
His cock stirred as he replayed the conversation in his head and all that followed.
He took off his leather jacket and tossed it on the armchair.
She startled when it landed with a thump.
Soon enough, it would only be in the way.
But it did wonders as a prop for getting Littles in the right headspace.
She repeated her answer. “Yes, Sir.”
Breathy. Her voice was getting breathy. The sound hit him low in the gut, equal parts satisfaction and hunger. He wanted to demand she call him Daddy, but that would be getting ahead of himself. He could be patient.
Those stunning turquoise eyes he’d seen every time he closed his own eyes for almost a year were wide. Her breathing quickened when she watched him remove his jacket. He’d never get tired of watching the way she reacted to him, like sunlight to flame.
He nodded. “Good. Good.”
Never taking his eyes off her, he slowly rolled up first one sleeve, then the other.
She was so reactive. She watched, transfixed by his every movement.
The rolling up of the sleeves set a good tone, foreshadowing what was to come.
Hopefully, it would encourage her to regret her earlier choices.
The fabric slid over his forearms, and her gaze slid over every inch of him.
“We agreed our relationship would include every aspect a typical Daddy has with his Little girl. Isn’t that right? Yes or no.”
They both knew the answer was yes. It was the only reason he allowed her to get away with nodding that time instead of giving a verbal response.
Her breaths were now coming in shallow pants.
The throbbing in his cock matched the rhythm of his heart, beat by beat.
The air between them grew thick, charged with anticipation.
“Look at me, babygirl. I still mean every word I said then. I know we have things to talk through, but I would like to try. The question is, do you still want that, or have you changed your mind?”
The question felt heavier than any order he’d ever given. He held his breath, waiting for her answer.
Her eyes were the most expressive he’d ever seen. Right now, she looked as if he were holding something precious just out of her reach, and that if she tried to grab it, he’d snatch it away again.
Regret twisted through him. Her fear was on him, but moving forward with his plan was the only thing he could think of to fix the situation he’d caused. He had to show her that, even though he’d hurt her once already, he wouldn’t do it again.
Was he rushing her? He didn’t think so. He was a Daddy, and he wanted to be her Daddy.
She needed him. Those girls needed him. Connor had made peace with that truth the moment he saw her without a seatbelt.
Today was just more proof she was going to end up hurting herself if someone didn’t step in, and that someone was damn well going to be him.
She was incredible at caring for children, family, and friends. He had seen it and heard stories about even more times she’d done heroic things for others. But when it came to taking care of herself, she didn’t have a clue. And that, more than anything, scared the hell out of him.
She raised her hand again. Her bottom lip trembled, but at his nod, she asked, “I didn’t have the girls when we said all of that before. Can I still be a Little if I’m a mom?”
His heart melted at her question. His beautiful, wonderful little trouble. It was hard to live the life of a Little in freedom. Especially if there were no clear boundaries.
The worry of going too far or not far enough was a heavy burden to bear. Too heavy for his Little girl. He’d give her boundaries, but being a mother was not a boundary she needed to worry about. If anything, she deserved Little time even more.
“You absolutely can, babygirl. We will figure out what works and what doesn’t together.” His voice gentled, warmth threading through the command. He waited, knowing she needed time to process his words.
Should he work harder to convince her to say yes? Probably not. He didn’t want her agreement to be because of him. It had to be her choice. He just wished he could look into her mind and see what she was thinking. Uncertainty where Bliss was concerned drove him insane.
She began to nod her head before she spoke. “If you promise to stay, I still want to try, too.” The tentative smile she gifted him lit every corner and crevice of his heart.
Relief slammed into him so hard he nearly staggered.
He strode toward her then, needing to hold her.
“I’m not going anywhere, babygirl. I promise.
You’ll still have your safeword, for now at least, because there is still a lot we don’t know about each other.
Your safeword is there, whatever we’re doing, in or out of the bedroom.
I want to know when something upsets you. Do you understand? Yes or no.”
“Yes, I do. But I want to trust you. I don’t want a safeword.”
“I’m glad you want to trust me, babygirl, but until you can, you need a safeword.
But it’s not just you. I need your safeword, too.
My first job as your Daddy is to keep you safe.
I would never intentionally hurt you. The problem, as you now know firsthand, is that unintentional things hurt just as much.
When we talk about everything that has happened since Vegas, and have more time to learn more about each other, then we can discuss safewords again.
For now, they have to stay for me to feel safe being your Daddy. ”
“But if I get to say yes or no, that puts me in control. I don’t want to be in control.”
Of course she didn’t. She was not just submissive, she was a Little submissive. As such, giving up control was one of her defining qualities of Littles.
“Wanting Daddy to be in charge is a big part of being Little. And Daddies want to take charge so their Littles can feel free to explore. Daddies are the boundary keepers. But they can’t enforce the boundaries their Littles need if they don’t know where their Little’s personal boundaries are.
Having boundaries is not the same thing.
And what if Daddy needs to use his safeword?
Would you not want to know if you were doing something that hurt me?
” The thought of hurting her twisted his gut.
Tears welled in her eyes. His girl was so tender. “Of course I want to know. I never, ever want to hurt you.”
“I feel the same way. This isn’t about who has control. It’s about keeping each other safe. The closer we grow, the fewer and fewer times we’ll need to use our safewords. We’ll start slow and learn together. Okay?”
Her nod came much faster this time. “Okay.”
And that was his cue to set his Little straight about a few things. Holding her hand, he led her to the couch. He sat down and pulled her between his thighs. Her small body fit perfectly in the space between his knees, like it had always belonged there.
“Eyes to me, little girl.” Her gaze lasered on him at his tone. “Did you know that riding without your seatbelt was wrong?”
Her breathing sped up. She opened her mouth to speak, changed her mind, and whispered, “Yes, Daddy.”
There it was. He’d never heard anything more beautiful than the word Daddy coming from her lips. He’d thank her properly later. Right now, he had a job to do.
“Did you know it was illegal?”
A sniffle preceded a wobbly, “Yes, Daddy.”
“Have you been driving around without wearing your seatbelt frequently?”
Her lips had a definite tremble now. His girl had a soft heart. “Y-Yes, Daddy.”
That confession cost her. He could see it. He hugged her and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“I’m proud of you, babygirl. Thank you for being honest with Daddy. Now, let me show you what happens to Little girls who refuse to guard their safety.”