Chapter 3
Kelsey
A week later
I had spent a lot of time relaxing ever since Nathan decreed it.
He also had me use some of my paid time off, a perk I wasn’t used to in the past. Tonight we met up with Uncle Seth and Manda for dinner at our favorite restaurant before heading to the first annual festival of lights.
Manda and I were both surprisingly well behaved.
Our lack of dessert and treats at the restaurant may have contributed to our calm, cool and collected attitude.
Or it might be that we were both within swatting distance of our Daddy and Uncle, respectively.
The park seemed extra merry as we took in the lighted ornaments, statues, and displays.
Manda and I had begged for hot chocolate and a ride on the horse-drawn carriage, which was only available for a limited time, but both Uncle Seth and Daddy negated the request.
That wouldn’t do. My brat sprang to life. I shot Manda a look and then clapped her shoulder.
“Tag! You’re it!” I screeched and took several steps away, intending to dash toward the huge hot cocoa booth placed strategically in the middle of the park.
“Pause,” Uncle Seth warned.
I had expected the growled command to be said by my Daddy, so it caught me off guard. I stayed in place for five seconds before giggling and eying my exit strategy.
Daddy stepped closer. “Take my hand, button.”
I took off like a bullet. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the two of them looking sternly at Manda, but my amazing best friend pretended to ‘pump’ up her cute winter boots and chased after me.
I screamed with delight as I weaved in and out of the crowd, Manda fast on my tail.
I wasn’t really trying to get us both in trouble even though it was inevitable.
Suddenly the biggest display of lights I’d ever seen came into my line of sight. Did my Daddy save the best for last? Manda smacked into me since I stopped short, her arms wrapping around me in a bear hug. “Oof!”
“Kels!”
“Manda! Look! It’s so beautiful! Look at the teddy bear and the dollies and the wooden soldiers!”
“Yeah, look quickly. Hurry up, angry Daddies approaching at twelve o’clock! We’ll come back.”
I saw two very determined Daddies striding toward us. “We can keep running. I think we’ll make it.”
“You know they’ll catch us! Come on, if we are super apologetic we’ll probably get off with a warning. They aren’t going to spank us in public,” she said.
“I wouldn’t put it past them,” I replied. “They look a little perturbed.”
“Girls,” Nathan chided as he came in ear shot of us.
“We’re so sorry, Uncle Nathan,” Manda answered quickly. “But, to be fair, if you had gotten us hot cocoa-ouch!”
I elbowed my best friend wondering what the heck had gotten into her. She technically apologized for both of us but then was about to get us into more trouble. “I think what Manda is trying to say–”
Manda covered my mouth. “–you’re a big ole’ meanie head who should have spoiled his girls with the yummiest drink on the planet.”
Seth raised both of his eyebrows and shook his head. He looked down at the two of us, an amused look on his face. “I think you should redact your statement immediately, Panda. You don’t want to wind up on the naughty list this year.”
“I’ve been a good girl all year long, Daddy,” Manda said sweetly.
“Yes, you have been but poking at your Uncle isn’t advised,” Seth reminded though his eyes sparkled as he reprimanded her.
Nathan crossed his arms over his chest, but to his amusement it was also clear. “Well?”
Manda slowly dropped her hand and smoothed my puffy winter coat that had bunched around my chest in my sprint.
“I didn’t technically poke you, Uncle Nathan.”
Now we had given the two of them a dilemma. We ran off after Uncle Seth told us not to. Plus she sassed my Daddy and hadn’t properly apologized. I hadn’t offered an apology either. Nope, Manda was my ride or die. If she wanted us in bigger trouble for some reason, I’d follow her lead.
Seth gestured to Nathan and before either of us could blink or explain, we were lifted off our feet by our respective Daddy.
I wrapped my legs around Nathan’s waist looking up at him.“Hi, Daddy.”
“Hi, babygirl. You’re lucky I’m in such a good mood. You and Panda are about to be sore for the rest of our night.”
I didn’t love the sound of that. Oh, who was I kidding?
Yes, I did. We weren’t in big trouble. I said nothing else as Nathan carried me through the park to a gazebo way off the beaten path.
The cute spot was privately surrounded by trees but glowing in the soft moonlight.
Tons of sparkly holiday were hung illuminating it.
I forgot about the benches built into the wooden structure until I was bent over the nearest one.
Without looking behind me, I was certain Manda had taken up the same position as me on the other side.
“When I tell you not to do something, Kels, I expect you to listen.” Uncle Seth tapped my hip.
Crap. I felt very contrite as he spoke over my shoulder. There was something about his tone, stern with only a hint of amusement that made me groan. His hands were solid and though he didn’t have the same ‘jungle muscles’ as my Daddy, they always hit the mark.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Seth. I should have listened.”
“I accept your apology. Let’s get this over with so we can look at the last big display. You already saw part of it, but there’s a surprise hidden there.”
A surprise! My heart raced with excitement despite the minor punishments hanging over my head. “Who is it for?”
“You, silly goose!” Manda shouted from somewhere behind me.
Uh-oh. I didn’t love surprises but if the four of us were together and she already knew about it, it had to be something big. My Daddy laughed with a deep belly laugh. That was a relief. At least Manda wasn’t about to get into real trouble.
“Yes, Kels. It’s for you,” Uncle Seth confirmed.
His palm struck either side of my butt hard and fast. It stung but I was focused on what was coming next. I danced my heels up and down. I heard Amanda grunt and she no doubt was dealing with her own adjustment.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Nathan,” Manda cooed. “I just wanted to remind Kels that we are extra loved! Especially today!”
“I know, Panda.” Nathan said softly. “But it is important to listen to what you’re told to do.”
“Yes, Uncle Nathan.”
Seth landed two hard slaps on my upper thighs before sitting next to me on the bench and kissing my temple. “Do you feel extra loved?”
“Well, I think you and I may have a very different definition of that word.”
“Fair enough, sweetie.”
I shifted my hand to his and squeezed it. “Thank you, Uncle Seth.”
“You’re welcome.” Seth stood up and I heard him high five Nathan like he was tagging him in. Ugh. That meant my bottom would be sore as promised. So much for thinking they were only going to spank one of us each.
“Trust me, button. By the end of the night you’ll feel it,” Nathan mused.
“Yes, Daddy. I’m sure I will.”
Nathan patted my head, rubbed each of my shoulders before resting his large hand on my tailbone.
I braced for the first strike. He targeted my upper thighs and sit-spots as if he and Seth planned it.
I blew out several breaths while Manda squeaked.
It sounded like we were getting closer to being done with our spanking and closer to my surprise.
“A few more, sweetheart. Then we’ll go look at the pretty lights.”
“Yes, Daddy,” I said again.
Nathan swatted my buttcheeks hard and fast. Similar to Uncle Seth but his hand covered more surface area. I groaned and tried to stay still.
“Good girl,” he purred. “My little button just needed a reminder. Hm?”
“Yes, I did. Thank you, Daddy.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Nathan helped me straighten as Seth took Manda’s hand and helped her to her feet.
I linked pinkies with my best friend and we waited for our Daddies to lead the way back to the gorgeous display of lights.
We ooh’d and ahh’d approvingly at each new animal or toy as we walked around the perimeter of the fence.
As we rounded to the other side, I saw a very large gift wrapped up in a bow.
Shooting a questioning look at Manda, I saw a huge grin on her face. She had a small flashlight and held it over my head. I peered at the tag. In very pretty script letters my full name was written. They weren’t kidding about a surprise!
“Is this really for me?” I asked in bewilderment.
“Go ahead and lift the lid, Kelsey.” Nathan nodded toward the package.
I stepped closer, taking either side of it in my hands. I lifted the top off and set it next to us on the ground. Peeking inside I saw another box. I lowered my hand inside and pulled out a tiny box. The tag read, ‘Give to Daddy.’ Manda put her flashlight away.
“Well, that’s sort of a let-down,” I joked. “I guess the surprise is for you.” Handing the box to Nathan I watched him drop to one knee. What exactly was happening right now? I covered my mouth with my hands. I couldn’t speak even if I wanted to because butterflies were tumbling through my belly.
“When I first met you I knew there was something very special about you,” he began. “Then we finally got into a relationship and it’s been the absolute happiest time of my life.”
“Nathan,” I cleared my throat. My Little space disappeared to allow my more adult side to enjoy the moment. “I feel the exact same way.”
“I’ve not only found an amazing woman who means the world to me, but my adorable Little girl.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again now.
I want to be the one who holds you close as you fall asleep every night and the first one you see every morning.
” Nathan opened the small box and plucked out the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.
It sparkled under the twinkling lights. I couldn’t get a good look at it in the darkness but I knew it was beautiful.
“Oh. Em. Gee.” I couldn’t believe out of all the things I could have said in that moment, something so silly had flown out.
“Will you give me the honor and privilege of becoming your husband?” He held the ring to my finger.
“Oh!” I stared at it without actually answering.
“Kelsey Rae Spencer, will you marry me?”
Tears filled my eyes and I was sure Manda was hanging on every word.
“You…you have no idea how much you mean to me, Sir. I’m so lucky to have found an amazing partner in you, but you also take care of me in ways I never even dreamed of.”
“Please say, yes, babygirl.”
“Yes!”
Nathan wiped his brow, and slid the ring onto my finger. I had never seen him nervous before and the gesture was enough for the tears to pour over my cheeks. He got up from the ground and wrapped his strong arms around me.
“I love you, Kelsey.”
“I love you, Nathan.”
“Woot! I better be your maid-of-honor,” Manda chimed in.
“Of course,” I answered, giggling through my tears.
“And I suppose you want to be my best man, bro?” Nathan released me long enough to shove his brother playfully.
“I am the most well behaved,” he dead-panned as he shoved Nathan back in retaliation. “It’s only fair, bro.”
“Don’t hurt yourself,” Nathan responded sarcastically. “There’s no one else I’d rather have standing by my side.”
We all laughed, gathering up the packages and heading toward the hot chocolate vendor arm in arm and hand in hand.
Like everything else in my life, I hadn’t counted on being spanked in the park at the first annual event but then again it cemented our dynamics.
Our relationships. Our friendships. I really was the most loved.
Adding the most romantic proposal ever and with my best friend and her loving Daddy by our sides reminded me how loved.
I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
I couldn’t wait to plan my wedding. It would be just as magical as our holidays.
The holidays were all about giving and receiving love.
Thanks to the amazing people surrounding me, I had everything I could ever ask for.
I was Nathan’s Little girl but soon I’d become his wife! It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
The End
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