Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Sydney
The first thing Sydney became aware of was the steady thump of Levi’s heartbeat beneath her cheek.
The second was the weight of his arm, strong and warm, wrapped around her, holding her as if he’d never let go.
She blinked slowly, her lashes damp, her body sore in that way that reminded her of everything that had happened.
The spanking.
The tears.
The storm inside her that had finally quieted enough to let sleep take her under.
And now… now she was waking. Safe in his arms.
Levi felt her stir and tightened his hold just a little, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. His voice was low, rough with emotion but steady. “Hey there, little miss. You’re awake.”
Sydney swallowed hard, her throat dry, her heart still tender after the intense scene she’d shared with him. “Daddy?” she whispered, as if checking if he was really there.
“I’m right here, babygirl.” He brushed her hair back from her face, his thumb gentle as it traced along her cheek. “You gave me quite the scare, you know that?”
A fresh wave of guilt washed over her, and she tried to pull away, but Levi wouldn’t let her.
“No, none of that,” he said softly, rocking her a little. “It’s all over now, you’ve had your punishment. All’s forgiven, okay? My brave girl. My precious little one.”
Her breath hitched at that, and she realized, beneath the ache of regret, beneath the relief, was that other feeling.
The one that had flickered to life during her punishment and hadn’t quite gone out, even as sleep claimed her.
Her body still hummed with it, that deep, aching need she didn’t know how to ask for.
Her Daddy felt it. Of course he did. The way she squirmed a bit against him, the way her breath came faster when his hand stroked down her back. He smiled softly, tipping her chin up so he could see those beautiful, vulnerable eyes.
“That spanking worked you up, didn’t it, baby?” His tone was gentle, no teasing, just understanding.
Her cheeks flamed. She bit her lip, nodding the smallest bit.
Levi kissed the tip of her nose. “That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Your body’s allowed to feel what it feels. And I’m so proud of you. You took your punishment like such a good girl, Sydney.”
A soft whimper escaped her, need mingling with embarrassment, with the overwhelming safety of being here, in his arms.
“But tonight’s not about that, babygirl.
Not yet.” He eased her back just enough to pull the blankets around her more snugly, tucking her in.
“Tonight’s about helping that heart of yours feel better.
About making sure you know you’re safe. Tomorrow, if that beautiful body of yours is still aching for Daddy’s touch, I’ll help you with that too. You have my promise.”
She let out a shaky breath, tears welling again, but this time from the tenderness, from how she felt seen.
Levi settled beside her, his hand stroking over her hip through the soft fabric of his pants. His voice dropped low, steady and sure. “Now, little miss, I need you to tell me. No more hiding, no more fear. Why were you at Nanny J’s office so late? And what did you hear?”
Sydney hesitated, biting her lip. But his warm hand, his calm voice, his steady presence coaxed the truth out.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I really didn’t.
I just… I felt so mixed up after our date last night.
I didn’t know what to do, so I thought maybe Nanny J could help me get an appointment with Doctor Denton.
But when I got close, I heard you. I couldn’t move.
And I heard you say… about Greg, and his threats. ”
Her voice cracked on the last words, her eyes brimming.
Levi’s hand clenched. He gathered her close again, his hand cradling the back of her head.
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry. That must have frightened you so much, hearing about that mean old man, and everything he wants to do.
I should have paid better attention. You don’t need to know all these things. I’m supposed to be protecting you.”
Sydney sniffled, her hands fisting in his shirt. “But you are protecting me. It’s not your fault, I’m struggling so much with my emotions. I can’t figure out what I want. Which is why I was there to begin with.”
Sydney felt the warmth of Levi’s hands as he cupped her face, his thumbs brushing gently at the tears that wouldn’t stop falling. His touch was so steady, so sure, as if he could hold all the broken pieces of her together.
“Oh, baby,” he murmured, his voice deep and soft, filling up all the empty, aching spaces inside her. “It’s okay to feel mixed up. It’s okay not to have all the answers yet. What matters is that you’re trying. That you’re here, letting me help. Letting us help.”
His words sank deep, and Sydney shivered — not from cold, but from the way they loosened the tight knots of shame and fear that had twisted inside her for so long. She wanted so badly to believe him. To let herself fall into the safety he offered.
“I wanted to be good,” she whispered, her voice small, cracking under the weight of everything she carried. “I thought… if I could just figure out what I was supposed to feel, I could stop making everything so hard for you and Roland. For us.”
Levi’s hands stayed so gentle on her face, his forehead coming to rest lightly against hers as he kissed her there, slow and tender.
“Little miss, listen to me. You are good. There’s nothing you need to do or figure out to earn that.
You’re good just the way you are. Even when you’re confused.
Even when you’re scared. Even when you make mistakes. ”
The words hit something deep in her chest, and her breath hitched as warmth flooded through her, chasing away some of the cold that had clung to her for so long.
“I don’t want you to worry about making things hard for us,” Levi said, his voice that steady, grounding rumble she could lean on. “You’re not. We want to be here for you. We want to help you through the hard parts. That’s what it means to be your Daddy. That’s what it means to love you.”
Her tears kept falling, but they felt different now—softer, as if they were washing away the fear, the guilt, the loneliness.
She pressed closer, her body finally starting to relax, to believe, even just a little.
“I want to stay,” she said, her voice shaking with how much she meant it.
“I want to be yours. I don’t want to hide from life anymore. ”
She felt Levi’s arms tighten around her, his heart beating steadily beneath her cheek. His voice wrapped around her, safe and sure. “You are mine, babygirl. All mine. And Roland’s too. No more worrying about where you belong. You belong right here.”
Sydney nodded, the truth of it sinking in, comforting her more than she could ever say. She let herself rest against him, letting the safety of his arms and his words lull her deeper into peace.
Levi tucked the blankets around her again, shifting so she could settle fully against his chest. His hand rubbed slow, soothing circles on her back, over and over, steady and patient.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Just let Daddy take care of you.
You’ve done enough for today. We’ll face the rest together, when you’re ready. ”
A soft sigh slipped from her lips as the last of the tension drained away. And as sleep began to pull at her again, warm and safe and his, Sydney let go, knowing Levi would hold her through the night, exactly where she was meant to be.