Chapter 9
The next morning, I wake up sore but settled. Tyler's already up, making me breakfast again.
"Morning, sleepy girl," he says when I shuffle into the kitchen. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore. But good."
"Good sore or bad sore?"
"Good sore. Like a reminder." Of the spanking and the way you rode my pussy into submission.
"Perfect. That's what we're going for." He plates pancakes and bacon. "Sit. Eat. We're going to talk about prevention strategies."
Over breakfast, we establish new rules. Alarms on my phone to remind me to eat. A mandatory fifteen-minute lunch break, no exceptions.
"And if you start to feel overwhelmed?" he prompts.
"I text you immediately. Before it gets bad."
"Exactly. I can't help, if I don't know you're struggling."
"I know. I'll do better."
"I know you will. And if you slip up again, we'll handle it. Together." His hand covers mine. "But hopefully with better communication, we can prevent it from getting to that point."
After breakfast, Tyler has to go to base for a training exercise.
"I'll be gone most of the day," he says. "But I want you to text me. Let me know how you're doing. What you're eating. How you're feeling."
"Yes, Daddy."
"And Chloe?" He tilts my chin up. "I'm proud of you. For handling yesterday so well. For being brave enough to trust me with your correction."
"Thank you, Daddy."
He kisses me thoroughly, and I'm breathless when we part.
"I'll see you tonight. I love you."
"I love you too."
After he leaves, I text the book club.
Chloe: So... Tyler spanked me yesterday. For real. As discipline.
The chat explodes.
Madison: FINALLY. How was it?
Lily: Are you okay? How do you feel?
Holly: Details. We need ALL the details.
Emily: Did it help?
Chloe: It helped so much. I feel lighter. Like I can breathe again.
Madison: That's exactly how it should feel. Ty says discipline is about closure, not punishment.
Lily: Ethan says the same thing. It's about correction and moving forward.
Holly: Did he take care of you after? Aftercare is so important.
Chloe: He was amazing. I've never felt so cared for in my life.
Emily: I'm so happy for you, babe. You found your Daddy.
Chloe: I really did. I can't believe this is my life.
Madison: Believe it. You deserve this. All of it.
Lily: When can we meet him? Properly? We want to welcome him to the Daddy club
Chloe: Soon. He's nervous about meeting all of you at once.
Holly: Tell him we're friendly. Mostly.
Amber: I'm just here reading this like a romance novel. This is better than Netflix.
Maya: Same. I want what you guys have.
Emily: You'll find it, Maya. We all will. The right Daddies are out there.
I spend the day at the shop, and true to my word, I set alarms and take breaks. I eat a real lunch. I close on time.
And I text Tyler throughout, letting him know how I'm doing.
Tyler: Proud of you for following through. You're doing so well.
Chloe: Thank you, Daddy. I'm trying.
Tyler: You're succeeding. That's what matters.
By the time I close the shop, I'm tired but satisfied.
I drive to Tyler's apartment, using the key he gave me last week, and let myself in.
He's not home yet, so I start dinner. Nothing fancy, just pasta and salad. But something I can do to take care of him for once.
When Tyler walks in at seven, he stops in the doorway, taking in the scene.
"You cooked."
"I wanted to do something for you. You're always taking care of me. I wanted to return the favor."
His expression softens. "Sweetheart, you don't have to—"
"I know I don't have to. I want to." I cross to him. "You take such good care of me, Daddy. Let me take care of you too."
He pulls me into his arms. "You already do. Every day. Just by being you."
"Sap."
"Your sap." He kisses me. "Now let's eat this dinner you made before it gets cold."
We eat, and Tyler tells me about his day. The training exercise that went well. The new guy who reminds him of himself at twenty-two. The paperwork that never seems to end.
After dinner, we settle on the couch to watch a movie. After the movie, I turn and ask him a question.
"When did you know? That I was it for you?"
He's quiet for a moment. "The first day you smiled at me when I walked into the shop.
You were talking to another customer, and you were so animated and genuine.
And when you turned to take my order, that smile stayed.
Like you were genuinely happy to see me even though I was just another customer.
" He pauses. "I knew right then that I wanted to be the reason for that smile. "
"Tyler—"
"I'm not done. I also knew you were Little. The way you got excited about simple things. The way you sought approval without realizing it. The way you lit up when someone praised your coffee." His hand strokes my back. "I knew I wanted to be your Daddy before I even knew your name."
"That's the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me."
"It's the truth. I fell for you the second I saw you. And I've been falling harder every day since."
"I fell for you too. Maybe not the first day, but definitely by the end of the first week. You were so different from anyone I'd ever met. Patient and observant and genuinely interested in me."
"Because you're genuinely interesting. And kind. And brave. And everything I didn't know I was looking for."
I tilt my head up to kiss him. "I love you."
"I love you too, baby girl. More than anything." We get up and get ready for bed. We’ve just snuggled in when my phone buzzes.
Emily: Haven't heard from you since this afternoon. Everything okay?
I glance at Tyler, who's reaching for his phone, then type back.
Chloe: Everything's perfect. More than perfect.
Emily: You're telling me everything tomorrow. EVERYTHING.
Chloe: Deal
"Emily checking in?" Tyler asks.
"Yeah. She's nosy but she means well."
"She's a good friend. You're lucky to have her."
"I am.” He hands me a bottle of water to put on the nightstand on my side of the bed. "You take care of me so well, Daddy."
His eyes darken at the title. "I like when you call me that."
"I like calling you that. It feels natural."
"It is natural. It's who we are."
I curl into him, and he pulls the blanket over both of us.
"You all ready for bed?”
"Yes, Daddy."
"Good girl." His hand strokes through my hair. "Sleep now."
I close my eyes, safe and warm and completely sated in every way. And as I drift off, I think about how much my life has changed in just a few weeks.
I wake to sunlight streaming through the curtains and Tyler's hand tracing lazy patterns on my back. We both have the day off and I’m looking forward to the first lazy day I’ve planned in months.
With the increase in prices, I was able to hire an additional part time employee and he and Jess were working today.
"Morning," I mumble.
"Morning, beautiful. Sleep well?"
"Amazing. You?"
"Best sleep of my life." He presses a kiss to my bare shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
"Good. But I wouldn't say no to breakfast."
"Coming right up. But first—" He rolls me onto my back, hovering over me. "Good morning kiss."
He kisses me thoroughly, and by the time we break apart, I'm breathless.
"That was some good morning kiss," I manage.
"Just wait until you see what I do for a good night kiss before bed tonight." He climbs out of bed. "Stay here. I'll bring you breakfast."
"Okay, Daddy."
"Good girl."
He leaves, and I stretch out in his bed, feeling deliciously lazy and content.
I send a quick message to the book club chat.
Chloe: I get it now. Why you guys are so obsessed with your Daddies. This feeling is addictive.
Madison: Welcome to the club, babe. You're officially a taken Little.
Emily: I'm so happy for you. You deserve this.
Chloe: Thank you. All of you. For encouraging me to take the risk.
Tyler returns with a tray laden with food. Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, and orange juice.
"Breakfast in bed," he announces. "Because my girl deserves to be spoiled."
"This looks amazing."
He sets the tray on my lap and climbs back into bed beside me.
"The girls want to meet you," I say between bites. "Properly. Like a group dinner thing."
"All of them at once?"
"That's generally how group dinners work."
He looks nervous. "What if they don't like me?" My big bad special forces soldier is nervous?
"They'll love you. They already know how happy you make me. That's all that matters to them."
"But they're your chosen family. Their opinion matters."
"It does. But I also know they'll see what I see in you. You are a good man who takes care of me and makes me feel safe." I reach for his hand. "Please? It would mean a lot to me."
He's quiet for a moment. Then he nods. "Okay. Set it up. I'll meet your book club."
"Really?"
"Really. If they're important to you, they're important to me."
I throw my arms around him, nearly upsetting the breakfast tray. "Thank you, Daddy!"
He laughs, steadying the tray. "You're welcome, baby girl. Now eat before everything gets cold."
We spend the rest of the morning exactly as I’d hoped for my day off. We lounge in bed, watch movies, and generally be lazy.
Around noon, Tyler's phone rings.
He glances at the screen and frowns. "It's my ex-wife. I should take this."
"Of course."
He steps into the living room, and I try not to eavesdrop, but the apartment isn't that big.
"Hey, what's up?... This weekend? I know it's short notice, but I'd love to see them... Are you sure? I don't want to disrupt their plans... Okay. I'll drive to DIA on Friday... Thanks. I really appreciate this... Tell them I love them... You too. Bye."
He returns looking both happy and nervous.
"Everything okay?" I ask.
"More than okay. Sarah's sending me the kids for the weekend. They'll be here Friday through Sunday."
"Tyler, that's wonderful!"
"It is. But it's also..." He runs a hand through his hair. "They don't know about you yet. About us. And I don't want to spring you on them without preparation."
"That makes sense."