"Not forever. Just the rest of the day. Please, Daddy." Lifting her head, she tried another pout. "I'll die of embarrassment."
"You will not die of anything,tesoro."
"Yes, I will! I want to go upstairs."
"Evelyn Marie." The sharp tone kept her from pushing up off of his lap, but the pout stayed in place. "I want you to listen to me, little one. Do I have your attention?"
"Yeah. Ow!" Rubbing the spot on her thigh he'd just swatted, she glared at him. "What was that for?"
"Want to try that response again?"
If her cheeks got any hotter, she'd be able to fry an egg on them. "I mean, yes, Daddy?"
"Much better. You will learn to listen to me, Evelyn. You asked for a Daddy, and part of having a Daddy is doing as you're told, when you're told. Even when it's hard or uncomfortable. Understand?"
"But I can't! It's too embarrassing!"
"You can, and you will. Stand up."
Moving slowly, she pushed to her feet and stood in front of him. A small whimper escaped when he leaned forward and gripped her panties and leggings, pulling both up her legs and over her sore bottom. The simple, intimate act was somehow more humiliating than being bare-assed over his lap.
Standing up, he cupped her face with his hands and brushed his lips against hers. "Your family loves you. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"You spanked me, Jason. And they all heard."
"You wanted me to." His chuckle was more than a little wicked. "I bet if I took you upstairs right now, you'd be wet and ready for me, wouldn't you?"
The fact that he was right just made the situation all the more humiliating. But maybe she could use it to her advantage. Tilting her face up, she leaned into him. "Prove it."
"Later. You have apologies to make."
"But, Daddy." His name was a long, drawn out whine, surprising her. Before she'd met him, she'd never whined. Even as a child, she'd been perfectly well mannered. But it was somehow comforting to know she could whine, and cry, and stomp her feet, and while any of those actions may earn her another trip over his knee, he'd still be there. He would still look at her with that same affection in his eyes, no matter what.
The same affection she saw now, even as he raised an eyebrow in that way he had that made her tummy do weird little flips. "No buts, little one. Unless your bottom would like another round with the spoon."
Accepting defeat, she sighed. "No, sir."
"Good girl." Slipping an arm around her waist, he guided her back to the kitchen. At some point during her punishment, pancakes had been made, and her family was scattered around the kitchen eating and talking. Ro and Tea were at the island again, an empty seat between them. Her sisters both looked up at the same time, identical expressions of sympathy on their faces. Ro waved to her and patted the seat between them. It was tempting to simply run to them and let them comfort her, but she didn't think her Daddy was going to let her off the hook so easily.
Her instincts were proven right when he nudged her in the direction of the table where Luca and Octavius were seated. Drawing her courage from the man beside her, she walked over to them.
"Luca?"
The leader of their little group looked over at her. There was no sympathy in his eyes, but there was love, so much like the love she saw in her sisters that it broke her. Tears filled her eyes again, and she didn't bother trying to hide them. Luca held his arms open, and she practically jumped onto his lap.
Curling into him, she sobbed out her apology, "I'm s-sorry, Luca."
"Shhh, Evie. You're going to make yourself sick. I forgive you, sweetheart."
And there it was again. Forgiveness. So simple and easy. Was this what having a real family was about? Having people who loved you, no matter how awful you were?
"I really am sorry. I know I shouldn't have spoken to you that way."
"Well, you know how I feel about little girls who swear," he agreed with a soft chuckle. "But you weren't wrong about what you said. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and Teagan last night."
"Really?" Sitting up, she stared at him. "You're apologizing?"
"I screwed up. So yeah, I'm apologizing. I already apologized to Teagan for being harder on her than I needed to be."