“Shhh. Little one, you’re not bad. And you didn’t ruin everything. We just hit a little bump in the road is all. And now we have a fresh start.”
“But I ruined that too!”
“You did not. You’re going to sit back down and write your lines like a good girl, and I’ll be back up when dinner is ready.”
Sniffling, she looked up at him. “Are you gonna spank me again?”
His lips lifted in a sad smile. “What do you think, little one?”
She sighed and snuggled back into his chest. “I think you love me and I learned my lesson so no more spankings are needed.”
His chest vibrated with laughter. “Nice try. You’re getting another spanking before bed, with Daddy’s belt. How many strokes is up to you.”
“Even if I finish all my lines?” she asked, even though she knew the answer.
“Even if you somehow finish all one hundred lines in the next twenty minutes, you’re still getting another spanking. Do you know why?”
She sniffled against a new wave of tears. “Because I was naughty and I didn’t listen the first time?”
“That’s right. I can’t have my little girl thinking I don’t love her enough to punish her when she’s naughty, especially right now.” Stepping back, he turned her to face the desk. “Pull your PJs and your panties down again and sit your bare bottom in that chair. If you move again before I come back upstairs, we’ll add a round with the hairbrush before dinner. Understood?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Do I need to warm your bottom up again, or are you going to be a good girl?”
She rushed to bare her bottom and sit down, gasping when her still stinging skin connected with the wood. “I’ll be good, Daddy.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in a little bit.”
She’d picked up her pencil again and was halfway through rewriting her first line when he called her name. Twisting in her chair, she turned to face him.
“I love you, Livvy. I hope you know how much I love you.”
There was no place for sadness or resentment or any other yucky feelings with the love blooming inside of her. “I know. I love you too, Daddy.”
He grinned and blew her a kiss before disappearing down the hall. Olivia set to work on writing her lines again, this time with a smile on her face
* * *
By the time Daddy cameback upstairs, her hand had started to cramp up, but she hadn’t gotten up from her spot on the chair. When a large, familiar shadow fell across the desk, her tummy dropped. She was nowhere near done with all her lines.
“Let me see your lines, Livvy.”
“But I’m not done, Daddy.”
“I know. But you had time to finish before, didn’t you? Now, let me see.”
Pouting, she handed him the papers. She kicked lightly at the desk while he inspected her work.
“You did a lot more than I thought you would be able to. I’m proud of you, Livvy.”
Despite the happy feelings his praise inspired, she shrugged. “I’m still gettin’ a whippin’.”
“Yes, you are, because you disobeyed Daddy. Do you know how many licks you’re getting?”
She shrugged again. “A thousand?”
His loud laughter teased a reluctant smile out of her. “Not hardly, little one. Twenty-two licks with the belt before bed. And if you’re a very good girl the rest of the night, we won’t have to add any more. Ready for dinner?”