“You can’t love me.” God help her, a fresh wave of tears filled her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. She’d never cried as much in her entire life as she had the past two days with this man. “You don’t know what I’ve done.”
“We both have colorful pasts,amore mio. Why should that keep us apart?”
The truth burned on her tongue, but she couldn’t find the words to tell him. How do you tell a man who just professed his love for you that you’d been sent to kill him?
She would tell him tomorrow, before they wed, she promised herself. Tonight was for them. The rest could wait.
For now, she would give him what she could: her unconditional surrender. “I think I’m ready for my punishment, now,” she said softly.
In his eyes, she saw a flash of need so raw and sharp, it cut her to her core. “Very well. Why are you being punished, Amara?”
It was slightly terrifying how easily she could slip back into the role of his little girl. How easily he took her there with just a look. “I got mad and I slapped you. I’m really sorry, Daddy.”
“I know you are, but Daddy needs to make sure you never do something like that again. Go bend over the edge of the bed.”
Trembling slightly, she stood and walked to the bed, positioning herself as instructed. It wasn’t until she was in position that she noticed the long, thin rod on the comforter in front of her.
“By the way.” Daddy leaned over her to pick up the implement. “You owe Benny a debt of gratitude.”
“Why?”
“Because I’d intended to give you a good, thorough caning, but he talked me down to three. If you ever strike me again, however, I will follow through with the punishment I originally had planned. Are we understood?”
“Y-yes, Daddy.”
The cane tapped against her bottom and she instinctively clenched. A moment later, there was a softswoosh, followed by a line of fire so intense she thought it would slice her in half. Gasping, she pushed onto her toes and shook her hips, as if she could shake off the pain.
“Hitting Daddy was a very naughty thing to do, Amara. I understand you were upset, but that is no excuse for your behavior, is it?”
“No, Daddy, I’m sorry! I’ll never do it again, I swear.”
“Let’s make sure of that, shall we?”
A second cut, inches below the first, brought tears to her eyes. She was going to be the most well-behaved little girl her daddy had ever had after this. The third caught that sensitive area between butt and thigh and she just knew she’d feel it every time she sat down for the rest of her life. Well, at least for the rest of the night.
“Are you going to be a good girl for Daddy,piccolina?” he asked softly as he ran his fingers over the raised lines running across her bottom.
“I’ll be good forever! It hurts,” she whined.
“Poor little princess. Should Daddy kiss it and make it all better?”
Instantly, the simmering arousal she’d been trying to ignore all afternoon became a full-fledged inferno. She wanted nothing more than to have him touch her and bring her to the screaming release she knew he was capable of.
“Yes, Daddy.”
Soft, feathery kisses brushed across one of the welts and the contact was like a livewire connected directly to her clit. Moaning quietly, she lifted her hips and spread her legs as much as she was able with her panties still around her knees.
“Let’s get you out of these.” Deft hands tugged the ruffled material down to her feet. As soon as she was free, he rolled her onto her back, with her ass hanging off the edge. Kneeling in front of her, he slipped his arms under her thighs and lowered his head to feast.
If he hadn’t been holding her down, she was convinced she would have shot straight to the ceiling when he finally ran his tongue around her aching clit. But that gentle touch wasn’t enough to give her what she needed. Whining, she bucked against his mouth, searching for that elusive release.
“I should make you wait,” he said with a low, menacing laugh. “You were a very, very naughty girl today, Amara.”
“No!” The word was a sob of frustration and need. “Please, Daddy, I won’t ever be naughty again.”
“Hmmm.” He released one of her thighs so he could slide his fingers between her lips and stroke that sensitive bundle of nerves inside of her. “What is it you want,piccolina? Tell Daddy what you need.”
Humiliation somehow only sharpened her need. But she was too far into the game to be concerned with what it said about her that she enjoyed his taunting and teasing. “I-I want to come, Daddy. Please.”