Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 46837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“Make this all seem normal?”
“Maybe because it is normal? Our kind of normal,” he suggested, wrapping his arms around her to look into her eyes.
Something clicked into place in her mind. He was completely right. Some people were perfectly happy with a vanilla life. That had never been Riley’s path. Why should her most important relationship be any different?
Riley dropped her forehead to his chest and inhaled. His clean scent enticed her. Masculine and warm, the aroma wrapped around her. “You smell like home,” she whispered.
He was quiet for a couple of seconds, making her nervous, before he answered, “I think that’s the most incredible compliment I’ve ever been given.”
She squeezed him a bit tighter and felt his lips press a kiss against her hair. “I didn’t think there’d be a Daddy who was right for me. I’m not cute and I look horrible in ribbons.”
His laugh surprised her. “I have a feeling you’d look amazing in ribbons if you wanted to wear them. They’d just have to be the right ones.”
Maybe?
“I have something to show you, sweetheart. Will you come with me?” Milo asked, stepping back to take her hands.
“Is this the game of ‘You show me yours and I’ll show you mine’?” she asked, feeling herself grin.
“Not quite. We’ll play that game later,” Milo assured her. Desire heated his gaze.
“What is it?”
“Come see.”
Milo led her into the master bedroom. At the side of the room, he opened a door she’d assumed was a closet. When he flipped on the light, she stepped in to turn around in amazement. Cheery colors surrounded her. The walls were a soft rosy-red color. It should have been overwhelming, but combined with the white-wood furniture, the room resulted in a welcoming atmosphere.
Her brain tried to take everything in and make sense of what she was seeing. “That looks like a really large crib. Is this a nursery?”
“Your nursery,” he corrected.
“My nursery?” She was tired. She must be imagining this.
Riley turned to look at the man beside her. “You made this for me?”
“I started putting it together when I joined Blaze. There was this beautiful raven-haired bartender who juggled everything thrown at her with flair. Something about her made me take a second, third, and fourth look.”
“I’m nothing special,” Riley protested.
“I never want to hear you say anything like that again. You’re exactly who I’ve been searching for since I realized I was a Daddy. Any criticism of you is a reflection of me,” he pointed out.
“Maybe you have bad taste,” she suggested.
“That’s strike two. One more and I’ll spank your bottom thoroughly.”
“You threaten to spank me a lot, but it never happens,” she pointed out, leaning against the wall to cross her arms over her breasts.
“Don’t push me, Little girl.”
“Come on, Milo. We both know I’m like a five on the rating scale of datability—maybe a six in dark lighting and you’re what… An eleven?”
Suddenly, Riley’s focus changed as Milo scooped her over his shoulder. She clutched his belt for stability. “No! Okay, you’re not joking. I get it. I’ll be good.”
Milo didn’t answer. He carried her to the large armless chair next to the crib and wrestled her into position over his lap. Pinning her in place with a forearm against her low back, Milo began to spank her leggings-covered butt.
“No!” she wailed, wiggling fruitlessly to get away.
“When you’re ready for your real punishment to begin, let me know.”
“Wait! What? You are punishing me. Ow!”
“Not until your bottom’s bare. You tell me when you’re ready to stand quietly while I take your pants off,” Milo said in an even voice that made her look back at him.
Is he mad?
Milo’s concerned expression didn’t hold any anger or frustration. He wasn’t punishing her because he was furious. He was spanking her… for her?
The fight inside Riley evaporated as she covered her face and felt tears coat her fingers. “I’m sorry.”
“Come here, sweetheart.” Milo gathered her from his lap and cuddled Riley against his chest. He rocked her slowly, holding her tight against him.
“I always screw things up,” she confessed. “I can leave.”
“Little girls need to test the boundaries sometimes. When you’re with me, Riley, you’re always going to be safe. I’m not going to change my mind if you’re being a brat. Daddies don’t do that. Well, real Daddies don’t.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, feeling more contrite than she ever remembered.
“I know. Ready for your punishment?”
“You’re really going to spank me more?”
“Yes. I always mean what I say. Stand up for me, sweetheart.”
“Can you call me something other than sweetheart?” she asked. She’d heard that used by so many people at the bar. It had a sleezy association in her mind.
“Of course. Do you have something you’d like me to call you?”
“No…” Her voice trailed off as she searched her mind for something better.
“Then we’ll just find the perfect special nickname for you. First, we finish this. Stand up, Little girl.” Milo helped Riley to her feet.