“Why? Why would you worry about him?” he asked, bewildered.
“I wasn’t! I hate him because of what he did to you and your mum!”
Warmth filled him. But he couldn’t afford to go easy on her. He felt ill when he thought about how she could have gotten hurt, getting between him and his father. She needed to learn to listen to him when it came to safety.
“You still should have listened to me,” he told her firmly. “If you had gotten between us, you could have gotten hurt. And that is entirely unacceptable to me.”
“So could you,” she replied.
“I would have been fine. Are you forgetting what I do for a living? I was a Navy SEAL, baby girl. I can most definitely hold my own against that ass. You, on the other hand, are infinitely precious and delicate. If you’d gotten hurt. . .” He had to pause and take a deep breath.
“I just didn’t want you hurting him and getting into trouble.”
“You let me worry about stuff like that. If there is ever a situation like that again, you are to do what I tell you, understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
He cupped her chin in his hand and lightly kissed the tip of her nose. “We need to keep you safe.”
He picked her up, holding her against him, uncaring of how wet she was getting him as he grasped hold of a towel and wrapped it around her. He settled her on the counter once more and picked up another towel to gently dry her feet. Then he grabbed the medical supplies and started putting some disinfectant on the cuts.
“Baby girl, I don’t want you walking on these today,” he told her. “Your foot is also a bit swollen so I want to keep it elevated. If you need to go anywhere, I’ll carry you, all right?”
“Are they that bad, Daddy?” she asked, trying to bring one foot up to see, but he grabbed hold of it.
“They’re not bad, but walking on them is going to be painful and might make them start bleeding again. You need to rest anyway.” He placed band aids on a couple which were still bleeding.
“We need to get my girl some cute band aids. Some with princesses on them.”
“I like princesses.” She rubbed at her eyes, looking adorable.
“Okay, sweet pea, I think that will work. You were very brave. I’m proud of you.” He kissed her on the tip of her nose.
“Does I get a reward?”
“A reward? Hm. I do have a smoothie and some fruit in the car, but it’s probably all ruined now.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Fruit isn’t a reward, Daddy.”
“No?”
“No, it’s like something you have to eat.”
“And what were you thinking of?” he asked, knowing exactly what she wanted.
“Chocolate!” She clapped her hands, looking far more alert and happy.
He rested his hands on his hips, giving her a mock-stern look. “Chocolate? Do you deserve chocolate?”
“I was brave.”
“You were. But before that you were naughty.”
She stuck her lower lip out. “Please, Daddy.”
“Even if I wanted to give you some chocolate, sweet pea, I don’t have any.”
A sly look crossed her face and her lips twitched with a smile. “Penny does. It’s in the cupboard above the fridge.
“Oh, is that so? Well, I suppose one piece won’t hurt.”
“One?”
“I can make it none if you’d rather.”
She shook her head. “One is good, Daddy. Thank you, Daddy.”
“Okay, little one. Would you like to rest in bed or on the couch in the study?”
“The study?” she asked.
“I’m going to tidy up the mess he’s left. Maybe get some idea of what he was doing in there.”
“I want to go into the study with you, Daddy.”
He understood. He didn’t really want her to be apart from him either. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, setting her down on the covers. He got one of his t-shirts and slipped it on over her head.
“Daddy?”
“There’s no need for you to get dressed since you’re just going to be inside and resting,” he told her. “And I like you in my t-shirt.”
“Okay, Daddy,” she murmured quietly then she reached up and slipped her arms around his neck. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
He carried her out to the kitchen and set her on the counter as he grabbed them a piece of chocolate each. She nibbled at hers delicately.
So cute.
He grabbed a towel and an ice pack from the freezer and then picked her back up in his arms.
She held onto him tight as he carried her into the study. She knew he was worried about her. She hated to think about what a mess she’d been when he’d approached her. She hadn’t been in her right mind. A tremble rocked her. Macca sat her on the sofa. He dragged over a footstool and placed her swollen foot on it then put the ice pack on.
“We’ll keep that iced on and off all afternoon. I want that swelling to go down by bedtime.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
He crouched and cupped her face, running his thumb over the apple of her cheek. “Daddy has left some things in his car. I want you to sit here and wait for me, okay?”
Another shudder rocked her. She didn’t want to be on her own right now.
“I’ll be as quick as I can. I’d take you out with me, but I want to keep you out of the sun.”
She nodded tiredly. She knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to be out in the sun anymore today. “Okay, Daddy. I waits here.”
“I’ll go grab Bunnykins and Kiki to keep you company.”
He returned quickly with her two stuffed toys, handing them to her. She tugged them in tight to her chest. There was no TV in here, but there was a stereo, so he turned on some music. Then he surprised her by tucking a blanket over her legs.
“You’re trembling,” he explained.
“Oh.” She was surprised to realize she was a little cold.
She sang along quietly to the music, trying not to think about everything that had happened. She didn’t want to dwell on the bad stuff. Macca didn’t take long until he returned, carrying a package in his arms. He placed it on Penny’s desk.
“Okay, baby girl. How are your feet feeling?” he asked her.
“Bit sore,” she confessed.
“What about anywhere else? Any other aches and pains?”
“I’m okay.”
“Are you certain? I’ve noticed you rubbing your temples.”
Whoops. She hadn’t realized she was doing that. “I guess I do have a bit of a headache.”
He gave her a stern look. “How am I supposed to look after you if you don’t tell me when something is wrong, little one?”
“Sorry, Daddy.”
“Just so you know, Daddy hasn’t forgotten about the punishment you’re owed for disobeying him earlier. All of this is going into your naughty girl book.”
Well. Hell.
She pouted slightly at those words. “You don’ts got to punish me, Daddy. I’s good girl.”
“Of course you are,” he said calmly, surprising her as he opened the package. “Sometimes good girls do naughty things. It doesn’t make them bad.”
Oh.
He pulled out a pale blue blanket with yellow ducklings on it. He strode over to where she sat and replaced the afghan lying over her with the new blankie.
“This is so cute, Daddy. Love the duckies.”
“I thought you might.”
“I’m going to go and grab some painkillers for that headache and your feet. I’ll get your water bottle and something for you to snack on as well.”
When she’d drunk and eaten enough to satisfy him, he had her lie down. He propped her foot up on some pillows. She closed her eyes, hoping the painkillers would kick in quickly.
“Are you warm enough or do you want me to wrap you up in your blankie?”
“My blankie?” She opened her eyes and fingered the soft, fluffy blanket. “This is for me?”
“Uh-huh, it’s your own special blankie. It has special powers.”
“It does?”
“Yes. When it’s wrapped around you, it keeps all the bad stuff away. It keeps you safe. Like Daddy’s arms do.”
Warmth filled her. “Oh. Can you wrap it around me?”
“Of course.”
He didn’t just lay it on top of her like before, but tucked it in tightly.
“There we go. Snug as a bug.”
“It’s like a cocoon,” she marveled.
“Feel good? If you get too hot or feel too stifled, let me know.”
“No, I, uh, I like it.”
He brushed back the hair off her face. He frowned. “You feel a little hot. Sure you’re not too warm?”
She yawned. “No, I’m good, Daddy.”
“Okay, close your eyes and sleep, baby girl. I’m here now. Nothing bad will happen.”
16
He watched her doze on the couch. Christ, what if his father had really hurt her? He hated that her skin was marred with bruises caused by his flesh and blood, but what if he’d done worse?
Her cheeks were slightly flushed which worried him. Once she woke up, he’d take her temperature. He wondered how she’d react to the way he planned on taking it. He had to smile a little at the thought as he picked up the things he’d bought for her and took them into the kitchen to quickly wash so they were ready when she woke up. He moved back into the study to tidy up his grandmother’s papers. She’d never attempted to use a computer, and she’d liked to keep everything. It was all a mess and it was going to take longer than a few hours to sort through.
Thanks, Dad, you asshole.
He sighed and stood, stretching his back.
“No, no, don’t! Don’t hurt me!” Gigi’s cries filled him with alarm and he turned towards her. She thrashed around on the couch, pushing at the blankie he’d tucked around her. If she kept moving like that, she was going to fall right off the sofa.
“Please, don’t!” she screamed.
He rushed over to her, placing his hand on her forehead. Shit. She was still warm.
Too much sun? A flare up? Worry filled him.
“Sh, baby,” he told her. He knelt down next to the sofa and ran his hand over her hair. “You’re safe. Daddy’s here. Calm down now.”
She settled under his touch and his quietly spoken words. He picked her up, snagging the blankie, and carried her into the living area, settling her on the couch.
“Daddy?” she asked, opening her eyes to stare up at him.
“I’m here, baby.” She sat up and he drew her against him, holding her tight as she shook in his arms. Fuck, he hated this. Finally, her shaking seemed to ease and he lay her back on the sofa. She let out a small whimper.
“It’s all right, baby. I’m not going far. I’m just going to get you a bottle.”
“Bottle?”
“Sh. I’ll be back soon.” He moved into the kitchen where the stuff he’d cleaned earlier was sitting. He grabbed the bottle and filled it up with cool water before returning to the living area. Sure, he could have gone back to the study for her water bottle, but he wanted to be sure she drank plenty and he thought they might both need this. The teat on the bottle was oversized, for an adult rather than a baby.
He placed it on the small table by the sofa then picked Gigi up and sat with her on his lap. He settled the blankie over her legs then arranged her so she was semi-reclining with an arm supporting her back. Then he picked the bottle up and placed the teat against the lips.
“Open up.”
“D-Daddy?” She stared up at him hesitantly.
“Open your lips, baby girl,” he told her gently. “Remember, you’re my gorgeous little girl. I want to take care of you in all ways. You don’t need to worry about a thing because you’re my sweet, baby girl.”
Always.
Okay, he pushed that thought away. He couldn’t take care of her always. He was leaving.
Right?
She actually opened her mouth and he slipped the nipple inside. She suckled on it experimentally. Then to his delight she let out a small murmur of pleasure and settled more deeply into his arms, sucking the water down until it was all gone. By the time the bottle was empty, her eyes were half-closed and she was completely relaxed.
Okay, seemed that hunch was correct. He stood and carried her into the bedroom.
She opened her eyes with a frown as he lay her down. “Whatcha doin’, Daddy?”
“I need to take your temperature, baby girl.”
“Oh.”
“Just lie here. I’ll be back in a minute.” He grabbed the rectal thermometer from the kitchen as he’d washed it as well. He also picked up a pacifier and some lube. Then, remembering they’d left her toys in the study, he walked in there and retrieved them.
He walked into the bedroom and handed his girl her two toys. She rubbed one of Bunnykins ears under her nose. He placed everything on the bedside table then held out the pacifier, pressing the tip of it against her mouth. “Try this, baby girl.”
She gave him a suspicious look but like with the bottle, she obediently opened her mouth and let him slip the pacifier in.
“I like you like this. So obedient. I could get used to it,” he teased.
“I’m always obedient, Daddy,” she muttered around the pacifier.
“Uh-huh, that’s why you have a number of punishments coming your way, is it?”
She just mumbled something he couldn’t make out.
“Let’s roll you onto your side so I can take your temperature.” He rolled her over and then arranged her legs so they were curled up into her chest.
She spat out the pacifier. “What are you doing, Daddy?”
“Put that pacifier back in, please. I’m taking your temperature.”
“Why do I gots to be in this position for you to stick the thermometer in my ear?”
“Because this thermometer doesn’t go in your ear. It goes in your bottom.”
“No way!” She tried to squirm away, but he was prepared for that. He took hold of her hip and held her down.
“I don’t want you to do that!”
“Well, I’m afraid you don’t have the choice. That’s the only sort of thermometer we have and Daddy is worried that you have a temperature. I don’t want you getting sick. Besides, this is how most Littles get their temperature taken. Now, Daddy is just going to put a little bit of lube into your bottom to help ease the way. Uh-uh, stay still please.”
“Don’t want my temperature taken this way.” She rolled onto her back and glared up at him.
“Stay in place, little girl.” He grasped hold of her hip to roll her back.
“No!” She smacked her legs up and down on the bed.
He gave her a firm look. “I’m giving you one more chance, because I know you’re not feeling well, to get into place and stay there like a good girl. You have until the count of three. One. . .two. . .three.”
He sighed when she didn’t move. Then he quickly flipped her onto her front and gave her five heavy smacks on her bottom. He didn’t want to give her a proper spanking, not with the day she’d had and not if she wasn’t feeling well. But he couldn’t wait until later to deliver this punishment. And he definitely couldn’t let her get away with that attitude. Especially as she was interfering with him looking after her health.
He moved her onto her side once more. “You going to stay in place, little one?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she said in a slightly subdued voice, sniffling.
His heart broke a little, but he knew that he needed to remain firm. Her health came first.
He handed her back the pacifier and Bunnykins. She hugged the bunny tightly as she sucked fiercely on the pacifier. He got her back into the right position before raising his t-shirt up to bare her bottom. She made a small noise of protest but didn’t try to move away. That was progress.
He placed some lube on his finger before parting her bottom cheeks. Her pucke
red hole contracted then released.
“Easy, baby girl. No need to be nervous. Daddy will be very gentle.” He pressed his finger against her back hole. “Just relax and let me in.”
She let out a small, protesting noise.
“Sh, there we go. See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” He moved his finger inside her bottom. He wanted to see how she reacted to something in her bottom. As he removed his finger, he glanced down at her folds, seeing the dew that had already gathered. She was definitely not unaffected by what he was doing to her.
He picked up the brand-new thermometer and coated it in some of the lubricant as well. Then he parted her cheeks once more and pressed the tip against her entrance. “Just relax, baby girl. You’ll barely feel it. That’s it. Good girl. That’s my good girl.”
Once he had the thermometer pushed inside her, he gave her bottom a light rub. “We’re going to keep it in there for five minutes. I just want you to lie there and suck on your pacifier and hold Bunnykins, okay? Don’t think about anything else.”
He cleaned his finger on a wipe, not wanting to move out of the room while she was in such a position. The thermometer didn’t have to stay in for a whole five minutes, however he enjoyed the sight of her like this too much to rush it. He stood up, so she didn’t feel like he was just standing there, watching her. But he couldn’t take his gaze from her for long.
She made a gorgeous picture, lying there with her pacifier in her mouth, clutching hold of Bunnykins, her bottom on display with the thermometer sticking out.
Delicious. His cock was rock hard, pressing against his jeans and he had to adjust himself slightly.
When the five minutes was up, he settled on the bed and grabbed hold of the end of the thermometer. He twirled it a few times, listening to her gasp. If she was feeling better, if it was any other time, he might have brought her to orgasm while playing with her bottom. But now wasn’t the time.
He slid the thermometer out and read it with a frown. “101.”
“What?” she asked, pulling out the pacifier.
“Oh, ah, 38.3,” he replied, giving her the Celsius reading since the thermometer read both. “You’re running a temperature.”
“I feel cold, though.”
Warrior Daddy Page 15
