A Little Atonement

by Maggie Ryan

  He didn’t fail to notice she’d chosen the less intimate address but, for now, that was fine. She’d come back. She admitted she loved him, needed him—needed her daddy.

  “So… what happens now?” she asked.

  “First, I am going to feed you and then, young lady, I’m going to blister your bottom for running away.”

  “Oh… but, I thought… maybe we could just start over?”

  He brushed his thumb down her cheek as he shook his head. “You thought wrong. Little girls who run, who don’t trust their daddies, who spend months worrying themselves sick, believing they are not worthy of love, those little girls are considered naughty.” He watched her closely, saw her chest rise faster as her breathing quickened, saw her bottom lip disappear between her teeth and yet never, not for a single moment, did she remove her gaze from him.

  “And do you remember what we talked about when we began making our plans? Do you remember what I told you about what happens when you are naughty?”

  Her head bobbed and he shook his. “Words, Elena, use your words.”

  “You’ll punish me.”

  “That’s right. Why?”

  “Why?”

  “Yes, Elena. Why is Daddy going to punish you?”

  “Because I hurt you. I ran away and—”

  “No,” he said, cutting her off. “Daddy is going to punish you because he loves you. Because you need to know that no matter what you do, no matter how naughty you are, I will always love you and will always forgive you. Do you understand?”

  Her smile was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

  She softly whispered, “Yes, sir.”

  Bending, he lifted her chin and kissed her. It was as if he was drinking from the most wondrous fountain. One that gave him back his life’s blood. He so wanted to plunder her mouth, to tangle his tongue with hers, but it was not yet time. Instead, he pulled away, loving her breathlessness, kissed her nose and then lifted her, returning her to sit on the stool.

  “French toast or pancakes?”

  “French toast, but I can help,” she said, beginning to slide from the stool.

  “Oh, no, you don’t, young lady. Daddy is doing the cooking. You are doing the watching. Now get your butt back on that stool and enjoy the fact that you can sit without squirming.”

  She blushed but settled on the stool, picking up her mug. If she noticed the tea had long gone cold, she didn’t mention it. Instead, she gave him a shy smile and as he turned to gather ingredients for their breakfast, he had to bite back a grin as she wiggled.

  A half hour later, he swallowed the last of his coffee and looked down where Elena was pushing a piece of French toast around and around in a puddle of syrup. She’d been doing so for the last five minutes.

  “Are you done?”

  She startled a bit, her fork clattering as she released it. “Yes. I-I guess I wasn’t as hungry as I thought. It was great but…”

  Elena hadn’t eaten anywhere near as much as he would have liked, but he understood why. Her blush and squirm confirmed that her mind had been more on what would happen after breakfast than what he had prepared for the meal. After dabbing his napkin to the corner of her mouth where a bit of powdered sugar clung, he kissed her forehead and lifted her from the stool, loving it when she wrapped her arms and legs around him. He felt her stiffen a bit as he passed the couch but couldn’t really blame her. They were both aware that it wouldn’t be long before her bottom would be burning. But it wasn’t yet time. She’d been worrying her breakfast to bits, her mind obviously so full of who knew what that she hadn’t been able to enjoy one of her favorite breakfasts. His little one needed to clear her head, to accept that she was back where she belonged. Most important, she had to learn that even though she was going to be punished, once it was done, she could let all her worries of the past go.

  He didn’t set her down until he reached the wall. He’d never required corner time before but only because she’d run before they’d fully begun this dynamic. He was a firm believer that reflection was a valuable tool whether it be to consider some goal, some project, or, in this case, naughty behavior.

  “Put your nose right in the corner, Elena.”

  She looked up at him, her eyes wide before they shifted to the wall. “Liam, I’d rather just get the spanking over with. I’ve never—”

  “Oh, there will be a spanking, but first you will do as instructed. The very fact that you not only just addressed me incorrectly, but believe you can determine the course of action tells me that you really need corner time. I want you to think about what you did that was naughty.” He guided her into position, a hand against the back of her head, gently pushing until her nose met the juncture of the two walls. “Be ready to make a full confession when I call you.”

  Chapter Five

  It didn’t take but a minute before Elena shifted her feet. Seriously? What grown woman stands in the corner?

  Women who come back because they need their daddy, the voice in her head was quick to answer.

  Yes, but I feel…

  Like the naughty little girl you are?

  “God, I wish you’d just shut up! This is boring!”

  “Excuse me?”

  Elena stiffened. That voice was not the mocking feminine one in her head. No, this was definitely one of the masculine variety.

  “Elena Michelle Reeds, did you just tell your daddy to shut up?”

  Whipping her head around, she saw Liam standing no more than a foot behind her. Had she really said that out loud? She really needed to stop talking to herself. “I-I wasn’t talking to you. I was just—”

  “Saying that obeying your daddy is boring?”

  “No! I mean… I was thinking this whole corner thing is boring, not you.” The moment his eyebrow quirked, she felt her stomach flip. That’s great, Elena. Go ahead, dig that hole deeper.

  “I-I mean, not boring, but… I-I don’t like staring at the wall, my nose already itches and I can’t think like this.”

  “Then, by all means, let’s see if we can make it easier for you, shall we?”

  God, how she hated when he said that phrase. It usually preceded things that she didn’t particularly like. “Let’s get this spanking done, shall we?” “Let’s see how long you care to continue that snotty attitude, shall we?” “Let’s see if this paddle will make a better impression, shall we?”

  “No, I mean, thank you for offering, but that’s okay. I’ll just stand…”

  His chuckle silenced her, and she felt her face flush as she realized how idiotic that had probably sounded, but the twirl of his finger indicating she was to turn back around had her hoping that he was in a forgiving mood.

  Once she was facing the corner again, it became clear that despite his chuckle, her daddy did not consider her offer humorous in the least. She felt his hands slip beneath her sweater and then his fingers unbuttoning her jeans. The sound of the zipper’s teeth ratcheting along its tracks followed as he leaned over her back to speak close to her ear.

  “Let’s see if you’ll find it easier to focus on your naughty behavior with the part of your anatomy that will pay for those choices hanging out in the wind, shall we?”

  She wasn’t sure if she would have been able to answer even if his question hadn’t been rhetorical. A tug had her jeans beginning their descent and they didn’t stop until they were at her ankles. When his fingers returned to slip into the waistband of her panties, she couldn’t help but clench her buttocks when they were slowly bared as he peeled the lacy blue fabric down. Once they rested on top of her jeans, she whimpered as the final barrier was removed with his lifting the hem of her sweater.

  “Hold this up, Elena. I want to see every inch of that naughty bottom.”

  Taking the soft fabric in her hands, she pulled it up a bit, her entire body flushing with heat and yet she whispered, “But it’s cold.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, Daddy has a solution for that
as well. All the way to your waist, Elena.”

  With her sweater bunched at her waist, she discovered the solution when his arm hooked around her waist, pulling her back just a bit before an explosion of sound filled the air. She didn’t have time to do more than gasp before a second swat landed on her other buttock, each of her bare globes already stinging from just the two strokes.

  “Warm enough?” he asked, his palm softly rubbing over her bottom.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, Elena,” he said, his hand lifting and then descending again, adding to the heat in her rear before she realized her error.

  “Yes, sir!”

  “That’s better.” His hold at her waist disappeared, but she felt her head being pressed toward the wall. “Step back. No, keep your nose in the corner, but move back and lift your ass. Keep your sweater up. I want to be able to see my handprints all the way from the kitchen.”

  She shuffled back a step, the position required causing her to bend forward to keep her nose against the sheetrock.

  “Spread your legs.”

  A whimper accompanied her obedience as she inched her feet apart.

  “As far as your jeans allow, Elena.” Once she was in position, he bent toward her again. “Are you cold?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Are you bored?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Good. Do not move and do not think about anything other than what you will be confessing. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  She felt him move away and soon heard sounds coming from across the room as he began to clean up from breakfast. It wasn’t anywhere near as difficult to think about all the naughty things she’d done with her bare butt already stinging. It was embarrassing knowing that her ass was in full view and yet she had to admit, it definitely wasn’t boring.

  “All right, come here, Elena.”

  His instruction jolted her from her thoughts as it seemed like only a moment had passed. But when she straightened, the slight twinge in her lower back told her she’d been holding the position for several minutes. Dropping her hold on her sweater, she bent to pull up her clothing, only getting them to her knees before she realized he was speaking.

  “No. Drop them. I did not say you may cover.”

  She released her panties and jeans and began to move toward him.

  “Sweater up, Elena.” He’d seen her naked before and yet having to pull her sweater to her waist and walk to him, no, make that shuffle to him, made her feel every inch the naughty little girl. It took her a while as her clothing made it awkward, but she didn’t stop until she stood before him where he’d taken a seat in the center of the couch.

  Liam pulled her to stand between his spread knees. She was practically trembling, her stomach fluttering, her blood racing. God, how could she have ever thought that this wasn’t something she needed? No, not needed, craved. Yes, he’d spank her but then he’d hold her, forgive her, love her. Her pussy had begun to moisten the moment he’d unbuttoned her jeans and now, just thinking about being held in his arms, lying beneath him, her tender bottom rubbing against the sheets as he made love to her was making it slicker. It took his clearing his throat to pull her from her delicious daydream and to concentrate on the here and now.

  “Tell me why I’m going to spank you.”

  Before she could stop herself, she giggled. “Seriously? How long do you have?” When he didn’t grin, that eyebrow lifting yet again, she realized that yes, he was serious. This wasn’t playtime… this was discipline.

  “I’m sorry. It’s just a rather long list… I’m not sure I even remember everything that earned me this spanking.”

  “Tell me what you do remember,” he said, “then I’ll help fill in the blanks.”

  “You can do that?” Shit, Elena, of course he can and if you keep up with the smart-aleck remarks, you’ll never get off his lap and on to the loving part!

  Closing her eyes briefly, knowing he was only allowing her to do so in order to help her remember, she began. “I listened to someone else… let her opinion matter far more than yours.” She paused and opened her eyes, her feet shuffling a bit on the rag rug beneath her toes.

  “Go on, Elena,” he said, obviously not satisfied with her list so far.

  “I ran away. Um, and… and I didn’t answer your calls or texts. I know there is so much more.”

  “Yes, there is. You continue to belittle the woman I adore. You question the fact that you, the most amazing person I’ve ever known, are worthy. You seem to have reverted back to that little habit of cursing. And, Elena, the one that bothers me the most is that you—”

  “Ran?”

  “No, but let’s add interrupting to the list as well.”

  Shall we? she added in her head, mentally kicking herself for digging her hole a little deeper. “I’m sorry, sir.”

  “I was going to say, that you seem to have forgotten one of the very first things we discussed as being vital to any relationship and crucial to one that included the dynamic of ageplay. Can you tell me what that is?”

  This time she didn’t go with the first thought in her head. She took the time to slip back in time, to consider the conversations they’d had, the hours spent discussing not only the parameters of their dynamic but the requirements that would allow them to have a fulfilling, successful Daddy and little lifestyle. It didn’t take long for her to be able to give him the answer she knew was correct.

  “I failed to communicate. Instead of bringing my concerns to you, I took them on myself. Instead of sharing my feelings, my fears, I internalized them. Instead of trusting you, I doubted myself.”

  His fingers squeezed hers. “Exactly. You said that I wasn’t to blame, but, Elena, I am also responsible… as the man who not only loves you but has accepted the gift of your submission and who has taken on the responsibility of helping you become the best person you can be, having you doubt any of that means I’ve failed. You said you realized you’d thrown away the gift I’d given you but, Elena, you also robbed me of the gift you’d given me. You took away part of my heart, my very soul when you ran. You said you came back because you need your daddy. Don’t you see, that Daddy needs you? Will always need you?”

  She felt tears welling as he spoke so softly, his eyes locked with hers, the love and sincerity in them so intense that she could barely breathe.

  “I’m so sorry, Daddy.”

  “Say that again.”

  “I’m so—”

  “No, the last word.”

  “Daddy?”

  When he nodded, his entire face lighting up, she realized that it was the first time she’d addressed him as her daddy since she’d returned.

  “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you too, baby girl. Very, very much.” He pulled her closer, wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. Pulling away, he kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m still going to roast your bottom, but never ever doubt that you are the most important person on this earth to your daddy.”

  She couldn’t speak for the lump in her throat, but she nodded and that seemed like it was enough. He guided her again, this time positioning her to lie prone on the couch, her legs supported on one side, her torso on the other, her bare bottom—his target—centered perfectly over his lap. Experience had taught her that as comfortable as the position was, it didn’t make it her favorite. Not when she knew it meant he could spank a very long time without the blood racing to her head as it would do if she hung upside down over his knee. It also meant there would be a consequence to pay if she didn’t keep her legs down… if she kicked up, her bottom would not be his sole target. The backs of her thighs would be added into the equation. A naughty girl who’d earned a spanking was expected to behave during its delivery.

  She felt her sweater being pushed up further and obediently lifted herself slightly so that it could be moved out of his way, lowering back down when the soft cashmere rested beneath her b
reasts. His palm rubbed against her bare buttocks, fingers stroking as if to familiarize themselves with the topography they’d not traveled in quite a while. When she felt him give each cheek a final, soft pat, she knew it was time.

  Despite those swats when she’d been naughty in the corner, this first stroke still startled her. The second had her gasping. Had it been so long since she’d been spanked that she had forgotten how much it truly stung? And this was only his hand. Granted, his hand was so large that he could almost completely cover one of her buttocks. By the sixth, she’d pressed her cheek harder into the cushion in front of her and dug her toes into the one behind. She was determined to accept her punishment with dignity.

  “You are not to ever…” he began to lecture, his palm crashing down against her right buttock, “ever believe you aren’t worthy.”

  “You are amazing…” Her left buttock received its own punishing swats.

  “Intelligent…” These four landed against the middle of her ass.

  “Loving and deserving of love.”

  Each pause had a set of four strokes landing on one globe of her ass, identical ones landing on the other side, then a set given across both of her now burning buttocks. Each word spoken was driven into her heart as his hand delivered the lesson on her rapidly heating flesh.

  “Are you listening to me, Elena?”

  “Yes!” she practically shouted, her legs twitching, so wanting to lift, to curl to cover her posterior.

  Crisp, sharp slaps peppered across her bottom at a pace that didn’t appear to be slowing in the slightest. “Are you learning?”

  “Yes, sir! Ow!”

  Strokes continued to descend in a steady cadence. She lifted her head to howl and caught the sight of the fire in the fireplace. God, how could his hand not burn as hotly as her ass, for it already felt as if she’d taken a seat on those logs that were blazing?

  “I’m sorry!”

  “I’m sorry as well,” he said, fingers gliding across her hot flesh. “I’m sorry that this is necessary. But you need to know that each and every time you step out of line, every time you test either me or yourself, this is exactly what is going to happen. You’ll find yourself over my lap, your bottom bared and then blistered until you truly regret your choices. We’ll finish with twenty from your brush.”