“Okay, little girl. Your soup is ready.”
She didn’t open her eyes. She looked paler than she had before. Idiot. She’d gone too long without pain killers and she wasn’t good at asking for what she needed. He looked over at the sippy cup. She hadn’t had any more to drink either.
Yeah, some daddy he was.
He moved back over to where she lay. “Not feeling well, are you, baby?”
“Not really,” she whispered back. “Can I have some pain killers?”
“I’d rather you had something in your tummy first,” he told her. “Don’t want you getting sick again. Or dehydrated.”
She looked over at him then down at the soup. “Don’t think I can. Head hurts. So much.”
That worried him. He’d thought her head would be feeling better. But then he was no doctor. “All right.” He grabbed a couple of painkillers and helped her take them. Then he softly massaged the back of her neck until that pinched look left her face.
“How are you feeling?” he finally asked.
“A little better,” she told him, opening her eyes to look up at him. “But I still don’t feel like eating.”
“All right. But you have to drink some water for me. You can have soup later.” He was worried about her getting dehydrated. It had been a while since he’d taken her to the toilet.
He held up the sippy cup. Amazingly, she didn’t reach for it. But she only took a few sips.
“Baby girl, do you need Daddy to take you to the potty?”
The red on her cheeks deepened. “No.”
“No, what?”
She looked confused for a moment then her face cleared and she gave him a shy look. “No, Daddy.”
“All right, but I expect you to tell me as soon as you need to go, all right? It’s not good for you to hold on just because you’re embarrassed.”
“Somehow, I don’t think I’ll ever not be embarrassed about being asked that,” she said dryly.
He just grinned.
4
He heard her murmur something and turned away from the fireplace to walk over to the bed. It was still early, but he wasn’t one to sleep in. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked blurrily up at him.
He settled himself next to her on the bed and carefully maneuvered her so she was sitting up slightly, resting back against his arm. Then he held the sippy cup to her lips.
“Bear?”
“What do you call me?” His voice was rougher than he would have liked, worry for her making him a bit short on patience.
“Sorry, Daddy. What ya doing?”
“Helping you drink.”
“Oh okay.” She took a few sips.
“Have some more,” he encouraged. “You’ve drunk hardly anything and your pee has been bright yellow.”
“I know I should be embarrassed that you know that, but I’m just too tired.”
“I told you nothing is embarrassing between a daddy and his little girl. Now, drink some more or I’m going to have to get strict with you.”
“What? Why? I’m a good girl, Daddy.”
She was slipping into Little space. Hmm, was it his voice that did it? Or his words? For some Littles it was what they wore or did. Others it was more verbal.
“Of course, you’re a good girl. You’re Daddy’s very good girl. Which is why you’re going to do what Daddy says and drink down all this yummy water.”
She wrinkled her nose.
“If you don’t drink it then Daddy will have to punish his naughty girl, won’t he? And when you’re feeling better, I’d bet you’d much rather play than be taken over my knee for a spanking.”
“Never had a spanking.”
“Your parents never spanked you?”
“No. If they were mad at me, they just ignored me.”
Jesus. He’d been expecting her to say she had to go to time out or write lines or she’d had something taken away. What sort of parents took away their attention?
“Well, I’ll never ignore you as punishment, baby girl. I’ll tip you up over my knee, pull those cute panties down until your bottom is revealed then I’ll start smacking that little ass until it turns pink then crimson. Then when you’re crying out, your feet kicking, I’ll move my hand to the top of your thighs. If what you did was really bad, like risking your health or safety, I might make you stand in the corner with that bright red bottom on display. Then after a while I’d have you come back and lean over the back of the chair or the bed and I’d get my paddle or belt and given you some extras to remind you of who you belong to and what my expectations are of you. So, you’ll know that next time you put yourself at risk that there is someone who lo—,” he cut himself off, “who cares about you and is holding you accountable.”
Her eyes were wide as she stared at him. Good one. Way to terrify her.
“So, you won’t stop talking to me for a week?”
“How am I going to take care of my girl if we’re not communicating? And once a punishment is given then that’s it. All is forgiven.”
“Really?” She looked at him in amazement as though that was a completely foreign concept. Given her upbringing he guessed it was.
“Yes,” he told her firmly. “Unless I’ve told you that you’ve earned yourself more punishment. But that would be rare.”
“I like your way better than my parents’.”
Yeah. So, did he.
“Good, so drink your water like a good girl.”
She started to suck it down slowly but he didn’t hurry her. She was doing what he’d told her to. She drank most of it before turning her head away with a sigh.
“No more, Daddy.”
“Good girl. I’m very pleased with you.”
She smiled up at him.
* * *
Ellie was feeling really grumpy. She wasn’t sure why. She wasn’t a grumpy person by nature. Most of the time she was pretty happy. But as she sat up in bed and looked down at the porridge Bear had made for her breakfast, she felt the urge to throw it away and pout.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Something wrong, baby girl?”
“No.”
For some reason his patient tone just made her even grumpier.
“You’ve got a face like a thundercloud and you’re not eating your porridge.”
“Don’t like it.” She curled up her lip. What was wrong with her? She loved porridge normally. And she had no reason to be so awful to Bear who had been nothing but kind to her. God, he’d spent the last few days trying to coax her into eating and drinking, carting her back and forth to the bathroom and giving her medicine.
Maybe that’s why she was upset. She wasn’t used someone doing everything for her. He still wouldn’t let her out of bed and she wasn’t allowed to go to the bathroom on her own yet.
She just felt ridiculously out of sorts.
“I could try and find something else to eat.”
“No.”
“No, thank you,” he said. Her insides trembled at the stern note in his voice. He came over to the bed, took the porridge and put it on the nightstand and sat facing her on the bed.
“So, you want to tell me what’s going on? This isn’t like you. Why are you being so snappy and rude?”
To her horror, and his, she guessed by the look on his face, she burst into tears. He immediately pulled her into his arms, rocking her gently. Which just made her cry all the more.
“How can you be so nice to me when I’m being so horrid?” she wailed. “I’m an awful, terrible person.”
“No, you’re not. And I don’t like hearing you say such mean things about yourself.”
“But it’s true, I’m being so awful to you and you’ve been nothing but nice to me. You’ve taken care of me, done everything for me and I…I…”
“Yes?”
“I just feel so grouchy. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Shh. Shh. Let it all out.” He rubbed his hand up and down her back soothingly until s
he’d quieted down. Then he lay her back down and got up. She had to fight the urge to call him back to her. It was ridiculous, he only went as far as the bathroom and he quickly returned with a roll of toilet paper in his hand.
“Going to run out of this stuff soon if we’re not careful,” he told her with a grin as he wiped her face then held it to her nose. “Blow.”
“I can do that myself.” Sheesh, she might have been ill but she wasn’t an invalid.
He gave her a stern look. “Put your hand down, little one, and blow.”
She blew her nose and he wiped her clean, turning to throw the used tissue in a trash can. Then he turned back and gave her a stern look. “Now. I know you’re feeling better. Might be you’re itching to get out of that bed and that’s what’s got you so out of sorts.”
“Maybe,” she whispered. “I guess.”
“You guess?” He looked thoughtful. “You know, I’ve been thinking about how much you’ve slept these past few days. Had me really worried about you.”
“I…I’m sorry?” Was he upset about that? But he was the one who was keeping her in bed, so it couldn’t be that.
“Nothing to be sorry about. I’m just wondering if there was more to it than your head injury.”
And now she felt even worse. “I’m sorry, Bear. I really am a horrible, selfish person for treating you like this when you’ve been nothing but kind.”
“That’s one,” he told her.
“What?”
“I’ve given you plenty of warnings about not putting yourself down. So that’s one spanking you’ve earned.”
Her eyes widened and she gaped at him. “You…you’re going to spank me?”
“Not right now. I believe a spanking should be given when earned, but you’re not well enough.”
And he’d never do anything to endanger her health because he was an honorable guy. She sniffled.
“Baby girl, you’ve been through a lot. And nobody expects you to be perfect all the time. If your attitude becomes too much, if it’s disrespectful, then I will take you in hand.”
Was there something wrong with her that she liked when he got all bossy and dominant? He studied her for a moment. “I know you’re feeling better, but you’re not getting out of that bed until I’m assured of your health, understand?”
She wasn’t happy about that but she nodded. At least it no longer hurt to move her head. She really was feeling a lot better.
“Words,” he said in a warning voice.
“Yes, Daddy.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry I don’t have much to offer you for entertainment. Hopefully we’ll be able to leave here soon. Do you want me to read to you again?”
Hurt filled her. It was stupid. She barely knew him. They had a temporary little girl/daddy dynamic going on but that was all it was. Temporary. And yet she felt ridiculously upset because he wanted to leave. Once they got out of here, they’d each have to go their separate ways.
And isn’t that what you want? To get on with your life? Alone. Not answering to anyone? Having no demands on you? And it wasn’t like he’d ever promised her more so she had no right to feel so out of sorts with him.
But she did.
“Ellie? You listening to me?” There was a deep rumble to his voice which indicated he was about to put his foot down. She was learning the different sides to him. He was far more dominant than he might seem on the surface. Mostly he had that tall, dark and silent thing going on. But once he’d agreed to be her temporary daddy his dominant side came out more.
And when he thought she needed something for her health, he didn’t hesitate to lay down the law.
Fuck, that was a big turn on.
“Sorry, Daddy. Daydreaming.”
He tapped her nose. “When Daddy is talking to you, I want you to pay attention, understand?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she answered dutifully.
“Where’d you live in Florida?” he asked as he picked up the porridge. No doubt it was cold by now.
He went to the stovetop and poured it back into the pot, reheating it. He sat in the armchair beside her and spooning some up, blew on it. Then he brought it to his lips as though to test the temperature. He pressed a spoonful against her mouth. She thought about arguing, but her tummy was grumbling.
She took the mouthful he offered.
“Miami,” she said.
“Cool place. What are you doing in Montana?”
She smiled at him. “My aunt, well, my great-aunt she left me her house, not too far from here, I think. I’m not really good with directions.”
He looked a bit surprised. “So, you came up here to take a look at the house?”
“No, I came up here to live.”
He frowned. “Without doing any research into the weather? You don’t have any winter clothing with you. Everything you packed was summer stuff. Is a moving company bringing everything else?”
She didn’t really want to explain it all. But she knew it made no sense for her to have one piece of luggage with her.
“And why were you driving around with a near empty tank? Without snow tires on your car? Why didn’t you wait until the end of winter to move up here?”
She sighed. “I didn’t know I’d inherited the house until a week or so ago and I’ve never been here before. I know I wasn’t well prepared, but I didn’t have the money to buy a whole lot of stuff.”
He looked slightly alarmed at that.
“It’s okay, apparently my aunt left a trust fund too. I just have to meet with the lawyer to pick the keys up, along with any paperwork.”
He just fed her more porridge. She swallowed. “I’m really sorry for the way I behaved just before.”
He waved that off. “I know you are, baby girl. How long did the trip from Miami to here take you?”
“Umm, about four days.”
“Four days?” He stared at her. “That’s a huge trip. You must have been traveling ten-hour days.”
“Yeah, more if you add in stops.” She blushed. “I don’t have a GPS and I got lost a few times when trying to use my phone to navigate. Like I said, I don’t have the best sense of direction.”
“That wasn’t a smart idea, little girl. No wonder you were sleeping so much. You were exhausted! You could have fallen asleep at the wheel, had an accident and killed yourself or someone else.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But I didn’t have much choice. I left home with just a few hundred dollars and I spent most of that on gas. I couldn’t afford too many nights in motels along the way. So, I drove as much as I could. I thought I had enough gas to make it to my aunt’s house. I’ve never driven in snow and when I came around that corner to find the tree in the path, well, I instinctively slammed on the brakes.”
She shrugged. “Rest is history, right?”
“No, it is not history. Had you been mine, I can tell you that I would not want you driving halfway across the country alone. And if there was no other choice but for that to happen, you’d be restricted to driving for only six hours each day, I’d be mapping out your route, deciding on places for you to stay, and I’d be in constant touch.”
It probably should have sounded controlling. Instead, she could only wonder what it would be like to have someone worry about her that much.
“So, you want to tell me who the hell is supposed to be looking after you and failed their job?”
“I-I don’t have anyone. Do you think I would have agreed to…to what we’re doing if I had a boyfriend?”
“No. I know you don’t have a boyfriend. You told me you hadn’t had one since high school.”
Oh, that’s right. Jesus, why had she told him that?
“But what about your parents? Didn’t they care? Siblings? Family?”
“I don’t have any family left. Not anymore,” she said sadly.
“Oh, baby. What happened? Did your parents die?”
“I thought they were going to, but it turns out they were just lying to
me all along.” She looked up and saw his confused look. “This is a really pathetic story; believe me, you don’t want to know.”
And she didn’t want to tell him. She came off as a naïve idiot who’d fallen for a bunch of lies.
“Oh, I think I do. I’d very much like to know what forced you to leave your home with just a few hundred dollars and drive all the way across the country to a place you’ve never been before.”
She bit at her lip. “I’m feeling a bit tired…”
“What’s rule number one, little girl?”
“I’m not allowed to lie. Does that mean I have to tell you everything?”
He sighed, looking reluctant. “No. But I would like to know. It will help me to understand why you put your health and safety at risk like you did. Especially when you’re well enough for me to spank you for it.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You can’t spank me for it!”
Okay. It might have been going a step too far. After all, she hadn’t been his when she’d done that. She wasn’t truly his now. But by God, his hands itched to take her over his knee, bare her buttocks and spank her ass for taking such a risk. And he needed to ensure that she never took a risk like that again. So, if spanking her kept her safe in the future, then he was all for it.
“Can’t I?” He raised one eyebrow.
She gave him a worried look. “I didn’t even know you then. Therefore, I didn’t know the rules and can’t be held accountable for breaking them.”
“But you’re mine now.” Temporarily anyway. “And you must have known that driving for long hours like that was reckless and dangerous. What kind of Dom would I be if I didn’t ensure that didn’t happen again?”
Shaky ground, and he should probably back off. But he’d said it now and backing off wasn’t really his thing. It didn’t set a good precedent.
“Well, tell me,” he demanded before she could protest any further.
“It’s embarrassing,” she whispered.
“Ellie, what did I say about things between a little girl and her daddy?”
“This is different,” she insisted. “This isn’t a little girl thing.”
“Tell me, Ellie. I promise I’m not going to judge.”
Daddy Bear Page 5
