Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Uh oh.
Now, she got the feeling she was in a world of trouble.
“Am I in trouble?” she asked in a small voice.
“Oh yes.”
“Why? For having a panic attack?”
If anything, his scowl increased. “You know you would never be in trouble for having a panic attack. What did you promise me when I left?”
“Um.”
“Devi,” he warned.
“That I wouldn’t leave the sofa.”
“And where are you?”
“In the bathroom,” she grumbled. “But I get to pee, right? You don’t want me to pee my pants, do you?”
“Only if you’re in diapers.”
“Hayes!” she protested. “I’m not wearing diapers.”
“Seems you might need to if I want you to stay where I put you. Were there any in that Little gift basket the girls put together for you?”
“No!” The basket had been amazing. It had a gorgeous buttery yellow blanket and a small soft squirrel that could be attached to a bag or keys. Some kids coloring books and colored pens. Lots of candy. And a pair of joke panties with cardboard in the bottom of them to protect her butt from a spanking along with some numbing cream. Hayes hadn’t thought that was as funny as she had.
“Can you honestly tell me that is the reason you came into the bathroom? Because you needed to pee?” He turned her in his arms so she was facing him, her legs on either side of his lap.
She swallowed heavily as he stared at her cheek. Her hand raised to flutter over it nervously. “I had to see! I know it looks terrible. Surely it will get better with time, though, right? It won’t always look this bad? I won’t always look this awful?”
“Right. That’s it. I’ve warned you about putting yourself down several times. You’re spending some more time in the corner.”
In a show of strength, he managed to stand with her in his arms.
“I don’t want to go into the corner!” Corner time was so boring.
“You’re spending time in the corner. You really need a spanking, but I would feel like an asshole if I spanked you after having a panic attack. So, corner time. No, wait. That doesn’t feel right after a panic attack. I need to make you feel secure.” He paused in the living room then moved to the sofa and sat with her on his lap. “Silent time on my lap with my arms around you.”
This was kind of . . . bizarre. He faced her away from him on his lap and held her tight against him. That chocolate and cinnamon scent surrounded her.
“What are we doing?”
“You are having silent time. Only I don’t want to leave you on your own in the corner after having a panic attack.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want you to get upset again.”
Oh, man. That was so sweet. But not exactly what she was asking.
“No, I mean, why am I being punished?” That’s what this was meant to be, right? It didn’t quite feel like punishment.
“You said bad things about your appearance, little girl,” he told her. “And that is not acceptable. Nothing about you is awful.”
“I saw my cheek, Hayes. You can’t tell me that it’s not terrible.”
He turned her in his lap so she straddled his legs with hers and then he grasped hold of her chin.
“I ever hear you call yourself awful or hideous or anything like that again and you’re going over my lap every night for a spanking until I get tired of spanking you. Hear me?”
Wow. Okay.
He seemed . . . really serious about that.
“But Hayes⎯”
“No, but Hayes! You are beautiful, inside and out. A cut or scar doesn’t change that. But tomorrow we’re also making an appointment with a plastic surgeon. Not because I feel that you need it, but because you do.”
“I can’t afford that.”
“Are you trying to make me mad?” he said in a low voice.
“No! Of course not! How would that make you mad? It’s just the truth. I can’t afford anything! I don’t even have a job.”
And if she had any money, it would go to paying him back for the hospital bill or to pay for the transport for her exhibition.
Michelle had canceled it, anyway.
“I will cover that.”
“But that’s not fair. You’re already doing so much. I’m living here for free and you’re paying for my physical therapy. I can’t . . . I can’t ask you to pay for anything else.”
“Well, good thing you don’t have to ask. I’m telling you. We’re contacting one and I’m paying for it. And I don’t give a fuck about fair.”
“I do! It’s . . . you can’t do all of this when we’re not . . . we’re not even together.”
His eyes widened. “We’re not together?”
“No.”
“Are you living in my house?”
“Well, yes, but that’s because you feel obliged to keep me safe.”
“Obliged to keep you safe.”
“Yes.”
“So I’d do it for just anyone?”