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CHAPTER 5

CHARLEE

Walking around the gift shop, a place I’d been hundreds of times hit differently today. It could be that I knew we were here to select clothes, something I didn’t love and “objects” which I didn’t know what would entail. We strolled through the aisles as if we had all the time in the world. And I suppose we did. I nuzzled against Pierce’s shoulder.

“Do you see anything you want to bring home, starlet?”

Starlet . The term of endearment reminded me of “a small star” but it was also a nod to my theater prowess. Pierce had started calling me that around the same time as mentioning that he wanted me to call him Daddy. As if he were saying starlet instead of “Little girl”. I secretly loved the term because it made my heart glow with adoration.

“Yeah, besides you?” I winked. “All these puffy skirts remind me of a dancer. I always wanted to be onstage even when I was younger, but my feet aren’t graceful.”

“I may have noticed that, but you can wear anything you want. You don’t have to be a dancer. Would you like to try a few on?”

“Yes! I’ll pick out something instead of wandering aimlessly.”

I touched the fluffy material of a gorgeous teal and pink skirt embellished with glitter. Even though I was surprised, I found my size and added another one done in orange and pink plus a dark purple one that was longer. Pierce patiently walked through the next aisle while I added a few graphic tees: lavender with the letters “Born to be a Star,” a light blue one that read “All the Ranch is a Stage,” and a peachy long sleeve tee with the phrase, “There WILL be Drama”. I loved them all. Holding out my choices to Pierce, he collected them. Becoming more excited, I grabbed three pairs of ballerina slippers in shades that matched. He followed me as I chattered a mile a minute and walked toward the dressing room. Sweat prickled under my armpits. Was he going to watch me change?

Pierce leaned against the door. “Can you get dressed with your splint or would you like a hand?”

My wrist wasn’t hurting as much. I could probably do it alone. I watched him hang up my gorgeous choices and fretted. He knew what my body looked like in clothing, but having an audience for trying clothing on wasn’t something I’d thought about. My brat poked through because it was a more comfortable feeling than the heat from his gaze.

“I got dressed this morning just fine without your help,” I said with more sass than I’d intended.

“Not what I asked, Charlee. Mind your tone.” He nodded back toward the store’s floor.

“Hmmm? I don’t recall my tone or manner of speaking listed in the three things I’m supposed to be doing.” It wasn’t like he’d spank me for the first time in front of everyone. Not that the shop was very busy but there were people browsing the aisles. It would have been so much easier to nod and smile and ask for his assistance. But, I had the urge to test him since he mentioned rules.

“Technically you are correct. Keep sassing me, sweetheart, and I’ll test out this new paddle on your behind.” Pierce held up the basket in his hand.

Peering into the basket, I saw an innocuous-looking hairbrush-shaped implement. The gorgeous wood was light brown and engraved with wildflowers. “Pretty.”

“It won’t feel pretty on your bottom,” he warned.

“Wait. You’d spank me in the gift shop? Now? In front of everyone?” I was equally horrified and intrigued. His warning should have been enough to get me to stop, but… I didn’t want to. I had a strong urge to see if he’d follow through. Part of me knew deep down he would. In fact, I’d be upset if he didn’t do as he mentioned. Not that I wanted a spanking. Who was I kidding? Yes, I did.

“I thought I was clear. Do I have to repeat myself, starlet?”

My left foot stomped twice as if it had a mind of its own, and I scowled. “I asked you important questions!”

Pierce stared at me for a moment as if he’d drawn an imaginary line on the floor and I’d crossed it. “Lower your voice, Charlee. Ask me respectfully.”

Pfft . Okay, wanting a Daddy and having a Daddy were apparently two very different things. I’d agreed to his rules and respect was encompassed in those rules. Thinking that he might pull the plug on our whole plan before I’d even made it twenty-four hours had me stuffing my brat deep down into my belly.

“I apologize, Daddy. I’m overwhelmed but it’s no excuse. Will you spank me in front of everyone?”

“Well, since you asked so nicely, Charlee. Yes, of course I will.” Pierce plucked the gorgeous wood paddle out of the basket and twirled it in his hand. He couldn’t keep the grin off his handsome face.

Oh no ! That wasn’t fair at all! But technically I had asked for it. He’d found some sort of Dom loophole. I couldn’t help but dart a glance behind him where I could see someone moving down an aisle. “Can we please consider a compromise, Daddy?”

“Sure, babygirl. What would you like to compromise on?” His grin grew wider.

“Will you please punish me in private?” It felt like the room spun around us as the words hung in the air. It wasn’t nerves exactly, but the knowledge that my first Pierce-delivered spanking was going to happen. It was no longer a fantasy of “someday”.

“Absolutely.” He led me into the dressing room and shut the door behind us. Sitting on the long bench, he leaned against the wall and maintained eye contact.

“Come and lay yourself across my knee.”

Technically private but also not quite what I’d meant. I was going to spend some time learning how to word my questions better. My feet moved to him as of their own accord, and I draped myself in the requested position.

“There’s my good girl. Are you comfortable?” He purred, running his hands along my spine and over each of my bottom cheeks.

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Very good. This is more me following through with my promise rather than a punishment. I want to leave you with a reminder. Keep up the attitude and I’ll give you a longer spanking at your apartment.”

“I understand what you’re saying. Thank you, Daddy.”

Pierce tugged at the waistband of my jeans.

“These need to be lowered. Do you want me to do it or would you rather do it yourself?”

“It would be much easier if you could unbutton my jeans, Daddy. Please can you do it this time?” The nerves I didn’t think I had earlier came roaring through my body. Anticipation pooled into excitement in my belly as he lifted me and unbuttoned my jeans, lowering them to my knees.

“You are so beautiful, Charlene. I love the way you melt into me,” he praised softly.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“I’ll leave your panties on this time. Let’s count the smacks together. You’ll get three on each side.”

Three? Only three? I wondered in my head. That didn’t seem like a lot, but it wasn’t a punishment, I reminded myself. More of an adjustment and reminder than anything else. “Yes, Daddy. I’m ready. Oh! My safe word. You, um, need to know that, don’t you?”

“Very good, starlet. Yes. What’s your safe word?” Pierce kneaded his fingers into either side of my ass as he held me.

“Monster. Like the cheese,” I said confidently.

“Monster?” Pierce cracked up. “You mean muenster cheese, babygirl. Right?”

“It’s pronounced muenster? Oh my gosh! No wonder I never got the right cheese in my platters for opening night. Yes, but even though I know how to say it correctly my safe word is still ‘monster’. Or my brain might change it to muenster,” I babbled as I pictured a monster made of cheese.

“Your cheese monster is your safe word, no matter how you pronounce it. The action stops. Then we talk about what’s bothering you. You also have your colors like a stoplight: red, green, and yellow. Do we need to talk about what each one means?”

“I know how the stop-light system works, Daddy. Thank you for checking. I’m ready.”

“Good girl,” he said, giving my bottom a gentle pat. “Count with me. One.”

“One.” The first smack of the paddle caught me off guard even though I knew it was coming. My right butt cheek stung terribly from the thuddy implement. “Owie! It hurt way more than I thought it would.”

“Breathe, Charlee. Keep counting. Two.”

“Two.” The second one landed in the same spot! Pain lit up my nerves. “Ouch! Ouch!”

“Keep breathing, sweetheart. What color are you?” Pierce asked as he soothed the burn with his palm.

“Yellow. I’m such a wimp,” I said sniffling.

“This paddle is made of oak. Just because you’re at yellow doesn’t mean you lack strength mentally or physically. There are a lot of things at play that can change your pain tolerance. I’m going to try a different spot. Start again. Three.”

“Three.” I winced before the paddle struck the fuller part of my butt on my right. It stung but not quite as much. I wanted to endure more for Pierce, my new Daddy, but I didn’t think I could. “Yuck. It hurts a lot.”

“Color?”

“Yellow.”

“Thank you for being honest with me. We are done with the paddle for now. Let’s see how my hand feels instead. Four.”

“Four.” Pierce shifted focus to my left side and struck the lowest curve of my bottom. Instead of pushing into the feeling that I’d been wanting for so long all I felt was pain. I’d had other spankings before, but combined with the intimate way he was holding me it was too much. Tears broke over my eyes and I cried.

“What color are you, Charlene? Answer Daddy.”

“More than yellow but not red,” I said, sobbing.

“Two more. Count them with me. Five.”

I took a big breath and blew it out. “Five.”

“Good girl. Last one. Six.”

“Six,” I said sniffling as the tears fell. He shifted me around his lap, taking an extra minute to remove my boots as well as the jeans. Pierce pulled me close to his chest, rocking me.

“Easy, sweetheart. Tell me what’s going on in your pretty head.”

“I really want a spanking but I got all worked up. I’ve seen lots of people test their partners, their Doms, their Daddies or whatever around the Ranch and get punished. It didn’t seem like a big deal. But my heart feels some kind of way. I’m sorry for being so sassy!”

“I’m not angry at you. I’m not upset that you sassed me. Listen to what I’m saying, Charlee.”

“I’m listening,” I confirmed.

“Good girl. I love our banter and your brat is part of you. But when I set an expectation that carries a consequence, it better be followed. I don’t speak just to hear myself talk.”

“I think I get it. So you’re not gonna punish me whenever I toss my brat in your direction?” Sniffling, I wiped my eyes. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and dried my cheeks. I wondered if he kept them on him just for a scenario like this because I didn’t know of anyone who was ready for tears.

“No, babygirl,” he said softly. “Not usually. We are brand new to being in any sort of dynamic together. I gave you a clear warning. You poked. I advised you of the consequence of continuing to do that. You did it again. Does that make sense?”

“Yes, Daddy.” I pressed my lips to his before I could stop myself. Pierce cupped my face and kissed my forehead.

“As much as I want to smear your lip gloss all across my mouth, babygirl, I’m not sure where your head is at. If you’re between spaces, I don’t want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable.”

Could this man get any more attractive? Maybe but I doubted it. His careful consideration of my headspace made my panties dampen with arousal. Pierce shifted me slightly and I felt his hardness through the fabric of his jeans. I was turning him on and it made me feel like a seductive goddess. That thought firmly chased away my younger mindset.

“I’m not uncomfortable. I promise.” It seemed important to let him know. He checked in with me often, and it made it easier to voice what was on my mind. “Is sex on the table?”

“Hang on before you go down that path. Are you in a younger headspace?”

“No, not right now. I, um, believe that I have one. It’s sort of always been there just didn’t have an outlet, you know? But right now all I can think about is your hands in my hair, kissing me like I’m everything.”

“Fuck, Charlee.” He swallowed hard. “I want to worship your mouth, your neck, your breasts, every single inch of you. But I want to do that in the bedroom. First I want to see you try on your pretty outfits. Then we’ll get out of here. Deal?”

“Yes. Do you want me to call you Daddy all the time, no matter where my head is or would it be easier to change it to something else?”

“You can refer to me as Daddy anytime you want, but if it would help you differentiate, I’m open to other titles.” Pierce rubbed his chin.

I looked up at the ceiling while I thought about titles. Daddy was always a good choice, but since I was so turned on it seemed like I needed another choice. “What about Sir?”

Pierce kissed my jaw. “I’d love for you to call me Sir.”

“Oh, you’re sexy when you talk like that. For me calling you Sir is like another way to show you I’m wanting to be respectful. But maybe more dominant?”

“I like exploring with you, Charlee. Titles, kinks, whatever you want. You’re not going to scare me off.”

“Thanks for the reassurance. I’ll try on my new clothes.” Feeling empowered, I kissed his cheek and got off his lap. I tugged my sweater off leaving me clad in a silky turquoise bra and panty set. He licked his lips as he studied me.

“You’re so gorgeous, sweetheart. Look at you. You’re practically glowing.”

Glancing at myself in the mirror, for the first time in a long time I saw what Pierce saw. I had on cheeky panties that highlighted the slight pink on each of my bottom cheeks from the few swats of the paddle. My hair fell perfectly along my shoulders and my full breasts rose and fell as I breathed in and out. Beautiful . I was so beautiful and I felt it for once.

“A few taps and I’m rosy all over, hmmm?”

“That’s right. Think of what you’ll look like after I get through with you.”

Pierce’s growly tone shot straight to my core. Arousal like I’d never experienced filled me. I brought back the topic still weighing on my mind. “Does that mean we can have sex when we get to my apartment?”

“Baby, we can do whatever you want to do. Now try on those clothes before I scoop you up in nothing but your bra and panties, toss you over my shoulder and carry you out.”

“I might enjoy that,” I said but my tone was sweet. For once I didn’t argue. Even with his eyes on me, I tried each piece on envisioning how to style them with what I had at home. The more my brain went down the road of possibilities for us over the next few weeks, and longer, the more relaxed it became. I expected nerves, insecurities, panicked thoughts but Pierce brought a strong sense of calm and serenity. I knew they would pop up again but we’d handle them together.