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“ W here are we going, Daddy Jokes?” she asked as Jack helped her get dressed into thick tights and a loose dress that ended mid-thigh and had long sleeves.

She guessed they weren’t going to the beach. But you never knew what Jack was going to do. He was always up for an adventure. She didn’t know what she’d do without him. He was always doing the unexpected and making her laugh.

He joined her every day for yoga and meditation. Surprisingly, Jameson often came too. He wasn’t a big fan of meditation, but he was actually quite good at yoga.

Jack grabbed her bright yellow jacket from the closet as well as a black and white striped hat and matching gloves.

She chewed her lip. They were going somewhere cold.

That was . . . weird.

He stuffed everything into a backpack and then grabbed her boots. “Sit down, baby, and I’ll put your boots on you.”

She sat on the chair in her nursery and he kneeled to slip her boots on.

“Are you sure you won’t give me a clue, Daddy?” she asked as he held out his hand.

He helped pull her up so she stood, then kept hold of her hand as he led her down the stairs and outside.

When they got to his truck, instead of opening up the front passenger seat, he opened the back door.

“Is someone else coming, Daddy?” she asked, looking around.

“Nope.”

“Um. Then why does I have to get into the back?” She peered in, her mouth dropping open. “And what is that?”

“It’s your new car seat! Safety first.”

She narrowed her gaze at him, crossing her arms over her chest as she tapped her foot. “I’m beginning to think you might have a shopping addiction.”

“I’m only addicted to shopping for you. In you hop.” He lifted her into the seat, which acted like a booster with a back on it for big Little girls. Then he put the seatbelt over her. “No undoing your belt or getting out on your own, understand?”

She nodded. She’d never admit it to him, but it was super comfortable.

He walked around and got in the driver’s seat, then he glanced back at her. “Ready to go, baby girl?”

“I guess so, Daddy. But I think you should tell me where we’re going.”

“Surprises are good for the soul.”

“Ooh, I could put that on a T-shirt.”

“You could become the T-shirt queen of Escana.”

“I’d rather be a dictator. The T-shirt dictator. Muhahahaha.” She tapped her fingers together as she made an evil noise.

“Hmm, I think we need to work on your evil laugh.”

“Well, you do it then, Daddy.”

He let out an evil laugh and she gaped at him. “Wow. That was good, Daddy.”

“I have some evil blood inside me.”

“I can tell. Can I have my phone?” she asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Ian thinks you’re spending too much time on devices. He thinks you’re going to ruin your eyes.”

Daddy Grumps could kiss her bum.

They drove to the outskirts of the town to a large building. She peered around, but they parked around the back so there were no signs. Before Jack had even stopped the truck, she had her seatbelt undone and her hand on the door handle.

He turned the truck off and give her a stern look. “Don’t even think about opening that door.”

She gulped.

Um. What happened to Daddy Jokes?

He got out and walked around her side of the truck and opened her door. With that same stern look on his face, he lifted her out.

“Daddy Jokes?”

“Not Daddy Jokes right now.” He set her on the ground. “Turn around and put your hands on the seat. And spread your legs wide.”

She looked around, but there was no one close by. Plus, the open truck door and Jack’s body were protecting her.

But still . . .

“Daddy, what are you doing?”

“I’m about to spank you.”

“But why?”

“Did you undo your seatbelt before I had come to a stop and then try to leave the car?”

“Yes . . . but . . . it was safe! You were barely moving.”

“I was still moving. What if someone had run out in front of me and I had to brake suddenly?”

Well . . . the odds of that seemed slim since there was no one around. Plus, he’d been going so slow it wouldn’t have been much of a jolt.

However, she got the feeling that she shouldn’t say any of that.

“You’re not allowed to undo your seatbelt on your own. Didn’t I just tell you that you’re not to move without Daddy? I think I should have gotten you a harnessed seat.”

“Daddy, no!”

He frowned down at her. This wasn’t her normal, smiling Daddy Jokes. This Daddy was very stern. And serious. This was Sir Daddy.

But was he really going to spank her in the parking lot?

This was nuts.

“I’m going to give you until the count of three.”

What was this? A count?

“What happens after the count of three?” she asked.

“Your punishment doubles.”

She quickly moved into place.

Jack raised her dress up and then lowered her tights under her ass.

At least he was leaving her knickers in place. Thank Goodness.

But nope, he just drew them down too.

Monkeyballs. This was really happening.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Maggie gasped in a breath.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Even worse than the sting of his hand on her bottom, was the idea of someone seeing her. He finished the spanking shortly after. It was definitely one of her shorter punishments.

But that didn’t mean that he hadn’t made a big impact.

After righting her clothes, Jack helped her stand and then drew her into his chest.

“I’m sorry I had to do that.”

“No, you’re not,” she replied.

“No. You’re right. I’m not. You deserved it. And I like spanking that delicious ass. How are you doing? Good?”

“Slightly mortified that someone might have seen. But I’m good, Sir Daddy. Are you?”

He grinned. “Never better.”

After grabbing his backpack and slinging it over his shoulder, he shut the door and locked his truck. Then he took hold of her hand and led her inside.

As soon as they were inside, she stopped, digging her heels in. “Daddy!”

He turned to her, cupping her face between his hands. “Just hear me out before you panic and say no. Okay?”

She nodded, swallowing heavily. Her mouth felt dry.

“I know you probably feel like I ambushed you, but I didn’t want you worrying. I thought it was better to just bring you here.”

“You’d make a terrible therapist.”

“I know. But hey, if all you can do is sit on the sidelines and watch, then that’s fine with me. All right?”

“I don’t have to go on the ice?” she asked in a small voice.

“No. I will never force you to do that. I just . . . it makes me sad that this was taken from you. I checked with Jameson and he said as long as you don’t push yourself too hard and do any jumps or crazy spins that your hip should be fine. But also, if it starts to hurt, you’re to stop.”

“Papa worries too much; my hip is fine.”

He led her over to the seats. There were a couple of people skating. One of them was quite wobbly. She was giggling as she moved around, her feet sliding out from under her. The man with her hovered behind her with his arms out. Her arms started wind milling and she slid. He grabbed her and they both went down.

“Ouch,” Jack said. “No falling over, either.”

“I would never fall over,” she scoffed. As she sat there and watched, she wondered why she’d gotten so panicked at the idea of skating again. Because right now, she was feeling the urge to get back out there.

Maybe it was because she’d tried going to her old rink. Where her ex-partner still skated. Along with lots of people she knew, who she’d competed against.

“It was them.”

“What, baby?”

“Oh, I, um . . . I was thinking about why I felt so panicked when I tried to skate before. It was months after the accident because of the recovery before I even considered going back into the rink. I just went in to watch for a bit and I panicked. Why did I panic if I wasn’t even going to skate?”

She took in a breath. “I think it might have more to do with everyone else than me. My ex-skating partner was there with his new partner and I felt this rush of rage. I know it’s not nice of me, but I was so angry he got to carry on his life . . . got to skate and compete. How awful does that make me?”

“Makes you human, baby girl. Besides, screw him. What a dick. You want me to track him down and mess him up a bit for you? Maybe break his hip?”

“No.” She giggled. Then she noticed that he wasn’t smiling.

Dear. Lord.

“No. I just . . . I think my fear of getting back on the ice was due more to everyone watching me. Feeling like I was being judged. And . . . and it was to do with my family. A lot of it was about letting them down, disappointing them. I just think all the expectations and the feelings of being a failure got to me. And it ruined the good feelings I had about skating.”

“That makes sense, but fuck them for taking something you love from you. Are you ready to take it back?”

“I want to try.”

He nodded. “Wait here, baby. Do not move.”

He walked over to a locker and opened it, pulling out two pairs of ice skates. But they didn’t look like the ones you hired. One pair was black with a red stripe. And the other pair were smaller, with black and white stripes. And those ones looked brand new.

“You bought those for me, didn’t you, Daddy?” she asked as he kneeled before her to put them on.

“Of course I did.”

“You spoil me.”

“Always.”

Soon, they were standing on the ice with their hats and gloves on. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Could she do this?

“What if I’ve forgotten how?”

“Impossible,” he murmured and slid in front of her.

Maggie’s eyes widened. “You can ice-skate, Daddy?”

“I can do lots of things, baby girl. Now, just keep your eyes on me.”

He took her hands in his and started to move backward, pulling her forward.

She was doing it. She was skating. Maggie kept her eyes on Jack until they started to fill with tears and he stopped. He cupped her face. “What’s this? What’s wrong? Is it your hip?”

“No. I’m just . . . it feels like all this time something has been missing inside me. And now . . . now I’ve found it. Thanks to you, Daddy. You always know just what I need. You’re pretty special, Jack Ashby. And you’re really good at this.”

“Skating? I know.”

“That too. But I was going to say that you’re really good at taking care of me.”

They glided around the ice until she started to get tired. Even then, she wanted to keep going but Jack made her stop. She felt a little grumpy about that. After he put the skates back and put their boots back on, he took her hand and led her into a nearby supply closet.

“Daddy, I’m sorry I was a bit grouchy,” she added hastily in case he was thinking of spanking her again.

But he just crowded her against the wall and kissed her. When he drew back, she was breathless.

“What . . . what are you doing?” she whispered as he drew off her hat and gloves, then his own, putting them in his backpack.

“I’m going to give you a treat for being such a good girl.”

Oh. She liked the sound of that. But . . .

“Here?”

“Yep, right here.” He removed her jacket before spinning her around and pressing her hands to the wall. “Keep your hands there.”

“But I want to touch you.”

“Nope. This is your reward and it’s all about you.” He cupped her breasts, kneading them before slipping one hand under her dress to tease her nipples.

“But touching you is a reward.”

“I love that, baby girl. But you’re going to let me take care of you right now. You have to be very quiet and quick, though. We don’t want to get caught.”

Bloody hell. That just made her needier. A small whine escaped and he nipped the back of her neck in retaliation.

“Hush, baby girl. You need to be good.” His hand went down the front of her tights, searching under her knickers. “Widen your legs.”

As she parted her legs, he ran his fingers along her slick lips. “Fuck, you’re already wet for me. I’m going to make you feel so good.” He pressed two fingers inside her and she moaned, rubbing herself against his hand for more friction.

“Easy, shh. Be quiet.” He removed his hand and she reached for it. “Be a good girl for Daddy.”

He pushed her tights and knickers down her legs and then pushed his fingers inside her from behind. With his other hand, he reached around and played with her clit.

He fucked her with his fingers hard and fast, his fingers sure and firm on her clit until she came in a rush. A tremble rocked her body and she nearly screamed. Thankfully, she remembered where they were and bit down on her lip to hold it in.

He slowed his movements, bringing her back to earth before turning her in his arms and hugging her tight.

She was boneless, exhausted. And she felt so good.

“I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you too, my baby. Come on. Let’s get you home.”

Home.

She loved the sound of that. Almost as much as she loved the three of them.