Page 5 of Pink Cheeks (DKAG Summer Shorts #2)

KIP

As soon as I put on my shorts and grabbed my stuff, I knew I’d gone too far. My ass was tender, but I wasn’t about to let Daddy Doug know he was right. “Lead the way, big guy.”

He raised an eyebrow as I walked toward the rock outcropping we needed to scale to get back to the resort. “You doing okay?”

“Yep!” I flashed a fake smile and walked faster, biting back the pain. “Just anxious to get one of those yummy pina coladas.”

“Mmm-hmm.” He stepped ahead of me and offered his hand, but I didn’t need it.

“I got it.” I gritted my teeth and quickly got over the rocks and back on to soft sand that didn’t require as much glute flexing. “You need some help from me?”

He gave me that look again. The one that was a mix of amusement and annoyance. I was used to getting both from people…but usually not at the same time. “Don’t get sassy with me, boy, or you’ll wish you only had the sting of a sunburn to deal with.”

I grinned, pleased with myself for getting under his skin. “Don’t tease me with a good time.”

He chuckled too. “You’re definitely a brat.” His smile could melt concrete. “I wonder what it takes to make you beg...”

I nearly choked on my tongue as we walked past groups of sunbathers on the beach. “You wanna find out?”

Doug shrugged but kept his eyes on me as if he were ready to grab me if I tripped. “If you’re lucky.”

“Lucky is my middle name.”

As we got to the stairs that led to the pool area, the full extent of my bad decisions started to make itself known.

“Fuckin’ hell.” I cringed with each step, wondering how I’d survive the wedding.

My ass and inner thighs were on fire. That wasn’t an exaggeration.

My skin could have melted a piece of chocolate if I’d put one on it. “You like chocolate?”

“What?” Doug didn’t understand the random question and focused more on my obvious pain. “Now do you understand why sunscreen is your friend?”

I gritted my teeth and kept walking. “A few days of pain now will look amazing for the next month. Worth it.”

“Is it?” Doug sighed. “You’re walking like you got paddled without any of the fun.”

“I wish.” I wanted to be strong, but fuck, it hurt.

All I wanted was to cover my ass in ice packs and lie completely still.

“Maybe you didn’t put on enough sunscreen.

” I turned it around on him, trying to distract myself until I could sit in a trough of ice.

“Didja think of that, sir? When you think about it, it’s kinda your fault too. ”

He sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes as if he were counting. “Let’s get you to your room before you say or do something to really earn a paddling.”

“I told you not to tease me…” Because fuck, if that was a real offer, I’d allow him to paddle my burnt bottom till the pink was permanent. “It’s not nice.”

He mumbled something I didn’t hear as we continued through the resort to the elevators.

I wanted to be strong, but by the time we were inside the elevator and I’d told him my room number, I couldn’t hold back the feelings of embarrassment and stupidity flowing through me.

As usual, my bad judgment had ruined my day and probably my whole vacation.

A single tear dripped down my cheek, and then the dam was broken and I choked out a sob. “Dammit. Why am I always so stupid?”

Doug stepped closer and pulled me to his chest. “You’re not stupid, sweetheart. You’re a brat. Brats do stupid things.” His hand found the small of my back and he gently rubbed it.

I laughed, knowing he was just trying to lighten the mood. “Thanks.”

“A cool bath will help. I’ll walk you to your room.” He pulled back far enough to look me in the eyes. “You got anyone to help you?”

“My family is busy getting ready for the wedding.” I took a shuddering breath. “Which I’ll need to do in an hour or two.”

Doug stepped out of the elevator on my floor and turned me toward my room. “You want some help getting into a bath?”

I nodded without making eye contact. “Yes, please.”

His palm moved up and down my back, slow and soothing. “Alright, Kip. Let’s get you all set up.”

He half-carried me down the hall to my room, never once mocking me for limping or cringing with every step. Inside the room, the air was crisp, and I immediately moved to stand in front of the air vent to cool my heated skin.

Doug disappeared into the bathroom without another word. I heard the water start, and then he returned with a glass of water and some ibuprofen.

“Were these in my toiletry bag?” I took the pills and water and immediately swallowed them down.

“Yep.” He slipped his hands in his pockets and took a step back. “Is it okay if I take a look at your bottom?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, suddenly shy even though he’d already seen every part of me on the beach. “I mean, if you want…”

He grinned. “I just want to see if it’s blistering yet.”

“Yet?” My voice came out hoarse. “It might not blister.”

He carefully peeled down my shorts, pulling the sticky fabric away from my skin when I whimpered.

Doug clicked his tongue in sympathy, then slid my shorts all the way off.

I was naked from the waist down, and half-hard despite trying my best not to think about how sexy the man kneeling behind me was.

“Fuck.” He seemed mad but not totally at me. “I should have made you get up sooner.”

I grimaced and regretted the question as soon as I asked. “How bad is it?”

“Hot as hell, but I’ve seen worse.”

“You have a lot of experience with hot asses?” The joke fell flat, but I didn’t know what else to say. I made a bad decision and now I had to deal with the consequences.

“Some, but yours is exceptional, I’ll give you that.” He stood up and walked back into the bathroom. “You coming?”

“Not yet, but I’d like to be,” I whispered.

His eyes flicked up, dark and warm. “Be a good boy and we’ll see if that can be arranged.”

The tub was mostly full with cool water, so he turned off the faucet and held a hand out to me. “Hop in.”

I stepped in and lowered myself into the water, bracing for the sting I knew was about to happen. My breath hitched at first, but the pain quickly became soothing, and I fully relaxed, keeping my butt off the porcelain as I floated toward the surface.

“Better?” Doug sat on the closed toilet seat and kept his eyes on my face despite my erection pointing obscenely out of the water.

I let my head loll back against the tub as I sighed. “So much better.”

“You need anything else?” Doug stood up and placed two fluffy towels on the bench within my reach.

“Company.” I looked right at him, feeling more vulnerable than I did when in the first seconds of meeting him. “Unless you have places to be.”

He shook his head. “I’ve got at least an hour before I need to get in the shower.”

I almost offered to let him slide into the tub with me, but I didn’t think that was a good idea for either of us. Not yet, anyway. “Thank you, Doug. For everything.”

We chatted for a while and then Doug suddenly stood up. “You should hydrate…and eat. I’ll order room service. You hungry?”

“I’m always hungry.” I met his gaze and winked. “Not just for food.”

He shook his head and smiled as he pointed a finger at me. “Behave for a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”

Once I was alone, I let myself think of how sexy he was. His big, strong hands and those lush lips. The way he’d looked at me when he called me a brat, as if he was testing the waters. Did he want a brat? Did he want me?

My dick peeked out of the water, reminding me that it needed attention too. “Soon. We’ll get to you soon!”

Doug returned a few minutes later. “Ready to get out? Snacks and drinks will be here soon.”

“I guess.”

He handed me an apple juice from the mini bar. “Drink this for now. You need to take care of yourself.”

I took a sip and then looked up at him. “Maybe I just need someone to take care of me.”

Doug’s smile turned dangerous. “I’m not your Daddy, Kip.”

I swallowed, suddenly nervous and afraid of what we were doing. “You could be…”

“Would you like that?” He leaned in until his mouth was close to my ear. “I’d expect you to behave and make good decisions.”

I snorted at that. “You know that’s not really my style.”

“Yes, sweetheart.” He ruffled my hair then helped me to my feet. “I’ve noticed.”