Page 16 of Scythe (Devil Daddies MC #2)

“ D addy, I had so much fun with Caroline. She was really nice when I remembered about my mom and started crying.”

“You should have come to see me or let me know you were upset,” Scythe said, wrinkles of concern forming on his forehead.

“It didn’t last long, Daddy. I was sad for a few minutes. Caroline patted my back to comfort me.”

“She is very nice,” Scythe agreed. “Do you think she’d make a good Little friend?”

Winnie bounced with excitement as she nodded. “We’re going to get together in her nursery next time. I can’t wait to see it.”

“That will be fun. Come with me, Chipmunk. I think you got wing sauce on every inch of your skin,” Scythe said, taking her hand and leading her down the hallway.

“They were yummy. Will you make them again? Wraith’s face was almost scary when he put extra hot sauce on the habanero wings. He doesn’t really have a mouth lined with asbestos.”

Scythe chuckled. “He definitely drank a lot of milk, trying to cool everything down.”

“You like hot wings too. I can’t handle them. I always end up getting sauce in my eye or smeared on my skin. That hurts, Daddy.”

“It does. Let’s get you cleaned up before bedtime.” He stopped by the big tub in the enormous bathroom connected to the main bedroom. As she watched, he turned on the water.

“I won’t be able to sleep for hours, Daddy. I’m too wound up.”

“I know. I bet a hot bath and a bottle will help.”

“A bottle?” Winnie had never tried using one.

“A bath first. Come here, Chipmunk. Let’s get these sticky clothes off you. Maybe I need to buy some bibs like Wraith described.” He sat on the edge of the tub and drew her between his thighs.

“Those that are made like a towel with a hole you put your head through?” Winnie asked as he tugged her T-shirt over her shoulders.

“Those are the ones we should try. What do you think?” Winnie crossed her arms over her chest, trying to seem cool about him undressing her but inside freaking out a bit.

“No hiding from Daddy,” Scythe said sternly as he pulled her arms away and guided them down to her sides.

“Sorry. I’m not used to anyone seeing me.” Winnie forced herself to stay in place as he reached around her to unfasten her bra.

“I’m not just anyone, Chipmunk. I’m your Daddy. Maybe tomorrow needs to be naked as a blue jay day for you.” Scythe eased the cups of the lacy garment from her breasts and slid the straps down her arms.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“While you’re inside the house, you don’t wear clothes. Or only a diaper.”

“I can’t do that, Daddy.”

“Why is that, Chipmunk?” he asked as he pulled her leggings down.

“I have things to do for my mother’s service, and I need to meet with the lawyer. You know… I have important, clothing-required tasks,” Winnie stressed.

“And you will definitely get dressed for those,” he agreed before tapping on the toes of her left foot. “Lift this, please.”

She followed his directions before asking, “But not at other times?”

“Not tomorrow.” He tapped on her other foot, and she shifted her weight so he could remove her leggings completely. “Good girl.”

“Can I have bubbles?” she whispered.

“Of course. Let me check the water’s temperature.” Scythe caressed the length of her arm she had rigidly next to her side to keep from covering her nakedness.

“You are lovely, Winnifred Abigail Bradley. I am a very lucky Daddy.” Scythe reached down to adjust himself in his jeans, drawing Winnie’s attention to how her shape affected him.

Suddenly, her nakedness registered more as a temptation for her Daddy than exposure for her. Winnie straightened and drew her shoulders back. Scythe groaned. Maybe naked as a blue jay day would be fun.

“Temptress,” Scythe growled. “Let’s get you in the water before I bend you over the tub and fuck you.”

“Sorry, Daddy,” she said, giggling, and realized she wasn’t apologetic in the least.

“Bubbles. Let’s get those started,” Scythe said, visibly forcing himself to turn and check the temperature before pouring bubble-gum-scented bubble bath into the cascading water.

She allowed him to help her into the tub as white foaminess spread.

Immediately, she sculpted a series of peaks across the surface in front of her.

Winnie darted a glance at Scythe to judge the distance between them before smacking her palm down on top of one foam mountain.

A plume of water arced through the air, drenching the front of his T-shirt.

The surprised look on his face made her laugh and do it again before he could react.

He caught her hand before she could do it for a third time. “Chipmunk. The water needs to stay inside the tub.”

“It was a total accident,” she swore, trying to appear innocent.

“Right. That might have worked for the first splash but definitely not for the second and third. I’m going to have to wear a raincoat to bathe you,” he muttered, reaching over his shoulders with one hand to grab a handful of his T-shirt and yank it over his head.

He threw it into the sink, where it landed with a wet-sounding splat.

She struggled to control her giggles, and a snort escaped from her nostrils. That made her laugh harder. When Scythe shook a warning finger at her, she pressed her lips together, struggling to stop, and snorted another time.

“Do I have a chipmunk in the bathtub or a hedgehog?”

“Hedgehogs snort?” she asked, instantly intrigued. They were so cute.

“I believe so. We’ll do some research when we finish your bath,” he promised.

“That’s a good idea. I need to check my phone to see if I have any messages.”

“We’ll worry about those in a few minutes. First, bath. Close your eyes, Chipmunk, and I’ll wash the wing sauce off your face,” he instructed, picking up a fluffy blue washcloth. He finished without getting soap in her eyes or mouth.

“You’re good at that, Daddy,” she complimented.

“Thank you, Winnie. I have some toys for you to play with if you promise not to be a splash monster.”

“I promise!”

“That’s my good girl.” He leaned to the side to open a cabinet and pulled out a package. Zipping open the sealed top, he emptied the plastic toys into the tub. Some floated, and others sank from view.

Exploring all the fun shapes, Winnie was too busy to notice as Scythe cleaned her back and shoulders. He coaxed one arm away and washed it before repeating the process on the other side. Winnie’s attention ricocheted to him when Scythe swept the washcloth across her collarbones.

“I could help you, Daddy,” she suggested, grabbing the wet material.

“Daddy’s job, Little girl. Your job is to play.”

Focusing on the toys was so challenging as he carefully smoothed the washcloth over her chest. Did she imagine that he gave special attention to the sensitive under slope of each breast? When he moved on to her stomach, she tightened her muscles as much as possible to make her tummy flatter.

“Relax, Chipmunk. You’re supposed to have curves. Daddy has them too.”

“But yours are grooves chiseled between massive muscles,” she pointed out.

“You flatter me, Little girl. I’m glad you like my body. Yours is special as well. Spread your legs, Winnie.”

She followed his directions without thinking and froze when he whisked the wet cloth over the tops of her thighs and each side. Her breath caught in her mouth as he attended to her inner thigh area and stroked the cloth through her pink folds. Could he tell how turned on she was by him?

Don’t squirm. Don’t squirm.

“It’s okay, Chipmunk, to enjoy your Daddy’s touch.”

She nodded, unable to talk, and then exhaled a shaky breath when he shifted to wash her legs.

The brief massage of her feet and toes made her long for more.

After standing for so many hours on a tile-covered, concrete floor as she moved around the room to work with children, Winnie’s arches usually ached by the end of the day. She dared to tell him.

“I liked that, Daddy.”

“Thank you for sharing, Winnie. I’ll try to remember to rub your feet from time to time. Remind me if I forget,” he said.

“Yes, Daddy.” She beamed at him, so excited to have someone who cared and wanted to help.

“Up on your knees, Winnie. Daddy has one more place to pay attention to.”

Not quite following what he needed to do, Winnie followed his directions. When he whisked the washcloth between her buttocks, she almost slipped on the bathtub surface. He stabilized her easily and continued to wash her bottom thoroughly.

“Daddy!” she protested. Her face flamed with embarrassment.

“I will take care of every part of you. You’ll grow accustomed to my touch on your bottom,” he said easily.

“My—My bottom?” she stuttered.

“Oh, yes. Daddies care for their Littles in all ways. I think you’re free of sticky sauce now. Would you like to stay in your bath and play, or would you like to get out?”

“Out, Daddy. My fingers are pruney.” She held up her fingers to show him the wrinkles.

“Oh, no! It is time to escape.” Scythe scooped her out of the water and set her feet on the soft rug that squished with the liquid she’d splashed on him earlier.

“Oops!” she said, trying to prevent a smile.

“You aren’t sorry at all, Little girl!” Scythe kissed the top of her head, letting Winnie know he wasn’t upset with her as he dried her skin with gentle strokes of the thirsty towel.

“Okay, story time before bed.”

“I can’t go to sleep now!” she protested.

“Daddy’s rule. Early bedtime for Little girls.”

“Daddy!”

“Little girls who argue with their Daddies earn spankings. Is that what you need, Chipmunk?”

“No. I think I’m tired.”

“Telling lies is not good either, Winnie. Let’s see how you really feel when you’re tucked into bed with Chippy.”

She nodded eagerly without saying anything else that could get her in trouble.

Scythe picked her up and balanced her on his hip. He rubbed his whiskers against her neck as he carried her out of the bathroom. After pulling down the covers, he set her on the crisp sheets and tucked the covers around her. “Stay right there. I’ll get Chippy from your nursery.”

He returned with a thick book and her stuffie. Scythe also carried something wrapped in a plastic protective bag. She pointed to it and asked, “What’s that?”

“It’s a present for you. A special blankie.” Scythe ripped it open and pulled out the gray fleece material. After shaking it out, he laid it over her.

“Look, Daddy. That embroidered image is the same as the one on your vest.”

“It is exactly like the one on my cut,” he assured her.

“I love it.” She rubbed her face on the soft fabric. “Does this mean I’m a biker in the Devil Daddies MC?”

“No, Chipmunk. You’re protected by the MC. Lucien purchased them for each of the members. I only have one blanket to give to my Little, so they know you’re important.”

“Oh,” she said, brushing her finger over the stitches. “I love it. Thank you, Daddy.”

The importance of receiving this resonated inside Winnie. No one had ever thought she was unique and special except for her mother. She burst into tears as grief overwhelmed her again. Winnie scrubbed at her cheeks. She had to stop crying

“I’m sorry. I’m being silly,” Winnie said as Scythe sat down on the bed next to her and gathered her in his arms.

“You are not. It’s better to let grief out, Winnie.

If you bottle it up inside, grief either explodes at the worst time, or it eats at you.

I was young and stupid when my dad died, and the farm was repossessed.

Both were drastic blows to my life. I only dealt with the death of my father.

Tell me how you and your mom were alike? ”

“She taught first grade for thirty years.”

“And you teach second. I bet some of her lessons she taught you as a young child show up in your activities with your students,” Scythe guessed.

Incredulous, she stared at him. “They do! I always have my students write three things they want to learn on a card for me at the beginning of the year. Mom always had me do that on my birthday. What did I want to be able to do when I was nine or ten or eleven?”

“And the kids love checking to see if they can do those things at the end of the year like you did the night before your special day?”

“They do. I hadn’t thought about how much she’ll always be entwined in who I am. Thank you, Scythe. That helps a lot.” Winnie relaxed against him. Her heart felt better.

“You’re welcome. Stretch out, Little girl. Let’s tuck your blankie under your chin so you’re toasty warm.” Scythe set Chippy in her arms before moving to sit on the other side of the bed. “How about if we start with the first story and see if you enjoy this book,” he suggested.

His voice was low and rumbly. She closed her eyes to concentrate on the tale and wiggled a bit to get comfortable. A few minutes later, her Daddy seemed to talk softer, and she lost track of the story.