Page 48 of Daddy's Reckoning
“That would be my guess. Now, let me just snap a few pictures for you to take home with you. Then we’ll clean the goop off your stomach and have a chat about your blood pressure issues.”
Theo instantly became solemn, as if remembering what brought us here in the first place. The doctor clicked more buttons, then shut the machine off. He disappeared again without a word, then came back, handing me a long scroll of paper. Our baby’s first pictures. I stared at them as if I needed to memorize every detail of the grainy image.
“So, your blood pressure is a little high. It could be nothing, or it could be something. The thing we need to watch out for is preeclampsia, but it’s a little bit early for that, still. But the problems you’ve been having make me think it’s something we need to keep an eye on, so I’m putting you on bed rest for the week, until you can follow up with your OBGYN. I’ll also send your records from today’s visit over to her office first thing tomorrow morning.”
I groaned and stopped listening after bed rest, but Theo’s eyes were glued to the doctor, and he was hanging on his every word. He had an app on his phone open, and I realized he was also taking notes. I should have been thankful, but honestly I was just annoyed.
“Doctor, is there anything special I can be doing to help her blood pressure regulate?”
“Well, it’s hard to say. For now, I’d just keep an eye on it. Get yourselves an at- home cuff?—”
“—We already have one.” Theo cut him off.
“Okay.” He nodded. “Good. Then just lots of rest. Keeping your feet up at least a few hours a day. Eat healthy, and try to get good sleep.”
So basically, aside from the bedrest and elevating, nothing we hadn't already been doing. I rolled my eyes. Theo must have seen, because his own eyes narrowed and he sent me a warning look. One I knew all too well. A delicious shiver rolled down my spine.
“Okay, I’d say that’s about it. You’re free to go.”
“Perfect. Thank you, doctor.” Theo shook his hand, then just as I made to stand, he scooped me up into his arms, bridal style. I instantly threw my arms around his neck, for stability more than anything else.
“Theo!” I hissed. “Put me down.”
“Not a chance, babygirl,” he said as the doctor walked away. “You go out like this, or you go out in a wheelchair. What’s it gonna be?”
“Ugh!” I shrieked. “You’re impossible.”
“Watch it, babygirl. Remember what I said in there,” he warned as he carried me out of the emergency room and into the waiting area, past the reception desk, out the doors, and into the parking lot.
I knew exactly what he was referring to, of course, but what I was doing, being a little sassy, wasn’t breaking any rules, and when we’d had rules, they’d been basic, limited to the agreed-upon issues. Unless we were at the club. Within the Penthouse walls, everything changed. Inside the Penthouse, my sass would not have been tolerated. It was a lesson I had learned quickly, the hard way. My ass clenched involuntarily just thinking about it. So even though my first instinct was to fight his warning, I said nothing, and let him place me into his sports car, even buckling me up before closing the door, going around to the driver’s side, and getting in himself.
Once he was in, he did not start the car. Instead, he stared at me.
I tried my best to ignore him, but I could feel his hot gaze, like it was boring holes through my skull. “What?” I finally said. My voice came out whinier than I’d intended.
“I meant what I said. When we get back to the house, you best remember. I’m your Daddy. We will be setting up rules, and if you have any intentions of running the show, you’d best drop them now.”
“Okayyyy,” I whined, smiling because I knew he couldn't do anything. Theo would never do anything that could potentially harm me or the baby. I wasn’t planning to take advantage, but if I did… What could he do, really?
CHAPTER 13
ERIN
Famous last words, I thought, as I sat in a corner thirty minutes later, bare bottomed on a scratchy outdoor mat, hating life. The mat gave the same sensation as a spanking without any of the fun, and the itchy bits brushed against my pussy if I wiggled too much.
“Are you sure this is safe?” I whined.
“No question. And if you keep being sassy and whiny, I can find about a dozen other safe ways to punish you. So keep going if you want, babygirl. But just know, not only will I creatively punish you tonight, I will be keeping a tally for when it’s safe to spank your bratty little ass again.”
I’d opened my mouth to give a sassy response, but I popped it closed. I wasn’t an idiot. Who knew how long that would be, or how big the tally would get? And damn it, why did his threat make my pussy gush? I shifted uncomfortably in the chair and heard him chuckle behind me. His footsteps sounded on the wooden floor, and before I knew it he was behind me, his hand in my hair and his breath hot on my neck.
“You’re not coming out until you’re ready to talk about rules like a good girl, and stop fighting me every step of the way.”
“I’m supposed to be in bed,” I said with a pout, instantly regretting it. My god, what was wrong with me?
Theo wrapped his hand around my ponytail and hauled me to my feet. The relief was instant, but so was the fear. It wasn’t real fear, though, just fear of the unknown. This was new territory for us. Well, for me at least. Theo seemed to know exactly what he was doing.
“Sorry, Daddy!” I squeaked, looking up into his dark eyes, narrowed into slits.