Page 50 of Daddy's Reckoning

This would be the hardest for her, but it would also be the most important. Erin needed to learn to rely on someone besides herself. She needed to learn, really learn, to rely on me. She needed to see that she could trust me, even when she didn’t want to. She had to communicate even when she was scared to.

The rest of my rules centered around the same basic idea, and when they started to feel repetitive, I laid down the pen and plated up our food. It had been about fifty minutes since I’d left her alone to sulk, and I decided that was long enough.

I ripped the paper I’d written the rules on out of the notebook, and folded it, tucking it into my pocket. I placed her lunch on the tray, along with a glass of milk, and her devices and book. And then, praying she was going to be in a more reasonable headspace, I made my way to her room and pushed the door open.

ERIN

The second I heard Theo’s hand on the doorknob, I wiped my eyes. I hated that I’d been crying. It wasn’t just because he’d taken away all my distractions and left me alone, it was also because I hated how awful I was being. I hated the fact that I was fighting him so hard every step of the way, but I didn’t know how to stop. Most of all, I hated how limited we were. Not only because I’d quickly learned how bad alternative punishments sucked, but because I had a deep, intense need for him to stop my nonsense with force. I wanted him to throw me over his knee and spank my ass hard until I was crying and begging for mercy, and I didn’t want him to give me any.

Theo knew me better than anyone ever had. He knew how to handle me when I was like this, and when to be soft. He knew when to put me in my place and when to step up. And yet, there was still a big, stupid part of me that refused to trust it.

When he stepped in, I forced a smile, even though I knew my eyes were red, and my face was probably streaked with tears. Theo was carrying a tray that held a single rose, a delicious smelling lunch, and all of the stuff he’d taken.

I smiled hopefully when he handed it to me. “Am I off punishment now?”

He scooped the devices and my book before I could reach for them, but he set them on the nightstand beside the bed, where they’d been before. “After lunch,” he confirmed. “And after we finish our talk.”

I sighed, and picked up my fork instead, digging into the food he’d prepared. “Yes, Daddy. This looks good. Thank you.”

He nodded, his expression distracted, and looked like he wanted to say something. I waited, but he stayed silent, then left the room.

When he was gone I started to panic, but he returned a few minutes later with his own lunch, identical to mine, and climbed beside me on the bed to eat it.

It was nice eating together, even if the conversation was nonexistent, and when he finally spoke, I would have agreed with anything he said.

“After lunch we need to elevate your feet and check your blood pressure.”

I still wanted to fight. But to my credit, I refrained. “Yes, Daddy.”

Calling Theo Daddy again felt weird. Comfortable like an old sweater in the back of your closet you’d forgotten about for a while, but also stiff, like everything had changed since you’d last put it on. Because it had. Everything had changed. Before, with a contract and money exchanging hands, Theo’s control had been limited, and I’d been the one who was really in charge in so many ways. I’d lost this go-round. It felt good, but scary.

Lunch was delicious and I finished everything on my plate, even the milk, which I hated, but knew better than to argue with. I’d give it to him just this once, as long as he didn’t start serving it with every meal.

When Theo left to take our trays and dishes to the kitchen, this time I didn’t panic. I knew he was coming back.

And he did, blood pressure cuff in hand.

CHAPTER 14

THEO

Lunch went well, and the after-lunch check-up was fine, but the rules conversation went about as well as I’d expected it to. Fine, at first. She’d nodded her agreement while I talked about things like safety, honesty, and disrespect. She balked a little at the health rules, but ultimately agreed to them because she knew they were good for the baby.

It was when we got to the “Tell Daddy everything” rule that the arguments came, as I’d known they would.

“What does that mean—everything?” she’d questioned, narrowing her eyes and folding her arms across her chest.

“Exactly how it sounds. If it’s something Daddy should know, you should tell me.”

“How do I know if it’s something you should know or not?”

“Err on the side of caution.” I was humoring her questions and protests, but Erin wasn’t stupid. The rule wouldn’t be that hard for her to figure out. “If you’re not sure, tell me anyway, and let me decide what to do with it.”

“Well…” She frowned. “I don’t like this. It’s too broad. And like… how will you know I didn’t tell you something if I don’t tell you?”

“Because eventually I’ll find out. Either from you or some other way.”

She rolled her eyes. “This is dumb.”