Page 42 of Keeping Katie

14

KATIE

My butt is on fire, yet he keeps spanking me. Tears burn my eyes and worry over anyone hearing us disappears, replaced with a swell of emotions bubbling to the surface.

“You’re not alone anymore, Katie. I’m right here. I can take a lot off your plate if you’ll just let me. You don’t have to do everything anymore.”

A sob lodges in my throat. It feels like my heart is cracking into pieces. “Why would you want to take all of this on?” I say as my tears start to fall.

He pauses a second, then spanks each cheek once, harder than before. “Because I care about you. I watch you and see the kindness and selflessness pouring out of you. It’s one of my favorite things about you. But it’s also something that needs to be managed because you’re not putting yourself first. So, guess what? I’m going to put you first.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to clamp my lips together so he doesn’t hear me as I break. The sadness I’ve been holding in for so long bursts free. My tears soak the papers under my face.

“I’m just so tired,” I sob.

“I know, baby girl,” he murmurs, then starts to spank me again. “We’re going to change that. I won’t allow you to push me away. I’ve been patient, but now it’s time for me to take control. And you’re going to be my good Little girl and let me, aren’t you?”

Can I? I want to, so badly. I’m scared. What’s the worst that could happen? He could break my heart. He could die. I don’t know if I can handle losing another person I love. Oh my God. I can’t possibly love him already.

He pauses and rubs my ass, soothing some of the sting as I continue to cry.

“It’s time to let go, Katie-baby. It’s time to let Daddy take care of you. Yeah?”

Sniffling, I shift my eyes to him. He’s staring down at me as he strokes my butt. There are so many what-ifs, but I’ll regret it if I don’t see where this goes.

Take a leap of faith.

“Yes, Daddy.”

He watches me for several seconds before giving a sharp nod. Then he starts spanking me hard and fast, and my tears pour out of me as I kick my feet and struggle against his hold.

“This is what happens when you try to push Daddy away. I won’t allow it, baby.”

His reassurances heal something inside of me. I know my parents couldn’t help getting sick and dying, but in a way, it felt like they abandoned me.

“I’m sorry,” I cry out. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

He stops, gently pulls me up, and wraps me in his arms. “You’re not alone anymore. Whatever’s going on, you need to talk to me. I have a lot of resources.”

I nod and clutch onto him for dear life as he slowly and carefully pulls up my panties and jeans, then buttons them forme. I’m glad I skipped makeup this morning because otherwise, I’d be a total mess.

He wipes my cheeks with his thumbs. “I want you to write down the name of the insurance company for me. I’ll reach out to my realtor and ask her to get your parents’ house up for sale right away. Are you sure you want to sell it? Is it the house you grew up in?”

Sniffling, I shake my head. “I don’t care about the house. My mom only kept it for as long as she did because she wanted to die in the same place my dad did. The house never meant anything to us. It’s this shop that means the most. I grew up here. When they were opening it, they couldn’t afford employees, so they worked non-stop, and I was always here too. But if I don’t pay off the medical bills within thirty days, they’re threatening to put a lien on the shop.” A sob breaks loose again. “I can’t lose Twisted Bean. It’s all I have left of my parents.”

He tightens his hold on me and shakes his head. “You’re not going to lose anything. Daddy won’t let it happen. Write down the name of the insurance company.”

I take a step back and look up at him. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to handle it. Trust me, baby.”

It might be naïve of me to trust him already, but I do. “This isn’t your problem to deal with.”

His eyes turn stormy. “Do we need to revisit the part where I pull your pants and panties down and you get your bottom spanked? You’re mine, baby. Which means your problems are mine. So I will deal with them, and you’ll be a good girl and let me.”

Yikes. Stern Grady is…hot. Sheesh. I’ve seen him be a bit firm and bossy, but right now, he’s absolutely not messing around.

With a sigh, I nod and grab a scrap of paper from the desk. When I hand it over, he cups my face and leans down to kiss me.