Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Micah

After her punishment and their bath, both had been too exhausted to do more than push the clothing and suitcase off to the floor and strip the wet coverlet off before they fell into the bed. She was happily dreaming of sunshine and ice cream when the vendor informed her it was far too early to serve any ice cream.

"But I see it, right there!"

"No, you're smelling it."

"Don't be silly; you don't smell ice ? —"

"Rise and shine!"

Huh? That didn't make sense.

"Micah, wake up, it's time to shake a leg."

How does one rise, shine, wake and shake a leg all at the same time?

Dreams fled and reality smacked her in the face when the sheet was pulled down and the cool air hit her naked body.

"Up and at em!"

How anyone could sound so cheerful or come up with silly phrases to wake was just another one of life's mysteries she'd never understand. "It's still night," she said after cracking one eye open and seeing not a single beam of light from behind the curtain at the window.

"Not for the early bird and the worm."

"You're calling me a worm?" she asked, her open eye finding him standing beside the bed.

Stone chuckled. " No, sweetie. Little girls who put off packing until the last minute get to play the part of the early bird. Not to get the worm, necessarily, but definitely to finish the job."

Seeing that he was not only awake but actually dressed had her groaning. "Just five more minutes," she murmured, attempting to pull the sheet over her head.

"Only if you want five nice swats for each one of those five minutes," he said, bending over to kiss her forehead while giving her bottom a single swat as if a physical act would help his words sink into her sleep-fogged brain.

Foggy or not, she was able to do the math and when it came up with the number twenty-five, she figured she could take a nap in the car.

"I'm up," she grumbled, slowly sliding her body up to sit.

There was never a question of how much she loved her husband, but there were times when she was caught up in a moment that had her wondering what on earth she'd done to deserve such an incredible Daddy. It might not be ice cream, but the aroma coming from the mug her Daddy was holding had the words of the vendor making sense. She took another deep inhale before taking a sip.

"I love you," she said after swallowing.

"Are you sure you aren't speaking about the coffee?" he teased as she immediately took another sip.

"Both," she said. "Even in my dreams you know what I need, Daddy." He might not understand, but she did. Stone had been the vendor in her dreams and he'd been right; she had definitely been smelling coffee.

Stone gave her a few more minutes of wake-up time before scooping her up and moving her to the chair. As she continued to fill her veins with caffeinated goodness, he made the bed, and she realized he was pulling the coverlet up.

"Ewww, Daddy, don't you think that needs to be washed first? You know, because… um?—"

"You ejaculated your sweet little cream all over it?"

Did this man never stop to consider how much such blatant talk could embarrass a girl?

"Don't fret, Webby. I had plenty of time to launder it as well as the clothes in the hamper while you wandered through dreamland."

"So you are the real early bird," Micah quipped, her heart filling as she watched this huge man pick up a stuffed duck and wish him a good morning. When he brought it over, he was about to place it on her lap when he paused.

"Seems I forgot to put your mommy in her pjs or a gown after our bath."

"I don't think Mr. Quackers will mind, Daddy," Micah said, using her free hand to reach for the stuffie.

Stone looked at her and then the duck and grinned. "Well, I know I certainly don't mind looking at you in your birthday suit, so I suppose you're right. You've got time for a few cuddles and then you have to finish packing or that suit is all you'll be wearing on this trip."

Tucking her legs up in the chair and Mr. Quackers on her lap, she smiled up at him. "You pack soooo much better than I do, Daddy. Why don't you finish and I'll just watch?"

"Do you think I was born yesterday, little girl?" Stone asked as he picked up the suitcase she'd not even noticed and placed it on top of the bed. "Even if I wanted to, I'm afraid I can't this time."

"Why not?"

"Two reasons. First, I didn't get you out of bed simply so you could fall asleep in the chair. But more importantly, because you need to show Daddy that you remember the reason you slept on your tummy last night."

Oh, right. The bag.

Micah couldn't help it, her eyes dropped to the floor. Not in shame, though she knew she would have felt ashamed if she hadn't gotten her bottom heated both inside and out last night. But as always, once the punishment was done, she'd known she was forgiven and any guilt had evaporated. Setting her almost empty mug on the table beside her, she slipped out of the chair and went to him. She didn't stop to stand beside him though, she dropped to her knees.

"What are you…"

He didn't need to finish the question as she lowered herself to her tummy and began to wiggle her way under the bed.

"Speaking of worms," he said, causing her to giggle as she continued her journey. Only her feet remained visible as she reached for the bag she'd hidden the day before. Wiggling backwards was harder than going forward, but she appreciated the fact that when she finally pulled her head free it was to find her Daddy crouched on his haunches beside her.

Very solemnly, she pushed to her knees again and looked up. "I'm sorry, Daddy."

"You've already been forgiven, little one," he reassured her, standing and reaching down to offer her his hand.

Taking it, she stood and set the black bag with pink-polka dots next to the suitcase. Surprise widened her eyes as she saw that what she thought was empty was almost completely full.

"You packed it. I thought you said I had to do it?"

"I never said I couldn't help. But it was important that you finish."

Nodding, Micah pushed aside a few folded t-shirts and leggings to make a bit more room for the bag. She was about to place it inside when something suddenly occurred to her.

"Wait a second," she said, turning to dash into the bathroom. It turned out to take longer than a second as she instantly needed to relieve her bladder the moment she saw the toilet, and then, of course, she saw herself in the mirror. Her squeal brought her Daddy to the doorway.

"What's wrong?"

"How can you let me run around like this?" she exclaimed, washing her hands, speaking to his reflection in the mirror.

"I told you I don't mind you in your birthday suit. In fact, I find it quite an appealing look on you."

"I'm not talking about this!" she said, gesturing down her sides after drying her hands. "I'm talking about this!" Her hands lifted to run her fingers through curls that were far too mussed to allow them to slide easily. "I look like a duck who stuck her beak in an electrical socket!"

Stone chuckled. "Webby, you make an adorable duckling, messy hair or not. But if it will make you feel better…"

When he opened the drawer, Micah knew exactly what he was looking for and that he wouldn't find it. Beneath the bed wasn't the only hiding spaces in their house. When his eyebrow quirked, the mirror showed her how quickly her cheeks turned pink.

"I-I… um…" Not wanting to start their beginning of their vacation with a lie, Micah chose instead to simply stop talking. Instead, she moved to the linen cupboard and slid her hand beneath the stack of towels. With the cabinet's depth, she was all the way up to her armpit before her fingers brushed against wood. Grasping it, she pulled her arm back, her broad-back wooden hairbrush in her hand.

"Hmmm, wonder how that got there," Stone said.

"Quack, quack, quack," she said, which in her mind translated as pleading the fifth. She returned to the vanity and unzipped the bag she'd brought with her into the bathroom. Trying not to look at other objects inside didn't keep her cheeks from heating further or her buttocks from clenching.

"Good girl," Stone said, drawing her eyes to his.

Seeing his lip curled, she had the distinct feeling he knew exactly what she was thinking and when he reached out to cup her breast, his thumb brushing across a very pebbled nipple, any doubt she had flew out the window.

Moaning, she pressed into his palm, burying her face in his shirt. "I'm not a good girl," she whispered. "Good girls don't try to hide things from their Daddies."

"You are a good girl," Stone countered, cupping her chin and tilting her head back so she was meeting his gaze. "Only good girls admit their mistakes, submit to their punishment and then do what is necessary to make things right. By not making me ask you again for the bag, and then adding your brush to it when I wasn't even aware you'd hidden it as well, you are showing just how much you are sorry for being naughty."

"But I don't feel good about it," she admitted. "I didn't confess I hid the brush too."

"Perhaps I can help with that," Stone said, setting her back a bit and turning her to face the mirror. "Hold on to the counter and stick your bottom out."

Micah couldn't help the soft whine she gave. Her bottom was still a bit achy from the night before, but she didn't voice a protest. Instead, she gripped the white marble with her fingers and pushed her hips backward. Though he was behind her, she could see everything he did as it was reflected in the mirror. It didn't surprise her watching him unzip the bag she'd just closed, or even when he removed the last item she'd just tucked inside. But when he pulled out the next item, her eyes slammed shut and her whine turned into a whimper.