12. Paisley

12

PAISLEY

" O h my God!" I slam my hand over my chest as I spin around. "You scared the piss out of me!"

From the murderous look on Kieran's face, as he stands in the doorway wearing nothing but a towel, I should still be very freaking scared.

"I. Scared. You." His voice is low and threatening. "I scared you. You decided to sneak out of my house at six in the fucking morning without so much as giving me the courtesy to let me know you were going, and yet, I scared you?"

Shit. I had a feeling he was going to be irritated that I slipped out while he was showering. What I didn't expect was the Hulk showing up, huffing and puffing in my bathroom over it.

"It's not a big deal. We agreed it was a one-time thing. I figured it would be less awkward if we didn't have to deal with the whole walk-of-shame, morning-after thing."

His eyes darken, and the lines in his forehead grow deeper. "Walk-of-shame, morning-after thing."

I frown. "Why are you repeating everything I say? Are you okay?"

He takes a step closer, cocking his head slowly, then pauses. Suddenly, I'm very aware of the fact that he has me trapped in here with no place to run.

"Am I okay?" he asks quietly. "No, Paisley. I'm not fucking okay. Would you like to know why?"

A shiver slides down my spine, and bright red warning sirens start flashing in my head. "Um, sure?"

Another step toward me, and this time, I retreat. Kieran shakes his head and points at me. "Don't you fucking move, Little girl. You want to know what's wrong? I got out of the shower, and the woman I fucked last night, who slept in my bed, was gone with not so much as a note or a kiss goodbye. Do you think that was polite, Paisley?"

He's asking me about being polite? Seriously? "Um, no, I suppose not."

When he advances again, I swallow thickly and look around, hoping a magic hole will open for me to hide in.

"You can try to run, baby girl, but make no mistake, no matter where you go, I will find you, and you will be punished. You need to decide if running is worth making your punishment worse than it's already going to be."

Is he insane? We had sex once, and he spanked me. That doesn't mean he can punish me whenever I do something he doesn't like. What an asshole!

"It was a one-night stand, Kieran. I was simply making the morning after less awkward. We'll ignore each other like we always have, and everything will be back to normal."

He lets out a low growl. "No, baby. That's where you're wrong. Last night wasn't a one-night stand. Last night, you became mine. We will not go back to what we were before because you belong to me. I'm your Daddy, and you're my baby girl. And right now, you're going to learn a lesson about who's in charge."

Before I can run, he snatches me up, chuckling softly before flipping me so fast my head spins. Then he pushes me over the edge of the vanity, so my feet are dangling, and my chest rests on the countertop.

"Kieran!" I scream as I start to kick my feet. "Let me go. You're insane."

Even as I struggle, he effortlessly lifts the back of the shirt and yanks my panties down with so much force I hear them rip. Then, he starts to spank me, and this is nothing like the one I experienced last night.

His smacks are hard, fast, and precise.

"Owwie!" I howl. "Let me go, you asshole!"

He pauses but continues to hold me down firmly. "I know you felt what I felt last night. You can deny it all you want, but you were just as affected as I was. You loved having me command you and spank you and take care of you. Tell me you didn't, Paisley. And I hope you know, I hate liars."

There's something vulnerable hidden behind his words, but I'm too out of sorts right now to process it. My ass is on display, and he expects me to tell him what last night meant to me? That's a complicated answer that I haven't had time to think about yet.

"Say you didn't feel things last night," he growls quietly.

I sniff and squeeze my eyes shut. "It's not that easy, Kieran."

The only sound in the bathroom is the running shower, and when I open my eyes to look back at him, I expect to see anger. I don't, though. It looks more like confusion and uncertainty, but it only lasts for a second before he meets my gaze and the scowl returns.

"I know you felt things last night, Paisley. We've been pretending to hate each other all this time, but you know it's never been hate. It's always been attraction, but we've hidden it behind insults."

He's not wrong. Deep down, I think I've always known it.

"You're mine, Paisley. Until we figure out what the fuck is happening between us, you are mine. You will not entertain other men from here on out. You will not treat this like a one-night stand. And you will not ever leave without saying goodbye. If I don't know where you are, I can't protect you, and I take that job very fucking seriously. Are we clear?"

My heart pounds, and my pussy clenches. If I say yes, I have no doubt Kieran will bulldoze me with all of his bossiness and rules and expect me to obey blindly. But if I say no, I might regret it for the rest of my life. Either way, it's terrifying. I could end up hurt. Not physically. I know he would never harm me. He could destroy my soul, though. Only if I let him.

"Paisley," he says, a bit softer, though there's still a clear warning in his voice.

I have to decide. Kieran isn't the type of man to ask more than once. If I shut him out now, he won't return. And that's the one thing I do know for certain. I don't want to lose him completely.

"Yes," I whisper. "We're clear."

He's silent for a few seconds before he clears his throat. "Then you're going to take your punishment for being disrespectful and leaving without saying anything like a good girl. Right?"

A lump the size of a golf ball forms in my throat. He's right. How would I have felt if the tables had been turned, and he'd snuck out of my house like he was ashamed of what happened? I might be a brat at times, but I'd never do anything to intentionally hurt him.

"Yes." My voice is wobbly, but he hears me.

"From now on, it's ‘yes, Daddy.'"

I try to nod, but he still has me firmly pinned, so I force the words out, "Yes, Daddy."

As soon as I say it, he starts spanking me again, and it's like lightning striking through me with each smack.

"Ow! Ow, ow, ow!" I cry, kicking and squirming.

I'm no match for him, though. He's three times my size and strength, if not more.

"I will never disrespect you, baby girl, and I expect the same treatment. That means no lying. No hiding shit. No leaving without letting me know where you're going."

Even though my ass is on fire, I don't miss the no-lying comment. It's the second time he's said that. I've never been one to lie, but I wonder if someone in his past did.

"I'm sorry," I wail. "I won't ever do it again. Owwie! Daddy!"

It goes on forever. Or it feels like it, anyway. Tears roll down my cheeks and drip onto the counter as I let out sob after sob.

As soon as he stops, he picks me up and carries me into my room like a small child. I cling to him, my arms wrapped tightly around his neck. When he sits on the edge of the bed with me on his lap, I snuggle against him while he strokes my back. His rich scent surrounds me like a blanket.

"I got you, Little one. Let it out," he murmurs softly.

I do exactly what he says. Big, fat, sloppy tears, along with some snot, I'm sure, but it's so damn cathartic.

It takes a while before I stop crying. When I do, I'm exhausted but lighter than I've ever felt before. My ass is also on fire.

"Are you still mad at me?" I ask, keeping my face hidden against his warm chest.

Using the tip of my index finger, I trace the lines of his tattoos, finding it to be soothing.

"No, baby. You were punished. I don't stay mad if you paid for your naughtiness. Don't do it again, though. That was not how I wanted to start my day."

He holds me for a while longer before I realize he probably has things to do. Why else would he have been up and showering so early?

"You don't have to stay here with me. I know you have more important things to tend to." Why do I sound like a sad Little girl when I say that? I'm fine if he needs to go. Totally okay. Yep. I am.

"That's where you're wrong, baby. There is nothing more important to me than you. You're mine, which means you come first. Got me?"

Not really, but I nod anyway. I've never come first to anyone, so why would that start now? The excitement of last night will wear off, and he'll grow tired of me by the end of the week. Especially once he figures out I'm not going to just lie down and let him walk all over me. I'll never let anyone do that again. Lesson learned.

"You need to shower and go back to sleep, though. You didn't get enough rest last night," he says as he stands and carries me into the bathroom.

Actually, I slept better than I have in years. I didn't wake up once. It was heaven. I'm not telling Kieran all of that, though. His ego is already big enough as it is.

"I'll stay while you shower, then tuck you into bed." He sets me on my feet before reaching for the shirt I'm wearing.

I push his hands away, ignoring his glare. "It's okay. You have to work. I'm going to shower and get ready before I meet with the girls for more business planning."

His eyebrows pinch together, and he looks conflicted as he glances at the clock on my phone that's sitting on the counter. "I don't want to leave you after punishing you. Some women experience heavy emotions after a spanking like that. Maybe I should take you to work with me."

This man is insane. Probably certifiable.

"Kieran…"

"It's Daddy."

Narrowing my gaze, I look up at him. "We're not having sex right now."

He steps closer, crowding me again. "I don't give a fuck if we're in church. I'm Daddy."

Something twists inside me. It feels a lot like jealousy. "How many other women do you have calling you Daddy?"

Almost like I pushed him, he staggers back a step, his jaw clenched. "Let's get one thing straight right now. You are and will be the only woman calling me Daddy. I haven't been with anyone in a long time. I don't entertain women. I've never even had one sleep in my bed. I don't play games, and I don't lie. If you'd like to look through my phone, I'll walk you over to my house to get it. If you want the password to my email, I'll write it down. I don't do shady shit in relationships."

Whoa. That was a lot. So much to unpack there. He's never had a woman sleep in his bed? Why me? Does he really like me so much that he'd let me be the first?

"Okay," I whisper.

"So, Daddy from now on. Understand?" He hooks a finger under my chin and tilts my head back so I'm forced to look directly at him.

I part my lips to prepare my next argument. "Yes, Daddy," I murmur.

What the fuck? That wasn't an argument. I said I'm not just going to lie down for him. He's not always going to get his way.

His expression softens, and he leans down to press a gentle kiss to my lips. "Good girl."

Okay, maybe it was worth being agreeable.

"You're meeting the girls over at Declan's?"

"Yes. We're meeting around nine."

He studies me for a moment before he gives a slight nod. "Okay, baby. I'll let you get ready, but if you start having any heavy or sad feelings, I want you to call me right away."

"I'll be fine."

"I'm sure you will, but if for some reason you're not, you're to call me. Are we clear?"

Letting out a deep sigh, I wrap my arms around his waist. "Yes, Mr. Bossy Pants. Go away now. I need to shower. I smell like you."

His arms tighten around me. "Hmm. I think I like that. Maybe I want my scent on you. It will keep all the other men away."

The corners of my lips curl up, and I give him a gentle shove. "There are no other men."

"Better not be. If there are, they'll be six feet under after I find them."

I roll my eyes and wave my arms at him. "You're unhinged. Now, go."

" S o, are you going to tell us why Kieran stormed across the yard in a towel this morning, looking like a bear with a thorn in his paw?" Cali asks the second I sit at the dining room table.

Cali has her own office in the house that's plenty big enough for us to work in, but for whatever reason, we've turned this room into a makeshift workspace. Maybe it's because Grace, their house manager, hovers over us out here, bringing snacks and drinks and encouraging words. She's the sweetest woman. Motherly. Or at least what I always thought a mother should be like.

Heat spreads through my cheeks. Of course someone caught that this morning. The news is probably spreading through the estate like wildfire. Me tiptoeing home in Kieran's shirt with my dress and shoes in hand. Then, not even twenty minutes later, him stomping over in just a towel. Awesome.

Chloe is trying not to laugh, but she covers her mouth and sets her coffee down as her shoulders start to shake. "Sorry. I know this probably isn't funny for you."

I roll my eyes and take a long swig of my latte while all three women stare at me expectantly. "Fine. I guess since everyone already pretty much knows. I spent the night at Kieran's last night after I discovered I forgot my house key."

"Uh-huh. And?" Scarlet motions for me to continue.

Letting out a deep sigh, I glance at my best friend, worried she might be mad at me. Being the intuitive little thing that she is, she waves her hand dismissively.

"Girl, you know you have my blessing to hook up with Kieran. It's not like I haven't noticed that you two have the hots for each other."

The coffee cup nearly slips, but I quickly set it down and glare at Chloe. "We didn't have the hots for each other. Up until last night, we hated each other. I think." I press my fingers to my temples.

"Well, I think it's fantastic. Kieran needs someone to keep him on his toes. He's a real curmudgeon sometimes," Cali says.

We all burst out laughing at that because, yeah. He really is. A sweet, thoughtful, bossy, stubborn, irritating curmudgeon.

"I don't know what's happening between us. Just that we're exclusive to each other for now. We're keeping it casual, though."

Scarlet raises her eyebrows and leans back in her chair. "Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that, babe."

My tummy does a little flip as I turn my attention to her. "What? We are."

Cali lays a supportive hand on top of mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I hate to break it to you, but there is absolutely nothing casual about these men. Once they decide you're theirs, there's no stopping them. You two will be married in no time."

I'm glad I'm sitting because I think my knees would have given out on me. Marriage? To Kieran? That's ridiculous. Yet I can envision it, and that's terrifying. "Not happening. You guys are as insane as he is."

Grace comes in with a tray in hand and sets it in the middle of the table. Then, the older woman meets my gaze and gives me a soft smile. "I'm afraid they're right, dear. Kieran's a good man. A little rough around the edges, but good down to his bones. Give him a chance. But, Paisley, don't let him get his way all the time. He's too used to that happening, and I think it bores him. You're the challenge he needs."

I offer Grace a nervous smile and reach for one of the pastries she brought us. "Thank you. I'll think about it."

She winks at me and leaves us alone to get to work. Thankfully, the conversation turns to the makeup line.

"I still haven't chosen a name for the red lipstick, but I'm working on it. I have picked the one I like the most for the debut. It's the deep vampy one."

Chloe claps excitedly. "I had a feeling you'd pick that one. It's my favorite, too. It's stunning on you. Don't stress about naming it. We still have time." She looks down at the notes in front of her. "We do, however, need to go shopping for our dresses for the influencer party next weekend. Anyone feel like taking work on the road to the mall?"

Cali leaps up from her chair. "Oh, hell, yes. Retail therapy. I'm all for it. We should get our nails done, too."

Scarlet agrees and starts gathering her papers.

I glance down at my black-painted nails and nod. "I've always wanted those pointy stiletto nails. Maybe the influencer party is a good excuse to try them."

"Stiletto nails would look amazing on you. You have the perfect fingers for them," Chloe replies. "Let's go tell the guys what we're doing. It's going to take at least half an hour of them having cardiac issues before they finally agree to let us go out without them."

Even though Cali and Scarlet nod and attempt to look annoyed, there's a softness in their expressions. Adoration for the men who hover over them, sometimes a little too much. What would that feel like? To have a man love me so much that he never wants me to go anywhere without him. Do I want to know what that's like? Maybe I do. Maybe I want to be loved wholeheartedly like my friends are. I'm just not so sure I deserve it.