Chapter Sixteen

"She's fine," Dr. Kirk said.

He took the stethoscope from his ears, draped it around his neck, and shook his head with an exasperated sigh.

"But that was sure a dangerous little stunt she pulled."

His eyes were still trained on her, but he was talking to Ireneo, who sat in the chair across from the exam table.

"Do you have a recommendation?" the king asked.

"Sure do," the doctor replied without hesitation. "I prescribe a good, sound spanking."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Ireneo said.

Taylor gulped. Her apprehension didn't ease any as she listened to the conversation change courses.

"How is that other problem?" Dr. Kirk asked. "Any messy diapers yet?"

"Not yet. Though I mixed that packet of solution in her juice this morning."

Dr. Kirk nodded and went to a drawer where he pulled out a few more packages. He tossed them to Ireneo. "Have her drink those tonight. Just at a normal rate mixed in with whatever she's drinking anyway. She doesn't have to gulp it down. By bedtime, or in the morning, she'll be clear."

"Thank you," Ireneo said as he stood. He looked at Taylor. "I will dress you and then we need to get back to our cabin."

"But I wanted to play with the—"

"Little girl. You're in enough trouble as it is. Don't push it."

"Yes, sir," she muttered, hanging her head in defeat.

Something told her it was going to be a long night.

***

As it turned out, Ireneo didn't discipline her that evening.

He explained that she was grounded from playing with her friends, but they'd address the rest in the morning. He felt the ordeal of tumbling down the slide had been hard enough and didn't want to add to her stress.

After having a good night's sleep, she found such leniency did not extend to the morning.

She was still wiping sleep away from her eyes as she walked into the main room of the luxury suite to find a paddle resting atop one of the circular end tables. Ireneo was sitting in the posh chair beside it, waiting.

"Good morning, little one. I trust you slept well."

"You're going to use that paddle?"

A slight smile tugged at his lips. "When someone says ‘Good morning' it's customary that you return the greeting."

She froze in her tracks. "Sorry, sir. Good morning."

He nodded, stood, and stepped closer. "To answer your question, yes, I am going to use the paddle. But first, we're going to talk about why. Come here."

He took hold of her hands and put her on his lap as he sat back down, holding her tightly. "Do you understand that I care about you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you also understand that what you did yesterday was incredibly dangerous?"

She took a moment to reflect on it, the memory of her being bounced around that slide flooding her brain. Finally, she nodded with a sniffle, tears already streaming down her cheeks. "Yes, sir."

"You could have been hurt. Hurt even worse than you were, I should say. Or worse. You could have drowned. Thankfully the ramifications turned out not to be serious. But your actions were serious. Honey, it is my job to teach you such behavior is not okay."

Was it his job? she pondered. Yes, she was under his care. But he wasn't her Daddy. Not officially.

But with his strong, protective arms around her waist, pressing her against his muscle-packed body, it sure felt as if he was her Daddy, though.

"You are infinitely valuable, little one. Always remember that," Ireneo said. "Never endanger yourself like that again."

She nodded, and started to speak, but her words were cut off, replaced by a groan as she realized the king was standing up.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart raced. She'd had that spanking back in the New York penthouse suite, but this would be different. This was with a paddle! Could she handle it?

She was about to learn the answer to that burning question.

Ireneo picked up the paddle and tapped it against his palm.

"Disrobe, little girl. It's time to pay the piper."