Chapter Eight
“What is this?” Noelle asked after unwrapping the gift from the drawer marked with the number twenty-two.
“It’s a plane ticket,” Davis said, a huge grin on his face.
“I can see that, but why would I want to go to Wyoming? There’s nothing there but empty spaces.”
Davis laughed and took her into his arms. “You’re wrong, baby. My family is there.”
“So?”
“You’re going to get your wish and spend Christmas with a family. A rather large family, in fact. I can’t wait to show you that Wyoming is not empty. It’s full of lakes and rivers and the Teton Mountains will be covered in snow. It’s even more beautiful than those Christmas card scenes.”
“I can’t go,” she said.
“Why not?”
“I’m just too busy, but you go.” Stepping out of his embrace, she held out the ticket.
Davis couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Noelle, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, little girl. You know there is no way in hell I’d go without you. I thought you’d be thrilled.”
“Thrilled? No, you thought, poor little Noelle. Her own parents can’t stand the thought of spending Christmas with their daughter, so I’ll foist her off on my family. Well, thanks, but no thanks!”
“Whoa, I never thought anything like that,” he said, reaching for her only to be shocked when she pulled her arm out of his hold, allowing the ticket to fall to the floor. Something was terribly wrong, and he had no intention of allowing her to simply walk away. Picking up the ticket and placing it on the mantle, he went after her, finding her in the bedroom closet.
“Don’t worry about clothes; I’ve already packed your suitcase with everything you’ll need.”
“You can unpack it, Davis. I told you, I’m too busy to go.”
Enough was enough. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he lifted her off her feet and backed out of the closet.
“Put me down! I’ve got things to do!”
“You most certainly do, young lady, starting with explaining why you are being such a brat.” Davis had dropped onto the bed and stood her between his spread knees, keeping a tight hold on her.
“Aren’t you the misguided little elf. You think I’m awful and yet want to force your family to meet the brat you’ve dragged home for the holidays. I’m sure they’ll just be ever so grateful.”
“Francesca Noelle Atwell, you are about one millimeter away from having your little ass blistered. You know damn well I don’t think you are awful. Now I don’t know why you’re behaving like this, but we are not leaving this room until I do.”
“Then I hope you’re prepared to miss your flight because I have nothing to say, and I’m not going to fucking Wyoming!”
Davis released his hold, but in one single move had her leggings and panties jerked down to her ankles. “Get your nose to that wall and don’t you dare move until you are ready to speak to me with respect. And so help me, Noelle, if you drop another f-bomb, I’ll bend you over and stripe your ass with my belt. So if you want to sit on a very sore butt on the plane, just keep it up.”
Expecting her to apologize, she shocked him again by turning around and shuffling as best she could to the corner. Without even being reminded, she lifted her sweater up so that the entirety of her little bottom was presented. Davis knew she absolutely hated corner time; she’d told him she’d rather take a thousand swats than spend ten minutes with her nose to the wall. But they both needed this time. He needed to figure out what the hell had set her off, and she needed to understand that she wasn’t allowed to push him away.
Standing, he left her to think as he went down the hall and into the kitchen to look at a large calendar hanging on the refrigerator where Noelle listed her schedule. Perhaps he should have asked about the timing, but he’d wanted to surprise her with the trip. Had he missed something? Scanning the boxes where tiny handwriting was crammed to fill them, he saw that the jobs had been numerous ever since Thanksgiving, but had tapered off considerably as the weeks went by. In fact, the last entry she had entered had been this past weekend where she and her team had spent two full days decorating the huge estate of some Hollywood mogul. She’d told him they’d put up trees in every room and had to scramble to find more lights that matched those they already used. She’d come home exhausted, and he specifically remembered her saying that she was done for the year. Looking at the calendar, his belief was validated. There were no more entries except one. The twenty-fifth square was decorated with little trees and snowflakes with the words, Spend Christmas with Daddy centered in a heart. Well, that was exactly what she’d be doing… in Wyoming.
Taking the airplane ticket off the mantle, he put it in his jacket pocket and was turning away when he saw a card half hidden behind another. Pulling it out, he shook his head. It wasn’t even a Christmas card, the front bearing nothing but the letter “A” for Atwell. His girl had crappy parents, yet she still added their card to the others. More determined than ever, he returned to the bedroom, took a seat on the bed again, and called to her.
“Come here, Noelle.”
She turned and shuffled back, not looking at him. He bit back a sigh and simply pulled her to stand before him again. Cupping her chin with his fingers, he forced her face up. She only briefly met his eyes before looking away.
“Do you remember what you said when you were sitting on Santa’s lap?”
“Don’t you mean when I was sitting on Santa’s cock?”
Her words floored him, and though his palm itched to smack her bare butt, he refrained. “Noelle, what did you tell me you wanted for Christmas?”
Shrugging, she finally said, “I didn’t want anything.”
“That’s not quite true,” he countered. “As I recall, you said you wanted to give your daddy whatever he wished for. Do you remember?”
“I suppose,” she said grudgingly.
“And what did your daddy want more than anything else in the world?”
“I-I don’t remember.”
He knew that wasn’t true. Her eyes had finally settled on his and he realized that what he saw in the green depths wasn’t defiance or anger, it was deep sadness tinged with fear. He knew it wasn’t fear of him, but realized she was afraid she’d be rejected, unwanted by people she’d never met. Releasing her chin, he lifted her to sit on his lap. “Your daddy said he wanted nothing more than to see your smile, to watch your face light up with happiness, to spend every day with the one person on Earth he loves with all his heart. Do you remember now?”
“I-I guess.”
“Well, I meant what I said. I want to spend every day with you and some of those days are going to be in Wyoming. I can’t force you to have a good time, but I’m hoping that you will.”
“But they’re not my family—”
“No, but they are mine. All I’m asking is that you give them a chance to love you like I do, Noelle. They don’t live in some million-dollar penthouse in New York or are members of some elite country club. They don’t travel all over the world or know all the ‘right’ people, but I promise you this. You will never meet a more wonderful group of people in your life. If you hate it, I promise we’ll come home. But please, baby, let me show you what a real family, a loving family, is like.”
This time when she looked at him, there were tears in her eyes as well as the first spark of hope. “Okay, I’ll go.”
“Thank you,” he said, giving her a hug and a kiss and then flipping her over his knees.
“Hey! I said I’d go!”
“I know, and I said that every time my little girl acts like a brat, she’d get her tushie spanked. What sort of daddy would I be if I didn’t follow through?”
“A nice one,” she said, but without the bitterness or disrespectful tone she’d used earlier.
Davis smiled and gave her two swats, one to each cheek, before flipping her upright again. “Behave yourself or you’ll wake up Christmas morning to find coal and switches in your stocking, little girl.”
“Are you… does your family… are they going to think we’re weird?”
“Weird?”
“You know, peculiar. I mean… well, you just put me in the corner and…” Her pause came as her eyes widened. “You… you won’t spank me in Wyoming will you?”
“I will if you earn a spanking. And if you’re worried about our dynamic, don’t be. Like I’ve told you before, my family believes that old-fashioned ways are the best ways.”
“But… what if I forget and call you Daddy instead of Davis?”
“Baby, they wouldn’t bat an eye. My mom calls my dad Papa. The only thing you need to worry about is which of us will answer when we hear ‘Daddy’.” Her eyes were still huge and her mouth open in disbelief, but he just chuckled and set her down, pulling up her panties and pants. Looking at his watch, he said, “We’ve got just enough time to get some lunch before we have to check-in.”
“Wait, what about the advent calendar? Maybe I should open all the drawers now since we won’t be here.”
Davis laughed. “Good try, but Santa is all knowing. I’m sure he is aware that the rest of the gifts will be opened in Wyoming. Now, get your coat and let’s head out.”
She rolled her eyes even as she giggled. “Head out? Is that how people from Wyoming talk?”
He popped her butt. “I don’t know; is that how people from New York squeal?”
* * *
Five hours later, Davis’ patience was hanging by a single thread. Noelle had once again withdrawn, and while he could understand her reluctance to meet his entire family in one fell swoop, he also knew that she’d never met a soul who stayed a stranger for long. Hell, her entire business revolved around meeting new people and discovering exactly how to make them happy.
However, since they’d left the house, she’d been rude to the waitress when they’d stopped for lunch, complained that the barista at Starbucks purposefully gave her lukewarm coffee, and had insisted she needed to use the restroom five minutes before they were called to board. She’d gone on to throw a mini fit when the airline attendant asked for an ID to verify she was old enough to order a drink she should have known he’d not allow her to have as she’d taken a pill for motion sickness before getting on the plane.
Holding her hand tightly in his, he walked through the airport.
“Baggage claim is downstairs. Where are we going?” she asked, having to walk fast to keep up with his long strides.
“Someplace where I can deal with your attitude.” Pushing through a door, he didn’t stop to seat her at any of the small tables or comfortable armchairs scattered throughout the club. Instead, he continued walking towards the back until he came to another door. Feeling her tug on his hand as she planted her feet and tried to pull away, he looked down. “Don’t even think about it, young lady.”
“You can’t go in there!” she protested. “That’s the ladies’ room!”
“I can,” he countered, knocking on the door and hearing no answer, turned the knob, entered and pulled her in behind him. Closing the door, he engaged the lock, took a deep breath and released her hand.
“What sort of bathroom has a couch in it?” Noelle asked, looking around the room.
“One that offers mothers a place to nurse their baby in private,” Davis said. “You’re the one who pointed out the sign on the door.”
“I thought it was just the women’s bathroom. Davis, we shouldn’t be in here. What if some poor baby is hungry or—”
“The only baby I’m concerned about is the one who is going to get those leggings and panties down and bend over the arm of the couch.”
“You can’t think you’re going to… to spank me in here! People could hear!”
“I don’t particularly care if the entire airport listens. You’re lucky I didn’t introduce you to the mile-high club on the plane. Though instead of enjoying a naughty tryst as your induction, you’d have left with a hot bottom. Now, do as I said, bare your ass and bend over.” Pulling something from his pocket, he began to unwrap it.
“What’s that?”
“Evidently Santa not only knew you were going to be in Wyoming, he knew that I’d need a little something to adjust your attitude.”
Her eyes were huge as he revealed the object. “You… you can’t… you’re not going to… to put that in my—”
“Your butt? I can and I am. The only question is how red your bottom is going to be before I plug it.”
“But… Davis… that’s… that’s a candy-cane! That’s… sacrilegious!”
The plug he held was a novelty one, striped like a candy-cane, the scarlet bands vivid against the white rubber. “Drop your pants, Noelle. If I have to do it, you’ll be getting some stripes to match your naughty-girl plug.”
“Okay, I’ll be good.”
“I don’t want to hear you tell me you are going to be good. I want you to show me that you are by obeying me.”
“Look, you don’t have to be sarcastic. I said I’d be—”
Davis shook his head and stepped forward which seemed to be exactly what she needed to understand he wasn’t joking. She had her pants and panties at her ankles and had thrown herself over the arm of the couch within three seconds. Placing his hand holding the plug on the small of her back, he began to swat her bottom. Her feet danced and she gave sharp yips as he spanked her, hard and fast. “I understand you’re nervous, and I understand you are a little scared, but, Noelle, I also understand that you know better than to behave this way. You’ve been nothing but rude and surly since we left the house. I will not tolerate you throwing tantrums and behaving like a toddler.”
“You promised if I hated it we could go home!” she shouted.
“I did, and I will keep that promise, but not until you give yourself a chance to actually enjoy yourself.”
“Really? You expect me to enjoy myself when you’re whaling on my ass within five minutes of being in fucking Wyoming?”
“Oh, darling, you just can’t seem to help yourself today, can you?” Stepping back, he tucked the plug back into his pocket and reached for the buckle of his belt, only to see her lift up. “I didn’t say you could get up. Back over and stick that bottom out.”
“No, I mean, please, I-I’m sorry. You don’t need to… to whip me.”
“I’m not negotiating terms. I’m instructing you to present your bottom to your daddy and accept your punishment. I’ve warned you what would happen the next time you say the f-word. I have no idea why you are testing me, but I’m done having you push my buttons.”
“Daddy, I-I’ll behave.”
When he didn’t say a word, just pulled his belt from its loops, she gave her first sob. When he folded it in half, she bent back over the couch. Davis wondered if she realized she’d not been calling him Daddy until he’d unbuckled his belt. It was time to remind her that he was her daddy at all times, and if that meant giving her a sore bottom, then that is exactly what he’d do. He reached for a throw pillow on the other end of the couch and offered it to her. “You might want to use this.”
Grabbing it, she buried her face in the pillow as he pushed her sweater up and returned his hand to her back. Perhaps he was getting through to her after all because once he did, she pushed her bottom out, offering herself for her whipping. The sound of the leather striking her flesh was sharp but her cries were muffled by the thick foam of the pillow. He didn’t lecture; he’d already done that. Instead, he laid down six lines, each right beneath the previous one until her bottom was well striped. Allowing her time to regain her composure, he put his belt back on and pulled the plug and a small bottle of lubricant out of his pocket.
“All right, reach back and pull your cheeks apart. Present your pucker so that Daddy can fill it.”
Sobs accompanied his instruction, but she didn’t hesitate. Her hands released their death grip on the pillow to pull the hot globes of her ass apart. It was as if she understood that the least amount of defiance would find his belt returning to add stripes because she pulled them wide apart and pushed her ass up.
“Good girl,” Davis praised, dribbling a small amount of lubricant into her cleft. She shuddered as he rubbed it in around her little hole and groaned as he pushed a finger inside to lubricate her for the plug’s entry. He gave a few pumps of his finger, and when he felt her sphincter loosening, he popped his finger free and placed the tip of the plug at her entrance. “Deep breath and push back, Noelle. Show Daddy that you want to be his good girl.”
She obeyed with another sob, and he slowly worked the fat plug into her bottom. Its girth caused her little hole to have to stretch uncomfortably wide, but he didn’t want this to be particularly easy for her to accept. He wanted her to be aware of its presence, to let it remind her that she had a daddy who loved her but would not let her naughtiness go unchecked. With a final push and a loud squeal, the plug settled inside her. Davis gave it a slight tug to assure it was well seated. Satisfied that it was, he patted her hot little bottom.
“Good girl, you may release your cheeks and stand.”
A completely different woman stood before him. Instead of anger and defiance flashing in her eyes, he saw the softness of submission shining in them.
She flung her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“I know, babygirl. It’s going to be all right, I promise.” He held her for several minutes and then bent to pull up her clothing before moving to wash his hands.
“Um… Daddy?”
“Yes, baby?”
“How… how long do I have to… to… um—”
“Hold your naughty plug in your bottom?” Davis provided, not about to sugar coat the issue.
“Yes, sir.”
“If you behave, I’ll remove it tomorrow—”
“Tomorrow! But that’s… that’s too long!”
His eyebrow lifted as he shook his head and continued, “If you don’t behave, then, who knows? You might still be holding it until New Year’s, understand?”
Her eyes were huge, and though they both knew there was no way he’d keep her plugged for days, his point had been made. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good, now come here and let me wash your face.”