Page 30 of Tanner
“Right.” He glanced at his phone again. “See, I didn’t think you liked confined spaces. So, how long have you been interested in mummification?”
Junie could feel blood draining from her face. “Mum… mummification? Like wrapping someone up in strips of cloth?” Her skin crawled. “I must have read that one wrong.”
Suddenly, his hand was gripping the back of her neck, and he pulled her close. “You let another man put his hands on you.” His thumb brushed her lower lip. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”
Junie’s eyes stung. “I… I only came here because I was trying to find you. I didn’t mean for any of that to happen.”
Tanner’s expression didn’t soften. “I don’t care why you came here, Cupcake. You put yourself in a situation where someone could have hurt you. You put yourself in a place where my protection was not guaranteed. That is never happening again. You do not step one foot inside The Red Barn, or any other club, unless you are with me. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispered.
He studied her for a long moment. “Can you tell me why you got it in your head to come here to find me?”
Junie hung her head. “Cherry called and said you were down here playing with her tonight.”
“Cherry Winters?”
Junie nodded.
“And you believed her?” His stormy eyes turned such a dark blue they were almost black.
Her head shook side to side as if to emphasize her answer. “My brain didn’t, but my heart was afraid.”
“Well, Cupcake, Cherry and I were not playing together. She did approach me. Would you like to know what I told her?”
She wanted to be the kind of person who would say no. If it had been anyone else who called her, she would have. But it hadn’t been anyone else. It had been Cherry. So she needed to know. As much as she hated it, she answered, “Yes, Daddy.”
“I told her, in so many words, to go to hell. Do you really think I could ever be interested in someone who has treated you so badly over the years? Someone that vile?”
Her throat squeezed tight, and tears burned the back of her eyes. “No, Daddy.”
“Roman said that there were three new initiates. Would I be correct in assuming that Kenzie and Poppy are here, too?”
As much as she wanted to pretend ignorance, she didn’t want to lie, especially since all it would take would be for her Daddy to ask Master Ren the names on the new applications. “Yes, Daddy.” Her heart was going to crack wide open. The disappointment in his voice gutted her. He was right. What had she been thinking, bringing her friends with her? She should have insisted they stay home.
Through clenched teeth, he growled. “Corner. Nose to the wall. Hands behind your back. I need a minute.”
As she walked back toward the corner, Tanner made a call. “Ren, find Seven and tell him to get my sister and Poppy and take them home.”
On hearing Tanner’s end of the conversation, Junie was very glad she’d decided to come clean. She pressed her forehead to the cool wood. The cedar reminded her of Christmas. She’d probably be getting switches in her stocking this year.
Her skin on her bottom crawled in anticipation. They didn’t have switches here, did they? Her heart raced.
The room grew closer once Tanner finished his call. He took in slow, deliberate breaths, and the faint fall of footsteps as he paced increased her tension with each step. He wouldn’t be this angry if he didn’t care. So… silver lining in a very dark cloud.
Something warm and painful bloomed in her chest. She wanted this so badly it scared her. She wanted him to be her Daddy. Even if it was only for tonight. Even if it hurt.
Tanner’s voice came from right behind her.
“You’re going to get the spanking you earned tonight, little girl. And while I’m spanking you, you’re going to think very hard about what you did. About how dangerous it was to come here without me. And how even more dangerous it was to check green on everything, especially the things you didn’t understand. About how you could have gotten hurt. And you’re going to promise me—right here, right now—that you will never do anything like this ever again.”
Junie’s breath hitched. Her thighs pressed together involuntarily.
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispered. “Can I ask what happened to Kenzie and Poppy?”
“Seven found them and is taking them home. If I were you, I’d be more concerned about myself right now.”
He moved in close behind her and, taking her by the hand, he led her to the spanking bench. One big hand settled on her lower back. “Bend over the bench.”
