Page 43 of Tanner
“What you do not understand, Cupcake, is that the more expensive and intimate the gifts are, the more he thinks he has a right to ignore everything you’re saying to him and do whatever he wants with you. Flowers and notes are one thing. A chastity belt is something else entirely. It’s my job to keep you safe. When you don’t tell me what is going on so I can step in, Preston takes your silence as approval and encouragement. That puts you in more danger.”
It had never occurred to her to look at it that way. She hadn’t wanted to admit how much worse it was getting. Not even to herself.
Now she was getting scared. Really scared. The kind of scared that made her want to crawl into Tanner’s lap, hide her face against his chest, and let him make the whole scary world go away. She’d done just the opposite by trying to protect Preston. What had she been thinking?
Tanner cupped her chin with his warm hand, tilting her face up so she had no choice but to meet his eyes. His gaze was steady, protective, and so full of… something she was too chicken to name… that it made her knees weak. Now her heart squeezed with both fear and longing at the same time. All because she was so stupid.
But Tanner wasn’t finished. “Two things. One, I know what you’re thinking, and I am just warning you, I don’t take kindly to anyone putting you down. Even you. No, especially you. You made a mistake. One I’m going to make sure you learn from.”
Her eyes widened, a fresh swarm of buzzy butterflies erupting in her tummy. “Tanner, I’m sorry I’m so much trouble,” she whispered. If only she could stop the tremble in her voice.
His thumb brushed slowly across her lower lip, the touch so gentle yet undeniably possessive that it made her breath hitch and her knees feel weak. “You could never be too much trouble, little girl. That’s another reason Daddy wants to move you to the ranch. If you stay at Rainbow’s Edge and Preston goes off the deep end, you wouldn’t be as safe there as you are at the ranch.”
Her shoulders sagged in quiet surrender. It was like the fight drained right out of her. “Yes, Daddy,” she whispered, trying to hold back her tears. She wasn’t sure why she was crying this time. It could be either embarrassment or relief.
Relief flashed across his face for just a second before that dark, determined Daddy look returned. The one who always made her knees go weak.
She reached for the chastity belt box Tanner had set on the desk. “I’ll just throw this away?—”
Tanner’s hand closed over hers before she reached it. The touch sent a shiver racing through her. “I’ll take care of this,” he said, picking up the box and turning it back and forth in thought before laying it on the desk again and snapping a picture of the belt and the card with his phone. “You never know when we might need proof.”
Putting everything back in the box. He took it from the table but didn’t throw it away. “I think I can use this tonight,” he said, his voice full of dark promise. “It’s the perfect way to make sure we’re on the same page when it comes to not keeping things from Daddy when your safety is in question. Have you ever heard of making the punishmentfit the crime?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she agreed, but what the heck? How that could possibly be applied to her, she had no idea.
Surely he wasn’t going to spank her with it. Heat flooded her face before settling between her thighs. Her bottom tingled harder than ever, almost like it was anticipating what might be coming.
What in the world did he have planned? Whatever he decided for her, it was sure to be very thorough and very long. And she was pretty positive it would end with her being very, very sorry.
Tanner stepped out onto the porch of Rainbow’s Edge later that afternoon carrying a suitcase she’d packed with her clothes in one hand, the duffel bag he’d brought along to pack with her stuffies, her favorite blanket, and the toiletries from the bathroom in the other. Junie followed him, and she gave a startled yelp when the creaking screen door slammed behind her. She’d been meaning to put WD-40 on the hinges for days now. She’d shot out a hand to keep the screen from slamming, but the backpack she’d crammed full of coloring books, Legos, and other items she “might need” hampered her ability to turn quickly enough.
Nanabelle stood behind the now closed screen, looking out, arms wrapped tight around herself. Her eyes were filled with worry, and it was all Junie’s fault. Her Daddy had insisted that she come clean and tell Nanabelle about all the gifts she had been receiving.
He’d said she needed to know in order to be on the lookout for any danger. She hated it when he said stuff like that. Especially when he was right.
“You call me the second you need anything,” Nanabelle said. “I don’t like this one bit, but Tanner’s right. It’s safer at his ranch right now, so that’s where you belong. You hear me?”
Junie nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I hear you. I’ll be okay.”
Tanner returned to grab the backpack. He paused to give the older woman a long look. “Are you sure you don’t want to come to theranch as well? At least until we get this whole thing sorted out? I really don’t like the thought of you being here all alone.”
Nanabelle smiled and shook her head. “That’s so sweet of you to offer, Tanner, but I’ll be just fine. And I’m not alone. I’ve got Pup here for company. You just take care of our girl.”
“I promise to do exactly that. But if you change your mind, you just give me a call. We’d love to have you.”
“I will,” Nanabelle assured him. She waggled her hands. “Go on and get home now before it gets dark. And, Junie, I expect a call from you every day, you hear me?”
“I do,” Junie said, turning to go only to turn around, yank the door open, and wrap her Nanabelle in another hug. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Be a good girl for your Daddy.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Junie said, her cheeks flushing for what had to be the thousandth time today. She dropped down to give Pup another scratch and a kiss on top of his head. “You be good too.” When Pup yipped in response, Junie smiled and stood, slipping her hand into Tanner’s free one as they walked to the truck.
Tanner opened the passenger side door and helped Junie get in, making sure her seatbelt was secured. The cab smelled like him, all leathery and warm and Daddy. Tanner slid behind the wheel without a word. He didn’t look at her. Didn’t speak. Just started the engine and pulled out onto the gravel drive.
As talkative as they’d been only moments before, once Rainbow’s Edge was out of sight, silence filled the truck like thick smoke, reminding her of the reason for the sudden move.
Tension practically radiated off Tanner’s body. When was the last time she’d seen him this upset? Tanner didn’t get angry. He’d always said it was a waste of time and energy. She hadn’t thought anyone could make him mad, but she’d managed it without even trying.
