“Oh, baby girl. Look at me.” He dropped the spoon and cupped her face in his hands, looking directly into her eyes, wanting her to understand his sincerity. “I will never do that to you, I promise. I don’t make commitments lightly. We can take it as slow as you like. You’ve still got a few weeks before you have to move out of here, haven’t you?” He raised an eyebrow at her questioningly and she nodded. “So you can stay on the weekends at first, see what you think. We can work it out, baby girl. The most important thing you need to know is that you have options, and I’m here for you.”
* * *
Wearing no pants in the kitchen while she made Matthew a coffee seemed like the most natural thing in the world. She could breathe freer now; it felt like the weight of the world had been taken off her shoulders. Matthew had made everything all better. Thanks to him her bottom throbbed, her pussy ached, and her breasts were tight and hot. She wanted him so bad. It was totally unfair that he punished her and left her horny.
“Is this what it’s going to be like when I’m living with you?” she asked him as she tipped milk into his mug. “Wandering around the place with no pants on?”
Matthew chuckled. “I like being able to admire my handiwork.” He got up from the couch and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing her neck. His thighs pressed against her hot bottom, his jeans rough, scratchy against her stinging skin. She tipped her head back, allowing him easier access to her throat, and moaned.
“And yes, whenever we are alone in the house I will very much enjoy seeing you wandering around the place with no pants on. Especially when you have a bright red bottom as you do now.” He squeezed it and she yelped. “A well punished bottom looks good on you, little girl.”
She smiled shyly and handed him the mug of steaming coffee. “Let me go and put some clothes on and brush my hair. It’s nearly time to pick up my daughter from school.”
“And cover up this beautiful bottom?” Matthew mock frowned. “I don’t think so!”
Tiptoeing, Jilly kissed him. “I’m afraid so. But when it’s just me and you, I will bare my bottom for you whenever you like. I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Jilly leaned back on her elbows and sighed happily. This afternoon had gone better than she could ever have imagined. Lily had been inquisitive but polite when Jilly had introduced her to Matthew, and Matthew had been kind and patient, answering all the questions she had asked of him. And when he had suggested they go to Mission Bay beach for ice cream, Lily’s eyes had nearly popped out of her head in excitement when she saw Matthew’s car.
Now she watched as Matthew pushed Lily on the swing. She’d never seen him in casual clothes before, only well-fitted suits. But jeans and a t-shirt suited him. His old Levi’s clung to him like a second skin and his untucked black t-shirt stretched tight across his chest, making his shoulders and biceps look huge. His too-long hair flopped over his forehead instead of being slicked back with gel like it often was at work. He looked relaxed and happy. Her daughter’s giggles were infectious and Matthew was grinning. He was born to be a father, she thought. Matthew was as attentive and gentle with her daughter as he was with her, and it made her heart sing.
They went for a walk down the beach, Jilly and Matthew hand in hand, with Lily skipping merrily ahead of them. At some stage, Jilly wasn’t sure exactly when, Matthew had taken to calling Lily ‘princess’ and the little girl’s eyes shone with pleasure whenever he said it. Lily looked up at him adoringly and Matthew smiled back and Jilly’s heart melted. This afternoon could not get any more perfect, she thought.
At the far end of the beach, when they turned around to walk back to the carpark, Lily announced her legs were too tired to go any further. Jilly sighed, ready to cajole her daughter to carry on, preparing to bribe her with whatever necessary, but Matthew stepped in and swung the little girl up onto his shoulders, giving Jilly a wink. And he carried her effortlessly the whole way back. By the time they got back to Matthew’s car, the little girl and the tall, strong man were the best of friends. Jilly’s heart was ready to explode with happiness. Matthew ticked all the right boxes, and now that she had seen how easily he’d built a rapport with her daughter, she was convinced that moving in with him was the right thing to do.
That night, Lily insisted on Matthew reading her a bedtime story and Jilly smiled as the two of them snuggled up on the couch together to read. The same couch he sat on to spank me, she thought.
Matthew related to Lily with a natural ease and when Jilly tucked her into bed when the story was finished, Lily reached up and put her arms around Jilly’s neck. “I like Matthew, Mummy. Is he going to be my new daddy? I’m the only girl in my class without a daddy. Sometimes the kids tease me because I don’t have a daddy.”
Fury welled up inside Jilly at the thought of her daughter being teased for something that was completely outside of her control. Is that why Lily hadn’t wanted to go to school recently? She forced back her emotions and returned Lily’s hug. “Would you like that?”
“Yes! He’s nice,” Lily said.
Relief flooded her. If Lily had been resistant to Matthew being in their lives, she would have had to rethink things. As it was, it couldn’t be any more perfect.
After she left Lily’s room, Jilly went back and
