The Fox knew that Brody wouldn’t be able to resist that look, and sure enough, he instantly caved and drew Autumn into a hug.
“Poor Tutu, did you hurt yourself? Have you got any bruises?” Brody asked.
“No, I’m okay,” she said. “I guess I just got a bit of a fright. I didn’t mean to scare everyone.”
“Hmm, are you okay? Or are you upset because you would have rather pretended this didn’t happen?” the Fox asked as he helped her to her feet, holding her hips to keep her steady.
She gulped as she stared up at the Fox. “Am I really in trouble, Daddy?” she asked.
“What do you think, baby girl?” he asked.
“I think that since it’s the Fourth of July and we’re going to a really special barbecue, and I’m such a good girl, that you’regoing to let me off with just a warning.” She gave him a sweet smile.
He frowned. “You didn’t hit your head, did you?” He started to examine her head.
“What? No! Why?”
“Because you seem to be talking nonsense. Get off with a warning? I don’t think so.”
“Daddy!” she cried. “I wasn’t talking nonsense.”
“You disobeyed Daddy and put yourself in danger. You know that deserves punishment.”
She sighed, shoulders slumping. “I know. I should have waited for you.”
“Yes, you should have,” the Fox said sternly. “If you’d just waited a few minutes more, I would have gotten that container down for you, and you wouldn’t have fallen. You wouldn’t be sore, and you wouldn’t be about to get your bottom smacked right before we go to a barbecue.”
“Oh, Daddy, do we have to do it right now? Couldn’t we wait until after the barbecue? Otherwise, I’m not going to be able to sit very well.”
“If I know your friends, I’m sure that you won’t be the only Little sitting uncomfortably.”
“That’s true,” Brody said with a nod as he absently rubbed his own bottom.
“Come on, I want to be certain that you haven’t bruised yourself.” The Fox took hold of her hand and led her out into the living room.
Sitting on the sofa, he drew her between his spread thighs and started to strip off her clothes except for her panties and bra.
“Daddy, you don’t need to take my clothes off, I’m fine,” she cried.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” he said.
He started running his fingers all over her body, pressing and pushing to make sure that she was truly all right.
Finally, he leaned back and stared at her.
“See,” she said triumphantly. “I told you that I wasn’t hurt.”
“That’s good, Bunny. Means that I don’t have to hold back with your punishment. Now come here and lie across my lap.”
Autumn bit her full lower lip. “Drat. Are you really, really sure that we can’t do this later? Aren’t we going to be late? Brody, we’re going to be late, right?”
“Sorry, Tutu, but we’re not late yet, and I actually think you deserve this spanking,” Brody told her as he sat on an armchair across from them.
“What?” she cried, turning to look at him. “We’re supposed to stick together.”
“Against the big bad wolf?” the Fox asked.
She spun back, her dark auburn hair flying around her. “What? No, of course not, Daddy. I don’t think you’re a big bad anything.”
