Chapter Seven: Breaking Down Walls

Alex’s POV

Seeing my baby crying so hard broke my heart. I hadn’t expected that reaction. Was she overwhelmed? Had the spanking been too much for her? Did it hurt her that much for tears to stream down her face? I had told her she could use her safe word, even if she didn’t fully know the weight of that promise yet. I hadn’t been too hard on her, and she hadn’t shown any signs that the pain was beyond what she could handle.

But here she was, clinging to me tightly, her body shaking with soft sobs. When I heard her say the word "Daddy," my chest tightened. It wasn’t the title alone that did it—it was the vulnerability in her voice, the trust she’d placed in me, and the unspoken plea for comfort. My heart skipped a beat, then surged with something akin to pride.

“Shhh, baby, it’s okay,” I whispered, holding her close and gently stroking her hair. “Daddy has forgiven you. You’re such a good girl; you took your punishment so well. Daddy is very, very proud of you.”

“Da...d...ddy, I wo...n’t d..o it a..gain. I...I w....ill b...e a go...od g...girl f...or y...ou,” she stammered between her sobs, her voice trembling as she sought my reassurance.

Those words sent a warmth through my chest I couldn’t fully explain. There was something sacred in her promise—a yearning to please me, to surrender, to learn. Gently, I guided her to the bed and lay down beside her, pulling her close and letting her curl into me. My hand continued its soothing path across her back, the rhythm deliberate, calming.

“It’s okay, babygirl. Daddy is proud of you. You’re safe now. You make me so proud. You’re the sweetest,” I murmured, kissing the top of her head softly. She moved even closer, burrowing her face into my chest as though seeking shelter from the world.

I fought the urge to kiss her again, to lose myself in her soft lips, her warmth, the way she melted into me. It would’ve been easy to succumb to desire in that moment, but this wasn’t about me. She was still overwhelmed, still processing what had happened tonight. She was new to this, to me. This had to be about her—for now.

“You did such a good job today,” I continued, my voice low and soothing. “You know that, right? I’m very proud of you.” Her sobs had subsided, replaced by a quiet stillness. Her vulnerability, her trust, stirred something deep inside me—something protective, something fierce.

When I looked down, her eyes were closed, her breathing soft and steady. “Let me take care of you, babygirl. You deserve to be treated well,” I said, even though she was already drifting into sleep. She nodded faintly in response, a small movement that made my heart swell. I wanted to ask her to use her words, to hear her say it aloud, but I knew there was no rush. She still had a lot to learn, and we would take this one step at a time.

“Natacha,” I called softly, but she didn’t respond. “Natacha, are you good?” Still no answer. A small smile tugged at my lips when I realized she had fallen asleep. She must’ve been exhausted—emotionally, physically.

Carefully, I pulled the duvet from under her without waking her and tucked it around her. I watched her for a moment, her peaceful face illuminated by the soft glow of the bedside lamp. She looked so small, so innocent, and the thought of anyone else seeing her like this, touching her, filled me with a possessiveness that I couldn’t quite shake.

Reluctantly, I left the room and headed straight to my office. As much as I wanted to reward my baby for taking her punishment so well tonight, I couldn’t—not while she was asleep, not without her fully aware and present in the moment. The heat of desire coursed through me, but I knew better than to let it consume me. I needed her by my side for that, and she wasn’t ready yet.

Instead, I resolved to reward her in a different way: by not sleeping with anyone else tonight.

I sank into my chair, my thoughts still lingering on Natacha—her tears, her trembling voice, the way she clung to me. She was mine now, whether she fully realized it or not. And I wasn’t going to let her go.

The door to my office opened, pulling me from my thoughts. Nat stepped in, his expression as sharp and focused as ever.

“Hey, Alex. Have you attended to the info I sent you?” he asked, his tone laced with urgency.

Shit. I’d completely forgotten about handling something for Pops tonight.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t checked it out,” Nat said, raising an eyebrow. “The boss will need to hear from you tonight.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll call Dad,” I replied, pulling up the files Nat had sent me. It was about one of our bagmen—a man who’d made the fatal mistake of trying to skim money off the top. I scanned the report quickly, already knowing how this would end. No one stole from us and lived to tell the tale.

“How was she?” Nat asked casually, leaning against the doorframe.

I glanced at him, not bothering to hide my irritation. I knew he wouldn’t let it go until he got an answer, but I wasn’t in the mood to discuss Natacha with anyone—not even him.

“She’s not into this lifestyle,” I said finally, my eyes still on the screen in front of me.

“Are you going to train her?” he pressed. “You hardly take an interest in anyone who isn’t into this.”

“I don’t know what to do about her yet,” I admitted, frustration creeping into my voice. “As much as I’d love to be her Dom, I can’t force her into this lifestyle if she’s not ready for it.”

Nat studied me for a moment before speaking. “Judging from what I saw earlier, I think she’s into you, too.”

I didn’t respond right away, but his words lingered. I knew she was drawn to me—I’d seen it in her eyes, felt it in the way she melted under my touch. But desire wasn’t the same as commitment. If she wasn’t fully ready to embrace this world, I couldn’t force her.

“I’m not letting her walk away from me,” I said finally, my voice firm. “I’ll do everything and anything to keep her as mine.”

Nat raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. Instead, he shifted the conversation back to business, discussing our operations and the need to tighten our grip on certain aspects of our dealings.

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After Nat left, I stayed in my office, surrounded by the dim light of my desk lamp and the weight of my thoughts. The conversation about our operations had been important, but I couldn’t stop my mind from drifting back to Natacha. Her soft skin, her trembling voice, the way she had looked at me with such raw vulnerability—it was all etched into my mind.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was different, that there was something special about her. It wasn’t just about dominance or control. It was deeper than that—a connection I hadn’t felt with anyone else. But if this was going to work, I had to be patient. I had to let her come to me willingly, to trust me completely.

As I sat there, my thoughts circling endlessly, one thing became clear: Natacha wasn’t just another girl. She was mine. And I would do whatever it took to keep her by my side.