The Art of Discipline: Running Toward Trouble (The Mockingbird Chronicles) (18 page)

“Stevie bet me that I couldn’t go a week without regretting that I let you get Matilda,” Emma quickly blurted out.

Dani snorted, and began to chuckle. “You actually took that bet? I wouldn’t have taken that bet!”

“I told you it was a stupid bet,” Emma huffed, as Dani’s chuckles turned into giggles, and suddenly a full belly laugh. Emma rolled her eyes as Dani melted into a full-fledged laugh attack, complete with tears and the occasional snort.

“Danielle, you stop that right now,” Emma scolded. “I mean it.”

Dani tried, but after a moment, collapsed into giggles once again.

“Danielle? Do I need to pull this car over?” Emma threatened.

“God, yes!” Dani cried.

“What?” Emma asked, Dani’s answer confusing her.

“I’m gonna pee my pants,” Dani cried, holding her belly, and letting out another round of laughter.

Emma rolled her eyes again. “Stupid bet,” she muttered.

“Emma, I’m serious. You need to get off the freeway.” Dani’s voice suddenly turned dire as she began to squirm in her seat.

“Just had to get that giant soda before we left Chicago, didn’t you?” Emma scolded.

Dani shifted, turning toward Emma and, making sure she could see her, Dani promptly stuck out her tongue.

“You are such a brat,” Emma scolded as she pulled off at the next exit.

Chapter Ten

Trailing Dani into the apartment, Emma grabbed both of their bags and walked toward the bedroom. Not hearing Dani follow her, she shook her head. It was late and they were both tired, but she knew that she had to deal with Dani tonight. It had already gone too long, but they could both benefit from a few minutes to settle in before they talked.

Emma let Dani have some space while she busied herself with unpacking the bags. Putting the last of the dirty clothes in the hamper, Emma headed back down the hallway, pausing at the open door to the study. Peeking inside, she couldn’t help but smile. Dani was curled up in the leather chair, Atticus and Tilly both on her lap in an uneasy truce as she petted them.

Perching on the arm of the chair, Emma reached out to scratch both felines behind their ears. “Ready, Danielle?” she asked.

“If I say no, would we postpone?” Dani’s sapphire eyes looked up at her with hope.

Emma shook her head. “No, I’m still going to follow through, young lady.” Standing, Emma extended her hand and waited for Dani to join her. After a long minute, Dani sighed and stood, shooing both pets to the floor. Taking Emma’s hand, she allowed her to lead her to the bedroom.

Crossing the threshold, Emma made sure neither cat followed them before closing the door. The last thing she wanted tonight was an interruption of the feline nature. She then sat on the edge of the bed, before patting the spot next her in an invite for Dani to join.

Putting her hand around Dani’s shoulder, she gave her a supportive squeeze before addressing her. “Alright, Danielle, this is what is going to happen,” Emma began as Dani leaned her head on her shoulder. “You will be getting a spanking tonight as well as at least one more every day for a week.”

Dani shifted. “At least? Emma, it’s too much,” she whined.

“It’s just enough, Danielle,” Emma paused. “I want you to remember this for a very long time and the reminder spankings will help do that.”

Dani sniffled. “Something tells me that’s not all.”

“No, it’s not. You still need to apologize to Stevie for your attitude, and you’re still grounded.”

Dani nodded miserably. “I don’t wanna spanking, Emma,” she whined.

Emma smirked. “I know, Dani. If you did, it wouldn’t be punishment, would it?”

Dani watched as Emma stood before pulling out her pink pajamas with the cartoon cat out of the dresser. She then let out a whimper as Emma proceeded to strip and redress her as if she were six years old.

“I can dress myself,” Dani continued to whine, as Emma instructed her to step into the pajama pants.

“Not tonight, sweetheart. Tonight you are not in control.” Giving the now fully dressed Dani a gentle pat on the backside, she instructed, “Alright, Danielle, it’s time for you to wait for me in the corner.”

“Emma,” Dani pleaded, her blue eyes already tearing.

Emma shook her head, resolving herself to the task at hand, but also stayed gentle in her promptings. “It’ll be okay, Danielle, go on, get in the corner,” she directed softly, placing a kiss on Dani’s cheek.

After Dani managed to drag herself to the corner, Emma pulled down her box from the closet, and found herself sighing as she rummaged through it. Making her decision, she extracted the ping-pong paddle before closing it and returning to the bed. Sitting back on the edge of the bed once again, Emma watched Dani shift from foot to foot. She knew corner time was akin to torture for Dani, but she still wanted to make a point. Looking at the bedside clock, she relented; fifteen minutes should have gotten her point across. “Danielle, come here,” she directed quietly.

Turning, Dani wiped the tears from her eyes and slowly walked toward Emma. Sniffling, she stood in front of her, eyes downcast, as Emma grasped her hands gently.

“You know that I love you, Danielle?”

Dani nodded.

“Well, with that love, comes responsibility, and it’s my responsibility to make sure you know that you’re loved and protected. And I plan to make sure you feel my love for quite some time,” Emma finished before guiding Dani over her lap.

Emma helped Dani slowly adjust her tall frame so the bed was supporting her torso, but her bottom was directly centered across her lap. She then inserted her fingers into Dani’s waistband, waiting for Dani to raise her hips slightly, assisting in the removal of her pajama bottoms. She then watched as a sniffling Dani reached for a nearby pillow and placed her face in it. Emma frowned, knowing that Dani was already crying. Putting her hand on Dani’s pantied backside, she gave it a supportive rub, giving Dani that extra moment she needed to settle.

Emma continued to rub for a few seconds, until she felt the tension leave Dani’s muscles. Relaxing just enough, Dani winced as Emma raised her palm before bringing it down on her left cheek. Confused, Dani looked over her shoulder, questioning why the swat hadn’t been full force.

Catching Dani’s eyes, Emma raised an eyebrow, bringing the next swat down quite a bit harder. Dani grunted, and squirmed as the pain assaulted her senses. Emma then began a steady regimen of the softer swats, keeping them even, constant, and just slow enough so that the sting would climax just in time for the next swat to occur.

* * *

Dani hugged her pillow and groaned. The swats almost felt good; the steady rhythm lulled her into a sort of hypnotic state. The sensation though, was misleading, for it didn’t last long. Dani found herself starting to squirm as the heat continued to build. The constant attack, although softer, was unrelenting, and before Dani knew it she was gasping and curling her toes, just trying to keep herself in position.

Then, as suddenly as the attack started, it stopped. Dani briefly gave a sigh of relief until she felt Emma’s fingers in her waistband, as Emma pulled her panties down to her knees. Dani couldn’t help but tense again as she felt the cool wood from the ping-pong paddle rub against her cheeks.

“Danielle,” Emma said quietly. “I love you, and I know it’s not easy, but I want you to remember that as I continue.”

Dani felt herself nod and then tense as Emma shifted and tightened her grip around Dani’s waist. The swats began once again, this time with the paddle, but with the same speed and force that Emma had employed with her hand. Dani shifted and grunted as higher pitched pain continued to stoke the fire already simmering on her posterior. One minute turned into two and two into three as the slow and steady assault continued. By the time the fifth minute passed, Dani was starting to get desperate. She was moaning, shifting, and wincing with every blow of the paddle. When Dani finally allowed the dam to break and Emma heard the soft sobbing into the pillow, she paused again.

“Danielle?” Emma asked gently.

“I’m sorry, Emma,” Dani blubbered.

“Why are you sorry, Danielle?”

Dani sniffed. “For not trusting you. I’m sorry I overreacted, and that I ran away, again.”

“Oh, Dani,” Emma moaned. “We’re gonna work on that, aren’t we?”

Dani nodded into her pillow, sniffling again. “Yes,” she managed.

“Good girl,” Emma praised. “Now, we’re almost done. These last few are going to be harder, but that is because I want you to remember something.”

Dani looked over her shoulder, blinking, as Emma rubbed her bottom. “What?”

“That I love you, and the only place I’ll ever go is after your butt to drag it back home. You got it?”

Despite her current position, Dani couldn’t help but smile. “I love you too, Emma.”

Emma didn’t respond verbally, but tightened her grip around Dani’s waist, signaling to her that she was going to start the last part of her punishment.

Dani tensed, but immediately started to kick and squirm as Emma’s hand made a repeated attack on her already scorched rear. All in all, only a dozen or so swats were delivered, but by the time Emma was done, Dani was again bawling like a small child. Giving Dani a moment to compose herself, Emma eventually pulled her onto her lap, and rocked her until the sobs settled into the familiar sniffles and hiccups.

Before Dani knew it, she found her panties and pajama bottoms righted, and realized that she was being tucked into bed.

Dani opened her mouth, but Emma shushed her, pressing a finger over her lips. “Yes, you are going to sleep. Yes, I’m staying right here. Yes, we will talk more in the morning. And yes, if I catch your butt out of bed before dawn, I’ll spank it again and put it right back to bed.”

Dani frowned for a moment, but slowly melted as Emma crawled under the covers and invited Dani to curl up next to her. Resting her head on Emma’s chest, Dani listened as her lover’s heartbeat seemed to sync with her own. “Emma?” Dani asked quietly. “Are you really going to spank me every day for a week?”

Emma bent her head and kissed the top of Dani’s. “Yes, sweetheart, I am.”

“Okay,” Dani managed, snuggling closer to Emma. “Love you.”

“I love you too, Dani.”

* * *

Opening her eyes, Dani turned over to stretch, immediately yelped, then turned back to her stomach and whimpered. Hearing a chuckle next to her, she stuck her lip out into a pout. “My butt hurts,” she whined. Reaching back, she slipped her hands under her pajama bottoms. “And it’s still warm.”

Sitting up, Emma looked down at her, smoothing a piece of hair from Dani’s face. “Good, means that I did my job right.”

Dani sniffed. “You don’t have to be so proud about it, you know. I may never sit again,” she lamented.

Giggling, Emma slipped out of the bed and headed toward the bathroom. “Time to get up; we still have work today, sweetie, and you have an apology to make.”

“Emma,” Dani groaned.

* * *

A short time later Dani couldn’t help groaning again as they pulled up in front of Stevie and Anna’s house. This apology was probably the hardest part of her punishment. She knew that Stevie deserved it, but her nerves were currently getting the best of her. What if Stevie was still mad at her? What if Stevie wouldn’t let them come for movie night anymore? What if Stevie wanted to spank her too?

Taking Emma’s hand, she gulped as they headed up the front walk and then shifted nervously as they waited for the door to open. Sighing in relief as Anna opened the door, her stomach dropped once again as Anna led them into the living room.

Stevie was already curled on the couch petting the large dog at her side. Standing, she waited until the dog leapt to the floor before turning to her guest. Smiling, she took Dani’s hands and sat with her on the couch. Looking at Emma and Anna, she spoke. “Why don’t you two give us a minute; we’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

Nodding in understanding, the two women silently left the room.

Dani stared at her hands, not able to look at Stevie. The quiet finally became too much for her and she slowly looked up. Finding Stevie’s brown eyes studying her, she once more looked at her hands.

“I don’t bite, you know,” Stevie said gently.

Dani nodded and slowly raised her head again, taking a deep breath as she spoke. “That’s not what Anna says,” she quipped before smiling.

“Looks like my brat and I need to have a chat about my secrets,” Stevie teased.

Taking a deep breath, Dani spoke again. “Stevie, I want to apologize for how I spoke to you at the diner. You didn’t deserve that and it won’t happen again.”

“I see,” Stevie commented as her eyes locked with Dani’s.

“I guess I was a bit mean to you too,” Dani continued before she paused and dropped her head again. “The dirty looks, refusing to run with you, the attitude, there really is no excuse for it. I was mad at Emma, and took it out on you. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Pulling Dani into a hug, Stevie held her for a moment before pushing her back and holding her at arm’s length. “Apology accepted, Dani,” she smiled. “Now, what say we head into the kitchen before Anna and Emma eat all the cookies we made.”

Sighing in relief, Dani stood up, her hands gently rubbing her backside without conscious thought. “Cookies?” she asked.

Watching as Dani rubbed, Stevie chuckled, “So Emma made her point, did she?”

Dani blushed as she moved her hands to her side once again. “A little too well if you ask me,” Dani admitted as they walked into the kitchen.

Hearing laughter as she entered the room, Dani grabbed a cookie off the plate in the center of the kitchen table before leaning up against the counter. “What’s so funny in here?” she asked.

Anna blushed. “Emma was just asking how much I trouble I’d gotten into for telling you about the canes.”

“Oh,” Dani blushed as well. “I’m sorry about that, Anna,” she started.

Holding up her hand, Anna shook her head. “It’s okay, Dani, I should know by now, how to say no, even if it means breaking the brat code and tattling.”