The Art of Discipline: Dani’s Discovery (The Mockingbird Chronicles) Read online

  “Oh yeah. Not to mention no eating out.”

  “Ouch, that must be like torture for you. Are you guys starving?”

  Dani chuckled. “No, actually Emma is a pretty good cook, but don’t tell her I said that.”

  Anna made the motion of locking her lips. “My lips are sealed.”

  “Thanks, so how do you get through it?” Dani asked, taking a long sip of her drink.

  “What, being grounded?”

  Dani nodded, watching as a customer entered the store and headed toward the biography section.

  “I find creative ways to keep myself occupied,” Anna answered with a wink. “I’m sure you’ll think of something,” she added before heading off to help the newest customer.

  * * *

  “I am not eating that,” Dani protested, putting her fork down next to her plate.

  “I’m only asking that you take one bite, Dani,” Emma replied, picking her fork up and taking a bite herself.

  “No, they look like they’re bleeding.”

  “Danielle, they’re red beets. They’re supposed to look that way. Now try a bite.”

  “No,” Dani repeated, eating around them until nothing remained on her plate except the dreaded vegetable.

  “Danielle, one bite,” Emma tried again.

  “No.” Dani crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.

  “Okay, I’m not going to force you.” Emma stood and began clearing the table. “Since you’re done, I want you to go put on your pajamas and wait in the corner for me.”

  “What?” Dani stood up quickly. “Okay, I’ll eat the damned beets.”

  Emma looked at Dani and shook her head. “This isn’t about the beets, Danielle. We need to talk about the other night.”

  Dani looked down at her bare feet, “Emma, please…”

  “Pajamas, and in the corner, Danielle. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Fine,” Dani turned and stomped to their room, slamming the door in her wake.

  “I’m really going to have to talk to her about slamming doors,” Emma muttered as she put the dishes in the dishwasher.

  Opening the bedroom door, Emma frowned. Dani was sitting in the corner, her hands around a puzzle cube.

  “Come on, damn it, just one more…” Dani mumbled before giving the cube another twist. “Yes, I knew I could get two colors solved!” she said as Emma quietly came up behind her.

  “Need some help with that?” Emma asked, causing Dani to jump.

  “Sheesh, Emma, you scared me!” Dani said returning to her cube.

  Bending down, Emma grabbed Dani’s ear and slowly tugged until she stood. Once upright again, Emma released her.

  “Ow, Emma, what was that for?” Dani demanded as she rubbed her throbbing ear.

  “Exactly what part of pajamas and in the corner wasn’t clear to you?”

  “But I’m in my pajamas,” Dani protested. “And I was in the corner!”

  Emma rubbed her face with her hands. “Okay, technically you’re correct. However, when have you ever waited sitting in the corner for me?”

  Dani shrugged. “Never, but I didn’t think of it until tonight.”

  “Alright, fair enough.” Emma took a deep breath. “Let’s try this again. When you wait in the corner for me, I expect you to be standing, facing the corner, and doing nothing else. Since you didn’t do that the first time, you can have ten extra minutes practicing now.”

  “Emma, that’s not fair.”

  Emma’s raised eyebrow met Dani’s protest.

  “Fine.” Huffing, Dani turned back to the corner. “The least you could do is let me solve my puzzle.”

  “Not tonight, Danielle. Besides, I think you’ll need to mix it up again,” Emma stated, putting the now solved cube onto Dani’s dresser.

  “How did you—”

  “Corner, Danielle, now,” Emma pointed, and Dani turned with a heavy sigh.

  “This is so unfair,” she muttered.

  Opening the closet, Emma removed the box near the door and opened it on the bed. Looking carefully through all the items, she chose what she wanted and returned the box to the closet.

  “Okay, Danielle, come here.”

  “Is my time up so soon?” Dani asked, slowly turning, her eyes down.

  Stopping the smile from forming, Emma repeated, “Yes, Danielle, come on.”

  Walking as slowly as possible, Dani stopped in front of Emma’s knees.

  Emma gave Dani a half smile and patted the bed beside her. “We need to discuss a few things before we get to the fun part,” she teased.

  Dani paled but sat as she was told.

  “Alright,” Emma began. “I want you to tell me why we need to have this chat.”

  Dani groaned. “Does it really matter? You’re gonna turn my backside into hamburger meat no matter what I say.”

  “Yes, it does, and I expect honest answers from you, Danielle Ryan.”

  “Fine. I guess it started with the gun.”

  “Okay. And?”

  “Too much soda, too much attitude, having to disobey you to do my job—oh, and you’re probably pissed about the pillow too.”

  Emma shook her head, and before Dani knew it, the petite redhead had somehow managed to grab her arm and twist her over her lap. Dani suddenly found herself studying the carpet as Emma laid a dozen fast swats to her backside. Releasing Dani to her seat again, Dani blinked back the tears as green eyes bore into her.

  “Perhaps I should clarify. Not only do I want honest answers, but I would prefer them with much less attitude.” Getting a nod, Emma straightened. “Okay, let’s try again. Why do we need to have this chat, Danielle?”

  Dani groaned. “Sorry. I guess I’ve been giving you a lot of attitude. I know it’s not an excuse, but when I get sick, I tend to get a little whiny.”

  “Really, I didn’t notice,” Emma replied dryly.

  “I guess you’re really upset because I’ve been doing a crappy job at listening. You want at honest answer? Honestly… I don’t know. I just feel… well, I feel like…”

  “Like what, Danielle?”

  “Like you’re gonna leave, just like everyone else,” Dani almost whispered, as she tucked her chin into her chest.

  Emma sighed. “I told you, Danielle, I’m not going anywhere. I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  Dani closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly. She wanted so much to believe Emma’s words, but she knew deep down that the words meant nothing.

  “Danielle, look at me,” Emma gently coaxed, waiting until Dani was able to raise her head again. “Tell me more about when you were a child. I want to know more about you, more about how you were raised.”

  Dani shrugged. “I told you, I spent summers and holidays here with Uncle Sean, and—”

  “No, that’s not what I mean. Okay, let’s just talk about your grandparents. You said you had a nanny? What was she like?”

  “Which one?”

  Emma wrinkled her brow in confusion. “How many did you have?”

  Dani shrugged. “Dozen—maybe thirteen or fourteen, I’m not really sure. After a while, I stopped counting.”

  “Didn’t anyone stick around?”

  Dani let a small smile slip. “One. I was eight. Jessica was her name. Little tiny thing, but strong. I guess you could say I was a little bit of a troublemaker. We’d been together for about a year, and I decided to play a prank on her.”

  Emma couldn’t help letting her own smile slip. It was nice to see Dani remember a good childhood moment. “What did you do?”

  “Ah, well I found a frog out by the pond, and it sort of found its way into one of her slippers,” Dani chuckled. “She was so mad she chased me down and swatted me good with the slipper.”

  “Sounded like you deserved it,” Emma agreed.

  “Oh, I did. Probably deserved a lot more. I went crying to my grandfather.” Dani then got quiet, and Emma waited patiently for her to continue. Taking a deep breath, she did. “Inst
ead of getting mad at me, or backing her, he fired her. I cried for weeks. He bought me a new bike. I never rode it.”

  “Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry.”

  Dani shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Not like she was my mother—just hired help. My grandfather was right. I should have never gotten attached to her.”

  “You’re wrong, and he was wrong. You were a child. You needed to have those attachments. He certainly wasn’t going to give it to you, so you reached out to others. I think I understand why Uncle Sean meant so much to you. He was your only rock.”

  Dani shrugged again.

  “And now he’s gone too,” Emma trailed off. She watched Dani for a moment as she shifted a bit from side to side. She’d averted her eyes again, and Emma felt bad for forcing the painful memories and feelings to the surface. “I think I understand now,” Emma said quietly.

  “What?” Dani asked.

  Emma shook her head. “I think I understand why you keep pushing me away.”

  “I don’t want to push you away,” Dani whispered. “It hurts.”

  “I know, honey, but I know that sometimes hurting is good. It’s means that we are alive and that we are reacting, taking chances, and willing to deal with the consequences of those actions.”

  Dani suddenly looked up. “Does that mean that you are going to spank me now?”

  Emma chuckled. “Yes, and I’m going to spank you again tomorrow night, and the next night as well.”

  Dani paled. “But… why?”

  “You have an agenda. You are trying to push me away, trying to prove that you aren’t lovable, or aren’t worthy enough to be loved. Well, I have an agenda too—to prove that you are wrong.”

  “But how is spanking me three days in a row going to do that?” Dani argued. “I’ve gotten spanked three times in a day… and obviously that didn’t work.”

  “Obviously,” Emma echoed dryly. “But what you need, Danielle, is stability. I’ve tried to be consistent, tried to be fair, yet we keep hitting the same wall over and over again. In the past it’s always been one for one. You do something, and I react. This time, I’m reacting first.”

  “But how is that at all fair?” Dani whined. “What if I’m super good tomorrow? No matter what, I’ll still get spanked? Why even bother?”

  Emma raised an eyebrow and twisted slightly, pulling out a small leather paddle that she had hidden next to her. Making sure Dani got a good look at it, she tapped it on the palm of her hand. “Remember, Danielle, there are degrees of how painful a spanking can be.”

  Dani recoiled at the sight. “You’re gonna use that? I’m never gonna sit again,” she groaned.

  “Tonight, yes,” Emma affirmed. “I hope though, if you can behave, it won’t be necessary tomorrow or the next time.

  Dani looked apprehensive but nodded her understanding.

  “Danielle, tonight, the spanking I’m going to give you will be a little longer and harder than the next two, because we do have discipline issues. You did outright disobey me when you didn’t cancel that conference call. You also disobeyed me and then tried to trick me when I told you to take a bath. In addition to that, you have been defiant, willful, and disrespectful during the time that you have been sick. I cannot and I will not tolerate any of these things.”

  Dani shifted nervously. “What about the iced tea?” she whispered.

  “Oh, that.” Emma seemed to consider it for a moment. “What do you think, Danielle?”

  Dani chewed her lip. “I think I shouldn’t have tried to make it look like I was drinking soda.”

  “No, you shouldn’t have. And since you did it twice, before we finish this lesson I’ll add five swats of this paddle for each time. Think that will be enough of a reminder for you?”

  The question didn’t really require an answer, but Dani nodded anyway.

  “Good. Anything else you’d like to clear up before we get started?” Emma asked.

  Dani shook her head.

  “Right. Then up, bottoms down, and over you go,” Emma narrated as she helped Dani to stand, pulled down said pajama bottoms, and then guided her over her lap.

  Emma felt Dani tense as she tapped her gently with the palm of her hand. “Remember, Danielle, I love you.”

  Dani sniffled. “I love you too, Emma.”

  Dani cringed from the first strike. Emma’s palm was all business, and it was all Dani could to do keep herself from squirming off Emma’s lap. Dani quickly lost count and was soon lost in her own world of squirm, yelps, and promises. Her backside was throbbing, and when Emma finally paused, it barely registered with Dani.

  Dani was crying openly as Emma wedged her panties down to her thighs and then rubbed the cool paddle over her warm cheeks. To be honest, it felt good, and Dani was almost tempted to enjoy the smooth, cool surface—until she remembered exactly what Emma was taunting her with.

  Not that Emma was teasing her, but Emma liked to pause during her transitions. It gave Dani a moment to settle and refocus, and it gave the pain a moment to subside into a dull ache before it began anew. The paddle was new, and to be honest, it scared Dani a little bit. It seemed to be a little more serious than the Ping-Pong paddle, or even the hairbrush—those were common household items. Only someone who was serious about spanking would actually own a leather paddle. It wasn’t a found or a convenient item. It only had one purpose.

  Emma gave her another moment, another rub, and then tapped her gently twice. That was the signal, and Dani knew her world was about to get a lot more painful. The paddle was pulled back and Dani couldn’t contain the hiss as it smartly kissed her backside.

  First one cheek and then the other. Dani’s struggles were instantly renewed. The pain was sharper then she expected. It wasn’t a thud like the hairbrush or a sharp sting like the Ping-Pong paddle. It had a deeper, more meaningful bite. Dani instinctively knew it was going to linger. This paddling was something she was going to be able to feel for a long time.

  Emma continued, and so did Dani. She was crying now—sobbing. The pain was high, but Emma helped, locking her into place with a firm arm tucked around her waist. Dani banged her toes on the carpet. She dug her hands into the comforter, grabbing a large handful with each fist as Emma continued.

  Finally Dani let out a labored sob, and her body went lax, as she soaked the comforter with her tears. Emma also felt Dani let go and stopped just long enough to put the paddle down. She rubbed Dani’s fevered cheeks for a moment before pulling back her hand and letting Dani have a final quick dozen.

  Giving Dani a few moments to settle, Emma rubbed her cheeks and eventually her back. She helped Dani up, and then let her curl into her. Dani continued to cry quietly, but Emma again helped, this time kissing away the tears and whispering sweet words into Dani’s ear. Finally getting Dani to calm down enough, she managed to replace Dani’s panties, letting her forget the pajama bottoms completely. She then encouraged Dani under the sheets, where she let her lover drift off, using her lap as a pillow.

  Stroking Dani’s hair, Emma bent and kissed the top of her head. “I know it’s hard,” Emma whispered, “but all you have to do is trust me. I love you too much to let you go.”

  Dani shifted, and Emma wondered if maybe she wasn’t all the way asleep. Dani smiled though, not opening her eyes before muttering back, “Love you too, Emma.”

  * * *

  Emma watched from the crow’s nest while Anna and Dani shared a laugh as they were shelving books customers had left on the table. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and smiled.

  “Is this seat taken or can anybody sit here?” Stevie asked, handing Emma a cup of coffee and sitting next to her on the couch. Looking to where Emma’s eyes were once again focused, Stevie chuckled. “You have it bad don’t you?”

  Emma turned to look at the blonde and smirked. “I don’t know what you mean, Stefanie Taylor.”

  Groaning, Stevie gave Emma a light punch on the arm. “Top or not, you call me Stefanie again and you’ll be going over my lap.”
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  Grinning, Emma took a sip of her coffee and returned her focus to Dani. “She’s just so damned cute.”

  Laughing, Stevie watched as Anna caused Dani to laugh about something before Dani quickly rubbed her backside.

  “Ah, the universal I’ve been spanked gesture.” Stevie sat back and crossed her legs. “So how did she take her comeuppance for recent events?”

  Emma leaned back and turned on the couch, pulling one leg under her. She took another sip of coffee before speaking. “So far, so good, actually.”

  “You mean you aren’t done?” Stevie whistled. “I figured she wouldn’t be sitting for a week after those stunts she pulled.”

  Emma chuckled. “Oh believe me, the thought did cross my mind, but after talking with her, I decided a three day event would be much more effective than a large one-time party.”

  Taking a large drink of her bottled water, Stevie shook her head. “And you grounded her too? I must say, Emma, I might need to take lessons from you.”

  Smirking, Emma added, “Yeah, you just might.”

  * * *

  “And one erector set. Thank you, yes, all of it should be delivered tomorrow afternoon at one-thirty. Right, the apartment above Ryan’s Books, addressed to Danielle Ryan. Thanks so much.” Hanging up the phone, Dani sighed in relief as Emma entered the office unannounced.

  Quickly turning to her laptop, Dani began to type instructions to Morgan about the Johnson sweet sixteen, just as her cell phone rang. Checking the number, she answered it, “Yes, Olivia, go ahead and patch her through, I’m available.”

  Winking at Emma, Dani shifted in her seat. “Danielle Ryan speaking. Hello, Mrs. Johnson. No, Mrs. Johnson, I’m sorry, but Shelby Stix is on tour in Europe, so she won’t be able to appear for Ashley’s party, but we are in negations with both of Ashley’s other two choices. As soon as we have more information, we will contact you. Yes, I promise you the sky writer came through, and the party favors will be just as you asked. Orange with brown stripes. Right, okay. Sure. Bye, Mrs. Johnson.”

  Rolling her eyes, Dani put down her phone and stretched, “Are you sure I can’t have a pillow, Emma?” she asked before standing to stretch some more.