Read Online The Art of Discipline: Dani’s Discovery (The Mockingbird Chronicles) by Alexandra James, Stardawn Cabot - Free Book Online
Authors: Alexandra James, Stardawn Cabot
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Dani’s hand before continuing. “First, you will always have a nap or be sent to bed after a spanking. This is non-negotiable,” she added, seeing the blue eyes start to blaze. “Secondly, I will decide when you do and do not need to be spanked. I also decide how, when, and where you will be spanked.”
Dani resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “When, where, and how—I get it, you’re an adverb. Anything else?”
Emma narrowed her eyes at Dani’s sarcastic tone, but at the moment she chose to ignore it. “Yes, there will be additional consequences for your actions if you don’t comply with my rules.” Emma locked eyes with Dani once again, “And above all, Danielle, I want you to know that you can trust me. I won’t speak of this to anyone, unless you are okay with it, nor will I threaten you or embarrass you in front of others. This is between you and me. No one else needs to know about it.”
Dani tilted her head slightly, noticing Emma’s eyes soften with this last statement. “Emma?”
“Yes?”
“Not that you’re giving me much choice, but what if I think the punishment is unfair? I need some way of communicating that without making the situation worse.”
Emma studied Dani for a moment. “Tell you what. We’ll set up a code word, say, ‘mockingbird’. If you promise not to abuse it, I’ll promise to always stop and listen to your side of the story before making my final decision.”
“That seems fair,” Dani agreed as she shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position.
“I’ll always try to understand, Dani,” Emma responded honestly. “Now, you need anything? Water, last trip to the restroom?”
“Do I look like I’m six?”
Emma couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m just trying to make you comfortable, Dani. Plus, after I send you to bed, I expect you to stay there.”
Dani let out a long slow breath. “I’m fine, but I do have a request.” She paused for a moment, suddenly feeling shy. “Can you stay, please?”
Emma looked down at Dani, trying to decide what to say.
“Tonight, all this, it brought back a lot of memories. I just don’t want to be left alone,” Dani admitted.
Taken a little aback by Dani’s sudden confession, Emma quickly decided her next course of action. “Of course I can stay. Just let me get something a little more comfortable on, and I’ll lie down with you.”
Looking at Dani and then the dresser, Emma gained silent permission with a nod from Dani. Opening a drawer, Emma located a large t-shirt and disappeared into the bathroom, where she removed her jeans and sweater and donned the shirt like a nightgown. Returning to the bed, she pulled back the covers and slipped in next to Dani. It was a little awkward, but after a few moments, Dani found her spot. She curled up to Emma with her head comfortably on her upper chest, like a human pillow, and found herself lulled to sleep by the steady beating of Emma’s heart.
Chapter Four
Emma woke to the smell of something burning and the sound of swearing. Noticing Dani was no longer in bed with her, she made her way toward the noise and shook her head with laughter at the sight before her. Dani was covered in flour, as was the countertop and a good portion of the floor. There was smoke coming from the oven, and Emma was shocked the fire alarm hadn’t gone off yet. The top of the stove wasn’t in any better shape. She had no idea how many eggs Dani had tried to open, but at least half of them had landed on either the stovetop or the floor.
“Dani, what happened?” Emma asked as she opened the oven to remove the burnt lumps of dough.
“I wanted to make breakfast for us,” Dani cried.
“So you decided on a blackened theme?” Emma teased.
“No, I burned the biscuits, and then the bacon stuck to the pan, and I dropped the eggs.”
“Sounds about right,” Emma confirmed. “Tell you what, I’ll help you clean up this mess. Then we can get dressed, and you can take me out for
Dani resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “When, where, and how—I get it, you’re an adverb. Anything else?”
Emma narrowed her eyes at Dani’s sarcastic tone, but at the moment she chose to ignore it. “Yes, there will be additional consequences for your actions if you don’t comply with my rules.” Emma locked eyes with Dani once again, “And above all, Danielle, I want you to know that you can trust me. I won’t speak of this to anyone, unless you are okay with it, nor will I threaten you or embarrass you in front of others. This is between you and me. No one else needs to know about it.”
Dani tilted her head slightly, noticing Emma’s eyes soften with this last statement. “Emma?”
“Yes?”
“Not that you’re giving me much choice, but what if I think the punishment is unfair? I need some way of communicating that without making the situation worse.”
Emma studied Dani for a moment. “Tell you what. We’ll set up a code word, say, ‘mockingbird’. If you promise not to abuse it, I’ll promise to always stop and listen to your side of the story before making my final decision.”
“That seems fair,” Dani agreed as she shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position.
“I’ll always try to understand, Dani,” Emma responded honestly. “Now, you need anything? Water, last trip to the restroom?”
“Do I look like I’m six?”
Emma couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m just trying to make you comfortable, Dani. Plus, after I send you to bed, I expect you to stay there.”
Dani let out a long slow breath. “I’m fine, but I do have a request.” She paused for a moment, suddenly feeling shy. “Can you stay, please?”
Emma looked down at Dani, trying to decide what to say.
“Tonight, all this, it brought back a lot of memories. I just don’t want to be left alone,” Dani admitted.
Taken a little aback by Dani’s sudden confession, Emma quickly decided her next course of action. “Of course I can stay. Just let me get something a little more comfortable on, and I’ll lie down with you.”
Looking at Dani and then the dresser, Emma gained silent permission with a nod from Dani. Opening a drawer, Emma located a large t-shirt and disappeared into the bathroom, where she removed her jeans and sweater and donned the shirt like a nightgown. Returning to the bed, she pulled back the covers and slipped in next to Dani. It was a little awkward, but after a few moments, Dani found her spot. She curled up to Emma with her head comfortably on her upper chest, like a human pillow, and found herself lulled to sleep by the steady beating of Emma’s heart.
Chapter Four
Emma woke to the smell of something burning and the sound of swearing. Noticing Dani was no longer in bed with her, she made her way toward the noise and shook her head with laughter at the sight before her. Dani was covered in flour, as was the countertop and a good portion of the floor. There was smoke coming from the oven, and Emma was shocked the fire alarm hadn’t gone off yet. The top of the stove wasn’t in any better shape. She had no idea how many eggs Dani had tried to open, but at least half of them had landed on either the stovetop or the floor.
“Dani, what happened?” Emma asked as she opened the oven to remove the burnt lumps of dough.
“I wanted to make breakfast for us,” Dani cried.
“So you decided on a blackened theme?” Emma teased.
“No, I burned the biscuits, and then the bacon stuck to the pan, and I dropped the eggs.”
“Sounds about right,” Emma confirmed. “Tell you what, I’ll help you clean up this mess. Then we can get dressed, and you can take me out for
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