Free The Art of Discipline: Dani’s Discovery (The Mockingbird Chronicles) by Alexandra James, Stardawn Cabot Page A

missing your shift tomorrow, you can make it up on Saturday.”
    Dani frowned. Grounded—like she was fourteen.
    “And, if you can manage to follow all that, I might consider not paddling your butt before bed tomorrow.”
    Dani’s chin dropped. “Might?”
    Emma smiled. “If you behave and follow the rules, I don’t think you have much to worry about. However, if you don’t, I promise you the spanking you got last night will feel like a warm up compared to tomorrow. Understand?”
    Dani nodded her head.
    “Good. Now go put on some pajamas for me.”
    “What? Why?”
    “So I can remind you to behave before I tuck you in.”
    “But… you said you weren’t going to spank me.”
    “No,” Emma corrected. “I said that if you behave, I wouldn’t paddle you tomorrow night. I wasn’t planning on paddling you tonight, well, unless I need too…”
    “No, no, that’s okay. I get the message, I’ll go change,” Dani grumbled.
    “Good girl,” Emma praised as Dani shuffled toward her bedroom.
    Emma gave Dani five minutes before she followed her. She paused briefly by the study, just to make sure that Dani had indeed cleaned it before heading to the master bedroom. Knocking softly with her knuckles, Emma caught Dani just as she was buttoning up the front of her pajama top.
    Not saying a word, Emma crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. Turning herself slightly sideways, she motioned for Dani to come closer. Reaching out, she didn’t give Dani any warning as she gave the loose pajama bottoms a tug, encouraging them down to Dani’s knees. She then grabbed her wrist and guided her over one knee, letting Dani’s weight from her torso rest on the mattress.
    “Danielle, tell me why we are here?”
    Dani took in a breath. “Because I mislead you into thinking that I was sick so I could skip out on my shift at work.”
    Emma smiled, pleased with the response. “And tell me, Danielle, was it worth it?”
    Dani was quiet for a long moment, but when she did speak, her voice betrayed her as she squeaked out, “No.”
    Emma reached down and slid Dani’s panties down over her hips. She then ran the palm of her hand along each cheek, as if memorizing the bruises from the paddling the night before. She heard Dani sniffle and for a moment regretted what she knew she had to do. But she wasn’t going to shy away from her task now.
    Raising her hand, she let it fall quickly and rapidly, alternating cheeks with each strike. Dani moaned and wiggled under her attack, but like the night before, Emma held her securely around the waist. Emma tried her best to avoid the worst of the bruising but knew that Dani was in no way comfortable. Her hand fell no more than two dozen times, but it didn’t take much to rekindle the fire in Dani’s backside. When she stopped, it was almost as hot as it has been the previous night.
    Dani seemed to agree, for when Emma let her up, Dani’s hands flew to her backside in an inane attempt to rub out the heat. Giving her a moment to calm down, Emma reached out and pulled her closer.
    Dani winced as her still-burning bottom came in contact with Emma’s lap. “Did you really have to do that?” she whined, wishing that she was still rubbing her sore backside.
    “What do you think?” Emma asked.
    Dani frowned but eventually caved. “If I ever deserved a spanking, I guess it was for today’s stunt. But did you have to do it bare?”
    “Yes, Danielle. I bared you for your own protection. I wanted to see the damage from yesterday to make sure I didn’t hurt you unnecessarily.”
    “Well, if you didn’t want to hurt me, you could have just not spanked me,” Dani complained.
    “That’s true, but really, I think you more than earned this spanking. Let’s just make sure you don’t earn another tomorrow, okay?” Emma encouraged. Dani continued her frown as Emma motioned for her to stand and then replaced her panties and pajama bottoms. “Now, off to bed with you.”
    Dani reluctantly