From the corner of his eye, he saw her brows rise. “Do you really think this is the time to be getting smart with me, little boy?”
No. Absolutely not. Ducking his head, he answered her in a much more respectful tone. “No, Mommy.”
“Much better. Now, why did you play hooky? Were you just not in the mood to go to class? It’s okay if that was the reason, we all need a break from time to time.”
It would be so easy to take the out she’d given him. But he was already in trouble for lying and adding another lie on top of it seemed like the worst idea. Eventually, he’d have to come clean about how scared he was of being plugged, and his lie would be exposed anyway.
Ugh. Why had he thought this was a good idea? “No, that’s not why.”
“Then what happened, baby?”
“I was scared.”
They’d reached the building that held the staff apartments and Mommy paused to look up at him, her expression twisted into one of concern. “You were scared of me?”
“No, not you. Of being plugged. I just got really in my head about it and freaked out.”
“I see.” Her words were clipped in a way that had him shuffling his feet, nerves twisting in his stomach. “So instead of coming to me and talking to me, you just decided to avoid me altogether.”
“Yeah.” And yeah, he knew how badly he’d messed up. “I’m really sorry, Mommy.”
“Hmm. Are you still scared of being plugged?”
“A little. But having my temperature taken wasn’t so bad, so I think… I think maybe I’ll be okay.”
“That’s good to hear. But we won’t be using a plug today, at least not for your punishment.”
“We won’t?”
“No.” Turning, she led him the short distance to her apartment. Inside, she helped him out of his coat before pointing to the small kitchen table. “Sit.”
Confused, but unwilling to push her any further than he already had, he took a seat at the table. A moment later, a large legal pad appeared in front of him, along with a pen.
“You are going to write this a hundred times, and then we’re going to talk some more.”
Picking up the pen, Mommy carefully printed out a sentence at the top of the page.
I will not avoid my Mommy when I am scared or worried. I will tell her my fears so we can work through them together.
“One hundred,” she reminded him, handing him the pen. “And then we can discuss the rest of your punishment.”
Chapter Eighteen
Addison
While her boy worked on his lines, Addison worked on the papers she would have been grading in her office if she wasn’t dealing with her naughty boy. Every so often, Danny would sigh or scuff his feet against the tile floor and it was all she could do not to chuckle at how adorably pouty he looked.
After nearly an hour, he put his pen down, giving his hand a hard shake. “I’m done.”
Rising from her chair, she looked over his shoulder, scanning the surprisingly neat rows of words. “Good job, baby. What are you going to do the next time you’re feeling scared about something?”
“Talk to you,” he mumbled.
Her sweet, sulky boy. “Can you tell me why you didn’t feel like you could talk to me this morning?”
That was, to her, the sticking point. If he didn’t trust her, as a Domme and his Mommy, they were going to have some serious problems.
And beneath it all was her own doubt. Had she pushed him too hard? Demanded too much? Was he, despite his claims to the contrary, scared of her?
