Andy paced in front of the kitchen table in her lacy white dress, trying not to bite her nails. Her pink Mary Janes clacked on the hardwood floor with every step she took. Ordinarily, Andy wouldn't wear something like this around the house. But ever since she had gotten that text from Miranda earlier, Andy had decided to change into something that might put Miranda in a better mood when she got home.
Generally, the younger Andy dressed, the better Miranda liked it. This outfit certainly fit the bill. Even though the dress fit her perfectly, it looked more like something a flower girl might wear to a wedding. Andy had paired it with a pink sash, pure white stockings, her pink Mary Jane shoes, and a color-coordinated pink hairband. All in all, it was the perfect outfit for melting Miranda's heart as soon as she saw Andy in it. That was the idea, anyway.
Why didn't she have more patience? She could have just waited a little while. Half an hour ago, Andy had been frequenting a message board on her laptop devoted to one of the indie bands she liked to listen to occasionally. One of the other posters mentioned that the band was currently live-streaming a show and had even posted a link. Excited to watch it, Andy had clicked on the link only to discover that the site was blocked. Miranda's parental controls prevented the site (which to be fair, hosted all kinds of mature videos) from being seen by Andy.
Annoyed at this, Andy had surreptitiously googled "how to get past parental locks". She had even used the Incognito function. Unfortunately for her, a text from Miranda had come less than a minute later. Evidently, the software Miranda used had alerted her to Andy's stealthy attempt to get around it. Andy had looked down at the text with a clear sense of trepidation.
{I know what you did, sweetheart. I'll be home in half an hour.} -Miranda
The text had sent Andy into a minor panic. She had broken a rule. She was going to be punished. Andy had done her best to calm down afterward, telling herself that she was 22 years old, that the worst Miranda was going to do was spank her a little bit. But still, the months she had spent in this prolonged game had affected her mindset. The truth was, Andy was no less nervous than an actual little girl would be at the thought of a forthcoming spanking from her mother.
What could she do about it? Here was where Andy's intellectual maturity was helpful. She could take several steps that might lessen her punishment. The first thing to do would be to change into an outfit that would make Miranda smile no matter how mad she might be. That being done, Andy had sat down at the little desk in her room to compose an apology letter.
She took out a piece of paper, uncapped one of her pink glitter gel pens and began writing. Andy used her skill as a writer to come up with something eloquent at first, but after reading what she had written, Andy crumpled it up. That wasn't the way to go. Andy needed to write something childish and earnest. That would be a far better way to gain Miranda's sympathy. The words flowed easier than Andy might have thought, even as she cringed in embarrassment at what she was writing.
Andy intended to read the apology letter out loud to Miranda when she came home. With any luck, Andy, standing in her flower girl dress with age-appropriate accessories and reading out a hand-written apology, would be too adorable to spank. The experience would doubtlessly be mortifying, but when judged against going over Miranda's knee for a bare-bottomed spanking, it had to be the more preferable option.
Was there anything else she could do to put Miranda in a better mood? Miranda liked to have a drink as soon as she got home from the office. Andy wanted to have one ready for her, but that was impossible. Andy wasn't allowed to touch any alcohol. Various bottles of liquor were lined up on the kitchen counter, but Miranda had it clear to Andy that if she was ever caught drinking any, she'd be sorry.
The sound of the door opening made Andy's breath catch. There had plenty of times where, as her assistant, Andy had been nervous about Miranda's arrival. But none of those times compared to this. Clearly, Andy's recent dependency on Miranda had increased her emotional vulnerability.
Andy hurried out of the kitchen and into the hall to see Miranda closing the door to their apartment behind her. Miranda was wearing a black cashmere sweater with a long, matching skirt. Miranda took off her sunglasses, and her stern look softened as soon as she caught sight of Andy in her little girl's dress, stockings, and Mary Janes.
"W-Welcome home." Andy said nervously, stepping forward to give Miranda a hug.
"Thank you. You look very precious today, sweetheart. But don't think you can escape your punishment that easily." Miranda replied ruefully, hugging Andy back.
Andy nodded in a subdued manner, even as she knew she had one more card to play. Miranda set her purse down on the table and strode over to the sofa in the living room. They were getting right to it, it seemed. Andy hung back a little and picked up the letter she had written and placed previously on the table in the middle of the room.
"Can I read something to you first?" Andy asked quietly as Miranda sat down on the sofa.
"Of course, princess." Miranda answered after a moment, looking intrigued.
Andy held up the paper in front of her and fidgeted a bit before she started to read. Some of her immature fidgeting was for effect, but not all of it. Andy glanced at Miranda, and from the barely contained smile on Miranda's face, it was working.
"I know I broke rule number 4 and I am very, very sorry. I really wanted to see a band I liked play so I tried to find a way to see it. I should have waited for you to come home so I could ask permission. I will never, ever do it again, and I hope you can forgive me. P.S. I love you." Andy finished in a hopeful tone, having reasoned that a shorter, hopefully cuter letter would be the better way to go.
Miranda was silent for a moment. She then spread out her arms, clearly inviting Andy in for a hug on the sofa. Andy eagerly accepted the invitation and sank into Miranda's arms. Miranda kissed her forehead, leaving Andy feeling more relieved than before. Did her plan work?
"Of course I forgive you. And I believe you when you say you won't do it again. But rules are rules, sweetheart." Miranda said warmly, though at the end, she used her leverage to shift Andy over so that Andy found herself lying across Miranda's lap.
"But I thought-" Andy began sulkily, knowing what was about to happen.
"But you thought you could butter me up and avoid a spanking? It was a good try, princess, I'll give you that. I'll tell you what; because of your very cute apology, I'll let you keep your panties on." Miranda offered with amusement in her voice.
Andy burned with embarrassment as she felt Miranda pushing her skirt up and out of the way, exposing her lacy white panties. Miranda had known the whole time what Andy was up to! She had just allowed the whole thing to play out because Andy looked so cute during it. Andy was annoyed at how easily she had been played, and with her emotions solidly in control of her actions once more, she couldn't help but speak her mind.
"That's not fair! You should have told-" Andy began angrily, only to be silenced with a firm smack to her panty-clad bottom.
"Watch it, sweetie. One more word and I'll take back my offer. Is that what you want?" Miranda asked warningly, raising her hand once more.
Andy kept her mouth closed and said nothing more, the smack having reminded her who was truly in charge here. Andy shook her head quickly and wished she could apologize, but that would involve speaking, unfortunately.
Having secured Andy's meek submission, Miranda began spanking her in earnest, bringing her hand down with firm, no-nonsense smacks, and making certain that every inch of Andy's panty-clad butt was evenly covered. Andy began squirming from the stinging pain that was just beginning to build. Miranda wasn't spanking her terribly hard, but from previous experiences, she knew that even moderate smacks would be felt cumulatively on her increasingly tender butt.
"I was very disappointed to get that alert, princess. You know that parental block is there for your safety." Miranda stated calmly, continuing to spank Andy while she spoke.
"I know it is! I'm sorry." Andy said weakly, wincing at every smack that landed on her butt.
"You're sorry now, I'm sure. But would you be sorry if you hadn't gotten caught? I doubt it. Maybe we need to rethink some of your privileges from now on." Miranda mused, shaking her head.
"No! I'll be good!" Andy begged even as she squirmed in Miranda's lap, not particularly caring how humiliating this was if she was able to preserve her access to her laptop.
"Will you? I'd like to trust you, sweetie, but I don't know. Maybe we should get you a babysitter when I'm not here." Miranda said in a more teasing tone as she kept up the spanking, sounding less than serious.
Andy's eyes widened at the suggestion. Miranda had to be joking, right? She could not bear the idea of spending the daytime until the watchful eyes of a babysitter. Miranda was just teasing her, though. She had to be. Regardless, Andy needed to register her opposition to the idea.
"No! I absolutely do not need a babysitter!" Andy said shrilly, mortified at the thought.
"Hmm. I'll keep it in mind, princess. I don't see the need currently, but if you keep breaking the rules..." Miranda said, trailing off delicately even as the speed and motion of her hand was anything but.
"I won't! I swear!" Andy answered immediately, hopeful that she could head off the suggestion.
Andy kicked her feet uselessly as her spanking continued, her pink Mary Janes rising and falling on the sofa. The pain from her burning bottom was getting worse. Andy felt tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Her first thought was to resist crying, of course, but what would be the point? Maybe Miranda would take it easier on her if she did cry. With that in mind, Andy let the tears flow. That was probably a mistake. As soon as she began crying in earnest, Andy lost any grip she had on herself and starting babbling.
"Please! I've learned my lesson! I really have! Please, mommy!" Andy begged desperately, having only realized what she was saying after the fact.
Miranda ceased spanking her as soon as she heard that. Andy felt her cheeks becoming almost as red as her butt was. Had she really called Miranda mommy again? This time, she didn't even have the excuse of being half asleep. Andy had thought this couldn't get any more humiliating for her. Clearly, she had been wrong.
"It's okay, sweetheart. We're about done. You said you won't be breaking any more rules. Recite them then, please." Miranda instructed, sounding more kindly than before.
Andy sniffled a bit before responding. Recite the rules? She could do that. It would serve a reminder to herself not to break any more of them, actually. Andy took a moment to clear her throat before beginning her recitation.
"Yes mo-, erm, Miranda. 'I am to dress and act my agreed-upon age'." Andy stated weakly, starting with the first one.
"And which age is that?" Miranda asked lightly.
"10." Andy answered quickly.
"Hmm. I'm thinking 8 might be more accurate these days. But go on, please." Miranda mused quietly.
"Um, number 2 is 'I am not to leave the apartment without permission'. Number 3 is 'I am not to talk to strangers'. Number 4 is...'I am not to look at anything too mature for my age'." Andy recited, stopping as soon she reached the rule which she had broken.
"Hmm. Do we need to keep going?" Miranda asked softly.
Andy shook her head. There were more rules than that, about half a dozen more, but breaking rule number 4 was what had gotten her into hot water. Miranda lifted Andy from her lap and hugged her once again. Andy buried her face in Miranda's expensive cashmere sweater, aware that she was getting it wet with her lingering tears. Thankfully, Miranda didn't seem to mind.
"I love you. You know that, sweetie?" Miranda asked in a soft tone, hugging her tightly.
"Yes mo- erm, Miranda. I love you too." Andy answered after some slight hesitation, exasperated that she couldn't seem to stop herself from starting to say the M-word when she intended to say Miranda.
"You can call me mommy if you want, sweetie. I don't mind at all." Miranda said warmly, though with a trace of amusement.
"That just slipped out." Andy murmured, her cheeks reddening again.
"Well, if it slips out again, just remember that you don't have to feel embarrassed about it. I want you to be comfortable with saying what you feel." Miranda replied gently.
"Okay. I wish you'd want me to be comfortable sitting down, though." Andy replied just a touch sulkily, earning a small laugh from Miranda.
Andy did appreciate Miranda's offer. If she was being honest with herself, there was a small part of her that did indeed derive comfort from calling Miranda "mommy". Unfortunately, the embarrassment Andy was filled with whenever that word slipped out her mouth overwhelmed any comfort she might gain from doing so. Although, if Miranda didn't mind, what was there to really feel embarrassed about? It was something for Andy to consider.
Andy had stopped crying by now, but she hugged Miranda tightly nevertheless. As long as she was in Miranda's arms, the fierce heat from her recently-spanked bottom felt a little more distant.
A possibility occurred to Andy. Was this going to keep them from going to the Frozen musical next week? Not that it was set in stone to begin with. Emily hadn't yet gotten her hands on any tickets anyway. But Andy wanted to make sure.
"Are we still going to the Frozen musical?" Andy asked with a little bit of hesitation, not wanting to sound too bratty right now.
"I was planning to give you the good news when I got home today, but you distracted me, princess." Miranda replied ruefully, smiling at Andy.
"You mean...?" Andy asked breathlessly, her eyes wide.
"Emily got two tickets today for the first showing. Fifth row, center aisle." Miranda announced softly, clearly wanting to see Andy's delight at the news.
Andy let out a muted but nevertheless excited squeal and kissed Miranda, who kissed her back warmly. Such a blending of pseudo-familial love with sexual attraction might have seemed strange to some, but for both of them, it was entirely natural and right. Andy was happy for the opportunity to show Miranda how grateful she was, so they spent more than a minute kissing until Miranda gently broke it off to speak to her.
"I'm glad to see you're happy, princess. You should remember to thank Emily for getting the tickets, however. How about writing her a cute thank-you note?" Miranda proposed, having to catch her breath slightly.
Andy nodded at the suggestion, even as she was less than enthusiastic about it. Emily was well aware of the unusual nature of the relationship Andy had with Miranda. How could she not be, when half of the errands she had to run had to do with fulfilling Andy's numerous requests? It made Andy a little uncomfortable with dealing with Emily for obvious reasons, even though Miranda's 1st Assistant hadn't said a single unkind word to her recently. Probably because Emily was scared of it getting back to Miranda if she did. Regardless, Miranda wanted Andy to write Emily an adorable thank-you note using one of her brightly colored glitter gel pens. It would be embarrassing, of course, but Andy could do that.
After all, it was a small price to pay to get tickets to the musical every girl in New York City was dying to see. Even if most of those girls were only a third of Andy's age.