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Rebecca sniffled. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
She pushed back and peered up into his face. “For being a bother, for making you take me on as your submissive. I’m probably not very skilled at that. And for crying all over you.”
Dante chuckled and balanced her on his lap as he reached for the box of tissues on his nightstand. With infinite care, he cleaned her face. Pulling her closer to him, he murmured in her hair. “I don’t mind genuine tears, and so far, you’re doing a great job as my submissive.”
At first, she stiffened in response, but then, surrendering to the comfort that he offered, she melted against his chest. “I am?”
“Yeah.” He nuzzled her soft hair and inhaled the scent of her shampoo. “What I want from my submissive is that she’s open and honest with me and allows me to care for her. You’ve shared your troubles and tears and accepted my comfort and support just now.”
“Oh.” She relaxed against his chest as his words sank in before stiffening in his arms again. “And what about this morning?”
He smiled, glad she couldn’t see his expression. “It bothers you, right?”
She nodded against his chest. “Uh-huh.”
“I agree you made a wrong decision this morning,” Dante conceded, his arms enveloping her in a warm embrace. He continued, “But, darling, it came from a sincere heart.” He stroked her hair soothingly, his fingers cradling the back of her head. “Sometimes, even with the right intentions in mind, we screw up. And when we do, we atone for our wrongdoing and start afresh.”
“But how?” she whined.
Dante touched her cheek and contemplated her question. What lay ahead was a crucial step in her growth within the Rawhide Ranch community. “I believe your desire to amend is sincere. For you to learn and grow, we need to address what happened this morning. We’ll start with education and reflection, in the form of an essay.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened–in surprise or horror he didn’t know—but she nodded.
“Your essay should be at least five hundred words,” Dante continued. “In it, I want you to explore your motivations for snooping, the impact it had on others, and what you’ve learned from this experience. It’s a chance for self-reflection and understanding.”
Rebecca took a deep breath.
“It’s your responsibility to write an in-depth account of what happened with introspection and honesty.” Dante held her gaze as he continued, “To address your desire to give back, I suggest some community service. I don’t know what yet, but that will be my part. I will talk with Master Derek and other staff members and see what activities you can participate in. This will allow you to contribute positively to the Ranch. Okay?”
Rebecca’s eyes softened and were brimming with tears again. Her lips trembled as she whispered, “I’m grateful I won’t be alone in this journey, Sir.”
“You’ll receive guidance and support from me,” Dante said, squeezing her shoulder. “I’ll be here to help you through this process, offering guidance on understanding boundaries, building healthy relationships, and finding your place within this community.”
Dante watched Rebecca take a deep breath as the weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders.
“One more thing.” Dante held up his index finger. “I’ll expect you to offer a sincere apology to those affected by your actions, acknowledging the invasion of privacy and expressing genuine remorse. This will be a vital step in rebuilding trust in the community.”
She swallowed and her gaze slid to the side. For a moment, he expected her to back out of the deal, but then her head came up and she made stark eye contact. “I will, Sir, and thank you. The punishment is fair, and I will do my part to make up for my mistakes.”
CHAPTER 12
Rebecca stared at the legal pad and pen in her hands. Her chest tingled and not in a positive way. She couldn’t believe that, in this digital age, Dante insisted on something as archaic as writing by hand. A small sigh escaped her lips as she realized the extent of the task.
“Can’t I use a computer?” she blurted out, her throat tightening with the need to understand why this was necessary.
Dante leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “For your essay?” He offered a small, understanding smile.
Rebecca’s thoughts scrambled as she tried to reason with the situation. Writing by hand felt like a deliberate inconvenience, an obstacle to her progress. She couldn’t help but judge this as unnecessary, a pointless exercise in frustration.
She cleared her throat and voiced her disbelief, but her words came out in choppy responses. “Yes. For my essay.” Her frustration mounted. “Obviously.” She didn’t know where to direct it. She wanted to argue, to demand a more reasonable approach.
“I don’t think so.”
Dante’s answer was accompanied by an arched eyebrow—his pissed-off Dom’s face. Oh, oh.
Rebecca slowly exhaled. “I’m sorry, Sir. Why do you want me to write rather than type my assignment?”
