Page 175 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

The drive up to Virginia was long, but Tori had to admit the SUV’s built in dvd player, A/C, and even ride was nice. And the extra space was amazing. She even compromised with David and allowed food in the car as long as he promised to vacuum it out ASAP. He’d quirked an eyebrow of displeasure when she had stated it as command, but had agreed.

Between potty trips, nursing, and allowing the boys to run around and blow off some steam at each rest stop, they arrived at their home for the next month at 8pm. After a fourteen-hour trip, everyone was ready to explore their new dwelling.

The house was a modest, two-story, three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath. The downstairs was an open layout, living room, dining room, kitchen. There was a finished basement.

The Baxter’s old church had furnished and filled the house with everything a family with small children might need for a summer. Furniture, bedding, dishes, toys, a fridge and cupboard filled with food. Tori’s eyes misted when she saw it all. She made a mental note to write an in depth thank you letter the next day.

Because everything was all set it was easy to get the boys to bed quickly.

David pulled Tori onto his lap on the couch downstairs and turned the tv onto a movie channel.

“How are you feeling, baby love?”

“I’m fine,” she replied sleepily.

He gave her a look, and she sighed.

“I’m tired and my back hurts, but I’m overwhelmed at the generosity and happy to be here with you.”

He kissed her. “Much better.”

She cuddled into him, so grateful for his strong arms around her.

The next morning David dropped the oldest three off at church camp on his way to class. The building was huge and the camp seemed incredibly organized. Gideon cried a little at being separated from his brothers, but as soon as he saw the ride on cars in his room, he forgot that he was scared.

Tori didn’t know what to do with herself with all of the quiet. Isaac hadn’t slept well the night before, so she put him down for an early nap. Trying to obey Trish and David’s orders to rest, she laid down to read. But after fifteen minutes of reading, she felt guilty, got up, and started unpacking.

First, the boys’ clothes and toiletries, and then she started on her and David’s. Over an hour passed without her even noticing.

She jolted and shrieked when she felt an arm around her waist. “Gah!”

She turned and it was David. “What are you doing? I thought you were in class until four.”

He raised an eyebrow as he turned her to face him. “Obviously, or you wouldn’t have been unpacking. Didn’t we decide that I’d take care of it when I got home tonight?”

“I had a burst of energy. And, why are you home anyways? It’s not even noon!” She tried to put the focus back on him.

Both eyebrows raised now, he glared at her. “I got to the classroom and found out that I’m early. There was a snafu, and classes don’t start until next week. Now. Back to you, missy. Why were you unpacking instead of resting?”

She bit her lip and looked at her hands.

Tapping the underside of her chin, he spoke firmly, “Victoria, look at me.”

Slowly she raised her eyes until they were staring into his.

“Your health and the health of this baby are important. You can’t just ignore orders because you don’t like them or you haven’t seen any evidence to the contrary.”

She squirmed. “I know… I just…”

“You just keep placing yourself and our child at risk. I think the only way you’re going to take me seriously is if I prove to you that it’s not worth it. I need to ensure that you think twice before defying me and over-exerting yourself again.”

Her stomach plummeted. That wasn’t what she was trying to do at all, and the tone in his voice indicated that he was done talking with words.

“David, what do you mean? Y-you can’t spank me! I’m pregnant!”

“I’m very aware you’re pregnant. That’s why we are having this discussion, isn’t it? You are the one who seems to be forgetting your status, not me. Oh, and I can do whatever I deem fit—I’m the one in charge here, Victoria, not you. You seem to have completely forgotten that, but I think you’ll remember very quickly, hands on the dresser.”

Numbly, she walked over to the dresser and gripped the edges—staring at David in the mirror that took over the entire back of the piece of furniture. Had he lost his mind? They never did corporal punishment during pregnancy. This was exactly why they’d talked about alternative methods of punishment.

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