"What kind of deal?" I asked, and he chuckled.
"Stay with me for the weekend," he said as he looked at me. "I mean the full holiday weekend, not the regular weekend."
I frowned and shook my head. "I don't know if I can," I protested as I looked at him. "You see, I still have to return to the office and make sure my work is done, and I usually work on the fourth of July to make sure I'm ready when the weekend is over."
He smiled as he started towards me, and my knees threatened to collapse as the rest of my worries melted away with my words.
"You work so hard," he pointed out, and a slight whimper escaped my throat as he stood before me, so close that I swore I could feel his breath on my face as he continued. "You should take a break and enjoy yourself. When was the last time you truly got to spend time on something you wanted to do for fun?" As if under some sort of spell, I thought for a moment.
"Before I entered high school, I guess," I admitted. "I started working for my dad in the family business shortly after my mom died, and my brother quit college to help us." He smiled and nodded understandingly.
"It's just one holiday weekend," he said as he brushed some hair out of my face. "You stay here until the day after the fourth of July and sample the life y
ou could have while living with me, and, if you decide you don't want to stay here, I'll only accept one hundred thousand dollars in order for you to pay me back for everything I gave your family."
I raised an eyebrow at him suspiciously as I looked around the room.
It seemed too good to be true. After all, even though the money wasn't a problem, if I could get him to accept one hundred thousand instead of three hundred eighty thousand, it meant I could give the extra money to my family and make sure this sort of problem never came up again. I could spare a full weekend to spend time with someone Uncle Joe trusted enough to allow Dad and Brad to make this kind of deal with in the first place, so long as he didn't try to force himself on me.
I took a deep breath and nodded.
"I'm willing to accept your deal," I informed him, "but I have a few questions about boundaries and what exactly to expect."
He smiled at me gently and nodded in agreement as he motioned towards the bed.
"Have a seat," he instructed, "and we'll talk this out."
CHAPTER FOUR
Derek
I couldn't believe how willing she was to accept the deal, but I was also relieved when she reluctantly agreed and sat down on the bed. It was hard to find people anymore, so, when Joe and Greg agreed to have Skye come live with me in exchange for paying their debt, I was thrilled. Finally, for the first time in years, I would be able to help others out without them feeling as if they owed me something.
"So, what exactly would you expect from me?" she asked, a sweet, gentle smile on her innocent face as she looked at me. I shook my head.
"You wouldn't have to do anything you didn't want to," I informed her as I watched her carefully. "You could do whatever you want in your spare time, from playing outside to reading in the library. Again, the kitchen is open to you as well." She frowned in confusion.
"But, what do you expect from me?" she asked, her voice firmer than before, and her crimson lips pressed together in a serious stare. I realized the best way to tell her was to be blunt. I cringed and lowered my gaze.
"I would want you to be my loving companion, if you can find it in your heart to do so," I admitted. "I want to be your Daddy." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at me.
"My Daddy?" she asked, a hint of fear in her honeysuckle voice. I nodded.
"The ultimate goal is to be lovers in a sexual, loving father-daughter relationship," I explained, desperately hoping I didn't sound crazy. "I would be allowed to love and protect you as if you were my own daughter, setting a few rules and expectations as any loving parent would, and I would expect you to just be yourself and treat me like you would a father figure." She looked a little pale as she stared at me. "Again, that's the ultimate goal, but you don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with." She sighed and looked down at her lap, seeming lost in thought until something caught her attention.
"What's that over there?" she asked as she pointed to the corner of the room, and I turned to look at what she was pointing at. Realizing I might have acted prematurely, I winced, hoping she didn't grow to hate me.
"That is the changing station," I told her. "If you're comfortable with it, you'd be wearing diapers and dressing like a child, but it's not a requirement. I don't want you getting overwhelmed and running away scared because of my kinks."
She turned and stared at me in shock and fear.
"This is all for a kink you have?" she asked, and I nodded.
"I know it seems a little different," I admitted as I stared at her, "but I want you to know I'll never make you do anything against your will. I'll allow you to do as you please, so long as it's safe, and I'll take care of you and love you no matter what. All I ask is that you do the same." She looked around the room, taking in everything.
I knew plenty of women who had taken off and called the cops on me. In fact, that's how I had gotten to know Joe and learned about Skye and the rest of the family. It didn't seem fair that she had been thrown into the world of adulthood at a young age, and I wanted to help my friend and his family. I knew it was a lot to ask of her, but I wanted to try at least. She was so beautiful, and the mature expressions that presented themselves on her face reminded me of a child playing dress up. She was all too perfect, and I was asking her to be mine.
After several minutes, she sighed and nodded.