“A few things?” I spun around and stared at the flecks of green and gold in his eager hazel eyes. “You have a list of house rules, don’t you?”
“Indeed,” he said, arching a bushy eyebrow. “I thought we’d talked about that…”
My nod was subtle as I stood silent in front of him. For God’s sake, I was embarrassed to tell this man who towered over me that I needed to use his bathroom. “Um, I need to…”
“I’m sorry for not offering—you probably want to freshen up first. The bathroom is past the first door on the right, and when you’re ready, I’ll show you to your room.”
Walking back down the hall, I glanced into a spacious bedroom and stopped dead in my tracks. The room was tastefully decorated in hues of browns and blues, and I couldn’t stop staring at how everything was neat and in its place. Personal space can say a lot about you, and this seemed to be one hell of a meticulous man. Who knows how long he’d been standing behind me when he finally spoke, but I nearly jumped out of my skin just hearing his deep voice.
“I took the liberty of carrying your bags to the guest room. If you like, we can take a quick walk around the house now, or the tour can be done after lunch. Your choice.”
Thinking I might not have an abundance of options during this seven-day stay, the corners of my lips raised in delight. “Whatever you’re cooking smells delicious, so I’m happy to eat first.”
“There aren’t too many little girls who don’t like grilled cheese, right?” he said, walking to the kitchen.
“Ahh, I see I’m not in Philly anymore.”
“No, the transition has been made. And while you’re eating…”
My first mistake was putting up my hand to stop his thought. “No need to finish that sentence. I already know you’re dying to give me the list of your house rules.”
“In the future I’d watch the talk to the hand routine,” he warned, quirking a brow. “It’s extremely disrespectful.”
Instantly, my palm lowered. “Do you have eyes in the back of your head?”
“No. But I do have good peripheral vision, which you might want to remember for future reference. I’m just trying to prevent you from getting into trouble on your first day here.”
“Uh-huh. So, my host is both talented and thoughtful?”
He flipped the perfectly toasted sandwich onto a plate and cut it diagonally in half before meeting my watchful eyes. “Do you have a middle name, Lori?”
“It’s Hope. But not many people know that.”
“Well, I think your full name is too beautiful to be kept a secret. So, have a seat, Lori Hope and let me serve you some lunch.”
“What’s your middle name, John?”
“My father only referred to me as John Howard during a scolding,” he said through a chuckle as he lifted his eyes skyward. “Dad was one hell of a disciplinarian, but he was also a loving father and husband.”
“Ahhh, the pieces are starting to fit into this jigsaw puzzle, one by one. Your parents lived within a domestic discipline relationship, and you learned from them?”
“They did, and though my son is unattached, he intends to carry on the tradition someday.” Sliding out the kitchen chair for me to sit in with one hand, his other placed the sandwich in front of me. “But the most important thing about living any alternative lifestyle is that every relationship is unique.”
Waiting for him to sit down across from me, I lifted a freshly poured glass of ice water. “And for the next week, I’ll be living according to whatever standards you deem appropriate?”
“That is correct,” he stated, pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket. “So, why don’t you eat your sandwich while the cheese is still melted, and I’ll read what I’ve prepared.”
Taking a bite of crust, I chewed slowly and watched as he reached over the table for a pair of black rectangular reading glasses. Then he cleared his throat and adjusted the bridge of the lenses on his nose.
“Number one: The punishment for swearing or taking God’s name in vain is a bare-bottom spankin’.”
“Hey, that’s not fair. I’ve heard you swear…”
“In case you’ve forgotten, I’m the Daddy, which means I make up the rules. My responsibility is to be your mentor, give you unconditional love and support, protect you, be your rock, and of course, discipline you when necessary. In other words, my language won’t be your concern. Is that explanation clear enough, young lady?”
“Sounds like a double standard to me,” I mumbled, taking another bite of my sandwich.
“Excuse me. Did you say something?”
“Nope. Not a thing.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’m going to let your cheeky comment slide for now. But just so you know, there’s rarely a second warning in this house. Understand?”
I chewed, nodded and swallowed.
“Number two: There will be a strict bedtime observed.”
“A bedtime? I thought that Daddy Dom/Little girl is supposed to be a subcategory of D/s, not age play.”
He lowered his glasses and his eyes met mine. “Which part of our conversation did you miss? Was it when I said every relationship is unique, or could it have been the part where your Daddy makes up the rules?”
“Never mind,” I mouthed, taking a quick sip of water.
“Number three: You have permission to use my car and I’ll give you a credit card to go shopping. But the first time you abuse those privileges, you’ll be severely disciplined, and the perks will be taken away.”
“Can you explain that in detail, please?”
“Where the car is concerned, you will stay within the speed limit and obey all safety driving laws. No texting or talking on your cell phone while on the road.”
Nodding, I took another bite and reached for a paper napkin to wipe the butter from my fingers. “And the shopping?”
“You’ll have a budget for the week, which will include a generous allowance for clothing, accessories, and other personal items.”
My eyebrow quirked before he finished his sentence.
“In case you missed an important word, it’s called a budget. And I if were you, I’d do my best not to go over it.”
“Is there more?”
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “A crucial component in this relationship has to do with trust and respect. Which means there will be no lying or deception in this house. Is that clear?”
“Yes, of course. I know I’m supposed to treat my Daddy with respect and trust, knowing he has only my best interests at heart.”
“Jake and I believe in you, Lori. Your intelligence and creativity are inspiring, and I’m hoping our time together will educate you while coaxing all your inner desires to the surface. Unfortunately, there will be times I might need to discipline your naughty behind—especially if you put yourself in harm’s way or act disrespectfully toward me.”
“Ooh, here it comes,” I sang out loud, instead of intelligently to myself.
“When my little girl breaks the rules or deliberately sasses her Daddy, she will be spanked good and hard.”
The bread I’d been chewing turned into a thick lump that