Brian leads me over to the huge bed. I think it’s called king-sized. One of my friends’ parents had one when I was a kid. I gasp when Brian lifts me up and sits me on the edge of the bed. He guides me onto my back before removing my scuffed shoes.
I’m trembling. I’ve never been so scared. It suddenly occurs to me that he might want me to have sex with him. Is that why he brought me here? I panic and roll to the side, hoping to scramble off the bed, though I don’t know where I would go.
Brian sets a knee on the bed and wraps an arm around my waist to haul me back to the center. “Lacey?”
“Why did you bring me here?” I shout, trying to tug on his arm with my good hand.
“Calm down, Little one. I’m not going to hurt you.” He drops down onto a hip next to me, pulls my back against his front, and cradles me against him.
“Are you going to have sex with me?” I blurt out, still struggling.
He stiffens. “Lacey… No. That’s not going to happen. Not today.” He rolls me to my back and peers down at my face, cupping my cheek with his hand. “Let me tell you some things.”
I swallow. When I start squirming again, he tosses a leg over my thighs and stills me. I’m winded. My stomach hurts where my father kicked me two days ago. My butt hurts, my arm, my back… The list is long. I’m trying not to wince.
“I should have explained myself better before we left the club. I’m sorry, Little one. I’m going to do so now. I want you to listen.”
I whimper. “Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.” He smiles and strokes my cheek. “First of all, yes, I’m attracted to you. I won’t lie about that. I’ve been watching you for a long time. Surely you knew that. I think you like me, too. You always squirm when I talk to you, and your cheeks get pink.” He’s teasing me.
I bite my lip.
He plucks my lip out from between my teeth. “And you bite your lip. Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to reach out and pull that pretty lip free of your teeth?”
I shake my head.
“I’ve wanted to kiss those lips, too. And someday I hope you’ll let me. But right now, my only thoughts are on making sure you’re not badly injured and keeping you safe.”
I sniffle. “Okay.” I want to trust him. He’s never given me any reason not to.
“Now, I’m going to ask you some personal questions that will make you uncomfortable, but I need you to be truthful with Daddy.”
“Is that what you are? Do you want to be my Daddy?” He’s been calling himself my Daddy all evening. It makes me feel warm and tingly. It makes me happy, but does he mean it?
“Yes, Lacey. I want to be your Daddy, and since you don’t have a Daddy to take care of you, and you really need one right now, you’re stuck with me.” His eyes twinkle when he makes a joke.
“Okay.” I like the idea of him being my Daddy. I like it a lot. I don’t like the idea of having sex, though. Not tonight anyway. Maybe someday, but the idea scares me.
If I was going to have sex with someone, I would want it to be Brian. I’ve thought about it, but it’s hard to fully imagine since I don’t know what it will feel like.
“Good. The first thing I’m going to do is take your clothes off, Lacey. I need to see where you’re injured. Can you be brave for me?”
“I’m not hurt that badly,” I whisper.
“I’ll be the judge, sweet girl.”
I sigh. He’s not going to relent. “Okay.”
He doesn’t move yet. Instead he hesitates and then asks, “Has anyone ever seen you naked, Lacey?”
I shake my head as my cheeks heat.
He swallows, his brows furrowed. “What about your father? Does he see you naked?”
I scrunch up my face. “No.”
“Never? He doesn’t come into your room at night or watch you change?”