91. Chapter 89 #2
Darcy’s eyebrows shoot up, and he takes the page, eyes scanning down the list. “You’ve added a few things.”
Nodding, I glance away, because there are a few things on there that are embarrassing, but I really want to try them with my daddies. I also think they will really enjoy them. Hopefully.
With burning cheeks, I squeeze my hands in my lap. “They are negotiable, but I wanted to add them in case any of you were interested. I also, uh, changed the hard limit from before.”
Darcy’s gaze dips straight down to the one thing I’ve always said was a hard limit. “You crossed it out.”
Still unable to look at him, I bite my lip and stare at the open bedroom door.
“Yeah. This is, um, me requesting. I–I want to try it. I can’t promise I’ll like it, but I want to try.
” A thought occurs to me, and I turn back to look at him, eyes wide.
“Not tonight, though. I’m not ready yet, but maybe we could start small over the next few weeks? ”
He is already nodding, a gentle smile on his lips. “Of course, princess. Everything will always be at your speed. None of us would ever make you do anything you didn’t want.”
Xavier makes a grumbling noise, but we all ignore him.
“What has been added to the list?” Derek asks, clearly dying to reach around and rip the papers from Darcy’s hand.
If I wasn’t so freaking nervous right now, I might find his distress funny.
Darcy’s gaze scans over the column of words I added to the side of their typed list. “Edging, denial, funishments, chastity, somnophilia, fisting, group cockwarming, live caming.”
Hudson makes a strangled noise, and I shoot him a smile.
“Those all sound”—Derek clears his throat—“doable. And the list is intended to be fluid, meaning we can add and subtract from it as we like.”
Nodding, I unclasp my hands and grip the edge of the coffee table on either side of my legs and cross my ankles. “There’s more. On the next page.”
This is the page that I’m most nervous about.
There are three massive changes, and if they don’t agree to all of them, then I’ll be walking out the door.
Everything on the first two pages, I was willing to negotiate, but not the third.
The third page has my conditions, and I’m not being talked out of them, especially not with the four men who have the ability to dickmatize me.
As quietly as I can manage, I suck in a massive breath and hold it, willing my heart to calm the fuck down.
Worst-case scenario, they say no, and I’m back to being on my own like before I met them.
Which was totally fine. I might have only been surviving, but I was on the path to achieving my dreams.
I just want to be able to include them in my dreams now too.
The papers ruffle as they turn to the last page, each of them scanning the red ink before passing it to the person next to them, until they have all read it and are staring back at me.
“Are you sure, kitten?” Hudson asks, the icy blue of his eyes sparkling with something I can’t read.
I straighten and look him directly in the eye, not wanting to let any confusion or misinterpretation happen. “Yes. If the answer to any of those changes is no, then I won’t be staying.”
Hudson raises his eyebrows, then looks at the others and pauses on Derek.
Derek purses his lips and drops his gaze to the papers in his hands.
“Emery is to be included in every conversation that concerns the group, its safety, and future plans. This extends to any potential issues, no matter how serious they are. She is to have a voice that is listened to and heard during these conversations. The only times it is okay to leave Emery out of a group-based conversation are for the planning of either a scene or a surprise where Emery is the intended recipient of the surprise.”
He glances up and looks at me, expression serious and unwavering. “You want a seat at the table whenever we are discussing things that affect us.”
“Yes,” I state as firmly as I can manage, adding in a nod for extra emphasis.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I frown at him. “Just like that?”
Derek glances at the others and then back at me.
“Yes, just like that. We all know we fucked things up last time, and we will spend every single second that we have with you working to earn your forgiveness. If the one thing you need from us is to make sure you are included in all future discussions, then of course we will do that.”
He takes a deep breath before continuing.
“Before you, it was only the four of us. We may have discussed things pertaining to us with others to get additional information, but at the end of the day, we solved whatever issue we had among the four of us, which we acknowledge is what got us into this situation. All I can say is that we might not be perfect at it, but we have already discussed it—many times—among ourselves that, if you were to ever give us a second chance, we would do our best to ensure you are included.”
“Most of the time,” Xavier adds on, a little peek of my Hunter shining through as I practically watch all the jump-scare ideas he has in his head scroll across his mind.
A shiver runs down my spine, and the tiniest amount of heat pools in my pelvis, already wondering how he plans to terrorize me next.
Swallowing, I force myself to concentrate and ask about the other changes I made. “And what about the other things?”
“The payments and timeline, you mean?” Derek clarifies.
My heart is suddenly lodged in my throat, and all I can manage is a single, wobbly nod.
“We have no issue with the timeline, however we will require some discussion about the reasoning for stopping the payments and at least be allowed to provide our thoughts on why they should continue, for now we will agree to an open discussion. Does that work for you?”
He doesn’t even check with the others before he answers.
“Yes. But—”
Derek heaves a sigh, like I have pushed his patience by attempting to question him.
“Emery, we agree to your terms, including the lack of an end date. If we have it our way, there will be no end date. Ever. We will want you for every second of every day. You are ours for as long as you agree to be ours. We can discuss labels and logistics tomorrow, but for now, if there is nothing else you wish to discuss, stand up on the coffee table and remove your clothes. Now, baby girl.”
With every word, his tone deepens and his features become sharper until the Derek I met that first night in that hotel room is sitting in front of me.
Daddy’s home.