Barbara was gone by the time I'd showered, dried off and come back downstairs.
She'd left a note on the kitchen counter:
Headed out for a workout and then to stop by the office. See you this afternoon, darling. XOXO
There was little heart at the end of the note, an unexpected and surprising gesture of affection.
Or maybe,
I thought as I rolled up the piece of paper and tapped it thoughtfully against my chin,
not so surprising after all...
I was starting to realize that whatever these BDE products were doing they were doing it well. Even in less than 24 hours it was clear that my life was changing for the better.
I was cleaning up the coffee equipment when McKenzie fumbled down the stairs. Like most teenagers, my stepdaughter was not a morning person. She yawned as she entered the kitchen, crossing sleepily and then surprising me with a bear hug as I turned to face her.
"Good morning, Daddy," she purred.
"Morning, baby girl," I said. My hand made involuntary circles on her lower back, and she pressed herself against me, standing on her tiptoes to give me a soft kiss on the lips. I felt her skin on my skin and my breath hitched.
She pulled back after a moment and bit her lip, casting her eyes around the kitchen. All she was wearing was a pair of lacy pink panties and a matching bra of see-through fabric that did nothing to hide her perky young breasts from my hungry eyes. "Is Mom gone?" she asked, hazel eyes gleaming with mischief. "Because I can think of the perfect way to start both of our mornings..."
I just smiled at her and shrugged. "She's out for a couple hours," I said. "But," and I held up a hand to stop her as she started towards me again, "I'm going to need a couple of things from you before you get any ideas."
McKenzie pouted cutely, hands coming up to gently grasp my wrist. She leaned forward and lightly kissed my fingertips. "Mmhmm?" she asked, slipping my index into her mouth. She sucked gently and I could feel my body responding.
"No." I stepped back. "I'm putting my foot down, young lady. There are some important changes happening in this household and you don't get rewarded until they start."
My stepdaughter tucked her messy hair back behind her ears and looked up at me with wide eyes. "Anything for you, Daddy."
As I'd brainstormed this morning, I'd taken a pad of the legal paper that I usually used to outline my software algorithms and I'd written down some of the things I wanted in my ideal household. Item number one was:
Stop cleaning up after McKenzie.
"Well, angel," I told her, "first thing's first is that I need you to stop being such a slob." I hadn't meant to be harsh, but the teenager's eyes dropped sadly to the floor.
I took her chin in my hands and tilted back her face so she could meet my eyes. "But..." I added. "Because I'm such a good Daddy we're going to make a little game out of it."
The spark came back into her expression and I grinned.
"You're going to go upstairs to your room," I continued. "And you'll have 30 minutes to clean up that pigsty before I come up there after you."
McKenzie was starting to get the gist of it and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Then, when I get there, for every item still out of its proper place you're going to remove one article of clothing." I stepped forward into her space, pulling her close. "And then, if you've satisfied me, you'll find that Daddy will be in a very
generous
mood."
I knew she wanted me to kiss her, could tell from her glazed expression and parted lips, but instead I released her and leaned back.
"Will you play that game with me, angel?"
McKenzie had already turned on her heel and headed out purposefully. "Oh yes, Daddy!" she called over her shoulder. "Your little girl is ready for any games you want."
I watched her ass as she sashayed out of the kitchen.
Her smooth, tan skin was tantalizing but I held myself in check.
Delayed gratification,
I told myself.
The king of all rewards.
* * *
I walked slowly up the stairs, my brain already playing through the events that were to come. I stopped on the landing and took a deep breath, feeling the floor beneath my feet. Rock solid.
I was rock solid.
I rolled my shoulders and strode confidently to McKenzie's door at the end of the hall. It was open and she stood inside, waiting for me in the center of the cleanest room she'd ever inhabited.
When I complained in the past about McKenzie's terrible habit of leaving her clothes, shoes and accessories everywhere I was talking about the rest of the house. Her bedroom had always been a bombshell. Whatever my other flaws I had always been a neat freak, so while I'd long since given up hope for the room at the end of the hall I could no longer stand the chore of cleaning up after a grown woman.
The room was spotless.
Clothes were hung in the open closet on hangars or folded neatly on shelves. Her bed was made, neat and straight as a Marine's bunk. The cords for electronics and video game consoles were wound neatly together and stacked on one end of her TV table and the hamper by the door was stuffed to bursting with whatever clothes had once been strewn across the floor. I'd even heard her running the vacuum. All that was left was my stepdaughter, standing silently in the middle of the oval carpet wearing a short silken kimono. It left bare her long, slim legs and hung open in front, barely covering the mounds of her breasts.
She'd finished before the 30 minutes were up.
I could tell because she had taken the time to do her makeup. Her mouth was red with lipstick and the smoldering eyes that met my astonished look were accented by long, dark, fluttering lashes and dark blue eyeshadow.
I was speechless. For the first time in 24 hours, I didn't have anything clever, confident or seductive to say.
That was okay, though, because my 18-year-old stepdaughter filled in the silence. With one toe, she nudged the only item that had escaped her cleaning frenzy. It was a pair of high-heeled shoes, standing in a neat pair directly before her. Delicately, she toppled them to the left and right. "Oops," she murmured softly, never looking away from my face. "I guess I forgot about these..."
My pulse quickened.
I saw her tongue slowly wet her lips as she shrugged slightly. The fabric of the robe fluttered. "I guess I'm going to have to take this off. Aren't I, Daddy?"
I knew enough not to speak. Instead I simply watched.
McKenzie cocked her head to one side and her hands went to the collar of the kimono. Slowly, she peeled the garment off one slim shoulder. Then, with a wriggle, the entire thing slid from her body. She was naked beneath.
I swallowed, my mouth watering at the sight. Her body was young and supple, breasts high and bouncy with dark nipples hard as little diamonds. Her stomach was flat and unblemished and in the shadow of her thighs I could make out the smooth, hairless folds of her glistening, teenage cunt.
"Do you like what I've done with the place?" she asked me conversationally.
I realized that after being on the back foot all day she was finally taking control. I liked it. "I do," I managed to say, taking a single step inside.
"Close the door, won't you?" she ordered, taking a step back to match mine.
I did as I was asked, the latch closing behind me with a firm
click.
"Now, Daddy..." McKenzie said with the tone of one addressing a slow, foolish pupil. "I believe you promised me something."
