Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Callow

It was Daph's phone playing music in the kitchen that woke me up from the deepest fucking sleep I think I'd ever had.

And I knew it had nothing to do with the sex. And everything to do with having Sabrina sleeping with her head on my chest.

I didn't want to get up even then, but I slowly rolled Sabrina onto her side, pulled up the covers, then slid to the edge of the bed.

I pulled on my liner, then my prosthetic before getting back into my pajama pants and tee, grabbing a change of clothes, and making my way out of the bedroom.

I'd never dated a mom before.

So making my way out of the kid's mom's room for the first time was surprisingly nerve-racking.

Catching the movement, Daph looked over her shoulder as I made my way into the bathroom where I took a hot shower, thanks to the fact that neither girl had gotten in there yet.

Once I'd changed into some jeans and a sweatshirt, I made my way back into the kitchen to find that Daph had already started a pot of coffee and set out two extra mugs.

"Thanks for this, kid," I said as I poured myself a cup.

"Morning," she said, giving me a small smile before turning back to put ingredients into a sturdy mixing bowl. "Ugh," she grumbled a moment later while trying to mix with her good hand but holding the bowl still with her bad arm.

"What're you doing over there?" I asked.

"Trying to make pancakes," she said. "Chocolate chip is Mom's favorite."

"How about I do the mixing then you can take over again?" I asked, reaching for the whisk.

We worked side-by-side then, mixing, pouring, flipping, and plating pancakes then sides of fruit and some very well cooked scrambled eggs.

I'd been going toward the fridge to get the orange juice when I saw a movement from the hallway. Turning, I saw Sabrina leaning against the wall. She had her robe pulled over her pajama set from the night before. Her hair was bed-messy. And she was watching us with the softest fucking look in her hazel eyes.

I don't think she'd ever looked more beautiful.

"I was gonna bring you breakfast in bed," I told her. "Daph got up early to get the pancakes started. Chocolate chips," I said. "I was told that's your favorite."

"It is," she said, moving toward the kitchen. "Breakfast in bed sounds nice. But so does breakfast in the living room all together," she said, rubbing her daughter's shoulder as she passed her on her way to the coffee machine. Her hand ran across my stomach as she went. "Morning."

"Morning," I said, leaning down to press a quick kiss to the top of her head. It was a little nothing gesture, but I swear she fucking beamed at me in response. "Don't worry," I told her as she put sugar and cream in her coffee, "I made sure I cooked the eggs really well."

"You told him about that?" Daph asked, turning to her mother with wide, horrified eyes.

"She did," I agreed. "She also told me about having to do self-hypnosis to not throw up each time you spit up as a baby."

"You never told me that," Daph said, looking at her mom.

"It's not exactly a highlight of my motherhood journey to admit to my child that a perfectly natural part of her babyhood made me dry heave and have to count backward from ten to just keep from throwing up on her."

"You were a mess," Daph said affectionately.

"I really, really was," Sabrina agreed. "But look, we turned out… sort of alright," she said, making Daph toss a chocolate chip at her. "Clearly, I screwed up pretty bad if you are out here wasting perfectly good chocolate," she added as she ducked down to grab the chocolate chip and toss it into the garbage.

"You two go sit. I'll bring the food," I offered.

They were quick to grab their drinks and the syrup before claiming their spots in the living room.

"Don't look at me like that," Sabrina whispered to Daph as I got the plates together.

"It's cute," Daph said as she clicked through the options on the TV.

"I can't wait to torture you about your first real boyfriend," Sabrina shot back.

"Which is why I won't be bringing him home," Daph said.

"Sure you will," Sabrina said, giving me a smile as she took her plate from me. "I have to tell him embarrassing facts about you."

"I wouldn't mind staring menacingly at him while cleaning my gun," I piped in.

"You guys are so embarrassing," Daph said, making Sabrina and I share a satisfied smile.

As much as I pretended to just play it off, that little phrase meant a fuckuva lot to me. That Daph would group me in with her mother. That she might think of me as someone who could be a fixture in her life.

I'd never really given the idea of kids much thought. It never seemed in the cards for me. And I still didn't know if I could see myself with any small kids. But this one? This almost fully grown one with a lot of smarts, spirit, and heart? I'd call myself lucky to become someone important to her. Dare I even think it? The father figure she'd been denied her whole life.

As we sat there eating, the girls rapid-talking over the rerun of some rom-com they'd clearly seen too many times, I couldn't stop my mind from wandering.

Suddenly, I was picturing endless weekends just like this. Slow and easy but full of joy. Or going to the bookstore. Seeing Daph really pick up discipline and confidence at her self-defense classes. Helping Sabrina lug half of everything Daph owned into a dorm room. Gathering around a Christmas tree.

Family shit.

Stuff I didn't even realize I'd been craving until the possibility of having it was in front of me.

A different kind of life.

With Sabrina. And Daphne.

"You okay?" Sabrina asked, rubbing my leg, snapping me out of my thoughts to find that Daphne had disappeared, leaving the two of us alone.

"Yeah."

"You sure?" she asked, concern making her eyes go stormy.

"Just thinking that this is nice," I told her.

"Yeah?" she asked, face going all soft.

"Yeah," I confirmed, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to my side. "Where'd we lose Daph to?"

"Her book. Now that she only has one day to go, she said she's going to binge it to be ready for the next one. I hope your credit card has a high limit," she said. "I saw her scrolling through the list Allie sent her. And I mean scrolling ."

"Don't worry," I said, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I can handle whatever books she throws at me. And whatever ridiculous coffee concoction you want from the cafe."

"For that, I will buy brunch."

"Like hell," I said.

"Why can't I pay?"

"Because I'll be there. You can pay for all you want when I'm not around. But if I'm there, I'm paying."

"I should be bothered by that macho man stuff."

"But?"

"But I kind of like it," she admitted with a little smirk. "I'm always the one paying for everything. It will be nice to be treated. Though, the book thing will only be the once. Daph—"

"Can buy as many books as she wants on me," I said. "You both deserve a little spoiling."

"You know… you don't have to buy me things to win me over. You already did that."

"With my sparkling personality?" I asked.

"Well, that, yes," she said, leaning up to press her lips into my neck. "And other things," she added, subtly rubbing her knee over my lap.

"Don't start something you can't finish," I warned.

"Who says I can't?" she asked, getting to her feet. "Come on," she said, reaching for my hand and pulling me with her.

Down the hall.

Into the bathroom.

"I already showered," I said as she reached into the shower to turn the water on.

"Well, then you can just watch me shower," she said, working her robe open, slipping it off, and tossing it at me.

By the time I hung it on the back of the door, she was already out of her tank, shorts, and panties, leaving her stark fucking naked in front of me.

"Get over here," I demanded as I reached back to make sure the door was locked.

With a pretty little flush creeping across her cheeks, Sabrina crossed the small space toward me. As soon as she was close enough, my hands sank into her hips, pulling her close, then turning her to face away from me, looking in the mirror as I moved in behind her, grinding my already rock-solid cock against her ass cheek.

I got to watch in the mirror as her eyes went all cloudy and her lips parted in a little whimper.

My hand slid down from her hip to press between her thighs. Just resting my palm against her, though, not giving her the touch her dripping pussy was begging for.

Not yet.

My other hand moved up her belly, cupping one of her breasts, squeezing until I got a little moan out of her, then releasing to roll her nipple with my thumb and forefinger.

It wasn't long before she was riding my hand, was too needy for relief to care how desperate she was being.

And I was fucking eating that shit up.

"Callow, please," she begged, bearing down harder against my palm but still not getting what she was after.

My hand slid across her chest, continuing the torment as my lips went to her neck. "Not yet," I said, loving the pathetic objecting noise she made.

Then she got an idea, starting to grind her ass back into my cock, thinking she was going to strip me of my control.

I won't lie, I was close.

Every ounce of me wanted to yank down my pants, bend her over the sink, and slam inside of her.

And I would.

Just not yet.

Not until she was damn near in tears from her need.

So I just focused on breathing and let her keep rocking against me as my lips and tongue and teeth moved across her neck, over the shell of her ear.

My hand slid up from her chest to grab her around the throat, watching as her eyes widened then narrowed in desire, before applying pressure until her head turned toward me, then sealing my lips over hers, swallowing her choked little groan as my fingers thrust inside of her.

Her thighs shook and her pussy clenched around my fingers, but, again, I didn't give her what she wanted. I just kept them still inside of her.

She made a frustrated sound against my lips as one of her hands went down between her thighs, pressing my palm against her cleft, engaging her clit. And then she was riding my hand. Back and forth at first, then in frantic circles as her need grew.

But just as her walls were clenching harder around my fingers, telling me how close she was, I pulled against her hold, sliding my fingers out of her before she could come.

" No ," she cried, panting hard.

Desperate, she reached backward, yanking at my button and zip, then pulling the front of my jeans down just enough for her to grab my cock and start stroking, wanting me as far gone as she was, so I would give her what she was dying for.

I wouldn't normally call myself a tease.

But, fuck, watching her go almost animalistic in her need for release was fucking intoxicating.

I needed to see just how far I could take this, how desperate I could make her for release.

"You can come," I told her, lips close to her ear. "Around my cock," I clarified.

"Yes," she sighed, stroking me harder. Then, "Please."

I won't lie, that almost undid me.

I was pretty sure there was nothing hotter in the world than hearing a beautiful woman literally begging for your cock.

But I managed to hold on as I pulled away from her hold.

"Be a good girl and spread your legs for me," I said as I pressed her hands to the sides of the sink counter.

Her thighs parted instantly, likely anticipating my cock.

But I lowered down behind her. Reaching up, I spread her lips open wider for me, then started to tease her with my tongue as her thighs shook, as her breathing went fast and shallow, as she had to squeeze her lips together to keep her cries from escaping.

I slipped a finger inside of her, wanting to make sure she didn't come before I could pull away, needing to edge her just a little bit more.

At this rate, I was sure she would shatter apart the second my cock buried deep in her pussy.

Then I was just going to have to slap a hand over her mouth as I fucked her wildly until one orgasm turned into two.

I teased up and down her cleft and around her clit for a long time, driving her up, but not giving her exactly what she was aching for.

I swear she nearly came the second my tongue teased over her swollen clit, though, making me have to play my game even more carefully if I wanted to hold her off a little longer.

As soon as her pussy was tightening around my finger, I pulled away, pulled it out.

"Damnit," she hissed, slamming her fist into the sink counter as her chest rose and fell frantically as her hungry gaze held mine in the mirror.

"Almost," I promised as I moved in behind her, slipping my cock between her lips to rub against her clit.

She immediately took over then, squeezing her thighs to increase the friction, then rocking against me as I dug in my pocket for my wallet and the condom inside.

Sabrina was making little mewling sounds as her slickness coated my cock.

I freed the condom from the wrapper then pulled away, smiling at the savage curse that escaped her as she lost my cock for just long enough for me to slide on the protection.

Then I let her have it again, and she was rocking wildly, frantically, afraid she would lose it again.

Her whole body was taut, her muscles trembling from the strain of being edged so ruthlessly.

"No, Callow, no," she cried as I pulled back when her moans got a little deeper, knowing she was close.

"No, what?" I asked, pressing my head against her opening. "No, you don't want my cock inside your tight pussy?" I asked, teasing in, but just barely.

"No, I want it."

"You want what?" I asked, pausing.

"Your cock." When I didn't give her what she wanted, her gaze slid to mine in the mirror, the hunger taking over her completely. "I want your cock."

"That's it," I said, grabbing her hips, then slamming deep inside of her.

Like I expected, that was all it took.

Her pussy clenched, then spasmed hard as the orgasm tore through her body, making her arm shoot out, slamming into the wall by the mirror to keep herself upright as she let out this deep, long moan that was fucking music to my ears.

But I clamped my hand over her mouth as I started to fuck her.

Hard, fast, deep.

The clenching slowed and stopped as the orgasm finally subsided, but it wasn't long before she was rocking against me, before she was moaning relentlessly against my palm as I fucked her.

The second orgasm had her body going lax, making the sink cabinet hold her up as her whole body was racked with aftershocks.

"One more," I said, releasing her mouth so she could try to even out her erratic breathing.

"I can't," she whimpered, but the rush of wetness around my cock said otherwise.

"You can," I countered, reaching to grab her hand and pressing it between her thighs. "Work your clit for me," I demanded. When she didn't immediately, I grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling back until I could see her in the mirror again. "I said work your clit for me, baby," I demanded, getting this sweet fucking little mewling sound out of her just before she did what she was told.

"That's it," I said as she started swallowing deep breaths as her body began tensing again as the need grew. "Are you going to come around my cock one more time?" I asked as she started to moan softly again.

"Yes," she said, her pussy tightening around me like confirmation of her word.

"Yes, you will," I said, grabbing her hips tighter and fucking her harder, the sounds of our bodies crashing together filling the room as the steam of the shower did, the slapping of water on the tile floor the only thing muffling what we were up to. "There it is," I said, teeth gritted as her pussy tightened hard around me as her breath caught. "Come around my cock," I demanded.

Then she did, her whole body trembling as I fucked her through it before slamming deep and coming myself.

I swear my vision whited out there for a second, and I had to grab the counter at her side to keep upright as my own fucking leg felt weak.

It wasn't for a long moment that I was clear-headed enough to notice her reflection in the mirror, seeing a tear slide down her cheek.

Panic had my heart in a vice as I slid out of her, grabbing, and turning her to face me.

"Hey," I said, framing her face with my hands. "You okay? Too much?" I asked, wiping the tear away.

"Yes. No," she said, blinking the rest of the wetness out of her pretty eyes.

"Gonna need one answer here, babe," I said, my stomach twisting in painful knots.

"You asked two questions," she reminded me with a little smile. "Yes, I'm okay. Sort of. No, it wasn't too much. But also, a little."

"Babe…"

"I think my whole system is just a little overwhelmed," she admitted, leaning her head against my chest, making me feel the aftershocks moving through her. "But not in a bad way," she added as her arms went around me.

"Thank fuck," I said, wrapping her up tight, holding on until the shaking stopped and she seemed to get some of her strength back.

"I should probably get in that shower while there's a little hot water left," she said, but pressed a kiss to the center of my chest before moving away.

It was such a simple little gesture.

But I swear my heart fucking doubled in size at the feel of it.

It was right then as I released her and turned to watch her disappear behind the shower curtain that I knew it for sure.

I'd had inklings already.

But I knew it with a bone-deep fucking certainty right then.

I was falling for her.

Hard.

I cleaned up as she showered, humming the theme song to the show that had been playing on her TV when we fell asleep the night before, then quickly made my way out before, I hoped, Daph noticed we were both in the bathroom at the same time.

The rest of the day was relatively domestic.

I did the dishes.

Daph didn't reappear until hours later, eyes blurry from reading her book. And, if I wasn't mistaken, a little red-rimmed from, I imagined, some plot point that got her all emotional.

We ordered subs in for lunch.

Then Sabrina and I made dinner while Daph finally jumped in the shower.

We ate, watched a movie, then all headed off to bed.

It was all so normal.

There was nothing indicating anything was wrong at all.

Until I woke up just as the sun was rising and was making my way to the kitchen to get some coffee going.

And noticed something that had my stomach flipping.

The bar I'd shoved in the sliding door to the balcony was set up against the wall.

And out on the balcony?

The fire escape ladder was dangling down over the edge.

Sirens went off in my mind for a moment, making thoughts fucking impossible as I rushed out onto the balcony to look down.

But there were no signs of struggle.

The door was locked.

The alarm was still set.

And the only way that bar could have been removed from the track was from the inside.

"Goddamnit, Daphne," I growled as I rushed through the apartment to knock on Daph's door. When I got no answer, I opened it, finding a lump on her bed.

I almost relaxed until I walked over to find she'd shoved her pillows under the covers.

"Fuck," I hissed.

In part because she'd clearly sneaked out when there was some fucking whack job who had it out for her thanks to me and the club. But also in part because I knew Sabrina was just breathing a sigh of relief, thinking her rebellious phase was over.

And I had to be the one to tell her it wasn't.

I sucked in a deep breath as I moved back to the bedroom, finding Sabrina already starting to sit up, her arms up above her head as she yawned.

"Hey," she said, all sleepy and sweet.

And all I wanted to do was get back into bed with her and get lost in her, make slow, sweet love for hours.

But I had to break the news to her instead.

"Babe, Daph snuck out," I told her, watching as she went from shocked to defeated in just a blink. Then, remembering this wasn't a normal situation, panic grew.

Her hand shot out toward the nightstand, finding her phone, and likely trying to look at Daph's location.

"Damnit," she hissed, jumping out of bed, eyes huge. "She turned off her location," she said, stumbling around in the dark before I flicked on the light so she could see. "She could be anywhere."

Yeah, she could.

And as the light came up in the morning and she hadn't made her way home, I had the gut-clenching feeling that wherever she was, she was no longer there willingly.