Chapter 9

9

Gage

“Stunning,” I whisper.

The babydoll nightie showcases her breasts with tantalizing peekaboo lacework. The baby blue fabric that stops at her upper thighs is gauzy and see-through. The hints of her body beneath it are mouthwatering. Despite the very adult nature of the piece, there’s a girlish, innocent playfulness to the design.

“You like it?”

“Very much. I can see what you mean by it being scandalous, and I wholeheartedly approve.”

“I was worried you’d think it looked too girlie.”

“When I call you little girl all the time? No. That is not a problem for me. I love to see a full-grown woman play at innocence. Hands and knees on the bed, baby.”

She leans forward and gets into position. She looks magnificent like this, so pretty, so ready for whatever pleasure or pain I choose to give her.

“I’m obsessed with you.” I flip up the back of her nightie to give me an unobstructed view of her sumptuous ass in barely-there lace panties. “I can’t stay away. You consume my every thought. I live for your smile. I want to take care of you in every way, all the time. I don’t even care how insane that sounds, Leah.”

“It’s a little insane,” she says with a soft laugh.

“Well, it’s the truth. You’re perfect for me. You’re mine. Tell me you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” she breathes.

“Good, because I’m not letting you go. Ever.”

I don’t want to scare her. Such an intense declaration wasn’t my intention, but I can’t take it back. I don’t want to.

I ease down her panties. She’s glistening wet with arousal, and her cunt is flushed pink. I want to bury my tongue there, then my fingers, then my cock.

“Face down on the mattress, baby girl.” I gently press her back until she lowers. “I’m going to make you feel very, very good.”

I get behind her and worship her cunt with my mouth—licking, sucking, teasing, tasting. Leah gasps and moans into the sheets, her legs clenching as she tries to wriggle back for more contact.

I swat her thigh and pull away. “Be still.”

She tries. I can tell she’s making an effort. But with every lick and suck, she becomes more and more agitated.

“Please, Gage—Sir, please,” she whimpers. “I’ll be good, please let me come.”

She’s a good little girl. And one that I want to be mine. And if that’s the case, she needs a daddy.

I could be her daddy.

She gasps. “Please—please?—”

“You want me to give you release?” My voice is taunting.

“Yes, I’ll do—I’ll do anything?—”

“Would you call me Daddy ?”

It’s powerful and wrong, so wrong.

But so incredibly right at the same time.

She gasps and looks back at me. “Daddy?”

“Yes. Like that.”

Her pupils are so large, the blue of her eyes is nearly overtaken. It’s like looking into the depths of the ocean. “Daddy.”

I want to roar in victory, but I merely nod in approval. “Yes. That sounds good, baby girl. Say it while you come, because your daddy wants to hear how good he makes you feel.”

This is new for me. I’m no stranger to kink, but I never wanted to be a Daddy Dom until I met Leah. It can be a dynamic we explore together.

I return my fingers to her cunt, using both hands. One to finger her, the other to rub her clit. I rub her fast, hard. Her pleasure-soaked moans make my cock twitch.

“Say it again, baby girl.”

“Daddy!”

She screams into the mattress as she comes. Her cunt squeezes hard around my fingers. I keep stroking despite her being tight, so tight. Replacing my fingers with my cock would feel incredible. Even now my cock is straining against my zipper, hard and leaking pre-come.

I flip Leah over. I’m breathing hard as I stare down at her. If only I could take my cock out and slide it into her orgasm-swollen cunt. I’d come in two thrusts. Maybe I could hold it in for three if I were lucky.

“Thank you, Daddy.” Her voice is a satisfied whisper.

I lower down and kiss her sweet mouth. My jeans are still on, but that doesn’t stop me from thrusting against the heat of her cunt.

She moans and wraps her legs around me. “Daddy, yes.”

Reaching over, I try to find the lamp switch. I can’t stop rutting against Leah, but I can’t quite reach the switch. Growling in frustration, I yank the lamp away from the wall, tearing its cord from the outlet in the process. The lamp crashes to the floor. We’re plunged into darkness.

Leah yelps in surprise. At the same time, she tightens her legs around me, spurring me on.

“Yes, Daddy. More, please.”

Her sweet voice echoing in my darkened room is too much. I can’t hold back. I come in my pants, dry humping her like I’m a teenager celebrating homecoming in the backseat of his parents’ car.

Leah cries out with another orgasm, holding me tightly while she shudders and shakes.

I press my forehead to hers as I catch my breath. I haven’t come in front of another person in over a decade. I’m shaken that I’ve done so in front of Leah. This wasn’t thought out ahead of time. I had no script.

My little girl made me lose control.

At least it’s dark. I can barely see the outline of her face.

Leah kisses my neck, my chin, my lips.

My cock jerks to attention again. Leah lifts her hips and grinds against me. “Already?”

“It doesn’t take much with you, baby doll.”

“I—I bought condoms.” She offers me a tentative smile. “We don’t have to use them. I know you’re not—you might not want to. And that’s okay. But if you do, they’re in your drawer.”

I want to use one. I do. I reach into the drawer and pull one out. I unwrap it, hold it in my hand, and reach for my zipper.

But I can’t do it. Not tonight.

“I can’t give you what you want.” I pause, the unrolled condom pinched between my thumb and forefinger. “Not right now. I’m sorry, Leah.”

“Hey, you don’t have to apologize.” She slides her hand over my arm, then twines her fingers with my free hand. “I am a hundred percent satisfied.”

She’s satisfied, but she’s troubled.

I have no words to reassure her.

I go to the bathroom to toss the unused condom, grabbing a fresh pair of underwear as I go. In the bathroom, I change out of my soiled clothes. I return to the bed and climb in next to Leah. “Stay with me in my…what did you call it? Eternal darkness vibes room?”

“Of course…Daddy.” There’s a smile in her voice. She snuggles close to me.

I kiss the top of her head. “Did you like calling me that?”

“Yeah, I kind of did. No, I definitely did. What do you think?”

“I liked it, too. You can be my little girl, I can be your daddy. That means I get to discipline you when you misbehave.” I pause. “But you aren’t going to run, right?”

I can’t bear the thought of her leaving.

“I’m not going to run.” Her tone is resolute.

I exhale in relief. “Good. Because as your daddy, I need you safe, here with me. I can take care of you in whatever ways you need taking care of.”

“That sounds like a great arrangement.” She runs her hand over my bare chest and presses it against my heart.

After a while, her breathing evens out and deepens. She’s asleep.

“I’m keeping you,” I whisper, hoping that she hears me even in sleep. “I don’t care where you go or who you’re with, as long as you’re happy. But baby girl, you better always come home to me.”

When I wake up, she’s no longer in my arms. I pad across the hall to her bedroom and find her in there.

This isn’t sustainable, sleeping apart.

I need to do something, although I’m not entirely sure what I’m supposed to do. My past is driving a wedge between me and my future.

* * *

Dmitri

The meat sizzles and sends aromatic smoke into the sky. I’m on grill duty. I prefer it here. Not as much pressure to converse. I love my family, but I’m not feeling it. I’d rather hide in the brick-paved grilling area. I hop up on the ledge behind the grill and watch the other guests. I know better than to try to get on my phone during the party—Mom would never let me hear the end of it. She’d scold me in broken Russian full of threats that neither of us completely understands. We know the threats are scary, though, because her mom used to wield the same ones.

Granddad’s seventy-fifth birthday. It’s a milestone. He pretends not to love the fuss, but I know he fucking does. He’s in his element, shaking hands and back-slapping his old friends, hugging his family.

Patrick is deep in conversation with some of Granddad’s friends. I turn away before anyone can see me frowning. Fucking Patrick. I know what he’s trying to do.

I focus on the grill. The tri-tip steak, the portobello mushrooms, the vegetables. Plate after plate. There are over forty hungry people in Granddad’s back yard, and the food and alcohol keep flowing.

Danica makes a beeline toward me, carrying a plate of raw steaks and a bottle of beer. “How’s it going, house elf?”

“About like you’d expect. Everyone’s leaving me alone, thank Christ.” I give her a pointed look. “Except you.”

“At least I brought you a beer.”

“You did. Thanks.” I take a swig, enjoying the hoppy taste. “Where’s your friend?”

“She texted she’ll be a few minutes late.”

“Is she bringing her boyfriend?”

“She didn’t say, so probably not.” Danica squints at me, her gray eyes perceptive. “You don’t like him, do you?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. He’s secretive. You know I can’t say much about him.”

“Yeah, yeah, NDA, blah blah blah. I’m sick to fucking death of your NDA. Is he good for our girl, or is he not?”

Our girl . I wish Leah was my girl.

I force myself to take her question seriously. “He has a bit of a past, you know. There was the thing with the tape.”

“I’m personally hoping that was an attention-seeking media grab.”

“It wasn’t.” I take another gulp of beer, trying to decide how much to tell her. “It wasn’t a good look for him. I hope he’s changed since then, that’s what I’ll say about it. Feel free to look it up.”

“Ew. I would never look for someone’s sex tape.”

“I meant the commentary about it. I shouldn’t have said even this much.”

Danica frowns. “Do we give him the benefit of the doubt?”

“Look.” I flip over the steaks on the grill, then close the lid. “Leah hasn’t always chosen the best guys. But she’s smart. And I think she figured her shit out after Mick.”

“She’s been through so much.”

“I know. But she’s an adult. Let her make her own choices.”

Even when those choices drive me fucking insane with jealousy.

“You’re right, you’re right.” Danica leans against the brick ledge next to the barbecue.

My dad’s setting up for bocce ball, trying to sucker my cousin Rachel into helping him.

“You can be on my team and I win every time,” he says to her.

She falls for it. She must not remember our Fourth of July barbecue when Leah and I annihilated Dad and Danica.

Leah walks into the back yard. I freeze, bottle halfway to my lips. I knew to expect her, but she takes my goddamn breath away every time I see her.

She’s wearing jeans with a nice, light-blue top that shows off her shoulders. I bet when she turns around, her tattoo will be all or mostly visible.

I start toward her. Hey, let’s wreck my dad at bocce ball is on the tip of my tongue, but Patrick rushes over. “Leah, hey. Craig is setting up an epic bocce tournament. Be my partner?”

She looks surprised that he came on so aggressively, but she nods. “Sure, let me grab a drink first.”

“I’ll get it.” He’s already hurrying toward the cooler. “Beer? Wine? Champagne?”

“An amber ale, if you have one?”

“Sure thing.” He gives her a mock salute. I want to rip off his fingers and feed them to him.

I reach her and give her a quick hug. It’s both temptation and torture to touch her like this.

“Good to see you.” I keep it casual, but all I want to do is pull her into my arms again.

“You, too. Nice party. Your granddad looks happy.”

My smile is forced. “He’s in his element.”

“Looks like you were in yours over there at the grill. Are you avoiding conversation?”

“Yeah, a bit. Are you a mind-reader?”

“Yep.” She peers at me as if trying to see into my skull. “Wow, it’s so empty in there.”

“Ha. Ha.” I lower my voice. “Hey. Next weekend is the March auction.”

Her humorous expression fades. “And?”

“You aren’t doing it, are you?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“You signed up, but I was thinking that if you’re with Gage now, you wouldn’t…”

She doesn’t help me out by finishing the sentence. She doesn’t even answer.

Patrick waves at her from the other side of the lawn. “Leah, I got your drink! Let’s play!”

Without a word, she joins him.

I have to let the auction go. I didn’t love it the first time she wanted to do it. Now I love it even less. I should take the advice I gave Danica, and trust Leah to make her own choices. No matter how much it hurts.

Dad and Rachel win the game while I finish grilling. I’d feel bad for Leah except I’m too smug that Patrick lost. He disappears into the house for a few minutes. He’s probably using the can, but I like to imagine he’s sulking.

Danica brings me another beer and comes to collect the newly cooked food. She stares across the back deck, where Patrick has returned to pester Leah. He waves his hands around, demonstrating something to her.

Danica takes a sip of her beer. “Looks like our cousin has a crush on Leah.”

“How come you aren’t eviscerating him?”

She laughs. “Why should I? She’s with Gage, so nothing will come of it. Besides, she can take care of herself.”

If I were flirting with her instead of Patrick, I’d be a dead man.

I don’t say it out loud, though. I don’t want to give Danica any reason to think of me flirting with her friend. It’s easier if the thought never enters her mind.

I can’t stand here watching this. Pushing away from my perch on the brick ledge, I say, “I have to go get some things inside. Watch the grill, will you?”

“Sure, leave me alone to witness Patrick’s clumsy attempts at shooting his shot.” Danica sighs. “You’re missing out. This is high comedy, bro.”

My chuckle is forced. There’s nothing humorous about Leah getting hit on. She should be with me.

I fucked everything up.