“I’m right behind you,” Everly says.
“Me too,” Naomi echoes.
“Ladies first.”
“Okay,” they say in unison.
“It’s straight ahead, you can’t miss it,” I say.
“I’ll show you,” Naomi says, taking hold of Everly’s hand.
The gorgeous brunette looks up at me, surprised.
I smile warmly.
So far, so good.
“Let’s go, Luna,” Naomi says. “Daddy doesn’t like when you stay out here by yourself.”
Both Everly and I laugh.
“Oh, thank you again for the ride. In a city like LA, life is much better when you’re a passenger,” Everly says.
“Glad you enjoyed it,” I say, my eyes riveted by the hypnotic swaying of her hips. When I lift my gaze, I notice the cutout in the back of her dress that reveals a peek of skin. It’s nothing naughty, but I can’t tell you how fast my mind goes into the gutter.
“Wow, you have an amazing home,” Everly says, walking through the house.
“Thank you. I’ll give you a tour later.”
“I’d love that. Have you lived here long?”
“I got it six months after Naomi was born and rented it while I was in London. I love this area.”
“It’s unquestionably la crème de la crème,” she says.
I’m not even going to argue.
It’s only when I drop the boxes on the kitchen island I can finally focus my attention on her.
Everly is breathtaking.
Her hair falls over her shoulders with a pronounced wave. It’s so seductive. The violet ends complement her soft pale pink dress. It’s classy, but the way the lower part of the dress hits her mid-calf has my mind concocting myriad naughty scenarios. She paired her dress with sexy as fuck heels, fun accessories and a small handbag hanging from a gold chain—all in the same shade of pink. Her natural make-up only accentuates her delicate features and brings out her big, beautiful brown eyes.
I wonder if the lingerie matches?
A grin I can’t contain lifts the corners of my lips.
I take a step forward.
This close, I catch the subtle notes of her flowery perfume. My cock is painfully aware of how long it’s been since I’ve been inside her.
She blushes under my inspection.
I lean in and kiss her cheek. I’ve missed the softness of her skin against my lips. “You look great.”
“Thank you. So do you.”
“Thank you.”
I kept it casual. Fitted dark wash jeans and a dark red long-sleeve Henley shirt with buttons at the front. I finished off the look with a pair of black Chelsea ankle boots.
I feel Naomi’s curious gaze on us.
“We’re having a barbecue. I hope that’s okay?” I change the subject.
“You’ll never hear me say no to a barbecue.”
“Good. I’m no master chef or anything like that, but my barbecues are pretty memorable—”
“Daddy's the best cook,” Naomi champions on my behalf.
“Shhh,” I say. “I’ll have to live up to those expectations,” I wink.
“I’m sure Naomi knows what she’s talking about.”
“Yes, I do!”
Naomi flashes me a my-daddy-is-the-best-ever grin.
“Sounds like I might be having seconds.” Everly winks.
I grin back.
“I hope you don’t mind eating outside. It’s just easier with the barbecue.”
“I’m cooped up in a hot kitchen most of the day, I won’t protest.”
“All right, why don’t you hang out with me in the kitchen while I get the appetizer ready.”
“How can I help?”
“No, no, no. You’re our guest. Sit. You’ve been on your feet all day.”
“You can sit here,” Naomi says, already pulling out a chair.
“Thank you, sweetie.”
“Welcome,” Naomi beams.
“Looks like it took you all day to bake those,” I jerk my chin towards the boxes.
“I was baking for some pretty special people. I had to get it right. It took me a few searches to find the right dog-friendly dessert recipe, but I think I have a winner. I even tested the doggie treats on a couple of guinea pigs. I’m happy to report I might have a Doberman and a German Shepherd parked at my door tomorrow morning,” she laughs.
“Thank you,” I smile. “Luna will be happy.”
“I made so many because it was a big batter, but you can freeze them.”
“Got it,” I nod.
“Luna isn’t the only one getting a treat,” Everly says. “I made something special for Naomi.”
“Just for me?” Her eyes are full of wonder.
“Well, your daddy and I might have one each, but the rest is for you,” she winks. “Is that okay with you?”
Naomi nods animatedly. “I can share. What did you make?”
“Cake pops.” Naomi frowns. “They’re like lollipops, but instead of candy, it’s cake.”
“Wow.”
Naomi’s amazement makes me smile.
“Since you’ve already tasted my donuts, I wanted to make something different. Of course, the cake pops are sprinkled with sparkles.”
“Really?” Her eyes light up.
“Yup. I liked the sparkly shoes you were wearing when you came to visit, so I thought I’d sprinkle sparkles on your treats.”
“Thank you, Everly.” Naomi comes running to me. “Did you hear, Daddy?”
“I did, sweet pea. You’re lucky.”
“I know.”
Everly's eyes catch mine and we share a smile at my daughter’s excitement.
“You’re spoiling my girls,” I tell her.
“I hope it’s okay.”
“It’s more than okay.”
We stare at each other again for a few long seconds before I break the spell.
“Where are my manners? I haven’t offered you a drink yet. Are you okay with us starting with a glass of champagne?” I ask.
“Absolutely!”
I pop open a bottle of vintage champagne and grab a pineapple juice box for Naomi. I give my daughter her juice and hand Everly her glass.
“Cheers,” I say, lifting my glass.
“Cheers,” Naomi and Everly parrot.
Woof! Luna chimes in.
We all laugh.
Over the next several minutes, I get everything ready for our meal while my daughter recounts every story she can remember, her eyes flickering between Everly and I. Naomi’s excited voice raises with each new story. She’s so thrilled we have a guest over. She even rushes out to the living room and trots back in the kitchen with the iPad for show and tell. Everly listens attentively, glancing up every so often. When she does, I can’t help but wink back at her.
I’m so mesmerized by her and what’s unfolding in my home, it’s only now I notice. Luna is lying down at Everly’s feet. She hasn’t barked, growled or tried to stand between Naomi and Everly. With everything that happened in London, our Staffie is usually mistrusting of women who are strangers. But here she is sleeping peacefully while my child entertains my lady friend.
Wow.
Even my dog is under her spell.
* * *
After an animated dinner, too many scrumptious desserts to choose from, a house tour, a bath and two nighttime stories, my little princess is out of steam. Luna, her forever faithful companion, is snuggled next to her.
All in all, it was an incredible evening. There were a few accidents along the way, but they hardly deterred Naomi’s exuberance around our guest. I didn’t have the heart to discipline her. Everly rolled with it unfazed, so no harm done.
“Good night, Everly,” Naomi yawns.
“Good night, Naomi,” Everly waves. She’s leaning against the doorframe, a spectator to our nighttime routine.
“When will you come back and visit?” Naomi asks.
“I don’t know if your daddy will in
vite me back.”
My head whips around and I flash Everly an ‘Are you kidding me?’ look.
She laughs.
“You haaaave to, Daddy. You just haaaave to,” Naomi pleads.
I chuckle.
“You liked having Everly over?”
“Oh, yes. She’s fun.”
“Okay, let me talk to her and see if she’ll agree to come back.”
“Yay! Everly can come for dinner every Saturday. Next time, we can have a high tea party.”
“I’d love that,” she says.
She really likes her.
“Enough planning for tonight. You, young lady, need to go to sleep,” I say, dropping a soft kiss against her forehead.
“Okay,” she yawns again. I pull the sheet up and tuck it under her chin. “Love you, Daddy.”
“Love you, Noni. Night. Sleep tight.” I kiss her good night and get up from her bed. Everly is waiting for me in the hallway. I turn off the lights and close the door behind me.
“Do you want another glass of wine?” I ask Everly.
“Yes, please.”
“Let’s go downstairs.” I intertwine my fingers with hers and lead her back to the kitchen.
“Her nickname is so cute,” she says as we go down the stairs.
“She couldn’t pronounce her name for the longest time. It kept coming out as Noni. It was so adorable, I kept using it.”
“I’ve said it before, but it was my gut talking,” Everly says. “Now, I’ve witnessed it with my own two eyes. I stand by my words.”
“You lost me.”
“You’re doing an amazing job with Naomi.”
Something tugs at my heart. It always does when people say that. There are no words to express the amount of love I have for the little person sleeping upstairs.
“Thank you,” I say simply.
“She’s much happier––and well-adjusted––than many kids who have both parents.”
“You have to try harder when you’re a single parent,” I say.
“Well, you, sir, make it look easy.”
“Nah. It’s all smoke and mirrors. I sweat bullets like every other parent and constantly feel I might fail her. The struggle is real.”
“You’re too hard on yourself, Holt.” There’s compassion in her voice. I can’t help it.
When we get to the kitchen, I grab the second bottle of red we opened at dinner and keep walking.
“What about the glasses?” Everly asks.
“I got it covered.”
“Where are we going?”
“Someplace quiet,” I tell her.
“What about Naomi?”
I stop in my tracks and turn around to face her.
A look of worry veils her beautiful eyes.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep my boundaries. I shouldn’t have––”
I pull her into my arms. “I love that you care.”
“Okay,” she lets out a breathy exhale. “You’re not offended?”
“Not at all. And to answer your question, I’m taking you to the smaller entertainment room I have downstairs. It’ll give us privacy. Since I have an audio monitor installed in her room, I can hear everything from down here. If she needs me, I’ll know.”
“I see.”
“Can I carry on with my devious plans?”
“Don’t let me stop you!”
I chuckle.
With a rushed step, I eat the floor beneath me, dragging her behind me. We step into the room and I lock the door. I turn around and lean against it. My eyes sweep up and down her body. I take my time drinking her in.
“You look sexy in my clothes,” I tell her.
“Even if I’m swimming in them?” she asks with a teasing smile.
One look at the spread and it was clear Everly’s beautiful pink dress wasn’t going to survive the meal. She traded her fashionable look for a t-shirt so big, it fits her like a dress. To my chagrin, the heels had to go. That said, she looks fucking hot barefoot and dressed in my clothes. Of course, Naomi had to change as well since Everly was no longer wearing her pretty clothes. Apparently, the rule also applied to Luna. Since everyone was dressed down, I jumped into a more laid-back outfit.
“Your soft skin is touching something belonging to me. I’m good with that,” I grin.
I drop the bottle of wine on the console to my left, push off the door and walk to her. With each step I take forward, she takes one backwards. Her huge smile suggests she’s enjoying the pursuit.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“Keeping my distance,” she laughs. “The look in your eyes tells me you’re up to no good.”
“I haven’t seen you in a week and I warned you before you stepped into this room. Yet, you came willingly. Don’t fool yourself, donut dominatrix. You want this as much as I do.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls you lure into this room.”
I freeze.
She does the same.
“You’re the first woman I’ve ever invited into my home. You’re the first lady friend my daughter has ever known.”
Her eyes flutter at my revelation.
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“I—I’m flattered.”
“It takes a special kind of woman for me to open up this way,” I say.
“Wow. You’re robbing me of my words.”
I resume my mission.
She takes several steps back.
“Between you and I, there are a few other things I’d rather rob you of.”
“Like what?” she asks teasingly. “Uh, oh.” Her butt just hit the wall.
One more step and I close the gap between us.
I snake my arm around her waist and pull her close. She doesn’t protest. “You’re all mine now.”
“That sounds like a lot to handle.”
“I have faith in you. You’ve done a stellar job so far.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Anytime. Can I make a confession?” I ask in a low voice.
“Another one?”
“Yeah.”
“Sure,” she pants.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the moment I opened the door and saw you standing there looking like a vision in pink.”
“I’ve wanted you to kiss me since your gorgeous blue eyes locked onto mine,” she admits.
She doesn’t have to ask twice.
I cup her face and lean into her. My tongue swipes along the seam of her lips and she opens up for me. I crush her mouth in a searing kiss. Her urgency meets mine and already my cock is responding. Damn. I devour her with fervor making up for the last week I’ve had to go without. I taste a hint of the coffee & bourbon ice cream on her tongue and growl with satisfaction as I dive deeper.
“Fuck, I’ve missed your mouth,” I say after a few long seconds of intense passion, my cock now a raging hard on.
“Ditto.”
I brush her hair off her shoulder and drop my lips against her temple.
“I need your warm pussy.”
“Yes, please.”
“Eager little baker.” That gets me a small laugh. “We’re going to have to be quiet. Can you manage?”
She nods.
I kiss her again. With my lips still glued to hers, I lift her up. Her arms slide around my neck as her fingers caress the hair on the back of my head. I carry her over to the L-shaped couch, sit down and position her so she’s straddling me. Without being coaxed, she sinks down until her ass lands on my aching cock.
“Jesus,” I grunt.
“My God, you’re hard,” she says, gyrating her hips in a circular motion.
That only makes me grunt more.
“Stop it or else I’ll come in my shorts,” I plead.
She ignores me. “I fucking love your cock,” she pants swinging her hips back and forth in earnest.
Goddammit, woman.
I clamp both hands on her ass cheeks and squeeze hard. “You’re
playing with fire by disobeying me, precious.”
“You made me a promise,” she says daringly.
“And you’ll wait until I deliver,” I tell her.
The lust I read in her eyes nearly stops my heart.
Fuck, she’s sexy.
My hands slide underneath her t-shirt.
“No bra?”
She laughs, her head cocks to the side and her hair falls over her breasts in the most provocative way.
“I can’t wear one with the cut out in the back of the dress.”
“I’m starting to like that dress even more,” I chuckle.
After eight days I’m already salivating as her puckered nipples scratch my palms. I waste no time. I pull the t-shirt over her head and fling it behind me.
“I need to see all of you,” I whisper, brushing her long mane.
What a sight she is.
Her tits are like two perfect raindrops.
I lean in and close my mouth over one nipple. I suck hard while I pinch the other one.
“Fuck.” She fists the hair at the back of my head and pulls hard. The sting is so good.
After taking my pleasure and giving her hers, I unlatch from her nipple. It pops out of my mouth with a raunchy noise.
We both look up at each other and smile.
“Your stubble tickles against my skin.”
“You mean like this?”
I snuggle my face between her breasts and rub it against her.
She laughs.
“I want you,” I grunt.
“I don’t want to wait anymore either,” she pants.
“Good. That makes two of us.” I lower my eyes to her lap. “There’s too much between us.”
“You need to do something about it.”
“Great minds…” I grin. “I want you to get on your knees on the couch,” I order.
She does.
My fingers grip the sides of her panties and I pull them down her legs. Like a good girl, she helps me by lifting one leg at a time.
I bring the lace fabric up to eye level.
“White? Nice.”
“I thought I had gone a little overboard with the pink,” she laughs.
“You look amazing in that outfit.”
“Thank you,” she says shyly.
I inhale deeply. “Without your panties, I can smell how ready you are for me.”
“I think I’ve been ready since I slipped your t-shirt on. Knowing it belonged to you was such a turn on. Now, I smell a little like you.”
Her revelation only makes me harder.
Torrid Rush: A Single Dad Romance (Bad Boy Studs Book 3) Page 22
