by Maggie Ryan
“Wow, you bought a lot of clothes!”
He laughed and took the coat from her, holding it open so she could slip her arms into the sleeves. “I did, and I can’t wait to see you in every outfit.”
“I love the pink coat. It is so pretty!”
“I’m glad you like it. You can wear it later this week when I take you to town.”
She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. “Town? Like where… other people are?”
“Yes, the town is small, but I’m pretty certain there will be people. Why?”
“I-I’m not sure. What will they think seeing a grown woman dressed like… like a little girl?”
“Don’t you fret about that, Elena. Trust me that you’ll be just fine. Give me your hands.”
She held out her hands and he slipped her mittens on. After he had pulled on his outerwear, he opened the door and they went out onto the porch.
Elena pushed the worry about the upcoming visit to town from her mind as she looked around in awe. “It looks like a wedding cake!”
Liam laughed. “Well, it is certainly white, isn’t it? Ready to take a hike?”
“Can we build a snowman instead?”
“Sure we can. Where do you want him?”
Elena looked around and then pointed to the place where she’d entered the woods. “Over there. That way he can keep watch on all those animals I heard rustling around when I looked for the rock with the key.”
Liam looked toward where she pointed. “Why would you look for the key rock in the woods?”
“Because that’s where I kicked it,” she said. Looking up, she saw his eyebrow lift. Giggling, she tugged on his hand to get him moving, explaining as they walked toward the trees. “So, it flew really far and I could hear animals moving. It scared me but I knew I’d freeze if I wasn’t brave enough to find it. By the way, are there bears up here?”
“Yes, bears and wolves though I haven’t seen any near the cabin. I’ve seen a lot of deer and smaller animals like rabbits and opossums.” He suddenly stopped and squatted, pointing to some marks in the snow. “See those?”
She bent over, peering at where he pointed. “Oh, are those bear tracks?”
“No, those belong to a raccoon, but they prove a point. You are never to go into the woods without me. I don’t want you to worry too much about wildlife. Like I said, the larger predators don’t tend to come close to civilization and living among nature is one of the reasons I chose to build up here, but you could easily get turned around and lost.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” Elena said, scanning the woods. “In fact, why don’t we build our snowman over by the cabin? That way we can look out the window and see him.”
His laugh rang out loudly, but he simply stood and lifted her off her feet until her face was level with his. “This is your snowman, sweetie. We can build wherever you want.”
“Then by the porch,” she decided instantly.
“Your wish is my command,” he said, kissing her before putting her down. “Now, do you know how to roll big balls for your snowman?”
“Daddy!”
“What?”
“I don’t want my snowman to have balls!”
This time he laughed so hard he bent over, clutching his side while she stood staring at him. When he could speak, he shook his head. “Oh, Elena, I forgot how adorable you are. I didn’t mean testicles, I meant how to start with a little ball…” He chuckled and she huffed but couldn’t keep a straight face. “Look, I’ll just show you, okay?”
She watched as he started in an area close to the woods and slowly walked forward, keeping the small clump of snow together and making it grow larger with every revolution. Understanding what he meant, she began her own ball, walking beside him, her mittens soon covered with snow as they made their way toward the porch. By the time they reached it, he had a huge sphere of snow and while hers was smaller, it wasn’t little.
Liam asked her exactly where her new friend should stand and after looking up, she pointed to a spot directly in front of the window. Not only would they be able to see him from the living room, she could look down from the window seat in her room and wave hello. When the base was in position, he lifted hers on top, making the snowman’s torso.
“Now for the head,” he said. “Why don’t you roll it while I pack these well so he won’t tumble down with a stiff wind?”
“Okay.” Elena repeated the movements, not having to walk quite so far or so long before she had a good-size ball that would be their snowman’s head. Once all three were together, she smiled but then frowned. “He needs a face.”
“Yes, he does. And some arms. Why don’t you run inside and get a carrot out of the fridge? That will make a good nose. I’ll find some sticks for his arms.”
She rummaged in the fridge and returned outside with her hands full. Liam looked up and laughed. “I didn’t say bring the entire produce drawer, sweetie.”
“I know, but he needs more than a nose.” Dropping her selections into the snow, she held up a bunch of grapes. “These can be his eyes and mouth.”
“Baby, I don’t think you’ll want to watch some bird swoop down and pluck his eyeballs out.”
“Ewwww! That’s gross!” she squealed, jerking her fingers back from where she’d been about to push a grape into the snowman’s face.
“Besides, they’ll just slip out. You need something with a bit of texture for the snow to grip onto.”
“How about these?” she asked, plucking a plum from the snow. Before he could answer, she shook her head. “No, they are too big and smooth.”
“Don’t worry, we can find some small rocks under the porch. The snow isn’t too deep there.”
Elena looked back toward the porch and the darker area beneath it. Shuddering, she said, “I am so not going to crawl under there.” Turning back, she gave him a smile. “That’s what daddies are for.”
“Oh, is that what they’re for?” he asked, picking her up and swinging her around.
“Yes,” she squealed, laughing at their play.
“Okay, then,” he said, kissing her before setting her down. “You stay here and eat some grapes while I risk life and limb finding some stones.”
“Sounds good to me.” She did indeed eat some fruit while he got down on his hands and knees and crawled beneath the porch. “Watch out for spiders!” she called, popping another grape into her mouth.
“Watch out for diving birds,” he called back.
She immediately scanned the sky and heard him laugh.
“Very funny, Daddy,” she said, rolling her eyes but quickly finished the cluster of grapes and had eaten a plum by the time he returned. “Here,” she said, handing him a plum after he’d spilled the small rocks he’d collected onto the ground.
“I’m not really hungry, sweetie.”
“But he needs another button and I’m full,” Elena said, pointing to the snowman’s body where she’d inserted the pit of the plum she’d eaten.
“Ah, well, in that case, thank you,” Liam said, taking a bite of the fruit.
Elena bent down and picked up several of the small rocks. “These are perfect. Thanks, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome. I even brushed the spiders off.”
“That’s because you are the best daddy in the world,” she said, going up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He smiled and added his ‘button’ while she carefully pushed two larger stones into place for his eyes, then used several small ones to form his mouth. Finally, she pushed the carrot into the snow and stood back.
“He looks great, honey,” Liam said from where he’d stuck the first of two forked twigs into the middle sphere to serve as arms.
“Wait,” she said, dashing into the house again. This time when she returned, she was carrying a scarf she’d pulled from her duffle. She’d totally forgotten about it yesterday when she’d been so cold. Wrapping it around his neck, she stood back
, this time smiling. Reaching out, she took hold of the forked stick and gave it a small shake.
“Hello, Mr. Snowy. My name is Elena. It’s such a pleasure having you as our guest.”
“It’s my pleasure. You are a sweet, adorable hostess, the absolute best little girl in the universe.” She smiled as Liam altered his voice from where he’d disappeared behind their very plump creation.
“Then maybe you can tell my daddy not to spank me?”
“Not likely.”
She laughed and then squealed, turning to run when Liam popped up and reached for her.
“Come back here, little girl!”
“Not likely,” she said, tossing his words back to him and then dropping into the snow and forming a snowball. Soon, the white missiles were flying back and forth and her shrieks filled the air. When one landed on the crotch of Liam’s jeans, she stared and then burst into giggles. “Oops! Look, Mr. Snowy, Daddy has white balls too!”
“Oops? I’ll show you oops.” It was clear she had no hope of escaping as he reached her within three steps. Tossing her up, he caught her, slung her over his shoulder and planted a swat on her bottom.
“Ouch!”
“Oops!”
He kept her in place as he turned back toward the cabin. She didn’t argue as snow had slipped down the collar of her coat, into the back of her leggings, and over the tops of her boots. Her mittens were soaked, but cold as she was, she couldn’t have been happier.
Chapter Eight
Liam put her back into her footed pajamas after running a towel all over her, warming her skin. Gathering up her wet things, he led her downstairs, hanging them on hooks across the mantel. He placed her boots on the hearth. “Why don’t you run up and pick a book to read. I’m going to go out and get some more firewood.”
“I’ll help.”
“Nope. I just got you warmed up. You can choose a game as well. You can read while I cook dinner and then after, we’ll play a game.”
“All right.”
He made three trips in and out, refilling the niche in the stone wall with wood and then adding a few logs to the flames.
“It’s snowing again,” he told her.
She jumped up from one of the chairs and ran to the window. “Wow, maybe tomorrow we can build Mr. Snowy a friend.”
“If it keeps snowing like this, we can build him an entire family!” He scooped her up, returned her to the chair, and tucked an afghan around her. Kissing her nose, he left her to read as he went to prepare their dinner. As he sliced potatoes and shredded cheese, he realized that he couldn’t be more content. He’d thought he’d spend a week in solitude, recharging his batteries and yet hadn’t been that excited to come to his favorite spot on earth. But now, with his little one curled up in a chair before the fire while he worked to prepare one of her favorite dishes, snow falling outside the windows, he knew he could stay right where he was for the rest of his life.
Once the pork loin and potato casserole were in the oven, he cut the asparagus, giving it a coating of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. It would go in the oven but not quite yet. While he waited, he went to lift Elena from the chair, settling her on his lap and tucking the afghan around her again. “Good book?”
“Yes, one of my favorites,” she said, keeping her place with her finger but closing it to show him the cover.
“Ah, Little Women. I remember you loved the movie as well. Though I seem to remember it made you cry.”
“I know, but I still love it. I guess you can’t have everything be perfect all the time.”
He hugged her close. “No, I don’t suppose so. If it were, then you’d not truly recognize those moments that are perfect or treasure them as deeply.”
She pressed her cheek against his chest. “I know I said I’m sorry, but I hope you know how much I mean it.”
“I do, Elena. You’ve no need to apologize again. You paid the price for your mistake and have given me several of those perfect moments to treasure.”
“I did?”
“Oh, yes, baby. I treasure the moments you call me Daddy. I treasure every giggle I hear. I treasure our play in the snow.”
She smiled. “I treasure all those too, but most of all, I treasure this moment, right now. I’ve missed this so much.”
He bent to press his lips to the top of her head. “I promise there will be many more moments to treasure, my love. Now, read to me.”
She read aloud for a bit as he closed his eyes and soaked in her voice and the weight of her on his lap. All too soon, the buzzer on the stove had him returning to the kitchen.
Missing her, he called out, “Elena, would you like to come set the table?”
“Can we eat in front of the fire, Daddy?” she asked, skipping toward him.
“That’s a lovely idea, baby.”
She set placemats, cutlery, and napkins on the coffee table. When she got behind one of the armchairs to push it closer to the table, he called out, “No, Elena. That chair is too heavy. Why don’t you just put down some floor cushions? They are in that trunk in the corner.”
The word corner had her looking toward where she’d spent her first ‘reflection’ time and he smiled.
“The other corner, baby girl.”
After she’d picked two and placed them on top of the rug, dinner was ready. Bringing their plates to the table, he sat across from her. He chuckled when she closed her eyes and moaned after taking a bite.
Her eyes opened, her face flushed and she giggled. “Sorry, but this is so good. I could eat your potatoes every meal of my life. Thank you for making them.”
“You’re very welcome, but don’t forget to eat your vegetable.”
“I don’t like it, and I’m full,” she said, her nose wrinkling.
“Too full for hot chocolate and brownies?” He almost laughed as he watched her consider her answer. When she speared a stalk of asparagus, he said, “Good girl.”
After dinner, he cleaned the kitchen while she set up the board for the game she’d chosen. He brought their mugs and a plate of brownies to the coffee table.
“Oh, thank you,” she said, picking up her mug.
“Careful, it’s hot beneath that mountain of marshmallows.”
“What color do you want to be, Daddy?” she asked, holding out her palm where several little plastic gingerbread men laid.
“I’ll be orange.”
“I’ll be pink,” she said, placing the two pieces on the beginning square. “Do you want to go first?”
“No, sweetie, the youngest player goes first.”
“Oh, goodie!” She took another sip of her hot chocolate and a big bite of her brownie before drawing her first card.
They played Candy Land, her squeals when she landed on the space that allowed her to take a shortcut across the bridge almost as cute as her exaggerated sighs when she landed on a licorice spot, losing a turn. But what had him grinning was when she bounced on her cushion, clapping her hands when he drew a card that sent him almost all the way back to the beginning. When she easily won, she jumped up and did an adorable version of her ‘happy dance’ around the table, causing him to grunt when she plopped down, straddling his lap.
“I won so you get to put up the game.”
He shook his head. “I wonder if you’ll be as gracious a loser as you are a winner.”
“Probably not,” she said, giggling. “After all, I’m just a little girl. You should let me win.”
“Nope, I believe in teaching my girl that it isn’t if you win or lose, the fun is in playing the game.”
She tilted her head as if to say that was the stupidest thing she’d ever heard.
“You doubt your daddy?”
“Ummm, duh.”
“Well, then I suppose you don’t want to play my version of the game?”
“What is your version?”
“My version is where the loser gets to enjoy some candy.”
“But, you don’t like sweets. You didn’t even eat all of your brownie.”
“Oh, but I do love some sweets,” Liam said, reaching for the tab of the zipper at her throat. Her eyes widened as he began to pull it down. “I absolutely adore sweet little berries that start out soft, then get hard as I nibble on their flesh.” He released the zipper when it reached her hips and slid his hands inside her jammies to run his fingers across her nipples. “Ah, like these little berries.” Rolling the hard pebbles between his fingers, he felt her shudder and squirm, knowing she’d feel his cock beneath her. Opening the halves of her pajamas, he bent forward and gave each nipple a flick of his tongue. She moaned, arching her back as if to offer him more.
“I also absolutely love the taste of honey on my tongue,” he continued, slipping a hand into her panties and over her bare mound to find her already hot, her folds slick. “Do you know where I could find some honey?”
“Yes,” she said. “Oh, yes, right there, Daddy.”
He slipped his finger up and down the seam of her sex, each stroke adding a bit more honey to his hand. Lowering his head, he sucked a taut nipple into his mouth, drawing hard and giving it a nip, which caused her pussy to gush. She placed her hands on his shoulders as if needing to ground herself as he played his game. Popping one nipple free, he moved to the other, sucking, licking, nipping as she mewled and then moaned when he slipped a finger into her honey pot. He pumped his finger in and out of her soaked sheath, his thumb rubbing over her clit.
Lifting his mouth from her breast, he said, “Come for me, Elena. Come while my finger is deep inside you.”
It didn’t take but a few more strokes before she stiffened and then cried out as she obeyed, her pussy gripping his finger, her honey flowing to soak his hand and her panties. He kept sucking her nipples, slowing his thrusts as she came down from her climax. He didn’t bother zipping her back up. Instead, he cupped her bottom in his hands and stood. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck, her face pressed against his shoulder.
