The Daddy and the Dom
Page 19
All I’d wanted for as long as I could remember was to have a family of my own. I dreamed about getting married and having babies. I longed to have people in my life I could love unconditionally. People who would love me in return.
I didn’t dare voice that dream aloud to my father or my friends. It was expected that I would go to a prestigious college and get more than my MRS. Degree. My father would be appalled if he knew that I wanted to meet a man who would start a family with me.
Marco brushed a tear from my cheek. “You want someone to take care of you. Someone who’s proud of you for who you are, not what they want you to be. And that’s okay.”
“Is it?” I asked desperately. “I’ve lived my whole life trying to impress my dad. He’d be so ashamed if he knew all I really want is to get married and have babies. All I want is to stay at home and raise my children.”
“You don’t have to worry about what your father thinks,” he said firmly. “What he wants you to be doesn’t matter. What matters is what will make you happy. This is your life, Ashlyn. Not his. If you never want to go back to school, that’s okay. Know that whatever you choose, I’ll be proud of you. I’ll take care of you, no matter what.”
My tears spilled over his fingers, falling faster than he could wipe them away. No one had ever told me they were proud of me, and certainly not unconditionally. It was why I didn’t trust people easily; if I let myself be open and vulnerable for even a second, I might get hurt.
“I’ve always felt like I have to be perfect in everything I do, or my dad would be disappointed in me,” I admitted.
“I think you’re perfect. Just the way you are.”
He lifted me up in his arms, holding me close while I cried cathartic tears. I’d never told anyone my deepest secrets before. I’d never trusted anyone like I was trusting Marco. Not even Joseph, even though I’d wanted to open up to him.
“Do you understand now, babygirl?” he asked when my tears subsided. “Does the way you feel about me make sense?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice still thick from crying. “But what about you? Why do you like this?”
All I could see was my benefit from this dynamic. Marco took care of me, and I didn’t have to do anything to earn his affection.
But what did he get out of taking on that responsibility?
His jaw firmed, but he continued to cuddle me close. “I need someone to take care of. I need to feel needed, necessary,” he admitted. “I don’t have a great relationship with my father, either. Joseph is my only family now.”
“What about your mom?” I asked softly, almost afraid to push him.
His eyes shuttered. “She died when I was eleven.”
Fresh tears flowed from my eyes, but this time, they were for him. “I’m so sorry.” I could tell he wasn’t ready to talk about her, about his pain. But it was enough that he’d shared his loss with me. I understood him better now. I understood why he wanted me in this particular, strange way.
He blinked and focused on me again, but his jaw was still clenched. “I have a surprise for you, princess.”
He got to his feet, guiding me up with him.
“What is it?” I asked.
A ghost of his smile returned, but his eyes were still tight with worry. “I’ll show you. Come on.”
He led me through the massive house. I thought he must be taking me to the backyard, but instead, we entered the glass-walled conservatory.
At first, all I could see was the indoor garden. A large, rectangular patch of dirt was raised about four feet off the ground, walled in by patterned, pale blue tiles. A variety of floral bushes grew from the soil. I couldn’t identify them, but the colorful blooms were pretty. I hadn’t seen them up close before, because I’d never entered this space from inside the house. I’d only peered in at the pool when Joseph and I went for walks outside.
Marco led me around the indoor garden, and I sucked in a surprised gasp.
The pool.
It had been cleaned and filled, and the glowing blue water called to me, practically begging me to dive in.
I turned to him with a delighted giggle. “You fixed it for me,” I exclaimed. “Thank you.”
His lips curved in a smile, but tension lingered around his eyes. He seemed upset about something, and I didn’t understand.
“What is it?” I asked, some of my joy deflating. “Why didn’t you want me to go swimming?” I remembered the way he’d glared at Joseph when he’d asked Marco to get the pool serviced. I’d thought it was because Marco didn’t care about my happiness, but now, he’d made it clear that wasn’t the case.
He brushed a kiss against my forehead. “I like seeing you smile, princess. So, I changed my mind.”
He hadn’t really answered my question, but he didn’t give me a chance to press him.
“Go on,” he urged. “Get in.”
“But I don’t have a swimsuit.”
A wicked grin chased away the last of his tension. “No, you don’t. Strip.”
I hesitated.
He leaned in close, his warm breath teasing over my neck. “Are you feeling shy, babygirl? Daddy’s already seen you naked. I want to see you again. Be a good girl, and do as you’re told.”
My fingers trembled as I reached for the hem of my camisole, but I wasn’t scared. Lust coursed through me, making me tingle all over. My entire body was aware of his nearness, his heat, his strength.
I wanted to make him happy. I wanted to be naked for him, so he could admire me. No one had ever looked at me the way Marco and Joseph did: like I was the most precious thing in their world.
They didn’t think I was a slut they could use for their dirty games. They wanted to share me because they both revered me. It was heady knowledge, and my mind spun as I grew intoxicated by Marco’s open admiration.
I tossed my shirt aside and shimmied out of my yoga pants. Since we’d been lounging around the house, I hadn’t bothered to put on shoes, so I was fully bare for Marco in a matter of seconds. I no longer minded that Joseph hadn’t provided me with underwear. I liked knowing that there was only a thin barrier between my body and my men’s hands.
My men. Joseph and Marco. They were both mine. I could hardly believe it.
I reached for Marco’s shirt, but he guided my hands away.
I glanced up into his dark eyes, puzzled. “Don’t you want to get in with me?” I liked the idea of skinny-dipping with Marco. It seemed fun and silly and naughty.
“I’ll be right here watching you, princess. Now, go on.”
“Oh. Okay.” I guessed it wasn’t necessarily out of the ordinary. Not everyone liked to swim. And while I’d like to be more playful with Marco in the pool, I wouldn’t at all mind swimming a few laps for the first time in months. I’d neglected my routine ever since I’d met Joseph at Harvard, and I longed to get back in the water.
I left Marco’s side and stepped to the edge of the pool, at the deep end. I dived in, my outstretched arms slicing through the water with practiced ease. I swam the length of the pool, kicked off from the side, and completed my first lap. As I continued, my mind went quiet. I’d already been in a blissed-out state after my happy day with Marco, but now, I was even more relaxed.
After a while, I paused to take a few deep breaths, propping my arms on the tiled edge of the pool. I grinned up at Marco.
When my eyes met his, my smile melted.
His tension had returned, and his strong body practically vibrated. The hard planes of his face were harsher than ever, his jaw clenched so tight, I was sure he was grinding his teeth. He wasn’t looking at me, but he was glaring at the water.
“You look like the water’s going to attack me,” I said, trying to lighten his mood. “You don’t have to protect me from the pool.”
He jerked his head in a sharp nod, but the taut lines of his face didn’t ease. I studied him for a few seconds longer, trying to puzzle out his expression.
Anguish.
I pushed myself up out of
When he’d glowered at Joseph at the restaurant, he hadn’t been angry over Joseph asking him to fill the pool for me. He hadn’t been annoyed at the idea of going out of his way to make the arrangements for me.
His anger masked his true emotions. He was scared. Hurt.
I lifted my hand to his face, touching my palm to his clenched jaw. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t like pools,” he said tersely. “They’re not safe.”
“I’m perfectly safe,” I said calmly, trying to soothe him. “I’ve been swimming my entire life. And you’re here, watching over me. Nothing bad is going to happen.”
“Yes, I’m right here. And you’re never allowed to use the pool unless I’m watching. Do you understand?”
“Do you not know how to swim?” I didn’t understand why he was so upset.
“Of course I do. That’s why I’m going to stay right here, in case you need me.”
I stared up at him, trying to figure out what was going on in his head. He said he could swim, but he hadn’t wanted to get in the pool with me. Now, he was talking like I might get hurt somehow if he wasn’t here to guard me.
“Why are you so upset?” I finally asked the direct question, daring to push him.
His eyes flared with a flash of rage, but he didn’t move a muscle. The anger wasn’t directed at me.
“Because I wasn’t always there,” he almost shouted in my face, but I didn’t flinch away. He needed to tell me something important, and I wouldn’t show him how intimidated I was by his swinging mood. “My brother…” his voice broke, and he turned his face away.
I applied light pressure to his jaw, redirecting his gaze to mine. My stomach churned, and I wasn’t at all sure I wanted to hear what was coming next.
But I needed to know. And whatever this secret was, Marco needed to share it with me. When I’d first met him, I’d thought there was something cold and dark about his soul. Now, I could see that darkness wasn’t evil; it was a scar on his heart that he hid behind his cool exterior.
“Tell me,” I whispered.
“My brother. Little Leo. He drowned. I should have been watching him, but I was too busy playing my own games. He was two years old. Then, my mother…” A shudder wracked his body. “She died three years later. Overdosed on alcohol and pills. I killed her, too.”
“Marco,” I said his name tremulously, my heart breaking for him. “You were just a little boy. You weren’t responsible for what happened.”
“Of course I was,” he snapped. “I am. They’re gone, and it’s my fault. No wonder my father wants nothing to do with me.”
“You deserve to be loved, Marco.” The words came from deep in my soul. I wasn’t ready to say I love you yet; it was too soon for that. What we shared was too new, but I needed him to know that no matter what had happened in his past, he deserved love.
“How can you say that?” he asked, strained. But longing lit his dark eyes.
“Because I care about you. Just the way you are,” I mirrored his promise of unconditional affection he’d declared for me earlier.
I went up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his. He was stiff against me for a moment, but then his arms wrapped around me, pulling me close in a fierce embrace. He kissed me as though our connection was the only thing tethering him to sanity. And in a way, maybe it was. He’d told me he needed me.
I believed him.
He needed to take care of me, to take responsibility for my wellbeing. But he needed my devotion, my trust, in return.
I gave it to him, opening for him and allowing him to claim my mouth in harsh, hungry strokes of his tongue.
He stepped toward me, prompting me to move with him. My ass bumped into the cool tile wall that surrounded the garden.
He finally tore his mouth from mine, gasping for air.
“I need you, Ashlyn,” he said, his voice rough with desire.
“Take me,” I urged, pressing my body against his. I craved him as fiercely as he craved me. “I need you, too.”
He groaned. “You make me so happy, babygirl. Daddy’s going to fuck you now. Are you ready to take my cock like a good girl?”
“Yes, Daddy,” I panted, losing myself in our strange new dynamic. “Please.” My core ached, and my thighs were slick with more than water.
He bit out a curse and reached for his belt buckle, freeing himself from his jeans. I stared down at him. He was just as big as Joseph, his girth a little wider.
“Touch me,” he ground out.
I stroked my fingers down his shaft, feeling him for the first time. He’d held me down and kissed me while Joseph licked my pussy, but I’d never been with Marco like this before. I wanted to learn every inch of him.
I wrapped my hand around his cock, stroking more boldly. He growled his appreciation, but he didn’t give me much time to explore. His need was too intense, and so was mine.
He gripped my hips and turned me away from him. His big hand pressed between my shoulders, urging me to bend forward. I braced myself on my hands, my fingers digging into the cool garden soil as I thrust my ass back at him, offering myself.
His boot tapped my ankles, urging me to spread my legs wider for him. I complied, eager for him to join with me in the most intimate way possible.
“I don’t have a condom,” he ground out through gritted teeth. “But I’m clean. Are you on birth control?”
“Yes.” I’d gotten the shot a few months ago. I’d never had unprotected sex before, but I longed to feel Marco inside me, with no barrier between us. “Please, Daddy.” I arched my back, begging him with my body as well as my words.
“I like when you say my name, princess.”
I felt his cockhead pressing at my slick entrance, and I pushed back, welcoming him. His fingers curled into my hips, holding me securely in place as he slowly entered me, inch by delicious inch. My body stretched to accommodate him, my arousal intense enough to ease his way. When his balls finally hit my pussy lips, I felt wonderfully full.
He stayed still inside me for several long seconds, until I started squirming against him.
His palm cracked against my ass, and his hand tangled in my hair, pressing my head down so my cheek rested on the soft soil. I was trapped, pinned in place and rebuked. My inner muscles contracted around him as I realized how much bigger he was, how strong and powerful. I was helpless in his hands, but I knew he’d never do anything to hurt me.
My muscles fluttered around him, and he hissed in a breath. I felt his cock jerk inside me, and I whined my need. He had to move within me, he had to…
“Oh!” I cried out as his cockhead dragged over my g-spot.
“You like Daddy’s cock, babygirl?” he asked, the words rough with lust.
“Yes,” I cried out. “More, please.”
His grip on my hair shifted, tugging back. My head came up, his hold forcing me to arch against him. He drove back in, sinking impossibly deeper. I whimpered, and my fingers dug into the soil, scrambling for something to hold onto.
He started to take me faster, harder. With each thrust, pleasure lit up my system when he rubbed the sensitive spot at the front of my inner walls. The weight of his balls slapping against my lower lips only drove me higher.
“You’re so tight, princess. Daddy’s not going to last long.”
Keeping his hold on my hair with one hand, his other reached around me to find my clit. He rubbed it in a firm, circular motion. I screamed and shattered, my pussy contracting around him as my orgasm claimed me with ruthless force.
He let out a feral roar, rutting into me as his cock pulsed with his own pleasure. His cum lashed into me, branding me deep inside. Primal chemicals mingled inside me, increasing my bliss.
I cried out and thrust back toward him mindlessly as we both rode out our ecstasy. His grip on my hair tightened, lighting up my scalp with little bites of pain that made my whole body tingle.
He thrust in one last time, driving deep with a long groan. His cum dripped down my thighs, and I shuddered as the aftershocks of my orgasm sizzled through me.
We both came down slowly, breathing hard. Finally, he pulled out and lifted me up in his arms, holding me against his chest as he claimed my mouth again.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer, reveling in our connection. It didn’t feel strange anymore. It felt natural.
I’d thought this was wrong, but nothing had ever been more right.
Chapter Eighteen
Ashlyn
I sighed in contentment. After our intense sex in the conservatory, Marco had carried me upstairs and given me a bath. He’d washed and brushed my hair, telling me how sweet and beautiful I was in his deep, rumbling voice.
By the time Joseph had gotten home, I was completely relaxed, cuddled against Marco on the couch while we watched Arrested Development. Marco seemed to favor comedies, whereas Joseph enjoyed serialized dramas. I liked both, but I enjoyed snuggling up to them on the couch more than I cared about the show.
I beamed at Joseph when he joined us in the media room. He took one look at me cuddled in Marco’s arms and grinned.
“Did you have a good day, then, angel?” he asked, closing the distance between us. He sat on my other side, wrapping his arm around me and pressing a quick kiss against my lips.
“Wonderful, thanks,” I told him with genuine enthusiasm. “I’m glad you’re back.”
I’d loved my special day with Marco, but I’d missed Joseph. The way I needed him was different, but no less intense than the way I craved Marco. They both wanted to cherish me, in their own way. I could see that now. Marco needed my pure devotion, and Joseph needed my willing submission.
Marco’s drawing popped into my mind for the first time in several days. The image of Joseph looming behind me, binding me with rope, made my sex heat and my cheeks flush.
One corner of Joseph’s mouth tugged up in the crooked, knowing smile that made my heart melt.
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