My heart catches in my throat at the sight of her standing in my doorway. She’s wearing a baggy t-shirt with a tiny pair of shorts, her legs looking especially long. Her hair is pulled into a low ponytail, blond strands lying over her shoulder.

“What’s up?” I set aside the tablet.

She shrugs and shifts from foot to foot, looking nervous.

“Can’t sleep?” I ask.

“Caleb,” she says, “I’m sorry, I just…I don’t know.”

She might not know, or she might not want to say it.

But I can see it in the way she’s biting her lower lip, in the way she stands in the doorway, hesitant yet eager at the same time. In the way a faint blush covers her cheeks.

I know exactly what she needs. Maybe because I need it, too.

“I can help you out.” I push the sheets down and pat the side of the bed next to me. “Come here, doll.”

15

DENIAL

Evelyn

I was about ninety percent certain that Caleb would turn me away. But instead he’s jabbing the power button on his tablet and stowing the device in the nightstand.

Stopping at the foot of the bed, I say, “Are you sure? I told you guys I didn’t want to fuck around.”

“Oh, Evie, doll.” He gives me a soft smile. “I’ve been waiting for you to change your mind.”

Maybe I should be annoyed that he held out hope, but I’m just so freaking happy that he stuck around. Because the truth is, I need him. I haven’t been able to handle being around him—Lincoln, too, although he’s been grouchy and closed off. But otherwise, every moment with them is fraught with sexual tension. Casual conversations while we wait for coffee to brew. Brief greetings when the guys come home from work at the end of the day. Seeing each other in the hall when leaving or returning to our bedrooms. Every moment, I feel like I could burst.

I want them both.

That doesn’t mean my dad has to know, though. Lincoln was so adamant my dad find out, but I’m not ready.

Except…how does Caleb feel about it? I ask, “Do you care if my dad knows what we’re up to?”

Caleb’s expression can only be described as appalled. “I think it’s never a father’s business what his consenting, adult daughter does in the bedroom. And I think Mark would agree with me on that.”

“But Lincoln wants…”

“That’s between you, Lincoln, and Mark,” Caleb says. “I agree with Lincoln—I think Mark should know that we’re building a relationship with you. But it also seems too soon to break that news. I don’t know Mark like you and Lincoln do, though, so my opinion doesn’t count for much.”

I nod, because it makes sense. I hate the idea of ever having to tell my dad about any of this. Besides, is this—whatever we’re doing—going to last that long, anyway? Dad even mentioned that Lincoln doesn’t settle down. And Lincoln said something similar about Caleb. Caleb said something just now about “building a relationship,” but I don’t think we’ll ever get that far. So why am I even worried about any of it?

I shouldn’t be, is what it comes down to.

Instead, I should be taking advantage of Caleb’s offer. He said he can help me, and boy do I need his help. I’ve been feeling achy and needy for days.

“Come closer, doll,” he says. “I can see you thinking, and you don’t need to think too hard right now. That little pussy of yours is feeling empty, isn’t it? You need a daddy to fill it up?”

I nod and step closer, stopping at the edge of the bed next to him. His cock is swelling behind the dark fabric of his boxers. I want to take him in my hand, feel that full length of him.

He gives me a look of pure lust and says, “You want to do this, you will follow my instructions. Starting with, you will call me Daddy. Understand?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Good girl. Take off your clothes.”