Page 70 of Perfect Imperfections

At the sharp intake of breath, he turned his head. The soft glow of Charlotte’s star projector nightlight cast enough light in the room for him to see Ellie’s eyes well up with tears. Her mouth dropped open, and it took her a moment to get any words out. When she did, they were filled with awe.

“I-I love you too, Charlotte.”

Wonderful. Now two out of the three people in this house were an emotional mess. Good thing he hadn’t denied Charlotte that second brownie or they’d be three for three.

“Now I feel the need to ask if you’re okay,” he said once they made their way into his bedroom and closed the door.

Ellie stared at him, dark eyes wide and watery. “I just, I don’t have a lot of people in my life who…she’s…she’s a great kid, Sullivan. Wonderful. You should be proud.”

“I am. And she has excellent taste in people.”

A blush rose on her cheeks. His heart skipped a beat at her beauty. Not simply her looks, but her inner beauty. She loved his daughter. It was clear on every interaction she spent with Charlotte. Here was a woman who had no cause to form a friendship with an eight-year-old girl, no reason to come over on Friday nights and do puzzles when she could be out at the bar with friends or whatever single young people did. Ellie didn’t have to be nice to Charlotte just because she was seeing Sullivan. She did it because she truly cared for his daughter.

Dammit, if he wasn’t careful, he was in serious danger of falling in love with this woman.

“Come here, Ellie.”

He held out his hand, needing to get out of his head and into safer territory. Physical territory.

“You want to go to sleep?” she asked, a knowing twinkle in her eye.

“No, but I would like to take you to bed and memorize every single inch of you.” Pulling her into his embrace, he lowered his lips to the shell of her ear, feeling her tremble in his arms as he whispered, “With my tongue.”

“Yes, please.” The words left her on a deep moan as her lips kissed the underside of his jaw.

Desire shot through him at the contact, a lightning bolt of passion that went right from his jaw to his groin. He immediately stiffened, cock going hard, pressing against his slacks insistently. Demanding to be satisfied. But no. Tonight wasn’t about simply getting off. Tonight, he wanted to show Ellie how much he cared for her, how much it meant to him that she cared for him, his daughter. She had become an important part of their lives, and he wanted to let her know how much he appreciated that.

What better way to show her than to drive her out of her mind with pleasure?

He grinned, grabbing the hem of her T-shirt. Today’s shirt was a duck laughing with the phrase You Quack Me Up on it. Damn, but he loved her sense of humor. Pulling the shirt up and over her head, he dipped his head down to take her lips. She opened for him eagerly, her hands tunneling into his hair, tilting his head so she had a better angle. He obliged, always happy to agree to any of this woman’s requests.

They stumbled to the bed, kissing, touching, driving each other crazy. Had he ever craved a woman as much as Ellie? He didn’t think so. He’d certainly never wanted one this badly after having her. For Sullivan, after a few times between the sheets, the passion died down. Even with his ex, the sex got stale quickly. But not Ellie. Each time they came together, he found it only increased his appetite for her. Every touch, every kiss ramped up his need to have her again, please her again.

When his hands came down to the button of her jeans, she suddenly pulled away.

“What?” The word panted out of him as Ellie had stolen all his breath. “What is it?”

“I didn’t think…”

Her right hand came up to tug her ear. The motion causing a rock to sink in his gut.

“Ellie, whatever it is, it’s okay. We can stop. We don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. You know that, right?”

Was it the location? Sex between them had always occurred at her place. Did having his daughter in the house make her nervous? He’d locked the bedroom door. Charlotte couldn’t barge in. Perhaps it was simply the idea of making love with a small child just down the hall. He knew some people stayed away from single parents for that reason alone. Whatever it was, she could tell him. He wouldn’t be angry. In pain, sure, but blue balls he could handle. Having Ellie upset and uncomfortable, that was unacceptable.

“I know, and I’m not uncomfortable. It’s just…”

“What?” Not wanting to upset her more, but needing to reassure her, he stepped forward, cupping her face in his palms. “What’s wrong?”

She frowned. “They don’t match.”

“What?”

“They don’t match.”

She’d lost him. “What doesn’t match, sweetheart?” And why would something not matching be a problem?

Sighing, she glanced down at her feet and mumbled, “My underwear doesn’t match my bra.”

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