Page 22 of Big Gruff Owner

I look up at her from between her legs, and when our eyes meet, her expression is enough to make my blood boil. That’s all I need to hear. I dive in, running the flat of my tongue through her wetness, savoring the way she moans, the sound strangled and desperate. I keep the pace slow and deliberate, wanting to drive her to the edge but not over it—at least, not yet.

As I work my way up to her clit, I flick my tongue against the sensitive bundle of nerves, and the way she responds nearly makes me lose it. Her hands fly into my hair, tugging me closer as I suck on that spot, hard enough to make her back arch off the bed.

Her breaths come in quick, shallow bursts. “More, Daddy. I need more,” she manages to say, her voice trembling.

I can feel her getting close, her body tightening under my touch, and I decide to push her just a little further. Sliding my hand up, I press two fingers into her, curling them just right. The way she starts babbling, the incoherent words spilling from her lips, tells me everything I need to know.

I pump slowly in and out of her, loving the way she clenches around my fingers, drunk on the taste of her on my tongue. She squirms above me, her body out of her own control as she rides my face and fingers, seeking her release.

“Close, Nathan,” she manages to say between gasps. “Nathan, I’m close.”

I hum against her as I pick up speed, and the vibration coupled with the pound of my fingers in her finally pushes her over the edge. I feel her muscles tighten around my fingers, and the way she comes apart around me is nothing short of breathtaking. I keep my movements steady, guiding her through the intense waves of pleasure until she’s trembling, completely spent.

When I finally pull back, her eyes are glazed over, her body boneless from the intensity of it all. I crawl back up to her, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, letting her taste herself on my tongue.

“You were incredible,” I tell her, my voice low and rough with emotion I didn’t expect.

“No, you were,Daddy,” she answers with a soft giggle.

I kiss her again, slow and tender, before pulling back just enough to rest my forehead against hers. There’s a contentment in me that I haven’t felt in a long time, and as I hold her close, I know this is just the beginning.

Chapter Four

Sadie

I’m still buzzing from last night.

Seriously, my mind has been in this blissful haze all day, replaying everything that happened between Nathan and me. It’s like every time I blink, I’m back in his bed, feeling the warmth of his body against mine, the roughness of his hands on my skin, and the way his mouth made me feel things I didn’t know were possible.

This morning was a blur. I woke up to the sound of the alarm, my body tangled up with Nathan’s again. We were both half-naked, and I could feel the heat radiating off him. I wanted nothing more than to stay tangled in his arms, to guide his head back to the place I desperately craved him. But of course, reality crashed in and broke apart our peaceful high. We had to get up and separate to get dressed, and head out for the day. I barely got to say goodbye to him. The whole time I was at work, I couldn’t stop thinking about him—about his smile, his touch, his everything.

So, when I finally pull up in front of our duplex, my heart does this little skip because there he is—looking all rugged and handsome, wearing a backwards baseball cap, worn jeans, and a long-sleeve shirt. Nathan’s walking away from the back of the house with a toolbox in hand, and when he spots my car, that serious, brooding look he usually wears melts into the sweetest smile. It lights up his whole face, and I can’t help but smile back.

For someone who can be so intimidating, that smile is pure magic.

I turn off the engine, and before I can even grab my bag, Nathan’s already jogging over to open the door for me. The second I step out, he pulls me into this deep, toe-curling kiss that makes me forget all about the long day I’ve had. When he finally lets me breathe, he tells me he got the power fixed.

“Oh, that’s great!” I say, trying to sound excited, but honestly, I’m a little disappointed. I was secretly hoping it would take longer than expected, so I’d have an excuse to stay with him longer. I realized after last night that I don’t want to live alone—I just don’t want to live with my father.

“Are you hungry?” he asks, still holding me close.

“Starving,” I admit. “I didn’t grab lunch today and my stomach’s been growling for hours.”

He frowns. “You need to take care of yourself and eat, little girl.”

“I know,” I respond with a grimace, my hands resting on his chest. “I haven’t gotten the chance to go grocery shopping yet and I didn’t want to eat out for lunch again today.”

He gives me a hard look, but lets it go before saying, “How about I take you to the diner in town?”

“Yeah, that sounds perfect.” I sound more excited than I should be about something as simple as going out to eat. But then again, it’s not just about the food—it’s about being with Nathan. Everything feels better when I’m with him.

Nathan drives us to the diner in his truck, and on the way, we talk about everything and nothing. I can’t help but feel so comfortable around him, like I can just be myself without having to worry about saying the wrong thing. This warmth between us makes me want to share more, to tell him things I’ve never told anyone.

When we sit down at a booth in the diner, I start opening up more. I talk about how I’ve always wanted to be an artist but never thought it was a realistic goal. My dad always made me feel like it was a stupid idea, like I wasn’t good enough to make it. I don’t tell Nathan that part, though—I’m not ready to talk about my dad yet.

Nathan listens intently, his eyes never leaving mine. “You should never give up on a dream just because it seems unrealistic,” he tells me, his voice full of conviction. “The best, most famous people’s dreams probably felt unrealistic too, yet look where they ended up.”

His words hit me hard, in a good way. “Maybe you’re right.”

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