Page 12 of Dad Bod's Naughty List

"Good morning," she says with a yawn, making her way towards me. Her hair moves softly around her face, catching the light and creating a halo effect that makes her look ethereal.

“You’re up early,” I choke out, trying and failing to calm my beating heart. While it slows down a bit, there is hardly anything I can do about the erection pushing against my fly. “It’s not even seven.”

“I’m used to getting up early,” she says with another yawn, joining me by the window and staring out. “It’s the perfect timeto paint and… oh my God!” Her eyes widen in surprise when she makes out the heavy snowfall outside. The world beyond the window is blanketed in a soft white layer of snow.

“Weather reports say it will be snowing heavily all day,” I tell her, my eyes fixed on her to gauge her reaction. “We’ve been advised to stay indoors if you don’t want to be caught up in a snowstorm.”

Aria’s head whips towards me, her cheeks flushing, and I would give up everything under my name to know what’s going on in that beautiful head of hers. “Wait, does that mean we’ll be stuck in here all day?”

I am good at reading people, but I can’t tell if she likes the idea of being stuck indoors with me all day. “If you want to go home, I’m sure I could find a way–”

"No," she hurries to say. "I mean if you want me to go then…"

“I don’t want to leave, Aria.” Not today. Not ever.

She flushes at my words, her cheeks picking up a pretty rosy blush. “I don’t want to leave either.”

Christ, could I fall any harder for this girl? I’ve been fighting my feelings for Aria for so long and while a part of it was from self-preservation – I wasn’t exactly thrilled by the idea of pissing off a mob boss – the crust of it was because I didn’t think myself worthy of something so precious.

Aria is a gem. She is smart, beautiful and kind. I wanted her to be with someone her own damn age. Perhaps even experience that carefree college life. Dating people in her age group and living in the moment.

Well, at least that is what I thought I wanted for her, but every time I entertained the thought of some snotty kid touching Aria,I was filled with rage. So I was stuck between wanting to keep her for myself and letting her experience the chaos of youth.

Maybe I would have made peace with the latter if I hadn’t touched her. But I did. No, I did not just touch this girl. I claimed her all night long, making love with her until mine was the only name on her lips.

Speaking of which, after the night we’ve had, I should probably feed her. It’s the least I can do after the night we had.

“I’ll make you breakfast, come with me,” I say but my hand is already reaching down to take hers.

“You cook?” she perks up, following me to the kitchen. “I didn’t know you cooked! The men in my family cannot cook to save their lives.”

I rinse my coffee cup in the sink before washing my hands so I can start on breakfast. “I am an only child and spent most of my life in the kitchen with my parents. They were both professional chefs.”

Aria jumps up on the kitchen counter and it takes sheer will to ignore the way the shirt rides up her thighs, exposing her smooth porcelain skin. I know she has nothing underneath that shirt, but I decide to ignore that little thought. "You never talk about your family. Wait, am I the reason you are not celebrating Christmas Eve at home with them?"

There is panic in her voice when she speaks. “No, Aria. My parents are on a five-month cruise in the Caribbean. They are probably on some island trying different cuisines and getting drunk with the locals.”

She laughs, the sound light and airy. “How did you become a bodyguard if you come from a family of chefs.”

"I wasn't especially passionate about cooking professionally." I dig around in the fridge, gathering the eggs and bacon. "I joined the military because I wasn't exactly sure what to do. Eight years later I had enough capital to open my own company. That’s how I met your father. He was one of my investors."

"How lucky," she whispers, her voice loaded with unsaid words. I drop the ingredients on the counter and turn to her. Her eyes are downcast and there is something akin to sadness in her expression.

“Aria.” I nudge her legs open and step between them. I grab her chin and force her gaze to mine. “What’s wrong, Princess?”

“I… it’s nothing,” she hurries to say, flashing me a smile that does not reach her eyes. “I want to know more about you and your family. What are your parents like?”

“No, we’re not moving on until you tell me what’s bothering you. Was it something I said?”

“I don’t… I mean, I know it’s not your fault,” she says. “I don’t want to ruin the morning by whining about how my father supports everyone’s dream except mine. I mean, he probably invested in you because he knew you would bring him millions and my dream will bring him nothing. I can’t help him run any of his businesses with a useless degree in arts, right? It’s stupid... I’m sorry.”

"It's not stupid," I say, sliding my hand to cap her jaw. "I am not saying this just to placate you, princess. You forget that I've spent a year following you around all the galleries and art shows in the city. I've seen the way your eyes light up when you find a piece you love. While I don't understand most of it, I don't think something that makes you smile so brightly and your eyes light up is stupid. Your dreams are not stupid."

She blinks up at me, her eyes welling with moisture. “You mean it? You’re not saying it just to get into my pants?”

I slide my hands up and down her smooth thighs. “Once I tell your father about my plans to make you mine, I’ll make sure to support you in everything you want to do. Get that arts degree if that is what will make you happy.”

“You are really going to talk to him about us?” Just then, a phone starts ringing somewhere in the apartment and Aria’s eyes widen in panic. “That’s the ringtone I’ve set for my father. Oh my God, I forgot to text him last night.”

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