The storm raged all night. Even if Susan wanted to leave, the chances of him getting her home safely diminished by the minute.

Leaving her sleeping, he hurried outside to check on his livestock. Everyone was tucked snugly in the barn, but he took several minutes making sure all the water-bucket heaters were working before he returned to Susan.

Unsurprisingly, she was awake and sitting up in bed with her legs crossed lotus-style. She wore a college t-shirt she’d obviously stolen from his drawer, and two cups of coffee sat on the nightstand, steam rising in tendrils from the rich brew.

He couldn’t imagine a more perfect morning. Being snowed in with his babygirl was his idea of heaven on earth.

“Thanks,” he murmured after taking a deep, restorative sip. “This hits the spot.”

“How is it out there? I couldn’t tell from the window.”

“Deep. We have about eighteen inches, plus another foot coming this afternoon.”’

“Perfect.” She drank her coffee and sighed happily. “Getting a Daddy for Christmas is almost as good as being snowed in.”

“Almost as good?” Giving her what he hoped was an evil smile, he took her cup and set it aside.

“Um…” She giggled and tried to scoot out of reach. “I’m just going to?—”

He pounced on her before she could escape and tickled her until she howled with laughter. Being snowed in was great, but listening to Susan laugh was the best way to spend a morning.

The humor dancing in her eyes turned heated. “I want to stay in bed with you until all the snow melts.”

“I think that can be arranged.” He grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. “In fact…”

With his hands on her shoulders, he encouraged her to lie back against the pillows, then kissed a path down her belly to her navel as he eased her thighs apart.

“In fact?” she asked as she ran her fingers through his hair.

“I may never let you leave.”

“Promise, Daddy?”

“Cross my heart and?—”

She interrupted him with a desperate kiss, then put a finger over his lips. “Don’t say the rest, Daddy. Not even for fun.”

Sometimes he forgot what Susan had already lived through. She was so young but had seen things that gave a whole new meaning to an innocent childhood promise.

“Okay, sweetheart. Just crossing my heart, okay?”

Deciding to get back to the business of making Susan come, he moved down her body until he could wedge his shoulders between her silky thighs. Her scent of feminine musk teased him, making his mouth water for a taste of the treasure scant inches from his lips.

She lifted her hips and whimpered when he held her still and blew a soft stream of air over her pussy.

“Daddy, please!”

“A beg already?” He brushed her clit with the very tip of his tongue. “I’ve barely gotten started.”

Using his thumbs, he spread her folds and held her open while he licked her sweet pussy from the crinkled rosebud of her ass to her clit. She screeched and tried to tighten her thighs around his head.

“Naughty girl,” he murmured, giving her thigh a small nip to remind her of her manners. “Do I need to tie you to the bed to keep you still?”

“I’ll be good.”

“I’m sure you think you will.” After giving her tender thigh one more stinging bite, he went to his closet to find a handful of old ties, then hid them behind his back.

After returning to her, he grabbed her ankle and quickly secured it to the bedpost.