Page 138 of Curveball

He takes my hand and rubs it over his severely hardened denim-covered dick. “Trust me, Shortcake, I want you. That will never be an issue. Our relationship beforehand was purely physical. Now I need more than that with you. I want to give you everything you deserve.”

“I guess you’ll be sleeping in your bed for the first time ever tonight?” I joke. He hasn’t spent a full night in his bed since we’ve been here.

“I didn’t say that. It doesn’t mean I can’t hold you. I sneak in not so you’ll dry hump my leg, but because I’m happier when you’re in my arms. I’m happier when I can breathe you in all night. I’m committed to my happiness.Ourhappiness.”

My mouth drops a bit at the stranger before me. “You went from a cold, grumpy, never expressing a feeling asshole to a smooth, swoony, mushy teddy bear.”

He chuckles. “I have an example to set for my daughter. I read that women model appropriate behavior for all men in their lives from their fathers. I’m going to treat you the way I will one day want a man to treat her. Like a princess.”

“You read all this?”

He nods. “Yes, when I was alone in my room at night during the retreat, I read all kinds of parenting books. For both boys and girls since I didn’t know what we were having, but I always suspected it was a girl. That’s what I was hoping for.”

I lean into him. “I think I’ll take my kiss now.”

He smirks as his lips meet mine for a disappointingly short, sweet kiss.

When we walk inside the house, it’s shockingly quiet. I scoff. “Of course she slept while we were gone. She’ll be wide awake crying all night.”

He smiles. “Don’t speak unkindly of my little princess.”

“My mom must have gone to bed. I’m going to grab the baby monitor from her room, so Kaya doesn’t wake her up during the night.”

I make my way up the giant staircase. Assuming my mother is asleep, I quietly open her bedroom door…to her naked body riding an equally naked man like she’s a rodeo queen.

His hands are on her boobs, and she’s moaning something unintelligible. Looking closely, I realize it’s Dutton Steel. I’m not sure if I’m more shocked to walk in on my mother having sex, which was not a rare occurrence when I was growing up, or the fact that she’s sleeping with the same man for the second time, something I’ve never once seen.

I gasp and they both turn their heads and slow their actions. I cover my mouth. “I…I…oh my god!”

Quincy must hear my words of shock and runs to the room likely thinking something is wrong. Unlike me, he just barges in and stops short at the scene before him. He belts out, “Holy fuck!” before quickly turning around and speed walking out of the room.

I’m frozen for a moment until I tiptoe, as if my presence isn’t known, to her night table. I grab the monitor. Like an idiot, I decide it’s a good time to explain my obvious actions, “I just came for the monitor. I didn’t want her to wake you during the night.”

Mom shamelessly smiles at my clear discomfort. “Goodbye,Ripley. I’m a little busy right now. Can we chat more about this later?”

I’m temporarily frozen in place again. “Oh…umm…yes. Later. We’ll talk later. Bye.”

Still with a big smile, likely at my severe embarrassment, Mom waves goodbye.

I sprint out the door and make my way to the other end of the hallway where Quincy is waiting. As soon as we see each other, we start laughing hysterically. I shrug. “At least someone in this house is getting laid.”

He shakes his head. “I can never unsee that. It’s permanently imprinted in my brain.”

“I wish I could tell you it’s the first time that’s happened to me. It’s not. It happened dozens of times when I was a teen. Though never with the same guy twice. I wonder if she really likes him.”

“Wouldn’t that be something? Dutton mentioned to me a few months ago that he had interest in a woman for the first time since his wife. I wonder if he was referencing your mom.”

I smile at that possibility.

Kaya barely slept last night,wailing through most of it. Quincy and I are finally sleeping in the early morning hours when my phone starts ringing. I can’t move. Quincy’s big body is wrapped around mine like a glove.

I mumble, “Quincy. Phone.”

He mumbles back, “Tell them to go away. So fucking tired.”

“Let me get it before it wakes the monster.”

“I’m too exhausted to chastise you for calling our daughtera monster.”

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