Page 98 of Moth to a Flame

“You said I was good today.” Her voice is adorable after her half-hour rest. “I got on my knees for you in the repair room when you ordered me to. I mean, I had to lock up when Rosemary went for a drop-off. But I was fast.”

“Not that,” I growl, remembering her lips wrapped around my cock. The tears in her eyes when I fucked her face hard…Damn it. “For sparing your customer’s life.”

“Huh?”

I have to see her confusion. The scrunched nose and her bottom lip pouting. So I keep my answer to myself and sneak another look at her after I accelerate and pass by two cars.

“You know who I’m talking about.”

“No…” She pauses, then, “Oh. Oh. You did glower at Joyce. What did she do?”

“She was flirting with you.” What started as playful, turns out to be…not so much. I’m jealous of everything and everyone.

“Was not. Joyce isn’t into me.” Regan’s lighthearted laugh and her thumb rubbing my palm are a balm to my soul. “We’re about the same age. She’s beingnice. She’s always been nice.”

“Too nice.” I tighten my grip on her hand. “Too nice to my woman.”

With my parents, this would’ve been the point of the conversation where my dad would get defensive. He wouldn’t mean to, but he’d end up fueling my mom’s delusions anyway. By shouting back at her, telling her she’s making shit up.

She was. He loved her and only her. He took it very personally when she called him a liar.

Regan isn’t my father. She isn’t like anyone I’ve ever met.

“Okay, caveman.” I feel her heat as she leans into me, groan when she presses a kiss to my cheek. “Tomorrow, I’ll put up a new sign on the storefront.Nice customers will be refused service. I’m not sure if Rosemary would agree, though I bet that with little convincing, she might.”

“Brat.” I haul her hand to my mouth and bite on her knuckles. She yelps, then laughs, and just like that, I’m not upset. Not even jealous. “You scare me. How easily you disarm me, little lamb. It’s concerning.”

“It’s not my fault that you fell in love with me,” she sasses.

“Yes, it is. You’ve been such a bad girl, tempting me. Apparently, no one’s ever disciplined you. Good thing I’m here to do that.”

“Oh, please, Daddy.” That fake pleading voice. She knows how fucking hard I get from it. “Please, don’t punish me. I promise I’ll be good.”

I’m not just hard. I’m throbbing. Any minute now, I’ll put her into my lap and make her ride me on the highway.

To save us both from dying in a car crash, I call for images that I’m sure would kill the mood. Like the family photos she showed me on her phone.

And there goes my boner. Keeping the momentum, I say, “Your parents.”

“Hold up. No. No, no, no.” In my periphery, I see her hands crossing in a time-out sign. “He’s my father. When I’m in themood, you’re my Daddy. These two don’t mix. Please, I don’t want to imagine him when we’re together.”

I hardly ever laugh. With her, I do. Even if it’s a short one.

“We’re not going to fuck. We’re going to avoid getting into a car accident while you tell me more about yourself.”

“Okay.” She clears her throat, leaning back into her seat. “Ask away.”

“Since when did he start telling you scary stories?”

“According to Mom, since they found out she was pregnant. Same as he did with Rosemary.” When I don’t comment, silently telling her to keep going, she sighs, as if that pleases her. “My first memory of him was from when I was three and she was five. We had sleepovers in my room or hers, and we’d fall asleep to stories about monsters and ghosts.”

I realize we’ve been quiet for too long. Turning my gaze to her, I find her worrying her bottom lip, her eyes fixed on the glove compartment in front of her.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry.” A tortured groan slips past her lips. “I can’t believe I’m being so insensitive. You asked about Dad’s scary stories, and here I am, gloating about Rosemary and how fun it’d been to grow up with my sister. I didn’t even stop to consider if you’re up to talking about it now. Fuck, I feel horrible.”

“Don’t.”

---