Page 42 of The Keeper

“Don’t stop,” I said, my walls clenching around his fingers.

Dane popped off my breast. “Come for me, Piper.”

The command in his tone sent me hurtling over the edge. I cried out, my back arching as waves of ecstasy crashed over me. He continued, wringing every drop of pleasure from my body and only slowing his movements when I slumped bonelessly against the tub.

“Gorgeous.” He pressed a tender kiss to my sternum before lowering his voice. “But next time, I want it on my tongue.”

With that, he strode out of the bathroom, leaving me breathless and trembling in the cooling bathwater.

FOURTEEN

GHOST

Ivy & Piper’s Guide to Life Rule Number Thirty-Six:

Know your limits.

“C’mon, princess,” I coaxed, bringing the syringe of liquid Tylenol to her pursed lips. “Open up for Daddy. It’ll make the owie feel better.”

Avery stared at me like I’d sprouted a second head before jerking her chin away.

Seemed my daughter was familiar with theJust Say Nocampaign. Unfortunately for her, this wasn’t my first rodeo, and after a series of ridiculous facial expressions and exaggeratedly pretending to drink it myself, the medicine was in her system.

“That’s my good girl,” I praised, wiping her face with a damp paper towel. “Now, let’s take care of that diaper.”

She babbled happily as I laid her on the changing table, oblivious to my watering eyes and the toxic sludge in her pants. The smell could have knocked a buzzard off a shit wagon, but I soldiered on while she reached for anything and everything she could get her tiny little hands on.

Who’d have thought diaper changes were a full-contact sport?

“All done,” I panted, dropping the soiled diaper into the pail and scooping Avery up. She giggled, patting my cheeks with her chubby hands.

“A-ma!” she bellowed, twisting in my arms to look for Piper.

“Mama’s taking a bath, sweetheart,” I explained, carrying her to the living room. “How about we watch some cartoons while we wait?”

She immediately grabbed a fistful of my beard, tugging with surprising strength for such tiny fingers.

“Easy there. Daddy needs that to stay attached to his face.” I gently pried her fingers loose and pretended to nibble on them. “Nom, nom, nom!”

Avery let out a belly laugh and patted my cheek, babbling something that sounded suspiciously like “Da-da.”

“That’s right,” I said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I’m your daddy. Can you say Da-da?”

“A-ma!” she yelled, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. Great. She was a brat…just like her mama.

“We’ll work on that one.”

She snuggled against my chest as I scrolled to find her show, her little legs bouncing in excitement.

“Boo!” she exclaimed when the opening notes ofBlueyfilled the air, looking to me for a reaction.

“Bluey,” I echoed before pointing at the screen. “And who’s that? Is that Bingo?”

“Beh-beh!” she babbled, reaching toward the colorful characters dancing across the screen.

I couldn’t help but grin, marveling at how such a simple thing could bring her so much joy. Then she wrapped her little hands around my fingers and gazed up at me with a look of complete trust and innocence, and suddenly, I felt like the luckiest son of a bitch alive.

The lump in my throat threatened to choke me. I never imagined loving someone I just met this fiercely, but Avery had stolen my whole damn heart.

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