Page 38 of Hard Wood Daddy

“When?”

“Once you’re getting big with my baby.” I’m not wasting any seed until I’m sure. I smooth the red marks on her ass, kiss her cheeks gently, and pull the dress down. “Let’s get inside. Someone’s waiting for you.”

The kitten, Frida, started yelling at me when I ran inside to get my supplies. She finally stops when she sees Tess. I relate. Some part of me is always screaming unless I’m holding her, too.

My woman scoops up her kitten and nuzzles her. “You’re getting so big,” Tess coos. She rests her head on my chest as the kitten rests on her breasts. “Look at you. Look at your big tummy. You’re growing so much.”

I put my arms around Tess, and it feels so right. We’re gonna be a family. I’m gonna make a future with her.

Then I’m shocked the kitten climbs up over Tess’s shoulder onto my arm.

I freeze.

Frida doesn’t weigh much, but her claws prick through my arm hairs as she climbs up to my shoulder.

“What’s it doing?” I ask, barely able to keep my voice from shaking. I don’t want my woman to see me scared.

Tess giggles. “She thinks you’re a very big cat tree. She’s just playing.”

The furry little razor-ball bounces across my shoulders. I’m frozen, terrified. I squeeze my eyes shut and pray for it to be over. I don’t understand this little thing. It’s bouncy and unpredictable, and I don’t know if it wants to whisper those little kitten sounds in my ear or pop my eyeballs out with its talons.

But it makes Tess look so happy to see her kitten on me, so I can push the fear down.

“Nice kitty,” I say, reaching up to touch her head with one finger.

Tess molds against my bare chest, breasts pressed against me. “This is perfect.”

“I love you,” I say abruptly. I’ve got no words other than that. Doesn’t feel like enough, but it’s what I’ve got.

The light of joy dawns over her face. “I love you too, Rutger.”

I haven’t been able to read books since my grandma stopped reading to me as a child. She loved fairytales. This reminds me of one of those fairytales, where the beautiful perfect woman somehow heals the monstrous beast.

I think this is supposed to be happily ever after now.

Right?

The next day, when Tess is off at drawing class again, the developers show up at my door.

“What do you want?” I grumble, baring my teeth like a bear, stepping out onto the porch because I don’t want them in my house, especially now that it’s going to be my home with Tess. I don’t want their filth anywhere near her.

It’s two little assholes wearing business suits. Hair slicked back, fists clutching briefcases. One of them has sunglasses on. The other one’s got them in his pocket. Otherwise, they’re both just human turds and I can tell it at a glance.

“Time’s up,” says Turd One.

“We said we’d be back, and here we are. What? You thought we weren’t serious?” Turd Two waves down at the other cabins. “You had your chance to sign, now we’re here to begin option two. This is for you.”

He holds out yet another sheaf of paper covered in more big, stupid words and I just snarl at him and snatch it away.

All the time I’ve spent with Tess has fixed something miserable and broken inside of me.

But it hasn’t fixed everything. “This is my land,” I growl.

“Not for much longer.” Turd One and Turd Two practically snicker as they say the words in unison.

“Unpaid taxes.” Turd One adds, and receives a glare from Turd Two.

If I was thinking clearly, I’d find that glare interesting. Instead, I explode.

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