Page 31 of Stick Move

I stare at her. Uh, what do spiders and chickpeas have in common? “You don’t like chickpeas? Like the legume you use to make hummus?”

She scrunches her face in distaste. “Yeah, I don’t like hummus, either.”

I cock my head. Where the hell is she going with this? “You’re telling me this why?”

“You just shared something very personal, and I want to share something too, so you’re not embarrassed.”

“I’m not embarrassed.” I’m not. Not even a little. Okay, maybe a little. Or a lot.

Did you have to shriek in hysterics, dude?

“People dislike all kinds of different things. Now you know something about me, too.”

“I’m not…I wasn’t.” I try again to tell her I wasn’t embarrassed but give up and say, “I’ll try to avoid bringing chickpeas into the house.”

She turns her back to me, and picks up her clothes. Her body starts shaking again and under her breath she says, “I don’t like them, but I don’t scream like I’m in a face-off with Godzilla when I see one.” A beat of silence and then, “Oh wait, that’s it. Your nickname.” She turns back quickly, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Jones-zilla. Or J-spider. Oh, I know. Itsy bitsy.”

I cock my head, and take in her amusement—at my expense—but I don’t care, she’s fucking cute when she’s playful. “Itsy bitsy?”

Her gaze drops to my softening dick. “If the name fits.” She shrugs and I take a step toward her.

“Oh, you’re just asking for it, aren’t you?”

She laughs and jumps on the bed. “I’m probably safe up here.”

“Like fuck you are.”

Her eyes go wide and she makes a circle with her lips as she teases, “Ooh, is the big bad hockey player going to jump on the bed and risk another face off…with a spider?”

My cock springs to life as she jumps up and down on the bed, her beautiful breasts beckoning my mouth as they bounce. She gasps as her gaze strays to my arousal.

“Ooh, now I can call you J-bone.”

I step up onto the bed, and drag her into my arms. I hold her too me, slide my hand down her back and give the sweet curve of her ass a little slap. Her eyes go wide, but it’s not because she doesn’t like it. Nope, I see heat and need there, and it makes my cock throb even more.

“Daddy.”

The sound of Camryn’s voice in the other room stops me cold and both Brighton and I go very still. “Shit.”

“I’m sorry. I was too loud.” She drops to a sitting position. “I didn’t even think.”

“Not your fault.” I jump from the bed and tug on my shorts and T-shirt, my erection fading quickly. “She’s in a new place. She probably woke up and got frightened. I’ll go check on her.”

“Okay, I should go back to my room, anyway.”

I hesitate. Dammit, I really don’t want her to go. “We haven’t gone over the nanny rules yet,” I mention to her. “Do you want to grab a drink in the den, and we’ll do that after I get Bean settled?” I steal a glance at the alarm clock on the nightstand. “It’s still pretty early.”

This time she hesitates and I can’t tell if she wants to stay or go. “Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll meet you in the den?”

Happy that she’s staying, I head to the door. I turn back around as she slides off the bed and starts dressing. “Brighton.”

“Yeah.”

“Raincheck?”

“For what?”

“To put you in your place for calling me itsy bitsy.”

---