Page 79 of Saving Little Clark

"Excuse you, you little -"

"Boys."

The sound of Daddy's voice, warm and amused, cut through the escalating ridiculousness like a knife through butter. I glanced up to see him watching us fondly, a hand resting at the small of my back.

"What do you say we order some pizza, hmm?" he murmured, more breath than sound. "Maybe dig into that pint of cookie dough you've been saving for a rainy day."

"Bold of you to assume I haven't already demolished that bad boy, Daddy. You did leave me unsupervised for a whole twenty-eight minutes, remember?"

Daddy chuckled, a puff of warm air against my nape raising goosebumps in its wake. "Ah, yes. How could I forget the Snack Massacre? That Chunky Monkey never stood a chance."

"There's rocky road in the freezer," I offered. "And those oatmeal cream pies you pretend not to love, hidden in the back of the pantry."

"Holding out on me, baby bug?" Daddy gasped, all feigned outrage belied by the blinding grin I could feel stretching against my temple. "And here I thought we were a team. Partners, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer."

"And snacks," I finished solemnly. Lifted one hand to tangle our fingers together, already so natural.

Soon, Alex and Uncle Will left. It was just Daddy and me now. I was floating. Because there were blankets on the couch. Soft and nubby, the worn flannel of my most beloved throw. The one Daddy knew I loved to curl up under, to wrap around myself like a shield against everything sharp-edged and sour.

And there, nestled among the plush folds, my stuffies. The ratty velveteen rabbit Alex had won me at a carnival back in college. And the scruffy dinosaur Daddy had gifted me on our very first date, his eyes soft and searching as he'd offered it up.

Daddy and I cuddled together on the plush couch. The soft strains of instrumental lullabies drifted from his phone on the coffee table, mingling with the gentle patter of rain against the windows.

I was sprawled bonelessly across Daddy's broad chest, his heartbeat a soothing metronome beneath my ear.

His fingers combed idly through my hair. I hummed in wordless contentment, nuzzling my cheek against the worn cotton of his t-shirt.

"Can we watch the new Pixar movie, Daddy?" I mumbled hopefully, tipping my face up to peer at him with wide, entreating eyes. "The one with the baby sea turtles? It looks so cute."

"Of course, baby bug," he readily agreed, dropping a kiss to my lips and making me giggle. "I've been wanting to see that one too. Let me just queue it up..."

I basked in the warmth radiating from Daddy's big body, the familiar scent of his pine and sandalwood aftershave enveloping me like a favorite blanket. The rest of the world seemed to melt away, shrinking down to this perfect bubble of safety and love.

It struck me then, how different my life looked now compared to just a few months ago. Before Daddy, I'd been so lost, so desperate for an escape from the nightmare Sterling had trapped me in.

As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, Daddy tightened his arms around me and murmured soothingly into my hair. "Everything okay, my sweet boy? You got awful tense all of a sudden."

Hot tears stung the corners of my eyes as I craned my neck to meet his tender gaze. "I was thinking about before. When Sterling was hunting me through the mansion and I didn't think I'd ever get away..."

"Oh, sweetheart. He's locked up now, far away from us. He'll never lay a finger on you again."

I turned to bury my face in the crook of his neck, breathing him in as the knot in my chest slowly loosened.

He leaned in to rest his forehead against mine, his breath warm and sweet on my lips. "All of that is behind us now. I'mgonna spend the rest of my life making sure you feel cherished and protected, so you never have to be that scared little boy again."

And then he was scooping me back into his lap and peppering my face with smacking kisses until I dissolved into breathless giggles, clutching at his shoulders and half-heartedly trying to squirm away.

The movie played on, forgotten, as we lost ourselves in each other - trading sweet kisses and silly eskimo nuzzles, murmuring dreams for the future against each other's smiles.

The soothing lullaby drifting from the TV mingled with the comforting warmth radiating from Daddy's body, creating a cocoon of drowsy contentment that had my eyelids drooping and my limbs feeling heavy as lead. I fought valiantly against the pull of slumber, wanting to soak up every precious second of this perfect moment, but it was a losing battle.

Distantly, I registered the sensation of strong arms scooping me up, cradling me tenderly against a broad chest. The steady thump of Daddy's heartbeat beneath my ear was more effective than any sleep aid, and I found myself melting into his embrace as he carried me up the winding staircase to our bedroom.

I roused slightly when I felt myself being lowered onto cool, crisp sheets that smelled of fabric softener and home. Daddy's woodsy, citrusy scent enveloped me as he drew the downy comforter up to my chin, his fingers skating whisper-soft over my temple.

Something fuzzy and familiar was tucked into the curve of my arm - my favorite stuffed stegosaurus, the one with the missing button eye and threadbare green fur gone buttery softfrom years of love. I clutched it close, burying my nose in its squishy tummy.

A moment later, the press of Daddy's lips had me blinking blearily up at him, slightly cross-eyed from his proximity. His blue eyes were full of stars, the corners crinkled with affection.

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