Page 40 of Justice for Radar

“Right, okay.” Lucia nodded and took the drink I offered her after I set one down for her sister.

“And if he says something about you wasting his time or his money,” I said. “Don’t you let him guilt you into taking it.”

“Be rude, stay alive,” Justice murmured from the doorway. “Can I have one of those?” she asked.

“Coming right up,” I told her and smiled.

* * *

I smoothedmy hands over Jussy’s back, her head on my chest, her body draped warm over mine as we lay on the couch. She was so relaxed after two drinks. Her breathing evening and deepening as I rubbed her back and massaged her neck up into the back of her hair. I don’t even know what was playing anymore. I had stopped paying attention so that I could pay attention to her… she was a feast for the senses, and I couldn’t wait to get her nude and writhing beneath me in my bed…

But goddamnthis was comfortable. Just cuddling… I couldn’t remember the last time I had cuddled with such a pure woman. It was something I hadn’t realized I had missed, but fuck had I missed it.

“Goodnight, Papá,” I heard Lucia call, and I craned my neck back over the arm of the couch to look at her.

“Night Mr. G,” Javier, her boyfriend waved from behind her.

“Better wrap it the fuck up,” I called.

I could hear Lucia roll her eyes when she admonished, “Papá!”

I looked back and caught Javier’s grin and wink. I grinned and winked back at him as my daughter towed him toward her room.

Nah, Javier and I were cool. He was a good boy. I liked the kid.

“Did I tell you he accidentally grabbed my ass the other day?” Jussy asked in a murmured almost sing-song voice with her sleepiness.

I laughed. “Yes, and I still maintain; what the fuck? Still, that shit was funny so tell me again if you please?”

She told me the story again, and I busted out laughing. She made a noise of protest at me bouncing her, but I couldn’t stop – even when tears collected at the corners of my eyes.

“Oh, God!” I gasped and wheezed. “That is some funny shit!”

“It was,” she agreed. “You should have seen the look on his face.”

“Oh, man. I needed that,” I said and smiled down at her as she looked up at me with sparkling mirth in her eyes and God, she was beautiful.

“Come on,” I murmured. “Let’s get you into bed.”

She nodded tiredly and pushed up off me with a groan.

I got up, shut things down out here, and led her by the hand to the bedroom.

“You mind if I stay with you tonight?” I asked, and she froze and looked at me with such a look of surprise.

“I mean, it’s your bedroom…” she said, and I grinned.

“It’s your comfort that I’m worried about, babe. Nothing else.”

“I… would I be a total slut if I said I would like that?” she asked.

I shook my head.

“No, and I don’t know who ever told you that but they couldn’t have been more wrong.”

She nodded slowly and I said, “You want to change out here or in the bathroom? Do you need me to step out, or am I good? You just tell me what you need.”

“Um, just turn around?” she asked.

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