Page 65 of Off-Limits Daddy
Because this—this right here—was the part I’d never let myself want.
And I wanted the hell out of it now.
His back was marked from where I’d held him too tight. Not bruises—not quite—but imprints of fingers, reminders that he’d let me take him, guide him, keep him. The lace was gone,crumpled in the corner of the room. His thighs were still slightly parted under the sheet.
Jesus.
I ran a hand down my face, trying to get my blood pressure to cooperate. I was thirty-six. A grown man. I’d fought fires. Watched friends get hurt. Been to more funerals than anyone my age should.
But none of that scared me like the way I felt when I looked at him.
I’d meant what I said last night.
If I touched him, really touched him, I wouldn’t be able to stop.
And now?
I didn’t want to.
He stirred a little, nose scrunching. I shifted closer on instinct—not to wake him, just to be near. My hand found the small of his back, thumb brushing gently over warm skin.
Ari hummed, half-asleep. “You watching me, old man?”
“Yep.”
His eyes cracked open just enough to meet mine. Still bleary. Still soft.
“Creeper,” he mumbled, and buried his face in the pillow.
I grinned. “You love it.”
He didn’t answer, but the little smile tugging at his mouth said enough.
I pressed a kiss to his shoulder and lay there a little longer, letting myself have this. Just this.
No pressure. No confessions. No need to explain that I’d been in love with him longer than was probably wise.
But I wasn’t scared anymore.
I’d made my choice the second I kissed him.
Now I just had to be brave enough to say it out loud.
He stayed half-buried in the pillow, mumbling something I couldn’t make out.
“What was that?” I said, voice low.
“I said I’m never moving again. I’ve decided. This is my final form.”
“You’re gonna starve in like three hours.”
“I’ll die full of dick and fireworks. Worth it.”
I huffed a laugh and leaned down to press a kiss behind his ear. “Classy.”
“I am very classy,” he said, turning just enough to meet my eyes. “You knew that when you seduced me in your patriotic cargo shorts.”
“I wasn’t wearing cargo shorts.”
