Page 25 of North
When she looked at me, all the wind vanished from my sail. Those fucking big blue eyes got me every time and her freckles turned me to putty. North could pretty much make a fool out of me and I’d be along for the ride.
“I got the job at Starbucks.” A smile began to pull her pouty lips up.
“That’s awesome, North. I’m so proud of you,” I said with sincerity beaming from my words.
“Thanks.”
Silence fell in soft, fluffy flakes between us until my hungry hands couldn’t stop themselves from touching her. I reached out and found the freckle on her cupid’s bow and swiped my thumb across it. Then I found another deep cinnamon freckle on her bottom lip and touched it too. I touched all the freckles on her plush pink lips until I noticed North’s breathing turn shallow.
I jerked my hand away because I realized I was playing with fire. I knew better than touching her like that. She was my daughter. I helped raise this girl and I vowed when she was a little snaggle-toothed Strawberry Shortcake to protect her.
I was failing miserably.
“Please, don’t stop,” North begged in a voice so tiny I barely heard it. It cracked into the forcefield I’d erected around myself. Shit, if I was being honest, last night cracked it but her begging me not to stop touching her was widening the gash, turning it into a canyon.
I slid my palm against the side of her face and touched her lips again. They were so soft and full. My tongue burned to lick them slowly before slipping into her mouth.
“North, I don’t know how much longer I can touch your pretty mouth like this before something fucked up happens.” Without warning, she curled her slender cool fingers around my wrist and held my hand in place while she took my thumb in her wet mouth.
My cock turned to steel so fast it hurt.
My sweet girl had my thumb in her mouth sucking and licking in soft small strokes. It threatened to unravel me and leave behind only threads of the rope that used to hold me together.
A strangled groan lodged itself in my throat as I looked into those fucking eyes. Those denim eyes with impossibly long lashes painted dark with mascara that made the sparkling blue in her irises jump to life.
If she kept going I was going to blow my fucking load in my pants like a high school kid.
I wanted to keep watching her suck my thumb like it was my cock but I knew better. I slid my thumb from her mouth and stared at the saliva glittering on her lips.
“North…goddammit.” My head thudded against the headrest. I shoved my hand through my hair and clenched my teeth.
Kane…I’m sorry but your touch felt so good. Soright.” The conviction in her voice did nothing to diminish my hard dick. It actually made shit worse. I wasn’t thinking with a clear head.
“I know but this…” I gestured between us and shook my head. “This shit isn’t right. I know how it feels but…”
“Okay,Dad,” she threw the word at me like a dart and it hit hard. Shame and rejection seared crimson onto her cheeks in splotchy streaks.
I felt lower than low.
I kept letting her inch closer to the blurred line separating us. I had to hold on to some type of sanity but when she was around there was no sanity in sight.
“Can we go now, Dad?”
“North you don’t have to…”
“Yes, I do have to call you dad because calling you Kane reminds me of everything I can’t have and shouldn’t want.” Anger turned her face to stone.
What could I say to that?
I was stuck.
Her words echoed in the air around us as I drove back to the gallery.
“You two are back fast.” When I walked in with bags and cups of coffee, Melanie let a grin stretch across her face. She hopped to her feet and grabbed things out of my hand setting them on the counter. It was like she lived at the gallery and refused to go home. “Mind if we have that talk now, Kane?” Her voice sent waves of irritation rippling through me. My back stiffened and my shoulders turned to heavy bricks.
“Sure,” I said moving toward the back of the gallery. It was the only part off-limit to customers. There were two storage rooms and a small break room with a couch, TV, and fridge. That’s where Melanie and I went to talk.
I sat on the couch and looked at her with my hands clasped. I wasn’t in the mood to hear whatever she had to say. She was damn sure in the mood to tell me though. Enthusiasm peppered the air around her and she was bubblier than ever.
