Page 29 of Praise Me: Pilot
They’ve just disembarked from the elevator across from us, obviously heading to one of the rooms.
He starts, his eyes widening on his daughter in disbelief.
On reflex, I gather Haylo tight to my side, loving the way she comes so faithfully, resting her curled fist on the center of my chest.
“Well.” Phil clears his throat. “I didn’t expect to be confronted with this new reality quite so soon, but here we are.” He inclines his head at his daughter. “Haylo. It’s good to see you. It’s been a while.”
“Hi, Dad.”
Phil scratches his chin, appearing to gather his thoughts. “I had a lot of time to think on the flight here and…” He exhales swiftly, his attention zeroing in on me. “If I had to choose someone for my daughter, it would be someone exactly like you, Joel. Do I think she’s too young for you? Hell yes. But…I won’t lose a minute of sleep worrying about Haylo, now that she’s with you. If she’s safe and happy, then I guess that’s what matters.”
“I am,” Haylo says, looking up at me. “I’m happy and safe and in love.”
For a few beats, I forget there is anyone in the room, except me and her. My fucking heart is ready to pound out of my chest, and I know without a doubt that I’ll be mentally writing my wedding vows on the plane ride back to Nashville tomorrow. “I’ll be thanking God for the rest of my life that you sent me to that parents' weekend, Phil,” I say, wrapping Haylo in my arms, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“And for the rest of my life, I’ll probably be kicking myself for not going,” Phil says dryly. “Haylo, uh…”
She keeps her loyal eyes on me, even when her father addresses her.
My balls throb in response.
That’s a good girl.
“I’m sorry. Not only for missing an important weekend at the sorority, but for all the important moments I missed growing up, trading time with you for women.” He flicks a look at his date. “I don’t even remember half of their names now.”
The woman rears back in disgust and walks away in a huff, taking the stairwell down.
Phil sighs, watching his date disappear. “I thought I had time to make it up to you, Haylo, but…you grew up so fast.”
She jolts in my arms slightly, her dreamy expression vanishing at those words, replaced by something equal parts nervous and lustful. They’re the same words I said to her at her apartment during that private and revealing moment.
“We’re going to turn in for the night, Phil,” I say, my cock stretching the material of my briefs. “Thank you. For what you said. I’m going to take good care of her.”
“I know.”
He steps forward, holding out his hand.
Keeping hold of Haylo with one arm, I shake his extended hand with the other.
“I mean what I said. Send her records and certificates. Any bills you’re paying on her behalf.” Looking the other man in the eye, I stroke her long blonde hair. “She’s my full responsibility now.”
Phil nods. “I understand. There’s a new man in her life.”
“That’s right.” I release his hand and begin guiding my future wife toward the hallway that leads to our suite. “Excuse us, Phil.”
“Bye, Dad,” Haylo says, flicking a brief and slightly conflicted glance back over her shoulder, before retraining those green eyes on me, where they belong.
“I think I’ll turn in, too,” Phil says, following us at a distance down the corridor.
He looks chagrined when we stop at our corner room, only to discover his room is the one next door.Rightnext door.
I should go down to the front desk and have us switched to another floor. Or hell, another hotel entirely. I’m going to do exactly that, until Haylo takes the keycard out of my pocket and taps it to the sensor, making the little green lights flash. Phil enters his room without another word, and we enter ours, the cool, crisp air beckoning.
Nothing beckons to me as much as she does, though, this gorgeous girl who toes off her shoes and strips off her tank top against the silhouette of the Barcelona lights visible through the giant picture window. I don’t bother turning on any lamps, because those distant twinkling lights of the city are enough for me to see Haylo press her bare back up against the wall. No…
It's the locked adjoining door leading to the room next door.
Tipping her head back on an audible breath, she draws up her skirt with one hand, pressing two fingers to the slit protected by her panties, rubbing herself through the purple silk. I get undressed while I watch her, taking off everything but my briefs, approaching her with the fierce ache hanging thick and urgent between my thighs. As I come closer, she tucks those fingers inside panties that have become sodden, playing with her clit using those same two digits.
