Page 59 of Black
Gabriel gaped. “How do you do it, man?”
Bruce laughed. “That’s not important. But Cia is, and when you flirt with other women or talk about them in front of her, you’re hurting her. You have eleven days left to show her that she’s worthy of a man’s full attention. Do you think you can put your own needs aside and give her that gift?”
I nodded slowly and mentally cursed this situation.
“You better find your daughter before she gets in trouble,” Bruce said. “She is only six, remember.”
I puffed out air and got up from the swing to go find Cia.
When I found her, she was at our cabin, painting. It was too soon to tell what the painting would look like but since she was occupied I asked if she would mind my taking a shower.
“But you already took one a few hours ago,” she said.
“Yeah, but I’m feeling tired and sometimes a shower helps me wake up,” I lied. I couldn’t tell her that I hadn’t been able to jerk off for days and that I needed a little privacy. It’s not that I can’t go a day without it, I just prefer not to; and besides, I just read an article stating that frequent ejaculation reduces the risk of prostate cancer. I’m all about prevention.
So there I was, in the shower - thinking dirty thoughts about a scenario too close to incest for me to ever admit it – when I heard shouting voices.
I turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and flew out the door.
Anna was standing inside our room with the door open and Mark outside. Anna was shouting at Cia, who looked small in comparison to the angry woman.
I don’t know what came over me; I would have sworn I would never attack a woman, but I pushed Anna back harshly and got in front of Cia. “What the hell is your problem? Don’t come in here shouting at my girl,” I said angrily.
Anna pointed at me. “I have a right to shout when your little missy got us kicked out.”
“You got kicked out because you took your little freak show too far,” I said and opened my arms wide to shield Cia.
“We’re not the freaks. Unlike her, we’re not here for mental help,” Anna lashed out at Cia.
I turned into a roaring lion and pushed her again. “Get the fuck out of here and don’t ever let me see you near my niece.”
Mark stepped closer and called for Anna. He and I exchanged an arctic glance but he was wise enough not to challenge me. As I stood practically naked with only a hand holding a towel in front of me, he could see my ripped body, and tribal tattoos. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to pick a fight with me either and especially not when I was in this mood.
The two of them left the cabin and with adrenaline still pumping through me I turned to Cia. “Are you all right?”
She lifted her gaze to look at me and opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.
I took a step closer and used my free hand to cup her face. “Are you okay?”
She nodded slowly. “I don’t know what impresses me the most,” she muttered. “That you came to defend me or that you came naked.”
“I have a towel,” I said and looked down.
“But I was standing behind you and you were butt naked.” There was a faint smile on her face.
“I’m sorry – do you want me to call Bruce for some emergency therapy in case the sight of my naked ass has caused you a severe trauma?” I joked.
“No, I’ll just pretend that you really are my father and that it’s perfectly natural to see your naked body.”
“Good plan,” I walked over and leaned on the doorframe watching Anna and Mark get in their car. “They’re leaving,” I said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.
“Good, I didn’t like them,” Cia commented and moved to stand next to me. When their car backed out and drove off she looked up at me.
“Thank you.”
The expression of deep gratitude in her green eyes made me feel like a champ and I inclined my head to her. “Anytime, precious. I’m here for you.”
I let the words hang in the air and walked back into the shower to finish what I had started, and this time the image of large green eyes looking at me like I was a freaking hero made me come quickly.
