Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
“I hope Daddy doesn’t have to use his belt again anytime soon to drive the lesson home, sweet girl. Are you okay?”
“Not really, but I will be. My butt is sore.”
“Let Daddy see.” Callum turned me around in his arms. He gently rubbed my bottom but I hissed. “My belt left lots of little kisses all over your gorgeous ass. Go take a bath. I’ll get you some clothes and whatever essentials you want from your cottage. Text me what you need. I want you here with me.”
Any protest I had left in me had faded. “Yes, Daddy. But what about my truck?”
“I’ll hose it down, no more tasks tonight. You can take care of Glimmer, but that’s it. We’re having a date night. I’m going to spoil you. Go on.”
I crawled off his lap. “Chicken parmesan?”
“Mmmhmm. Then cuddling on the porch swing.”
I kissed him once, then again. “Okay, I’ll send you what I need.” I leaned into him, kissing him passionately.
“Baby, if you keep kissing me like that, I’ll be too distracted to do anything other than plant you in bed and worship every inch of you with my mouth,” he said, growling.
I gave him what I hoped was an innocent smirk. “I sort of love that idea too.”
“Go on, brat. I’ll save you for dessert.”
My heart felt lighter than it had in years. Maybe in my whole life. I padded off to the bathroom, knowing he watched every step. “Yes, Sir.”
Chapter Four
Callum
Holding Quinn against me while the cicadas sang and fireflies danced across the front yard brought serenity I hadn’t experienced since I’d left Brighton Creek all those years ago. When she confessed that she thought I’d leave her again, it had taken everything in me not to profess my love right there. I hated that she linked my need to find something meaningful outside of our town with her not being good enough. As if she could have said or done something that would have changed my mind.
“I’ve missed you, missed this,” I said quietly while inhaling the smell of her, vanilla and some sort of warm musk. We had cooked together, cleaned up and everything had felt incredibly domestic in a way I hadn’t experienced in a relationship. Maybe not ever if I was being honest with myself. “I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch more.”
“We used to ride out to the far side of the creek and sit on a log and talk about nothing… those long summer nights when the moon was bright and the stars would shoot across the sky…”
“I know, I remember. Those nights never lasted long enough.”
“Did you ever think about kissing me?” She tilted her chin up, staring at me.
Had I thought about kissing her? All the time. But I already knew that I was leaving for college. I’d told myself that things would be different once I was settled. That I’d come back home. Things hadn’t played out the way I’d wanted. Instead of talking to her, I kept my distance. “Yes, babygirl.”
“Yes, you wanted to kiss me or yes you wanted me the way I wanted you?”
“There are lots of things I regret. Leaving isn’t one of them. Not coming home? Absolutely. But as I told you before, I’m here now. I’ll keep showing up until it’s drilled into your brain, spitfire.” I stroked her cheekbone with my fingers.
“Mmm. I could have reached out too, but I didn’t. It was easier to place the blame solely on you instead of taking my share. But there was a lot going on.”
Understatement of the year. Her father passed away unexpectedly just before high school. Nana and Tuts were given custody. She’d lost her only living parent and her home in the span of a week. Grief wasn’t linear and facing everything after that had taken a toll on her. “We can talk about ifs and ands until the sun comes up, but it won’t change the past. Let’s focus on the now, Quinn. You don’t have to shoulder it all alone.”
Sliding her off my lap, I got to my feet and helped her to stand. “Tonight is about us.” I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her.
“You taste like garlic knots,” she said giggling.
“I’ll brush my teeth. Come on, I’m not done with our plans.”
We walked inside and I stopped to lock the door behind us. She’d given me glimpses of her inner thoughts, agreed to be with me, but we hadn’t had sex. I wanted her melting underneath me, breath ragged from the pleasure coursing through her body. My fingers buried in her hair, against her scalp, pressing her against me while she floated away from the stress. Something tangible for her to feel to ease her abandonment wounds.
“Callum?” She paused on the stairs.
“Sorry, baby. I was thinking about shutting off your brain and drowning you in pleasure.”