The Single Dad: Girl’s Sexual Awakening

Licking her.

I swallowed, staring at the cupcake. “It’s good timing because I know we’ve talked about the business trip I have coming up. If you were living here, I wouldn’t have to worry about Everly shuffling from Dom’s place to Jenner’s. You could be with her the whole time I’m gone-as long as that works for you.”

“Of course.” She finished the rest of her milk. “It can be a test of sorts, and if things feel right for the both of us, then I’ll move the rest of my stuff in when you get back.” She glanced toward the garage. “Admittedly, I’ve never even seen the space. Would it be all right if I went and took a peek?”

I took a bite of the cupcake. “Now?”

“If that’s okay with you.”

I lifted the cupcake off the counter. “Come on. I’ll take you up.”

She followed me to the back door and into the garage, where my four vehicles were parked. On the far side was a set of steps, and after climbing them, I turned around to face her at the top.

“The door over there”-I pointed just below-“is where you’ll come and go whenever you want to leave. The code is the same as the front door. And like I said before, you’ll have full privacy.” I opened the door to the apartment and walked in, flipping on the light. “The kitchen is here.” I stood in the center. “Obviously, living room is over there.” I took my time moving between rooms. “Bedroom and bathroom are in the back.”NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

She stood only a pace away, looking at the walls and furniture. “Did you decorate yourself?”

I laughed. “Hell no.” There was only a bite of cupcake left, and I took it down, wishing I had brought my milk. “I used a decorator. The same one who did the main house.”

“Ford, it’s stunning.”

The colors in here were much different than in my place. The apartment was all white and tan, airy and light. The decorator had chosen the scheme intentionally, knowing I preferred a woman watching my daughter over a man.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Love it,” she said, our eyes connecting. “Not like.” Her stare moved to the ceiling, where beams ran across the entire length. “She thought of everything. Important accents that make this small space feel giant and these little touches that soften it.”

“Check out in here.” I walked to the bedroom door, turning on the light, and a chandelier over the bed set the whole room aglow.

“Wow.”

I turned toward her. “Cozy?”

“And, quite honestly, a little romantic.” She headed for the en suite, frozen in the doorway. “You put in a tub? Oh my God, look at the size of it.”

I chuckled.

The designer had promised that would be a huge selling point.

I wouldn’t know. I fucking hated baths.

But I could envision Sydney inside it.

Naked.

Bubbles all around her, floating over her body, her hair splayed out in the water.

“Is this a steam shower?”

I blinked.

Hard.

“Yes,” I replied. “And, listen, feel free to bring whatever you want when you move in. This is your place. Change it, move things around, whatever-just make it yours. I want you to feel comfortable.”

She came out of the bathroom and stopped a few feet away.

Close enough that I could smell the coconut.

The scent that haunted me.

That I couldn’t get enough of.

That I had licked off her skin.

“It’s perfect, Ford.”

Her neck tilted back, exposing her whole throat, and she turned in a circle to do a final scan. As she moved, a swish of her shirt whipped across my arm, a cushion so velvety, like her fingers.

A memory immediately filled my head of what her hands had felt like.

The pressure she had used to touch me.

The way it had caused my dick to react.

Fuck.

Something was wrong with me, something that continuously made my brain go there.

But I knew better.

I knew how wrong it was.

This was just the booze talking, bringing me to a place I needed to stay far away from.

“I can definitely see myself living here,” she said once she stopped moving.

I backed up, adding distance between us, and leaned against the nearest wall, searching for a reply.

My daughter. The topic I needed to keep my mind solely focused on.

“When I travel,” I said, “I’d like you to stay in the main house, so you won’t be far from Everly.”

“Absolutely. I’ll shack up in the guest room. But something tells me Everly is going to try to persuade me to stay in her room.” She smiled. “She tried tonight.”

“You’re right about that. She did the same to Hannah. She also convinced her to have a popcorn fight in my bed. Let’s steer away from the latter.”

A new thought entered.

Of Sydney’s dark hair fanned across my pillow.

Her laughter filling the quietness in my room.

Her body, in low-cut shorts and a tank top, spread across my California king.

My dick was fucking throbbing.

“Don’t worry; I don’t plan on us spending any time in your room.”

I glanced down at my feet, trying to fill my mind with something other than Sydney. But every time I reached a new fork in my brain, the path always led me straight back to her.

What made it worse was when my stare lifted and our eyes fixed.

My hands wanted to reach for her.

My arms wanted to wrap around her.

My lips wanted to press against hers.

But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t ruin this.

Everly needed her.

And I needed space, or something was going to happen-something I would regret.

“It’s late,” I whispered.