“It’s nice,” he says absently.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.” He seems to rejoin me here in the present. “Go take care of your girl. Spend some time with her. Amazed she can still tolerate you.”
So am I. “Thanks.”
“You need money for the ring?” He jerks his chin at me and reaches for his wallet.
Did my father just offer me money for an engagement ring? Maybe someone needs to take his temperature or check if he’s had a stroke.
“No. You’ve done enough for us. I appreciate it.”
“Make sure you pick out a nice rock for her. Something classy.”
I lift my chin and smirk at him. “You sweet on my girl, Pop?”
He snorts and waves his hand in the air. “Hard not to be. Seems to be good to you and for you. She deserves something nice.”
Christ, maybe he’s dying.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” he growls. “I want my only son to be happy, so shoot me.”
“Thanks.” Time to go before he gets agitated. “Do me a favor and don’t say anything to anyone. I don’t want Doe or one of the girls to ruin the surprise.”
“I’m not in the habit of gossiping with the ladies, son.”
He stands, and I try to give him a hug, but he brushes me off. “Get out of here with that touchy-feely shit.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Chaser
It’s dark in my room. Mallory’s bright blonde hair spills over my pillows, and her soft breathing reassures me. After the morning we had, I’m sure she’s exhausted. I stand there staring at her for a while. Looks like she slipped into one of my T-shirts before crawling under the covers. How the hell am I supposed to climb beneath those sheets and keep my hands off her sweet curves?
With her sleep-tousled hair and scrubbed-clean face, she looks so young, standing here drooling over her makes me feel like one hell of a creepy bastard.
I strip down to my boxers and peel the covers back. The same see-through nylon I’ve been dreaming about ripping holes in all day covers her legs. The shirt’s all twisted around her hips, leaving her pantyhose-covered ass exposed.
“Hope you had a good nap,” I mutter.
She sighs and half-turns when I slide into bed behind her. I’m painfully hard as I pull her closer. I brush my lips over her ear. “Little dove, your man needs you.”
“Does it involve an orgasm?” She shoves her face in her pillow and giggles.
Oh, game on.
“Fuck yeah, it does.” I run my tongue over the line of her shoulder to her neck, and she shivers.
“Chaser.”
I slide my hand under her shirt, grazing soft, warm skin, before finally cupping one of her breasts.
“Uh,” she moans and tilts her head back for more kisses and licks against her neck.
“Take this off,” I mutter, tugging on the shirt.
Quicker than I expected, she sits up and tosses the T-shirt to the side.
Before I can get my greedy hands on her breasts, she kneels up. “I fell asleep dreaming about you.” She throws one leg over me, straddling my hips. “What took you so long?”
She doesn’t wait for an answer. Nope, Mallory’s feeling bold this afternoon, and I like it a hell of a lot. Her fingers trace my waistband, tugging at the boxers while I admire her bare breasts.
I reach up, brushing my thumb over her nipples, then travel lower, teasing my fingers down her belly and between her legs. “Fuck, you’re soaked.”
Her lips purse. “You worked me up on the ride home. Promising to take care of me. Then you abandoned me.” Aw, Christ, that pouty-baby voice thing she does totally turns my crank.
“I’m here now.”
“Maybe I already took care of myself.” Her defiant chin lift makes me want to pin her to the mattress.
“Did you? That’s fucking hot.” I grab her hand and lick her fingers. “Don’t taste any pussy, though.”
She shrieks and yanks her hand away, laughing.
I sit up, wedging my hand more firmly between her thighs and push my fingers into the delicate material of her pantyhose, until I’m rewarded with a satisfying rip.
“Spread your legs,” I demand, thrusting two fingers inside her. “You’re so fucking wet.”
She digs her little nails into my shoulders and throws her head back. “I told you.”
“That’s it,” I encourage as she grinds herself against my hand. “Show me what you want.”
“You,” she gasps.
“Right here, little dove. What do you want from me?”
“I…I want…”
“Yeah?”
At my cocky tone, she snaps her head up and glares. She tugs at my boxers, and this time, I lift my hips, so she can slide them off. When I have her attention again, I slowly lick the fingers I’d had inside her.
She wraps her hands around my rock-hard dick and slowly strokes until I groan.
“How does it feel to be teased?” she asks.
“Really good.” I give her my cocky-bastard smile and squeeze my eyes shut, so I can concentrate on her touch.