The Lyon's Cub Caitlin (Lyon The Next Generation 1)

“No-no, I won’t hear of it. Your mother’s not here so it’s up to me to take care of you. I thought I heard Colton’s bike outside before, where is he?”

“Uh, some of the guys are here with him, I guess he’ll be in soon.”

“I wonder how everything went at the school. Go on up to Caitie’s room, I’m sure she’s waiting for you.”

“Are you sure…?”

“Don’t worry about it, just leave the door open and sit on the chair. He’d lose his mind if you sit on her bed. Small steps son, small steps.” She smiled and turned back to head into the kitchen where she’d been busy and I headed up the stairs where I’d never been allowed before.

Todd

I found my girl in her room coming out of the shower and almost broke my neck running back out again. “Todd?”

“Get dressed Caitie, I’ll wait out here.” The last thing I need is for him to come up here and see us like this with her wrapped in nothing more than a towel.

It’s a testament to the strength of my respect for her and him that I didn’t even try to peek. When I think about it, we have a strange dynamic at work here.

After spending the last few months around Jace and the others, witnessing all that heat and passion among people that are younger than myself, it amazes me that I can still hold it together.

Some people may think that I’m a chump; that I’m not man enough; they may even question whether or not I really do love this girl as much as I’m willing to drag my feet. I have no doubts about my feelings for her, and after the way my heart reacted to seeing her this afternoon I’m even more sure that I’d die before I lose her.

But deep down inside I know that for us, regardless of what anyone else thinks, says or does, if we wait, if we do what seems right in Colton Lyon’s eyes, the results will be astronomical. Because I too know something that he does, his daughter is more than worth it.

So even though a usual teenage boy might try to sneak a peek at his girl, or even try talking her into going further, pressuring her because they’d been together for so long, none of that ever enters my head, and if it does I’ve learned how to control that shit like a pro.

Don’t think I’m not taking down notes and pointers every step of the way, because some day I’m gonna do the same with my kid. I think for me the thing that stumps me the most is the fact that I’ve been able to endure this for so long, and the fact that instead of making me bitter or even truly resentful, it’s made me love and cherish her even more.

So I stood outside her bedroom door still hoping that he didn’t come up those stairs. The man just might have an issue with me being that close while she’s naked even though I can’t see shit. This is the same man if memory serves me right who could never keep his hands off his wife if he thought no one was looking. A house full of passionate people, I’m in.

She opened the door five minutes later, freshly scrubbed and looking more beautiful than anyone had a right to, but still with that look from the truck on her face. I barely restrained myself from taking her in my arms for a hug, but her dad was probably in the house by now and knowing him, as soon as he learns I’m up here he’ll be hot on my ass.

“What’s all this?” She looked down at the bags in my hands. I’d almost forgotten I was carrying them.

“Oh, I almost forgot, I got you some stuff. You can look at the rest later, but I want to give you this first.”

I searched through one of the bags for the jewelry box as I walked into her room and dropped the rest of stuff on the bed once I found it. “Ooh, what is it?” She lost that look from her face for the first time. I guess my dad is right; all females lose their shit when they see jewelry.

I removed the necklace I’d had made especially for her and put it around her neck before walking her over to the mirror and standing behind her so we could both see how it looked. “Do you like it?” There were tears forming in her eyes as she ran her fingers along the heart shaped diamond encrusted platinum locket.

I’d had to dig into the interest from my inheritance to afford it, but of course it was well worth it. It was my first major purchase since my parents still act like I don’t have money of my own and still buy me what I need.