I was in great shape, but I still wasn’t a teenager anymore, so even if this was a movie scene with the perfect tree for me to climb, I’d probably fall and break my neck.
Silently, I creeped around to the backyard and tested the sliding door into my room. I didn’t know whether to be grateful or furious that it was unlocked. It glided open and I went in, closing it behind me. Then, with the experience of years of staying silent and invisible in order to photograph animals and other skittish subjects, I made my way upstairs to Maggie.
Her door was cracked open and I pushed it further so I could step inside. After closing it behind me, I twisted the lock slowly so it wouldn’t click. Walking over to her bed, I drank in the sight of my sweet girl sleeping, curled around her pillow, and breathing evenly. She looked like an angel with her silvery hair spread across the pillow, her plump lips slightly parted, and her pale skin luminescent in the glow from the night sky.
Tonight, she was wearing a short, cotton nightgown with spaghetti straps that showed off her beautiful collarbone and shoulder, and exposed a great deal of her long, gorgeous legs. As my erection swelled painfully, I vaguely wondered if I would always be this affected by her. I hoped so.
Gently, I pushed her gown up and hooked my fingers into the waistband of her panties. I pulled them down and stuffed them in my pocket, then pushed the gown higher until it was above her breasts. Holy fuck. Those were the most incredible tits I had ever seen.
Maggie was a heavy sleeper, but she finally stirred as I pulled her pajamas completely off. “Harrison?” she asked sleepily.
“You better not have been expecting to wake up and find someone else undressing you, baby doll.” I grunted as I stood up and whipped my shirt off. I left my shorts on, very aware of my limits. Maggie was all creamy skin and lush curves, and I could have stood there and stared at her all night. But, I craved the feel of her against me.
“What are you doing here?”
I didn’t answer, just slipped into her bed and adjusted her so we were spooning. When her naked back pressed to my chest, our skin sizzled. My hard on was nestled in the crack of her ass, one arm under her head, the other cupping her breast. She wiggled and I gave it a squeeze. “Quit squirming and go to sleep, baby doll.” She sighed in disappointment and I buried my smile in her hair. “I promise to take care of you tomorrow night, sweet Maggie. For now, I just want to hold you.”
She sighed again, but this time, it had an air of contentment. I kissed her temple and tucked her in a little closer before finally falling asleep.
***
The best light for photographs is usually dawn and dusk. After spending so many years waking early for the good shots, my internal clock always woke me as the sun started to rise.
At some point in the night, Maggie had turned over and snuggled deep into my embrace, her face buried in my chest. Her soft breaths heated my skin and one of her legs was haphazardly thrown on both of mine. It was sexy as hell, but her mother would be up in a few hours and my brother would be knocking on my hotel room door.
I lifted her face with a finger under her chin and kissed her softly. “I have to go, baby doll.” She grumbled and tried to burrow in further. She was so fucking cute, it spread warmth through my blood. I repeated the previous action. “Wake up for just a minute, Maggie.”
Her eyelids fluttered and soon I was looking down into her sky blue eyes, still cloudy with sleep. “Don’t go,” she begged. It almost broke my resolve, but I held strong.
“I think we should talk and have some time to ourselves before we tell anyone about us, don’t you agree?” She nodded reluctantly. I rewarded her acceptance with a brush of my lips over hers. “Then I should go before I’m discovered in your room.” Her bottom lip turned out in a pout and I leaned down to nibble on it, making her giggle.
“Get some more sleep, baby doll. I’ll see you down the aisle.” I started to slip out of bed, then paused and turned back to her. “It’ll be good practice.” Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned bright pink, but a small smile graced her lips.
Getting out of bed, I grabbed my shirt and put it on, then headed for her door. I had just grabbed the handle when I heard her hiss my name. I halted and twisted my head to look at her over my shoulder. She’d put her nightgown back on and was glaring at me. “Did you take my underwear again?”
I smirked and left the room as silently as I’d entered. Once I was back at the hotel, I laid down to try and rest for a couple more hours. It was a fruitless endeavor because every time I closed my eyes all I could see was Maggie’s naked body. Fuck. That girl could be a fucking porn star with that body, those lips . . . not that anyone but me would ever see her assets.
I gave up after a while and got up to take a long, hot shower. After getting ready, I sat down to go through shots from my last assignment. When Stanley showed up, I’d just finished writing my article and had sent it and the photos I’d chosen to my editor. I’d also sent a quick note about having a chat about my next few assignments.
Stanley and I ordered room service and shot the shit for an hour or so. It had been a really long time since we’d been able to just sit down and visit like that.
“You seem really happy,” I observed.
He grinned almost dreamily . . . a look I had rarely, if ever, seen on him. “I am. Bunny is—she’s—I don’t even know how to describe it. She’s amazing.” He leaned back in his chair and relaxed. “And Maggie. I couldn’t have asked for a better step-daughter. From the first moment she realized how much I loved her mother, she’s been completely supportive of our relationship. She’s bright, mature, smart, and such a joy to be around.”
I listened silently, afraid that if I commented, if only to agree, that he would hear the truth of my feelings for Maggie in my voice.
“She’s taken care of Bunny for so long,” he continued. “I’m hoping now that I’m here to take over that task, she’ll take the opportunity to just be a kid for a while.”
I grunted and he seemed to take it as an agreement. At eleven o’clock, we gathered our things and left the hotel for the church. The ceremony was set to start at noon, so we weren’t surprised to see several cars already in the lot. The girls would have gotten there a while ago to start getting ready.
We took our places at the alter at ten till as the last of the guests were seated. Another few minutes went by and then a woman seated at a black grand piano began to play the sweet, joyful tune of Music Box Dancer. The back door opened and Maggie stepped into the room, causing all of the air in my lungs to rush out.
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She was dressed in a strapless lavender gown. The corset top had gathered material to her waist where it smoothed and flared out, falling to her feet. Her blonde curls were swept up behind her head and her blue eyes sparkled as she caught my eye and smiled.
She slowly moved down the aisle and as she neared, her gaze lowered so she wasn’t blatantly staring at me. I wanted to lift her head back up so I could still see her beautiful eyes, but I dutifully stayed in my spot. As soon as she took her place, the music switched to a cello and piano rendition of My Love by Paul McCartney.
I assumed Bunny had entered and was making her way towards Stanley, but all I could see was Maggie. I pictured her dress in white and the two of us standing alone in front of the arch where Stanley and Bunny met to make their vows.
The ceremony was over before I’d even realized it had begun. I gave Stanley a typical guy hug, pounding him on the back. “Congratulations, brother.” He grinned and started to turn to his bride, but stopped and looked at me.
“Your turn, Harrison,” he said.
I laughed and shook my head airily. “I’ll work on that.” My tone had a sarcastic edge to it, but as soon as his back was turned, my attention diverted to Maggie. He had no idea that work was already in progress. I’d found the one for me and I wasn’t going to wait to officially make her mine.
Chapter 6
Maggie
The wedding reception was gorgeous. Everything was exactly as my mom and Stanley, my step-dad now, had wanted things. It was perfect... except for one small problem. A five-foot-four irritation, dressed in a slutty red dress which was completely inappropriate for a wedding unless you were in Vegas, who refused to go away.
“Are you sure you don’t want to dance?” Cynthia, one of Stanley’s employees, asked Harrison. Yet again. For about the millionth time.