Professor

She shook her head instantly. “Well, kind of. I just want to make sure he’s good to her and she’s happy. That’s all that matters to me.” I nodded and helped her off the table when I heard her belly growl.

“Sit down so I can feed my woman.” She walked past me, and I turned and smacked her ass, a growl leaving me.

Grace looked over her shoulder and winked, and then made her way toward the table to sit down.

I finished breakfast and joined her, and as we started eating I thought back to the first time I’d had her here, how I’d felt a surge of power knowing she was eating the food that I’d prepared for her. I’d known that day was the first in a string of others where I’d make her mine.

“Did you talk to your father?” I brought a piece of egg to my mouth and ate as I watched her, gauging her reaction.

She nodded. “Yeah. I called him back.”

Over the last year she’d been slowly mending her relationship with her father and getting to know her siblings. And although I knew she was trying to work things out with him and move past the betrayal and hurt he’d caused, I could still see the apprehension on her face, could hear it in her voice when she spoke to him.

“He’s really trying to mend things,” she said and leaned back in the chair, her hand around the glass of water. “I can hear it every time I talk to him.” She pushed some hair away from her face and exhaled. “We’re getting there, I suppose. But I do enjoy spending time with Lizzie and Ally,” she said.

A little smile moved across her face as she spoke about her siblings. Although I’d met her father once, and I could see his disapproval over the fact we were together instantly, he had no room to judge. Besides, I didn’t give a fuck about his approval. I loved Grace and wasn’t going to give her up no matter what.

And although I did want Grace to have a relationship with her father, he did leave a sour taste in my mouth because he’d hurt the woman I loved. And that wasn’t something I’d ever stand.

But if he was willing to make it up to her, and she wanted to make it work with him, I was willing to accept him into my life and not want to beat his ass for hurting Grace.

“Change of subject,” she said, and I saw the excitement on her face. “I got a callback for that interview at the ad agency.”

Pride filled me. “Of course you did. I had no doubts. They would’ve been foolish not to bring you in.”

She shrugged, and I saw the pinkness in her cheeks. She’d graduate this year and had her heart set on an ad agency in the city. I told her I could’ve easily gotten her in with my connections, but she’d refused, wanting to do things the “legit” way, or so she said.

“I have a good feeling about this, baby.”

She gave me a skeptical look, and I held up my hands. “I swear I didn’t pull any strings. Them calling you back was all you.”

“I have a good feeling too. Let’s hope I don’t screw it up.”

She stood to take her plate to the sink, but I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down on my lap. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Only every time you see me, but I’m not complaining.” She leaned down and kissed me, and I felt like everything was right in the world.

I felt only happiness, gratitude, and a massive sense of calm that I was one lucky bastard, had won the fucking lottery where my girl was concerned.

“Maybe one day you’ll get sick of me saying it. Maybe one day you’ll see how obsessed I am about you.” I muttered the words against her lips.

“Maybe I like that you’re so obsessed with me. Maybe I want more.”

I groaned. “Watch it or I’ll have you right back in that bed.”

“Don’t make threats you won’t keep.”

I grinned, but it wasn’t one of amusement. I was out of my chair, bent, and had my arms around her legs, lifting her up and throwing her over my shoulder. Excessive, sure, but necessary … absolutely. She squealed in surprise, and I spanked her ass as I took us back to the bedroom.

“I guess you’re a man of your word.”

I sure as fuck was.

The End