Relinquish

Chapter Thirty-Nine

A Few Weeks Later

Lola

I stand with one hand on our doorknob. “Are you ready for this? I can tell him to leave?”

“Babe.” Cade cocks his head and arches an eyebrow. “He’s come this far. You should let him in.”

“Unannounced.” My father called from the airport to say he was on his way for a visit. Fifteen minutes is not enough time to prepare for him.

“So.” He shrugs his shoulders. “We’ve got to see him sometime, and we weren’t having sex, so it’s the perfect opportunity.”

“We were getting ready to have sex.” I glare at him. It’s not that easy to take off a leather corset, garter belt, thigh-high stockings, and ankle cuffs.

“I’ll make it up to you.” He walks to the door, puts his hand on my chin, and grins. “I left everything out in case we need to get rid of him.”

“You didn’t?” I shudder over the image of my dad walking into our bedroom. He’s not prepared for chains, paddles, whips, restraints, or a sex swing. Not at all.

“Yes, babe, I did.” He kisses my lips and pulls back. “I haven’t been inside your tight pussy in twelve hours. He’s not staying long.”

“Fuck, you’re bad.” I shake my head, twist the knob, and swing the door open.

“No, I’m good.”

Damn him, he’s right. He is good. Too good. The man has me begging for sex every day. I can’t get enough of his hard abs, skilled fingers, and steely pipe that won’t quit.

My dad stands on the other side of the door in a three-piece suit, shifting from foot to foot. “Hello, Dad.”

“About time you answered. This place is nicer than the one you moved into when you came to town, but I’m still not sure it’s safe.”

“Sir.” Cade nods.

“Cade.” My dad returns his greeting and slips inside. I shut the door behind him and toss up a quick prayer that this goes well–not that it matters.

“The neighborhood is one of the safest in town. I also have the top security system installed in addition to what the building provides.”

“Good.” He moves around the living room. When he nears the bedroom, my heart races. Cade winks and I stifle the urge to punch him in the gut–not that he’d feel anything.

“Here. Why don’t you have a seat?” I rush across the room, grab his arm, and lead him to the sofa. As he settles in, I return to our bedroom entrance and shut the door with a snap.

My dad crosses his leg over his knee and eyes us both. Neither of us moves. “Are you going to sit or stand over me in a show of force?”

“Sorry.” Heat floods my face.

Cade grabs my hand and whispers, “Don’t be nervous. You’ve got this.” Some of the nerves settle, and we sit opposite from him on the loveseat.

My dad taps his perfectly manicured nails on his knee. “What are your plans for my daughter?”

“Tonight, or in the future?”

I dig my nails into his forearm. “Cade.”

“Yes, dear.”

“He means in the future.”

“Yes, son. I don’t want to hear what disgusting sex position you have planned or that I interrupted.” His face fills with redness. “I would’ve warned you I was coming to town, but the meeting I had scheduled was changed at the last minute to tomorrow.”

“It’s fine. We’re happy to see you, Sir.” He laces my hand in his, and his eyes turn serious. “I love your daughter and plan to marry her. I haven’t officially asked her because I’ve been waiting for the ring to get done, and it has to be the perfect moment.”

“Really?” The butterflies in my belly tumble over each other.

“Yes.” He frowns. “Did you think I was going to let you live in sin and debauchery forever?”

“It’s only been two months.”

His eyes narrow. “Is your answer ‘No’ until we reach some magic anniversary?”

“No. It will be yes.” I stifle a giggle. “Unless the gesture is not grand enough. You know I love over-the-top gestures.” Our sex play is about as over-the-top as you can get, but I love every second of it.

“Yes, I do.”

My dad clears his throat. “I’m still here.”

“Oh, you’d know if we forgot you were here.” Cade drops his arm over my shoulders and pulls me to his side.

My dad rolls his eyes. “That’s good to know. Lola, do you plan to keep working at Truman Security?

“Yes.” My back tenses.

My dad turns his attention to Cade. “How do you feel about that?”

“I’m fine with whatever she decides to do. She’s competent at her job, and for the most part, she’s safe.”

“Like last time?” My dad’s eyes flash with anger.

“I won’t make that mistake again.”

“I’m not going undercover again, and if I do, Cade will be with me. I don’t have a burning desire to be tied up and kidnapped again.”

I can feel Cade’s body shake as he stifles a chuckle. For fucks sake, we aren’t talking about role-playing here. I twist my head and glare.

“Sorry.” His eyes glisten with humor.

“I don’t want to hear about some twisted game the two of you play. I want to know you’re keeping my daughter safe.”

Cade sobers. “Sir, all kidding aside. I would sacrifice myself to save Lola, whether it was a spider or a masked terrorist. I take my responsibilities seriously, and there’s nothing more important to me than family.”

“Your family is gone.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “I have my own family, and I’d move heaven and earth to protect them. You know my record. There’s nothing in it that doesn’t speak to the level of sacrifice I’m willing to take to protect those I’m responsible for.”

I lace my fingers through Cade’s. To hear him fully embrace his past and be proud of it makes my heart swell with pride for him.

“That is abundantly clear. You should be proud of your military record.”

“I am.”

My dad rubs his palm over his knee. “Will you be out in the field?”

“Some, but not a lot. After I was injured, I was too afraid to go out and have people depend on me. I’m not worried about that anymore. I know I’m capable of planning rescue missions and pulling them off without a hitch, but I won’t risk my safety to do it. I want to be home with Lola and to be present when we have children. I won’t do anything reckless that leaves my children without a father.”

Oh, my God, I’m going to bawl.He’s never said that to me, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise. He’s the swooniest man in the world.

“Good.” My dad nods. “I should go and let you two finish what I interrupted. Meet me for dinner tonight.” My dad stands and straightens his pants. “Seven o’clock?”

“We’d love to.” Cade joins my father and shakes his hand.

After he leaves, I jump into Cade’s arms and wrap my legs around his waist. “Have I told you today that I love you?”

“Yep. After I drove you wild with orgasms this morning.” He winks and kisses my lips.

“Yeah. You’re right. Never mind. I don’t need to tell you again.”

He walks me through the living room toward the bedroom. “Oh, you’ll say it again. After you beg me to let you come.”

I shudder and moan deep in my throat. There’s no doubt he’s right.