Chapter 4 #2
“Cats don’t keep witches away!” she cries.
“But I thought in the movie—”
“That’s Thackery, Daddy. He’s trying to be reunited with his sister.” She says the words with the disappointment only a second grader could muster.
“I guess I’ll have to watch it again. How’s school going?”
“It’s okay.” She shrugs. “Aunt Cass said I could go and read books in the third-grade class now if I want.”
“She did?” My aunt Cass teaches at the only elementary school in Eureka. “Why would she say that?”
“Because I already read all the books in the second-grade class!” Like it’s so obvious.
“Okay…” I realize I might need to have a chat with our aunt when we move Maddie out here. “I guess that’s a good thing?”
“Oh, yes, the third-grade books are thicker, and they have Junie B. Jones. Second-grade books are for babies.”
Squealing noises come from behind her, and she looks over her shoulder fast before turning to me again. She squirms in the chair, and I’m pretty good at knowing when she’s done talking.
“Do you want to go back and finish the movie with your aunts?”
She makes a cute, worried face. “I can talk to you some more.”
“It’s okay, baby. I just wanted to see your face and tell you I love you.”
“I love you, too, Daddy!” She leans forward as if she’ll kiss me through the camera, then drops back onto her butt again.
“Tell Ladybird goodnight…” I turn the phone, so she can see our dog on her bed.
“Goodnight, Ladybird!” Maddie yells in her small voice, which makes Ladybird emit a loud Rooo! Which makes us both laugh.
“Maybe you and Aunt Heather can come here in a few weeks. Would you like that?” She nods her head so fast, I’m worried she’ll get a whiplash. “Okay, then. Give Aunt Heather the phone and go finish the movie.”
“I love you, Daddy!” she yells again, blowing me a kiss before shoving the phone at my sister.
“Love you, too.”
And with that, she’s gone.
Heather’s face appears, her nose curling with her smile. “She might not sleep tonight.”
“Or you’ll have a bed partner,” I chuckle. “How much candy has she had?”
“Aunt Cass made Rice Krispie Treats shaped like witches and black cats. She’s had about three of them.”
“Jeez, sis!” Air hisses through my teeth. “Give her some milk or something.”
“I’ve got it under control.”
“All right, well, have fun, and I’ll keep you posted about coming here.”
“We’re basically packed. Just say the word, and we can hop on a plane.”
“I’ll go ahead and get tickets for two weeks out. I should have found something by then.”
She nods, and I agree to email her the details. Tossing the phone onto my bed, I bend over to give Ladybird a pat on the head. I took her out after dinner, so she should be set for the night.
I’m actually surprised she’s up here with me rather than down in the crate with Spanky, which she’s started doing over the last few days.
“You heard us talking about cages, didn’t you?” She lifts her big head, blinking up at me slowly. I walk over and take a knee, cupping her face in both my hands and giving her a good scratch. “Trying to make me look bad? I’ve got some Shania Twain with your name on it.”
She lifts her head fast, giving me a slobbery “kiss” right across the mouth. It only makes me laugh. I grew up with my stepmom’s bloodhound Edward, so I’m used to the drool.
“Time for me to get cleaned up,” I say, pulling my shirt over my head and tossing it onto the bed.
Walking out into the hall, I hear the sounds of squeals and loud music coming from downstairs. Mav lets out an “Aw!” and Haddy shout-laughs, “That’s so gross!”
“Don’t get in the dumbwaiter!” Gigi cries. “Don’t do it… Don’t… Nooo!”
My lips twist into a grin, and I picture Gina hiding behind that large pillow as she watches the silly slasher film.
Stepping into the bathroom, I push the door closed, turning on the water with her pretty face on my mind. The room fills with steam as the water heats up, and I step into the spray, pulling the curtain closed.
It doesn’t take long to wash my hair, my face, my body. My muscles are tired from all the skating we did today, and I take a moment to let the pounding water massage my shoulders.
Thoughts of Gigi’s soft lips drift through my head, and I wonder again what it would be like to cover them with mine. I wonder if she would sigh when I kissed her or if she would moan. Maybe she would be quiet. Would she kiss me back?
I picture sliding my hands down her slim waist, maybe cupping her small breasts, sliding my thumbs back and forth across her hardened nipples. I’d nibble the base of her chin, tracing a line along her jaw to her ear.
While I pulled the soft shell between my teeth, I’d slide my fingers around and down her lower back, over her ass to the space between her legs. Maybe I’d give her a lift as I pressed her against the wall and devoured her…
My cock has risen to full mast, and I cover it with my fist, tugging slowly as tentacles of pleasure climb my thighs. Fuck, I need to get out of this shower, go to my room and deal with this fucking boner.
Shutting the water off quickly, I look around for the towel I left on the sink. With a quick dusting over my shoulders and feet, I fling it around my waist and grab a handful of tissues.
I pull the door open and step out into the hall, ready to head to my bedroom. I’ve only taken a few steps when I realize two things: I’m not alone in the hallway, and a streak of white is bolting straight at me.
“Owen?” Gigi’s soft voice has just said my name when the towel is ripped off my waist so fast, it’s like a magician whipping a tablecloth off a set table.
“Oh… what?” I’m too stunned to react.
“Oh my God!” Gigi’s voice rises, then changes, growing deeper. “Oh… my.”
In the semi-dark hall, lit only by the glow from her bedroom and the bathroom behind me, I stand, completely naked.
That asshole Spanky is in the doorway to my bedroom with the towel in his mouth, wagging his tail. I swear to God, he’s smiling.
Gigi’s wide green eyes travel from my face, down my shoulders, to my bare stomach, to where they linger on my fully erect cock.
I’m momentarily frozen, but her full lips are parted. Her expression is somewhere between surprise and curiosity.
Gigi’s mouth closes, but her eyes don’t lift from where she’s inspecting my manhood. Then she licks her lips, and I swear my dick gets harder.
Something wicked rises in my stomach, and I don’t cover myself. Instead, I duck my head to capture her fixed gaze.
“See something you like?” I sound as cocky as my young teammates, and she audibly gulps.
I don’t know where that came from, and she spins away quickly, muttering a sorry before scurrying downstairs again. Shaking my head, I can’t help a chuckle as I walk to my room.
I’m not a kid anymore, but it’s been a minute since I’ve had that kind of unabashed appreciation from a beautiful woman. So, sorry not sorry?
Snatching the towel from that naughty dog’s mouth, I close the door.