7. Darling
CHAPTER 7
Darling
T he warmth of the early morning sun sends any lingering chills away as Cort’s fingers caress along my wrist once more. I realize he wants to know. He needs to know why. But telling him might bring about the end before we even begin.
“They are what you imagine,” I whisper through a raspy throat. Tears form, about to spill over, but I don’t open my eyes. If I look into his gaze, I will cry.
“I have a dozen questions,” he says, his fingers oddly soothing. “I won’t push for the answers. I’d like to know when you’re ready to confide in me on your own time.”
Turning into Cort’s body, I kiss his chest before saying, “Thank you, Daddy.” I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect man to understand me.
“Can I buy you breakfast before I have to head into the office?”
His offer perks up my stomach.
“I could go for some pancakes.” I smile up at Cort, realizing what a beautiful man he is. Full lips, sharp jawline, the right amount of hair for that five o’clock shadow, and soulful blue eyes. He’s every woman’s fantasy, and if I’m picking up on his cues correctly, he’s all mine now.
“Good. I’ll be feeding you tonight, as well. Are you working today?”
I get distracted as he flings the blanket off himself and hops out of the truck. His nude body is a work of art, and I question my sanity as I get a look at the wrecking ball between his legs.
“Keep looking, and it’s going to get hard, and I’ll need relief.” He gives me a playful wink, but the way he licks his lips and his eyes zoom in on me says all I need to know about his seriousness.
“Right. Food,” I mutter. I need to get home, shower, and throw in a load of laundry before work tonight.
“So do you?” he asks as we’ve dressed and are climbing into the cab of his truck.
“Do I what?”
“Work tonight.”
Right. “Yes, I close the shop at eight and should be ready to leave about 8:30 or so.”
Parking in front of Cora’s, a popular breakfast spot in town, Cort throws the truck in park and turns to face me. “How can I convince you to spend the night?”
“Oh, uh…” I stutter through my answer when what I want is to be coy and seductive. I really suck at this. “I’m not sure if I can tonight. I promised my dad I’d get groceries today.”
“Christ.” He slumps back into his seat, and I get the feeling it’s not because I’m being sweet by taking care of my dad. “I keep forgetting how fucking young you are.” Yeah, that’s kind of what I figured.
“It’s okay,” I respond. “To just stop this now. That way, no one gets hurt.” He stares at me without saying a word, and I can’t decipher his expression. “I’m going to go inside and grab a table. Come in if you want, or leave, and we call this a good night and go our separate ways.”
Digging my nails into my palm so I don’t cry, I jump out and head inside. After getting a small booth in the back so I won’t have to watch him leave, I order a coffee, a stack of pancakes, and more bacon than my heart should have. I also ask for a chocolate milkshake to accompany the food.
Staring down into the steam from the hot brew, I watch the cream swirl around until it’s mixed before realizing I’m no longer alone. Staring up at Cort, tears pool in my eyes, and he’s blurry as I throw myself at him.
“You didn’t leave,” I whisper into his chest. I’ve never been so relieved to have someone choose me.
“I’m sorry I didn’t follow you in, baby.” He kisses me on the top of my head, and his arms tighten around me when I move to pull away. “No, stay right here.” He sits us down, so I’m nearly on top of him in the booth. “I need you to understand something.” When he lifts my head with a thumb under my chin, I stare into his mesmerizing gaze. “The age thing, it might throw me occasionally because I’m too fucking old for you, but I’m not letting you go, Darling. I’m in this until the day I fucking die. You’re mine, and I’m yours. Nothing will change that. Are we clear?” I nod before he finishes speaking.
“Mine,” I murmur, brushing my fingers along his throat. “All mine?” I glance up at him through my lashes.
“Every day for the rest of our lives,” he vows just before breakfast arrives with two fresh cups of coffee.
“I like that,” I say as Cort feeds me a piece of bacon.
“Good.” He nibbles my ear. “Because Daddy always gets what he wants.”
Shivering in his lap, I feel feverish and needy. Anticipation is part of the fun, though, and now I can’t wait to get off work so I can spend another night in Cort’s arms.
* * *
Walking into the house after being dropped off, I had hoped to avoid my dad before he went off to work. Today is not my lucky day.
“Good morning.” He grins like he’s won the lottery. “Coffee?”
Most parents would be concerned about who I was with. Not my dad, no sir, this man has been dying for me to start dating.
“Morning, Dad. Sorry, I didn’t call.” I had texted him before Cort and I fell asleep, but I didn’t give many details.
“You’re a grown woman. You don’t need to check in all the time.”
“I know I don’t have to.” I accept the cup from him. There’s never too much coffee for early mornings like these. “But I like letting you know I’m safe.”
After my suicide attempt, we checked in hourly. Over the years, it’s become daily if we don’t see each other. My being out all night is completely new for both of us.
“I appreciate your consideration, sweetheart.” We sip our coffees in silence for a few minutes before he asks. “Is he serious?”
“He could be.” A dreamy sigh passes my lips, and he raises a brow.
“What’s the man’s name?”
I pause with the cup at my lips.
I’ll have to tell him eventually, might as well be now. “Uhm, I don’t want you to be mad. And I need you to understand it happened by accident.”
“This doesn’t sound good.”
He places his coffee on the island counter between us and waits on me.
“He’s older. Eighteen years older, I think. He’s a single dad with two teenage sons. His ex-wife is the reason we even met.” I pause. “Again.”
“Again?”
Clearing my throat, I spit it out. “It’s Cort Baker, Dad.” I watch as he takes a second to recall who I mean, and when the name hits, about a thousand emotions flit across his face–anger, denial, disgust. “We were never that close,” I whisper, my voice shaking, hating his disapproval.
“I’m going to need a minute with this one, Darling.”
Darling.
It’s always sweetheart, or kiddo, or honey. I know when he uses my given name, he’s disappointed in me, and I’ve spent a lot of years avoiding that.
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
Placing my cup down, I head upstairs to shower and avoid him until he leaves, before throwing my clothes in the washer and taking a short nap. I have to be at the salon for one, but I might go in earlier to keep my mind off the crushing weight of my dad’s discontent.
* * *
This has been a day of one drawback after another. Leaving Cort when I wanted to stay with him. Having Dad upset with me. And my blow dryer at work decided to go on the fritz, blowing the breakers throughout the entire salon while smoking from the fan.
We had to call the fire department just in case there was an electrical fire behind the walls. Better safe than sorry, right ? I even had two firemen secretly hand me their numbers as they left. That was an odd feeling, as well. I’ve never had that happen before.
Linda pops her head into the laundry room as I’m pulling out the towels I need to fold. “You’re good alone?”
“I am. Go, enjoy dinner with Dan.”
Their anniversary was yesterday, but they both had to work late, so they’re going to their favourite Nova Scotian street food place tonight. The restaurant opened in town recently. I haven’t had the chance to eat there, but I’ve heard it’s delicious.
“Alright, alright, thank you, Darling. I’ll see you in a few days.”
She waves as she leaves, and I contemplate what to do with my few days off. It’s been a while since I’ve had longer than one day off at a time. Linda has given me four, and with my dad angry, I’m not looking forward to being at home.
A knock on the front glass door shakes me out of my internal thoughts as I fold the final towel. Ducking my head out, I notice Cort standing on the other side. Checking my watch, I’m surprised that so much time has passed since Linda left.
Excitement floods my veins because, as sad as I’ve been all day, Cort makes me happy.
“Hi,” I breathe out as he enters and locks the door behind him.
“How do you look better than you did this morning?” he mutters, reaching forward to wrap his calloused hand around the back of my neck and dragging me into his solid body.
Closing my eyes, I inhale, and he smells like sawdust and rain. “Did it rain?”
“For a bit, earlier.” His heated eyes lure me in, and I can’t seem to form coherent thoughts as he walks me back to the laundry room I just exited. It’s one of three rooms in the salon that doesn’t have cameras. “I missed you.” He kicks the door shut behind us.
“You did?” I barely get the words out before he smashes his mouth down over mine.
Cort’s lips are hungry as they devour me while I moan, sinking into him. My hands travel up his chest and into his hair, digging into his scalp as I tug on the lush strands.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he says as he breaks the kiss, both of us breathless. Nibbling along my jaw, down the column of my throat, and back up to my ear, he murmurs, “I need you.”
My mind says no, I’m at work, but my body craves for this man to claim me again. His hands roam up my skirt, gripping my ass and lifting me off my feet. As he carries me to the folding table, I wrap my legs around his waist and grind against him, unable to help myself.
My ass hits the table, and he hikes up my skirt to gaze between my legs. Brushing a thumb along my slit, he rubs at my clit before slinking a finger into the gusset of my thong and tearing the flimsy material off my body.
“Beautiful.” He seems hypnotized by my throbbing pussy.
“I need you, Daddy.”
His entire body tenses, and he lunges for me. His mouth takes mine, tongue-fucking me how I know he wants to.
“Do”–he bites my lip–“you”–he sucks on my tongue–“have any”–he whips my shirt up and over my head, groaning when he notices I’m not wearing a bra–“idea how fucking hot you are all worked up for me?”
I don’t get to respond because he bends down and sucks a taut bud into his mouth like I’m his last meal.
“Daddy!” I cry out, my pussy yearning to grasp onto something, needing to be filled.
“So fucking hot,” he grunts, switching to my other nipple.
“Hot for you, Daddy,” I pant, gasping for air as he assaults my body with intense pleasure.
His hands are between our bodies, and I look down to see his eager cock tight and red, leaking fluid from the tip. I slip my hand to his, smear the pearly liquid off the flesh, and bring it to my mouth.
Our eyes meet as I suck on my finger, moaning at the salty-sweet taste of him. “It’s sweet and thick. Can I have more, Daddy?”
At my question, cum drips from the end, and Cort slams a fist down next to my hip, his control nearly snapping. “You can’t fucking say things like that, baby. Daddy is already on edge.” And I want to tip him over.
“Will you come in me again?” I pout at him with wide eyes, batting my lashes seductively.
“Fuck!” he shouts as he rams inside my pussy. I cry out from the force of his impalement and the girth of his dick. He’s so big, he could tear me in two. “Baby,” he groans, cupping the back of my head and pressing my face into his chest as he fucks me more powerfully with each thrust.
“Daddy, it feels so good,” I whimper as I hold him tightly, my nails gouging into his sides through his shirt.
I can’t stop moaning and keening. My body is about to erupt, and stars are forming behind my eyes as I tingle from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, baby, Darling. You’re such a good girl. My good fucking girl.” He speaks rapidly and incoherently. “Tight little cunt sucking my cum from my balls and straight into your womb.” He draws back to meet my stare. “You going to let Daddy’s seed plant a baby in you, Darling? Huh? Be my best good girl and let me fuck my baby batter into you until you’re growing a new life.”
I explode at his dirty words, needing…no…craving…wanting everything he just described.
“Please, Daddy,” I wail as tears leak from my eyes. “Please do it.”
He follows me over the edge, shouting his release and catching me as I collapse.
I’ve never experienced anything so passionate in my life as Cort keeps thrusting slowly. There’s a gentleness in each stroke that inflames my emotions, and I begin sobbing in his arms.