Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
“How did you pull this together in such a short time?” Tiffanie asked, shaking her head in disbelief at Essie and the office filled with balloons the next morning.
“I got some advance insider information, and I stocked up a week ago,” Essie answered.
“How? Who told you I was okay?” Tiffanie asked, looking back at Essie.
Essie’s face colored slightly, and she shrugged. “Ghosts are lousy at keeping secrets.”
“Ghosts?” Tiffanie repeated, incredulous. What in the world?
“When my aunt passed, I discovered that her husband, Edmund, had hung around Ferguson’s Folly after he died.”
“How?”
“He speaks to me now. I guess ghosts, at least in this house, choose one person to communicate with, and I’m the lucky resident.”
Shaking her head to push away the questions bouncing into her brain, Tiffanie asked, “Why is he still around? Shouldn’t he have gone on to the other side with Esther?” She waved a hand to accompany this crazy concept.
Essie smiled. “I know. I took a while to believe they were real, and I’m the girl they’re speaking to.”
“They? Don’t tell me you chat with Esther too? How many ghosts are around here?” Tiffanie said, hoping her employer hadn’t suffered a mental episode.
“Just those two. I am quite sane and rooted in the real world. In case you were wondering, Esther and Edmund assured me when the doctor stopped your treatment that the change in the chemo plan was perfect. You didn’t need any more.”
“They told you this a week ago?” Tiffanie asked. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“How could I? Would you have believed me? The important thing was that you didn’t suffer through anymore chemo if you didn’t have to, and the doctor had already cut that off.”
Tiffanie stared at Essie, and the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. “You did say something, didn’t you?”
“Well, kind of. I was a bit subtle about it,” Essie said. She glanced past Tiffanie into the side of the room and smiled.
“Are they here now?” Tiffanie whispered.
“Yeah. They wanted to join in the celebration. You’re one of their favorite people.”
Why having ghosts care about her made an impact, Tiffanie didn’t know, but their support did. She looked around the group Essie had gathered in her office, including the empty side of the room Essie had acknowledged and said, “Thank you. Everyone.”
“Let’s eat some cake,” Sara suggested.
“At nine in the morning?” Tiffanie asked.
“Cake is good at any point of day, but nine AM is my favorite. Closely followed by 9:01,” Phineas said with a laugh, as he broke the ice, and returned the celebration to the room. He winked at Tiffanie as he handed her a corner piece of cake with the maximum amount of frosting on it.
How did he always guess what would make her happiest? She was incredibly lucky to have him in her life. Her life. Like a lightning bolt, the realization she had a future to enjoy hit her. And she got to spend time with him.
“Princess,” Phineas said as her tears erupted. He scooped her and her cake up in his arms and sat down with her on his lap. “The impact of the results at the doctor’s office registered fully on you, didn’t they?”
Ivan handed him some tissues, and Phineas dried her face. “We have all the time in the world together now. And we’re going to enjoy every moment.”
She nodded and leaned forward to press her lips to his, attempting to show him how much she cared about him. When Ivan cleared his throat, Tiffanie ended the kiss and looked around in surprise. She’d completely forgotten everyone else was here. “Oh, sorry!”
Relieved laughter filled the room. Tiffanie didn’t feel like they were making fun of her. This group understood. “Thank you.”
“Everyone eat up,” Sara urged. “Get that sugar high going so you can dive into the plans you need to make today.”
“Definitely. We need to finalize the Blue Ribbon Knowledge Fair and get ready for the four-year-old’s birthday party,” Essie said and tugged at the sides of her hair like she was pulling her locks out.
“You’ve got more frosting on yours. Can we share this one?” Phineas asked.
“Of course. I didn’t know you had a sweet tooth.”
“Of course I do,” Phineas said, holding her gaze a few seconds too long.
Her cheeks heated with embarrassment as he lifted a bite of the cake to her mouth. “Try this, Princess.”
Tiffanie opened her mouth and accepted the bite. The taste was absolutely the best. She decided to pretend his comment hadn’t applied to an activity other than enjoying cake. His chuckle clued her in that he knew exactly what she was doing.
When Essie brought up the plans for the events, Tiffanie sent her a grateful glance and focused entirely on the conversation. She didn’t choose to move from her Daddy’s lap. Why do something so rash?
Tiffanie had brainstormed throughout the day to come up with a slick way to say something to Phineas. Now, standing in the kitchen, all her options seemed so silly. Choosing one randomly, she said, “Daddy? The cake was delicious today.”
“I enjoyed the treat as well. Would you like to watch a movie tonight?” Phineas asked.
“No, Daddy. I’d rather have something even better than Sara’s dessert.”
“Oh? Do you want to play a game in your nursery?”
“No, Daddy.” Trying to subtly guide him to sex would be so much easier if he could read her mind. When he looked at her puzzled, she blurted out, “Would you make love to me?”
His eyes widened for a split second before they darkened with desire. “Of course I will. That would be a much bigger treat than cake.” His slow smile ignited the smoldering desire deep in her belly.
“Come here, Princess.” He tugged her close and kissed her hard. “Are you sure you’re ready to take this big step?”
“Yes.”
“Once I make you fully mine, I won’t let you go,” he said, holding her gaze.
“You don’t have to promise that, Daddy,” she told him, not wanting him to feel trapped. Her future definitely looked brighter now than it had before, but who knew what the future would bring.
“I won’t run, Tiffanie. Daddies don’t do that. You’re my Little girl. Now, unless you’ve radically changed your mind and you don’t want me in your life, I’m going to pick you up and take you to our bed where I can ravish you thoroughly.”
“Please, Daddy.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
To her delight, Phineas didn’t probe further. He swooped forward and swept her off her feet. As she dangled over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, Phineas walked down the hallway to the bedroom. When she giggled and patted his tempting butt, her Daddy popped her smartly on the bottom.
“Don’t distract me,” he growled. “We’ll start here where my condoms are. Then fair warning, Princess, I plan to ravish you on every surface in this house.”
“Really?” she squeaked.
“Absolutely.”
He lowered her to the middle of the mattress and stepped back to tug the T-shirt he wore over his head.
Phineas sent that garment flying across the room as he toed out of his shoes.
“I’m going to say this once, and then I won’t bring it up in the future.
We’ll talk about everything, Little girl.
If something is uncomfortable or you simply want to try something else, you tell me immediately. ”
She nodded.
“Good girl.”
Phineas hooked his thumbs in the sides of the athletic pants he’d put on after getting home from the library over his fitted boxer briefs. He pushed them down to the floor, leaned over to pull them off completely, and threw them away. As he stalked forward, she studied his chiseled frame.
“I didn’t know guys that read books looked like that,” she blurted. Her appreciation of his toned body wasn’t new. She’d seen him nude in the shower and in bed. Phineas didn’t own pajamas.
“Real men do hang out in the library stacks,” he assured her as he lifted her shirt over her head. “Damn, you’re gorgeous.” He cupped her bare breasts and ran his thumbs over her taut nipples, drawing a groan from her lips.
“Please, Daddy.”
“Oh, I definitely plan to please you, Princess.” He propped one knee on the edge of the bed and leaned forward to kiss her, easing Tiffanie back onto the mattress.
Phineas must have read a lot of books on kissing because his lips were devastating. She clung to him, never wanting this exchange to end but wanting more. A faint whimper of need escaped from her mouth when he raised his head.
“I know, Princess. I feel our connection too. These pants have to go.” Phineas forced himself to shift away to remove her leggings and panties.
He didn’t give her a moment to think but crawled onto the mattress, wrapping his arms under her and drawing her up onto the pillows. He caged her under him. His hands and lips caressed her, building her passion higher and higher until she writhed under him.
Tiffanie stroked his body, tracing his muscles and clinging to his strength. When she daringly traced a line with her fingers down his torso to his thick shaft, Phineas trapped her hand against his hard abdomen.
“I’m so turned on, Tiffanie. This is going to be over way too fast if you touch me now.”
She froze and nodded, thrilled she had that much power over him. Tiffanie felt seductive and more appealing than she had in so long. “Next time,” she said, wanting him to note she had plans for him as well.
“Definitely, Princess. I can’t wait for your fingers and mouth to wrap around my cock.”
The hunger written on his face pushed her arousal further. He didn’t conceal his need for her. She wrapped her fingers around his shoulders. “Please, Daddy.”
“Let me make sure you’re ready,” he growled, brushing one hand over her small mound to her core. He groaned as his fingertips slid through her slick juices. “Princess, you’re soaked.”
“Always when I’m around you,” she whispered, drawing another deep sound from him.
Phineas turned to grab a condom, ripped the packet open, and rolled the protection over his cock.
Tiffanie watched, enjoying the sight of him touching his stiff shaft.
As he settled between her thighs, she lifted her legs to wrap them around his hips.
Phineas didn’t thrust immediately into her.
He glided his cock through her pink folds, pressing directly on her clit until she writhed with need below him.
When he fit himself to her entrance, Tiffanie froze, not wanting to miss every single sensation.
“Breathe, Little girl,” he ordered and held himself in place. A muscle clenched in his jaw, revealing the toll this control took on him.
She nodded and obeyed. As she exhaled, he pressed himself forward, filling and stretching her tight channel. Her eyes closed at the barrage of pleasure. He didn’t pause until their bodies met, fully connected.
Raising her head, Tiffanie threaded her fingers through his thick hair, drawing his lips down to hers. That kiss sizzled as deeply as their bodies connected. When he lifted his head, they both breathed heavily.
“Move,” she whispered, needing everything from him.
Phineas didn’t hesitate. He withdrew from her completely and surged back inside, brushing over sensitive points inside her slick channel. Tiffanie tightened her legs, grinding her pelvis on his and savoring his growl of appreciation.
Supporting her with one powerful hand under her hips, Phineas powered into her.
Their skin grew damp as their bodies crashed together.
Pleasure hovered just out of reach. Dividing her attention between the sensations she experienced and returning his kisses and caresses, Tiffanie explored his athletic frame, appreciating each hard inch of his form. How she’d caught his eye…
“Ow!” she blurted. Had he pinched her butt?
“Stop it. Whatever that thought was, I didn’t like it,” Phineas told her sternly. His dominating tone sent an additional shiver of excitement through her. He lowered his mouth to her neck and bit down at the curve of her shoulder.
“Ahh!” The last taste of pain pushed her over the edge into a massive climax. Her body clamped around him, drawing a groan from deep inside his chest. His movements increased in speed, exploding her climax into a second burst of pleasure.
“You feel extraordinary around me, Princess. Damn, I am a lucky man,” he said as he plunged into her, filling her completely over and over.
With a guttural shout that rang through the room, Phineas emptied himself into the condom. His movements slowed, and his caresses gentled, soothing her. Those fiery kisses didn’t lose passion. With each exchange, Phineas claimed her as his.
When he withdrew, Phineas lowered himself beside her on the bed and dealt with the condom as he held her close. When their heart rates slowed, he kissed her lightly and asked, “Are you okay, Princess?”
“I’m better than I’ve ever been,” she assured him, sharing exactly how her body and mind felt.
A wolfish smile spread across his lips. “Damn, I love you, Little girl.
“I love you, Daddy.”