Chapter 19
JOSH
Tinley didn’t make it to the end of the movie.
She had seen it a million times, according to her.
I should have paid more attention, but I couldn’t take my attention off her.
It blew me away how open and free she was around me.
We lived in a bit of a bubble, and I was about to take her out of it and expose her to the city. I hoped it wasn’t too soon.
I carried her inside and pulled off her coat and slippers. Her eyes blinked open as I laid her on the bed.
“Kissies.” She reached out with those cute fingers, calling me. I leaned down and kissed her cheeks. “More kissies.”
I brushed my lips across hers. Her little tongue snaked out and ran across my lips.
“Yummy kissies,” she mumbled. She blinked her eyes open as if shocked at what she had said. I caressed her face and did what I wanted to do out at the theater. Kiss her properly.
I laid my mouth over hers and nibbled on her bottom lip.
She grinned and giggled. It opened her mouth, and I dove in further, deepening the kiss.
Our tongues tangled around each other. She tasted sweet from the hot chocolate.
She gripped the back of my neck. Her little nails digging in made my cock harden instantly.
I sat leaning over her. Our mouths continue to explore.
She slid her leg up and across my lap. Her calf slid across my hardness.
I tried to pull back, but she wouldn’t let me.
She groaned and protested and gripped the side of my shirt.
I rested my arms on either side of her while peppering her mouth and face with more kisses.
She pushed my self-control to the edge. I had to stop before we went too far.
It was hard to drag myself away from the sweet creature who seemed to love my kisses as much as I loved giving them to her.
She arched her torso and rubbed her breast against my chest. They weren’t big, but her hard nipples were no match for the thin material of the onesie.
She took my hand and guided it to her left breast.
“Tinley.” I left my hand where she put it, but I leaned up to break the spell a little. She pouted and I wanted to kiss the pout off her face.
“It’s late and we have a long day ahead of us.”
She nodded, but she wanted to say more. She didn’t. She pushed me off and crawled out of bed.
“I have to use the bathroom.”
I nodded and she scurried off to the bathroom.
When she came back out, she smiled and hugged me, then crawled into bed under the covers on her side and closed her eyes.
I lay down next to her, not able to fall asleep.
My mind raced. I dimmed the fire she had worked so hard to let burn, and I hated myself for it.
I knew I wanted Tinley. I wanted her to be my little girl.
I didn’t feel I had the right to demand it from her.
To decide the rest of her life for her when she had no control over the last two years.
In actions, we communicated how we felt about each other, but we hadn’t had the discussion.
We had plenty of time to figure it out.
That was what I told myself, but it didn’t make me feel better.
“Joshie.” Tinley’s melodic voice woke me from a strange dream. She squeezed my arm, and I realized it was wrapped around her waist. She turned in my arms to face me and leaned in to place a quick kiss on my cheek. “Wake up.”
I grunted and pulled her closer and shifted to my side. I laid a loud, wet kiss on her neck. She giggled. It made my heart full. I settled back in the bed.
“Joshie, come on. Wake up.”
“No.” I ran my hand up and down her back. “It’s too early.”
“We have to go to the city.” She whined and pulled away. I grabbed her arm and rolled her back to fall into my arms. “Rayna is waiting for us.”
“She’s waiting for you?” I laughed and snuggled next to Tinley. She lay still in my arms for as long as she could stand before she popped up.
“We have to get ready. We don’t want to be late.” Tinley crawled to the edge of the bed and looked back at me.
“Okay. I’m up.”
She jumped out of bed. I lay back down and closed my eyes. I listened to her run across the hall and then back.
“I’m up.” I sat up and pushed the covers off.
She grinned and disappeared again. I got dressed and went to the kitchen. Tinley had pulled bowls and a box of Cheerios out of the pantry and arranged them on the table. Her head was buried in the refrigerator.
“You made me breakfast.”
She yelped.
“You scared me.” She grabbed the milk and sat down at the table. I headed for the coffee machine. A hot cup waited for me. I took a sip and it was perfect.
“Come eat?” She waved me toward the table.
“We don’t have to be there at a certain time,” I reminded her.
“I know, but we might hit traffic.” She poured herself some cereal and pushed the box over to me.
“You are going to have a proper meal before the day is over.”
She grinned in my direction while shoving a spoonful of cereal in her mouth.
I poured myself some and managed two bites before Tinley grabbed for it to clear the table.
“Tinley.”
She stopped.
“Please sit down and finish your juice.”
She pouted but sat with a harrumph. She grabbed the handle of her Batman cup and sipped her drink. I rescued my bowl and continued to eat. When I was finished, I cleared the table.
“Okay, go grab your stuff.”
She brought her cup to the sink and handed it to me. She headed toward her room.
“Hurry, we’re going to be late,” I yelled after her.
She growled the cutest little puppy dog growl, but she took off.
I followed her and grabbed our bags and stepped outside to pack the car. She came out with her backpack with Clarence, her puppy dog stuffie, peeking up out the back.
“I didn’t get all my clothes.” She stood in the doorway.
“It’s okay.” I shut the trunk of the black sedan I found in the garage. I think it belonged to Chandler. “Someone will bring the rest of our stuff. Or we’ll buy you more stuff.”
She opened her mouth.
“And don’t start telling me how I don’t need to buy you anything. If you have any money hang-ups, little girl, you need to tell me now.”
She climbed into the car. I squared and secured her seat belt.
“I haven’t begun to spoil you.”
“I was just going to say thank you.” She kissed my cheek.
I turned and kissed her back.
“You’re welcome.” I closed her car door and walked around to the driver’s seat. I slid into the car, and we were off.
Tinley’s fidgets increased the closer we got to the city.
“There’s no need to be nervous.” I grabbed her hand before she twisted her fingers into a pretzel. “They already love you.”
“Love me.” She looked up at me. “They don’t even know me.”
“Yeah, well, that’s just the way they are.” I took the turn to get to the bridge. Minutes later, we were in Manhattan.
“New York is magical.” Tinley craned her neck to look at the buildings. “There are so many people around all the time, but most parts of it don’t feel like it.”
“I haven’t spent much time here in the last few years. Only in and out.” I turned on Madison Avenue.
“Do you have your own house in the city?” She pointed at a man walking three dogs in front of us and giggled.
“I have a room at the Quad New York and a room at the main house, which is where we are going.”
“And you live in a hotel in Vegas, too.” She turned to me. “Don’t you want a real home someday?”
“I actually do.” I shrugged.
“Where do you want to live?”
“I like the suburbs of Las Vegas, maybe Arizona.” I turned onto Kyler’s Street. “What about you? Do you miss Pittsburg?”
She shrugged but didn’t answer.
I pulled into a parking space a few houses down from our destination. The townhomes on this street were built in the 1800s and were full of single-family homes.
“We’re here?” I turned off the car and opened the door. “Wait for me to help you out.”
I stepped out of the car and looked around. Kyler had security at the ends of the streets and someone sitting in a car in front of the house. We had a former president move into a house a few years ago with less security.
I opened Tinley’s door, unbuckled her seat belt, and helped her out. “I’ll get the bags later.”
She swung her backpack over her shoulder and squeezed my hand with a death grip. We walked up the three stairs that led to the front door. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The television was playing in the living room.
“Hello.” I stepped in and helped Tinley with her coat.
“Hey,” Kyler called from the kitchen. He stepped into the hall, wiping his hands on a towel.
I grinned at my best friend. I’d missed him.
We walked toward each other and shook hands and then hugged.
It had been a few months since the last time we were in the same room.
I considered myself lucky to have the same best friend for most of my life. We were brothers who chose each other.
“It’s good to see you, man.” He patted my back. I nodded and we stepped back.
Tinley remained at the door, watching us.
“Tinley.” I waved her in. “Come meet Kyler.”
She shuffled toward us and reached out her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Tinley used her grown-up voice.
Kyler growled.
She gasped.
He winked and took her hand and squeezed it. She giggled.
“It’s good to finally meet you in person.” He patted her hand before letting it go. “You’re shorter than I thought.”
“You’re not as mean-looking in person,” Little Tinley teased.
“Well, don’t tell anyone else.” He dropped her hand and motioned us to have a seat. “Rayna will be down in a second. Something about ninja business.”
“Daddy,” Rayna’s voice sang from deep in the house. “Secret ninja business.”
The little spitfire skipped into the room and then stopped in front of Tinley. The two studied each other for a few seconds before letting out a squeal and hugging each other while jumping up and down. It was quite the spectacle and adorable as fuck.
“Rayna, watch your hand.” Kyler walked back into the kitchen.
I followed him. The main floor of the brownstone was one big room with the kitchen separate from the living room and dining room with an archway.
The place had been redecorated since we last all lived here together. Tyler spent the most time here.
“Where is Tyler?”
“OMG.” Rayna turned. “Daddy, did you tell him?”
“No, Rayna Drop, I didn’t tell him, and we don’t know for sure.” Kyler took a pot of boiling pasta off the stove.
“I’m surprised, Daddy.” Rayna flopped on the couch and pulled Tinley down with her. “I thought Daddies had special radar for littles. I suspected it all along.”
“What’s she talking about?” I asked Kyler.
“Tyler may or may not be a little,” Kyler whispered.
“And we met his Daddy,” Rayna yelled.
“Who’s Tyler?” Tinley asked.
“He’s Kyler’s littlest brother. You’ll meet him and all the guys.” She put her arm around Kyler. “I’m so glad there are more girls in the family now.”
Tinley looked back at me. I winked at her, and she grinned and turned back to Rayna.
Tinley was family now whether she liked it or not.