Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
S he’d forgotten how tired running after three-year-olds made you. Maybe as a teenager working for her mother, Pippa had enjoyed unlimited energy. Today, she felt every day of the twenty-four years she’d been on Earth.
That exhaustion balanced with the ache in her cheeks from smiling so much. She loved that the parents stopped by to have lunch with or check on their children during the day. Everyone had welcomed her and helped Pippa get acclimated to the schedule.
While she didn’t feel like an experienced employee yet, Pippa knew she would pick up all the nuances of the job as she learned more about the kids and the staff. The woman in charge of the toddler room was so kind. Pippa hoped she’d get to stay there permanently.
Climbing into her car, she tried to anticipate what would happen tomorrow in the baby room. She liked babies. Would she rather have charges who thrived on bottles, fresh diapers, and being held? Pippa decided not to make her final decision until she’d tried all the positions.
She drove out of the base as she considered the pluses and negatives of all the rooms. So deep in thought, Pippa didn’t realize she’d made a wrong turn until she noticed how different everything appeared. Realizing she should have turned on her navigation program, Pippa pulled into a parking lot to reorient herself.
A flash of white caught her eye, and she glanced up to see a large white SUV pass. There has to be a thousand white SUVs. Connecting her phone to the Jeep’s navigation, she retraced her steps and figured out where she’d made a mistake. Okay. Look for the red barn next time and turn right.
Pippa was determined to adjust to her new life, and that included being able to drive around without getting lost. With everything seeming much more familiar, she relaxed. Making herself notice all the white SUVs, Pippa reminded herself that they had to be the most plentiful vehicle on the road. She had nothing to worry about.
Pulling into Zale’s driveway, Pippa triggered the garage door opener and parked the Jeep inside. Smiling at the duck bottoms facing her, Pippa decided she could understand why Jeep owners loved their vehicles. As far as she knew, no one else did anything as fun as the ducks.
After lowering the garage door, she grabbed her sling bag and her lunchbox. Sliding off the seat, Pippa headed inside. She dropped the water bottle she’d used as an ice source to keep her lunch cold back in the freezer. Pippa shoved the bottom freezer drawer back into place and whirled around to go get changed.
A large body lounged against the kitchen island. Even as her mind recognized Zale, her surprise screeched from her mouth. “Ahhhh!”
“Hi, kitten.”
His deep voice broke her paralysis. Pippa bolted forward to throw herself into his arms. “Daddy!”
Zale squeezed her tightly against him, lifting her feet from the floor. “I missed you, little girl.”
“I missed you so much, Daddy.”
“Let’s go sit down and you can tell me about your day. You started at the daycare today?” he asked.
“How did you know? I didn’t leave a note or anything.”
“I ran into Aspen at the base. After she got a few kisses from her daddy, she told me the two of you had celebrated last night.”
“I could use some kisses,” she said, batting her eyes at him.
“Me, too.” Zale cupped her face and kissed her softly before deepening the exchange. Heat flared between them. When he lifted his head, they were both breathing quicker.
“Maybe I tell you about my day later?” Pippa asked.
“Good plan.” He leaned forward and threw her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry.
“Daddy, I can walk!”
Whack! His hand swatted her bottom firmly, drawing a gasp from her lips. “I think this bottom needs some attention on the way.”
“I’ve been good,” Pippa promised as they entered the hallway.
“Right. How many vegetables did you eat?”
Silence filled the air. There hadn’t been any on the pizza last night. She was getting a deluxe one next time. That type would have peppers and onions disguised under the cheese. Lying to her daddy wouldn’t be a good idea.
When they reached the bedroom, she finally said, “Um…”
A second smack landed on her bottom. “Um… Indeed.”
He leaned forward to drop her onto the bed and loomed over her. “Next time I’m gone, eat the veggies in the freezer instead of the red licorice I found in the pantry.”
“It’s red…” Pippa tried.
“You really want a spanking, don’t you?” he asked with twinkling brown eyes that erased the threat in his voice.
“Kiss me, Daddy. I missed you.”
Zale captured her lips once again and kissed her with so much emotion. He’d missed her, too.
Pippa threaded her fingers through his bristly short hair and returned each with all the love inside her. His eyes were dark with hunger this time when he lifted his head. Moving urgently, Zale stood and started ripping his clothes off.
She pushed herself up on her elbows to watch. Damn, he was in fine shape. He was more handsome than the stars in the movies. When he pushed his pants and briefs over his hips, Pippa stared at his burgeoning cock as it lengthened and thickened.
“Little girl, you’re staring,” he teased, as he stepped out of his garments.
“I’m not sorry,” she admitted, glancing up at his face.
“I think it’s time for me to return the favor.” He stepped forward to pull her to her feet by the bed. His hand caressed over her, somehow easing her clothing off along the way. Her pretty jumper dress and bra soon flew somewhere across the room.
Lowering himself to one knee, Zale eased her shoes off and stroked his hands from her ankles up her legs to the plain cotton panties she wore. Pippa promised herself that she would buy something lacy and decadent with her first paycheck. The feel of his rough fingertips glancing over the thin elastic waistband made her meet his gaze.
“You are so beautiful, kitten. I am the luckiest daddy in the world.”
“I’m not very fancy,” she whispered.
“I don’t need fancy. Nothing can make me want you more.” He tugged her panties down, allowing the band to brush against her skin.
That dragging sensation was sensual, firing up her nerve endings. It made her focus on each inch of skin he touched along the way. He pressed a kiss to her mound as he revealed it before tracing her cleft with his tongue.
Zale leaned back, licking his lips. The sight of him savoring her flavor sent a gush of slickness to further coat her pink folds and dampen her inner thighs. “Brace a hand on my shoulder, little girl, and lift this foot,” he directed, tapping on her sock-covered toes. He removed the white cotton garment and tapped on the other. Pippa enjoyed the play of his muscles rippling under her hand as he removed the other.
The strength contained in his form was a turn-on in itself. Honed military hard, Zale was in better shape than even most soldiers. She’d worried about him off doing incredibly dangerous things while he was gone. The physical proof of how hard Zale worked to make sure he had the resilience and power to attack any challenge reassured her. She knew she’d probably be frightened for a long time when he was gone, but she would trust that Zale had set himself up with skills to help him come home safely.
He rose to his feet and cupped her jaw. “You’re thinking very hard, Pippa. Is everything okay?”
She nodded before admitting, “It was hard having you away.”
“I know. Always remember I love you, little girl.”
“I love you, Daddy. Make love to me.”
“My pleasure.” Zale scooped her up in his arms and stretched Pippa out on the mattress before caging her in underneath him. “Were you a good girl, Pippa? Did you find the vibrator I left you?”
Her cheeks heated, and Pippa knew she was blushing furiously. “There was a note on the package. It said, ‘a present to keep you busy while I’m away.’ It was for me, right?”
“Yes, kitten. I bought it for you. Did you play with yourself while I was gone?”
“What? No!”
“It’s open,” he suggested, trying to keep himself from smiling.
“I just took it out of the package. To see how it worked.”
Zale reached a long arm out to open the bedside drawer. He pulled out her pink vibrator and held it to his nose. One eyebrow rose as he held her gaze captive with his. She watched him lick the tip of the device and hum in delight.
“Okay. So, I missed you last night. I couldn’t sleep and thought that might help me relax,” she confessed.
“You lied to Daddy. That comes with consequences.” He moved quickly to slap his hand sharply on her pussy.
An electric sensation went through her at the feel of the swats on her most sensitive area. She bit her lip, trying not to beg for more as he looked down at her with that stern expression. Already wet, Pippa felt a flood of arousal gush from her body as she stared at him in shock. “I won’t lie again,” she promised.
“Good girl. However, your punishment is not finished. I need to see how you pleasured yourself. Show me,” he directed, handing her the vibrator.
Automatically, she took the pink plastic wand and then stared at him in horror. “I can’t do that,” she refused, shaking her head vigorously.
“You can. There are no secrets between a little girl and her daddy. Let me help you, kitten. I bet you were on your back with your legs spread widely.”
Zale shifted, moving Pippa easily until he sat between her legs on his shins with her thighs draped over his. “Show me. Did you rub the vibrator over your breasts?”
She shook her head. Pippa had never considered how sensitive her nipples were before Zale had caressed her.
“Try that.”
Staring at him, Pippa struggled. Does he really want me to do this?
When he wrapped a powerful hand around his thick erection and pulled firmly from root to tip, she couldn’t tear her attention away.
“Little girl,” he said softly.
When her gaze met his again, Zale ordered, “Show me.”
Gathering her bravery, Pippa turned on the wand. It sounded so loud in the quiet of their bedroom, reminding her that no one else was around. It was just the two of them.
She drew a line down her throat to her breastbone and under the curve of her breast. Shivering at the sensation, she grew more confident as his face hardened with hunger. Pippa traced a circular path to her nipple and froze as her eyelids drifted closed. How had she never tried this?
His free hand wrapped around her thigh and tightened, drawing her attention. Her gaze rebounded to him. Pippa treated her other breast to the same caresses before gliding the vibrator down the centerline of her torso to her mound. Her body gushed. Pippa was so turned on.
As he watched and stroked himself, Pippa rubbed the vibrator over her outer lips and then through her pink folds. The low, guttural sound that slid from his lips fueled the heat inside her. Daringly, she pressed the tip to her clit. Like lightning, her orgasm struck, shaking her.
Zale pounced. Taking the device from her hand, he tossed it into the drawer as he grabbed a condom and rolled it over his cock. After kissing her hard, Zale aligned his erection to her opening and thrust inside. The air escaped from her lips as he claimed the space inside her as her body still quaked with pleasure.
“Damn, you feel so good,” he told her as he scooped one forearm under her hips, lifting her up to meet him as he leaned over her.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, Pippa writhed against him. When he ground the thick root of his cock against her, her eyes widened at the sensation. “More!”
His wolfish smile at her plea made her heart skip a beat. She loved his control—his attention to her pleasure. Pippa ran her hands over his torso, caressing his hard form. Wishing to please him, she traced the line of hair leading downward.
“You will be the death of me,” Zale growled and captured that exploring hand. Lifting it over her head, he pinned it to the pillows behind her and demanded the other.
Pulling at his hold, Pippa shivered at the sensation of being restrained. It was so hot to be dominated by this magnetic man. He was in complete control. Those grinding thrusts demanded her response.
She hovered on the edge of another climax. Zale nipped at her throat before capturing one nipple and pulling it into the heat of his mouth. Pleasure cascaded through her.
Zale’s thrusts increased, pushing the sensations higher until she didn’t think she could handle any more. He proved her completely wrong as she orgasmed again around him. “Daddy!”
His shout filled the room a second later as he allowed himself to follow her a few seconds later. Zale released his hold on her hands and interlaced his fingers with hers as he rested his forehead against hers. A few minutes later, he lowered her bottom to the mattress and settled beside her. Gathering Pippa close to his chest, he held her like he’d never let her go.
Something kept her from whispering “Daddy” a few minutes later when the sound of his breathing became deep and regular. Pippa slowly shifted to study his face. Was he asleep?
Lines of fatigue etched his features. Pippa rebuked herself for having missed his exhaustion earlier. She’d keep watch for him while he recharged. Settling slowly back into place next to him, Pippa smiled when his arms tightened around her. She had no intentions of going anywhere.