Chapter 41
FORTY-ONE
DALTON
Once I’m up the stairs, my bare feet pad lightly on the hardwood flooring, stopping short at Drew’s bedroom. Sneaking a peek into where the door hangs slightly ajar, I take in the patterns and shapes dancing across her ceiling, being illuminated by her night-light. Her room glows green.
I can barely make out the gentle features of her face—her light blonde hair pooling around her, making her look angelic as she sleeps. I smile at my sleeping daughter, grateful that both of my girls will be tucked safely under the same roof as me tonight.
Walking across the hall, I push the door open, finding Savanna already in bed—her blonde hair fanning around her pillow. My heart stops, a rush of breath leaving me.
She’s mine.
“Hey,” she whispers. The corner of her lips quirks into a light smile.
“Hey, yourself,” I say, pressing a gentle kiss on her lips.
After the events today, it was only obvious that I’m never letting these girls out of my sight.
Because they’re mine.
“Who was on the phone?” she asks, lifting a brow.
“Just my command returning my phone call from earlier.”
Savanna’s body stills, her teeth sinking into the bottom of her lip. “Oh.”
“Yeah, I had to make sure my appointment was scheduled for next week,” I say, trying to hold back a grin as the color drains from her face.
Savanna props herself up on her elbows, revealing her bare shoulders beneath the covers.
Jesus Christ, is she naked?
“Appointment?” Her voice is hesitant as she tugs on her bottom lip.
“Yup, just proper protocols.”
Savanna’s eyes track me as I walk over to my camo duffel bag on the bedroom floor. I unzip it and begin taking out my clothes. Walking over to her dresser, I open the drawers and place my folded shirts next to hers.
“What are you doing?” Savanna asks. Looking over my shoulder, I see her pinched expression.
Giving her a smirk, my eyes narrow in on her cloudy gaze. “What’s it look like?”
From behind me, Savanna lets out a deep exhale. “Unpacking,” she mumbles.
I shut the dresser drawer, humming in agreement. I turn to face her. My vision takes in the beautiful woman lying before me.
“Why are you unpacking?” she asks, biting the corner of her lip.
I stalk toward the bed, pushing down my sweatpants and pulling the shirt off my back. Savanna’s eyes glaze over as she takes me in, standing in my boxers.
“Because I’m done pretending,” I say, pulling back the covers, sliding into the warmth next to her.
She tilts her head. Her feet beneath the covers graze mine.
“Pretending what?” she whispers.
“That I'm not in love with you,” I say, grazing her cheek with my fingertips. “That Drew’s not my daughter.”
She sucks in a quiet gasp as my fingertips trail her delicate skin.
“I’m done pretending that I’m going to get on the plane next week and sign my life away for another four years away from you and Drew.”
My eyes sink into hers, my thumb gently tugging at her bottom lip. Releasing her lip slowly, I watch it curl back to her mouth, before finding the emerald green eyes of the only girl I’ve ever loved.
“What I’m mostly done pretending is that I’m not going to spend the rest of my life with you, Savanna.”
She stills beneath the covers. The only movement is the rapid rise and fall of her bare chest. “But…” she stammers, her eyes wide, searching. “You said you scheduled your appointment to go back.”
I shake my head. “Baby, no. That was the appointment I scheduled for my discharge from the Marines.”
Savanna’s forehead creases, her gaze narrowing.
“I will have to fly back to sign those papers and pack up my apartment, but I want you and Drew to come with me. We can make a trip out of it. I don’t want to be away from you guys.”
Savanna’s eyes light up, giving me a nod. “But what are you going to do when you get out?”
Chuckling, I draw her in, resting her head against my chest. Brushing her blonde hair back, I tilt my gaze down at her. “I’m not sure yet. I can always work at Salty’s with you,” I tease.
“Ha ha,” she says dryly, nudging me in the ribs.
“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll figure something out.” I lay a kiss on the top of her head, my hands exploring her bare body before I can’t handle it any longer.
Turning her on her back, I pin her to the mattress. “I love you, Savanna. You don’t have to—”
She cuts me off. “I love you, Dalton Hayes,” she says in a rush. Gripping my chest, her eyes burn into mine.
My breath still, heart beating against her palms.
Savanna Davis loves me.
A smile beams across my face. Pressing my weight into her, she whimpers. I nip her lip, tongue sliding in her mouth. “Good. Because there’s no way I’m letting anyone else take care of you and Drew.”
She nods, smiling against my mouth, her fingers tracing my bare shoulders. Pulling back, I study her, remembering what she said the other day in the kitchen.
“Wait,” I say, shaking my head. “The other day you said you hadn’t had sex since Drew was born.”
She hums, fingers now grazing my jawline. “So, that means...” I say slowly.
“That it has always been you?” she breathes.
My cock twitches beneath the covers, heart pounding out of my chest. Savanna’s only ever had me. “Jesus, baby.” I kiss her lips. “I have a lot of making up to do.”
“Mhm,” she mumbles, her hands trailing lower. “You do.”
I groan, watching her lips curve into a smirk. “Keep looking at me like that, and I won’t hesitate to put another baby in you.”
Savanna’s hand freezes on my waistband, her lips parting.
“I think Drew would make an excellent big sister,” I whisper into the shell of her ear.
Savanna’s eyes gleam, her head slipping under my boxers to grip my length. “How quiet can you be, Dalton?” Her voice oozes.
Kissing her neck, I mumble. “I’ve been trained to be stealthy quiet, baby.”
A pleased hum vibrates from her throat. “Let’s see if you remember your training then,” she says, before disappearing below the covers.
I am sleeping like a baby with Savanna cradled against my chest when I suddenly feel something jabbing into my cheek. I give it a shake, hoping the prodding will stop, but it continues, becoming more forceful.
Poke. Poke. Poke.
What the hell?
I slowly peek one eye open, hoping to find the culprit. Instead, I find Drew sitting on her knees in front of Savanna and me, her long matted hair hanging haphazardly around her face as her saucer-like eyes take me in, sleeping in her mom’s bedroom.
Correction.
Takes me in—cuddling her mom in her bed.
A mischievous grin spreads across her mouth at the sight of me waking up. I finally open both eyes, giving her a sleepy smile.
“Dalton!” Drew whisper-yells.
Savanna jerks awake in my arms. When she notices Drew sitting in front of us, her eyes widen. She starts to sit up to wiggle out of my grasp, but I tighten my grip around her.
“Relax,” I whisper in her ear.
She takes a breath, settling back into me.
“Drew, baby,” Savanna rasps, reaching out to tame a wild strand of hair before tucking it behind Drew’s ear. “You’re up early. How are you feeling?”
Drew bounces on her knees, a tiny whale stuffed animal dangling from her fingers. “So good!” she says, holding up her cast. “It doesn't even hurt!”
I chuckle, unlocking my death grip around Savanna’s waist. I reach over the bed gingerly, scooping Drew off the floor and into bed with us. “Dogpile!” I holler.
Drew squeals as Savanna shrieks in my arms.
It’s the best fucking feeling waking up to both my girls.
I tickle Drew on her side, her head thrown back in a fit of laughter. Deciding to go easy on her with her cast, I let her tickle me back, my body squirming beneath her tiny, nimble fingers.
Joining in on the morning chaos, Savanna’s fingers find my waist. “Not so tough now, big guy?” A hysterical laugh falls from her chest when I cry out for mercy. “You're outnumbered now,” she adds.
I throw my hands up in defense, trying to catch my breath. “Okay, okay,” I wheeze.
The chaos settles when Drew rests her head on my chest, nuzzling into me. I plant a kiss on the top of her head, savoring this moment.
My brain is now craving a million more moments like this.
Mornings like these.
Where I wake up with my arms wrapped around Savanna’s body, her figure molded perfectly into me, the smell of her coconut and vanilla scent awakening all my senses.
Mornings, when I’m awoken by my spunky daughter, poking and prodding me, until I’m finally conscious enough to tickle her until she squeals—her laughter becoming my perfect morning soundtrack.
Every. Single. Morning.
This is the life I want.
“Hey, little bean?” Savanna says softly, her eyes finding mine.
Drew lifts her head from my chest, turning toward her mom.
“How would you like to go to California next week?” My heart hammers in my chest, taking in Savanna’s face, lighting up with a smile. “Maybe Dalton and I can take you to Disneyland?”
Drew sits up, gasping, her eyes wide. “Disneyland?”
“Yup,” Savanna says, finding my hand and squeezing it. “But Dalton’s not going as a friend...” she says slowly, holding my gaze. “He’s going as your dad.”
The air leaves my lungs, eyes stilling on Drew, waiting for her to react. Her nose crinkles up in confusion as she looks at us. “My dad?” she whispers.
“Yeah, your dad, little bean,” Savanna says, her throat thick with emotion.
Drew’s eyes light up when they land on me. “You're my dad?”
I clear my throat, eyes turning misty. “I am,” I say before pausing. “Is that okay?”
Clasping her hands together, an ear-piercing shriek leaves her. Her arms land around my neck, just like they did the night I first met her on Savanna’s porch.
Like she’s known all along, it was always me.
“Yes! Oh man, I have the best one!” she says, giddy, causing Savanna and me to chuckle. “Can we ride the teacup ride?” she asks, pausing. “Oh! And we must see the princess castle!”
“We can do all the rides, princess.” I wink at her. “Even the ones that make you throw up.”
She giggles. “The kids in my class are going to be so jealous that you’re my dad.” Drew’s eyes beam. “Now I really need to take you to show-and-tell!” she squeals.
Wiping away a tear, Savanna smiles at me. “I wouldn’t miss it, princess.” I bring her in for a hug. “Now, who wants breakfast?” My voice comes out muffled, wrapped around Drew’s hair.
Drew's head pops up from my chest. “Me!” she says jubilantly, raising her hand.
“Perfect. I need a helper this morning. Meet me in the kitchen.”
Drew rushes off, leaving Savanna and me to make a groaning sound as her weight shifts off our bodies. Once Drew is clear out of sight, I finally take advantage of the quick second of privacy I have with this smoking hot girl next to me.
“Good morning, beautiful. Sleep well?” I smirk, kissing her tenderly.
“Mhm,” she says breathlessly underneath me, her eyes flickering to my lips again.
“Good. Now stay here. I’m making you breakfast.” I press my lips to hers firmly before pulling away.
Turning away from Savanna to head into the kitchen, she sits up abruptly, reaching for my hand to stop me. She brings my mouth back down, planting a fierce kiss on my lips, letting out a moan.
“Good morning, babe. I love you,” she says with a dreamy smile.
Standing up, I grin at her in a dizzy haze. “I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that.”
Her cheeks flush pink, her hand reluctantly releasing mine to start breakfast.
Jogging down the stairs, I walk into the kitchen in a lovesick stupor—like I'm floating on goddamn air.
Because yeah, it’s a good morning.
My daughter knows I’m her dad.
And the girl of my dreams just called me babe.