16. Daddy’s Baby Girl #4
“Yes,” I say firmly. “Not just… I mean, not just for the dirty stuff.” I giggle, unable to help myself. “Fuck, I’d love to lick you clean, but—”
I break off, letting the words hang. I don’t know if it’s too soon or too weird or too much to say I’d want to curl up with him after—to say that I want to curl up with him now.
He doesn’t break that digital eye contact, though.
“Yeah,” he whispers. “Me too.”
My throat goes tight, and I clear it, but it doesn’t help. “I should, uh—”
“You don’t have to—”
“It’s okay.”
We both laugh, awkward and fucked out, but it doesn’t feel uncomfortable. It’s more like that giddy kind of aftermath haze. I wish I could feel him. My fingers ache for his skin under my touch.
“Meet in the middle?” I ask.
Grant quirks a brow, still reclined on the bed, breathing heavy.
I meant what I said—he’s beautiful. He’s like a work of art, an oil painting. I could look at him for hours and never get bored. I’m sure I’d always find a new thing to admire.
“What do you mean?”
“Well… You need to get cleaned up.” I crack a smile, and Grant huffs a soft, self-effacing laugh. “So do I, really. But then maybe…”
I trail off, not sure if I should suggest it or not.
But Grant must have the same idea—the same desire—because he picks up where I end, offering, “Maybe we could just… talk?”
Heat spreads under my ribs—not the volcanic, holy-shit-my-professor-just-called-me-baby-girl kind, but something slower, softer, stickier. Something harder to untangle.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “That’d be nice.”
“Okay,” he murmurs.
“Okay,” I echo. “Bye… but, not for long?”
He smiles—a soft, sweet, almost boyish smile I’ve never seen on him before but immediately want to see again. “Not for long, angel.”
I almost die on the spot. I hang up before I can grin too hard and lose all of my mystique. I clean up slowly, but every movement, I wish my hands were his. I hope in the future they can be, but I don’t want to wish too hard. All of this might not scare me, but I know it scares him.
My phone pings when I step back into my bedroom from the ensuite, slipping into an oversized tee and fresh sleep shorts before sliding under the comforter and settling back against the cushions.
Professor Daddy:
You okay?
Me:
yeah, I’m good
you?
Professor Daddy:
I’m fine. I’ve never done anything like that before.
I huff a laugh to myself. I don’t know if I should make a joke and say that’s cute, or mention that it’s not the first time I’ve done something like this, but it feels like it’s not the place to tease.
Before I can think of sending something back, my phone vibrates on my thigh.
Professor Daddy:
I’m glad it was with you.
Me:
me too
Professor Daddy:
What was the best part of your day?
I blink.
Me:
the best part of my day?
Professor Daddy:
Yeah. No matter how small. What was your favorite part of today?
My mouth parts. I thought I’d be the one to decimate this man, but I think it might be the other way around. He’s so… good.
Me:
I’ve been practicing coffee art, and I made a perfect fern this morning when I made my coffee in Fia’s office
look
I smile as I send a photo, feeling almost as proud as I did in the moment.
Professor Daddy:
Pretty. But not as pretty as you.
Me:
sweet talker
Professor Daddy:
I think I’ve shown you all my cards now, Neve.
Me:
so, what was the best part of your day?
Professor Daddy:
Sera.
I glance at the calendar I have on the wall, with small purple crosses to mark Grant’s changeover days, ever since he told me about the first one and mentioned that he and his ex-wife change over every two weeks.
Me:
it’s changeover day, right?
A few minutes pass before he responds, and I wonder if he’s surprised that I’ve been keeping track of the changeover days. I wonder if he thinks it’s creepy, and that makes me worry that he might think it’s too much, but then my phone buzzes again.
Professor Daddy:
Yeah. How’d you know?
Me:
I pay attention
I hope you were kind to yourself
Professor Daddy:
Yes. I went to Fia and Cade’s. We had drinks.
I promise I’m taking my prescription, Doctor.
Jesus. I should not find it so hot, him calling me ‘doctor.’
Me:
okay, so tell me what the best part of today was specifically
just Sera is vague
give me more
Professor Daddy:
She made me a little bracelet before she went back to Marie.
Me:
I hope you wore it
Professor Daddy:
Of course, I did. I put it straight on.
My heart explodes. Of course, he did. That’s who he is.
My eyelids begin to flutter, but I try to keep them open.
Professor Daddy:
It was an… interesting look, with my dress shirt and blazer when I was teaching my Intro to Readable Body Language class.
That’s the last message I see—laughing to myself about how Grant doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to send multiple texts in a row without response—before I fall asleep.
When I wake up, with the side of my face mashed to my phone, there are two messages from Grant. My heart gives a brutally heavy thud as I read them.
Professor Daddy:
I guess you fell asleep. I hope you sleep well.
I hope you slept well, angel. Good morning.