Page 49

Maya lay on the floor in front of the TV, her chin resting in her hands as she watched the beginning of the movie, the girls going to camp and seeing each other for the first time.

But then Liv shifted on the couch, tucking her feet beneath her, and I glanced over to see her nightgown riding up her thighs, sliding down her chest to show her cleavage.

I grabbed a pillow, hugging it to cover my cock. I felt like a fucking teenager, the way she was turning me on without doing a damn thing.

After a few minutes in, Maya asked Liv to braid her hair.

“Sure,” Liv said. “I’ll go get the stuff.” She rose from the couch, her hips swaying under the nightgown as she walked away.

That fucking nightgown was a blessing and a curse.

I reached under the pillow, into my pants to adjust myself and get some relief. And when Liv came back, I looked straight at the TV screen, hugging my side of the couch, trying to gain some self-control.

Liv sat down on the couch, a little closer this time, and I could smell her vanilla perfume. My cock got ramrod straight at the thought of licking that scent off her skin.

“Can you do a fishtail braid?” Maya asked. “Daddy can only do regular braids.”

“Sure,” Liv said with a smile and began carefully braiding her hair. It took all I had to keep my eyes glued to the screen.

Regina had never done Maya’s hair unless we were going out to an event in public. Maya was just an accessory to her that she could discard at the end of the night.

But Liv, she took time with Maya, even when she didn’t have to.

It fucked with my head, made it harder to ignore the attraction I had for her.

And that fucking nightgown didn’t help. It should be a crime for her not to wear a bra with it, her full nipples strained at the fabric like that.

And why couldn’t I keep my mind out of the gutter? It wasn’t like Liv was seducing me or anything. She was braiding my daughter’s hair, for fuck sake. And women were just fine wearing a bra or not. As a doctor, I knew there was a decent amount of research that pointed to the harm of wearing those undergarments, after all.

This was what I got for the world’s longest dry spell. My dick was thinking more than my head.

“I’m going to use the bathroom,” I said. Neither of the girls seemed to care or even notice. So I got up and went to the en suite in my bedroom, locking both doors, just in case.

My dick was already straining against my sweatpants, and I pulled them down, freeing my cock. It was hard as a fucking rock, full of blood at the thought of Liv’s body, her touch. I took it in my hand, pumping twice.

Why Liv had made that comment about no one lining up to date her, I had no fucking clue. Just the sight of her luscious thighs in those shorts had been enough to capture my attention. And her ass jiggling in that swimsuit?

It made me think what she would look like bent in front of me, her ass rippling as I slammed into her over and over and over again. I pumped myself angrily. Angry at myself for not being in control of my desires. Angry at her for not seeing how fucking perfect she was. Angry I couldn’t have her right here, right now.

I imagined her looking over her shoulder at me as I railed her and came undone, spilling thick ropes of cum into the bathroom sink. My breath came in quick pants, and I pressed my hand into the counter to hold myself up.

When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see myself. I saw a tortured man who couldn’t have what he wanted. Because I’d only mess it up. And that little girl out there, looking at Liv like she hung the moon?

She deserved better than for me to ruin her relationship with the first good woman in her life.

* * *

I went outand watched the rest of the movie with the girls, only comprehending about half of it. I knew I had to talk to someone about what I was feeling, but I didn’t know who. I couldn’t tell Rhett. Last time I even hinted at a crush on his sister he threatened to castrate me. And he knew how to do it too. Not Knox. He was probably still pissed at me for telling him he could go out with Liv without mentioning that I liked her.

Ford was busy training for the upcoming pro football season, and Bryce was so occupied with college we rarely saw him. Which left Hayes. He had been single for as long as I could remember. He’d probably be single for the rest of his life.

So Hayes. As the movie neared its happy end, I texted him, asking if he’d eat lunch with me tomorrow so we could talk.

And then the end credits began rolling and I said to Maya, “Time for bed, kiddo.”

She looked at Liv behind her, braids swinging about her shoulders. “Can Livvy put me to bed?”

Liv looked at me in question. “I don’t mind.”