Page 110 of Heavy

“That for once you’d make a selfless choice for my betterment.”

I’m through the front door in a matter of a few steps. His car is started and backed down the driveway before I’m closing it softly behind me, looking for my baby girl. I don’t have to search, thankfully, as Calista is standing in front of the fireplace, staring up at me with her hands gripping her phone.

“What did he say?” she asks, fidgeting around in place.

Does she really care that much about what her mom thinks? That woman can rot in a sewer for all I care for the things she let happen to Calista. For her to still be this concerned speaks to her innocence.

Again, since the first time her mom visited here, she hasn’t returned. The blowup at the dinner shouldn’t have deterred her to come back around to see her daughter.

Pfft.Fuck them both. Maybe they do deserve each other, but I don’t want that. If Eamon is sleeping around, I need him to divorce Jasmine, so that I can have Cal without her overthinking what she is to me. I may fuck around and call her my step-niece, but she isn’t and won’t be forever.

“Once you left?” I finally say after freaking her out with the moment of silence. “Or a recap of what you already heard.”

Her gorgeous citrus eyes round. “You knew I was there?”

I smirk, giving her a nod. “Yes, but it’s okay. Spy on me all you want.” I mean that in every literal sense. I’ll never hide anything from her. The good, the bad, my ugly—I wear it on my sleeve. I also have no desire for anything but this cabin and her. Not to say I won’t be of use to her. I’m looking for work so that I can take care of her. Last thing I want is to be a bum.

“Okay then, after. Does my mom know?”

“No, baby girl, she doesn’t. And he ain’t going to tell her either.”

As I get closer to her, she slowly tucks her hands behind her back. “How can you be so certain?” The moment I’m close enough, I search for her wrist and pull it from around her.

After a deep breath, I place it against my cheek, then let her go to move it back like she always does. It has her stepping closer to me, and me putting an arm around her neck. “He… hmm.” I pause, staring at her unyielding gaze. “There is two parts to that answer. One of them won’t hurt you, the other might. I’ll tell you both, but only if you want to know them.”

“Does it have to do with me?” The lace of virtue in her tone has me smiling wider, because damn, we could not be more opposite.

“No, it doesn’t, but it will hurt you in some way regardless, I’m sure.”

“Tell me the one that won’t hurt me, while I decide.” She draws her fingers up through my hair, grabbing at the short length.

“I told him it was the least he could do for me to allow you to tell your mother when you’re ready.”

The soft pull of her lip between her teeth has me needy to have it between mine. “I think I’ll just keep that answer, for now… but if I want to know later, will you tell me?”

“Yes, of course.”

She looks up at my hair, her cheeks are turning a deep shade of red as she blushes. “Are you becoming soft for me?”

“I don’t know what that means.” I lean forward and grab under her thighs, hoisting her up to my waist. “Explain.”

She presses her forehead to mine, still fumbling around with my hair. It’s about the only place that I can have her constantly touching without any problem. I can’t deny loving the pleasure that shoots down my spine when she tugs on it while I eat her out.

“It’s when someone that’s normally rough and tough, aka you, begins to be less so for someone.”

I hum. “Have I not technically always been this way with you?”

“Uh, no.” She’s so quick to respond, I’m slightly offended. It’s possible she sees it because she begins to explain. “You weren’t anything I didn’t want you to be with me.”

“Better…” Before moving us to the bedroom, I lock the front door. I think Eamon has a key, but I doubt he’ll be barging in again after what he saw. My hope is he dreams of my cock down his stepdaughter’s throat; that’ll be for some good karma.

“I like your roughness,” she continues as I open the door to the garage and hit the button to close it up. I have to adjust her so she doesn’t slip, and thankfully her legs circle enough to stay upright. “I equally like seeing thissofterside of you.”

“Whatever you say, baby girl.”

I have to admit, I’m afraid she’s falling in love with me. It isn’t that I wouldn’t want to reciprocate that back, I’m just not entirely sure I’m capable of it. The last person I expressed that feeling for was my mother, and we see how well that ended for me.

I’ll just need time to figure out if what I’m feeling for Calista is that, but I hope it is.