Page 9 of Mercenary Daddy’s Girl (Daddy’s Girl #9)
GHOST
I do my best work while the rest of the world sleeps, and tonight is no different. Only, it isn’t work this time. I’m not watching my next target, learning their routine, or preparing my attack.
I’m looking at Gemma. Head on my arm, coiled into a ball, and sleeping off the fragile state I left her in. My fingers twitch, wanting nothing more than to reach out and touch her. Feel her softness, her warmth, her body in the way we’ve just started to explore again.
I don’t. For all my hunger, my want, I can’t deny that this is the best part. Knowing she’s mine and no one will take her away from me.
Even if it means standing toe-to-toe with the Don.
Hours go by before she stirs. The early morning sun floods the room in mottled yellow with birds chirping outside. If Gemma hadn’t started stirring, I wouldn’t have noticed.
Her eyes don’t open to my dismay, but a smile stretches from ear to ear as she turns toward me with a stretch and a yawn. She nuzzles her head against my chest, strokes her cheek into my skin, and I’m ready to come undone .
God, give me this every morning for the rest of my life.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” I press my lips against Gemma’s crown.
She giggles, throwing one arm around me lazily. “Morning, handsome.”
Such a simple greeting, yet it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
“How are you feeling?” I scooch down, giving her easier access to me as a pillow.
“Fucking fantastic.” Gemma nearly screams. Wants the world to know she’s on top of it. “Last night was … was … something else.”
Her snowy cheeks turn a rosy red as she recalls our exploits.
“Good. You deserve it.” I expected a thousand answers. Sore, aching, maybe even a little sad.
Not that one.
Her eyes open, and the light catches them perfectly, making them sparkle with dazzling beauty. She raises a hand to my cheek, grunting as she adjusts herself upward and gives me a good morning kiss.
“What about you?” she asks when our lips part.
“What about me?”
Her smile deepens with the puzzled confusion crinkling my brows.
“How are you feeling, silly?” Gemma scoffs and rolls over until she’s halfway on top of me, chin on my chest.
“Great.” What I’m feeling is indescribable. Taking her as mine, having her at my side, sharing a bed with her as my lover, no words can convey my truest emotions.
Last night was full of firsts. For her, experiencing a man, getting lost in lust, finding out how far she could push her boundaries. But mine come in a very different package. Feeling wanted, warm and fuzzy inside, loved.
“Great? That’s the best you can come up with?” She rolls her eyes at me. Her smirk never subsides, however.
“Better than great?” I slip my hand under the sheets and run it lazily over Gemma’s back. Touching her isn’t enough to satiate the beast she’s awoken in me, but it’ll have to do for now.
“I can’t tell if you’re doing this on purpose or if you really are a hard nut to crack.” Her eyes narrow as if lost in some deep thought about it.
“Dark and mysterious.” I make circles down Gemma’s skin, slowing at the small of her back. “It’s part of my charm.”
I slip my fingers over her ass and give it a squeeze that makes Gemma giggle hysterically.
“Naughty boy.” The serious look on her face fades to a playful smirk. “But it does make me wonder what Mr. Dark and Mysterious is getting up to for the rest of the day?” Her voice hardens, as if the thought of me leaving this room to go about my business will be her breaking point.
“Nothing.” There’s enough to do, but it can wait. The only thing that matters right now is her. “Which reminds me…”
“Uh-oh, here it comes.” Her eyes sink from mine.
“Relax, princess. It’s not serious.” I try to comfort her. “I stopped by your mom’s place while I was out yesterday. In the chaos of getting back home, it slipped my mind.”
“You did?” Gemma perks up immediately. “How is she?”
“Fit as a fiddle. Even shared a cup of tea.” Apart from yesterday’s check-in, I’ve had someone watching her mom’s house since the day I took Gemma away .
And while no issues have risen, and I doubt they will at all, I haven’t had the heart to tell Gemma. She’s happy, comfortable, and free here. It almost feels like if I say something, she’ll be worrying about her mom more than taking care of herself, while I do the same.
“Great,” she says it the same way I did. Teasing me. “But that also reminds me of something…”
“Oh God, here it comes.” My turn to tease.
“What would you say about going out together?” Her chin bobs against my chest with a nervous swallow. “It doesn’t have to be far, and we don’t have to stay out long or anything. It’s just … I’m getting a little claustrophobic here and wouldn’t mind a little time outside.”
It’s not a good idea. Say no. The chance might be small, but if someone notices her ? —
“Of course, we can.” Fucking idiot . “We’ll go somewhere tonight.”
Her face lights up like a Christmas tree, and she lets out a high-pitched squeal that I’m sure woke up every dog within a ten-block radius. She launches off me, unable to contain her excitement, and starts bouncing frantically in place.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” This is why I’m breaking all my rules. It’s a terrible idea. It’s risking a lot for a couple of hours of fun. But to see her like this, so happy and excited, how could I ever say no?
“No need,” I say. “Real question is, did you pack something for a night out, or do you need me to run to the shops?”
“You’d really do that for me?”
And so much more.
I nod.
“A new dress might be nice. Maybe something sexy underneath for after.” There it is again. Her red cheeks from saying the tamest thing, but thinking it’s overtly sexual .
“How about you shop online for what you’d like me to get? You can surprise me. All I’ll do is pick it up.” I kick my feet off the side of the bed and shuffle through last night’s pants for my wallet. “Get whatever you need while you’re at it.”
I grab my card out of its holder and give it to her.
“You’re serious?” She stares at the plastic rectangle in her hands.
“What’s mine is yours, little Gem.” I give her a kiss on the cheek.