She takes a long sip of her coffee and just shrugs. “About three episodes’ worth,” she finally admits as she brings the mug to her lap.
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
Again, another shrug. “I wanted you to sleep. You don’t need to be dead on your feet today.”
“We’re a team, babe. Get my ass up if you need me. And what good are you if you’re dead on your feet?”
I reach out and grab her coffee, stealing a sip before placing the mug on the coffee table.
“You’re too good to me, Rhy.”
“Now, why don’t you go shower and leave me and Princess down here. Go have someyoutime.” I hate that she forgets she doesn’t need to do this alone. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. Even though I may not be Gabby’s biological dad, that girl is mine in all other ways. I want the late nights and early mornings. I want the dirty diapers and the memories.
She opens her mouth, and I can already tell she will fight me on it, so I place my finger over her lips. “We’re a team, remember?”
Payton surprises the hell out of me when she responds by nipping my finger. I yank my finger back and arch a brow.
“Are you saying I smell?” she teases.
I lean in, running my nose up the curve of her neck. She shivers under my touch. “Only of roses.”
Payton giggles and pushes on my chest, putting space between us. “You’re such a liar.”
Payton stands, but I quickly grab her hand and pull her down into my lap. I cup her cheek and force her eyes on mine. “Not when it comes to you. I will never lie when it comes to you.”
I watch her throat bob as she swallows slowly. The air between us crackles as we stare at each other.
Closing the distance between us, I savor her lips. She tastes like coffee, but I don’t need the caffeine hit. Her kiss alone is waking up all parts of my body. All too soon, she pulls back.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“There’s no need to thank me.” It’s about time she realizes how all in I am. We will talk about that when she gets out of the shower.
My eyes drop to her ass as she exits the room. As I listen to her footsteps up the stairs, I rise and head over to sit on the floornext to Gabby. She continues to bounce, her smile taking up her entire face.
Gabby and I are sitting on Payton’s bed, getting a fresh diaper as I explain my plan for the day to her.
“What do you think, Princess? Do you think Mommy would go for that plan?” I coo at her as I snap the buttons on her onesie back into place.
“Mommy would go for what plan?” Payton asks, finally emerging from the shower wrapped in a blue fluffy towel.
Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to be an inanimate object wrapped around her naked body.
Payton glances over her shoulder, smirking at me or more so my distraction from answering. She clears her throat, snapping me out of it. I narrow my eyes at her cheekiness as she slips on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
“What were you two conspiring about in here while I was in the shower? Are you two ganging up on me?” She tosses the towel into the laundry basket and climbs onto the bed.
“You would never do that, though, would you?” Payton leans down and blows raspberries on Gabby’s belly, causing the most amazing sound to come from her.
This is the perfect life. I have absolutely everything I need right here.
I lift my eyes from Gabby to meet Payton’s gaze.
“How do you want to spend the day before you head in?”
“See, that’s the thing. I’m not going in.”
She tilts her head to the side, confused. “Well, I took the day off to spend it with my girls. I realized something yesterday.”
