He shakes his head as his palms collect my jaw, tilting my face up to his. “Nope.”
He caresses my face, his thumbs trailing over my cheekbones and brushing over my mouth before snagging on my bottom lip. “I haven’t stopped thinking about the last time you let me kiss you, Celeste.”
I’m barely huffing out viable breaths, let alone forming words, and my eyes flutter shut. “Is this a good idea? What about Maise?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. But I can’t see this turning out any other way.”
“And what way is that?” I narrow my eyes playfully, curling my fingers around his hands still holding my face.
“I would rather show you than the?—”
“Oh, kiss her already, Daddy!”
I huff a surprised sound as Quinton groans, his forehead pressing to mine.
“You heard the little lady,” he rasps.
“I did.” I press up on my toes and drag his mouth down to mine.
His hands tilt my head a little further and he claims my mouth the way he did the first time. Not making him wait this time, I open and he’s everywhere. Hands, tongue, lips...
My skin is electrified where his hands grip my face. Each choppy breath sends my head higher and higher as my center melts, and I can’t get close enough.
His body presses against mine. Heat pools low in my belly. My hands grip his hair like a lifeline, and I... can’t breathe...
Breaking away, I rasp, “Quin?—”
He holds me steady, his grip firm around my biceps as I try like hell to ground myself. Unlike last time, I have no intention of running away. For the first time in my life, I am desperate for something to stick. If not forever, for as long as it is good.
“Must be some tree.” My father’s voice has us turn toward him in unison. Maisey stands by him, and they high five like they planned this all along. But I know that’s impossible. With a spotty memory, Dad’s not likely to be able to do anything of the sort. But his single moment of clarity around what’s happening here? I’ll take it.
“How was the game, Hank?” I ask.
“Ah, rubbish. We lost, again.” He waves a hand and wanders down the hall.
Well, there you go. Two moments of clarity. Maise is in our space the second Dad’s gone. “So now can you kiss and tell?” She looks up at Quinton.
He simply chuckles, sweeping her up into his arms. “Hmm, looks like it’s your bedtime.”
“Oh no, I was helping,” she whines.
“Yes, you were. But every girl needs their beauty sleep.”
“Even CC?”
Quinton adjusts her on his hip. “Even CC.”
She slaps his arm. “Daddy, don’t say that. She’ll think you don’t like her.”
The look of utter horror on her face almost has me doubled over. But I restrain myself and add, “I would love to go to bed early, Maise. We can build snowmen tomorrow if we get enough sleep, just us girls.”
“Really?!”
“Sure thing.”
“Yes!” She pumps a fist into the air. “Hear that, Daddy? You’re not invited.”
He narrows his eyes at her playfully. “If you say so, kiddo.”
