Fuck, she was adorable.
The perfect combination of sexy and sweet.And mine,I thought. My girl.Daddy’s girl.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked, shifting in my arms as I tossed the blanket over the two of us.
“That I’m not sure I’ve ever been more thankful for a blizzard in my life,” I answered. It wasn’t lie.
“It is really coming down out there,” she said, a touch of fear in her voice. “This is going to sound horrible, but I’m really glad you got stuck with me.” I brushed a blonde strand of hair behind her ear.
“Stuck would have a connotation that I’m somewhere I don’t want to be, and, princess, there isn’t a better place in the world I can think about I’d rather be.”
“Charmer.”
“Not even a little bit.”
“So… when you’re not surprising your sister on a whim, what do you usually do for New Year’s? Are you a party guy or more of a homebody?”
“Honestly? I’m usually at the office.” It sounded… pathetic.
“Wow.” I couldn’t get a read on her pretty face as to what she thought about me working. “How long do you think it will take before you’re itching to get back?” she teased, and I found the words that slipped past my lips next were drop-dead honest.
“Something tells me work is going to be the last thing on my mind this week.” She grinned and chewed on her bottom lip. “What do you think about watching a movie?”
“Depends,” she said, sass shining in her eyes. Fuck me, my princess had a bratty side. I really needed to get my cock to calm the hell down.
“On?” I was seriously enjoying the way she challenged me.
“What kind of movie you’d wanna watch.” She grinned, and I reached for the TV remote.
“If you stay with me like this, I’ll watch anything with you.”
“Anything, huh?” I nodded, meaning it completely.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on what she was going to choose, the lights went out completely before she could turn something on.
8.Ember
Darkness filled the room, and I gasped.
“Shit,” I cursed under my breath. I hated the dark. I really, really hated it! Ash’s arm swung over my shoulder, and I immediately felt safe.
Calm.
Protected.
Loved.
Loved? That was ridiculous!
“Daddy,” I whispered as my eyes adjusted and the golden hue of the fire washed over us. “Shit,” I whispered. My face felt hot, and I knew it was a good thing it was dark because I was probably redder than a tomato.
“Shh,” he soothed against the top of my head. “I got you, sweetheart,” his deep voice rumbled, and white-hot heat filled me from the top of my head to my toes.
“I didn’t, umm…” Oh god! Had I actually called him daddy? Had he heard?Maybe he didn’t hear me?
“I got you, baby girl.” I shivered. A tingle ran up and down my spine, and a warm ache settled low in my belly.
“Asher…”
