Page 21 of My Girl to Use

I move her hair off her face, tucking it behind her ear. Then, I don’t move at all. I just watch her. Because two weeks ago, this didn’t exist. None of this did. Not the quiet mornings. Not the soft breathing. Not the weight of someone in my arms that actually means something.

Not her. Not Levi.

Something pulls tight under my ribs. I left home to get away. To think. To breathe without someone telling me what my life should look like. And somehow…I ended up here. With her. With a baby who calms down the second I hold him.

With a life that wasn’t planned, wasn’t expected, but feels righter than anything I’ve ever been pushed toward.

I exhale slowly, my gaze drifting over her face again, taking in every detail like I’m memorizing it. The faint crease between her brows even in sleep. The softness she never lets show when she’s awake. The strength underneath all of it that pulled me in before I even understood what was happening.

“Yeah…” I murmur quietly to myself. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The decision settles in me again, firmer than ever. No company. No expectations. No version of me that isn’t mine. Just them. Zora stirs slightly against me, her fingers shifting against my chest before her eyes blink open slowly, unfocused at first, then landing on me.

There’s a second where she just looks at me. “You’re staring.”

I huff out a quiet laugh. “You noticed.”

“Hard not to.”

Her voice is still soft with sleep, but there’s a hint of amusement there now, something lighter than when we first met.

“Couldn’t help it,” I admit.

She narrows her eyes slightly, but there’s no real bite behind her look. “That’s a little creepy.”

“Or honest.”

“Same thing.”

I grin slightly. “You don’t look like you hate it.”

Her lips twitch, like she’s trying not to smile. “Don’t push it.”

I shift slightly, my hand sliding along her side, and she inhales softly, her body reacting before she can stop it.

“Too early for that?” I murmur.

Her gaze flicks to mine, something warmer settling there now. “It’s never too early.”

That’s all the invitation I need. She doesn’t look away this time.

If anything, she leans in first, her hand sliding up to my shoulder as her lips brush mine. It’s softer, slower, like she’s still waking up but already knows exactly what she wants. I respond immediately, my hand tightening slightly at her waist as I pull her closer, closing whatever space is left between us.

“You have to be quiet,” I murmur against her lips before taking them. “We can’t wake Levi.” I capture her lower lip between my teeth, then soothe it with another kiss.

She huffs out a quiet breath that turns into a small laugh. “I can’t promise that, but I’ll try,” she whispers.

“No complaints so far.”

Her fingers curl into my shoulders as she kisses me again, deeper this time, more certain. I shift us slightly without breaking contact, my hand moving along her side. I trace slow, deliberate lines that make her breath catch.

“Daddy…” she whispers, but there’s no warning in it, no hesitation.

“Hmm, I love when you call me that, baby girl,” I rasp, then slide my hand to her ass and spank her hard.

She jerks. Her muted moan sends more blood rushing to my hard cock. “You want more, baby girl?” I ask in a low tone.

“Yes, Daddy,” she answers, already writhing softly.