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Ada went running to her room. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Grammy likes to baaaake!” I could hear her yelling. “I need all my thiiiiiings.”

Her enthusiasm was contagious and it made me realize I should call my parents more often, especially when it comes to spending time with Ada. Flora has always been my go-to person by default, but seeing Ada’s excitement and hearing my mother’s joy through the phone was enough to make me realize that Ada should spend more time with her grandparents.

When I looked up, Ada was dragging her bag and an armful of stuffies down the hall. I pulled out my phone and snapped a quick photo of her because she was too precious in that moment to not have it forever. It would make a great graduation photo someday. My heart seized a little when I thought about her being older. I thought about some idiot like TJ potentially breaking her heart.

“Daddy, I’m ready.”

Kneeling in front of her, I said, “Make me a deal. No boys until your twenty-five.”

“Daddy, boys are gross. They boss me. Ms. Elly says no one is the boss of me.”

My thoughts went back to Elly protecting Ada on the playground and guilt sucker-punched me again. “Ms. Elly is right. No one is the boss of you. Come on, let’s go to grammy’s and papa’s.” She smiled.

Chapter 16

Elly

Making a mad dash around my apartment, I tried to clean and organize everything I’d been putting off for what seemed like months before Dean arrived. Once I got laundry picked up, my bed was made, and dishes finished, I jumped in the shower.

Unsure of what time he would be by, I wanted to be ready. Laughing to myself, I was blissed out over Dean Thorne. The laundry room kept replaying in my head. Once again, I took notice of his strong hands as they gripped my hips, his breathing hot on my neck, and his hard cock as I pushed my ass against him. I knew what I was doing and after the way he made me feel at the waterfalls, I wanted to do it again.

My phone pinged with a text, and it made my stomach flutter. Quickly grabbing it off my dresser, I saw it was Dean.

Dean: I’m on my way. Be there in ten.

Me: See you soon…

Light candles. I should light candles, I thought. Every girl has an idea of what her first time looks like, but they rarely get to experience it the way they imagine. I wondered if Dean would think I was silly for wanting candles lit. I didn’t know what to expect and worried about coming off as immature.

My door sounded with a knock, making me jump. I checked my reflection in the entryway mirror one more time. My hair was down, swept to the side, and hung over my chest. I looked sexy enough in my short shorts and t-shirt, intentionally left to hang off one shoulder.

Finally, I answered the door. Dean was standing there, steamy and rideable. Walking sin. He was dressed casually in light-colored jeans, a grey sleeveless muscle shirt, with an open zip up hoodie over it. His eyes looked intense at first but softened when I smiled at him. “Hi,” I said.

“Hi.” He raised an eyebrow. I realized I was gawking at him.

Feeling myself blush, I said, “Shit. Come in. Sorry.”

He chuckled and looked down at me as he walked past me. “Cute place, Elly.”

“Thanks.” I closed the door behind him and locked it. Suddenly, I felt nervous. My apartment felt too small and Dean looked too big, taking up the little space inside. “Who is watching Ada?”

He stopped, looked around the room, then turned to me. “My parents. It’s been a while since she’s seen them.”

“That’s nice. Was she okay? What time do you need to pick her up?”

He slowly sauntered toward me. There was a prolonged, intense regard as he came to a stop, so close to me. In a lower register, he said, “Not until tomorrow. But I don’t want to talk about my daughter.” He had a hint of mischief in his eyes that made me swallow, my throat feeling dry. Bringing his hand up to my neck, he ran his thumb along my throat. “You swallowed. Are you nervous?”

“Mmmm… yeah.” All common sense left me and I started babbling. “I…uh… didn’t want you to think I was immature or anything, but I was going to light candles, then I stopped. I thought it would be nice… ya know… it being my… um… but I didn’t do it, so…”

He brought his finger up to my lips to quiet me. “Sshh. Where’s the lighter?”

Moving around him, I walked to the bedroom as he followed. I grabbed the lighter off my nightstand and handed it to him. There were candle jars on both nightstands, the dresser, vanity, and the small table I had in the corner. I inhaled as he went to each candle and lit them one by one.

When he finished lighting the last one, he put the lighter on the dresser and turned back toward me. “Come here.” As I moved in to embrace him, he cupped my face, leaned and paused slightly. My pulse raced with anticipation. His eyes dropped to my lips, and then he kissed me, deep. Warmth spread throughout my body and any nervousness that I had, vanished. I gripped him at the waist because I was worried my knees would give out on me if I didn’t have something to hold onto. “Eliana, these full, soft lips are all I think about. I haven’t stopped thinking about them since you stepped foot in my house for the first time.”

Moaning, I could get out was, “Dean…”

Dean lifted me up. I ran my fingers through his hair as he wasted no time carrying me over to the bed. “Wrap your arms around my neck,” he said. As I did, he took us down onto the bed together in one fluid motion. He was on top of me, still fully clothed, kissing every piece of bare skin he could get his lips on. Finally, he came up for air and made eye contact with me. “Tell me why you invited me here.”