I bite the inside of my cheek.
“Sorry, I have a date with my daughter tonight,” my dad says, and I wave my hands, getting his attention.
“No. It’s fine. He can join us if he wants. The more the merrier.”
Dad gives me a curious look. “Are you sure? He can find his own company tonight. No need to—”
“Yes! It’s fine. I’m leaving next week. I’d like to say bye to Gabriel too.”
Dad, oblivious to my intentions, nods, smiling at me. “Great. See you then. Bring that fancy bourbon you promised me too.” He hangs up, giving me another kiss on my forehead. “I have some work to catch up on. Be ready around six?”
“Sure, Dad.”
He walks away, leaving me and my roller coaster of emotions at the kitchen island. What will he do when he sees me? What will I do? Will we act normal? Will my dad sense anything is off?
The mere thought of getting to see him creates a thrill of excitement inside my belly. I hop up and run to my room to get ready for dinner—for him. By the time I make it back downstairs, looking enticing in a short, red summer dress and my hair set in large waves down my back, I find my dad in his office wearing a scowl I know all too well.
“Hey, you ready? Don’t we have to go?”
He doesn’t have to say anything for me to know what he’s about to say. My smile disappears as his eyes lock on mine, the guilt replying for him.
“Baby girl—”
“Don’t. Just don’t. This is my last weekend home. You said no work.”
“I know I did, but these clients…they’re being difficult and—”
“I don’t care about your clients.”
He stands and runs his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up—”
“Don’t bother.” I block out the rest of his excuses and apologies. They’re all the same.
He’s choosing work over me. Again.
Gabriel
I swirl the circular ice cube in my glass, bored to tears at the view in front of me. I’m tempted to yawn just to let this girl know she’s lost my attention—not that she ever had it.
“I now have to spend my weekend catering to these motherfuckers until they agree to a deal. It’s the last weekend before Hazel goes to college, and I’m stuck entertaining.”
I barely hear Heath until he mentions my current favorite topic: his sweet, innocent baby girl. The girl dancing in front of me gets the wrong idea when my lips curl into a mischievous smile. Little Hazel Winters. My little bird. So eager. My cock starts to swell in my slacks just thinking about her. The way her taut little body buzzed in my lap. How her thigh felt under my palm. How I fought for control while my body urged me to bend her over and break her in two with my cock.
But I know I won’t touch her. Yet. I tried to stay away, but she’s made it too tempting to get a taste of the forbidden fruit. And she’s forbidden all right. My best friend’s little girl. What sick bastard would even make a move like that? It seems I would. Because I plan on it. Years of this cat and mouse game. Her flirtatious banter. It didn’t go unnoticed all the times she would flaunt her little self at me, hoping I would notice her in her short skirts and tiny bathing suits, while she grew frustrated at her failed attempts. I sat back and waited until the fruit was ripe enough to pluck. The day she turned eighteen was when I started to give her a little peek into who I really was.
It was like giving candy to a baby. She ate up each stare, each smile. She was going to be easy to break; I just had to convince myself she was worth it. After the night with her at Exquisite, I knew she was. There’s no turning back now. Friendship be damned, I will have Hazel at my feet, begging for me to destroy her body and mind. And when I do, I’ll be there to pick her up and kiss away all her worries and pain.
“Hazel’s so pissed with me.”
“Oh, I’m sure she’ll get over it.” She has other things on her mind. Trust me.
“I should go home and try to smooth things over with her. I blew off dinner, then instead of trying to make it up to her, I come here. I should go home.” Heath huffs. But he won’t. When he’s wound up like this from work, a release is what’s needed. A private room with a submissive woman is where he’ll spend the rest of the night, into the early morning.
“Why don’t you stay? Let off some steam? I have a meeting in the morning, so I have to head home. I’ll stop by the house and check on Hazel.”
Heath exhales heavily, relief spreading across his face. “Really? That’d be great. Make sure she’s eaten, and see if she needs anything? Tell her not to wait up and that I’ll make it up to her.” He relaxes in his chair, allowing the girl to take an interest in him. She dances, her pussy caressing his thigh. I laugh, shaking my head, and swallow the remainder of my drink.
“Enjoy, my friend. Don’t be too gentle with her.”
Usually, I would join him in a private room, but tonight, I have other plans. I’ve waited long enough. I had to sit back and watch the most exquisite fruit fully ripen. Now, it’s time to devour her, bite by delicious bite.
I crave control. It feeds the monster inside me. I’m one ruthless son of a bitch, and there’s no room to be vulnerable.
Tonight is no different.
I enter the estate as if it’s my own. The house is dark and quiet, all but dim lights glowing from outside by the pool. Ah…my little bird is sulking. It’s where she goes when she’s feeling unloved. I’ve watched her long enough to know her highs and her lows. What gets her flushed, and what triggers her frustrations. Walking out to the pool, I know exactly what I’m walking into.
She jumps when I come into view. “Jesus, Gabriel, you scared me.” She sits up straighter, wiping at her eyes. She’s been crying. Looks like I’m going to have to make her feel better. “What are you doing here?”
Her question is comical. As if she cares why. “I’m here to rescue the princess from her castle,” I say, stepping out of the shadows so she can get a better view. If I were a weaker man, my cock would already be fighting out of my slacks at the way the light shimmers off her sun-kissed skin. The way her tiny bikini barely covers her small breasts. She’s sitting with her legs crisscrossed, giving me a spectacular view of her barely covered cunt.
“I don’t need saving. I learned a long time ago to depend on myself.” Ah, my little bird is wounded. Daddy sure is doing a number on her. Not that her cunt mother hasn’t already. I stop in front of her, forcing her to look up at me. God, she’s beautiful. Angelic. Her blue eyes would destroy a lesser man. I reach out and cup her chin, raising her head higher. I love the way she complies. The way her neck stretches for me. My thumb dips, and I can’t help but touch more of her. Grazing my finger down her neck, I stop at her vein, loving the way it pulses against my fingertip.
“What has my little bird so sad?” I ask, putting pressure on her vein. She swallows, and I wrap my whole hand around her nape.
“My dad. Typical bullshit. He’s not here, by the way. If that’s why you’re here.”
“What makes you think I’m here for him?” I eye her.