I harrumphed and crossed my arms over my chest as he stepped into the now steamy shower stall. It was big enough for two but not huge.
I stepped in and moved toward the back and pursed my lips. “They are not! I need to feed my man and his daughter. This is what I love to do!”
He grinned and soaped his beautiful body up, rubbing his hands down his wet chest and lower around his sex.
I licked my lips and watched in rapt attention as his hands moved over his magnificent form.
“If you keep looking at me like that, woman, I’m going to request you get on your knees so I can feed you something else.”
I blindly shut the shower stall door, looked right at his face and went down to my knees. “I’m pretty hungry, baby, and you didn’t let me finish earlier.” I licked my lips again in a salacious move I didn’t even know I had in me.
“You like to finish?” He cocked one of his eyebrows toward his hairline, asking the question all men want to know.
I crooked a finger. “Come here and find out.”
He stepped closer, his once again hard cock hovering in front of my face. He was beautifully formed. Maybe above average in length and girth, though I found the best part was the fact that he knew exactly how to use it.
I flicked my tongue against the wet tip. “But when I’m done, and you’re done, I’m teaching Hope how to make pancakes.”
Before he could respond, I took him into my mouth.
He finished, then finished me off a third time with his fingers and then I made my new little family pancakes.
* * *
Hope was circling her entire mouth with her tongue, trying to reach all the syrup and butter that had made its way all over her face. How children got so messy eating the exact same food as adults was a mystery to me.
She finished the last bite and then took her plate over to the sink where she set it down.
“That was yummy, Izzy.”
I grinned and prodded a bite of pancake with my fork. “It’s because you helped make them.”
She grinned wide and puffed up her little chest at the compliment.
“Hey, bug, why don’t you come sit on Dad’s lap so we can talk, yeah?”
Hope frowned and scrambled over to Kyson where she crawled up his leg and sat sideways on his lap. He curled his arms loosely around her so she wouldn’t fall back but could stay close while he spoke to her.
“You remember that lady that came to the house yesterday and gave you a toy?”
Her clear blue eyes lit up and she nodded avidly. “Yes! She brought me a mermaid Barbie that looks like me! I didn’t have one like her. She’s beautiful. Like a rainbow and her tail lights up! Can I take a bath with her today? Please, Daddy! Please?” she asked in a rush.
He nodded. “Sure, bug, but what I want to know is, what did the lady say to you? Did she tell you her name?”
Hope nodded. “She said it was Roni. I thought it was funny because it sounds kinda like a boy name, Dad. But I didn’t tell her that. I swear!” Her eyes got big as though she might get into trouble.
He cupped her cheek. “What else did she say, sweetheart?”
Hope looked up at the ceiling and bit her lip as though she was truly thinking hard about the conversation she had with Veronica yesterday.
“Oh! She said she was a long-lost family member. And that she just came back and was excited to see me. And um, that she was your best friend and mine, too. Which I said was wrong because Selena is my best friend.”
Kyson’s jaw locked tight as I watched him react to what Hope was saying.
“Okay. Anything else?”
She frowned and grabbed a lock of her hair and played with it before she shook her head. “No, just, um, that I would see her again soon and she’d bring me another mermaid Barbie. Then I could have them swim together in the bath. Wouldn’t that be cool, Daddy?”
Her innocence was breathtaking.
“Sure, baby, two mermaid Barbies would be very exciting. But let’s get back to what’s important, why I wanted to have this talk.”
Hope nodded and focused on her dad. He took in a breath and let it out slowly.
“What I want to remind you is not to talk to strangers, honey.”
She frowned. “She said she was family.”
“Have you seen her before?” he asked, his voice rising a little at the thought that she might actually remember her mother.
Hope shook her head then nodded. “Yep, I did. Once at school with Izzy, right?” She looked at me to back her up.
“Yes, honey, that’s right. We did see her at your school.”
She smiled.
“Okay, bug. I understand why you opened the door for someone you thought you had seen before, but you can’t be opening the door at all, okay? Let me or Izzy or any adult take care of that. Even if it’s Nana, you ask first. I need to know that you’re safe at all times, yeah?”
Her little lip trembled. “Am I in trouble, Daddy?”
He shook his head. “No, bug, you’re not in trouble. I’m just reminding you of what the rules are. If someone comes to the door next time, what are you going to do?”
She ran her fingers down the long lock of hair she held. “I get you or Izzy.”
Kyson nodded and smiled though I could tell it took him some effort. “Exactly. We just want to make sure you’re safe, okay, baby?”
“Okay, Daddy. Can I go play now?”
“Wash up first.” He picked up her hands and loudly sniffed her fingers. “Smells like syrup!” he teased and then pretended to nibble on them. “I didn’t get my fill. I need more syrup!” He gobbled at her hands, making her squeal and kick her feet until she scrambled off his lap and down the hall to the washroom. The peals of her laughter filled the room with joy.
I went over to Kyson. He pulled me into his lap and pressed his nose to my neck. “I hate that she showed up the way she did. I hate that I don’t know where the hell she is so I can talk to her first. I hate that she’s back even though I still hope that she’s well and has found peace.”
I ran my fingers through Kyson’s hair, dragging them along his pressure points in the hope of soothing the ravaged state his mind was in. I, too, was worried about Veronica re-emerging in Kyson and Hope’s life. The woman had a forked tongue but maybe a scared recovering addict was hiding behind that bravado? Maybe she just needed support?
“Whatever you need, honey, I’ll give it to you. Just tell me what I can do to make this better.”