A minute goes by, but it feels like an eternity.
Another minute.
My teeth begin to ache under the pressure of my jaw muscles. The tension shoots up into my ears, I’m grinding my teeth so hard.
Another minute.
Me: Don’t make me ask questions twice, Willow.
I hit send and almost immediately the little dots start to do their rhythmic pulsing, winding me up even further.
Willow: You’re my former stepfather.
Me: Who am I?
I go right back to pacing the carpet between the fading fire and my desk, holding the phone in my hand, staring down at it like it holds the secrets of the universe.
Even with the distance between us right now, I feel her. I know her struggle. I can almost see her tossing her head back and letting out a long breath. Fighting the answer we both know I need.
Willow: Daddy
My body quakes and another orgasm nearly shakes me to my core, but I hold it back. Even that single word from her, glowing on the screen of my phone, has an effect unlike anything I have known before.
Me: Yes. Good girl.
I hit send and try to breathe before stabbing out another.
Me: I want you to take off all your clothes, Willow. Get into your bed. Put your fingers inside yourself and fall asleep that way. Do it for me and think of me while you do. Know that I’m right there with you. My flight leaves in a few hours but I will text you as soon as I arrive. Keep your phone charged, on and with you. You were never good at keeping it charged, but from now on you will be punished if you do not follow my instructions. Is that understood?
I realize it’s heavy but I’ve wasted too much time already. I know she belongs to me and she knows it as well. Seeing how she reacts to my requests will give me an idea of just how ready she is for everything that our lives together will entail from here on out.
After a minute I get what I need.
Willow: Yes, Daddy. I understand.
Me: That’s my girl. Now get some rest. It’s late and you need your sleep. Good night, my Princess. My world has never been brighter than it is at this moment, knowing you are back in it, Caramia. Sweet dreams.
Willow: Good night. ?
My heart nearly explodes with delight.
I’ve kept in touch with her all day.
My meeting went as planned, no last minute surprises for once. The deal I’m finishing up has hit a few snags along the way, but it’s far from my main focus at this point. The necessary games, the push and pull of putting together this merger have worn me down. I was scheduled to stay in LA overnight but I cut my meetings short. I did what was necessary and chartered a flight back to the city.
In the next few days the paperwork will be signed. The board will approve the final aspects of the deal. The SEC has signed off already. It’s all but done at this point, just a few handshakes and smiles, some back alley promises to be fulfilled, and that will be that. Signed, sealed, delivered. It’s not pretty, but it’s how business gets done. It’s been my life since I left her: my business and Club Tower filling my time until I was so exhausted I didn’t have the energy to mourn. Only, that’s a lie. I’ve mourned her every second of every day we’ve been apart.
I did what I could to numb myself. My business benefited, as did the club, but none of that matters to me now.
This world is as big as it is small. The small group of board members let it slip in our lunch that Margaret’s firm has just taken on a group of board members from Axix Telecom as council in the merger. It shouldn’t be an issue. When we split it was amicable. The goals of our union had been met and although I think Margaret would have preferred the cover of our marriage to go on for a few more years, to wait until she had secured a few more rungs in her career climb, there was no animosity between us. There never was. As hard as she can be at times, we began and ended as friends. It’s been years since we spoke to each other, but I don’t see any reason why that needs to change. I was never agreeable to the distance she kept between her and Willow. Margaret was never cut out to be a mother but she did the best she could as we all do in this life I suppose.
Now my limo is idling in front of Willow’s building. I texted her when I was pulling down the street and she said she was coming down.
She comes running out and I lean over to open the door from inside the limo. She’s wearing a faded pink T-shirt that says “Welcome to Norway” across the front and a loose fitting denim skirt that hangs low on her hips. It’s almost 9 PM and I’ve been awake nearly twenty-four hours, but I feel more invigorated than I have before in my life.
I love her curves. The softness of her form. But my heart clenches because I know she’s self-conscious about it. When she was younger, she always wore her clothes two sizes larger than necessary, trying to cover herself. I need her to understand her beauty, the beauty that I see shining bright like a supernova. I need her to know that she is perfect, exactly how she is right now at this moment, and my craving and desire for her is unlike anything I’ve felt before.
“I can’t stay long.” Her four words set my teeth on edge. “I have to go pick up some shoes from Louboutin for a photo shoot in the morning. They need them early so I’m going to go get them.”