“Okay, mister. You seem to have all the answers so why don’t you tell me then,” I challenge, crossing my arms.
“You’re not fine, you’re fucking beautiful. The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Not only that you’re mine.”
I swallow hard.
“And I’m not a citizen to you. To others, yes. But to you, I’m so much more. I’m here to take care of you. To be your protector, the man who knows what’s best for you even if you do or don’t want to admit it.”
“Oh, so you think you’re my father then?” I’m not about to back down even though my panties are quickly becoming absolutely soaking wet.
He takes another step closer to me.
“A father is someone who works a forty-hour week for forty years until he develops a gut and dies of hypertension. He doesn’t satisfy his wife, his family, or even his pet dog.”
I choke back a laugh although I can see Jake is deathly serious.
“What are you then?”
“I’m not your father. I’m your Daddy,” he says as matter of factly as if he’s reciting his date of birth by heart.
“My…?” My entire body freezes at that word. That word that I practically dared him to say even though I didn’t realize I was doing it. The word that he’s always been to me, even though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it until now. Now it all makes sense, the reason he sits in the coffee shop watching me without ever making a move. The reason I catch him eyeing me across the street at times throughout the day. And finally, the reason why he was here exactly when I needed him most.
Daddy.
“I see the kind of boys that come into that coffee shop where you work. I see how you smile at them and how you talk to them like kids because they are.”
“Some of them are almost as old as you, I’ll remind you.”
“And I’ll remind you a pair of testicles doesn’t make a man. A man protects what’s his with every possessive bone in his body.”
“And what exactly is yours?”
“You are, my little Jewel,” his deep baritone informs me, sending shivers across my body.
“But…”
“Watch what you say when you open that pretty little mouth of yours,” he cuts me off, his tone threatening. His hand raises and the tip of his index finger drags along my bottom lip, his calloused tip catching and damn near cutting like a knife. And I’ve never felt more alive in my entire life to the point I want to suck on his digit right here and now, and leaning my head forward that’s exactly what I do.
He moans, his eyes rolling back in his head as those deep blue hues disappear for a second only to reappear, his pupils dilated and his breathing coming off like he’s just finished sprinting up ten flights of stairs.
“What I’m asking,” I begin, choosing my words carefully. “Is that are you saying you’re the man for the job?” My challenge brings the now or never moment to a head and I’m beyond ready to see if he’s finally ready to lock in and be everything I want him to be for me…and more.
My head is pounding with the word ‘yes’ on repeat, but his lips stay pressed shut. But I want him to open my mouth, and push my thighs open soon thereafter. I can barely stand, my knees wobbling like Bambi trying to stand for the first time.
“You have no idea what opening that box will bring to your life. No clue.”
“Maybe I want to see, just to know,” I counter.
“Once the demon is out of his cage there’s no putting him back. There’s no probationary period. I don’t work like that. I’m all in or nothing. Forever.”
I stand still as a statue before I finally nod.
A beat passes and his head shakes ever so slightly from side to side as if he’s finding his way back into the moment. “Best you head back inside. I’ll throw the trash in the dumpster and take care of these other two pieces of trash as well. They’ll never bother you again.”
“What are you going to do with them?” I gulp.
“Like I said, you’re not ready for the world I live in. Not one bit. Not knowing about it and certainly not being a part of it…yet.”
“How do you know that?” I keep up.