Her tongue swirled around my finger, and I couldn’t take it. I jerked her up and pinned her to the counter, claiming her mouth with mine. Loving the taste of my cum on her tongue.
But as the kiss slowed, I could feel the doubt creeping in. Each muscle slowly stiffened under my hands, and I needed to do damage control. Carina was giving in to her desire a little more each time the tension between us snapped, and I found backing off before she could build a giant wall against me worked better than trying to break it down.
“Don’t overthink it, Carina,” I whispered against her trembling lips. “Everything is still fine.”
“But, Ian. I—”
I pressed my fingers to her lips. “Don’t. Over. Think. It.” When she nodded, I pulled my hand back and fastened my pants. “Now, let’s go to bed and let me hold you.”
“Ian—”
“Ah, ah, ah.” I halted her argument. “Just so I can help you through the night with Audrey. You’ve been on solo duty all week.”
After only a moment’s hesitation, she gave in.
We got ready, and she tried to sleep on the edge of the bed, but I pulled her close so I could spoon her, keeping my hands in safe territory.
“I’ll be right here if Audrey wakes up. Get some sleep.”
It didn’t take long for her breathing to even out and for the first time since she’d been born, Audrey slept through the night, letting Mommy and Daddy stay pressed together until dawn.
21 Ian
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
Carina didn’t turn to face me, but I could see the tension in her shoulders as she slipped her earrings in. “We don’t have anyone to watch Audrey, and I don’t want to bring her around that many people.”
“We could find a stranger on the street.”
She gave me a deadpanned look in the mirror. “Very funny. Besides, I won’t stay too long. Just enough for everyone to stare and make comments about the poor ex.”
“Nonsense. More like the sexy as fuck ex.”
I lived for the way she tried to hide her smiles when I complimented her. She looked down, and the long tendrils framing her face fell forward, begging me to tuck them back.
Before I could, she faced her reflection and pulled her shoulders back like she was preparing for battle. “I won’t be long.”
When she turned, I was there waiting, forcing her to take a step back and bump into the dresser. “You look beautiful.”
We were so close I could feel the small puffs of breath escaping her red-painted lips. “Thank you.”
I made a fist to keep from grabbing her and tugging her close. It had been a week since I’d touched her, tasted her, felt her and each day got a little harder than the last. I knew she felt it too. How could she not when it was like a living, breathing giant in the room with us.
It became just a matter of time for when one of us snapped—and I knew that when we did, I couldn’t go back. I couldn’t let her hide from it anymore, even if it only ended in a serious conversation about where we stood. This limbo wasn’t good on either of us.
“I should go,” she whispered, stepping around me.
I followed her out of the room, grabbing Audrey on the way. “Remember the rules, young lady. No drinking and driving, call every thirty minutes, so I know you’re safe, and no drugs.”
“Very funny, Dad.”
“Oh, you want me to be your daddy? I can get into that. Maybe some spanking.”
“How can you say that while holding your daughter?” she laughed.
“Easy. Little Miss Audrey doesn’t know what Daddy is saying and doesn’t care as long as it comes in a happy voice. Do you, baby?”
She shook her head at my baby-talk and grabbed her purse. “You two behave.”
“I guess we’ll have to cancel the house party then.”
“We’ll see you later,” I said, waving Audrey’s little fist.
As soon as Carina left, I swept into action. I was a man with a plan and didn’t have time to waste.
Watching Carina prepare to attend this wedding had been painful. She would never have asked me to go, but I knew she dreaded going alone. Thankfully, I was a proactive kind of guy, so I’d already messaged my parents to see if they would be able to watch Audrey.
As soon as they’d given me the go-ahead, I packed a bag for Audrey while Carina was showering. I quickly changed into my suit, choosing a silver tie to match Carina’s dress and headed out the door.
“Thank you so much for this,” I greeted my mom.
“Of course,” she said, taking Audrey. She smiled down, and Audrey rewarded her with a gummy smile.
“We just got back last night,” my dad said behind my mom. “A little heads up would have been nice.”