Chapter Eighteen
James watched, growingmore uncomfortable by the second watching his gorgeous wife enjoy her dessert. She gave the hot-fudge-coated spoon a long, slow lick, and he was reminded of their little episode on the back deck earlier. It was taking every bit of self-control he had to not drag her out of the restaurant and back to the house.
But he had plans for his girl. It had been too long since he’d really spoiled her, and with all the madness surrounding them, he wanted her to have some time to enjoy herself.
“This is incredible. I always forget how much I love this place.” Her eyes opened, mischief twinkling in the brown. “We should pick up some chocolate sauce on our way back to the house.”
If his pants got any tighter, he was going to be in serious trouble. “We can do that. But we’re not heading back yet. How about a walk on the boardwalk?”
Excitement lit up her face like Fourth of July. “Really? All the way to the end?”
The end of the boardwalk housed a small carnival of sorts, a spot he knew she loved. “Absolutely.”
“Oh.” Her face fell into a pout and once again he was reminded of the way her lips had looked wrapped around his cock. Lifting one of her long, shapely legs, she examined the skinny heels he’d packed for her. “I can’t walk that far in these.”
As much as he loved the way her legs looked in the heels, she was right. But a good daddy always came prepared. “Lucky for you, I tossed a pair of sandals in the backseat while you were getting dressed.”
“Then why are we still sitting here? Let’s go, old man!”
Since he’d already paid the bill, James stood and held out a hand for her. Walking out of the restaurant, he put his head down so only she could hear. “Call me old man again, and I’ll be turning that pretty little bottom red when we get back to the house.”
The playful expression on her face was worth the rock-hard erection pressing painfully against the zipper of his jeans. “Promises, promises, old man.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” A quick glance around confirmed they were mostly alone, so he reached down and swatted her once, hard enough to make her squeal.
“James!” Her voice dropped to a hiss. “You can’t do that here!”
“It’s Daddy to you, little girl. And I can do whatever I want. Isn’t that right?”
Though her cheeks went pink with embarrassment, her eyes blazed with need. “Yes, Daddy.”
God, it was tempting to ditch their plans and spend the entire weekend in bed. Instead, he winked and linked his fingers with hers. At the car, she changed into her sandals and they walked the short distance to the wooden boardwalk. The soft breeze coming off the ocean lifted her curls, sending them dancing to a tune he couldn’t hear. Unable to stop himself even if he wanted to, he pulled her into him and lowered his lips to hers.
“I love kissing you, little one,” he said when he reluctantly broke the kiss a few moments later.
“Yeah?” She grinned up at him, and he’d have been lying if he said he didn’t enjoy the way her eyes had gone just a little unfocused and glassy with his kiss.
“Yeah. I don’t get to kiss you nearly as often as I’d like.”
“Then shut up and kiss me again, old man.”
He growled softly, and the kiss he laid on her this time wasn’t slow and gentle. This was a kiss filled with dark promises of retribution. “Keep pushing your luck, little one,” he murmured against her lips. “The ride home Sunday may not be as much fun as the ride here.”