Torrid Rush: A Single Dad Romance (Bad Boy Studs Book 3)

by Scarlett Avery

  I whip my head to the side. “Wow! Really?”

  “Yeah, precious. My heart was jumping out of my chest every time I thrust into your warm pussy,” he reveals.

  “Well, you did work me hard.”

  “Oh, how quickly she forgets,” he chuckles. “Harder, please Holt, HARDER! Is that all you got?”

  I laugh my head off.

  “You were the one begging for it,” he reminds me.

  “Sorry, I don’t recall ever screaming out those things. When I come, it erases all memory,” I joke.

  “And you came your head off.”

  “At some point, I truly thought I was going to black out.”

  “I was in the same boat, but damn if it was going to stop me. Seeing you come undone is just about the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life, precious.”

  “It wasn’t gross?” I ask shyly.

  “It was a huge turn-on. And knowing my fingers and cock could do that to you? Wow.”

  I turn into his arms. “So I shouldn’t feel embarrassed?”

  “Not at all. I’m in awe of your powers.”

  “You make it sound like I’m a superhero,” I laugh.

  “In many ways you are. When it happened the first time, I couldn’t believe it. I was hoping for an encore, but didn’t know if it was possible. The second time was even more of a turn on because I was fucking the orgasm right out of you. What a response.”

  “The way you say that sounds sexy.”

  “It’s very sexy. It’s like you’re transcending in another universe. You were taking so much pleasure.”

  “You give me so much pleasure,” I correct.

  “I aim to please,” he winks.

  “Job well done.”

  We both laugh.

  “Honestly, precious, you have an extremely sensitive pussy.” Lucky me. “I’ve never been with a woman who could do that.”

  “Are you pulling my leg?”

  He shakes his head. “No matter how skilled you are as a guy, G-spot orgasms are never a guarantee and they usually aren’t as spectacular as yours.”

  “Wow.” That does make me feel like I have superpowers. “And you didn’t mind swallowing?”

  “Do you mind swallowing my cum?”

  “Not at all.”

  “You got your answer.”

  I guess I do.

  We remain in silence for a few long seconds as I replay the conversation in my head. It doesn’t get better than this. Sunday morning with my boyfriend.

  “For the record, I might need another two or three rounds before I let you go,” Holt says.

  I look at him with wide eyes. “What?”

  “Let’s see if you can make it happen again.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “I’d be crazy not to want to make you come that hard every single time… at least, try my darndest.”

  What a lover.

  I find myself drifting like I always do after Holt’s taken good care of me. His voice brings me back to the moment.

  “You need another bed, precious,” he says.

  “Oh, yeah, why’s that?”

  “This one is too small. My feet are dangling. If I’m going to spend any amount of time here getting my girlfriend off, I need more room,” he says.

  “Well, we can’t all have a California King.”

  “True,” he chuckles. “I can’t wait to get you into my bed again.”

  “Same here.”

  His eyes bore into mine and we grin at each other like fools.

  My boyfriend. I still can’t get over it.

  I always look forward to starting my day at the bakery, but today is bittersweet. It wouldn’t take much to convince me to stay in bed, pressed up against Holt’s strong body for the rest of the day. Scratch that. This feels so amazing, I could easily slide right into the New Year nestled into him.

  “What are your plans for Christmas?” he asks.

  Holt pulls me closer until our lips are a breath apart.

  “My parents are coming on the twenty-second and they’ll be here until the day after Christmas. Mom loves helping at the bakery during the holidays and Dad loves chatting up customers. For the past two years, he’s dressed up as Santa Claus and walked up-and-down the main street distributing samples and enticing people to discover more. He says it’s all in the spirit of the season. I’ve tried to stop him, but it’s in vain. Secretly, I must admit, it works. His strategy brings a flood of new clients off York Boulevard.”

  “That’s funny. Your parents sound like quite the pair.”

  “You have no idea, but I love them so much for supporting my dream.”

  “Do you take a break after Christmas?”

  “Yes. Donuts aren’t top of the list for New Year’s celebration. And, New Year’s resolutions usually put a kink in my business. Which is why I don’t even bother opening the first few days of January because everybody’s on a diet. So I’m off for a bit after the Christmas rush,” I explain. “Why?”

  His ocean-blue eyes brimming with tenderness lock onto mine.

  “What?” I ask in a low voice.

  “Spend New Year’s with me,” he rasps.

  I didn’t expect that.

  “My family, my cousins and a bunch of friends spend the holidays in Catalina Island. I share a house there with my brother. My cousins have the same arrangement. My friends have their own place. We all live close by and it usually ends up being a big non-stop party.” His lips brush against my ear and he whispers, “I want you there.”

  God, I could melt into this bed.

  “Really?”

  “Really.” He strokes my cheek softly. “My whole family knows about you.”

  They know I exist?

  “Your whole family?” I repeat, dumbfounded.

  “Yeah. Beckett and Jace were in the know, but eventually, I was going to tell my parents and Jagger. That’s until my overly excited child usurped the news when she spilled the beans on Daddy’s new lady friend.”

  I can’t help but laugh.

  “Naomi is a trip,” I say.

  “She is. She’s going to be so happy we’re back together.”

  Oh, my God.

  “Let’s make it official,” Holt murmurs.

  “You mean it?”

  “I do.” His thumb slides back and forth across my lips. “From the moment you strutted—and stumbled—into that shop rocking a sexy eighties look like nobody’s business, you’ve occupied most of my dreams––the naughty and the clean ones. The events that unfolded in my life lately made me realize we had a great thing going—”

  “We did.”

  “We still do, precious.”

  I nod.

  His gaze darkens. “Shitty drama, I couldn’t control, robbed us of seven weeks. I can’t go back…” He tangles his fingers in my hair and pulls me closer. I don’t even know how that’s possible considering we’re already fused together. But I’ll never object to feeling his warm body against mine. “That’s the past. I don’t want us to waste any more time. For me, it’s crystal clear you’re my future. I stand by my words, Everly. I want you in my life and I want you in my child’s life. We might spend Christmas apart, but I want my lips on you when the clock strikes midnight as we ring in New Year’s.”

  Sweet delight pulses through me.

  This man.

  Kicking off a new chapter of my life with my incredible new boyfriend? What more can a girl ask for?

  I’m overwhelmed with emotions.

  My eyes get misty. “I can’t think of anything I’d want more.”

  His lips crash against mine and like always, it sends an irresistible rush coursing through my body.

  CHAPTER 38

  Everly

  Epilogue

  One year later

  “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas! Welcome to Sugar Glaze Shack!” Daddy greets. He’s enjoying himself way too much. “Come on in. Only two more hours of shopping left,” he waves in a group of customers
.

  Can you believe it’s already three o’clock? Thank God we close at five today. This is the first quiet moment we’ve had since we opened at seven this morning. So far, it’s been too busy to even think. The shop has been swarming with desperate souls in search of their holiday treats. No matter how bone-weary I am, the sheer energy of people getting ready to celebrate the most amazing holiday of the year is enough to carry me through.

  “I’m Father Christmas,” Daddy continues, “and this is princess Naomi, my little helper.”

  “Welcome!” Naomi waves.

  “Are you here to get your sugar fix on?” Dad asks.

  A group of customers nod animatedly.

  “Good thing we’re the best pushers in the City of Angels,” he says. I roll my eyes. “Marion on cash two will help you. Go on now before everything sells out.”

  “Father Christmas?” I know he gets it from Naomi. “He isn’t even British.” “What’s wrong with Saint Nic or plain old Santa Claus?” I ask my mom when she walks by carrying a tray weighing heavy with a fresh batch of donuts.

  “You know he gets a kick out of this,” Mom laughs.

  “Yeah, but this year he’s gone overboard. And what’s with this pusher business? People will get the wrong idea.”

  “I don’t blame him. You’ve outdone yourself this year with your new flavors, honey. Everything is so addicting,” Mom says.

  Pride washes over me.

  “The team worked really hard.”

  “They have a fierce leader.”

  “Thanks,” I blush.

  “You guys knocked it out of the park. Look at all those people lined up outside waiting for these sinful donuts,” she says, lowering her light brown eyes.

  “Yeah, we can’t bake these fast enough.”

  “Where do you want them?”

  “Over there,” I point near the window. “In the case that had the sold-out gingerbread cake with cranberry glaze ones.”

  “Okay.”

  She displays the two flavors of sugar cane donuts with so much care and attention, it’s endearing.

  “Virginia, you can let those customers in,” I tell her when she enters the shop. “Make sure they head to cash three. Jacinth already knows she’s to take care of them.”

  “Sure.”

  Customers have been waiting for the past half hour for our two most popular flavors in December. Every year, we bake tens of thousands of our chocolate donuts infused with peppermint flavor, topped with white chocolate and crushed candy canes, and our vanilla and peppermint marble topped with crushed candy canes donuts.

  “Let me run back to the kitchen and grab some more,” Mom says.

  “Thanks. With the lineup, it won’t take long for us to sell out again.”

  “Well…” she tilts her head from left to right, “there’s no business like the Christmas donut business,” Mom winks.

  “Good Lord. Did Callum brainwash you as well?”

  “Your cousin knows what he’s doing,” my mom tells me.

  “I can’t argue with you. Speaking of the devil, where is he?”

  “Haven’t got a clue,” Mom says in a high-pitched voice.

  Okay. She’s been acting strangely all day.

  “Let me run along.” She adjusts the wings on her angel costume. Her crown receives the same treatment. “We don’t want customers to be waiting.” And she’s off.

  She insisted on playing the part of Cinderella’s fairy godmother. It doesn’t match the theme of the day, but she looks sensational in her silver dress.

  We nixed our usual Flashback Friday because tomorrow is Christmas. Instead, we decorated the shop to match the holiday spirit. Naomi selected the movie ‘Frozen’ as our theme. Let’s just say, it’s a winter wonderland in here. Callum and the team aced it.

  As for my cousin, he’s suddenly disappeared. He went out an hour ago to run an errand and never came back. What gives? He’s usually so adamant about not missing a second of this mad rush.

  “Sweetheart,” my father beckons my attention.

  “Yes,” I say, meeting his grey eyes.

  “Princess Naomi, Princess Luna and I are going back out to recruit more disciples. There are still two hours on the clock. That’s potentially several thousand donuts sold.”

  He cracks me up.

  Yup, Luna is also decked out in a festive costume. Today, she’s dressed in a peppermint blue and white lace ballerina dress and the obligatory tiara. Think Nutcracker.

  I move my attention to the tiny blonde looking up at me with big blue eyes. “Aren’t you too tired, Noni?”

  “No. I’m okay, Everly.”

  She still has a cute little British accent.

  Mom was watching over her while she—and Luna—took an early afternoon nap upstairs at my apartment. Still, I don’t want my father to exhaust her. Before you know it, he’ll have her running up and down the main street peddling my goods.

  “You’re sure?” I press.

  She nods. “This is fun. I like being Uncle Red’s princess helper. And Luna likes it too.” Daddy’s name is Redford Hayes Bickford-Smith. Naomi calls Mom, Auntie Lindsay—it’s less complicated.

  Holt and I have been officially dating for a year now. It’s been an incredible ride from the start. Each day, I fall more and more in love with him.

  How is that even possible?

  After so many months together, I’m still gaga over him.

  A big, goofy grin stretches my face.

  Holt.

  I think I fell in love with my rock god the first time he invited me over to his place. Seeing him in his surroundings and witnessing the strong bond he has with his daughter melted my heart.

  Naomi knows I’m her father’s girlfriend. Holt sat down with her to make sure she was okay with it. She was thrilled. So was I. Still, we’ve been careful around her. I stay over at his house on weekends, but I’m back at my place during the week. Leaving Holt’s warm body at the crack of dawn to drive my ass to my shop is cruel. Being upstairs is more practical for me—even if I miss him like crazy. This arrangement is also less confusing for Naomi. Holt and I were on the same page on this. Many times, she’s asked her father when do girlfriends become mommies. She’s been quizzing me as well.

  “Do you want to be a mummy one day?”

  “Do you think I’m the kind of little girl you’d like to have as your little girl?”

  “Do you want to have babies?”

  “Do you want a lot of babies? Because I can help. So can Luna.”

  “Do you think I’d make a great big sister?”

  “Don’t you want to live with me, Daddy and Luna all the time?”

  I can’t even tell you how heartbreaking those conversations are. For now, Holt and I are at a really great place in our relationship and I don’t want to push things. We’ll move onto the next level when we’re both ready.

  “All right, you can go, but stay close to Uncle Red and don’t try to unfasten Luna’s leash from his belt. Okay?”

  “I won’t,” she says.

  “Promise?”

  “I promise.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be a good girl,” my father says.

  “I will,” Naomi nods. “Luna will be good too.”

  “See. You have nothing to worry about, Everly. Both girls will be on their best behavior. Luna just needed a little adjustment time, but now she’s okay with the Loop 'N Lead child wrist and belt loop,” Daddy pats the belt around his waist and flashes me a smile beaming with pride.

  He bought this nifty safety belt for children to prevent Naomi from wandering off while he’s recruiting. The belt has two loops––one for Naomi and one for her Staffie. Alas, Luna wouldn’t have it at first. It took a lot of cajoling, but in the end, she conceded. Still, she has her days. Like today, for instance.

  “Yeah, but she was finicky earlier.”

  “I’m sure everything will be fine.”

  “Why don’t you leave Luna here? Just take Naomi with you.�
�

  He shakes his head.

  “It won’t be the same. I need my two princesses,” he argues. “Not to mention Luna’s been sitting out there for the past couple of hours greeting clients and eating doggy donuts. She needs a walk.”

  “I can take her for a quick walk. Isn’t two too much to handle?”

  He cocks an eyebrow. “Someone seems to forget this isn’t my first pony show. It might be my first go at it with a dog, but I’ve dealt with a rambunctious five-year-old who couldn’t stand still for longer than three seconds and her bouncy older sister in tow. I’m well-versed,” he winks. He looks down at Naomi. “By the way, I’m talking about her,” he points at me. “You wouldn’t believe how much of a troublemaker she was when she was your age.”

  Naomi giggles.

  “Me? No way,” I feign innocence.

  “Sure. Take the Fifth,” Daddy purses his lips.

  Naomi laughs her head off.

  I look down at the adorable face. “If you’re going back out, make sure to wear a sweater, Noni.”

  Her laughter quickly turns into a pout. “But it’ll hide my pretty princess dress,” her tiny hands smooth down the fabric of her dress. Of course, she’s dressed like Princess Anna.

  “It’s a bit chilly now. You can’t go out without one.” Your father would kill me. “Do you want to wear my white fur cape?”

  Her eyes light up. “Can I?”

  It’s fake fur––and it’s too big for her––but she wears it like it’s a pricey bespoke luxury item.

  The cape goes well with my costume. I’m Queen Elsa of Arendelle for the day. I agreed to Naomi’s costume request with a caveat. There’s too much running around going on at the shop for the silver high heels she had selected. So underneath my sparkling sequin blue thrift-shop find, I’m wearing a pair of high top Converse sneakers totally covered in rhinestones. A birthday gift from her.

  “Yay! You’re the bestest, Everly!”

  “You mean the best?” I gently correct.

  She shakes her head vehemently. “No. Bestest,” she affirms.

  I can’t help but grin.

  “So you’ll keep covered up?” I ask.

  She nods so hard, her blonde curls go flying all over the place, so does her tiara. “Oops.”

  I laugh.