by Sadie Grubor
The note ended and I hurried to the bouquet of daises.
Daisies represent innocence, but for me, they also are the most free spirited of flowers.
A large smile spread across my face and I rushed to the bouquet of lilies.
The Stargazer lily represents ambition.
I bit my lip and turned to the last bouquet that was waiting for me; the peonies.
The peony represents healing.
I was a little unsure of what to make of the last one, but I kept rotating the cards in my hands with a large smile on my lips. I walked over to my couch and sat down as I reread the little note cards. It was on my third rotation of the cards that I saw the single sunflower lying on the coffee table in front of me. There was a small ribbon and note card attached. Laying the four cards on the table, I picked up the flower and placed it in my lap. After removing the card, I opened it.
The Sunflower represents adoration.
The feeling of my chest constricting for a split second caused my breathing to catch in my throat. I began to feel guilty for being so distant with him last night.
He was wrong, but I could've just talked about it with him rather than run away like a kid. God you are so stupid Sophia!
I was still mentally yelling at myself when I heard the front door. One more look down at the cards and I was on my feet and out my door.
Dr. Bishop was at the bottom of the steps when I reached the fourth step up from the first floor. He looked at me with apprehension when I stopped.
"I, uh, I wanted to say I'm sorry." It was silent for a brief moment.
"What are you sorry for?" He sounded tired. "I was the jealous fool."
I smiled small, just now realizing how flattering it was that he admitted to being jealous.
"Thank you for the flowers." I took a step toward him.
"I'm sorry for my behavior last night. I—"
I didn't give him a chance to finish speaking. I jumped the remaining steps between us, wrapped my arms around his neck, and crushed my lips to his.
The tension in his body dissipated the longer we kissed. His arms were around my waist and squeezing me against his body. I deepened the kiss and heard him moan around my lips. As my hands started to fist into his hair, he surprised me by bending down and lifting me over his shoulder.
"Oh my god put me down!" I squealed.
"Soon enough," he responded and moved with determination up the stairs.
"Let me walk," I squirmed. He slapped my ass. "Ahh!" I squeaked out.
"Behave yourself," he commanded as he walked us into his bedroom and kicked the door closed.
He placed me onto my feet and immediately launched himself at me. We both fell back onto the bed. I laughed loudly, but he stifled my laughter with his mouth.
Dr. Bishop's hands quickly moved down my sides until he gripped my hips tightly. I moaned. He slid his hand from my hip to my thigh and then in between my thighs, pushing them apart.
Soon, both of his hands were pulling my legs farther apart and he was laying between them, his body hovering over mine. As he pressed his hips forward, I thrust my pelvis upward. Both of us moaned at the contact.
I pulled away from his lips for oxygen and heard him gasp for air before claiming my neck with his mouth. My hands found the hem of his sweatshirt and I began to pull it up his body.
Suddenly, he pushed up onto his knees and yanked his sweatshirt and t-shirt off in one clean motion. He tossed it to the floor and immediately yanked my t-shirt up my body. I leaned up on my elbows and it only took one second for me to be shirt, as well as bra, free.
"I don't like it when you shut me out." He stared down at me with blazing intensity. His eyes were on my face, but his fingers were gliding over the skin of my breast and nipple as he spoke.
"I'm sorry," I lightly moaned and shivered from his touch.
A small smirk played on his lips as his fingers made another pass over my breast. I shivered again and felt the goose bumps prickle across my skin.
"I apologize as well." He leaned over my body. His right hand still gliding on my skin and his left was supporting him above me. The green blaze in his eyes was lustful and adoring. I bit my lip when I thought of the sunflower's meaning.
Collin's lips crashed down to mine. He kissed me hard, almost roughly. In fact, every movement following his apology was rougher than normal. Not once did he hurt me, but it was as if he were working through his emotions during our physical contact.
The tugging that he did on my cotton yoga pants almost pulled me across the bed. The removal of his jeans was erratic and frenzied. The way he sucked on my breast was harder and made me pulse deep within for him.
I felt his swollen tip at my entrance. I hated to do it, but I pushed him up from me. Confusion and annoyance spread across his face.
"What?" he panted.
"Condom?" I crinkled my face. Slightly embarrassed and frustrated myself.
He groaned, but stood up from the bed. I shifted and he turned back to me quickly.
"Don't move." He pointed at me to make himself clear. I saluted him with a smirk.
I could hear cabinets and drawers opening and closing in his bathroom. There was also some muffled grumbling, but I couldn't make out what he was saying. I had to stifle my giggles.
Only a few moments later he appeared in his naked gloriousness with a condom in his hand. He knelt in front of me and tore open the foil wrapper. I reached out and grabbed the condom from him. He wrinkled his eyes together at me until he caught sight of my hands make their way toward his erection.
A low growl escaped him as my hand slid the latex covering over him. Once my hand met the base of him, he pushed me down onto the bed urgently and slid into me with one quick thrust. His tongue plunged into my mouth and I eagerly sucked on him. The taste of his tongue was so familiar now and I craved it. He moaned and pulled his mouth away from mine.
"I missed" pant "you" pant "last night." His thrusts had slowed down slightly and his thumb pressed against my swelling bundle of nerves.
"Oh please," I squeezed my eyes shut, "please, harder," called out as I arched my back from the bed.
"As you wish." I could hear the smile in his words. He grabbed my knees and pushed them up to my chest. His rhythm never faltered once.
"Oh, shit," I gasped.
I felt Collin's knees against my ass and he pushed my knees farther apart from each other.
"Grab the back of your thighs," he commanded and I obeyed.
As he pounded into me, I grunted and moaned. I unclenched my eyes and looked up at Collin. His head was tossed back in his erect position on his knees. Suddenly, his head snapped forward and he looked down at me. The lust, the want, the desire that was on his face caused my body to light on fire.
His eyes dropped and he watched as he moved in and out of me. The sight of him watching himself fuck me made my toes curl and the tension at my core tripled. I moaned loudly and closed my eyes again.
"Look at me," he said sternly.
I opened my eyes and was met by his. The blazing emeralds didn't leave mine even as his fingers found the sensitive bundle between my folds once again.
"Oh." Graze. "My." Rub. "God!" Pinch. "Hahh uhh ahhh!!" I was an incoherent mess under his fingers and thrusts.
"Look at me Sophia," he grunted out as his movement increased.
It took so much effort, but I got my eyes open to look at him. I hadn't even realized that I had closed them again. The moment his eyes met mine his thrusts became frantic.
"Fuck," rumbled out of his mouth. He released my knees and grabbed my waist. It was a few more hard thrusts before he roared out my name and collapsed onto my chest.
I wrapped my arms and legs around his sweat dampened body and began rubbing soothingly across his back. It was obvious that, for him, this physical contact was about resolving his emotions. I ran one hand into his moist hair.
"Stay with me," he mumbled against my shoulder.
"I'm not going anywhere,"
I whispered to him.
"Ever?" He lifted his head and looked at me.
"I—" I didn't know how to answer that.
"Please?" I felt like I was looking into the face of a child. He dropped his head back to my shoulder. "Please, Sophia." It wasn't a question this time, it was a plea.
Not knowing what words would be appropriate; I tightened my legs and arms around him. I only hoped that it was enough for him. His grip tightened in return. We lay like that for a long time before he softened and slipped out of me.
When we finally did move, he shifted us so that we were on our sides facing each other. My left leg was thrown over his hip, my left hand was on his side, and my cheek pressed against his chest. His arms were still around me snugly and he was fast asleep. I lay there, inhaling the scent of him and thinking about his plea.
He was afraid that I would leave like Grace did.
I felt stupid, but I had to wonder if the reason that he was with me was because I was bound to him through a contract, being his nanny, making it harder, yet not impossible, for me to leave.
Was I just a safe chance to take?
The moment the thought sat in my mind. Collin tightened his hold on me and pulled me with him as he rolled to his back. I shook off the thought and relaxed. It wasn't long before I was joining him in his nap.
The ring of Collin's cell phone pulled us both from our comfortable naked slumber. I rolled away from him and yanked at his comforter until it was loose enough to pull over me. He groaned in protest of my movement, but sat up and went for his phone.
"Hello?" he grumbled.
"Yes," his voice sounded confused. "What?" he exclaimed. "Yes, I'll be right there."
I sat up and looked at him. Collin rushed around the room slipping his clothes on. All of a sudden he turned and looked at me. Fear, anger, and desperation were clear in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" I stood and walked toward him not caring that I stood before him completely bare.
His brow furrowed.
"Get dressed," he ordered.
"Wha-where are—"
"Victoria," he sighed out and dropped his head.
My eyes widened. No more words needed to be said, I dressed quickly. I couldn't find my underwear so I opted to dress without them.
"What happened?" My tone was demanding as I slid my bra straps over my arms.
"She is waiting for us to pick her up." He slid his hand through his hair with a sigh and then rubbed his face.
I glanced to the clock next to his bed.
"It's not time for her to get picked up yet."
Collin walked from the room and I followed him quickly.
"Collin, what is going on? Who was that on the phone?" I grabbed his arm as we reached the first floor.
"That was the police," he growled and anger flashed in his eyes. With a yank of the front door he stood waiting for me to exit first. I slipped on a pair of flip flops and rushed out the door.
I yanked the car door open and climbed in. I was practically bouncing in my seat with impatience. Collin climbed into the driver's seat and quickly started the car.
"What the hell happened? Where is Grace? How did the police get her?" I was spewing endless questions at him and not allowing him to answer.
When he didn't respond, I looked over at him. His face was hard and his hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white from the tendons stretching. I reached out and placed a hand on his arm.
"She's okay?" He nodded. "That's all that matters." I kept my voice soft and hopefully soothing.
His disposition did not change, but when I pulled my hand away, he quickly reached out and grabbed it into his. He held on tightly the rest of the drive.
Once he parked the car, I was out of my seat and rushing up the station steps. Collin quickly caught up with me. We burst through the double doors and I scanned the room for Victoria.
"I am here for my daughter, Victoria Bishop." I looked to my left and saw Collin speaking with a police officer behind a large desk.
"Ah, yes, she is right this way." He motioned for Collin to follow him.
As soon as I saw the top of her red curls, I was finally able to breathe again. I felt tears slip over my cheeks and wiped them away. There she sat, spinning in a chair with a bottle of Cherry Coke in her lap and a large smile on her face.
"Daddy!" she exclaimed and scooted off the chair. She staggered as she ran, which was an obvious result from the spinning.
"Oh, thank god," Collin fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her. I saw his shoulders relax for a moment while she hugged him.
Victoria peeked over his shoulder at me.
"Sophia!" She released him and ran for me. I scooped her up in my arms. Collin stood up and looked to the police officer standing behind the desk.
"How did this happen?" he questioned sternly.
"Sir, a woman found her wandering the park, crying. When she couldn't find her mother, and the mother did not return, she called us."
Collin quickly looked at Victoria.
"Where did Grace go, Victoria?" His tone was harsh and she flinched. I squeezed her tightly to comfort her. I knew that he was just upset and didn't mean to take it out on her, but she didn't know that.
"She… she…" the tears started to soak her face. "She told me to play on the swing while she talked to someone. She told me not to move." Sob. "But I got tired of swinging and she didn't come back." Another sob. "I stood there for so long, but she never came back." Sob. "I got scared and tried to find her."
"Shh…it's okay." I rubbed her back and she buried her head in my shoulder. I looked to Collin. "We need to get her home." I turned and walked out of the office. As soon as I reached the main lobby, Grace appeared through the door.
"Oh, thank God, there she is," Grace exclaimed and rushed toward me. She held her arms out for Victoria. I yanked Victoria away from her and took a few steps back. Grace's face contorted in anger. "Give me my daughter," she demanded. Victoria gripped onto me.
"You can go to hell," I spat.
"You little tramp. Give my daughter to me, now." She took a step toward us and I took a step back.
"Grace," Dr. Bishop's voice almost echoed through the lobby. Her head snapped up to look at him with wide eyes. He stood between us. "That will be enough. I believe that your visitation is over for today, and if my lawyers have anything to do with it, it will be your very last visitation ever." He reached around, taking Victoria and me into his arms, and guided us to the door.
"Oh, my lawyers will have enough to battle against you with," Grace screamed after us, "especially in regards to your affair with your nanny." We both froze. I heard her evil laugh, "Oh, that's right, Collin. I know all about it and I've got the pictures to prove it. I can't wait to show them to everyone in court."
Dr. Bishop held us tighter and walked us to the car.
"Everything will be fine," he whispered into my ear. He obviously felt the tension in my body. "She doesn't know anything." He tried to calm me down.
The excitement of the day had exhausted Victoria and she was fast asleep by the time we arrived home. Dr. Bishop carried her to her bed and tucked her in. I began walking to my room.
"Sophia?" I turned at the sound of his voice. He was walking toward me with a quickened pace. His arms came around me and he held me to him.
"She's home and she's okay," I whispered and rubbed his back.
"What if—"
I stopped him from finishing that thought.
"No 'what ifs', she is here and fine, that is the fact of it." His arms flexed tightly for a moment and then relaxed. I felt his warm breath on my neck before his lips touched my skin. I bit my lip.
"Daddy?" Victoria's voice sliced through the lust filled haze that had been wrapping around us.
He turned around quickly and I felt my face heat up.
"Why are you kissing Sophia?" Her face was twisted in confusion and half sleep.
I groaned and covered my f
ace.
Chapter Twenty Two
I stood frozen in shock and shame. How could we have been foolish enough to let her find us like this?
"I thought you were sleeping?"
I dropped my hands from my face and looked at the side of his head.
Was he kidding? Was that really his response to her? She wasn't stupid and you sure as hell can't deter an inquisitive child, like Victoria, with that. I groaned again.
"Are you going to get married?" Her face lit up.
"What?" I coughed.
"Are you going to have a baby? Can we get a baby sister?" She was practically bouncing.
"What? No!" I gasped out. He chuckled and I glared at him.
The smile on his face was wide and relaxed. His head turned toward my gaze with a look of 'I told you so' plastered all over it. I glowered at him.
"How can you be so calm?" I hissed.
He shrugged and pulled me toward his side.
"But I don't want a brother," Victoria whined. I looked back to her. "Please, please, Sophia, can we have a girl?" She pouted her lips.
"Whoa, wait, Victoria, we're not having a baby sister or any other baby for that matter." Her happiness deflated. I knelt down to her. "Are you okay…with this?"
"Do I get to be the flower girl?" She eyed me from under her lashes and a sly smile played on her lips.
"Flower girl? Victoria we aren't –"
"I really liked being a junior bridesmaid for Miranda, but I really want to sprinkle the flowers for you to walk on." She jumped forward, wrapped her arms around me, and knocked me onto my butt. "Oh, I'm so excited," she exclaimed as we fell back together.
"Easy Victoria, you don't want to hurt each other." Collin leaned down and helped us back to our feet.
I was still in shock. This wasn't how I thought this would go, if it went at all.
"I told you she would be happy about it." He whispered into my ear, gently pulling me to his side.
"I guess so."
"You guess?" He pulled back and looked at me questioningly. "She's practically picked our wedding date and I did hear a request for a sibling." I gaped at him.
"So, can I have a baby sister? Huh Daddy?" Victoria tugged at her father's arm.
"That's up to Sophia." He looked into my eyes. I saw the humor in them, but there was also a hint of something else. My eyes widened.