by Shyla Colt
“She’s not an object!” Paddy snapped.
“No, but she’s mine all the same and I intend on having her stay that way. I promised her I’d try to be nice. I get you wanting to make sure your daughter is okay. But the imbalance in your relationship pisses me off. She’s not supposed to take care of you. You took her for granted for far too long and now you want your worker back. Not going to happen.” Demon shook his head.
“You know nothing about me.” Paddy’s face turned bright red.
“I know you cash checks your ass can’t cover and your daughter could’ve paid a hefty price had the President been someone else.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“I don’t’ know. You seem pretty ambivalent to me.”
“You don’t get to come in and judge me.”
“Aren’t you doing the same thing?” Demon laughed.
“No, I’m trying to protect my daughter from getting her heart trampled.”
“Listen up old man, ‘cause I’m only going to say it this once. The shit between me and her is the forever kind. You try to step in between it and I will shut you down. I don’t give fuck who you are.”
Understanding flickered in green eyes identical to Ardy’s. “You really do love her don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Paddy shook his head and laughed. “Her mother’s going to have a shit fit over this. Don’t know that I can manage my blessing, but you have my acknowledgement.”
“Better take on respect too. You talk out of turn to her or me and we’re going to have a problem.”
“No, I’m done meddling. I get it. Don’t like it much. You get my daughter hurt or killed and I’m going to come for you. It’s not a threat it’s a promise. As a father, you should be able to understand that.”
“Fair enough.”
“Good. Now, let me go say goodbye to my little girl.”
Demon watched him leave and shook his head. This domestic shit is complex. She’d better never question if I love her after this shit. He hadn’t done the family thing since his old man died. Being a father was different. You didn’t interact with your own children the same way you did with an elder in the family. After giving them a few more minutes alone, he walked toward the house. Plus side, the kids earned a set of grandparents. Watching his kids wrap the old man around their fingers had been hilarious.
They saw the old man off around noon and Demon did his best not to show how happy he was to have him gone. He liked his house as peaceful as possible. Because the minute he stepped out the door as acting President, shit tended to hit the fan.
“Thank you,” Ardy whispered, snuggling against him on the couch.
“For what?” He glanced down into her hazel eyes and found himself lost in their depths. She wore her heart on her sleeve. It fascinated him. He’d never met someone so open before.
“Putting up with my Da. I know you wanted to strangle him one or ten million times.”
“He’s your family, baby. I know how much they mean to you. It takes more than an annoying attempt to give the third degree to piss me off. I can do shake downs standing still. His heart is in the right place and we made our peace. As long as he’s finished with the pissing contest, I don’t see any problems in the future.” He trailed his fingers down her arms.
“I think he’s ready to accept it. It’s my mom I’m worried about.”
“I won’t put up with them giving you shit. So, you’d better tell her what’s up Ardy. I don’t care if she’s a woman I’ll put her in her place.”
“Don’t.”
“Hey.” He gripped her chin. “You belong to me, right?”
“Of course.”
“That means I take care of you. What kind of protector would I be if I were letting you get bullied by someone, because you felt you owed them respect? You let me take care of the heavy lifting.”
“Okay.”
He smirked. “There’s my good girl.”
She rolled her eyes. “So cocky.”
“No, confident with reason and you fucking love it.”
“Hmph.” She turned her gaze back to the television.
Demon laughed. It amused him that one of the few people not afraid of him was this slip of a girl. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he pulled her closer, enjoying the silence that only came with naptime.
“You son of a bitch.” Ardy marched into the bedroom and placed her hands on her hips.
“What did I do?” He lifted himself up on his elbows. I just got back from a run, baby.”
“You and your fucking super sperm knocked me up, that’s what. Pull out, my ass. One time.” She held up a finger. “One time you came in me.”
He grinned. Joy filled his heart. She looked like a little warrior, fierce, yet feminine in her white cotton nightgown.
“Don’t you fucking smile at me!” She shook her finger back and forth. “You’re loving this, aren’t you?”
“Damned straight I am. The woman I love is pregnant with my child.” He stood from the bed and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his hands on her stomach. “Right now, your body is nourishing a life we created together. That’s fucking amazing.”
“You wanted this,” she accused, leaning back and peering up at him with a narrowed gaze.
“Oh hell, yes I did. Now, you have to let me make an honest woman out of you.” He stroked her belly, imagining a mini me that looked exactly like Ardy.
She huffed. “This is ass backwards.”
“And I couldn’t give a fuck less. This is our journey, there is no right or wrong.” He placed a kiss on her temple.
“I hate you for being a sage, trapped in a young, sexy body.”
He laughed. “When are you going to admit I’m always right?” He rocked their bodies from side to side.
She snorted. “Never.”
“You’re so fucking cute when you’re mad.” He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her sweet scent.
“Don’t look at me with those sex eyes. That’s how we got in this position in the first place.”
“No.” He trailed his fingers up the back of her thigh and under her nightgown, gripping her ass hard. “This is how we got here. But since you forgot, I’ll be happy to refresh your memory.” He leaned down and captured her full lips, silencing the comments he knew she had dangling on the tip of her tongue.
She moaned, opening up like a flower as her body relaxed.
They’d been going back and forth on getting married. She thought it was too soon and he couldn’t get official fast enough. Now, he held the trump card. Pulling back, he brushed his lips across her cheeks and whispered into her ear, “Thank you for giving me everything I’d given up hope on having. You took this house and made it a home, turned the kids and I into a proper family. And now, you’re giving me another baby to cherish. All we need to do to make this complete is exchange rings.”
“Yes.”
Demon froze. “Yes?” He glanced at the watery pools of greenish brown in her eyes, afraid if he breathed too hard, her hormones would kick in and she would change her mind.
“Yes, I will marry you, anywhere anytime.”
He laughed. “I had Flow become ordained just in case. Get your shit together, at the end of this week we’re getting hitched.”
“I don’t have a ring.” She giggled.
“Yes, you do.” He released her and walked over to his cut lying on the chair. Digging into the pocket, he came out with a black box. “I had this made just for you.” He opened the case and revealed the skull shaped ring littered with diamonds.
Ardy tilted back her head and laughed. “I love you.”
“What else would my old lady wear?”
She held out her hand and he slipped it on her finger. “I’m glad you like it because I’m never letting you take it off again.”
“Not even when I wash my hands?” she asked cheekily.
“I’ll paddle your ass if I see it anywhere but on your finger.” He lif
ted her hand up to his lips and kissed her finger. Their gazes locked and he knew his eternity lie there…in her beautiful eyes.
The End
Shyla Colt
Told once 'You have to be an author, then your craziness becomes eccentrics', Shyla Colt has always been in love with the written word and possessed a desire to write. Named after Super Girl in the comics, she often mistakes her mortality for super hero status. So, she holds many hats, Mother, Marine Wife and writer are her top three. Writing allows her to explore new venues, face her demons and touch others. A huge practitioner of paying it forward and putting in what you want to get out, she hopes to inspire, enlighten, move and entertain you with her work.
Mixing humor, drama and strong women, often with a paranormal element, she continues to soldier ahead in the writing field. One of her favorite things is talking to fans.
If you'd like to learn more or just drop a line, please check her out at www.shylacolt.com.
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