I spin around to look, my brow furrowing at the oblong-shaped something taking up half the piece of paper.
It looks like a fucking wiener dog.
Lexie just stares at it in silence.
"So?" Avery asks. "What do you think?"
"It's okay," Lexie says hesitantly.
"It's okay? So I can tattoo you?"
"No, it's okay that you can't draw good."
I try to hold back my laugh, but Avery quickly takes notice of my amused expression. She narrows her eyes, playfully sticking out her tongue as she balls up the paper and tosses it at me.
"Okay, so I suck at drawing, but I'm good at other things," she says, standing up. "Like hopscotch, and the monkey bars, and jump rope..."
"Oh!" Lexie jumps up and down. "Can we go to the park?"
Avery starts to say yes but cuts off mid-word, her expression serious. "We'll have to ask your daddy."
Lexie turns to me excitedly. "Please, Daddy? Can we?"
I wave them away. "By all means, go have fun without me."
Lexie doesn't hesitate, bolting from the room as she screeches excitedly. Avery stands up, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry, I should've asked you before..."
"It's alright," I say, pulling out my keys and tossing them to her. "You guys can go back to my place afterward. I'll be home as soon as I finish up here tonight."
Avery clutches them, the keys jingling in her hand, before slipping them in the pocket of her jeans. Popping the cap off the marker, she grabs my hand and turns it over, scribbling something down on it. "My cell number."
"Huh." I stare at the numbers on my palm. "I suddenly feel twelve years old again."
"I got you beat," she says. "I'm about to go experience recess for the first time in a decade."
I chuckle. "Yeah, well, that's every other weekend in my world."
They jet from the shop just as my next appointment shows up. All evening long I try to focus on work, to block out everything except for the tattoos, but thoughts of Avery and Lexie keep infiltrating my mind. What are they doing? Are they okay? Is Lexie giving her a fit? Does Avery know what the hell she's gotten into?
My eyes keep drifting to the clock, time moving at a snail's pace. Finally ten o'clock rolls around when I finish my last session, grateful to be done for the day. I quickly clean my station before locking up and heading straight for the door, not even bothering to bid anyone goodnight.
I call the number written on my palm as soon as I'm outside, but it rings and rings. No answer. I make the trek home quickly, bounding up the steps to my apartment fifteen minutes later. The door is unlocked, the place quiet and dark, except for the soft hum of the television in the living room. I step that way, pausing right inside when I see them both lying on the couch, their heads on opposite ends, their feet tangled somewhere in the middle. Avery is curled almost in a ball, her head resting on her hands, her expression serene, while Lexie looks like a wild animal, spread eagle on her back with her mouth wide open, snoring away.
Something about it stalls me right where I stand, my chest constricting. Fuck, it's beautiful. My girl.
My girls.
Slowly, I walk over, carefully picking Lexie up and carrying her to her bedroom. She doesn't wake as I tuck her in, kissing her forehead before heading back out. I sit down on the couch where my daughter had been laying and grab the remote, relaxing as I flip through the channels.
Avery stirs eventually, stretching as she shifts position, her foot kicking me hard in the thigh. I wince as her eyes shoot open, and she sits straight up, panicked. Her gaze settles on me, her expression softening with relief. "I thought I kicked Lexie."
"No, just me."
"Thank God," she murmurs sleepily, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"
"A little after ten. I just got home and put Little Miss to bed. She was crashed. Hell, you both were."
"Yeah, well, she wore me out," Avery says. "That girl has more energy than anyone I've ever met before."
Chuckling, I relax back on the couch and put my arm around Avery, pulling her to me. "We Hatfields are blessed with stamina. I can work a twelve hour shift with no break and still fuck you silly until dawn."
"Is that right?"
"Absolutely."
"I'm not sure I believe you," she says, shifting out of my arms to climb onto my lap, straddling me. "You willing to back up that claim?"
My hands migrate to her hips before slipping beneath her skirt and grasping her ass, pulling her tighter against me. I can feel the warmth through the flimsy fabric separating us, the heat making me grow hard. "For you? Any time."
Her hands grasp the back of my head, her fingers running through the hair at the nape of my neck as she leans over for a kiss. Tingles creep along my skin as her tongue swirls around my piercing, her teeth nipping at my bottom lip. I kiss her feverishly, wrapping my arms around her tightly, smothering her small frame in my grasp as she shifts her hips, grinding against me.
She unbuckles my pants, releasing me from my boxers, her soft hand wrapping around my cock. She strokes me a few times, her thumb teasing the tip, as she kisses along my jawline. My eyes drift closed as I loosen my hold on her. Swiftly, before I even realize what she's doing, she slips out of my lap and settles on her knees on the floor in front of me.
The moment I feel her lips wrap around me, taking my cock into her mouth, I nearly come. The feel of her tongue gliding along the shaft, the slick warmth, the graze of her teeth, drives me toward the brink almost instantly. She strokes firmly, taking me in as deep as she can.
"Fuck," I pant, my hands settling on the back of her head. My fingers run through her hair before I grip ahold of it, fisting the long locks. I remain still, not yanking, not thrusting, trying my best not to fuck her throat. Eyes peeking open, I watch her in the glow of the television, marveling in the hollow of her cheeks as she sucks.
It's just as beautiful as I imagined it would be.
It goes on for a few minutes before I can't take it anymore. Tingles engulf my lower half, as my body seems to grow taut like a coil. Instead of letting go, instead of letting loose and spilling down her throat, I pull her away from me. Her eyes dart to me with surprise as my hand wraps around hers tightly on my cock, stroking it a few times. With my other hand I grab her arm, motioning for her to stand up.
She obliges, and I don't have to say a word—whether she sees it in my eyes or if she just wants the same thing I do means little. She pulls her panties off and climbs back onto my lap just as I reach for my wallet, opening it. "Shit." Shit, shit, shit… "I'm out of condoms."
"It's okay," she says, sinking down on my cock without hesitation. " I'm on the pill."
I hiss as I slide inside her warm pussy, tossing my wallet aside and gripping her hips as she rides me. My hand eventually shifts forward, slipping beneath the fabric of her skirt to gently stroke her clit. Her orgasm comes on hard, her pussy clamping down around me as she cries out. I wrap an arm around her, tugging her toward me, smothering the noise with a kiss as I continue to stroke her clit, not letting up, my movements faster, firmer. I hold her there, thrusting up into her when she stops moving her hips, fucking her as hard as I can in the position. The sound of wet skin slapping consumes the room, mixing with the jingle of my belt, her squeals and cries muted as I breathlessly whisper against her lips.
"You like that?" My voice is a low growl. "You like it when I fuck you?"
She groans loudly, incoherently, the only answer I need. She's already close to the brink again.
"You're so beautiful, Avery," I say. "So beautiful. I've been thinking about fucking you all day long."
Mere seconds after the first orgasm subsides, another one hits her, her body convulsing before those words are even completely from my lips. She cries out, louder than before, a growl that resonates in her chest and echoes through the room, so loud I can't smother the noise. I immediately flip her over onto the couch, her face smashed against the cushion. Her cries turn to giggles, her body shaking as she starts laughi
ng. She sags against the couch, her ass poked up in the air.
Without hesitation, I shove her skirt up and slide into her from behind, a satisfied groan escaping my throat as I fill her deeply. My hands run over the swell of her ass before grasping her hips, holding her there as I thrust. It won't take me long, the pressure building, my body close to exploding. I thrust again, and again, and again, nearly losing myself in her, hearing nothing but bodies colliding, and Avery's moans of pleasure, when a voice calls out through the haze.
"Daddy?"
It's like a switch is flipped, shoving me off of cloud nine. I instantly slam right into the ground. The voice is distant, just down the hall, but it's still too close… way too fucking close. I pull out of Avery, tucking myself away and hastily buckling my pants. "Yeah, Little Miss?"
I stand, shooting Avery a quick glance as she fumbles with her clothes, when I hear the tiny footfalls. I take a few steps that way, pausing in the center of the living room when Lexie appears. She looks around in the darkness, spotting me.
"Do you need something?" I ask.
She half-shrugs, half-nods, sleepily rubbing her eyes. "I heard a noise."
Avery laughs behind me, covering it with a forced cough.
"I heard it, too." I smirk, glancing over my shoulder at Avery on the couch, her cheeks flushed pink, her hair a fucking mess.
"What was it?" Lexie asks.
"I don't know," I say, turning back to my daughter. "Something outside, I guess."
"It sounded scary."
"It's nothing to worry about," I say, stepping over to her when she starts yawning. "Come on, let's get you back in bed."
"Can I sleep in your room?" she asks as I scoop her up in my arms. "Please?"
"Uh, sure." I carry her back to my room, tucking her in on the center of my bed. Leaning over, I kiss her forehead. "I'll be in the living room if you need me."
Avery is on her feet, slipping on her shoes when I make it back to the living room
"Going somewhere?" I ask.
"Yeah, I should… I mean, it's late so I should probably, you know… go."
I eye her warily. "You don't have to. In fact, I'd rather you not, considering it's almost midnight."
"So?"
"So, it's late, and dark, and it's fucking New York, Avery. That's why. You look too damn tempting to be out on the streets alone at this hour, especially in this neighborhood."
She gazes at me with surprise. "I'm not sure if that's sweet or sexist."
"It's the truth," I say. "If you really want to leave, I won't stop you, but I'm just saying…"
"You're just saying?"
"I'm just saying I'd rather you stay. I want you to stay."
She stands there for a minute before kicking her shoes back off and leaving them lying in the middle of the floor. I grab a blanket from the hall closet and settle in on the couch with Avery snuggled up against me, tucked under my arm, her head on my chest. I grab the remote, turning the volume up on the TV enough for me to hear it, before starting to flip through channels again.
"Thank you, Reece," she whispers. "For today."
"I should be thanking you. You did me the favor."
"Yeah, but you kind of did me one, too," she says. "You trusted me with your daughter, and I know that couldn't have been easy."
"She likes you."
"I like her, too."
My eyes drift to Avery. "And I like you."
"I like you, too." I can hear the smile in her voice. "I feel bad, though."
"Why?"
"Because I couldn't be quiet," she whispers. "Because you never got yours."
Before I can say anything, her hand slides along my crotch, rubbing me through my pants. Sighing, I close my eyes. "You don't have to do that."
"I want to," she says, shifting her body around to look at me. She presses light kisses along my jawline as she unbuckles my pants and wraps her hand around my cock, blindly stroking it beneath the blanket. "I always finish what I start."
Tiny jabs against my shoulder rouse me from sleep, the relentless prodding migrating the small radius around my arm.
"Daddy." Her voice is the loudest damn whisper I've ever heard. "Hey, Daddy."
I don't move… don't speak… don't even open my eyes. I'm not sure what time it is, but knowing Lexie? It's too early for even the birds.
She pecks with her fingers some more, poking my chest before ultimately jabbing me right in the cheek. I flinch, my eyes opening, my gaze instantly meeting my daughter's. She stands right in front of me, her face mere inches from mine, her eyebrows raised in question. "Daddy, you awake?"
I stare at her. "I am now."
She grins, dropping her hand. Her finger was aimed dangerously close to my eyes, like she was going to poke me in it if I hadn't acknowledged her when I did. "Breakfast!"
"Now?"
"Yes."
I sigh. "Aren't you tired?"
I sure as hell am.
"No," she says. "I'm hungry."
I shift around on the couch, managing to get up without waking Avery. She slept soundly in my arms all night, finally drifting off sometime in the early morning hours. Groggily, I pat Lexie on the head before wandering to the kitchen with her right on my heels.
I start going through the motions, dazed, as Lexie climbs up on the stool at the bar to watch. "Do you have naners?"
Bananas. "Of course."
"Do you have chocolate chips?"
"Uh." I open the cupboard and glance inside for a bag. "Yep."
"Chocolate naner pancakes!"
"No walnuts today?"
"No, I want chocolate."
Shrugging, I put together the batter, throwing the bananas and chocolate chips into it before cooking the pancakes. I've made half a dozen of them when there is a shuffling in the doorway. Glancing over, I watch as Avery staggers in, yawning, groggily rubbing her eyes.
"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," I say, plopping a stack in front of her. "Just in time for some breakfast."
Forgoing her usual small dab of butter, Avery opts to drown them in maple syrup, while Lexie piles hers high with whipped cream, spraying everything within a five-foot vicinity.
"These are really good," Avery says after taking a bite. "I like the chocolate chips."
"Me, too!" Lexie says excitedly.
"You know what would make them even better?" Avery says, stabbing a forkful and staring at it. "Peanut butter."
Lexie's eyes widen as she turns her attention to me. "Daddy, I want peanut butter!"
"Maybe tomorrow," I say, strolling out of the kitchen. "I'm going to shower now."
I can't hang around long this morning, as much as I want to. My first appointment is at ten o'clock on the dot, and I have some work to get done before they arrive. At nine o'clock, I begrudgingly head for the door to leave. "What are you ladies going to do today?"
"Little of this," Avery says. "Little of that."
"I'll be at the shop if she gets to be too much. Just bring her by and—"
"Reece." Avery cuts me off, her hand clapping over my mouth to silence me. "We'll be fine."
Sighing, I pull her hand away, pressing a kiss to the back of it before leaning over and softly kissing her lips. I turn to Lexie next, lying in her favorite spot in the hallway, her plastic dinosaurs scattered around her. I crouch down in front of her. "I gotta go."
She frowns, not looking at me. "Bye."
"You'll have fun with Avery." I kiss my hand and press it to her forehead as I stand back up. "I'll be home later."
No sooner I'm out the door, the desire to turn around nags me, but I ignore it and instead forge on, getting to the shop about thirty minutes before opening. I unlock the door, setting straight to work, trying to push them from my mind and focus.
Hours pass, the day a blur of faces and ink, music and chaos. I'm constantly busy, never a down minute in my schedule, as I see client after client, losing myself in work. I'm so immersed in business that I'm surprised when my last client pays m
e and leaves.
I glance at the clock. How was it ten o'clock already?
I clean up, sanitizing everything so it will be ready to go first thing Monday morning. I bid the others goodbye, having barely had a moment to speak with them all day, and make the trek back home. It's nearing eleven at night when I arrive, but the apartment is as alive as ever, the lights on, the television so loud I can hear the distinct roaring before I even open the door.
Shaking my head, I head inside, slipping into the apartment undetected. Quietly, I step toward the living room, spying the two of them. Lexie is twirling in the middle of the room, moving so fast watching her makes me dizzy, while Avery stands back and watches. Lexie stops abruptly, swaying a bit, before jumping up and down, her hands straight in the air as she tries to stand on her tiptoes.
My girl's trying to do ballet.
After she finishes, she bows theatrically. I push away from the doorway, clapping loudly, startling both of them. Avery grasps her chest, while Lexie lights up excitedly and runs right toward me. "Daddy!"
I scoop her up in my arms. She's a hell of a lot happier now than when I left her hours ago.
"Avery took me to do ballet!"
"No shit?" I hesitate. "I mean… really?"
Lexie gasps, clamping her hand down on my mouth. What is it with these girls telling me to shut up? Playfully, I pretend to bite her hand until she pulls it away, giggling.
"My parents own a studio here in the city," Avery chimes in, shrugging. "We stopped by and I showed her some stuff."
"Meaning you danced for her?"
"Yes."
"Before you danced for me?"
"Yes."
I shake my head, turning back to my daughter, frowning dramatically. "No fair."
Lexie playfully pushes my face away from her, squirming out of my arms. I put her down, motioning toward her bedroom down the hall. "Go put your pajamas on, Little Miss."
She doesn't need to be told twice. Her bare feet are slapping against the wooden floor instantly as I turn to Avery. She isn't looking at me anymore, instead darting around the living room, cleaning up the mess they made while I was at work.
"Don't worry about it," I tell her. "Lexie will tear it all back out in a minute."
The Mad Tatter Page 12