[Southern Heart 01.0] Southern Pleasure

by Kaylee Ryan

  “Yeah, I’m here. What’s wrong?” I ask, pushing open the bathroom door. What I find has me biting my tongue, trying not to laugh. Evan has a naked Lexi, holding her high over the bathroom sink, and she’s covered in, well, shit. “Oh, my God, what happened?” I manage to ask. The look on his face is just too damn funny.

  “What does it look like happened? My little angel made all this,” he says, nodding to her. “I’m in over my head here, Kinley,” he admits.

  “Where is her bathtub?”

  “Uh, I don’t know. In her room, I guess,” he breathes out. I rush out of the room and into Lexi’s in search of her bathtub. Sure enough, I find it in the bottom of her closet. I grab the caddy, which has all the baby wash, and snag one of her washcloths and towels before I dash back to Evan’s room.

  “Give me just a second,” I say to Evan as I race back into the bathroom. I set the baby tub inside the big tub and turn the water on, throwing in the little rubber ducky that tells you if the water is too hot. Once the temperature is good, I stand and reach for the messy baby. “Let me have her.”

  Evan hands her over, and I place her into her baby tub. The screams get even louder. “Looks like Miss Lexi doesn’t like bath time. It’s okay, sweet girl,” I coo to her.

  “Is she hurt?” Evan asks. I don’t take my eyes of Lexi, but I can hear the strain in his voice.

  “No, she’s not hurt. She’s just not happy. She’s got shit up her back and, apparently, she’s not a fan of bath time. This is all new to her too. We just have to give her some time. She can sense you’re tense, Evan,” I tell him.

  “Hell yeah, I am. I had no idea what to do. If you hadn’t come back when you did, I don’t know. . . .” He trails off.

  “Let me get her cleaned up. Why don’t you go get me a fresh diaper and some clean clothes?”

  Evan doesn’t say anything else, but I hear the door close, so I know he’s gone. “All right, little miss, you need to calm down. We just need to get you clean, and then we’ll get you all snuggled back up.” I begin to sing “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town. It’s the song that was playing on the radio when I got here and the first thing that popped into my head. Regardless of the words, it soothes her, and her wailing cries turn to a soft whimper. I keep singing, and by the time I have her all cleaned up, she’s quiet as a mouse, except for some leftover hiccups from getting herself so worked up.

  Picking her up, I lay her against my chest as I slip the hooded towel over her head. I’m soaked, but she’s clean, so that’s all that matters. I wrap the towel around her and stand. Opening the bathroom door, I find Evan sitting on his bed, a pile of clothes and a diaper beside him.

  “Kinley, I panicked,” he says softly. “What would I have done if you hadn’t shown up?”

  “Evan, you have to remember Lexi takes her cues from you. She can tell if you’re stressed or worked up about something. You have to stay calm for her. This is not going to be the last time this type of thing happens.”

  He lies back on the bed and throws his arm over his eyes. I give him time to process what I just said and tend to Lexi. “All right, Miss Lexi, now that you’re all clean, let’s get you dressed.” I lay her on the bed and unwrap the towel from her body. I make quick work of getting the diaper on her to avoid another accident. Next is her onesie, and finally, the little purple sleeper.

  “Look at me, Daddy,” I say, holding her up in my arms.

  Evan sits up and takes her in. “Good as new,” I say with a smile. “Now, you two head downstairs while I clean up the mess in the bathroom. If it’s okay with you, I’m going to go ahead and put her tub in the spare bathroom and make sure all of her bath stuff is moved in there as well. I don’t know why I didn’t already have that done.”

  “I can do that,” Evan says.

  “Nope, I got it. You two go relax,” I say as I hand Lexi over to him.

  Evan holds her close. I watch as he breathes her in. When he realizes he’s busted, he just winks at me and walks out of the bedroom.

  I’m sitting on the couch holding my little girl and she’s happy, clean and content. “I’m sorry I freaked out on you. Daddy’s new to all this and it’s going to take me some time.” She just watches me like I’m the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen.

  The feeling’s mutual.

  “Come in,” I yell when there’s a knock on the door.

  “Uncle Aaron’s here,” Aaron says as he comes into the room. “What’s going on, man?”

  “Oh, you know, this little cutie just had a massive explosion in her diaper. I freaked the hell out. Luckily, Kinley came in and saved the day.”

  “Ouch! Where is my little sister?” he asks, looking toward the kitchen.

  “She’s upstairs. She said she was going to clean up the bathroom. I offered, but she gave me strict instructions to come down here and relax. Apparently, the baby can tell when I’m stressed and that’s why I couldn’t get her to calm down,” I explain.

  “Sounds like a logical reason. Listen, don’t beat yourself up about it. You’re learning as you go. You’re going to nail this daddy gig.” He grins.

  “Now you sound like Kinley.”

  “Who sounds like me?”

  I look up to see her enter the room and my mouth goes dry. Kinley is standing at the bottom of the steps, wearing what looks like one of my t-shirts and nothing else.

  “What are you wearing?” Aaron questions her.

  “Oh, my clothes were soaked from Lex’s bath. I hope you don’t mind, Evan. I grabbed one of your shirts out of your closet.”

  Mind? Hell no, I don’t mind. She looks hot as hell in my shirt. “Evan?” she says my name again and I realize I’m still staring at her.

  “Yeah, no of course. That’s fine.” My voice cracks. Shit, nothing like giving myself away.

  “Aaron, I’m glad you’re here. I’m going to go upstairs and lay down for a few hours, so Evan can get a good night’s sleep,” she says.

  Wait? What? “McKinley, you don’t have to do that.”

  “I know I don’t have to do that. I want to do that. This way you will be rested tomorrow and can get little miss in her daily routine. I don’t have anything in the studio for the next few days, so this is the perfect time. You need the help, Evan. Say, ‘Thank you, Kinley.’” She smiles.

  She had to go and throw my smile out there, didn’t she? Damn girl, I swear she’s trying to get me killed. “Thank you, Kinley.”

  “You’re welcome. Now I’ll be upstairs taking a nap if you need me.” Just like that, she’s back up the stairs in my shirt. That’s when it hits me that my room is the only room with a bed. She’s going to be sleeping in my bed, in my shirt. Holy shit, she is trying to kill me.

  “You know how she is when she sets her mind to something. You might as well give in,” Aaron says.

  “Yeah,” is pretty much all I can say at this point. McKinley is upstairs in my bed. I need to stop thinking about it, need to change the subject. “So, did you see the new wheels out front?”

  “Hell yeah. I meant to tell you I liked your choice. The black looks sick.”

  “Yeah, it’s got coolers in the backseat in the floorboard. Thought with this little one that feature might come in handy someday.”

  Aaron laughs. “I’m sure it will. So you going to hog my niece all night or can I hold her?” he asks.

  “Where were you a half hour ago?”

  “That’s my uncle psychic abilities showing through. I know when she’s clean, fed, and a happy girl.” He says that last part in a high voice as he talks to Lexi. She’s wide-awake as she watches him.

  “Your mom made a big-ass pan of lasagna, you hungry?”

  “Always,” he says, keeping his attention on Lexi.

  I stand to go make us both a plate. I wish Kinley would’ve eaten before she went to sleep. “You good?”

  “We got this, Daddy,” Aaron says in a girly voice, moving Lexi’s arm, telling me to go away.

  I fight the urge
to run upstairs and see if Kinley has fallen asleep yet. I can’t go to her while Aaron is here. I know for a fact I don’t have the kind of willpower needed to not steal another kiss or a simple touch, not when she’s curled up in my bed, her long brown hair spread out on my pillow. Nope, definitely not going upstairs.

  Aaron eats his plate of lasagna with one hand, refusing to put Lexi down. She’s still wide-awake. “I think this is the longest she’s been awake at one time.”

  “You know why, don’t you?”

  “Enlighten me, old wise one.”

  Aaron tsks like I should know the answer. “She refuses to miss out on any Uncle Aaron time, duh,” he says.

  I don’t bother to argue with him, because to be honest, I have no clue. He could be right. Could be that my little girl already knows her Uncle Aaron is going to be a big part of her life. Kinley said babies are perceptive.

  “I think it’s time to give her back,” Aaron says, scrunching up his nose.

  “Again? How can you have anything left, kid?” I ask my daughter as I take her from Aaron.

  “I got to get up early anyway. Looks like you are on your own until Kinley wakes up. She’s a bear when you wake her up, so I would not advise it if I were you.” He laughs his way out the door.

  After getting Lexi changed, I make her a bottle. She went longer this time between feedings. By the time she’s finished, she’s sound asleep. I carry her up to her room and ease her into her bed. Reaching over, I turn on the baby monitor. Leaving the door open so I can hear her, I head to my room. Kinley is curled in a ball, my t-shirt riding high on her thighs. Careful to not make any noise, I set the baby monitor down on the opposite side of the bed and turn it on high. No way do I want to miss hearing Lexi wake up. I’m a little nervous with her being in the other room, but she’s just right across the hall. I refuse to let her sleep with me after all the horror stories I’ve read. Slipping out of my jeans, I place my cell phone on the nightstand and pull my shirt over my head. Without a second of hesitation, I slide into bed, pulling the covers up and over both of us. I lay there, stiff as a rail, staring at the ceiling. I’m tired beyond words, but can’t seem to let sleep claim me when I’m lying here next to Kinley.

  Finally, after staring at the shadows on the ceiling, wasting away precious hours of rest I could be getting while Lexi is sleeping, I start to drift off. It’s also in this exact moment that Kinley decides to roll over. And by roll over, I don’t mean just to face me. No, she rolls over and pushes her tight little body next to mine. On instinct, I wrap my arm around her and pull her close.

  Suddenly, I’m once again wide-awake.

  I tell myself I’m just going to hold her. That I’m going to enjoy having her this close to me. That gets shot all to hell when I run my hand through her silky hair. It’s so damn soft, not to mention the simple movement causes Kinley to burrow further into me. Stroking her hair leads to my fingers trailing ever so softly up and down her back. My heart is pounding in my chest just from this simple act. That shows me right there how much she affects me. Never before has this happened.

  Only McKinley.

  There are a million reasons why what I’m doing is wrong. There is only one that tells me it’s right, and that’s the way my heart is racing. I block out all the questions running through my mind, all of them but one. How soft is her skin. Without further thought, I slide my hand up underneath her t-shirt—my t-shirt. I run my bare hands up and down her back until my hand connects with silk.

  Silk fucking panties.

  That’s it.

  Silk panties and my shirt are all that cover this gorgeous girl.

  Fuck me!

  I wake to the feeling warm hands softly caressing my back. Keeping my eyes closed, I focus on even breathing. I don’t want to give him a reason to stop touching me. I know when I wake up, this will all be over.

  I’m not ready for it to be over.

  My wish is short-lived when Evan’s hand suddenly stills on the small of my back. He doesn’t move and neither do I, at least not until he moves his hand.

  “Don’t stop,” I whisper into the darkness.

  I hold my breath while I wait to see what he’ll do. Is he going to stop? Push me away? It only takes about thirty seconds for me to get my answer when I feel the heat of his hand connect once again with my skin.

  I exhale at his touch. My hand, which rests on his rock-hard abs, begins its own journey. Evan Chamberlin is a work of art. His body looks as though it has been chiseled to perfection. His is not your average six pack. He has actual peaks and valleys that my fingers slowly trail over. He pulls me closer, if that’s even possible. The fact that he wants me next to him has me placing a featherlight kiss on his chest. As soon as my lips make contact, I hear him suck in a breath.

  “McKinley.” My name falls from his lips.

  Lifting my head, I peer up at him. His hand still under my shirt, it slides up and circles the back of my neck. His chest rapidly rises and falls, its rhythm matching my own. Lifting myself further, with the guidance of his hand, our lips meet. He kisses me, soft and leisurely at first; that is until I trace his bottom lip with my tongue. Evan growls deep in his throat and pulls me so I’m lying on top of him. Reaching up, I run my fingers through his hair, grabbing a hold as he deepens the kiss.

  This kiss is different than any of the others we’ve shared over the past few weeks. This one holds more fire, more passion, as my tongue meets his stroke for stroke. Resting my legs on either side of his waist, I’m now straddling him. We both moan the minute our bodies connect. He’s hard and I’m soaked, nothing but his boxer briefs and my silk panties separating us.

  I rotate my hips against him just as there is a loud cry, which comes through the baby monitor. We both freeze, waiting to see what happens next. Seconds later, Lexi is screaming into the night. I rest my forehead against Evan’s, not ready to move.

  “She’s probably hungry. She’s slept for four hours straight,” he whispers.

  “I’ll get her. You get some rest,” I say, preparing to dismount him. I feel embarrassment wash over me.

  “Hey.” Evan once again slides his hand around the back of my neck and guides me closer to him. “Don’t second-guess this.”

  I nod, not able to find my voice, and he releases me. “I can get her,” he says, sitting up.

  “No, it’s fine. I’m rested. You get some sleep. I’ll take care of your girl.” I offer him a shy smile before racing out of the room to tend to a hungry Lexi.

  “Hey, sweet girl,” I coo to her. She’s still crying, but the sound softens a little at my voice. I remember how she responded to my singing to her earlier, so I begin to sing “Just a Kiss” by Lady Antebellum. It’s fitting and not only calms her, but me as well.

  It only take a few seconds of me singing for her to quiet down. I continue to softly sing the lyrics that speak so much of what I’m feeling inside. Once her diaper is changed, I lift her from the changing table and her cries stop all together.

  “You’re so good with her,” Evan says from behind me.

  I take a deep breath before turning to face him. “So are you. You’re still nervous, but Miss Lexi is the first baby you’ve ever been around. I have years of babysitting under my belt.”

  “It’s more than that,” he says, handing me a bottle.

  I take it from him and settle into the rocking chair so I can feed her. I watch as her little eyes close and she starts to eat. “Maybe,” I say into the quiet room. “Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?” I ask, never taking my eyes of Lexi.

  “I’m where I want to be,” he says as he takes a seat on the floor, resting his back against the wall. He’s still wearing nothing but his boxer briefs, his rock hard body on display. The same rock hard body I’d trailed my fingers over just minutes ago.

  I don’t argue with him. He should be getting some rest, that’s why I’m here, but after our little tryst in his bedroom, I wouldn’t be able to sleep either. Realizing it’s time to burp, I
carefully pull the bottle from her mouth and lift her to my shoulder. She’s not impressed and starts to cry. I begin to sing “Just a Kiss” again, and as soon as I do, I realize my mistake. Evan’s hearing every word. Lexi instantly calms, so I continue to sing until she finally burps and I’m able to continue feeding her.

  Nothing like just throwing it out there.

  Evan and I are quiet as we both watch his precious little girl eat. She finishes quickly and her little body sighs with satisfaction this time when I remove the bottle from her mouth. Placing her on my shoulder, I rub her back. Evan stands and grabs the bottle from the table and disappears.

  After about five minutes of rubbing her back, she gives me what I’m waiting for. I settle her back in her bed and whisper, “Sweet dreams.” Evan is standing in the doorway, arms and legs crossed, shoulder leaning against the frame. His eyes capture mine as I move toward him. When I reach him, he stands to his full height and holds out his hand. I slip mine in his and allow him to lead me back to his room. A protest is on the tip of my tongue, because that’s what I think I should do, not what I want.

  He stops when we reach his bed, pulls back the covers, and looks at me. “McKinley.” My name falls from his lips, sounding like a plea. I know what he wants, and it scares me how much I want it too. I climb into bed and settle on the opposite side, the same side I slept on earlier. Evan climbs in behind me, pressing his front to my back, and pulls me into his arms.

  My body instantly relaxes into his hold.

  I don’t move or speak. I’m too busy memorizing what it feels like to be here with him, like this.

  Our breathing slows to a matched, even rhythm and, surprisingly, sleep starts to claim me. That is until I hear his whispered words, “It was more than just a kiss.”

  I want to ask him what he means. What was it to him? Why is he holding me? What are we doing? Instead, I lie there in his arms, his soft breaths against my neck, and drift off to dream of more than just a kiss.

  She’s more than just a kiss. I want more than anything to tell her how my feelings for her have changed. Tell her how I think about her all the damn time and how, anytime something happens, she’s the first person I want to tell. I want to bare my soul to her, but I won’t. She needs more than what I can offer her. I’m a single dad who is barely hanging on. Without her, I fear I would fail at this daddy gig I have going on. I can’t risk us not working out and losing both of my best friends, just to feel what it’s like to be inside of her.