Belonging To Daddy

Amber

Daddy comes sauntering through the door with less than ten minutes left until dinner’s ready.

Okay, so maybe he doesn’t ‘saunter.’

But excitement zips through me all the same.

He’s barely done hanging his coat up before I’m right in front of him, slipping his briefcase out of his hand and placing it on the floor. A husky laugh rumbles out of him as I grip his hand and lead him into the living room, all but shoving him into a chair.

I drop to my knees.

“Honey, you don’t have to—”

“I want to,” I insist, tugging his shoes off to rub his feet. “I like doing this for you. Now, how was work?”

The pleasure-filled groan that comes out of him shoots a shiver down my spine. I resist squirming in place as I dig my fingers into his soles, wanting to hear him make that noise again.

He’s tilted his head back, resting it on the cushion behind his head, dark hair peppered with grey grazing his forehead.

“Uhhh…it was long—very long.” I don’t realize he’s closed his eyes until they pop open to peer down at me, and I hold myself still, blanking my face. I’d always felt like those storm-cloud eyes could see every dirty little thing that popped into my head.

I’m sick for wanting him.

“How was school?” He arches a brow like this is a give-and-take and I’m shirking my part.

I drop my gaze to his sock-covered feet without ceasing my massage. “Same. But everyone’s talking about prom, dresses, dates, that sort of thing.”

He makes a small noise of complaint, and I bite my lip. “Oh? And…are you…talking about those sorts of things?” His voice comes out gruff, the chair squeaking as he shifts his weight.

This time it’s my turn to cock a brow. “Everyone is talking about it, Daddy.” I shrug. “No one’s asked me, though.”

“Dear God,” he groans. I shoot an alarmed look his way, discovering he’s placed his face in his hands like he’s received the worst news.

“What? What is it? Did I hurt—”

“I’m not ready to think about you and boys and dating, but…I suppose you’re all grown up now. Soon, you’ll be off to college—”

“I can stay—”

“You are going to college, young lady,” he says in a firm tone. But just like that, the fight goes out of him and he slumps further into the cushions. “Though you’ve left some big shoes to fill. What’s that I smell in the kitchen?”

“Pot pie,” I respond automatically before frowning. “And what do you mean? Why would anyone need to fill my shoes? I enjoy taking care of you and—”

“You’ll be gone soon—” His eyes narrow when it looks like I’m about to object again. My mouth snaps shut. “Your mother’s been gone…five years now. Maybe it’s time I put myself back out there.” His voice takes on a wistful quality, and I lurch to my feet like he’s reached out and stabbed me in the chest.

“B-back o-out t-there? You’re talking about dating?” I screech, aware I should lower my voice to a less shrill note, but all I can see is someone else kneeling at his feet, asking him about his day and preparing dinner for him.

They’d replace me—replace Mom.

“Honey, it’s just a thought.” He holds a hand out as if to placate me. “I haven’t even started talking to anyone—”

“But if you did, who would it be?” I snarl, my hands curling into fists.

Calm down, Amber.

I can’t.

He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind—maybe I have. “Does it matter? Maybe someone from work—”

The timer in the kitchen goes off, signaling I should take the pie out of the oven, but all the air in my lungs won’t move right. It keeps evaporating out of me.

I can’t breathe.

“Baby—Jesus, take a breath. I’m not seeing anyone.” He stands and grips my shoulders, staring into my dazed eyes with a mixture of confusion and concern. “I am not replacing your mom.” He frowns, wariness flickering across his face. “Or you, for that matter. Please take some deep breaths for me.”

I do, trying to not only suck down oxygen but to regain my grip on reality as well.

I’m just his stepdaughter—nothing more.

I play house, but…he only sees a child. His earlier words confirmed it. He hadn’t even considered I’m womanly enough to be dating.

“I need to take the pie out,” I murmur, stepping out of his hold once I’ve stopped hyperventilating. “Maybe wash up? Table’s already set.” I brush past him before he can comment on my freaky meltdown.

He’s trying to replace me.

Well, I won’t fucking let him.

###

Amber

“Of course, he’s thinking about dating! He’s old, not dead. And hot to boot,” my cousin, Cecelia, tells me over the phone later that night after I give her a recap of what happened.

My fingers tighten around the device.

“That’s real helpful, Cece,” I snap and instantly regret it.

Fuck.

“It’s just…I don’t want him to date.” My eyes turn toward my bedroom wall as if they can drill holes into it to see what he’s doing. “I don’t want to lose him.”

I worry my bottom lip as silence lapses between us. It’s several moments before Cece speaks, and her tone suggests I won’t like what she’ll say.

“Then you know what you have to do, don’t you?”

My lips tug down into a frown. “No?”

If I knew what to do, I wouldn’t be venting to her!

“Fuck him.”

My mouth drops open, and my pussy throbs in response.

“The fuck?” I gasp, squeezing my legs together to fend off just how much I like that idea.

“It’s simple. You don’t want him to date. He’s looking for some action. You’re practically his step-ford wife without the sex. So…one plus two equals fucking.”

I hate her.

“I can’t just sleep with my stepdad!” I hiss into the phone, but my body’s having the opposite reaction. My nipples tighten, and goosebumps race along my skin.

“Sure, you can. It’s more common than you think. Rachel, my cousin on my dad’s side of the family, is fucking hers. Well…her parents divorced then her stepbrother started—”

“Cece!” I grumble, hopping out of my bed to pace along the soft carpet. “I’m not Rachel or whoever the hell her brother is doing whatever he’s doing. Adam’s been in my life since I was one. He changed my diapers. He’s…” My shoulders slump and tears spring to my ideas. “He’s the only father I know.”

“And the only man you want,” she quips, pointing out something I thought only I knew.

I’ve never voiced the things I want to do when I think about Adam or how long I’ve felt this way. At first…I just helped with laundry, gently waking him up in the mornings and learned how to brew coffee, all in the days following Mom’s death.

Then…I wanted more.

Did I step into her shoes hoping he’d see me as a replacement?

“What do I do?” I whisper, too scared to even admit she’s right.

I want to fuck my stepdad.

“What do all teen girls do and he’ll be helpless to refuse? Go shopping! But not just any kind of shopping. Drag him into a lingerie store, hell even the dressing room. Tempt him, girl.”

Can I do that?

“I’ve never tried,” I confess, stalking back to my bed and battling a wave of defeat.

Cece laughed, a girlish sound that came off as both condescending and wise.

“Girl, you ain’t got to do nothing. Tempt him. Show some skin, flirt a little, brush up against him. Get him hard and wanting. He’ll cave.”

She sounds pretty damn confident about that.

I sigh. “Fine. I’ll keep you posted, Cee. Tell your mom good night for me.”

“Sure thing,” she chirps. “And let me know if the D is good.”

I hang up on her before she says something outrageous—that is, more outrageous than seducing my stepfather into fucking me so he won’t date anyone else.