Daddy’s Law by K.C. Crowne

Chapter 18

Theo

After dinner, Cory asked if we could watch a movie together. It was late and well past his bedtime, but Ava gave me a knowing look. Who was I to turn down an opportunity to spend time with them both?

Cory picked the movie. He knew how to boot up Netflix faster than I knew how to blink. He plopped himself down on the couch between me and Ava, a massive bowl of buttered popcorn on his lap. He picked some animated movie with dragons and kids his age learning to tame them. It was entertaining, and the story was decent. I’d learned after a while to enjoy children’s movies. That was just something that came with parenthood.

There was something wonderfully domestic about all this. Normal and perfect and good. I was at ease. Totally calm. Everything was right with the world.

As the boy on the screen learned to train his dragon, I felt a hand stroke the back of my neck. Ava had reached across the back of the couch, discreetly drawing circles against my skin with the tip of her fingers. I relaxed into her touch, the soothing sensation almost enough to make me fall asleep.

It was easy, being with her. Familiar. Though still tinged with a slight guilt.

Cory fell asleep well before the credits began to roll. Ava turned off the television using the remote beside her while I gently shook my son’s shoulder.

“Hey, buddy?”

“Mm-huh?” he mumbled.

“Time for bed.”

Cory yawned, stretching his arms out wide. “Okay.”

“Brush your teeth first.”

“Okay.” He turned to Ava, a dopey smile on his face. “Good night, Miss Cruise.”

“Good night, Cory,” she replied softly. “Sweet dreams.”

Before he disappeared up the stairs, he gave me a quick hug. “Good night, Dad.”

Hugs from Cory were rare these days, so I didn’t waste the chance to hug him back. I ruffled his hair and chuckled. “Night, buddy.”

My son wandered upstairs to his room. I listened for the sound of running water to make sure he made good on his promise to brush his teeth. To my satisfaction, he did exactly as he was told before he retreated to his room, door clicking shut behind him.

It was then, and only then, that Ava scooched over on the couch to curl up against me, resting her head against my shoulder. She sighed, watching the credits roll with heavy lids.

“That was fun,” she murmured.

I kissed her hair, breathing in her signature scent of lavender and honey. “Mm-hmm.”

“I guess I should get going. I don’t want to take up more of your time. I can call a rideshare.”

I threaded my fingers between hers. “How about you stay?”

Her eyes widened, lips parting slightly in surprise. “Really?”

“It’s really late and you’re already here. And I can’t leave Cory alone in the house to take you to your place. You might as well stay and take my bed. I can make up the couch.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not going to make you sleep on your own couch. That’d be silly. I’ll sleep down here.”

I shook my head. “You’ll sleep upstairs.”

“What about Cory?”

I licked my lips, hungry. I hadn’t been able to properly kiss her for hours because Cory had been in the same room. Now that it was just us and the coast was clear, I wanted Ava all to myself.

I pulled her across my lap, allowing her to straddle me between her thighs. I circled my arms around her waist and pulled her close, chest to chest. “We’ll both stay upstairs then.”

“Theo,” she warned.

“Yes, Ava?”

She huffed but didn’t seem particularly upset. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Is it your turn to teach me a lesson?”

A flash of desire darkened her eyes. Ava rolled her hips against me, grinding against my hardening cock. “I guess it is.”

“Upstairs?”

She nodded. “You have to be quiet.”

“That won’t be a problem. You’re the one who has to be quiet.”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

I did just that, grasping her chin and pulling her face to mine. I claimed her lips like I owned them, savoring her taste and the softness of her skin.

We climbed up the stairs together, kissing and laughing under our breaths. Cory’s door was shut, and his light was off. It was safe to continue down the hall as long as we didn’t disturb him.

I led her to my room and shut the door firmly behind us, pinning her up against the back of the door with my body. I kissed her like I was starving. Maybe I was. It fascinated me how much I craved her. No matter how many times I ran my fingers over her body, every curve felt brand new. Reacquainting myself with her form was a joy in and of itself.

Ava was the first to break away, panting heavily. “Would you mind if I used your shower?” she asked. “To freshen up. It’s been a long day.”

“Of course. Bathroom’s just over there. There are some fresh towels on the shelf above the sink.”

“Care to join me, sir?”

I couldn’t hold back my groan. “I fucking love it when you call me that.”

“Is that a yes?”

“My shower’s kind of small. Probably best if I wait for you out here.”

She pouted her slip. “Suit yourself. I’ll make it quick.”

“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

I watched as she glided away, disappearing into the en suite bathroom connected to my bedroom. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I ran a hand through my hair. An odd sense of nervousness pooled in my stomach. It wasn’t alarming or concerning, just enough to know that it was there.

This was the first time since Cassandra that I’d brought a woman to my bed. I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t anxious. It was new and exciting and I didn’t want to screw anything up. I liked Ava a lot. She brought about hope I hadn’t experienced in a very long while.

It made perfect sense, too. Not only was Ava smart and beautiful and adorable, but she was fantastic with Cory. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever be able to move on, but the thought of keeping Ava in my life well after this contract was over and Cory’s art program was done brought about a restless eagerness within me.

A sharp gasp from the other side of the bathroom door startled me out of my realization.

“Theo!” Ava whisper-shrieked.

I rushed over, heart suddenly in my throat. I opened the door so fast that I created a draft. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Ava was up on the closet toilet seat, towel wrapped around her body. Her hair was wet, and her skin was still damp, fresh from the shower. She pointed at the floor, pale as snow. “Th-there’s a—”

“What?”

“Spider,” she cried. “There’s a spider! Can you please—”

“Oh, thank God.”

“What?”

“You had me worried. I thought it was an emergency.”

“This is an emergency.”

I laughed. “Okay, okay. Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got you. Hang on.” I crouched down and scooped the spider —it was a tiny, harmless thing— between my cupped palms. I left for the bedroom and opened my window, placing the creature outside without much of a show. When I returned, the color had returned to Ava’s cheeks.

“Thank you,” she said, stepping down carefully.

“Can’t believe you’re afraid of spiders,” I teased. “Could you be any more adorable.?”

She huffed. “Not funny.”

“Oh, wait. Don’t move.”

Ava froze. “Why?”

“There’s another one right above your head.”

She freaked out in glorious fashion, swatting at the air above her with genuine fear in her eyes. “Kill it, kill it!” She ran right to me, burying her face against my chest. “Is it gone?”

“I was kidding, sweetheart.”

Ava punched me in the arm. It didn’t hurt in the slightest even though it looked like she put all her weight into it. “That was a jerk move, you… you jerk.”

“Can you forgive me?”

She stuck her nose up at me. “No.”

I caressed her cheek, undressing her with my eyes. All she had to cover herself was my towel, her bare shoulders exposed. I could see where she’d tried to cover my love bites with concealer, but most of it had completely washed off. She didn’t make a move to stop me as I peeled the towel off her, allowing it to fall to the floor.

I drank in the details of her naked body. I’d never get over her beautifully long legs or her perky breasts or her pretty little pussy. She was so soft and warm and everything I didn’t know I wanted. I couldn’t take it any longer.

“Bed,” I grunted. “Now.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. “Yes, sir.”

Ava lay down on her back, spreading her legs like the good girl she was. I went to her, shucking off my clothes with far less grace than I intended. I retrieved a condom from my bedside table —I’d made the purchase just in case— and rolled it on, returning to her with great haste.

Settling between her thighs, I kissed her deeply. Ava wrapped her arms around my neck to hold me close, squirming beneath my weight in search of release.

“Quiet,” I reminded.

She nodded, cheeks bright pink. “Whatever you say—”

As I pressed my cock into her slowly, a gasp forced from her lips. I clasped a hand over her mouth to stifle her moans of pleasure as I fucked her, relishing the drag and wet heat of her around me. She dragged her nails down my back as I thrust at a steady pace, whimpering into my palm.

It was the sexiest fucking sound I’d ever heard.

She tried and failed to keep her voice down and keeping a hand on her mouth only seemed to make her wetter. She clenched around me, pussy fluttering around my cock as I shoved deep inside her. Ava broke into a light sweat, the exertion of keeping her pleasure contained evidently too much to handle.

“You like that, baby girl?” I asked gruffly in her ear. “You like it when I stuff you full of my cock? Fuck, you feel so good.”

She whined, eyes closed, face scrunched up in ecstasy.

“I know, baby. Don’t worry. I’m going to make you feel good, too.”

An intense heat coiled in the pit of my stomach. Ava was a feast for the senses. Seeing her like this, hearing her groan, tasting her skin, drowning in her warmth —it was enough to send me flying. At this rate, I was going to finish well before her, but I couldn’t do that.

A man worth his salt needed to take care of his lover.

I pulled away and flipped Ava onto her stomach, taking her hands and pinning them behind her back. She panted into the sheets, head turned to the side for air. She rasped, “Th-Theo, I—”

“What is it, princess?”

“I’m going to come soon if you fuck me like this.”

I licked a stripe up the side of her neck, watching her shiver in delight. “That’s kind of the point, sweetheart.”

“But I want to make sure you come, too.”

I kissed her cheek. “My sweet girl. Don’t worry, I’m pretty fucking close.” I readjusted, prompting her to spread her legs wider with a nudge from my knees. “You ready?”

Ava nodded. “Yes.”

I aligned myself with her entrance before slipping back in between her folds. She must have really liked the new angle because she came after only a few thrusts, tightening and pulsing around my shaft. Ava managed to keep completely silent as she climaxed. Her pleasure manifested in jerky movements, her back arching while her hips backed up to find mine.

I didn’t last much longer, coming with a stifled grunt. Pleasure swept through my veins and whited my mind. I kissed Ava between her shoulder blades, breathing deeply. From there it was easy. Easy to pull her close, easy to fall asleep beside her, easy to forget that we had to keep our relationship a secret.

I honestly didn’t know how long I’d last.