Page 14 of Crossed Up

Her pupils dilate, and like the good little girl she is, she dives back in even more enthusiastically than before. She takes me to the back of her throat and pauses to look up at me. Only this time, her face transforms. Mossy green eyes stare up at me, wide with lust.

It’s that final image that sends me over the edge, and I bite my lip so hard I draw blood to keep myself from saying my nanny’s name as ropes of cum paint the tile before sliding down the drain.

Jesus Christ, Aidan. What the fuck was that?

My mind races the entire time I’m getting dressed until I make my way downstairs. The sight of our perfect living room forces me to stop and marvel at the sunrise coming in through the wall of windows that face our backyard and the water beyond.

I bought this house nearly three years ago now, but the view never fails to amaze me. The giant wall of windows open up to the heated pool directly outside, the back porch, and our private dock that juts out into the river.

Crew and I always fish out there, and it’s my favorite way to spend time with him. He gets so excited every time he catches a fish, and it makes me feel like I’m giving him the childhood I always wanted.

We didn’t have much money growing up, so it’s still a shock sometimes when I can just go to the grocery store and not have to count every single cent, but living in a place like this? It’s beyond my wildest dreams. Every day feels like a delicate balance with Crew, wanting to give him everything I never had while still making sure he grows up appreciating what he has and paying it forward whenever possible.

“Oh! Good morning.” I stumble to a stop on the last step and desperately fight back a blush as Lyla’s quiet voice punctuates the early-morning silence.

She’s curled into the corner of the couch, her small form engulfed by the thick fuzzy blanket we keep draped over the back. I would never say it out loud, especially after what I just did, but she looks downright adorable right now.

Her long brown hair is tied up in a messy bun on the top of her head and flopped over to the side making me wonder if she slept in it and just left it like that when she woke up.

The way the sun hits her hair gives it almost a reddish tint that brings out the delicate freckles on her cheeks and nose. Sleepy eyes stare at me over the rim of my favorite coffee mug and make my mouth go dry.

Clearing my throat, I try to smile genuinely at her and hide how fast my heart is beating all of a sudden.

Off. Limits.

“Hey, you’re up early. Did you sleep okay?”

She beams, a gentle flush lighting the apples of her cheeks. “I did, thank you. Being up with the sun is just a habit I can’t break, I guess.”

“I get that,” I laugh. “I started getting up around this time when Crew was little just so I could have an hour or two to myself to wake up and mentally prepare for the day.”

Her face falls, but as quickly as it does, she fixes it back to some semblance of a smile. “Oh, of course! I totally understand. I’ll get out of your hair and?—”

“No!” The word comes out way louder than I meant for it to, making me glance between the bundled beauty and the second-floor balcony with a grimace. “Sorry, I just mean I’d actually like the company if you don’t mind hanging out with your boss.”

I meant for the words to come out teasing, but it sounded more like a pointed reminder. One I clearly need if my shower thoughts are any indication. She probably thinks I’m insane now, Jesus. It’s like I forget how to act like a normal human being when Lyla is anywhere in my general vicinity.

Don’t catch feelings, Aidan. She’s here for your son, not so you can make her uncomfortable by staring at her with lusty eyes and letting her face fuel your fantasies.

Her jumpy behavior isn’t the only reason I’ve been spending more time in my room than normal. While she doesn’t go out of her way to show it off, Lyla is sexy as hell. She’s petite but has the most incredible hips that I can’t help but think would make perfect hand holds for…

“Are you okay?” Her gentle question shocks me out of my wildly inappropriate thoughts and guilt turns my stomach when I see the genuine concern on her face.

Fucking hell, what is wrong with me today?

“I’m okay.” I try to laugh it off but some of that concern lingers in her eyes. The start of my second erection of the day thoroughly deflates under her assessing gaze. If I didn’t know any better, I would think she could read my mind. I doubt it, though. If she could, she’d probably run screaming to the nearest lawyer to file a sexual harassment lawsuit.

“Are you sure?” she asks quietly. “I know it’s not my business, so don’t feel like you have to answer, but having someone new around can be a big change for everyone in the house, not just the child. And that doesn’t even include all the issues you had with nannies before I came around.”

Snapping my head to the side, my lips part as I stare at her with wide eyes. “Who told you about that?” I already know the answer before the guilty look crosses her face. “Wren,” I sigh. I love the girl, but she has a big mouth when she’s meddling.

“I know what it’s like to have your personal space violated,” she whispers. “And nobody should ever have to deal with that. Especially not in their own home.” Shadows darken her green eyes to a deep sage that reminds me of our kitchen cabinets, and also happens to be my favorite color.

Curiosity flames in my chest right below the rage that bubbles just under the surface of my skin. Whatever, whoever made her feel like this deserves a special place in hell.

Taking a risk, I sit down next to her on the couch and take her soft hand in mine. “Lyla, if you ever want to talk about anything, I’m here.” I keep my expression as open and honest as possible so she knows how serious I am. I don’t know how or when it happened, but sometime over the last two weeks, I’ve come to care about this sweet little thing and would give anything for her to open up to me.

She clears her throat and changes the subject. “Do you want coffee? I made extra. It should still be hot since I haven’t been up for long. I was going to relocate to the swing if that’s okay. I’m still in awe of the beautiful weather here, and I make it a point to get outside and soak it up every chance I get.”

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