Page 20 of Swing and a Little Miss

As I guided her toward the fence where we’d left our bags, I heard snickering behind us. Derek's voice carried clearly as he shouted, "Just friends, huh? You can drop the act."

I stopped and turned to face the colleagues watching us with varying degrees of amusement and curiosity.

Abby tensed beside me, digging her fingers into my side as she clung to me for safety and strength.

I tightened my hold on her waist and sighed. "Fine. You want the truth?” I looked from Derek to all the other faces staring at us. “We're not just friends. I'm completely in love with her, and if anyone has a problem with that, they can take it up with HR on Monday."

A stunned silence followed my declaration for all of five seconds before Corinne started slow-clapping. Then everyonewas laughing and exchanging knowing looks, and a few people actually handed money to others.

"About damn time you admitted it!" our CEO called out from where he was sitting in the bleachers. He raised his beer in salute. "You two were the most obvious office romance since me and Becca started hooking up eight years ago."

Abby stiffened beside me, and it took me a minute to understand why her eyes were wide and her jaw was slack. I hadn't exactly planned to drop the L-word for the first time in front of the company, but it just came out, and I didn’t regret it for a second.

"Let's get that ice," I murmured as I guided her toward the concession stand. She was quiet, and I was starting to worry that I’d upset her, but I wanted to get her into the privacy of my car before broaching the topic.

"Did you mean it?" she asked quietly while we were walking toward the parking lot.

"Mean what?"

"That you love me." Her voice was small, and she kept her eyes averted. "Or was that just to explain why you freaked out?"

I stopped walking and turned to face her under the glow of a lamppost. "Abby, I think I've been in love with you since the first time you smiled at me." I brushed a strand of hair from her face and let my fingers linger against her cheek. "And I’ve fallen deeper with every smile since then. I didn't plan to announce it to everyone like that, but I've never meant anything more."

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but her smile was radiant. "I love you too, you know. Even when you're being overprotective and dramatic about a little bruise."

"A little bruise?" I raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "That ball was coming in hot. You could have been seriously hurt."

"I knew my Daddy would come to my rescue." She stepped closer and placed her hands on my chest, wincing slightly as she moved her shoulder. "Though you might need to go a little gentler with me tonight."

I loved her ability to shift from vulnerability to playfulness in an instant. "I'm gonna take such good care of you, baby girl." I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Ice cream, painkillers, and a movie on the couch while I rub your feet."

"And cuddles?" Her eyes were wide and hopeful in a way that made my heart twist.

"All the cuddles you want, baby girl." I slipped my arm around her waist again and pulled her close enough to kiss her. "For tonight. For… forever. For as long as you'll let me."

“Forever, Daddy.” She kissed me hard and dragged her sharp nails down my chest. “Be my Daddy forever.”

EPILOGUE

ABBY

Two Months Later

I was floating in that hazy place between dreaming and waking up, where everything felt warm and fuzzy and far away. In my dream, someone was touching me with gentle fingers that made my tummy flutter and my toes curl.

It felt so good that I squirmed against my sheets, not wanting to wake up but somehow knowing I wasn't entirely asleep anymore.

The touches became more insistent, more focused on the area that made me shudder with pleasure. A warmth spread between my legs, and I sighed in content. My body was responding to phantom caresses, and my dream-self arched and whimpered to chase something just out of reach. “Daddy!”

As I slowly woke up, I noticed the firm grip on my thighs that was holding them apart. Finally, the wet heat against my most private place confirmed it wasn’t a dream at all.

It was a real-life fantasy.

My eyes fluttered open, and the ceiling came into focus. Then the sensation between my legs sharpened into delicious clarity. I lifted my head just enough to see Daddy’s broad shoulders wedged between my spread thighs as his mouth worked against me with purpose.

"Yes, Daddy!" I squirmed beneath him, so close but not ready for it to be over.

He hummed against me, and the vibration sent little electric shocks throughout my body. His eyes flicked up to lock with mine, but he didn't stop. He didn't even slow down. His tongue traced lazy circles around my clit then dipped lower to taste me more deeply before sucking my nub between his lips.

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