Page 13 of XOXO, Daddy
“That’s more like it,” he chuckled as he ushered me inside, but not before whispering, “And don’t think I missed that eye roll.”
Oh, hell.
Chapter Seven
Mr. Stone— Or should I call him Adam? I had no idea — led me to his office, a room I had been in a fair few times during my childhood. It had always seemed so professional, so adult, but entering the room as an adult myself, this room felt far more intimate than ever before. The elegant space was lit by two covered lamps, bathing the room in a soft glow that somehow made it feel even more sensual.
I tried to throw those thoughts from my mind, knowing full well that this talk was not going to end in me calling him Daddy, but would more likely be a simple conversation about me keeping his secret.
“I’m not really sure where to begin,” I mumbled, taking a seat in a very comfortable chair opposite his desk. Perching on the edge of the desk, his brows furrowed as he seemed to wrestle with the same issue. Trying desperately to stave off the teacher-student fantasy that immediately popped into my head at our current positions, I waited for him to speak.
“Willow Ashford…” he sighed.
“Yep,” I replied with apopon the p.
“I honestly don’t know how I didn’t see it,” he muttered, running a hand through his thick, wavy hair. It had gone silverjust at the temples, with a few pieces at the front. It was the kind of hair male celebrities probably paid hundreds to recreate, but on Adam it was one hundred percent natural.
“I mean, Ididchange my hair. And I’ve gained some weight, obviously,” I said with a roll of my eyes, unable to hide my self-deprecating talk.
“Are you talking bad about yourself, Bunny?” he said with a raise of his eyebrow and the slightest tick of a smirk at the corner of his lips. My eyes lingered for a moment too long on those very lips, his answering grin telling me he was completely aware. Jeepers, he was probably aware of my thoughts, too. A blush crept over my cheeks as I lowered my eyes.
“Sorry,” I muttered through my embarrassment.
“You’re right. Youhavechanged since I saw you last. However, it’s all for the better.” My eyes popped up to his face just in time to see the quick wink he shot at me.
Was heflirtingwith me? After he knew the truth of who I was?
“I didn’t mean to ignore your opinions on this, Mr. Stone—”
“Adam,” he corrected again.
“Adam, right. Sorry, this has just all been so strange.”
“Is it though?”
“Isn’t it? You’re Alyssa’s father. I’ve known you since I was thirteen.”
“You’re not thirteen anymore.” The implication in his words was almost too much to handle.
“No, I am not. But does that really change anything?”
“I think the correct question is, how does it not change everything? You are an adult, in your late twenties—”
“And you are a man in your fifties.”
“And tell me that doesn’t turn you on,Bunny.” His use of my play name had my thighs clenching.
“You can call me Willow, Adam. You know the truth now.”
“And what if I want to keep calling you Bunny?”
“Why?”
“I think you know why.”
“No, I don’t.” I don’t know what made me continue putting up the fight, but it felt like we were falling into a dance that we both knew by heart, even though we’d never danced together before.
“Come on now, try real hard for me.”
