Page 60 of Sins of the Father

I close my eyes. It’s an internal battle I struggle with whenever I date any woman. I don’t want to ever cross the line and become who my father is. But I also want to be the man she needs and wants.

She kisses my neck and whispers in my ear, “Please. I’m aching for you.”

I don’t answer. I only nod because if her ache is anything like mine, it’s relentless and grown so big, it’s like a water balloon that continues to be filled and is ready to explode. I find her mouth again, flicking my tongue urgently against hers.

She reaches for my pants, but I stop her.

“Not here, Harper. I want you all night, not a quickie.”

“Tonight?”

“Yeah. If you’re sure and don’t change your mind.”

“I am. I won’t.”

Her lips meet mine in a fiery explosion of lust, and the rumbling in my veins only grows.

The alarm in the elevator beeps and a man’s voice comes through the system. “Please release the stop button.”

She bites her swollen lip and releases her legs from my waist. I instantly feel the loss of her body on mine. I hit the button, and the alarm turns off. The elevator rises, and I give her a final kiss and pick up my items before the doors open.

When we step into the family room, all eyes turn on us.

“Where have you been all day?” my mother asks.

“Being tourists,” I reply.

My mother scrunches her face. “What?”

Quinn raises her eyebrows, and Jamison has a funny look on his face.

Harper steps over to Hope. “Come here, sweet girl.” She picks her up and places her on her hip. “You two keep telling me to move here, so I told Steven I wanted to see Chicago. Since we have the baby all week, I figured it was the only time we could do it.”

“Are you going to move here?” Jamison asks.

My heart stammers. I want her to say yes, but I know it isn’t realistic. At least, not yet.

Harper shrugs and plays cool. “Don’t get your hopes up. But I’m keeping an open mind.”

“Well, you should move here. Nice hat, Steven,” Quinn teases. “It’s a good look on you. Very laid-back. I think Harper is a good influence on your style.”

“Funny.”

Quinn glances at Harper then me, and smirks, and I’m not sure how to take it.

Jamison clears his throat. “Ten minutes until we leave, Quinn.”

My mom says her goodbyes and exits the room.

“Where is everyone else?” Harper asks.

“I rescheduled the flight because of Ralph’s surgery. They left a few hours ago,” Jamison informs us.

Quinn bites a smile. “It’s just you two.” She looks at my bags and slyly says, “Take whatever bedroom you want.”

She knows.

She seems okay with it.

---