Page 75 of Then Came You

When he finishes, I slump back to the floor. “I think I saw God,” he mutters, reaching for the bench to steady himself. I hum in agreement, feeling pliant from my recent orgasm.

“Daddy?” A small sleepy voice rings, snapping us both out of our sex-haze trance. Blade frantically fumbles forward, kneeing me in the nose.

“Ow,” I howl.

“Oh fuck.” He glances down as he shoves his sweats back up his body.

I blindly reach for the paper towels, making a makeshift tampon to stick up my nostril.

“Daddy, you said a naughty word!” Haven gasps, trotting toward us. Her tone is so outraged. I’d be laughing if I wasn’t so concerned about our compromising position and my new bleeding nose.

“I’m sorry, princess. You just surprised me,” he coughs, stepping back. By now Haven is in full view, rubbing her sleepy eyes with the back of her hands. Her glossy brunette hair is all rumpled, and her tiny Barbie pyjamas make me wish they came in my size and. I adore her.

“Row!” She squeals, leaping into my lap, strangling me into a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“Be careful. Jesus,” Blade tries to pull her away.

Honestly, how many times has my nose now bled in front of this man? Talk about fucking embarrassing.

“I thought I’d cook you pancakes for breakfast and hang out with you today. Is that okay?” I ask, rubbing small circles on her back.

“Yes! Oh my gosh. Yes!” She strangles me again.

After breakfast, Haven insisted we play hairdressers, so for the next several hours, I swept her hair into different fancy princess styles, including Rapunzel, Cinderella, Elsa, Snow White, Mulan, Jasmine, Tiana, and more.

“What’s your real hair colour?” Haven’s question makes me laugh.

Ruffling her hair, I answer, “It’s light brown.”

“Why did you change it?” Curious, she inspects my roots to see if I’m telling the truth.

“I think it’s fun and playful. I didn’t have anything pink or pretty when I was your age,” I say, immediately regretting opening that can of worms.

“Why not?” She butts in, staring straight into my eyes, appalled at my answer.

Shrugging, I give her the bare basic version of my life that won’t be too traumatising. “Because my Daddy went to heaven and Mum got really sick, so we didn’t have a lot of money to buy all the nice things you have.”

Seconds later, Haven jumps off the couch and flees to her room, leaving me puzzled. Less than a minute later, she skids across the floor and lands in my lap.

“Who’s this?” I shuffle her on top of me, plucking the mauve stuffed bunny from her hands.

“That’s Hopsy.” She annunciates it as if I’m the silliest person on earth for not knowing, and it makes me want to cuddle the stuffing out of her. “You can have him. I already have one at My Mummy’s house.” I feel water stinging my eyes at how sweet this gorgeous little girl is.

“Why are you crying?” She hugs me tightly and before I know it, I’m unconsciously wrapping my arms around her and pulling her toward me. No one has ever done something like this for me before. Had such pure intentions.

“I love it, Haven. Thank you,” I whisper in her ear. When she passes out, I take her to her room for a nap.

“Where’s Haven?” Blade asks. He pads barefoot toward me on the couch from where he’s been held up in his study.

“Asleep. I just put her down. We made a vegetable tree for lunch. Lots of raw vegetables in the shape of a tree.” I chomp into a half-eaten left-over carrot from Haven’s lunch, “And I told Xan I forgot some things in my old room if he asks.”

“You’re incredible. I don’t think I’ll ever get over how perfect you are. Thank you.” Sitting down beside me, I’m all ready for a snoozy snuggle until he pulls me on top of him, and his tongue collides with mine.

“Baby girl, why do you have Hopsy?” Blade grunts between biting kisses.

He is slowly vaporising the oxygen from my body with his touch.

“Haven gave me him. He’s mine,” I answer, sucking a hickey to his neck, tasting the saltiness of his skin.

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