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“That’s it, Sunshine. I’ve got you.” He cuddled her close, thankful his dick was behaving, even though she was on his lap. The last thing she needed right now was a horny bastard trying to take advantage of her emotional upheaval and pushing himself on her.
“How could he?” she asked, choking the words out through sniffles.
Damian tightened his arms around her. He didn’t have an answer for her because he didn’t know how her father could have, either. Twenty years ago, he would have said that Don would never do such a thing, but he didn’t know the man anymore. He’d changed beyond all recognition.
“I don’t know,” he finally said. “There’s something wrong with him. Did he say why he came back?”
Emily sniffled.
“Someone told him about my new job or something, or maybe they noticed all the things I’ve been buying. He told me he needed money, that I owe him rent.” She sounded more angry than sad now, her righteous frustration coming through in her voice. “I’m the one who kept the trailer from being repossessed after mom was arrested and he left! I told him I don’t owe him anything and… well, we fought.” Her voice hitched, turning sad again.
Damian held back his own curse. Considering the handprint on her cheek when she’d knocked on his door, he could guess how that fight had gone.
“Maybe he needs the insurance money.” He didn’t think before he spoke, and he felt Emily go still in his arms.
“Would he really burn down our home just to get insurance money?” Her voice quavered.
Damian sighed. Stroking her hair, he pulled it away from her neck and rested his chin on top of her head. He wished he hadn’t said that out loud. The fact that money meant more to Don than his daughter wasn’t something she needed rubbed in her face, even if it was probably true.
“He hasn’t been back in years,” he pointed out gently. “He probably doesn’t think of it as home anymore. I wouldn’t be surprised if he still had some kind of insurance on it. If he was asking you for money, then burned it, that’s probably why.” Though he couldn’t really be stupid enough to think that the insurance company would pay out when the fire was due to arson, was he? Then again, it was Don. He might be. Or he’d just been pissed and not thinking rationally. Anything was possible.
“I’m so mad at him, I could just…”
Emily made some small movement, but since she was on his lap, Damian couldn’t really see what she was doing. He imagined she was miming something violent. He felt the same way. Then she sagged again.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do now.”
“You’re going to stay here with me, and we’ll figure it out.”
“Here?” She sat up suddenly, twisting slightly in his lap, turning to face him with wide eyes still glistening from her tears. There was an oddly wistful expression on her face, and she looked at him like she was trying to figure out if he meant it.
Hell, yes, he meant it. She couldn’t stay in her place, obviously, and he didn’t want her leaving the trailer park. Then he wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on her. Plus, this way, if her dad came back, she’d be protected. She wouldn’t be alone. And if her dad did come back, then Damian could go ahead and kill him.
“Yes, here. Katrina won’t mind you using her room.” As soon as he stated his intentions, her face fell. Dammit. His chest ached in response, but it was the right decision. The right thing to do. He couldn’t take advantage of this situation. He’d already done that once, and if he had her in his own bed, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to let her out of it again. Though having her so close was going to be its own special brand of torture.
“Tonight… can I stay in yours?”
Emily
If he turned her down, she’d run to Katrina’s room and cry her eyes out all over again before licking her wounds and never, ever, asking for anything like this again. He didn’t want to turn her down, though. She could see it in his eyes. Feel it as his cock hardened against her bottom.
He didn’t answer immediately, but she could see him thinking it through.
“Please, Daddy?” she asked, deliberately not playing fair. She didn’t want him thinking. She wanted him to touch her. And she could tell he wanted to touch her. His fingers flexed against her thigh and side, and she squirmed on his lap, rubbing her butt against his thickening erection. “One more night. I just… I need…” She wasn’t sure how to vocalize what she needed.
Wasn’t sure she could find the words.
But she felt it.
Craved it.
Another night under his care. Something to erase the events of the evening, or at least make it so that tonight was more than the night her father burned her home down. A faint hint of smoke clung to Mr. Elliott, but all it did was make her want him more. He’d gone into the fire for her kitten. He was a hero.
“One more night.” It came out guttural. Rough. As though he wasn’t sure he was making the right choice.
Emily wasn’t going to let him change his mind or regret it. Brazenly, she pressed her lips against his, letting him feel her relief. She melted against him as he kissed her back, taking control. His hand slid up her back, fingers caressing her neck until they tangled in her hair and gripped the thick mass of it at the base of her skull. Emily moaned against his kiss, her tongue dueling with his.
Then he released her hair and shifted. She shrieked, pulling away from the kiss as he got to his feet, one arm beneath her knees, the other wrapped securely around her back, lifting her as if she weighed as much as the kitten.
