“Come in, little girl. Climb into bed before you fall over.” Pulling the covers back, he held them up slightly to shield her as she slid into bed. Max tucked the covers under her chin and wished he had a stuffie for her to hold on to. He’d get one to have at the house tomorrow.
She turned and snuggled into her pillow with a sigh of relief as he turned off the lights. Max left on his boxers instead of sleeping in the nude as he usually did. When he joined her in bed, he could feel the tension in her body.
“Good night, Saylor. You’re safe here.”
She nodded in the dark before asking, “Could you turn on a small light? Like in the bathroom? I don’t mind darkness when I’m doing something fascinating like scuba diving, but the shadows bother me at night.”
“I should have thought of that. You like scuba diving, huh? I do too.” Max got up and padded across the room to flip on the light in the shower. That would glow into the bedroom and help her find the bathroom if she needed it in the middle of the night.
As he returned, he could see her watching him. Dressed only in his snug boxer briefs, Max found himself sucking in his nonexistent gut, wanting to look good for her. He’d worn less around her, but that had taken place with a lot of people around. His body liked that they were alone. And that her gaze was fixed on him.
Giving himself a firm talking-to as he rolled back into bed, Max stretched out on his back and relaxed. He kept his breathing deep and regular. In a few moments, her inhales and exhales melded into his pattern. Within fifteen minutes, Saylor had fallen asleep.
Max lay there for several minutes debating how best to help her. In another quarter of an hour, she rolled closer. A short time later, her hand brushed his arm and wrapped around his biceps. Soon, she snored softly and adorably plastered against his body with her calf stretched over his. Max adjusted slightly to wrap his arm around her body to hug her to his chest. She settled against his chest with a contented sigh.
Max caught bits and pieces of sleep as he held the most beautiful woman in the world. He didn’t care that Saylor thrashed or struck out at him as she survived the awful nightmares that tortured her dreams. He would absorb all her torment if he could. Each time, he would soothe her fright, holding her tightly as she worked through the disruptions and scares.
His anger that no one had helped her soon in addressing this distress took careful management. Saylor would have hidden her nightmares and worries from everyone. The force of her reactions during the night concerned him greatly. In her dreams, she seemed to fight for her life against a much larger foe.
When she finally slept quietly, he memorized her face, relaxed and at peace. She deserved to have this quietness in her life at all times. She wiggled closer, angling her body over his to pin him to the mattress.
The heat of her pelvis draped over his thigh was exquisite torture. His body reacted naturally to her closeness. Max angled his hips slightly away from her so his burgeoning erection wouldn’t press against her. Saylor apparently wasn’t having any of that and scooted further on top of him. Max gave up. She had to know he was interested in her. He wouldn’t hide his feelings from her.
“Mmm,” she mumbled. “You are so warm.”
“I am.” Max’s body temperature ran hot. He had learned to hydrate and add electrolytes if pushing himself to high levels of physical activity.
Her head shot up from his chest. Instantly, she scrambled away. Max tightened his arm around her waist, tethering her in place. “Max? I’m sorry I climbed all over you.”
“I’m not. Kiss me, little girl,” he requested, fully expecting her to refuse. Max would know she wasn’t ready, and he needed to back off.
Her gaze focused on his lips. Max held his breath. The look felt almost physical. He’d never wanted a kiss so badly in his life. To his amazement, Saylor lowered her mouth to his.
The first sensation of the heat of her breath made him clench his free fist under the covers. Anticipation slowed time. The first brush of her lips on his was sweet. She hovered over him for a full second before kissing him as if her life depended on it.
Passion flared between them as his flash of surprise morphed into celebration. Max’s fist relaxed, and he lifted his hand to glide into her silky hair, holding her close as he answered her urgent need. Her body quivered over him. The hard tips of her breasts rubbed against his bare chest. Max wished she’d never stop.
When she lifted her head, he whispered, “Little girl, you are delightful.”
“Make love to me, Max. I need you.”
“Daddy,” he answered firmly, stroking a hand from her waist to span her rounded bottom. She couldn’t be more perfect to him.
“Daddy? Please.”
Her gaze held so many emotions—need, passion, and hope. Max lifted his hips, pressing his cock against her soft mound. “I won’t let you go, little girl, after I make you mine.”
“You don’t even know me,” she whispered, not moving away, not freezing, but grinding against his hardness.
“I know all I need to. The rest we’ll figure out together.”
She nodded. “Make love to me, Daddy.”
With a guttural groan that felt like it came from his core, Max sat up, taking her with him. She sat on his hard thighs, wrapped around him. Max slid his hands over her hips, whisking the T-shirt he’d given her up over her head. Saylor lifted her arms eagerly to help him. As he threw it away, she held still for a moment, allowing him to look at her.
“Fuck, Saylor. You are gorgeous.” Max ran his hands from her waist up her ribcage to cup her full breasts. He ran his thumbs over her nipples and loved her gasp as his un-pampered fingertips glided roughly over her skin. She shimmied to repeat the caress, showing him how much she loved his touch.
Her hips rubbed against his erection. Max could feel her wet pussy dampening the cloth between them. He needed to feel her against him—not through a barrier. But first, he needed to taste the treat in his hands.
