AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“To the moon and back, Cassie-bear,” Ava said from where she sat at Cassidy’s feet.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, sweet cheeks?”
“Can Aunt Ava be my mommy, too?”
Ava gasped, and I fought back a smile.Way to go, kid.I leaned down until my mouth was right by Cassidy’s ear and whispered, “Working on it. Now go to sleep and have sweet dreams.”
She nodded and yawned as I placed a kiss on her forehead. When I stood and headed for the door, Ava followed close behind. After we left the room, I shut the door, then glanced at Ava. She still looked shell-shocked, but her eyes were soft and swimming with unshed tears.
I held out my hand and waited. It only took a moment's hesitation before she slid her palm against mine and allowed me to pull her into my body and wrap my arms around her.
“One of the few good things my brother has done was to bring Carrie into my life. She was my best friend,” she said softly.
“And you feel guilty that her daughter wants you to replace her?” I guessed.
Ava nodded and sniffled, giving me a pang in my heart. I didn’t like seeing her hurting. Scooping her into my arms, I walked directly into my bedroom. Without releasing her, I crawled onto my big bed, turning her back to my front before laying us down. Then I curled myself around her so we were spooning.
“You wouldn’t be taking her place, baby. Just like I’m not a replacement for their dad.”
“It’s not the same.” I felt a tear splash on my arm before she sniffled again. “My brother is an asshole, so they're better off with you as a dad. Carrie was a great mom.”
I sighed and kissed her temple. “Let’s try looking at this from another angle. Do you think Carrie would want her girls to go through life without the love and influence of a mother?”
“Well…no.”
“And don’t you think she would be happy to know that the mother figure in their lives is someone who she trusted and knows loves them every bit as much as she did?”
Ava was quiet for a moment, and I nuzzled my nose in the hair at her nape. “You know I’m right.”
“I suppose so. But I don’t think she’d want them to forget her.”
“Of course not, baby. That’s why I talk to the girls about her frequently. But honestly, I didn’t know Carrie very well. There’s no one better than you to help keep her memory alive.”
“I guess that’s true.”
“That story you told Cassidy this morning, about Carrie loving animals and the zoo…I had no idea. But I saw the way Cassidy lit up hearing that she had that in common with her mom.”
“But—”
I lifted up onto my elbow and rolled Ava onto her back so I could stare down at her. “No buts, Ava. When you have kids of your own, will you love Cassidy and Daisy any less than them?”
Ava gasped, looking horrified. “Absolutely not!”
“So don’t you think it’s possible for the girls to love you as much as they loved Carrie?”
She bit her lip and I could see the wheels turning in her clear, blue eyes. After a few seconds, she blew out an annoyed little huff. “Well, if you’re going to be logical about everything…”
I tossed back my head and laughed. “Damn, you’re cute,” I teased when I was done. Ava’s cheeks turned pink, and she looked up at me through her long eyelashes.
The desire I saw in those gorgeous orbs was my undoing. I bent my head and sealed my mouth over Ava’s. It only took a second for her to melt underneath me. I traced the seam of her lips with the tip of my tongue and growled, “Open.”
Ava parted her lips on a whimper, and I delved my hands into her silky hair as I explored her mouth. She tasted sweet and citrusy, just like her scent. Raw hunger twisted in my belly, and I knew I needed to stop before the driving need consumed me. Instead, I angled her head and deepened the kiss. A groan rumbled in my chest when our tongues slid together, and I glided one of my hands down her side until I had a grip on her thigh. Then I hiked her leg up, curling it around my hip, and ground my aching cock into the apex between her legs.
Ava moaned and lifted her hips, seeking more friction. I fisted her hair and tilted her head back so I could kiss and suck my way down her neck. She moaned and arched her back, pressing her tits against my chest. I wanted to keep moving down, to taste the hard tips I could feel poking me through my shirt. But I was on a razor-thin edge, and she wasn’t ready for me to lose control. So I reluctantly returned my wandering mouth to hers. With my lips, teeth, and tongue, I devoured her, trying to quench my desire, but it only fanned the flame.
“Fuck,” I grunted when I finally convinced myself to release her lips. With my face buried in her neck, I took several deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart and ease the pain in my groin. When that didn’t do any good, I tried to raise up, but she clung tightly to me with her arms and legs. “We have to stop,” I rasped when she whimpered. “Or we’re going to take a step I don’t think you are ready for, baby.” I locked eyes with her before finishing with, “I won’t take you until you truly understand what that means. Because there will be no going back. You will be mine.”
