David
I felt like a scolded dog for most of next morning, and though I’d known better than to try and make a move on Allison, I’d expected her to at least talk to me.
I arrived at work in a sour mood, and Greyson got the brunt of it. “Are you kidding? The little fucker didn’t like any of our ideas?”
“Not one. He said there wasn’t enough action and he really wants to see the rocket thing he mentioned.”
“Then get one of those guys to do exactly what he wants to show him what a fucking whacked idea it is.” I slammed my fist on the desk and then proceeded to knock over my coffee in the process. “Fuck!”
“What’s crawled up your ass, man? Not getting any at home?”
“Is it that fucking obvious?”
“Seriously? I was just kidding.” He held up his hands defensively. “Want to talk about it?” He got up to get a roll of paper towels we kept in the cabinet of the coffee bar and tossed them to me.
“I fucked up. We finally had a night to ourselves, and Sierra called. She was crying. She’d cut her leg earlier and said it was bothering her.”
“She couldn’t tell her grandmother about it?”
“She called me from her cell phone. I thought she had. Turns out, she hadn’t.”
“You bought her a cell phone?”
“So she can call me when she needs me. You sound just like Allison. She said it was a horrible idea.”
“I don’t understand a seven-year-old having a cell phone. I mean, what’s there to look forward to?”
“She plays games on it; it’s fun. Anyway, that’s not the point. I left Allison hanging and went and brought our daughter home. I told her I’d be right back, but when I was, she told me it wasn’t going to happen. She shut me down.”
“You left her hanging in the middle of fucking, and you expected a different reaction?”
“I expected her to show a little compassion for the situation. It’s the first time Sierra’s had a scratch so sue me if I’m a little protective.”
“You better start giving her attention before she finds someone else who will.”
“Not my Allison. She’d never fucking do that.” I hated him for even putting the thought in my mind, though I knew her better than that. She’d loved me her whole life.
“Did you ever think that Sierra’s playing you?”
“That’s what Allison said. I don’t see it though. She was crying. I can’t just ignore her when she’s crying.”
“What would you have told Blaine when he was a kid?”
“I’d have told him to suck it up and go to bed, but that’s not the same. I can’t tell Sierra to suck it up. I’m her father. If she has a need—
“But Allison is her mother. She’s been her mother a lot longer—
“Which is why she should fucking understand. I’m new to this, and I’ve missed out on half her damned life. I’m trying to catch up.”
“And Sierra knows that. Allison would have told her to talk to her grandmother, and the woman would have taken care of it, and you could have taken care of your wife. You’re spoiling her.”
“Fuck. I love her though. You should have seen her big tears. She had a fucking huge cut on her leg.”
“A cut or a scratch? Because you called it a scratch a minute ago.” He was clearly amused with a shit-eating grin.
Maybe I was exaggerating it a bit. “Fine, it still bled a lot.”
“What are you doing here, man?”
I’d come in because of the Dax Scott account. “I’ve got work to do. I work here.”
“Well, that’s debatable, but what I’m trying to say is, Sierra’s in school, right? Go home and fuck your woman. I’ve got this.” He picked a piece of lint from his shirt and flicked it. He really didn’t need me. But I needed my girl.
“Thanks, man. I think I will.” I gathered my shit and headed down to my car and called her. But Allison didn’t answer her phone.
I tried a few more times on the way and grew more and more frustrated. She hadn’t said she was going anywhere.
I pulled into our drive to see the men at work and Allison’s car in the garage. Thank God, our upstairs offered privacy, because with any luck, and a little forgiveness, I was going to need it.
I walked into the house and heard Allison’s flirty giggle, and though it brought a smile to my face, it faded fast at what I saw next. She was coming down the stairs with Ethan, the contractor who was eye fucking her so hard she had to feel it.
“Thanks so much, Ethan. You’re a lifesaver. That wouldn’t have waited until David got home.” My blood pumped so fast; I would have sworn she’d heard it as she looked up. “David?”
Ethan wasn’t happy to see me, especially when I crossed the room and met him at the foot of the stairs. “What couldn’t wait until I got home?”
Allison’s eyes went wide. “I broke the handle on the faucet in the bathroom. There was water everywhere, so Ethan came up and fixed it.”
Ethan cleared his throat and scrubbed his beard. “Yeah, it’s fine now. I turned off the shut-off valve, and my plumber was here with his tools. We got you all fixed up.”
I deflated a bit and stepped back. “Thanks for helping my wife.”
“Wife? I thought you two weren’t married?” He gave Allison a sly smile, and I’d had enough of his eyes on her.
“What difference does it make? She’s mine either way. And why don’t I go give that crew of yours a talk; because the next time my daughter cuts her fucking leg on a piece of scrap they left lying around, she won’t be the only one bleeding.”
Allison put a hand on my chest as the smile left Ethan’s face, and he walked away.
“Was that necessary?”
“Any reason he knows we’re not married, Alli?” My eyes bore into hers, but she cracked a smile.
“You’re jealous. It’s cute.” She stroked my arm and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
It only caused my voice to soften a little. “Don’t patronize me.”
“You’re serious?” She turned, shaking her head as she went up the stairs.
I followed closely behind. “I want to know how that came up.”
She finally stopped at the top of the stairs and spun around to face me with her hand on her hip like she meant business. “Fine. He called me Mrs. DeVant, and I corrected him. That’s it?” She turned and went into our room, and I followed, slamming the door behind me.
“Why would you feel you had to? Is there some reason you won’t set a date? Are you having second thoughts about being my wife?”
“Why would you think that? I’ve been begging for your attention since we moved in here! Maybe you’re the one with second thoughts?”
“You can’t believe that.” I loved her more than life itself. She’d been my whole life. “It’s ridiculous.”
“Only as ridiculous as you thinking I’d want some flirty contractor. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.” She stepped close and put her arms around my waist and suddenly, I was putty in her hands.
“I knew he was flirting. He’s been eye fucking you every chance he gets.”
Her leg came up between mine, her thigh pressing into my crotch and rubbing against my dick. “He has, but this is the only cock I want.”
The urge to get myself good and deep and mark her as my own had never been stronger.