“That’s it baby. Fuuck. That feels so good.”
My hips met his thrust for thrust. The buildup of another orgasm was right at the edge.
“Goddamn it, Paxton. Baby, I need you to come.”
Just as my release let loose, so did Steed’s. His mouth clamped over mine, taking in my moans of pleasure.
Then the knock on the door had us both stilling.
Shit. I prayed like hell he had locked the door.
Steed pulled out of me and ripped the condom off so fast it was unreal. I rolled over and off the bed, hitting the floor with a small thump.
“You can…Pax? Where did you go?”
“Down here!” I whispered.
Steed walked around the bed and looked down at me. “What in the fuck are you doing on the floor?”
“Daddy?”
The door to his bedroom opened, and Steed grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around him.
“Hey, pumpkin. What’s…um… What’s…ah.”
I covered my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing. Steed was totally flustered.
“Why do you have your sheet wrapped around you, Daddy?”
“I um… I couldn’t find my sleeping pants, baby. What’s going on? Why are you out of bed?”
The bed moved, and I pictured Chloe crawling up on it. “I can’t sleep. Daddy, we need to talk.”
My heart dropped. That sounded serious…and cute as well.
“Um, okay, pumpkin. Want to go to your room and talk?”
“No. This is okay here.”
I smiled and dropped my head. I was so going to be busted. And I was completely naked.
Shit!
The bed dropped more as Steed sat down.
NO! I need clothes. A blanket. I need out of this room!
“You sure you don’t want to go back up to your room?”
“I’m sure.”
I sighed internally.
“What’s on your mind, pumpkin?”
“Paxton.”
I froze and my breath stilled.
Oh. No. She hates me!
“What about Paxton?”
“Daddy, I really want her to be my mommy. Why can’t you marry her?”
A huge smile moved across my face. I spied one of Steed’s T-shirts. Reaching for it, I carefully slipped it on.
“I can marry her.”
“Well, why don’t you?”
I covered my mouth with my hand. Oh, how I love this little girl. I could see it in her eyes how much she longed for a mother. Amelia told me how Chloe talked about me and asked a million and one questions each time.
“It’s not that simple, baby.”
“How come? Don’t you love her?”
“I love her very much. But when the time comes for me to ask her, I want to make it special. And that means planning.”
She giggled. “Like how you planned her special day today?”
“Yes! Exactly like that.”
Steed’s bed was tall enough for me to sit up without my head showing. Pulling my knees to my chest, I tried to still my racing heart.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, pumpkin?”
“Will Paxton want to give me a baby brother or sister?”
Tears streamed down my face. It was in that moment that it all made sense. Everything that happened ten years ago…right up until this moment. This little girl was meant to be in our world. She was destined to be in my world and even though she wasn’t my child, I would love her like she was.
“I know she will want to.”
“Will she love her baby more than me?”
Burying my hands in my face, I silently sobbed. It took everything not to jump up and pull her into my arms. I wanted to reassure her I would always love her no matter how many kids Steed and I had together.
“Oh, Chloe, no. She would love you both equally.”
“But…but I’m not really her baby.”
My face was soaked with tears as I dropped my head back against the bed.
“That doesn’t matter, Chloe. Paxton loves you so much, and I know there is nothing more that she wants than to have you as a daughter. Just because you didn’t grow in her belly doesn’t mean that she won’t love you like I do. She wants to be your mommy as much as you want her to be.”
A silence lingered, and I held my breath.
“I can’t wait to call her mommy. She’s the prettiest girl in town, Daddy.”
Steed laughed. “I know she is. And she’s mine.”
Chloe laughed. “Silly, Daddy. She’s ours.”
And there it was. I slowly fell to my side and laid in a fetal position, happiness swirling around me as I tried to hold back sobs. I couldn’t believe a few months back my heart had a black void in it. Now…now it was overflowing with so much love and happiness I was completely overwhelmed.
“That’s right, Chloe. She’s ours. Now let’s get you up to bed.”