Page 39 of Daddy's Temptation
Even knowing that he didn’t cheat… That what I thought I heard was just a terrible misunderstanding… I don’t know how to make myself vulnerable to him again. It wrecked me, thinking he cheated. Not just wrecked, it devastated me. If it hurt that bad after such a short time together, what would happen if I lost him after six months? A year? Longer? I don’t think I could survive it.
“He would make a great daddy,” I say instead of answering Sugar’s question.
“Because he’s got a heart of gold and is a big growly over-protective bear of a dom. But that doesn’t answer my question… Does Andre make you happy?”
I swallow thickly, working up the courage to answer her with a truth that I don’t even want to admit to myself. “Happier than I’ve ever been in my life.”
The second I say it, I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Something clicks in place, and all of a sudden, I realize how stupid I’ve been. I look back at every moment I shared with Andre—phone calls, texts, kisses, quiet cuddles, spankings… I can feel my cheeks heat as my mind wanders to the hungry way our bodies came together.
I ran from him to protect myself from heartache and ended up running directly into a life full of heartache. Life without Andre will never be enough. Letting go of the notion that I’ll eventually make my parents proud enough they’ll notice me might have freed me from the chains that pinned me to a job I hated but finding a career that brings me joy will never make me happy. Being with Andre, sharing my life with him, being his babygirl—his angel—is what will make me feel complete.
“Oh God, Sugar, I’m such an idiot. What do I do?”
Sugar leans forward in her seat and gives me a smile that says she’s up to no good. “I know exactly what to do to get your daddy back.”
22
Andre
The club is packed.I’m leaning against the bar with my second drink in my hand. I don’t usually drink in the club. I don’t like being impaired even a little bit. Two submissives are giggling and looking at me from under their lashes. I swallow back the rest of my drink, exhausted at the very thought of having to fight off the women who vie for my attention. There’s always at least one brave soul who approaches me. It doesn’t matter how many times I dismiss them. They always try again.
Pointedly ignoring the women, I scan the rest of the club. My eyes land on a familiar head of brown hair dancing alongside her daddy happily as he guides her through the crowd towards me.
She’s barely within arm’s length when she squeals then runs at me, jumping into my arms. “Andre!” Sugar says excitedly. “How’s my favorite guy?” Oliver growls behind her, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her off of me. Sugar giggles. “Second favorite,” she corrects.
“I’m fine.”
Sugar’s smile falls. “Liar liar pants on fire.”
“What did I tell you about minding your own business, babygirl?” Oliver scolds.
She sighs dramatically. “Leave the idiots alone to figure it out themselves or get a spanking blah blah blah…”
“A bit of adlibbing there, don’t you think?”
She shrugs. “Maybe a little, but you have to admit they are being idiots.”
Oliver doesn’t disagree with her claim. By the look on his face, I would say he completely agrees with Sugar’s assessment of the situation. So much for solidarity between doms.
“Oh poo!” Sugar says with a pout. She turns to Oliver and gives him the biggest puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen. “Daddy, I left Jules in the car. Would you pretty pretty please go rescue him? He’s probably so scared out there alone in the dark!”
Oliver’s eyes soften as he takes in Sugar like she’s the most precious thing in his world. And she is… as she should be. The relationship between a daddy and his little girl should reflect nothing less than complete devotion. “Yes, babygirl. I’ll go rescue Jules from the car.”
He kisses the top of her head and tells her to stay with me and to behave. As soon as he’s out of sight, Sugar slaps my chest and gives me a ferocious look. “You stupid moronic jerk! You broke my best friend’s heart! How could you do that?”
“Me? I’m not the one who ended things. Candace made it clear she doesn’t want a relationship,” I growl. I love Sugar like a sister, but she’s overstepping. “You should listen to your daddy and mind your own business.”
Sugar snorts. “You and Candace are my business. You’re my best friends! I want you guys to be happy.”
I sigh. “I know your heart is in the right place, but you need to leave it.”
“Andre, you’re a fool if you let Candace go. She’s worth fighting for.” Sugar’s little girl slips away entirely as she speaks. “This is ridiculous, and you know it. Hell, she knows it, too.”
“You don’t think I know that she’s worth it? She’s worth everything. Everything,” I say with a slash of my hand through the air between us. “I don’t know how to fight for someone who doesn’t want to be fought for.”
Sugar’s lips tip up in a mischievous smile. “She’s everything?”
I shake my head in consternation. “Of course she’s everything. I would move Heaven and Hell if I thought it would bring Candace back to me.”