Page 104 of We Three Kings
His deep rumble contrasts with her happy sigh as she snuggles against his chest.
“Hi Daddy.”
The continued lack of jealousy watching them together confirms once again how right this is. For all of us.
I nod to him. “I’m taking her to get her stuff and then watch M’s match.”
“Sounds good.” He kisses the top of her head. “Finish your supper, and then we’ll go.”
She squeals with pleasure from the realization he’s in for the event too. All of the earlier misgivings vanish, and she lights up with pleasure, her gaze sweeping back and forth between us.
“We’re all going together. Like a family.”
A fucked-up family but a family just the same. Exactly what she’s always wanted. And what we’re always going to give her.
He guides her to her chair, and she grins as she digs into Mary’s amazing alfredo seafood lasagna. She’s thrilled and neither of us will do anything to ruin her excitement.
Gaspar
Seraphina’s quiet.
Way too quiet for her bubbly personality. I swear I felt her excitement drain away as we drove to her apartment, replaced with an anxiety I could see in the rigidity of her body. The phoniness of her smile. The clumsiness of her hands as she attempts to gather clothes and tuck them into her small suitcase.
I bend down and swipe the red tee she dropped on the dingy carpet. With a heady blush, she keeps her eyes downcast and accepts the shirt quickly, clutching the top to her chest.
“Thank you Daddy.”
Barely able to hear her whisper, I decide it’s time to end her worry. With Balthazar on the phone in the living room with some bullshit with the business, I want to enjoy my time with her. I used to be him and missed too much with the woman I loved. Now it’s too late with Kiersten, and I refuse to waste another gift of finding happiness.
Of finding Seraphina. “You moving in with us is one of the best things to ever happen to me.”
The weight of my words eases the burden of her worry. Her hunched shoulders drop down and her head flies up, eyes meeting mine.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I amble to her bed and sit on the thick quilt I know my son bought for her to keep our girl warm. “I want you to feel the same way.”
“I do but I…”
No need to rush. She’ll spill if given enough time and encouragement. I keep my gaze pinpointed on her.
Finally, she scurries over and climbs on my lap. I cup the side of her face and kiss her temple. “Good girl.”
When I move my hand to her thigh, her delicate fingers clutch onto me with a ferocity that hardens my dick under her exquisite ass.
“I know this apartment isn’t great but I was able to rent it all by myself. I felt like I was making it, proving that I can take care of myself. Moving in with you makes me kind of feel like I failed.”
“Just because you have less money than me, doesn’t make me think less of you.”
My confession coaxes a wavering grin from her. She’s still not sure. “If we didn’t come into your life, you’d still be living here, making it on your own, probably moving into a bigger, better place as you gained more experience and got promoted, right?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“Iknowso. Didn’t I tell you how proud I am of you? What a good job you do for London? How highly she speaks of you?”
Too overcome to speak, she nods, soaking in my praise. “This is just shelter. All I care about is us being together. We’ll move in here with you if you want us to, but it would be awfully crowded.”
The teasing in my truth makes her giggle. “Living with us is practical not because you’re a failure.”