Page 48 of Dark Holiday

Tipping my head back, I laugh like I haven’t in so long. “Go ahead, baby girl. Best to get your destructive tendencies out like this and not on something heinously expensive like, oh, I don’t know, a professional copier?”

Mouth agape, she punches me in the shoulder. It’s soft enough that I know she’s playing and thus let it slide. Leaning back on my elbows, I push my chest up at her, giving her room to do her worst. Cindy grips the edges, pausing for a moment to contemplate the fabric before yanking it apart.

Just like her dress, buttons scatter everywhere. For half a moment, I feel bad for Ryan and Brittany. I should probably offer to pay for a cleaning crew after everything we’ve done in these two rooms. I’m of half a mind to just leave the mess and say forget it - payment for them meddling in our affairs. The truth is, though, if they hadn't played matchmaker, would we have even shared these moments?

“When did you get all that chest hair?”

“Probably around the same time those delicious breasts and ass came in. Speaking of which.” I lean up and grab Cindy by the waist, pulling her in closer to me. For a moment, I just stare at her, drinking in naked beauty. Angling my head down, I take her nipple into my mouth, moaning as I suck on it.

She pushes forward, her groans matching mine. I reach out and grab her other nipple, not wanting it to feel left out, and roll it between my forefingers. “Now, let’s get in that shower before I slam you down on this bed and fuck you again.”

“I wouldn’t say no to that, Daddy,” she murmurs, her eyes darting to the floor in a look I’m starting to recognize as her feeling shy.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t, minx, but as your Daddy, it’s my job to take care of you, whether you like it or not. Shower. Now.”

Cindy pulls away, her hips swaying in an alluring manner as she sashays over to the bathroom. Growling, I give into my urges and chase after her, grabbing her by the waist and flinging her over my shoulder. Her shriek of laughter bounces off the walls, filling my heart with a glowing warmth. With her secured, I walk into the bathroom and turn the light on before setting her on the closed toilet.

Instead of the standalone shower like in my room, hers has a nice big soaker tub. Perfect. I walk over and turn on the faucets, testing the water before letting it fill up. Spying a nice jar of bath salt, I sprinkle some in and step back to look at my handiwork. Part of me wishes there were rose petals or something more romantic I could do to make up for how I took her virginity.

Cindy should have had candles, roses, something. Instead, I rutted her like a dog in heat on the floor. It must have been the toys that made it less traumatic, but that doesn’t ease the guilt starting to gnaw at my heart. Then again, this is me. This is how I do things. Despite that, she still wanted me.

Her soft footfalls prick my ears moments before her arms slide about my waist, wrapping me up into a hug. Sliding my hand along hers, I sigh as her head rests against my upper back. “I never did thank you,” she whispers, her voice soft and sultry. “I’ve been waiting for years for you to fuck me, and you didn’t disappoint.”

“Language, Cin.” Even as I scold her, that tight band that started wrapping around my heart begins to loosen. Just because we choose each other doesn’t mean we have to change. She’s with me because of my grumpy, domineering demeanor, and not despite it. I’m with her for her sass and incorrigible behavior, and though, as her Daddy, there are things I will help her correct, I will never set about to change who she is at her core.

“Or what, Daddy? Gonna wash my mouth out with soap?”

“Don’t try me, little girl. You’re at a kinky retreat. If you thought the ginger oil was bad, just wait until you get a taste of actual ginger up your ass.”

She falls silent, and I swear I can almost feel the gears turning in her head, weighing the pros and cons of my threat. When she remains silent, I smile as it seems good sense wins out. I pull her around and help her into the tub before sliding in behind her. Now that we’ve at least gotten the main conflict out of the way, exhaustion pulls at me, demanding I rest.

If I’m tired, Cindy has to be as well, and as much as I want to defile every inch of her, I need to do what’s best and let her sleep. She opens her mouth wide and yawns, sealing the deal. “Hand me the shampoo, Princess.” As she reaches for it, I grab a nearby bowl nearly overflowing with “guest soap” and dump out the dusty lot before wiping down the dish with a towel. Even a place this immaculate isn’t immune to the dreaded unused guest soap.

I scoop the dish into the water and bring it up, letting the warm liquid sluice over her hair before rubbing in the shampoo. She groans as I rub at her scalp and then her neck and shoulders until she’s limp in my arms. Rinsing it all out, I scoop up one last time and let the water run through. “All right, tired one, let’s get showered off and into bed.”

“But I’m not sleepy,” she moans with a yawn.

“Uh-huh. And what did I say about lying?” Chuckling under my breath, I get my feet from under me and pull her up, giving her ass a light swat. “Here, hold onto the wall while I drain the water.”

Her small hums of tired bliss as I get the shower going are music to my ears. Making sure the spray isn’t too hot, I drag her underneath and hold her close. Her fingers swirl my chest hair in a lazy pattern, and for the first time in forever, I finally feel like I’m home.

CHAPTER 27

Cynthia

Sunlight streams in through the window, waking me up from the best dream I’ve had in years. I wake up with a start, feeling around the bed for Daniel, frowning when it’s empty. Perhaps all of it was just a dream then. Looking around, I search for evidence of everything that happened last night, but the room is pristine, as if I hadn’t even slept in it.

Easing from the bed, I throw on a thick, plush robe before padding down the hall. I don’t encounter anyone else, but that’s probably to be expected. I’m not sure what time it is, but it still feels pretty early. Walking into the room where Daniel and I had sex for the first time, I freeze. There’s nothing here. The room looks spotless. Not one thing is out of place. Even the fire that had been roaring last night is clean, with no sign of ash or wood.

My stomach clenches as I think through everything that happened. It all felt so real. How could it have been a dream? Was the eggnog alcoholic? Half of me wishes it was all real, but the other half of me doesn’t. If it’s not real, then maybe I won’t get hurt again. Sorrow starts to leach into me as I walk over to the window, resting my fingers on the frosty glass. Maybe all of this was a sign. Maybe I should talk to Daniel the moment he returns from his retreat.

A loud thunk draws my attention further out into the yard, and my heart soars, leaping into my throat. Daniel is out there in just his pants, splitting wood. With his wild hair flying about his face, he looks almost more at home here than in his office. There’s something wild, free, uninhibited about him here, but none of that really matters. The fact that he’s here, and I didn’t imagine it makes me want to cry happy tears.

Running down the hallways, I head outside, the leftover snow stinging my feet as I race towards him. Daniel looks up after his next swing, his face erupting into a grin until he looks down. Quicker than I can blink, his lips turn down into that classic scowl of his, and instead of it hurting my feelings, it makes my stomach flip and my core clench with need.

I know this look. It’s the look that precedes a dressing down or even a punishment if I’m lucky. Knowing he’s doing it because he cares about me and not because he hates me makes all the difference. Before, when I was working with him, I had no idea what to think. Now, I know his wrath will be fiery hot and melt me to the core.

“Where are your shoes, young lady?” he thunders, tossing the blade of the ax down into a nearby stump.