Daddy Needs a Date Read online

  “Popsy? What happens then?”

  “Well, what would you want someone to do if you colored something that they didn’t like?” God, that was clever.

  Her bottom lip pouched out as she thought about it. Then she sighed. “I guess they should tell me because that would be honest. Right?” She looked to her daddy.

  “Yes, but sometimes we say things that aren’t honest because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, and nothing else.”

  “Right. Like never telling Gran she’s getting fat.”

  “That would be one, yes.” Ryan’s eyes went wide.

  “That’s self-preservation,” Mel whispered.

  Alex clapped his hand over his mouth, but some snickers escaped despite his best efforts. “I’m sorry, man, but that is priceless. Maybe with the coloring thing or a gift that you don’t particularly like or want, you could find something nice to say about it. Like if I color something you don’t like, you could tell me that the blue I used is really pretty.” He traded his red crayon for a yellow one. Crap—he was pretty sure he’d just screwed up the order of the colors in a rainbow. The green should have been in there somewhere around the blue, right? Or at least before the yellow, which he was pretty sure was supposed to be the last color.

  “Roy G. Biv,” Ryan whispered.

  He stared at Ryan for a long moment, wondering if that was some sort of adult code he had absolutely no clue about. He wasn’t hip with all the new lingo these days. “I, uh….” Nope, he had nothing.

  “Red. Orange. Yellow,” Mel started.

  “Green, blue,” Daisy continued.

  “Indigo and violet!” the little girls finished. “The rainbow!”

  “You’re totally dating an art geek, Alex,” Mel said. “Like whoa.”

  “Oh! I get it. What was the name again—so I remember for next time? Ray G. Bivvie?” He knew the last part was really wrong, but he couldn’t remember it exactly and thought the kids might get a kick out of having to correct him again.

  “Roy G. Biv.” Daffy climbed up into his lap. “Red, orange, lellow, green, blue, indiglows and violent.”

  “Indiglows? I think that’s my favorite color. Roy G. Biv. I’ve got it now, and hopefully I won’t forget. I didn’t do them in that order on your rainbow daffodil, I’m afraid.” He gave her the coloring page.

  “It’s okay. I like your rainbow. Lots.”

  “Thank you, honey.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “Welcome. Popsy, you do one?”

  “Of course. What do you want?”

  “Drawl me a dinosaur and a unicorn riding a shark!”

  “Sure, baby.” And just like it was nothing, Ryan picked up a pen and drew just that on a white sheet of paper.

  “Wow. That’s incredible.” Ryan had real talent. He should have been the toast of the galleries downtown, raking in fame and fortune.

  “Thank you, Popsy-doodle.” Then Daffy plopped down and began to color it in.

  You’ve got quite a talent,” Alex noted. “It seems wasted in marketing.”

  “Marketing pays the bills.” Ryan smiled at him. “I have mouths to feed.”

  “Yeah, I get it. Do you ever do this for yourself, though? Have you got any time to be an artist?” He’d love to see what Ryan could do when left to his own devices.

  “Daddy’s an artist all the time,” Mel said. Oh, he was going to have to walk carefully with that. Someone was very protective of her daddy.

  “He sure is, but sometimes he can practice being an artist, and sometimes he can’t, right?” He gave Ryan a warm smile.

  “Yeah. One day I’ll do more fine art. Now I just dabble.”

  “That’s some pretty impressive dabbling.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.” Ryan smiled at him, eyes twinkling.

  “Maybe you’ll show me your etchings sometime.” It was goofy and totally old-fashioned, but it was making Ryan smile, so he went with it.

  “I most certainly will, my friend.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that.” He reached over and slid his hand along Ryan’s thigh, and Ryan just beamed at him.

  “You’ve got a great touch.”

  “Daddy! Ew!”

  “Sorry. Sorry, Mel.”

  Alex’s cheeks heated, but he wasn’t sorry. After all, the teenager had helped put them together, right?

  “Silly Daddy. Be good.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Alex met Ryan’s gaze and smiled. He thought Ryan was very good. And wouldn’t take back the touch. It hadn’t been overt or over the top or yucky, even.

  No, it was just natural. Right.

  He intended to do it again. A lot.

  Chapter Nine

  GOD, ALEX was amazing. Seriously.

  Ryan watched as Alex played Hungry Hungry Hippos with the little girls. The cuteness abounded.

  Alex wasn’t letting the girls win; he could tell the man was really trying. The girls, however, were kicking his ass.

  Alex shook his head as Daisy won another round. “I don’t get it—what am I doing wrong?”

  “I come help you.” Rosie moved to sit in Alex’s lap. “’Kay. Give me your hands.”

  Alex held out his hands, and Rosie grabbed them. Ryan was going to die of the cute.

  They played, Rosie damn near killing Alex “helping” him. By the time the Rosie/Alex team won, Ryan was howling with laughter.

  “Laugh all you want, buddy—we won!” Alex tickled Rosie’s ribs. “Thank you!”

  “We’re a team!” Rosie giggled hysterically, but he could hear that promise of overwhelmed exhaustion in her voice.

  All three girls needed an early night. Mel was already ensconced in her bedroom, pumped full of meds to help her sleep.

  “Let’s play again!” Rosie suggested.

  “Another round?” Alex chuckled, but he looked pretty tired himself. He hadn’t gotten all that much sleep last night between playing hero and being invaded by kids when he was trying to sleep.

  “No. It’s time to wind down and start thinking about bed.”

  “No!” All three girls shouted, Rosie loudest of all.

  Alex winced. “But if we go to bed now, we’ll be all fresh for the morning.”

  “And maybe, if you get rest, you won’t get sick.” Ryan stood up. “And if you don’t fuss, maybe there can be waffles for breakfast.”

  “Ooh, waffles.” Alex stood up and settled Rosie on her feet. “You don’t want to be sick again, do you?” Then Alex turned to him and said softly, “Is bribery legal?”

  “You know it. Parenting is guerilla warfare. Use what you got.”

  Alex laughed, and Ryan didn’t think he truly appreciated how much work it was to raise four girls all on your own. He supposed it was something Alex would learn if he stuck around. If all this didn’t send him running for the hills.

  Stop it. This was the best third date in history.

  The girls dragged their feet, but he gave them a look, and they scampered off toward the bathroom.

  “What do you need me to do?” Alex asked.

  “Relax. Rest. I’ll put the girls to bed.”

  “Are you sure? I’m not used to hanging about while others work.” Alex looked tired, though, like he could handle a nap.

  “We’ll go to bed once they’re down. Snuggle.”

  Alex’s face lit up. “I’d love that. Tell you what, if you won’t let me help with bedtime, I’ll clean up here and the kitchen.”

  “Sounds good. Give me twenty minutes and we’ll be good.”

  “You got it.” Alex stepped up to him and gave him a soft kiss. “I’m looking forward to a little adult time.”

  “You have no idea. I… I owe you, man. Thank you for today.”

  “Hey, you’re welcome.” Alex pressed another brief kiss on his lips, but it didn’t go any deeper—it couldn’t with Daisy bellowing down the stairs for Ryan. Alex laughed. “Go. You’re needed.” Then Alex swatted his ass and headed toward the kitche
n.

  “Hush, your sister is sleeping!” Ryan ran up the stairs and scooped Daisy up. “Mel doesn’t feel good still.”

  “You were taking forever, Popsy—I’m ready to get tucked in now!”

  “I was….” He smooched the top of her head. “Teeth brushed? Everyone went pee?”

  “I did. I don’t know anything about everyone.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “My throat is still hurting, Popsy. Are you going to make it better?”

  “Let’s make a pit stop. There’s some Chloraseptic in the bathroom.”

  “What’s chlo… chloro?”

  “It’s that spray for your throat? Remember, it numbs it and makes your tongue feel funny?” It didn’t taste fab, but it worked like a charm.

  “It makes my tongue disappear!” She opened her mouth dutifully, though, when he got the spray. He dosed her, making sure the spray went into her mouth and not over her face. She stuck out her tongue and made a gaggy noise but settled back against him soon enough.

  “Better?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  He took Daisy to the big bedroom, where Daffy was reading and Rosie was already sacked out. He got everyone tucked in, kissed, and settled, and he left the door halfway open as he left.

  He could see the light on in his room—looked like Alex had made it upstairs.

  God, he was exhausted. There was something about knowing someone was waiting for him, though…. He hadn’t ever had that feeling, and he was pretty sure he liked it.

  He stood for a second, caught between the desire to go to the bedroom and the need to check that all the doors were locked.

  Alex coughed a couple of times, and that decided him. He needed to make sure Alex wasn’t getting what the girls had.

  “Hey, you. You need some cough medicine?”

  Alex glanced over at him, shirt already stripped off, smiled, and coughed again. Then he shook his head. “No. I’m good. Just some water.”

  “Are you sure? Let me feel your forehead.”

  That earned him a chuckle. “I’m not sure if that’s the greatest pickup line ever, but I kind of like it.”

  “I’m less good at pickup than generalized care. It’s a thing.” He touched Alex’s forehead and nodded. “Tylenol and orange juice, honey.”

  “I’m fine, I promise.” Alex rested his cheek in Ryan’s hand. “I just need a good night’s sleep. Preferably with you.”

  “Yes. I’d love that. A good night’s sleep. Together.”

  “Come on, then. If I’m still feeling funky in the morning, I’ll let you play doctor. If I’m feeling nice and refreshed, I’ll let you play a different kind of doctor.”

  “Ooh. I love this idea. I’m voting on nice and refreshed.”

  “I have some good ones occasionally.” Alex wrapped his hands around Ryan’s waist. “Are you going to give me a kiss good night?”

  “I’m going to give you a few.”

  Alex smiled. “I like the sound of that.” Tilting his head, Alex pressed their lips together gently.

  Ryan stepped in, one hand slipping around to find Alex’s ass. Alex groaned at his touch and deepened the kiss, tongue teasing his lips open and slipping into his mouth.

  They rocked together for a second, both of them rubbing lazily.

  “We should go to bed,” Alex noted after a while. “They tell me this is way better horizontal.”

  “It is. I have a comfortable bed too.”

  “I couldn’t tell last night—there were too many bodies in it.” Alex laughed softly. “I swear I was worried if I rolled over, I’d smother someone.”

  “You get used to it. At the beginning, I had all three little girls with me, and Mel got jealous.”

  “Is that why you’ve got a king-size bed?” Alex asked, fingers tugging Ryan’s T-shirt out of his sweats, then pulling it up over his head. “Oh….” Alex spread his fingers against Ryan’s chest.

  “Um-hum.” Ryan stretched up, encouraging the touches.

  Bending, Alex dropped a soft kiss on his chest, just above his right nipple. Alex’s lips were hot, and the kiss spread warmth from that point outward.

  “Are you feeling well enough?”

  Alex stopped suddenly and stepped back. “Oh man. I’m sorry. I didn’t even think. I’m probably contagious as hell.”

  “Well, you know, I probably have it too.”

  “Oh duh. Right.” Alex rolled his eyes. “Look, let’s get naked and go to bed. If I’m not feeling well enough that’ll quickly become apparent. Right now, though, things are, uh, all systems go.” Alex pointed at the distinct tent in his sweats.

  “I’m all in.” Ryan locked the bedroom door, making a mental note to unlock it once Alex was asleep. He wondered how Alex felt about sleeping in pajama pants?

  When he turned around, Alex was bending down to pull the sweats off his feet, naked ass right there like an invitation. He stalked over, lips parted, and reached out for his double handful.

  Alex jumped when Ryan achieved his goal, but then moaned and pushed back into his touch. “Your hands are warm.”

  “So is your ass.” And pretty and perfectly packed.

  Alex looked back at him and grinned. “Are you talking dirty to me, Ryan?”

  He pondered that. “Yes. Absolutely.”

  Alex laughed softly, sounding happy. Then he groaned. “Sorry, I have to straighten up—all the blood is rushing to my head. Not the fun, sexy head, either.”

  “Come on, honey. Bed. Seriously.”

  “Yep. I told you horizontal was better.” Alex climbed into the bed, then paused. “Do you have a side or should I just lie anywhere?”

  “I don’t. See where you’re comfortable.” He was easy.

  Alex climbed over to the other side and slid under the covers, turning so he was lying on his side, facing Ryan. “I’d be more comfortable with you in here with me.” Alex reached out and made grabby hands at him.

  “Me too.” Ryan stripped off and slid in, shivering at the cold sheets.

  Alex wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close. Alex was way warmer than the sheets, and it wasn’t long before Ryan felt nice and toasty. Alex’s kisses weren’t hurting anything in that department either. He could drown in them, in the way they felt and the way they seemed to wrap him and Alex up in their own little world.

  “This is heaven,” he whispered, diving back into the kisses.

  Alex smiled, which made the kiss feel weird—not bad, just weird. That had him smiling too, and their tongues tangled wetly, the sound a little embarrassing until they got their lips back under control and into play on the kisses. Alex touched him, fingers exploring his skin carefully, like he was something precious.

  Ryan answered each touch, stroking Alex’s belly, tracing circles around one nipple, then the other. Alex moaned for him, and his breath quickened, their lips parting every now and then on long gasps for breath. Alex’s cock was hotter than a brand where it lay against his hip. Every now and then Alex rocked, sliding that heat along Ryan’s skin, bumping his own hardness.

  He reached down between them, cradling them both in his fingers.

  “Now this is heaven,” Alex murmured before pressing kisses across his face, each one leaving warm tingles behind.

  It was. It was crazy and nuts and pure heaven. Ryan stroked slowly as Alex dipped his head and began to suck on Ryan’s nipple, tongue and lips playing with him.

  “So intense,” Ryan whispered. He tightened his fingers, tugging them together that much faster.

  Alex nodded, lips rubbing on Ryan’s right nipple and making him shiver. Alex’s groan blew air across his flesh, causing it to pull up even tighter. He arched and pushed into the touch, his eyes crossing. Latching on to his nipple, Alex sucked, and Ryan swore he could feel the tugs go straight to his balls.

  He jacked them, letting them both feel it deep down.

  “That’s so nice,” Alex told him, eyes half closed.

  “Uh-huh. Nice and easy.”

  “Hot,”
Alex added.

  “Right.” He caught their cockheads with his fingers and bucked.

  “Fuck.” Alex bit out the word. “More.”

  “Um-hum. More. Yes.” He groaned softly, squeezed harder.

  Alex brought their mouths back together again, which made everything that much better. Their lips slid and rubbed together.

  It was gentle and easy, but it felt so right.

  Alex moaned for him, and the sound sent a shiver down his spine.

  “Soon, honey, huh? We’ll go over?”

  “Yes, please. Please.” Alex nodded his head and gave Ryan a warm smile. “I’m so ready.”

  Ryan brought their mouths together, then rolled his palm over their tips.

  Alex gave it up then and there, face going lax, spunk pouring out over Ryan’s hand. The scent was delicious, rich and male.

  “You too,” whispered Alex, sliding his fingers through Ryan’s hair.

  “Uh-huh. Touch me? Please?”

  Alex wrapped a hand around Ryan’s where it still held their cocks, jacking them both together again.

  “Yeah.” He nodded. This. This was what he needed.

  Alex traced his lips, then nibbled at them, hand tightening.

  Ryan bucked, his balls tightening up as pleasure shot from him.

  The nibbling turned into a kiss as he came, Alex kissing him with lazy passion.

  Okay, every night should end like this. Every one.

  Alex let go of his cock, hand moving to slide around his waist. “Mmm. That was nice.”

  “Uh-huh. Magical. Thank you.”

  Alex blinked slowly, a soft smile on his face. “Your bed is very cozy.”

  “It is.” He needed to get up, get a towel, put pajama pants on, unlock the door, but it was so nice right here.

  Alex cuddled in harder, body warm and fitting in all the right places. Ryan could get used to having someone to hold and hold him back—someone not one of the kids. It was… comforting.

  He’d get up in a minute. Right now he was where he wanted to be.

  Chapter Ten