Page 154 of You've Got Hate Mail
I should check on her.
Instead, I’m taking advantage of the opportunity to occasionally brush a kiss to Cricket’s neck too.
Torturing both of us, based on the way her breathing hitches.
“Does Lav always dress herself so easily?” Cricket asks breathily.
“No.”
“Didn’t think so.”
“She has plans if she’s willingly dressing herself.” I kiss her neck again.
Her breathing gets more unsteady. “She had a look when she knocked on my door this morning.”
“Sorry she woke you. We’ve talked about how she needs to respect your space.”
“I was already awake. And she’s fun. I don’t mind.”
I shoot a look down the hallway, and when I don’t see Lav, I lower my voice even more and nuzzle her neck. “Can I come see you again tonight?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll leave a box of condoms in your nightstand.”
She shivers. “Make it a big box.”
“This isn’t a date.”
“You’ve made that clear.”
“But I want to?—”
“Ladies and gentlemen, cats and girls, introducing the new, only and one, never-deducted, Lavender the Dragon Slayer Princess,” my daughter crows as she runs down the hallway back to us.
I leap back and adjust the boner in my pants.
Cricket straightens and reaches for her coffee cup, which she manages to grab without knocking it over.
Lav’s in a dress printed with the dragon and the princess fromThe Paper Bag Princess, and she has bright pink lipstick both on her lips and in two circles on her cheeks.
Cricket sets her coffee back down and claps and whistles like she’s at a hockey game.
But if her cheeks go that shade of pink at a hockey game, and if her eyes get that dark and smoky at a hockey game—fuck.
No.
Idid that.
Iturned her on.
“Three cheers for Lavender the dragon-slaying princess!” Cricket says, her voice higher than normal.
Lav curtsies, then bows, then bows again, then lifts her arm straight out. “You may kiss my hand.”
I bend and kiss her hand. “My lady.”
“Good sir, you’re late on your duties. Braid Cricket’s hair, please.”
