Page 33 of Enticed
“You need to come over so we can watch the first movie!” The one we’d just watched was the second film in a popular franchise. Jasmine had confessed while eating ice cream that she had never seen it before. I should have known my daughter would latch onto that and use it as an excuse to get more time with her.
Jasmine’s eyes widened in surprise and shot to me again, searching for any indication of how she should respond. Rory had just invited her to our house without even clearing it with me first, and I didn’t know how to proceed. To say I hadn’t envisioned Jasmine in my home multiple times would be a lie. There were nights I pictured her in my bed, wishing I could hold her close, wishing I could make love to her until the sun came up. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea to have her in my space. It felt too much like tempting fate.
But if I said no, I would rob Rory of quality time with her favorite person. There was no good reason, aside from my own selfish desire for the one woman I couldn’t have, to deny her. My only hope was that she already had plans this evening since it was Saturday and would have to decline. But if she did, I’d want to know what they were and who she’d be with. Even though it was none of my business, it would eat me alive. I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet, uncomfortable with that line of thinking.
“If you don’t have any other plans, you’re more than welcome to come over and watch a movie with us.” I meant to say Rory, but thatuscame out before I could stop it.
Jasmine chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, her gaze bouncing from me to Rory, who watched her with wide eyed anticipation, then back to me again.
“I’ve got time,” she said, shrugging nonchalantly. A flurry of emotions overtook me, and my pulse thrummed in my ears. Jasmine was about to be inside my house. It was an intimate and welcome invasion, but I was glad Rory would be there too. I couldn’t do anything reckless with my daughter present.
My hands shook with nerves as I drove us home, Jasmine following close behind. Rory was out of the truck the moment I parked in my driveway. I scrubbed a hand down my face and heaved a deep breath before stepping out to greet our guest.
Rory was already dragging her by her hand up the front porch steps. “Come on, Dad!” she called impatiently. I climbed the steps and unlocked the door, ushering them inside. “Do you want to see my room?” Rory asked the second Jasmine was through the door.
“Uh, sure,” Jasmine replied tentatively. They disappeared down the hall, Rory talking a mile a minute. The low murmur of their voices interspersed with the occasional giggle filtered out from her room while I straightened up the kitchen. I kept my house pretty tidy, but there was still a mess from where I’d made pancakes for breakfast.
“Can you set up the playpen for Andy?” Rory asked, skidding to a stop on the hardwood floor. Rory was only supposed to handle and play with Andy in a secure, enclosed space. I wasn’t taking any chances after the toilet incident.
“Sure,” I replied, wiping my damp hands with a dish towel before going to the living room to do as she requested. Rory ran back to her room, emerging a few minutes later with Andy in her arms and Jasmine trailing behind her. They both entered the pen and sat cross-legged on the floor. Rory snuggled Andy for a moment before turning him loose and letting him explore.It only took a few minutes for him to warm up to Jasmine, and soon he was sitting in her lap. She gently ran her hand over his head and down his back.
“Wow, he’s really soft,” she mused. He let her pet him a few times before taking off again, but he came right back a moment later. It seemed he was drawn to her just as I was.
“Can I pick him up?” Jasmine asked. “I’d like to try to hold him.” Rory nodded and scooted closer, scratching between Andy’s ears.
“Do it just like I showed you,” she instructed, her expression so serious I had to stifle a laugh.
Jasmine scooped him up gently and cradled him against her body. “He’s pretty cute,” she said, and Rory beamed. “I still can’t get over how soft he is,” she marveled. She was smiling softly, watching his little whiskers twitch as he sniffed her. Then suddenly, her expression changed, her eyes widening as they snapped up to meet mine. Alarmed, I straightened, searching her face for any indication of what was wrong. Then she glanced down at herself, and I watched in horror as a wet spot bloomed across her shirt.
“He peed on you!” Rory squawked, startling Andy. He leapt from Jasmine’s hold and scurried across the floor. “Don’t worry. You can borrow one of my shirts,” she offered unhelpfully.
“Thanks, but I don’t think I could fit into your clothes,”Jasmine replied with a chuckle. Jasmine was short, but she had a woman’s body. There was no way she could wear a kid’s shirt. Regardless, it was sweet of Rory to offer.
“Oh, right.” Rory smacked her palm to her forehead. “You have boobs.”
I choked on air, coughing as I pounded my chest with the side of my fist. Jasmine snorted a laugh, and Rory glanced between us with a confused pinch to her brow.
“Rory,” I croaked, “you can’t say things like that.”
“What?” she asked innocently. “She does. Look at her.” That was the problem. I’d spent way too much time looking at Jasmine, particularly at her perfect tits which were now the subject of this completely inappropriate conversation.
“Yes, I can see that,” I said, trying to regain some semblance of control here. “But it’s not polite to talk about other people’s body parts.”
“Okay,” she drew out, and I could see the wheels turning as she tried to comprehend where she’d gone wrong. “So I should’ve said that Idon’thave boobs?” I dropped my head and groaned, questioning every parenting decision I’d ever made.
“That’s … not better. Let’s just stop talking about boobs, okay?”
“Okay,” she agreed easily.
“I’d better get home so I can change,” Jasmine said, exiting the playpen.
“No! You can’t go,” Rory whined. “We haven’t watched the movie yet.”
“I’m sorry, chickadee. I have to get this shirt off, so his pee doesn’t get on my insulin pump,” she announced, and I noticed for the first time, she was holding the material away from her body.
“Can’t you just wear one of my dad’s shirts?”
Fuck, the thought of Jasmine wearing my shirt caused a fluttering sensation to settle in my chest. She looked at me with questioning in her eyes.
