My Daddy is a Hero

They played on the beach until Cae yawned and he looked at his watch to see it was almost two in the afternoon. “Tine for a nap, sugar bear,” he said and began to pack up their stuff. By the time he got to the house she was almost asleep against his shoulder, so he gave her a quick wash to get the sand off and dressed her before putting her in her crib. One warm bottle that she drank half asleep and Cae was out like a light and so was he. Later when they woke up, he went and gave his statement down at the police station, and Cae came out with a sucker. At home there was still no sign of Taryn’s car. He called the preschool and they told him she was in a meeting. He watched TV, dozed a little and made dinner for himself and Cae all the while he thought how empty it felt without Taryn around. By the time dinner was over, and they played with her blocks and toys on the floor, it had started to get dark outside. He began to worry all the while he got the baby ready for bed, and she was down by seven.

“Hey, this is Fabian. Give me a call and let me know you’re okay,” he said and hung up the phone. It was the second time he’d called only to reach her voicemail. It was nine at night when he finally saw the lights to her car in the driveway. He got up and went to the front door opening it as she got out the car. She certainly wasn’t dressed for work. The little red cocktail dress and matching shoes fit her amazingly. He felt his mouth go dry looking at her and then he frowned. She wasn’t dressed that way for him.

“Hey, stranger, I left you a few messages,” he said, stepping out the door.

“Is something wrong with Cae?” Taryn asked.

“No, we had a good day. We did the beach and stuff, tomorrow we’ll go grocery and clothes shopping,” Fabian replied. “It’s Saturday, want to come with?”

“We’ll see,” she said with a small smile.

“About last night… Taryn don’t say anything, please, let me get this out.” He made sure to get that in before she could cut him off. Fabian gave her a pleading look. “I do not blame you in the least because of what happened. Taryn, I was just coming off back-to-back flights all the while thinking my child was in danger. I was going crazy, but it doesn’t mean I blame you. I wanted to say that. I left her with you and I should have been there. I was feeling guilty like I should’ve been there. To protect her and to be here for you.”

She sighed. “I understand, Fabian, and there’s nothing to apologize about. We were both scared.”

A tense silence stretched between them before he asked, “So, you look nice. Did you go to a party or something?”

“No, umm, I had a date,” she said hesitantly. “A dentist that comes in to talk to some of the older kids about teeth. He’s asked me out a few times and I said yes.”

“Oh… Did you have fun?” Fabian felt jealousy threaten to overwhelm him and pushed it back.

“It was nice.”

“What about the things you said, about caring for me…?”

“Fabian, you like me as a friend. I get that now and I’m ok with it,” she said firmly. “Anyway, I’ll let you know about tomorrow and shopping. I’d like to see sugar bear get some new dresses. Goodnight.”

She began to walk to her door and some kind of primal instinct took over. “Oh, fuck that,” he said under his breath. There was no way he was letting some dentist move in on his woman. He’d had a plan to come home and take their relationship to a whole new level. There was no way in hell he was letting her go now.

She wasn’t full to her door when he caught her by the arm and swung her around. He pulled her against his chest and wrapped her in his arms. Without hesitation Fabian took her lips in a searing kiss. It was the first time in the entire time of their friendship that he’d kissed her like this. Fabian wondered why he didn’t do it sooner, because her taste was intoxicating. Taryn opened her mouth under his with a soft moan and he sank his tongue past her teeth. One kiss and he was rock hard for her, aching to feel her naked beneath him. Fabian molded her against him as he devoured her lips like a man possessed. He finally pulled away, groaned and went back for a second taste before lifting his head to stare at her. Her eyes were heavy with desire and he wanted to drown in the chocolate depth of her gaze.

“I’ve wanted you for a long time, Taryn, and if you think I’ll step aside graciously, you’re wrong,” Fabian said. “Tell the dentist you won’t be seeing him again because you belong to me. I’ll give you tonight to come to terms with that and tomorrow we’re going to pick our girl some new clothes. I will have you, hot, naked and moaning my name when I take you…that’s a promise. Okay?” He waited until she nodded slowly and Fabian kissed her hard. He left her standing there and a look of amazement was on her face “Goodnight sweetheart, see you tomorrow at eleven. Cae and I will pick you up.”

He walked back inside and watched through the blinds as she went to her door, unlocked it and went inside. Gotcha off center, that’s good, he thought with a grin. He had no intention of giving her a chance to see that dentist again. Taryn was his and he planned to show her in every pleasurable way possible that he was the only man for her.