My Best Friend's Stepfather #2 Page 2

  “She told me she walked in on you and Dare.”

  Ashley sat up straighter, pulling her shoulders back. “It’s not like she walked in on us in the bedroom. I was at the dining room table.”

  “In Dare’s robe. I know.”

  A little of the old feelings of resentment arose as she remembered when Jess had moved to town and she and Helen had become close, leaving Ash feeling like an outsider.

  “So you think I should back off on Dare because of Helen?”

  “No, I’m not saying that. I just wanted to make you aware that Helen is bound and bent to cause you problems. She spent most of lunch trying to convince me you’re a conniving gold digger who’s after her precious stepdaddy for his money.”

  At Ashley’s wounded expression, Jess squeezed her hand.

  “Hey, you know I don’t believe that, and I’m not just spreading gossip. I want to warn you that she means trouble and there’s no reasoning with her.”

  “She’s trying to drive a wedge between us,” Ashley said.

  “She doesn’t realize how close you and I still are. I didn’t let her know that, hoping she’d talk more freely. It seems clear she’s spreading this nonsense to anyone who’ll listen.”

  “I get that she might not be happy with me seeing her stepfather, but…” Ashley shook her head. “In high school, the three of us were so close. After my mom died, you two were all I had. I just don’t understand what happened.”

  Jessica shook her head. “I don’t know. But whatever happened after graduation that caused her to drop out of college before she even started … giving up that great scholarship she had for NYU … It really messed her up.”

  “You know, I won’t let her manipulate me into giving up Dare. Let her do her damnedest. I don’t scare off that easily.”

  “So you’re going to give up on Adam?”

  Ashley pursed her lips. “I really care about Adam. Before Dare came along, I would have jumped at the chance to be with him.”

  “If you had to choose one?”

  “I know the sensible choice is Adam. We have so much in common. And … well, after our conversation in his office…”

  “Ha, conversation. I can see from the flush on your cheeks that it was more than that.” Jessica grinned. “What happened?”

  “He played the dominating boss and…” Ashley’s cheeks flushed. “I’m not going to lie. It was hot.”

  “Ah, man. I’d trade places with you in a minute, despite all the drama. If only you didn’t have to choose between them.”

  * * *

  Dare watched Helen walk across the living room then sink onto the couch across from him. She’d made them both a nice dinner and had insisted on cleaning up on her own.

  “How long are you planning on being in town?” Dare asked Helen.

  “I don’t know. Three or four weeks maybe. It’s not set in stone. How long will you be here?”

  “I go back to New York at the end of the month. How’s your job going?” He wondered how she could just take several weeks off work.

  “Oh, well, I’m between jobs right now. But no worries. I have some money saved up.”

  He held back the urge to offer financial aid. She might be difficult in a lot of ways, but she never asked for money. But there was this protectiveness he’d always felt for her. She’d been a good kid when he and her mom had been married, but she’d taken the divorce really hard. He’d brought the only stability she’d ever known to her life.

  He had no illusions about her. She could be trouble. For herself and for others. But he knew she genuinely cared for him, and wanted to keep their stepfather-stepdaughter relationship alive. In fact, he sometimes wondered if she wanted more than that. The way she hugged him when she saw him … the way she kissed him whenever she got the chance … He used to put it down to her just wanting a dad, but she lingered too long. Was too affectionate.

  He would love to give her the love and affection she craved, but only as a stepfather. But he couldn’t do that without her reading too much into it.

  Helen definitely had problems. And he wanted to be there for her. But he had to walk a fine line.

  But a stern, distant father figure. That he could handle.

  “Have you sent out resumes? Are you networking?”

  She laughed. “You insist you’re not my stepdad, but you like to act like one.”

  “Helen, you know I’m concerned about you, and I care what happens to you.”

  She slung her arm behind her head and rested her head against it. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

  “Good.” He stood up. “I’ve got some contracts to go over so I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He spent the next few hours in his office going over paperwork in preparation for a meeting he had the next day. When he left the den, the lights in the rest of the house were turned off and Helen’s door was closed. He sighed a breath of relief and retired to his bedroom. Once he climbed into bed, he lay in the darkness, hoping for sleep, but thoughts of Ashley percolated through his brain.

  She had clearly been freaked out this morning when Helen had arrived, and he could hardly blame her. He and Ashley had both been able to ignore their history and difference in ages, until Ashley had come face-to-face with her old friend—his stepdaughter—putting everything in clear perspective for her.

  He wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t show up on Friday.

  But he wanted her to. He’d find a way to get rid of Helen for the night—maybe even the whole weekend—so he could revel in the joy of being with his delightfully submissive Ashley. He only had few more weeks here and he intended to enjoy every hour he could with her.

  * * *

  Dare awoke to the quiet thump of his bedroom door closing. He glanced across the room and saw the silhouette of a woman in the moonlight.

  “Ashley?”

  She walked toward the bed, her long flowing robe hugging her slender body.

  “No, Daddy, it’s me.”

  He sat up. “Helen? What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream?”

  “No. In fact, I had a delightful dream.” She stood a few feet from his bed.

  Alarm bells sounded in his head as he saw her fingers glide to the tie around her waist.

  “I dreamed about you and me,” she said in a sultry voice.

  Damn it, she was untying her robe. He leaped from the bed as her tie dropped and the front of the robe slipped open.

  “God damn it, Helen.” He tugged the robe closed, having only caught sight of a sliver of naked skin, then he grabbed the sash and tied it snuggly at her waist.

  “But Daddy…” she murmured, her eyes wide and filled with a disturbing heat.

  “Don’t call me that.”

  She ran her hand up his chest, then over his shoulder and she leaned in close. “Then I’ll call you Dare. Which is so much better anyway, because I think it’s time for our relationship to move in a new direction.”

  “Helen, don’t even—”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed at him with longing. “But I’ve wanted you for so long. And I know you want me, too.”

  He grabbed her wrists and dragged her arms from around him.

  “Helen, you know I don’t feel that way about you.”

  “Do I? Then why are you fucking that slut who is my age? I’m sure it’s because you really want me.”

  “Don’t talk about Ashley that way.”

  He should deny her claim that he wanted her—which he didn’t, sexually. She used to be his stepdaughter for God’s sake, but how did he put that into words that didn’t make her feel unwanted as a human being? She’d been abandoned by her own father, and two other stepfathers. Even her mother didn’t really show her the love she needed. Didn’t make her feel like she belonged anywhere. Dare didn’t want to hurt her more than she had been already, but he walked a fine line.

  She pouted and rested her hand on his chest. “I’m sorry, I just want you so much. Mom was an idiot to w
alk out on you. I’d never, ever do that.”

  Her hand glided upward and he flattened his on top of it and drew it away.

  “You don’t want me, you just think you do.”

  Before he knew what she was doing, she grabbed her robe and pulled it open, exposing her naked breasts.

  Fuck. He pulled it closed again, grasped her shoulders and spun her around, then marched her to the door.

  “This is completely inappropriate, Helen.” He guided her down the hall to her door, then opened it. “If you try a stunt like this again, you won’t be welcome here.”

  He closed the door behind her, then strode back to his room. This time he locked the door.

  * * *

  Ashley dropped onto the couch and slumped down. She’d tried to arrange a movie with Jessica this evening, but Jess had a date with Eric, a guy from work whom she’d had a crush on for a while.

  Ashley sighed. She just wanted something to keep her mind off Dare. She should be over there right now.

  Helen coming to town had thrown everything off. With her staying with Dare, Ashley had no idea when she’d see him again, or even if she would before he returned to New York. He wasn’t the kind of man to let things just drop between them, though, so she had to trust that she’d hear from him when the time was right.

  Her cell phone chimed, indicating a text. She picked it up and glanced at the display.

  You’re late.

  She stared at the message from Dare, her heart lurching.

  With Helen there, I thought tonight was canceled, she typed.

  Get your ass over here, he replied. I expect you here within 20 min.

  She jumped to her feet and ran into the bathroom to refresh her makeup, then she grabbed a sexy bra and panty set from her drawer—sheer black with lacy flowers edging the cups and the skimpy front of the panties. Then she threw on a slinky, formfitting dress in a deep blue print. She was out the front door in record time, her heart pounding in her chest.

  She was going to see Dare tonight.

  She couldn’t stop grinning as she drove to his house, arriving exactly twenty-two minutes after his text. She rang the doorbell.

  He opened the door, his face stern. “I said twenty minutes.”

  “I did my best, but there was traffic,” she said as she followed him inside.

  “That sounds like an excuse.”

  She dropped her gaze. “No, sir. I’m sorry I’m late, Mr. Gallagher.”

  She followed him through the house to the door. The room where her deepest fantasies were brought to life.

  When he closed the door behind them, she turned to him.

  “Where’s Helen?” she asked.

  “Don’t worry about her. She’s staying with a friend for the weekend.”

  She didn’t ask if that was because Dare had sent her away or if it was Helen’s choice. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Ashley was here now.

  As he stepped closer, her whole body went into alert. Her nerve endings tingling, anticipating his touch. Her insides swirling with need.

  He stroked her cheek, his touch like a whisper of electricity grazing her skin. Warmth glowed in his dark blue eyes, and she stared into those depths, noticing the little golden flecks that looked like starlight across a midnight sky.

  His lips lowered to hers and brushed lightly, then lingered for scant seconds. Enough to drive her need to dizzying heights, but not enough to satisfy her craving.

  “You know I have to punish you.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  * * *

  The eagerness in her eyes caused Dare’s pulse to quicken. God, she was delightful.

  “First, I want you to change.”

  “But … I thought—”

  “What you’re wearing is very sexy.” And it was. The dress accentuated all her curves, and the short skirt and high heels showed off her long, shapely legs. He didn’t want to discourage her from choices like this one, but he still wanted her to wear the costume he’d been fantasizing about seeing her in.

  He walked to the cupboard and pulled out the box he’d hidden in there earlier today and handed it to her. She set it down on the nearest bench and pulled off the lid. She gazed inside, then picked up the short, blue plaid skirt and the virginal white blouse.

  She grinned at him. “A schoolgirl uniform? Really? A little cliché, don’t you think?” she teased.

  He chuckled. “Would you rather the sexy nun costume?”

  “Um, no, I’ll stick with this.” She placed her hand on his chest. The feel of it set his heart beating faster. “Unless you’re going to put on a sexy priest outfit. Or would you be a naughty schoolboy and I’d be punishing you?”

  “No and no. And I’m not really giving you a choice.”

  At the subtle hint to drop back into their role as Dom and sub, she drew her hand away and picked up the blouse.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’ll give you ten minutes to change.” He turned and left the room, knowing he’d barely be able to wait that long.

  * * *

  Ashley reached behind her and unzipped the dress, then let it fall to the floor. She pulled on the blouse and buttoned it, leaving the top few open, enough to show the lacy edges of the cups of her bra … and quite a bit of cleavage. Also, the black bra showed through the white fabric like a dark, sexy shadow. When she pulled on the skirt, she wished that she’d worn a garter belt, but when she gazed at herself in the full-length mirror on one wall she realized this looked better. More innocent.

  She wondered if she should slip off her panties. The skirt was so short that if she bent over, he’d see everything. But she decided to leave them on.

  He strode back into the room just as she was picking up her dress from the ground. She turned around to see that he’d been admiring her backside.

  She quickly folded the dress and dropped it in the box that had held the costume.

  “Very nice,” he said, his gaze roaming her body. “Turn around.”

  She turned slowly in front of him, feeling her body heat at his close scrutiny.

  “Now it’s time for your punishment.” He walked across the room and sat down on a leather couch. “Come over here.”

  She walked across the room and stood before him. The pleated plaid skirt was very short and the top of her black bra peeked out from the plunging neckline of the blouse. She felt like a naughty schoolgirl facing her sexy schoolmaster’s smoldering gaze.

  “First, you were going to skip our session today,” he said, his expression stern. “Then when I summoned you here, you were late and you know I’m very strict about that.”

  “Yes, Mr. Gallagher. I’m sorry, sir.”

  Heat simmered through her as she thought about his big hand connecting with her ass.

  “Sorry isn’t good enough. Bend over my knee,” he instructed.

  She stepped forward and knelt on the leather couch beside him, then bent over him until her stomach rested on his lap, her ass hiked in the air. His hand rested on her thigh, about halfway up and she trembled in anticipation. His fingers curled around as his hand glided upward, his fingertips grazing along her inner thigh. Her breath caught as he approached her panties, thinking he would brush against her dampening crotch, but instead his hand moved toward her ass.

  He drew back the fabric of her skirt. Since she was wearing a thong, her ass was basically naked and his big, warm hand cupped her round cheek. He stroked in a circle, sending need spiraling through her. When his hand lifted from her ass, her breath held as she waited for it to whip back down and connect with her bare bottom.

  Smack. The sound reverberated through the room as ripples of heat washed through her. Then another quick slap across her other cheek almost made her gasp.

  “Do you like that?”

  “Oh, yes, sir.”

  “That’s why I won’t be giving you any more. This is supposed to be a punishment.”

  “But, sir—”

  “Silence. Now I’ll be punis
hing you for arguing, too. Kneel in front of me.”

  “Yes, Mr. Gallagher.”

  She slid off his lap and knelt on the floor facing him. The stiff fabric of the short, pleated skirt still curled upward, revealing her naked ass. She could tell he was staring at it in the mirror on the wall behind her.

  “You are a selfish little girl and need to learn how to respect the needs of others.” He took her hand and rested it on the front of his pants.

  She drew in a breath at the feel of how hard and thick his erection was under the cloth.

  “And as you can tell, I have needs right now.” He raised an eyebrow. “What are you going to do about it?”

  She stared at the huge bulge under her hand and licked her suddenly dry lips. “I’m going to meet your needs, sir.”

  “And how are you going to do that?”

  “I’m going to unzip your pants and wrap my hand around you. Then I’m going to take it in my mouth.”

  He nodded. “Very good.”

  She pulled down his zipper and slid her hand inside his pants. As soon as her fingers wrapped around his hot, smooth flesh, her insides melted and she felt the slickness between her legs. She drew him out and admired his thick, long erection.

  “Oh, sir, it’s beautiful.” She stroked the length of it, the kid-leather soft skin gliding against her palm and fingers. She could see the need burning in his eyes.

  She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his tip. Immediately, he glided his fingers through her hair.

  “Take it in your mouth,” he said, his voice tight.

  She opened and he drew her head down, until the entire crown was in her mouth. She swirled her tongue over him then sucked. He pressed her further down his shaft … and further. She had to relax and open to let him glide down her throat. Then he drew her back, his fingers tangled in her hair so she had to follow.

  He pressed her forward and back, setting a rhythm. A few slow strokes, then several fast, then slow again. He was so hard and thick her throat ached with the effort of keeping it open and as relaxed as she could. Then he released her hair.

  “Keep going.”

  She continued the rhythm, her hand firmly wrapped around his root. Her other hand slid to his balls and she caressed them.