Daddy Helps When Husband’s Away Chapter 06
Those large hands settled onto my shoulders. A thin sheen of oil sank into my burning skin.
“Poor little thing. So blocked up.”
Ethan pressed with practiced ease, murmuring low and teasing.
“Hasn’t Mason been taking good care of you, sweetheart?”
I wanted to smack him.
But Ethan caught my wrist and leaned to my ear.
“Have you been thinking about me, Sophia?”
I bit down on my lip and couldn’t answer.
He didn’t push it. He simply went on with his skilled work, and completely resolved the blockage.
I was already breathless, exhausted, and starting to sit up.
Ethan pressed me back down and bore down over me.
“Not so fast, sweetheart.”
He bent close, eyes glittering.
“Mason didn’t just book the lactation session.”
“He paid for a full postpartum recovery massage on top of it.”
“Two full hours.”
Two hours.
Mason had bought them for me, himself.
Ethan watched the color rise involuntarily in my cheeks.
“He asked me to take good care of you, Sophia.”
“So let Daddy take good care of you.”
He bent down and pressed a very soft kiss to my forehead.
That ambiguity — halfway between family and transgression — set my whole body ablaze.
The bed frame gave a faint, dangerous creak.
I bit down on the pillow, terrified I’d make a sound.
Because through that door, Mason was in the living room. I could even hear him crooning to Liam in a low voice.
A current of pure forbidden thrill traveled with every one of his touches, climbing straight up my spine to the crown of my head.
Ethan buried his face against the hollow of my neck.
“Sophia. Three years, sweetheart.”
“Every family dinner. Every hug. Every time you called me Ethan—”
“I was waiting for this.”
“You have no idea… how long I’ve waited for you.”
My heart lurched.
Three years?
All those female consultants I could never seem to book — had he been the one pulling the strings?
I was on the verge of giving in — and then, from beyond the bedroom door came Liam’s frantic wailing.
Mason’s flustered voice, trying to soothe him.
“Shh, buddy. Daddy’s got you. Mommy’s busy right now.”
That single sentence was a bucket of ice water, and every scrap of my sense came flooding back.
I began to struggle, hard.
“Stop. Ethan, stop.”
“Let me go. Let me go, now.”
Tears fell one after another.
“Last time was a mistake. This time… we can’t do it again.”
“For Liam’s sake.”
Ethan pressed his face into my neck and drew in a long breath.
Then, slowly, reluctantly, he lifted himself off me.
The empty ache of losing his weight against me nearly undid me on the spot.
Composed as ever, he stood, straightened my rumpled robe, and even, with a gentleman’s care, tucked the collar closed for me.
“All right, all right, sweetheart. I won’t force you. I’ve never forced a woman in my life.”
“But Sophia—”
He raised his head.
“—we both know this isn’t over.”
“Your body already said yes. Your mind just… hasn’t caught up.”
Watching how easily, how gracefully he retreated the moment I refused, I found myself saying — as if compelled —
“Ethan… I won’t tell anyone. I won’t tell Mason. I promise.”
Ethan laughed suddenly. He reached up and brushed the back of his knuckle down my cheek.
“Good girl, Sophia.”
“Daddy can wait.”
He packed the dark leather bag neatly and walked out of the bedroom without hurry.
And in the living room, Mason knew nothing.
He was gratitude itself — another hug, another slap on the back, and he even pressed a bottle of his own prized whisky into Ethan’s hand as he saw him all the way to the apartment door.
I watched from the crack in the bedroom door.
Mason’s face was full of unfeigned gratitude.
“Thanks, man. Ever since you started coming over, she’s in much better spirits.”
Ethan took the whisky and gave Mason a warm smile.
“Anytime, Mason. She’s family. It’s my pleasure.”
Just before the door closed, over Mason’s shoulder, he gave me the faintest, briefest wink.
The door shut.
Mason turned, smiling.
“Baby. How was it? Feel better?”
“Want me to book Ethan again next week?”
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