Page 56 of Keeping Penny

Afterward, Bowie settled between him and Penny on the couch and they took turns reading to her. Around eight o’clock, the little girl’s eyes drooped and it was obvious she was fighting sleep.

“Time for bed,” Penny said softly.

“I’m not tired,” Bowie insisted, then yawned.

“Right. Bed, girlfriend.”

“I don’t want to miss anything,” she whined.

“Nothing interesting is going to happen,” Pyro reassured her. “We’re going to watch the boring news, then head to bed. Tomorrow morning, we’ll make pancakes or waffles, and we can have a rematch on Connect 4. I still say you cheated somehow because there’s no way I could’ve lost six games in a row!”

Bowie giggled. Then she held up her arms to Pyro. “Carry me?”

Touched beyond belief, Pyro looked to Penny for her permission. She smiled at him and nodded. He picked up Bowie as if she was made of glass, and nothing had felt more right than when she put her head on his shoulder as he carried her toward her room.

He placed her on the bed and tucked her in. “There, snug as a bug in a rug,” he told her.

“Kylo-Pyro?”

“Yeah, Bowie-Bear?”

“Today was the bestest day ever. Thank you for teaching me to swim. And taking Mommy and me to the beach. And for our suits. And for my bed. And for reading to me and getting me that Uno game with braille so I can play without anyone telling me what my cards say. And for letting me win all the Connect 4 games.”

Pyro wasn’t too surprised she realized he was purposely throwing games so she could win. She was too smart for his shenanigans. “Thank you for trusting me to help you float. And for being the bestest little girl in the world.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, sweet girl. Now get some sleep. Today was long and tiring.”

“Yeah,” Bowie agreed, before turning onto her side and closing her eyes.

Pyro watched her sleep for a few minutes, before leaving her room and shutting the door behind him.

He went back into the living room, only to see that Penny had taken their used glasses to the kitchen, put away the games, and folded the blankets they’d been using.

Now she was standing by the couch, looking…unsure.

“What’s wrong?” Pyro asked, immediately looking around for a threat. For whatever had changed her from relaxed and sleepy to nervous and unsettled.

“Nothing,” she answered. Then she straightened her shoulders before walking toward him with a determined look in her eye.

Before he could figure out what was wrong, she’d walked into his personal space, put her arms around his shoulders, and kissed him.

Pyro responded instinctively, clasping her to him with an arm around her waist and tilting his head to take the kiss deeper. When they finally came up for air, they were both breathing hard and fast.

“Penny?”

“You, Pyro, are lethal, in all the best ways. I wasn’t prepared for how hot you would be in a swimsuit. I wanted to jump you right there on the beach, but I also didn’t want to get arrested. Thank you for being so awesome with my daughter. With both of us. I want you. But I understand if you’re not ready for more, especially since Bowie and I are a package deal.”

In response, Pyro put his hands on Penny’s ass and lifted. She let out a quiet, surprised screech, then quickly wrapped her legs around him.

He turned and headed for his room, gently kicking his door shut after he entered.

He put a knee on the bed and dropped Penny onto her back in the middle. “I’ll still sleep on the couch if you want me to,” he forced himself to say. It might kill him to walk away, but he would. Without one word of complaint.

Her hand came up to the back of his neck and her fingers caressed the sensitive skin there. “No. Did you miss the part where I said I wanted you?” she asked, sounding a little shy, even though her legs were around him, her hands were making goose bumps break out on his skin, and her eyes were giving fuck-me vibes.

“No, I didn’t miss it.” He pressed his hips down, letting her feel his rock-hard cock against her belly. “But I want you to be sure. Because once we do this, make love, there’s no going back. I’m going to want you in my bed, or to be in yours, every damn night if possible.”