Chapter Twenty
Hank let himself in the front door Tuesday night and pulled up short at hearing a squeal of laughter from JJ, and Dox’s voice.
Also sounding happy.
He walked in and found them on the couch, JJ enthralled as Dox read to her from a book.
The sight of the two of them together like that nearly drove Hank’s breath out of him.
And not in a bad way.
A sweet, deep ache throbbed in his chest, slowly twining its way down through his body to his cock, which twitched when he spotted the smile on Dox’s face as he turned the page.
Iamin love with him.
Seeing this man loving his daughter, being afatherto her, it felt like all the jagged, scattered pieces of his soul had been shaken and magically fell into their rightful places.
Finally.
They both looked up, smiling. “Hi, Daddy!” JJ said. “Pop was reading to me.”
“I see.” He set his lunch cooler down on the table and walked over to her to kiss her hello on the forehead. “Did you do your schoolwork already?” He’d bought a couple of workbooks for her to keep up with things like practicing the alphabet and learning basic math over the summer.
She nodded. “Pop helped me.”
Hank was well aware of Dox’s smile before his gaze swiveled and met Dox’s. The man wore a playful smirk, his own gaze searching Hank’s for…something.
Hank leaned in and brushed a kiss across Dox’s lips. “That’s because Pop is a great dad.”
From the way Dox’s gaze immediately softened, almost looking like was close to tears, it only cemented in Hank’s soul he’d absolutely made the right choice to marry him.
Dox was right—they could work on everything else along the way if they just kept loving and trusting each other. Day by day, night by night.
“I need to take a shower,” Hank said, standing up. “I’m all sweaty and stinky. I’ll be right out.”
“Peeee-ewwww, Daddy!” JJ pinched her nose, giggling.
Dox looked like he wanted to join him in the shower. “I’ll get dinner going for us,” he said instead.
Hank started to turn away. “Thanks.” Then he pulled up short, turned back, and laid a real kiss on Dox, one that had JJ giggling again and turned Dox’s cheekbones an adorable shade of pink. “I’ll be right back, Pop.”
Dox swallowed hard. “Hurry. I’m hungry.”
Oh, Sir wants to play that game, huh?
Toying with him like this wasfun. “Have to make sure you eat your fill tonight then, Pop.” That time, he slowly straightened, watching the edges of Dox’s lips twitch as he tried to hold back the grin Hank knew desperately wanted to escape and which would draw questions from JJ if he allowed free.
Dox caught his lower lip between his teeth, a gesture gone again almost before Hank even saw it. Only then did Hank turn, wearing his own smile, and head back to their bedroom.
When he emerged ten minutes later, smelling and feeling loads better, Dox was in the kitchen finishing dinner prep while JJ sat on the couch and was busy coloring. During his shower, exhaustion had swept through him again, dampening his ardor a little.
Although he suspected Dox would have no trouble getting his interest up once a certain little girl was safely asleep.
Hank walked over to Dox and rested his head on his shoulder. “Thank you,” he said. “I know I keep saying it, but I keep meaning it.” He slipped his arms around him, and, yes, okay, it wasverynice having someone to hug.
Dox’s arms encircled him, hugging him, one hand settling on the back of Hank’s head, where he gently massaged his scalp.
A soft moan escaped Hank, his eyes falling closed at the delightful sensation.
