Noah

I loosened my tie and rolled the tension from my shoulders. When I’d started Abrams Design and Construction, I’d done so because I wanted to work with my hands, build things from the ground up. I never anticipated how much time and effort I’d have to put into schmoozing clients. It was hands-down the worst part of my job. But it was also the one part of my job that gave me the big fat paychecks I’d become accustomed to. “I’m home,” I called as I let myself into the house. I dropped my briefcase on the foyer table and toed off my shoes. “Heather?” “In here, Dad,” she said from the kitchen. I smiled. Now that my only daughter was a freshman in college, I never knew when or if she’d be home. The nights she stayed on campus late, this big house was lonely and as quiet as a cemetery. I walked into the kitchen to find her at the table, books sprawled out in front of her. “Hey, pumpkin.” I ruffled her hair like I used to do when she was little, and she swatted my hand away. “I ordered take-out from Mariano’s. Should be here soon.” “Sounds good.” I grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, twisted off the top, and took a long pull. “How’d the pitch go?” Heather leaned back in her chair and stretched her arms over her head. “We made the sale. We’ll spend the next two weeks going over blueprints and then construction will start next month.” Setting my beer down, I removed my tie and tossed it on the counter. “I hate wearing those damn things.” Heather laughed. “You should wear them more often. You look nicer when you’re not in tattered jeans and covered in dirt.” Shaking my head, I took another drink. “Hey, watch it. That dirt is what’s paying for your college.” I tilted my beer bottle in her direction. “What’re you working on?” She scrunched up her face and stuck out her tongue. “My final project for my business class and studying for final exams.” Pride swelled inside of me. I never had any expectations that Heather would take over the construction company I’d built, but when she said she wanted to go to college for business so she could learn the ins and outs and someday take over the family business, I didn’t argue. If that’s truly what she wanted, I wouldn’t stand in her way. I finished my beer and set the bottle in the sink. “I’m going to grab a quick shower and change before dinner gets here.” She mumbled her acknowledgement, her face buried in her books. Damn, I was proud of that kid. I headed toward the stairs when there was a knock on the door. Dinner couldn’t be here already, could it? I reached for the doorknob when the door swung open, and in walked Corrine Tate. Tall. Thin. Curves in all the right places. Long hair that begged to be grabbed. Big, innocent eyes. She was my daughter’s best friend. And my greatest temptation. “Oh, sorry, Mr. Abrams.” Corrine smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t hit you, did I?” “No.” I stepped back. “C’mon in.” She entered, and I closed the door behind her. When I turned to face her, I immediately noticed two things. First, she was wearing a very thin tank top with a bra that pushed her tits up into delectable mounds of tanned flesh that I wanted to bury my face in. I shifted on my feet, hoping the erection I felt coming on wouldn’t alert her to the nasty thoughts racing through my mind. Second, she had two bags with her—one backpack stuffed full of books, and her overnight bag. As Heather’s closest friend, Corrine had been spending the night here since she was twelve, and she always brought the same purple bag. I didn’t care that she spent the night, but knowing she was here, only a couple doors down from my room was a temptation that was becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Ever since Corrine had turned eighteen a year and a half ago, I hadn’t been able to deny my growing attraction to her. She was a beautiful young woman. Smart. Funny. Dripping with sex appeal. And I wanted her in the worst fucking way possible. Too bad I was literally old enough to be her father. “Looking good, Mr. A.,” she said, interrupting my thoughts. My eyes widened, and my heart slammed against my ribs. “What?” She swirled her finger up and down the length of my body. “The suit. It looks good on you.” “Oh.” I glanced down at my clothes. “Yeah, I had a sales pitch today. I was just going to go change.” She pouted, and I crossed my arms so I wouldn’t yank her body to mine and suck on that full, luscious bottom lip that she’d stuck out. My cock strained behind my zipper, demanding to be set free, to sink into her hot, young body. “That’s too bad. It looks good on you.” She smiled, her emerald green eyes lighting up her face. For half a second, I considered leaving the suit on, for her. But that was a silly fantasy I couldn’t entertain. “Heather and I have to study for finals.” They attended the local university together, but Corrine was enrolled in a liberal arts program because she was unsure what she wanted to do with her life. She was, as she liked to say, “exploring her options.” I’d give my left fucking nut to explore her. I nodded. “She’s in the kitchen.” “Thanks.” She spun on her heel and headed out of the foyer. Her short shorts barely covered her ass cheeks, and I couldn’t help but watch her walk away, the sway of her hips teasing me. I swore she dressed like that on purpose, like she was hoping to get a rise out of me. Little did she know, it worked. Every. Fucking. Time. I blew out a breath and turned to go upstairs when there was another knock on the door. Christ, it was like a circus around here tonight. I opened the door and the delivery boy from Mariano’s stood there, holding three large bags. “Delivery for Heather Abrams.” “Yep.” I pulled my wallet out of my back pocket. “How much?” “Oh, uh, thirty-six forty-two.” “Is that the food?” Heather came racing through the foyer and then came to a complete stop. “Hey, Bryan.” “Hi, Heather.” His cheeks turned pink, and I scowled. “I got this, Dad.” She took the two twenties from my hand and nudged me out of the way. As much as I wanted to lock her up in her room and never let her think about guys, let alone be with one, I could take a hint. Dragging a hand through my hair, I retreated to the kitchen. I froze. Corrine was bent over in the fridge, ass on full display. Momentarily closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, but my cock was already rock hard, and that view wasn’t making it any softer. The tank top she wore barely reached the waistband of her shorts, leaving a sliver of her back exposed. My gaze lingered on that spot as I imagined dragging my lips across her flesh; then my eyes lowered to her hips. I flexed my fingers, dying to know how my hands would feel on her hips, grabbing them as I slid my hard cock in and out of her. I adjusted myself. From this angle, it appeared as though she weren’t wearing panties. Fuck that was hot. She straightened and turned around. My eyes snapped up to her face. “Thought you were changing,” she said, closing the fridge and twisting the top off a bottle of water. “Not that I’m complaining or anything.” “I was, but the food is here.” She looked around as if she didn’t believe me. “Heather’s out there flirting with the delivery boy.” I frowned. Corrine laughed. “Ah, yes. Bryan. She sorta has a thing for him.” “I noticed.” “Aw, don’t worry, Mr. A.” She stepped up to me and patted my chest. The touch sent a shiver through me and caused my dick to twitch with need. “Bryan’s a good guy.” “No one will ever be good enough for my daughter.” I nearly snarled the words. Corrine’s hand fell away from my chest, trailing down my stomach before she pulled away completely. I immediately missed the feel of her hand on me, even if it was an innocent touch. “She’s lucky to have someone who cares so much.” My heart squeezed. Corrine’s father was a prick who cared more about work than his own family. And her mother was always too busy fucking anyone with a dick who would give her a second look. That’s why Corrine spent so much time here, so she could get away from her messed up parents. And I was more than happy to accommodate her. “Hey.” I took her hand into mine, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. Her hand was so small and delicate compared to mine, her skin silky soft. “There’s no one out there good enough for you, either.” Not even me, although I would never hurt her like some of the other assholes she’d encounter during her life. I would worship her, protect her, always be there for her. “Thank you.” She closed the distance between us, her chest rubbing against mine with each breath she took. My shirt did nothing to hide how hard her nipples were, and I suppressed a groan. She’s only nineteen. She’s my daughter’s best friend. I repeated the mantra, but it wasn’t having the same effect it normally did. “That means a lot,” she whispered. I gave her hand a squeeze then released it before I did something stupid. Like bend her over the counter, yank those shorts down around her ankles, and shove my cock so deep inside her, she wouldn’t know where she ended and I started. “Well, it’s the truth.” My voice was deeper than usual and raspy. She rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to my cheek, dangerously close to my lips. This was not the first time she’d kissed my cheek—far from it—but this time was different. Electric. She lingered as if she wanted me to turn my head a fraction of an inch and meet her lips. And God damn if I wasn’t contemplating doing just that. It would be so easy. “Corrine, honey.” She smelled like coconuts and the beach. Instinctively, I slid my arm around her waist and drew her closer. She was all soft curves and luscious warmth, a stark contrast to how hard every part of my body was, and there was no way she didn’t feel my erection pressed against her. I knew I should care. I should pull away, try to hide my arousal, but a part of me—that sick, twisted part of me that I tried to keep buried—wanted her to know how I felt when she was around. “Got the food,” Heather said as she entered the kitchen. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving.” Corrine jerked away abruptly and cleared her throat. Without a word or glance in my direction, she stepped around me. Shit. I’d crossed the line and made her uncomfortable. I was such a dickhead. Any crazy notions I had about her, about being with her, had to remain locked up tight in my mind. An unattainable fantasy and nothing more.