Road to Redemption - Michelle Dalton Page 0,46

she begged.

Ray smiled. God, how he’d missed her. Pushing her onto all fours, and with a measured force, he ploughed back into her, pulled out, and slammed in again.

Soon, his own need overrode his want for taking it slow. Ray pumped in and out until he had to bury his face in her hair that lay bunched around her neck. She groaned into the blanket. They were good at reaching their climax together, and there was nothing like her hungry, wet walls clamping down on him as he came.

They lay panting on their backs.

“We need to get ready. It’s our turn with Vestra before dinner.” Mina eventually rose, grabbing her lace underwear, T-shirt, and three-quarter pants.

“Do we have to? Lullu and I are getting along nicely. I feel like all I’m doing is sitting in counselling sessions these days.” Ray reached out and pulled her to him.

“Yes. I’m not taking any chances, Ray. For her. We have to do this the right way.” She cupped his face and planted a kiss on his forehead, and Ray slipped his clothes back on.

After making sure there was no one about, Ray sprinted from their hideout and down the steps, only stopping when he reached the bottom. Footsteps behind him caused him to turn. His heart jumped into his throat as Ben sauntered toward him.

“Best get to your meeting then.” Ben’s words were cold and his eyes were dark.

Ray nodded and walked off.

Fuck!

“Come, sit.” Vestra waved him in.

Ray’s heart thumped against its cage as it always did when he got to chat with his daughter. He wiped his palms down his work uniform. He’d thought to keep them on. They looked neater than his well-worn jeans and trainers, and he wanted to make an impression.

“Hi Dad.” Lullu smiled up at him from her chair. Her words warmed that hollow spot in his chest.

“Hello Lovie.”

“Ma, can I hug him?” Lullu stepped toward Ray, who wasn’t sure if he should turn and run away, or …

“Erm, Lullupops, maybe …” Mina didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence as Lullu, stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around Ray.

Lullu’s head reached just below his chest and her arms didn’t quite make it all the way around his torso.

This child marched to the beat of her own drum. For the shortest moment, Ray felt sorry Mina had to contend with a teenage will on her own, but then he remembered that Mina was much the same.

“That feels good, and you smell just like the sea. I like that.” She spoke into his shirt.

Ray swallowed hard.

Would it be appropriate to cry in front of his daughter? Helluva impression that’d make. He allowed his arms to snake around her as he lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on the golden crown of her hair. Everything that had ever been broken inside of him came together. Both the jagged and the sharp melded to form a whole which had lain shattered for many years.

“Thank you, Lovie. You smell like horses and spring blossoms.” He glanced at Mina, not sure if he was saying the right thing.

Mina smiled and nodded, easing the tension building in his gut. This wasn’t their first visit, but he

Lullu giggled as she let go. “Agh, it’s probably Boesman’s hay you’re smelling, but I love the smell of horses too.”

“Well, now that the ice is broken, shall we begin?” Vestra brought the emotional meeting to order with her warm, therapeutic voice.

“Oh, I think the ice has been broken for a while now.” Mina chuckled as she shook her head and sat.

“Yes, so it has. You’ve been luncheoning with your dad this last week, haven’t you? So Lullu, I guess the main reason we’re here is to find out how you’re coping with all of this new … stuff?” Vestra said.

“If you’re asking if I’m like Sara at school, nope. I’m fine, thank you.” Lullu pinched her hands between her jodhpur-clad knees, her eyes bright and warm like her mother’s.

A deafening silence descended as Ray looked first to Vestra then Mina.

“And what is happening with Sara?” Vestra leaned back in her chair, sliding one leg under her bum and creating a comfortable and informal feel to the conversation.

“Agh, she doesn’t know who her pa is, and some of the kids are meanies!” Lullu’s eyes darted to Ray, then settled on Mina.

“Have you been teased?” Mina leaned forward, the lines in her forehead creasing deeply.

“They tried to,” she confessed looking at her feet then back up.

Mina’s eyes