Behaving Badly in Vegas (Vegas Love #3)

24. Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Hunter

I slammed my fist against the shower wall, pissed at myself for fucking up.

Again.

Why couldn’t I have left good enough alone? Seeing her with my family, blending in better than I ever could, made the hollow thing in the middle of my chest pump full of blood. I didn’t deserve her compliments or support. I hadn’t exactly made her time here easy, yet she still gave them. Like a pixie cheerleader standing on the sidelines, shouting, “Go, Hunter! You can do it!” The woman had more faith in me than I had in myself.

I didn’t deserve her, but damn, I wanted her.

I squirted shampoo in one hand and leaned the other on the wall. My fist wrapped around my cock as the hot water scalded down my back. I could still see her pretty pink pussy glistening for me, wet and plump and swollen. It would have been so easy to slide my cock into her, taking what I wanted without a care of how it would affect her .

My hand moved in lazy strokes as I imagined it sliding in and out of her hot, little body. Long, toned legs that wrapped around my neck and dug into my back as I ate her pussy, making her come on my tongue. I still hadn’t seen her tits, but imagined they were as amazing as the rest of her. I licked my lips, tasting the remnants of her arousal.

It was addictive.

She was addictive.

I squeezed my dick as my hand shuttled up and down its length. Jerking harder and faster, I imagined her pushed up against the shower wall, her long hair cascading down her back and her ass pushed up and out as she stood on her toes, waiting for me to take her. To shove my cock in her tight hole and ruin her.

A tingle started at the base of my spine. My head dropped back, and a prayer fell from my lips. “Charlotte!” Thick ropes of cum landed on the wall and slid down the wet tiles.

When I felt empty and depleted, I leaned my head against the wall and chastised myself.

I was always in control, but when it came to her, I had none. She twisted me up inside, a beautiful temptress with midnight-blue eyes I got lost in. I should have been turned off by her careless and reckless ways, but somehow, they made her more appealing. She gave the whole world a big middle finger, chasing her dreams no matter what anyone else thought.

I admired Charlotte Bently.

And maybe that was the problem. She wasn’t some bubbleheaded blond with big tits and zero ambition who hung out in bars trying to reel in a man who would bankroll her future. A woman like that was easy to fuck and forget. Zero fucks given.

No, Charli wanted more out of life. She had a career, albeit an unconventional one. There was a sense of pride when she talked about performing. A passion. I understood passion and wanting to be the best. I’d done it my entire life.

It was exactly why getting involved with her was a bad idea .

After changing into lounge pants and a T-shirt, I crept down the hallway to Carina’s room. It was quiet inside, but my girl was still wide awake.

I rubbed my hand over her belly and picked her up. “There’s my princess.” I took her over to the rocker and cradled her in my arms. She was so tiny. It was hard to believe I was her father. The kid had shit luck right from the beginning.

I rocked her back and forth, getting lost in the hypnotic rhythm. She cuddled into my chest and sighed. It was crazy that I was responsible for her well-being. I’d never kept a plant alive, let alone a living, breathing human. Her birth giver really was an idiot to trust me.

“So, I wanted to talk to you about Charli.” Speaking to someone who couldn’t judge me was cathartic. There would be no eye-rolling or smart-ass remarks. All she could do was listen.

“I think I fucked it up. I like her. More than I should. I know you like her too. She’s good for us. I’ve never had a long-term relationship, but I think I could do it with Charli.”

Carina squirmed and stuck her thumb into her mouth, little eyes fluttering shut. “I wish she was your mom, but she isn’t. Your mom fucked off and left us both to figure shit out on our own. It isn’t fair to ask Charli to fill that gap. She’s young and determined. This is a temporary job for her. In a couple of months, she’ll be gone as abruptly as she came into our lives. It wouldn’t be fair to get attached. Not fair to you or me, and definitely not fair to her. You haven’t learned this lesson yet, but I’m going to give you some harsh realities.”

I readjusted her head and leaned back in the rocking chair. “No one ever stays. The only one you can depend on is yourself. I’ve learned that the hard way. But I’ll tell you something, baby girl, you’ll always be able to depend on me. No matter what shitty decisions you make or trouble you get into, I’ll always be here for you. I may be a colossal dick, but I’ll be there for you. That doesn’t mean I won’t make mistakes. You were not part of my plan, but you’re the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. You and me, kiddo. We might both be bastards, but I’ll never ever let you feel like you’re less. You’ll be my princess forever. ”

With my daughter asleep in my arms, I placed her in the crib. “Good talk, Carina. Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.” I kissed her forehead and backed out of her room, still feeling like shit.

Tomorrow was a new day, a new opportunity to set boundaries between the nanny and me. No matter how mad she was, I knew I did what was best for her and that made me feel one notch better than the raging asshole I was.