Chapter 4: The Father

"Fifteen minutes. That’s all I need to show you how much I missed you," he said, closing in until his body pressed against mine, claiming my lips like he had every right to just take them without any warning, and no permission.

I gasped when he pulled back, probably to gauge my reaction.

My eyes were wide, lips parted, heart pounding, trapped between the urge to shove my hands into his hair and force him back to me. But the ridiculous voice in my head telling me his kisses were nothing special, bland, meaningless.

“What are you doing?” I asked, still trying to process the audacity of what he’d just done.

“Just making you feel how much I’ve wanted you,” he replied with a measured tone, like he was explaining a simple concept to a slow learner. Then he kissed me again. Deeper this time, rougher, consuming every inch of me as if I hadn’t melted already.

A whimper slipped past my lips. “Did you just—kiss me?”

He grinned, satisfaction written all over his face as if he’d been waiting for me to figure it out. “I don’t know. Did I?” He pressed a hand against the wall beside my head, closing the tiny space between us until it felt like the world had shrunk to just him and me.

“You just kissed me," I muttered, still bewildered.

“Yes, Diana. I did,” he admitted, tilting my chin with his fingers, guiding my head so I couldn’t pull away, and claimed my lips again.

It was like being dragged back into the past.

His lips were possessive, they were territorial. His tongue was daring, and his hands holding me like a property he owned.

Only this time, the memory burned hotter. I realized I’d been craving it all along—for the right taste, the right warmth, the right person pressed into the same small, enclosed space like this.

As much as I tried to fight it, the familiarity of him crashed through every barrier I’d built. I missed him. I actually missed this freaking A-hole.

“Oh, Rick…” I moaned as his lips pulled away from mine and traveled down my neck.

My fingers slid into his hair, tangling there as I tugged lightly, tilting my head to the side to give him better access.

I let him take over, let my guard slip, let myself forget the promise I’d sworn to the moon that I’d never let him touch me again.

And yet, here I was, aching, craving more.

“You smell so fucking good,” he murmured, his voice low and husky, the sound of it ignited something inside me.

Goosebumps mapped my skin. Excitement coated my chest, and the butterflies in my stomach didn’t just flutter—they caused a circus.

I moaned his name as he nibbled and licked the sensitive spot on my neck, his mouth knowing exactly where to linger. His naughty hands wandered, exploring my body like it was muscle memory he never lost.

The fabric of my clothes did nothing to block the heat of his palms. One hand cupped the cheek of my ass while the other slid lower, gathering the hem of my dress, inch by inch, until his large hand stroked the bare length of my thigh.

“Rick… we—we can’t do this,” I panted, eyes half closed as sensation drowned me.

“Yes, we can,” he whispered into my ear, teeth grazing the lobe before his fingers hooked into the garter of my lace underwear.

“The party. I’m needed there. I have to go—ah…” My breath hitched as his fingers brushed dangerously close to my inner thigh. “Rick… we shouldn’t—mmh…”

He kissed me, silencing my protest before I could say it.

And somehow, my hands had a mind of its own. They slid over his chest, down the firm lines of his abdomen, until my fingers rested at the fly of his pants.

“Do you want me, Diana?” he whispered against my lips.

“I…”

“Yes?” he coaxed, punctuating the word with quick kisses along my chin and jaw.

“I…”

“Tell me what you want.”

My fingers were a second away from flicking open the button of his pants when my wits suddenly flew back into place, jolting me awake from this stupid fantasy.

No.

I wasn’t that easily seduced, reckless young Diana anymore.

With everything I had, I shoved him away and wrapped my arms around myself, hugging my body before I could betray myself again.

Ricochet barely budged, but he still took a step back to steady himself. Surprise flickered across his face, before he let out a low chuckle, watching me fix my dress like nothing had just happened.

That was… close. Too close.

“I want to get out of this damn box and go home to my daughter,” I said, clearing my throat as I dragged my fingers through my hair, trying to tame both it and myself.

I stared straight at the elevator doors, refusing to look at him—refusing to look at that... thing growing under his pants. It would definitely make the next few hours very uncomfortable for him.

Served him right.

After everything I’d survived alone, he thought he could just show up and barge back into my life? As far as I could remember, I hadn’t issued him any free passes, much less a VIP one.

If he wanted back in, he could get in line and wait his turn.

That was… "if" I’d even let him pass.

“Way to hurt me, huh?” he mumbled.

It definitely wasn’t his heart he was talking about. It was his ego. And his very obvious arousal.

Not my problem anymore.

He pressed the same button he’d used earlier, and the elevator hummed back to life as it ascended.

From the moment we stepped onto the rooftop through the entire helicopter ride, the silence was unbearable. Like my skin had been peeled back layer by layer.

His stare burned into the back of my head, and I could practically hear his thoughts from where I was sitting.

He restrained himself. No flirting, no teasing, but his presence felt like a cage. I sat there frozen, unblinking, staring at anything and everything that wasn’t him.

I didn’t trust myself to look at him. Didn’t trust my mouth not to say something stupid. Didn’t trust my body at all.

And for once, even though I knew he had plenty to say, he kept it locked behind his teeth making me feel unsure if I was grateful or annoyed about it.

The chopper landed on the hill near the house. Party lights glowed in the distance, and I instantly knew Betty had delayed things as much as she could. Guests were already gathering—and the Hello Kitty trailer parked near the garage told me Mom had beaten us here.

“Grand,” he said, the first word he’d spoken since talking to the pilot.

The wind from the blades wrecked the hair I’d spent hours perfecting, turning it into a bird’s nest. The skirt of my dress flapped wildly around my legs.

I ignored him and limped ahead, refusing to match his pace. I would never walk beside him again.

Unfortunately, his stupidly long legs made that impossible.

Fueled by pride, I nearly jogged toward the entrance of my home, chin lifted high, broken heel snapping slightly with every step.

“Mom!”

Adriana appeared beneath the archway, glowing in her gown, feet stuffed into her furry indoor slippers.

“Honey—why are you out here? You were supposed to be a surprise!” I hissed, panic flooding me as I looked around.

Before I could grab her, she dashed right past me, squealing as she leapt straight into the arms of the bastard behind me.

“Dad!” she shrieked happily... like I wasn’t even standing there.