X-Treme Measure Read online

  The last time she did, Magen dropped her off at my apartment practically in the middle of the night, with no one to even take care of her. If Ashley hadn’t opened his door and then called me to tell me Reighlyn was there, she would have been outside in the fucking cold and dark.

  That’s why it wasn’t a surprise that Magen promised to come this time and flaked, but with my mother out on a cruise, there was no one else to watch her.

  I could try the neighbors, but they said no last time. Taking care of a little girl wasn’t on their agenda they said. Fucking dipshits And I knew Ashley would be gone most of the weekend.

  My buddy Matt had called and I was telling him about the sitch when I got into the elevator.

  When it opened I paid no attention to the chick who had shit in her arms since I was running behind trying to get to the condo gates to wait for Reigh at the bus stop.

  “Yeah, I gotta get Reighlyn settled with a sitter. You know Magen doesn't give a shit and she totally fucking flaked. Again. Dumb bitch. I can’t keep letting her do this shit to Reighlyn. I can see the toll it’s taking on her and that sadness pisses me off, because she tries to hide it.”

  “I can see if Karissa will watch her tonight. She’s always liked Reighlyn.”

  “Yeah, does Karissa even know what you do, bro?”

  “Ha. Nah. I’m sure she’d freak the fuck out. Then dump me.”

  “She’d be a fool if she did. You don’t even do anything except perform.”

  He laughed and told me he’d check back in a little bit with an answer. I didn’t know what else to do. Normally my mother would watch her when I worked, but she had been waiting a long time to go on this cruise and I wasn’t about to deprive her of her dreams.

  I couldn’t call in either. I was lucky Reighlyn hardly ever got sick. Not that I was desperate for money but I it was my job. I needed to find a sitter.

  I got to the gates when Ruth, a mother of three sprung up a conversation. “Hey, Daniel. How are you doing?”

  She too was waiting on her kids, and was the only mother who didn’t hit on me. We talked about mundane crap while the bus turned the corner to the apartments.

  When my daughter hopped off the bus it never ceased to amaze me how much she’s grown. Her beautiful brown hair, curly and running halfway down her back bounced as she came to me.

  Although she had Magen’s blue eyes, they were bright and pure and everything good in my life. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.

  “Daddy, you won’t believe what Haven said about me to Tommy. She said I liked him and wanted to kiss him. I mean, that is so gross. Right?”

  I couldn’t help the laughter that came out. Thank God she still thought that was gross. I didn’t know what I was going to do when puberty hit and girly things started happening to her. God help me.

  “For now, yes. So gross. Tell Haven that wasn’t nice of her. Friends shouldn’t act like that towards each other.”

  “Exactly. I will. Thanks, Daddy.”

  “Of course, babydoll.”

  We started walking towards the stairs, even though there was an elevator, I usually took the stairs. I told Reighlyn that it was good exercise. She normally just rolled her eyes and slugged my arm.

  “Oh, daddy! Look! A new resident!”

  “Yes, she’s Ashley’s new roommate. He told me about finally finding one before he left for the night.

  I turned to see where Reighlyn was pointing and saw a blonde chick lifting boxes from her rusty-crap car and setting them on the ground.

  I vaguely remembered her from the elevator earlier, but I was too busy dealing with my own shit to get a good look at her. I was going to remedy that right now. And what kind of gentleman would I be if I just walked past her and not help with those heavy boxes?

  I saw a few guys walk pass already and not even bother. Like helping someone was a travesty. I knew where she lived anyway so it wasn’t like it was out of the way for me. Not that it would matter. She was a female and it was the gentlemanly thing to do. It was natural to help out.

  She bent over about to lift them when I went ahead and lifted them for her.

  “Hey! That’s my—” she looked up at me and her eyes widened with shock. “Stuff.”

  “Yes. Of course. You’re my neighbor’s roommate. He didn’t tell me your name though.”

  She seemed flustered and a red hue spread on her cheeks. A girl who blushed? Was it from embarrassment? Or something more? She looked young. Like maybe she was in her early twenties. She had a wholesale look about her. As if she had some sweet, Miss-Apple-Pie, good girl quality about her. Her blonde hair hung to her lower back, even in a ponytail. It was beautiful. She had creamy vanilla skin and her blue eyes were like the sky.

  “Uh.”

  “Uh?”

  She shook her head, gathering her wits I suppose and finally smiled in an awkward kind of way which almost made me laugh.

  “Moriah. Moriah. I’m Moriah Augustus. My name is Moriah Augustus.”

  She was definitely affected by me. But she didn’t try hitting on me. She just genuinely seemed flustered in my presence. For some reason, it made me want to tell her there was nothing to fear. I was just a guy.

  I let out a chuckle and her face reddened deeper when I asked, “Need a hand?”

  “Oh no! You have uhm…” she pointed towards my daughter.

  “Reighlyn, come on over here, girl.” I looked from my daughter who was looking at Moriah with curiosity, then back towards me before smiling and coming over.

  If I had to take the reins, I would. I turned back to Moriah and said, “Now what kind of man would I be if I let a woman carry heavy boxes up four flights of stairs?”

  “Uh, the elevator, maybe?” She almost said it like a question and I shrugged, striding towards the stairs with her load in my arms. I had no problem carrying the weight. Reighlyn was next to me

  I heard shuffling behind me and then Reighlyn and I waited at the door as the girl rushed past us, out of breath. How could a girl who looked like she did be out of breath? She didn’t look like she was unhealthy or out of shape. She was thicker…softer around the middle than most women I’ve met. Not that there was anything wrong with thicker girls. Hell, sometimes a man needed to feel that extra bit of cushion and I had no problem with size. Tall, short, thick, thin, race. It didn’t matter to me. I’d just never met one up close. At least outside XM.

  She walked passed me down the hall and I followed her with her things, hoping she didn’t just want them out in the living room.

  That and I was curious. The fuck I was curious over? I had no idea. But I felt…propelled. Almost like a magnet. Now that I looked at her and all those swaying curves, I was hypnotized. She filled out those shorts really good with a high, round, bubbly ass and a waist that I itched to get my hands on. The shorts were short enough that it leaved only a little to the imagination. Since no one was around, I didn’t mind the eyeful she showed me.

  She turned around a little too quickly and I hadn’t meant to be so close, but she bumped right into me. Her soft hands palmed my chest.

  “So sorry. Sorry. Uh, yeah. Nice chest. Meet you. Nice to meet you. You are?”

  A deep chuckle rumbled from my throat but I didn't say anything to make the situation any more awkward than what she was probably already feeling.

  I stuck out my hand and said, “Daniel Greensboro.”

  “Thanks for the help. I can take it from here.”

  She didn’t take my hand right away and it made me wonder why she was hesitant at such a normal gesture. I just tilted my head, kept my hand out and waited.

  When she finally did slip her hand in mine, it was like an electric shock went straight up my arm and down to my cock. Hardening it to ready position. Detective Dick was ready to explore.

  Whoa, boy.

  The hell? I did not have this kind of response. I wasn’t embarrassed about it though. Never in my almost thirty years have I had such a strong reaction to a woman
before. So I did the only thing I could think of. I knew Reighlyn was waiting patiently in the other room so I needed to make this quick.

  I jerked her just a bit closer and I inhaled her pretty scent as I said, “It was nice to meet you, Moriah.”

  Damn she smelled good and it only made my dick thicken more and I could feel the teeth of the jean zipper imprinting on the underside of my dick. Made me wonder if she smelled good all over. If she tasted just as good. I bet she did.

  Shit. I needed to get out of here. I nodded and turned to make my leave. I made my way out of the apartment, and Reighlyn had wrapped her arm around my waist as we walked back to our place.

  “I wonder if she’s nice. She looks young. Oh, hey. When is Magen picking me up?”

  “She’s your mother, Reighlyn.”

  “Daddy, I’m almost nine years old. She hasn’t been my mother since I was like what? Too young to even speak and then she just dumps me like yesterday’s old garbage? No, dad. She was just the vessel.”

  Fuck. She must have overheard me. I only ever called Magen that when I got really frustrated with her and talked to my mother or Matt about her. Out of the group at XM, Matt had become a good friend over the past several years.

  I closed the apartment door and led her to the kitchen table and proceeded to get the stuff I was going to make for dinner.

  “Reighlyn. Babydoll, I know where you heard that from and even though she’s not the best mother out there, she is still your mother.”

  “Ha. Yeah. Okay, dad. Why can’t I just get a new mom?”

  Somehow that made me laugh out loud. “Baby that would mean I would have to get married and one — I’m not ready for that. Two. Finding someone who could handle all the awesomeness that is you and me would be tough to handle for any woman.”

  “You’re right. We are quite perfect.”

  “But—

  “But in a totally humble and non-self-satisfying way.”

  “Exactly. You never know though. I might find the girl of my dreams someday and she’ll knock me on my ass.”

  “You said ass.”

  “Doesn’t mean you need to repeat me, girl.”

  “I know. I just like seeing you flustered.”

  “Where are you getting these words?”

  Reighlyn giggled as she opened her My Little Pony backpack and pulled out her homework assignments.

  “Reighlyn?”

  “School of course. It’s called vocabulary.”

  “Oh, joy. You are getting too old for this man, babydoll.”

  She shrugged and turned to her school work. She never mentioned to me about getting married or even voicing at wanting a mother before. We had been in our own little bubble for so long, I hadn’t even had time to date. Hell, the only dates I had revolved around work and they weren’t really dates because I got paid to do them. Did Reighlyn really want a mom? With my type of job, it would be a tall order to fill.

  I set out to make us a stir fry with rice, veggies and chicken as she did her homework. I haven’t had a girlfriend in all the time I’ve had Reighlyn. Of course I went out every once in a while. There were parties all over Houston and I had hook-ups. I had no problems getting down, but to actually take one of them home and have Reighlyn met them? Nah. I think I would know if I wanted something more than just a one-night stand with a woman. That and most of them just saw me and instantly wanted my body, not even caring if I had a brain.

  Yeah, definitely sounded like what a chick would think, but that’s what chicks thought when they saw me. Even the little neighbor girl across the hall. She was flustered and nervous around me and I knew what she saw. Hot neighbor. But she did think about my daughter when I tried helping her. Most would just hope Reighlyn wasn’t mine.

  It made me wonder what she was doing right now. Probably unpacking. The little shorts she was wearing riding upward when she bent. Her long blonde hair begging to be pulled and tugged. Those innocent blue eyes curious. Fuck, my zipper was going to permanently etched on my dick if I kept thinking about her. I didn’t know her from Eve. She seemed nice, but that could just be window packaging.

  Ashley seemed to like her even though he just met her. And he was gone so he definitely couldn’t watch over Reighlyn. I was so freaking screwed. I hadn’t heard anything back from Matt so I’m sure he wasn’t going to be of any help.

  I couldn’t ask the new neighbor, I’m sure Ashley wouldn’t mind it if Reighlyn was over there, but it didn’t sit right with me. That and she was young, she probably a party girl and went out all the time. No way was she willing to watch over Reighlyn.

  Bringing Reighlyn with me was out of the question.

  I made our plates and we set out to eat. She was half way through when she asked, “Who is going to watch me while you’re at work?”

  I set my fork down. Still not even sure myself. “I don’t know, honestly. I can’t leave you here by yourself either. Your grandma is gone until next weekend.”

  “Yeah, she told me when she called last night. She had extended her cruise. I want to go on a cruise.”

  “Maybe someday, Gran, you and I will take one together. I’ve never been on one either.”

  “You could ask our new neighbor. She seemed nice.”

  “We don’t know her, Reigh. I’m not going to entrust your care to some stranger.”

  “She introduced herself to you. Did she seem strange to you?”

  “Reighlyn, you’re pushing. Yes, she did introduce herself, but I don’t know her. What if she kidnapped you?”

  “From next door?”

  “She has a car. She could take you away and then ransom you.”

  “And would you pay?”

  “Of course I would. I’d pay whatever price. We’re getting off the topic.”

  “No, we’re not, Dad. You know you’d have to call in if you can’t find someone, and since the vessel isn’t coming, as usual, why don’t you have faith and just ask her. She’s really pretty.”

  That she was. I already had a pretty good imagination and when every blood cell rushed down to my dick, the fantasies had come alive. Didn’t mean I was going to act on them though. She was too young. Definitely too young for what I wanted to do to her.

  I shouldn’t even be thinking this way! I was such an idiot. She would freak out if I told her exactly what I would like to do to her. And all that beautiful, long, blonde hair. I could wrap it around my fist, holding it tight as I pushed into her with hard, heart-thumping thrusts.

  Fuck. Get that shit out of your head, Danny.

  “Pretty, yes. But does she have a brain to go with those looks?”

  Reighlyn giggled her little girl laugh and it settled the rapid beat of my pulse. I loved her girly laugh. She was growing up so fast, and I wasn’t ready for that.

  “She might. Do you have anyone better to ask?”

  That fact was, no, I didn’t. I had friends, but they were bachelors. No way was I going to allow them to watch my little girl. I wasn’t that desperate. That and they lived too far away for me to go drop her off and then pick her up.

  “You know, I hate it when you get the last word in. One of these days, I’ll win.” That was one of our games we played. Who could get to the point quickest and have the last logical answer.

  “Fine. I’ll ask her, but if she says no, then I guess it’s just me and you, kid.”

  She rolled her eyes and finished the last bit of her food. I’d have to call in. Which wouldn’t hurt us, but I hated calling in last minute. Not when our set was already prepped. I was the lead runner.

  “What are you waiting for, Daddy? Go already. I can tell you want to.”

  My eyes crunched with irritation. “And how can you tell that?”

  “You like her. You never go out of your way to help the women around here and you did for her.”

  “She was moving in. It was the right thing to do, Reighlyn.”

  “Whatever you say, dad.” Then she got up and took our dishes to the sink. She was defin
itely growing up too fast.

  She started washing our plates and putting them in the dish water as I went ahead and made my way out the door, grumbling about silly little girls and their silly imaginations. It wasn’t the first time I’ve said that. But never had it revolved around a woman.

  Reighlyn laughed and said, “Like daddy, like daughter.”

  “Yeah, well just do those dishes. Just like it should be.”

  Her face went from smiling to little girl fury. One thing I taught my daughter, or am teaching her; Self-sufficiency. I’ve always taught her to take the lead in the things she does and how to own up to her mistakes if she makes them. One thing I instilled in her was she might be a female, but a lot of females could do things a man could and sometimes even better than they could. That some men think it’s a woman’s place to be in the kitchen, and to not bother trying to best them. Well, I taught her to think fuck that. Well, I didn’t say that, but it was something similar. I wasn’t going to raise a docile child. I wanted her to be independent and do things for herself.

  “Love you, babydoll.” I winked at her and said, “Stay here, please.”

  I closed and locked the door before walking the short way until I got in front of their door. For some strange reason, my heart was pumping double time in seeing Moriah.

  Such a unique name. Moriah. I liked the way it sounded. A unique name for a pretty woman. Reighlyn was right about that. She was pretty. Beautiful in that fresh, girl-next-door way. I rang the doorbell, almost praying she wouldn’t come to the door, but then hoping she would so I could look at her. Take another long look at her. Let her image get engrained inside of my brain once more. I faintly heard music inside, so I knocked on the door a little harder. I pretty much banged on it after another few minutes went by and the music instantly went off. I heard shuffling inside before she twisted—didn’t she lock the door after we left earlier? Twisted it open.

  I was going to have to tell her to take proper precautions—she twisted and pulled the door open to reveal her in a cropped tee that ended just below her tits and a pair of Lycra shorts that stopped at the top of her thighs.

  Fuck, my dick got thick and hard and my mouth was practically watering. She looked fucking delicious. There was a thin sheet of sweat dotting her hairline, between her plump tits and a little slipping down her bare tummy. Jesus. Someone shoot me.