Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
“Me neither.”
*Caterina*
An intoxicating and familiar scent hit me in the blank unconsciousness that had consumed me. My eyes fluttered open as the salty sizzling smell of bacon pulled me into the waking land. Excitement pooled in the center of my stomach, and I shifted slightly, immediately regretting it as my muscles and limbs sharply ached in response.
I groaned, feeling so sore that just the thought of getting up had me flinching. There wasn’t a single part of me that wasn’t completely spent, and remembering last night, it wasn’t difficult to see why.
It was tempting to blame Elio for going overboard, but I knew I had been just as much of a willing participant, or even more so at times.
I huffed, letting my face fall straight into the pillow as I pouted. I was stuck on my stomach, my arms curled around my waist as it ached with every movement and my face fully smashed within the pillows.
But the bacon, my favorite breakfast food, was still luring me, teasing and tempting as it struggled to pull me out of bed, and I knew only one person could be behind this.
And speak of the devil, I thought.
I heard the door open and then shut quickly, a few footsteps and I strained my head, trying to look over my shoulders, but it was no use.
“Having trouble?” I heard him chuckle from somewhere behind me.
“Shut up,” I groaned. “It’s your fault.”
“And who was the one who kept begging me—”
“Just shut up and help me!” I blushed a deep red, flailing my arms out behind me.
Elio laughed, and I heard his footsteps approaching and the dip of the bed as he took a seat beside me. He grabbed one hand of mine and slipped the other underneath my waist, gently helping me turn over.
I shut my eyes tightly from the sore protest of my body but eventually, I was staring at the ceiling. Elio gently wrapped me up in the blanket, folding me like a burrito, and I sent him a questioning and pouting look as he grinned.
And then he lifted me into his lap, holding me like a swaddled baby. I huffed, blowing my messy hair from my face, my arms trapped within the blanket burrito, and I felt sort of like a slug, just wiggling my way to get comfortable.
He laughed, gently kissing the tip of my nose.
“My sweet baby,” he cooed teasingly.
I rolled my eyes. “Did I smell bacon?” I asked curiously, trying to look around the room for where the savory-smelling meat might be hiding.
He laughed, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “Yes. Breakfast is almost ready. We’re just waiting on you.”
“We?” I tilted my head with a frown. Then I remembered that my mom had come home last night. “Why didn’t you say something? Let me go and get dressed!”
I struggled to get out of his embrace, but his grip was like iron, and he just coddled me even more, keeping me close to his chest.
“Matilde’s live-in caretaker arrived this morning, so I made breakfast for everybody,” Elio explained, looking much like a satisfied jungle cat as he cradled me perfectly in his arms.
He had no intention of letting me go anytime soon, and I was too bundled up to move properly, especially with how sore and bruised I felt.
There was only one option. I gave him the biggest puppy-dog eyes I could, cuddling up to him to try to win some sweetness points.
“Then let me go so I can get dressed and eat food. I’m hungry,” I whined, pouting like a toddler who didn’t get what they wanted, much to my own shame.
But bacon took precedence over shame. I’d run an old lady over with a cart just to get the last package of bacon.
“Alright, alright.” He laughed, letting me go finally as he tossed me and the blanket onto the bed.
I huffed, scrambling out of the twisted blanket burrito. I still felt sore, but it was better now that I was moving my body again.
I ignored Elio’s heated stare as I dropped the blanket, fully in the nude as I headed for the closet. It felt a bit weird to have a mixture of our clothes staring back at me, almost nearly imperceptible from just a glance but I grabbed what I needed, dressing as quickly as I could.
I pulled on a simple pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and an oversized jacket that I had an inkling wasn’t actually mine but I didn’t point it out, and neither did Elio, who simply grinned a little too widely at the choice.
I brushed my hair, put it into a high ponytail, and did a little bit of makeup before nodding in content at my appearance. Elio had patiently waited for me and once I was ready, he hopped up to his feet, wrapping his arm around my waist as we headed to the kitchen.
I heard voices that were too low to make out as we approached and when we entered, I saw Mom sitting in her wheelchair at the table, a platter of food spread out though she was only having a bowl of oatmeal, some fruit, and a bit of bacon.
My mouth watered as I saw the plate full of glorious meat, even over the other dishes—waffles, toast and cheesy scrambled eggs, hash-browns, and sausage links, along with a whole spread of sauces and fruits.
“Yum!” I grinned, my stomach rumbling as the smell of so many different foods hit me all at once. I took my seat between Mom and Elio right as the caretaker came back carrying a pitcher full of orange juice.
“Good morning, Miss,” the sweet older lady in her fifties or sixties said happily as she poured four glasses of orange juice around the table.
“Morning. Lauren, right?” I made sure to get her name right. We’d only met a few times before this, but she seemed like a very caring and sweet lady. Mom seemed to like her too.
“Right. Well, dig in, dear. Don’t worry about me.” Lauren chuckled, taking a seat at the table. Mom had already finished off half her bowl of oatmeal and started munching on her bacon, just as obsessed with the stuff as I was.
I spared no more time, immediately filling up my plate. Mom and I carried the conversation as we ate breakfast, asking Lauren all sorts of questions about her and the process of being a caretaker, what her hours were, and what she could help with.
By the time the plate of bacon was gone, I was feeling pretty good about having Lauren watch over Mom in my stead. I had originally wanted to take time off school to care for her, but Mom wasn’t having any of it. I was glad at least she’d have someone to keep her company while Elio was at work and I was off at school.
Elio finished up, giving me a soft smile as he got to his feet. “I’d better get going. I have some urgent work to take care of, but I’ll pick you up after your last class.” He leaned down to whisper in my ear, “I have a surprise for you.”
I smirked. “Better be worth it.”
“It will be,” he promised, giving me a short kiss before he took his plate to the kitchen, washed it, and then left.
“Bye!” I called out right before the door shut.
I heard him laugh with a teasing, “Goodbye, darling!”
I turned back to my mother with a smile on my lips, and both she and Lauren were grinning from ear to ear, knowing looks on their faces.
“Shut up,” I rolled my eyes, face bright red and they luckily let it go, sparing me the embarrassment. I took my time to finish the rest of breakfast, and Lauren insisted on doing the dishes while Mom and I talked.
I filled her in on everything that had been happening with me the last few days, weeks even. I told her about the summer classes I was taking, and how Anna had been sticking by my side and been a great sort of comfort for me while Elio was busy.
We even talked a little about Antonio and his connections to Dad, though we kept it vague so as not to let Lauren in on too much.
“I’m just so glad to have you back home, Mom,” I sighed, gripping her hand tightly. “I was so scared when you were in surgery and then bedridden for so long. I thought I was going to lose you like….”
I trailed off, unable to finish, but Mom sent me a soft, sad smile. “Like your dad.”
“Yeah,” I admitted reluctantly.
Her eyes were full of understanding, not interrupting me at all while I talked, and I felt bad for unloading all of it on her. She had probably been just as terrified as I was, scared she would be paralyzed for the rest of her life, or worse.