Chapter 111 - Do You Like My Daddy?

When you are supposed to just have a taste, and get hooked and take more than you had intended. Noah pressed a soft gentle kiss on Jess' to soothe her childlike whining, and because her pouty lips were so inviting.

Somewhere along with just a taste, they got lost when each other's yearning sets in. He was now sitting on the edge of her hospital bed, as she clung to his broad shoulders, gasping and moaning. 

Noah leaned on the bed, lost with his desire and the need to imprint to the terrified part of his brain, that there is nothing more to fear, she is now safe. He kissed her deeper to silence the fear that he could have lost her together with his daughter. 

He needed to touch her warm skin, hear her heart pumping, and know that she is safe because he would not know what he would do if she wasn't. 

"Noah," she breathed unevenly, "We have to stop...Lucille --"

"I know. I know, but I can't Jess." He pulled her closer. "I was so scared," he whispered. 

Her arms snaked around his waist and buried her face on the crook of his neck. She does her favorite thing to do with Noah -- inhaling his scent! His scent comforted her, for just like him, she was scared too. But not the same fear. 

When the inflatable tow tube flipped over, she was ready. She knew that there was no threat of danger for her, but seeing Lucille's horrified expression would haunt her for a while, that's for sure. 

Soraya's lifeless body with blood oozing from the side of her head would visit her nightmare, the same way the photo of her mother's car accident that she accidentally stumbled in her father's office haunted her dreams. 

She hoped Lucille would be spared with those bad nights. When Noah informed her that Lucille had a professional child psychologist checked on her, she felt relieved! 

In her case, she never told anyone that she saw those bloody photos of her mother on the snow when the car she was on skid off the icy road and fell off the road railing, hit a tree and killed her. 

She had no one she could talk to about the recurring nightmare. And the guilt that her mother died alone in the cold because she refused to join her for that trip to Canada. She was throwing a tantrum because her mother told her that she wanted her to meet her fiance. 

She was against the fact that her mother was going to marry someone that wasn't her father. Her mother died with that man. And she was left alone back home, with her guilt that no one knew she suffered. 

Everyone treated her extra gently, with their eyes full of pity for national televisions covered the story because the accident happened the same time her father got her mother's best friend pregnant. 

When she was young, she resented the family she was born into. She couldn't understand why people must treat her like a specimen under a microscope just because of her grandfather's job and her father's having kids from different women -- none of them was his wife!

She was still inhaling the comforting smell that emits from Noah's skin when Luke cleared his throat from the door.

Little Lucille has ice cream in her hands, her eyes were glued on her and his father. 

Jess felt her heart sunk with the conflicting emotion in Lucille's eyes.

Noah unhurriedly released her from his embrace despite the fact that he knew his daughter was watching them. He even pressed a kiss on her temple, as he fixed her pillow behind her head. 

When he was sure that she was comfortable, he picked up the bouquet of flowers they forgot she had in her lap, and he put them on her bedside table before he turned his attention to his daughter. 

"Another ice cream?" 

She just grinned at her father and climbed on his lap. She was still intently watching her face, and she was surprised when she pulled a granola bar from the pocket of her dress and handed it to her. 

"Thank you," she murmured, avoiding her eyes.

The room was filled with awkward silence as Luke prepared the Vendo machine bought coffee and brought it to Noah and Jess.

"Thank you," he murmured, accepting the coffee from Luke. 

He gave a blushing Jess her share of coffee as he sat down on the edge of her bed, facing Lucille who had her eyes on Jess, while she was enjoying her ice cream. 

"How are you feeling?" 

He was surprised by Noah's sudden question. 

"I'm fine, Mister Tiefenbacher," he blew the hot coffee in his hands. 

"Just Noah, please. There is no reason to be too formal. I mean, Lucille has been imposing herself on you." 

"Oh, this young miss isn't a bother at all," he pinched her cheek which made the kid giggle, "I could take you home, and feed you waffles forever!" He said, widening his eyes exaggeratedly. 

"Uncle Luke you are such a silly beanie! You can't take me home! I'll be going home to China at the end of the week!" she laughed. 

"Really? I'm going to miss you, though." He pouted, "How about I kidnap you and let's hide away from your papa?" he dropped his voice in a conspiratory manner. 

Lucille threw her head in laughter, "Daddy, uncle Luke couldn't kidnap me, right?" She craned her neck to look at her father's face, "Uncle Jin won't allow it!" 

Noah just chuckled and stroked his daughter's silky hair. Lucille was about to ask him more questions when his phone vibrated from his pocket. 

He lifted Lucille from his lap and sat her down on the chair he was sitting on, as he excused himself to answer the call.

She smiled awkwardly at the little girl who was still staring at her face intently. She discreetly glanced at Luke asking him for help.

But the jerk stood up from her bed and left her with Lucille. He picked up the bouquet of flowers Lucille gave her and started putting them on a vase. She has no idea where he got a vase! 

"What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?" 

She blinked her eyes at Lucille out of the blue question, "Uhm, caramel, and oreos are nice, but my favorite is coffee." 

"You are already drinking coffee, why would you like to eat it too?" 

She was rendered speechless with her question so she asked her back, "What's your favorite flavor?" 

"Cheese," she answered nonchalantly when she was clearly eating chocolate ice cream. 

"You can already eat cheese, why do you have to eat it…" she realized her mistake when the girl grinned at her as if she had won. 

"You lost!" 

"I didn't know we were playing. How can I lose?" 

"Duh! It was quite clear. Eat and drink. You said to eat and eat. So, you lost!"

"What kind of game is that?" She scoffed. 

"Daddy taught me that game!" She was shocked that she didn't like it. "I don't understand why daddy likes you," she scoffed back at her. 

Luke, who was listening to their bantering, snorted rather loudly. 

Jess threw him a dagger look before she turned her attention back to Lucille, "Okay, fine you win. Do you know another game?" 

"Riddle game! I'll go first because I won the first time." 

It made her laugh inwardly to see how competitive she is, "Okay, game!" 

"Hmm," she puckered her lips in concentration, "What is full of holes but still holds water?" 

She glanced at Luke, who is now listening to their impromptu game." 

"Don't ask for uncle Luke's help!" 

"I'm not! I know the answer. It's a sponge!" 

She scoffed and told her, "Kay, one point for you. Now, your turn." 

"What goes up but never comes down?" 

"I knew that one!" she clapped her hands excitedly. "Your age!" She giggled, "My daddy already told me that riddle before -- easy points for me!"

"Kay, your turn. I'll make the next one really difficult." she teased her, but meant it. She felt a bit silly that she honestly doesn't want to lose to her.

"A man who was outside in the rain without an umbrella or hat didn't get a single hair on his head wet. Why?"

She knew the answer but pretended to think it over because Lucille's expression was too adorable. 

"Give up?" she giggled.

"His hair didn't get wet because he doesn't have any. The man is bald!" She laughed with the look of disappointment on Lucille's face when she got the answer correctly. 

She puffed and gave her points. 

"What gets wet while drying?" 

Hearing the questions, her face fell in disappointment. "You said you will give me a difficult one. Why are you making me win?" 

"Oh, I didn't know that was an easy one." she looked at Luke with panic when Lucille started pouting. 

"Towel," she sighed.

"Okay, promise I will give you a difficult one next time. You got your point. Now, your turn!" 

With her blue eyes that she inherited from her father, she stared at Jess intently and asked the most difficult riddle in the world for her to answer.

"Little Miss Jessie, do you like my daddy?" 

She gawked at the little girl. Luke was dying of laughter in the background. 

"If you don't answer in the count of three, I won… one...two...and three!" She jumped off the chair, and clapped her hands, "I won and I will tell my daddy!"