Dad and Daughter Vacation

Note:

This is the first chapter of a series I've started. Thanks to a particular Lit member (you know who you are!) for the inspiration.

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All characters are 18+

Dad & Daughter Vacation

Amy was just 8 years old when my wife first became sick. For the next year, I put all my energy into taking care of Suzi, while raising our daughter as best I could. When Suzi finally succumbed, I was left pretty broken. Amy became my entire world.

Over time, the pain lessened, though it never fully went away. Amy and I adapted to our new life together. It was just the two of us. I focused on providing as normal a childhood as I could for her. I attended PTO meetings, volunteered for girl scout troops, hosted sleepovers, threw birthday parties, and coached soccer teams. We became reliant on each other, which helped ease the loss a bit. I made a point to make the most of our time together.

But all too soon, Amy was in high school. Our time together was becoming less frequent and I realized how little time I had left with my little girl. Between playing varsity and club soccer, school, friends, boyfriends, and now college applications, we barely saw each other. The exception was our Sunday dinners, a ritual Suzi had started when we were all younger, that Amy and I held on to. Sunday dinner was sacred time for both of us.

It was during one Sunday evening, that I decided to ask Amy about going on a vacation. The last time we had gone on a proper vacation was before Suzi had gotten sick. I don't think either of us felt ready to go on one without her. But Amy's graduation seemed like a time to try again.

I wanted to gauge Amy's willingness before I booked anything. I decided to broach the subject after dinner, while we washed the dishes together.

"Hey Ames," I took a breath. "I was thinking... you know, it's been a while since we went on a vacation."

"Whadda you mean dad? Didn't we go see Aunt Kathy for Christmas?" Amy laughed.

I chuckled, recalling our trip to visit Suzi's sister in Ohio last December. "I guess... if you count sleeping in your aunt's basement in the middle of winter a vacation!" I put down the glass I was drying and turned to Amy. "I mean, like a real vacation. You know, like we used to do when mom was still..." My voice trailed off, unable to complete the sentence even after ten years.

Amy turned off the sink and shook the water off her hands before turning to hug me. "Aw dad... I think mom would want us to take a vacation together!" She pulled back and looked up at me with her beautiful blue eyes. Her dirty blonde hair fell in curly strands around her face, framing her cute, lightly freckled cheeks. The corners of her eyes crinkled as she broke into a smile, her perfect white teeth and the warmth of her eyes reminded me so much of Suzi.

"You look so much like her..." I smiled lovingly.

"Daaad..." Amy blushed and rolled her eyes playfully. She turned back to the dishes. "So," she splashed a little water towards me, "where were you thinking about taking us?"

I resumed my drying duties. "Dunno... I mean, definitely somewhere warm! Maybe the Caribbean? One of the islands?"

"Oh! What about a cruise?" Amy asked excitedly. "Liv went on one with her parents last year and she loved it. They got to visit a bunch of different islands too!"

"Really?" I contemplated. "Never really been a fan of cruises... but, I kind of like the idea of not sticking to just one island."

Amy turned to hand me the last of the dishes, and gave me a serious look. "Dad, are you serious about doing this? I mean, I know you didn't really want to do anything like this since, you know... mom..." she paused. Amy couldn't bring herself to say it either. But I understood. I put my arm around her shoulder and gave it a little squeeze.

"I think it's time we both got a little break and enjoyed ourselves. Like you said, mom would want us to. Plus, I'd really like to spend some quality time together again..." I smiled and gave her a loving look. "You've grown up so fast Ames... I mean, 18 and ready to go off to college soon. It's like it all flew by so fast!"

"Awww dad. You know you'll always have me, right?"

"I know," I lied, trying to smile. "I'd just really like to spend some time with you. Like we used to."

"Me too dad!" Amy squealed and gave me another hug. Her hands were damp, but I didn't mind. She pulled back slightly and gave me a pleading look. "Um... do you think i could maybe, go shopping... with my friends? You know, to get some clothes for the trip? I promise, I won't spend too much.... it's just... most of my stuff is basically from when I was a little kid."

Despite my best efforts to provide whatever she needed, I always knew I wasn't able to provide for her in every way. Certainly not in the clothes department. Her friends, and sometimes her friend's mom's would help out when she was little. As Amy got older, she found her own style. But rarely went shopping for herself. So when she asked, I knew it was a legitimate need. "Of course, honey! You deserve it... and don't be shy. I mean, be reasonable, but... you know. Get whatever you need."

Amy hugged me once again, and said she couldn't wait to tell her friends about the trip. She bounced off to her room. I finished drying the last dish and I went into my office to start researching and planning.

We're On Our Way

Six weeks later, Amy and I were boarding our flight to Florida.

We had spent most of that time planning, preparing, and packing for our 10 day cruise through the Bahamas. Amy had gone shopping multiple times with her friends and even tanning -- 'so she wouldn't burn as soon as we got there'. I simply smiled and let her and her friend's excitement and joy radiate throughout the house.

I let my employees know I'd be out for 2 weeks and to keep me posted, but only contact me directly if it was an emergency. I went shopping too, picking up some clothes that Amy suggested would 'finally update my wardrobe to this decade' and 'show off that dad bod.' I laughed it off pretending to be annoyed, but secretly appreciating having a daughter that could help me feel more confident about myself.

There was something about this trip that changed things between us. It was an exciting new adventure that we would be taking together. I noticed a difference in Amy right away.

She was happier and more affectionate with me than usual. I had always shown affection to her, especially as a child, but as she became a teenager Amy pulled away. Her Aunt Kathy had told me it was normal for girls that age. It made me sad - I had already lost her mother, now it felt like I was losing Amy too. But with the prospect of this trip, all of that seemed to change.

My Amy was coming back to me. There were hugs and kisses in the morning before she left for school. When we were both home in the evenings, cuddling on the couch while we watched TV became the norm. She even opted out of dates to spend time at home with me. Maybe it was the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming trip, or a new stage of maturity, or the moon was in just the right orbit. Whatever it was, it felt like we were both turning a corner. It felt like we were finally coming out of our collective mourning.

We taxied onto the runway and felt the planes engines roar to life. Amy reached over and took my hand in hers. The nervous excitement of the moment bringing us even closer together. She shut her eyes as we gained speed down the runway, the g-forces pressing our bodies into our seats. As the nose pulled up, a smile broke out across her face, the rush of adrenaline washing over her from our literal and figurative lift off. She placed my hand on her lap and squeezed my fingers. I smiled. The memory of a little girl who would do exactly the same thing flooded into my mind.

Eventually we leveled off, and she released my hand. But she kept it on her bare leg. Her athletic shorts rode high on her thighs, and the warmth of her skin felt good. I patted her leg and gave it a little playful squeeze.

I leaned over, "We're on our way!"

Amy wrapped her arms around my arm and gave me a sort of sideways hug, holding my hand to her thigh. My fingers slid down between her legs. She leaned her head onto me. "Thank you daddy. I'm so excited for this trip!" I gave her leg a little squeeze in response.

It was the first time she had called me 'daddy' in a very long time. It melted my heart, and strangely made me feel very masculine and strong at the same time. I continued to stroke her leg with my thumb, until we both dozed off.

Seeing Her For The First Time

After landing, getting to the cruise ship was surprisingly easy. The airport pickup brought our luggage directly to the ship and we boarded without any issues. Our room was comparatively large. I had splurged and gotten a larger balcony room with a separate seating area. Although it only had one queen bed, the small couch pulled out to a sleeper. I had already determined I would take the pullout and let Amy sleep on the bed. It was, after all, her graduation gift.

Being the dutiful daughter, Amy had argued with me and swore she wouldn't take it. I finally, although somewhat unrealistically, threatened to cancel the trip if she continued to argue with me. That mostly ended the discussion. After unpacking, we took turns changing into our bathing suits. We dutifully wen through the muster drill, and eventually made our way out onto the larger pool deck. I followed Amy to a pair of loungers in a sunny spot to set our towels on. The pool was already pretty busy, but we quickly got a waiter's attention and ordered drinks. I got myself a vodka soda, and then I ordered a margarita as I looked over and winked at Amy.

"Thanks, dad." She said quietly after the waiter had walked away.

"You don't have to pretend like this is your first drink Ames," I said giving her a knowing, but loving, look. "But as long as you don't over do it... and only with me... you can have a couple."

"Okay!" Amy agreed. "I can abide by those rules."

I took my shirt off, and settled into the lounger, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the cool ocean breeze. Although I was 46, I was in decent shape. When we first moved into the house, Suzi and I had a gym built in half of the garage. After Suzi passed, any time i had left over from work or taking care of Amy, I spent in there. It was a sort of therapy for me. As Amy got older, she often joined me. She had her mom's fierce competitiveness, which helped her stay in great shape and contributed to being a star athlete. Of course, I wasn't oblivious to the fact that she also had her fair share of attention from boys too.

The cruise was 18+, mostly couples, some older, some younger, and at least one bachelorette group that we had encountered during boarding. It also meant some of the skimpiest bathing suits I had ever seen. I tried to be discreet as I looked around and enjoyed the sight of young women showing off their bodies.

It had been years since I had dated anyone. Amy was my life, and I had dedicated most - if not all of it - to taking care of her. I had intentionally put my love life on hold. There were a few exceptions here and there -- mostly blind dates setup by friends, and even a few of Amy's friend's mom's too -- that I went on out of obligation.

But I was still a man, with eyes, and a brain, and at least one head without one. I'd be lying if I said none of Amy's friends, or their mom's, had ever snuck into a sexual fantasy. But they always remained just that -- a fantasy. A line I would never cross.

But, on a cruise in the middle of the ocean, I felt a little more free to let my mind wander. Until I suddenly became very aware that my daughter might be noticing. I looked over at her lounger. She seemed to be asleep, thankfully. We had certainly had a long day of traveling. I took the opportunity to admire her. She was laying face up in a light purple bikini that I'd never seen before. One of her recent purchases, no doubt.

The wrap around sarong and tank top that had covered her up during the muster drill, was draped over the back of the lounger. My eyes roamed over Amy, as if I was seeing her for the first time.

Her breasts seemed disproportionately large for her body. Had they always been that big, I wondered? The triangular fabric hugged each breast looked stretched to it's limit, squeezing them together, even as they spilled out from the sides and under the bottom. The bumps of her erect nipples were clearly visible. My eyes roamed down, over her taught tummy, shiny from the oil and lotion she had rubbed in, and down to the strings that dug into the flesh of her hips, straining to hold another thin piece of fabric that dipped down between her legs. Her thighs were shiny too, and looked muscular. I squeezed my hand shut, remembering the warmth of her skin on the plane ride.

She was a younger, more vibrant, and more voluptuous version of her mother. I smiled, lost in reminiscing and appreciation, until the waiter broke the spell. I tapped my card and wrote out the tip as he handed over the two drinks. I guess that woke Amy up too. She smiled groggily as I finished with the waiter. "One of those for me?" she asked.

As the waiter left, I handed Amy her drink. "Just promise you're going to take it easy." I reminded her.

She tipped her cup towards me. "To us," Amy said.

I smiled and laughed. "To YOU!" I responded. "If only your mom could see what a smart, beautiful woman you've become."

Amy blushed. "Daaaaaad," she said quiet enough for just me to hear, "You're embarrassing me!"

We both took a sip of our drinks, leaned back, and closed our eyes.

You're All I Need

I'm not sure how long i was out, but i woke up to Amy standing over me and tapping my shoulder. "You're starting to burn a little, Dad... maybe we should hit the pool and cool off?"

I rubbed my eyes and slowly sat up. I reached for my drink and finished the little bit that was left, the ice long melted and any remnants of alcohol watered down. "Okay," I said sleepily. "Lead the way!"

Amy turned on her heels. I nearly choked as I saw the back of her bikini bottom for the first time. The string wrapped around her hips and widened out to a long, thin triangle that showed most of her ass and narrowed again as it dipped in between her cheeks. The bottom of her ass fully exposed. As she walked, her butt formed two perfect spheres that alternated swelling with each step. I had a sudden urge to grab her and cover her up, but instead, I sheepishly admired her body.

As she walked away, I saw her reach back and tuck her fingers under the fabric, pulling them away from her crack, and spreading them slightly over her cheeks. But the attempt at modesty was futile as they quickly found their way back between her perfect butt with the next few steps. She turned her head back and peered over her sunglasses, "You coming!?"

I snapped back into reality, and stood up, smoothing out my trunks and walking towards her. Had I just been caught staring at my daughter's ass, I wondered. As I caught up to her, Amy reached out and gripped my arm, I instinctively flexed as she held on. She looked up at me and smiled.

We stepped into the pool and waded out into the deeper end. It was busy, but we found a patch in the deeper end. We swam around and floated for a bit, then made our way to the pool-side bar. We settled into an open spot and ordered another vodka soda for me, and margarita for Amy.

"Dad," Amy moved closer and spoke softly, "can I ask you something?"

"Hmmm?" I responded assuringly.

She took a sip of her margarita, as if gathering courage. "Um... are you okay with this bathing suit?"

I was a little shocked at the question. "Well," I looked down pretending to assess her outfit for the first time.

"I saw you kinda staring at me before, and I thought maybe you weren't happy about me wearing it."

Dammit, I thought to myself. Did I get caught? Was she pretending to sleep while I stared at her body?

"Well..." I started again. "If i'm being honest... it is... kind of... revealing Ames. I mean, a lot less than you've normally worn around me!"

Amy frowned, her disappointment apparent as she sank down into the water. "It's not like it's the most revealing thing out here, though. Right?"

"Yeah, I guess that's true," She was right of course. Had she noticed me looking around at the women wearing basically thongs and g-strings as bathing suits? "I guess, it's just, not exactly what I'm used to seeing you wear."

"I know, but..." Amy's voice trailed off. "I guess, I just wanted to feel a little grown up... and... I don't know..." she took another sip. "Sexy."

I sucked in a breath. The truth was, she did look sexy. But I certainly couldn't admit that to my own daughter. Could I?

"Sorry, Dad. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"No, no, sweetheart." I leaned in, "I'm the one that should apologize to you. I mean, you are an adult now, and you should feel..." I took a sip for my own encouragement, "sexy... you know... if you want to." Failing miserably to sound nonchalant about the whole situation.

Amy smiled, blushing, then batting those beautiful blue eyes at me she said, "So you don't want me to go change... daddy?". She leaned into me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Her lips were soft and warm.

I couldn't even respond.

As she retreated, her hand fell from my shoulder to my chest. "You know dad, you're a really good looking guy too. I've seen the way some of the women out here stared at you when you took off your shirt. They would be lucky to have you buying them drinks!"

I pulled back slightly, "Amy, I wouldn't..."

"Dad," she interrupted. "It's okay! I mean, it's been a long time..." She looked at me with loving eyes, "and besides, we both know Mom wouldn't have wanted you to be alone for the rest of your life!"

"Alone?" I replied slightly annoyed. "Sweetheart, you're all I need."

Amy smiled, she playfully patted my chest again and snuggled up against me. Her breasts felt soft and smooth and I could feel her firm nipples against my skin. "Dad," she whispered, "I love you, but... sometimes..." she hesitated and pulled back to look up at me, "...you need more than me."

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her back in, lovingly. My hands felt the string of her bikini top, and i slowly stroked her back. My fingers grazing the fabric of her bottoms under the water line, but I quickly brought them back up again. We stayed like that for a moment.

Amy pulled away from our hug, her eyes seemed glimmering in the reflection of the water. "I think we need to find someone on this trip to make you realize how incredible you are!"

"Amy, seriously." I took a longer drink.

"Dad, I am being serious. You're like, the whole package." Amy stopped, seeming to ponder her next words carefully. "You know, all my friends think you're really hot... it's actually kind of annoying."

"Yeah, right... an old fart like me!"

"Yeah, dad, an old fart like you!" She playfully hit my arm. "You should hear the things some of them say about you... even some of the moms! But Angie, oh my god, she is the worst!"

"Amy, you can't tell me these things!" I feigned annoyance, but the truth was, Angie was one of the girls I had fantasized about. She was shorter than Amy and not as pretty, but you could tell she would be fun.

"Ugh.... fine dad! But I'm telling you..." Amy took another sip of her margarita and placed it on the side of the pool behind me, "there's a line of women who would kill to be standing where I am right now!"