(Author's Note: All characters, whether described as such or not, are all over 18 years of age. I welcome any and all feedback. It's why I write! Enjoy.)
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Tom Sanders whistled a tune as he sped along the shady street headed towards home. The window was down, allowing the warm, fresh air to flow in while he tapped his fingers along with the song playing on the radio.
The handsome, 40 year old corporate executive had taken off early from work today, too excited to concentrate on his duties. Today was a special day, for his "princess", Kate, was coming home from school.
Tom's whole world rotated around his daughter. His wife had died of cancer when Kate was only 3 and since that time he had doted on the girl incessantly. The demands of raising a child by himself while climbing the corporate ladder were tough, but he wouldn't trade the closeness that they had forged for anything. While he was only 25 when his wife died, Tom had never remarried. Sure, he had dated quite a bit and was even engaged at one point, but his fiancés' indifference towards his then adolescent daughter had ended the relationship. He didn't feel cheated or resentful about his lot in life, feeling that it was as full and rewarding as he could hope for.
Whipping his SUV into the drive, he hopped out and hurried up the sidewalk, his long legs eating up the space. Tom kept himself in shape, swimming laps in their pool, and his 6'2 frame reflected his adherence to healthy living. He still weighed the 190 lbs he had graduated college with and he still had all of his thick brown hair, though flecks of gray were beginning to sneak into the temples. Dropping his keys on the foyer table, he walked through the spacious home, making sure everything was in order. He chuckled to himself at his excitement, but it had been almost nine months since he had seen Kate.
The Sanders' home was on the West Coast and when Kate had chosen Princeton for university, he'd known that visits home would be few and far between. He hadn't counted on Kate making so many friends so fast, so when she'd had the opportunity to go skiing over Christmas break, he had to fight back his disappointment at not getting to see her. And of course, at spring break, she'd gone down to Cancun for the week. Satisfied that everything was in order, he went to the bathroom before he had to leave to pickup Kate at the airport.
Leaving the downstairs bath, he was startled to hear the front door shut, but his spirits lifted hearing a cheery, "Dad! I'm home!" Fighting the urge to run to her, Tom smiled widely and turned the corner towards the front door. There, grinning like the cat that ate the canary, stood his daughter, surrounded by luggage.
"I got an early flight and took a cab, Daddy," Kate said, then laughed out loud at the expression on her father's face.
"I...I...who are you and what have you done with my princess?" Tom finally managed, so shocked was he by Kate's transformation during the school year. Gone was the skinny, gangly teenager, replaced by a taller, still slender woman. She'd let her hair grow out. It now hung down past her shoulders, still a rich brown, but with highlighted streaks through it. Gone too were her glasses, replaced presumably with contacts, that he couldn't remember paying for. Her brown eyes twinkled as she giggled and twirled in place before her father. She was wearing a simple T-shirt and high cut running shorts with flip flops.
Tom silently noted that Kate had filled out in all the areas young women did. Her hips were curvier, her waist still tiny, leading up to her now developed chest. Kate had always been self-conscious of her lack of breasts as a high schooler, but those days were long gone judging by the healthy set she now sported. Not to say that she was overdeveloped though. They meshed well with the rest of her body, but there was no denying that she had blossomed into a beautiful and, dare he think it, sexy young lady.
"All grown up, huh, Daddy?" She said, smiling.
Tom's brow furrowed for a second, hearing a clicking sound when she talked. "Kate, what is that sound?"
"Oooops," Kate muttered, her hand covering her mouth, a blush creeping into her cheeks. "Sorry dad."
"What is it?" Tom said, stepping towards her. Kate dropped her hand slowly, and then extended her tongue, the silver stud glittering from the middle of her tongue.
"Katie! What on earth...?"
"Oh, Dad, it's nothing really. Just something cool to have." She closed her mouth, but still averted her eyes.
Tom sighed. This kind of thing was out of the ordinary for his usually straight laced daughter. She'd always been very demure and non-assuming, not wanting to draw attention to herself. In high school, she had been involved in activities, but always big groups, like band, never sports or cheerleading and such where she would sometimes be front and center. All in all, Kate was a very level headed, mature kid and if a tongue stud was the worst thing she did...well, Tom could live with that. He shook his head and laughed.
"Did it hurt?"
Relieved that her father wasn't angry with her, Kate smiled and again stuck out her tongue, the silver ball clicking off her teeth. "Nah, just for a second."
Tom peered at the bar and stud and immediately thought of the thousands of dollars worth of dental work getting banged around by the stainless steel contraption. "Well, just see if you can find something a little more tooth friendly, will you?"
"Sure Daddy," Kate replied and then rushed forward, wrapping her arms around her father. "I'm so glad to be home Dad."
Her father smiled and wrapped his arms around his daughter, bending his head down and kissing the top of her head. Though she had grown, Kate was still probably 6 inches shorter than her father, her head resting on his chest. Tom was conscious of the soft press of his daughter's breasts against his abdomen. He'd never felt that sensation before with Kate and it suddenly made him feel uncomfortable. He squeezed her tight once more, petted her hair and pulled away. "I like your hair. What you've done with it...what do you call it? Highlighted?"
Kate giggled, a welcome sound to Tom's ears. It had been far too long since that sound had been heard in the home. Kate bent and lifted two of her bags while Tom grabbed the other two, following her up the stairs. "Highlighted, you're correct. At least its not pink or blue streaks Dad. You wouldn't believe what some of the kids at school are into."
She continued chatting animatedly as they entered her room and deposited her bags on the floor.
Tom clapped his hands together and rubbed them briskly back and forth. "Alright, punkin...what do you want to do today? I'm all yours!" Kate smiled and patted her father on the arm.
"Oh Dad, would you be too disappointed if I took a little nap? I'm worn out from the flight and the time change and all." Tom waved his hand dismissively as he backed towards the door.
"'Course not! Take that nap and we'll go out to dinner afterwards, ok?" Kate smiled and leaned up to kiss her father on his cheek.
"Thanks Dad. Wake me in an hour?"
"Sure darling. Have a nice nap." As Tom grasped the door to pull it shut, Kate turned her back and in one swift motion hauled her T over her head, exposing her bare, tan back. Tom swiftly averted his eyes seeing that she was not wearing a bra. He shut the door quickly. Kate had always been averse to bras in high school, but that was before she had blossomed this year. He sighed heavily. Yet another thing that would have been easier for a mom to discuss. He walked down the hall to his own room. Maybe a nap wouldn't be such a bad idea...
Tom groggily opened his eyes, a noise awakening him. He lay on his side and could tell from the light outside that he had slept longer than he intended. He lay atop the comforter, clad only in his boxers.
