I lay awake in the darkness. Looking at the clock I could see that it was just gone two thirty in the morning. Quietly, as carefully as I could, I slipped from the bed.
As I silently drew the door to close it behind me, I looked back at the shape of my wife sleeping.
I made no sound as I opened Julie's door.
Sitting down on the side of her bed I watched her a little while. Her soft blonde hair and perfect skin were lit gently by the moonlight that crept in through the window. She was beautiful. Eighteen years old and perfect.
I reached across, not wanting to wake her but needing to touch her. My hand trailed lovingly through her hair. It was exquisite to touch, like the rest of her. The softness of it cascaded through my fingers as I ran my hand through it. The sensation was sweet and gentle, like every other thing about her.
She stirred from her sleep and her eyes opened slowly.
"Hi daddy."
Her voice was a sleepy whisper. She knew not to speak loudly, understood the importance of us hardly making a sound.
"Hi baby," I whispered back to her.
I lowered my head and closed my mouth over hers.
I loved kissing her in these moments. Barely awake, her mouth was loose and gentle as it opened to accept mine. There was a warmth and a simplicity to kissing her as she woke that I adored.
My hand held her face to mine as we kissed. Our tongues swished together in the type of contact that only lovers shared. I knew that is what we were. Lovers. Two people who needed each other emotionally and physically at the exception of everything else in their world. A father and daughter that were in love.
She wrapped her arms around my shoulders as our kiss ended and she rested her face against my chest. We stayed like that for a while as I stroked her hair, soothing her through her sleepiness.
"Promise me you love me daddy."
The sweetness of her voice touched me. It always did. Her quiet tone and slight breath rippling through the silence of the room.
"I promise you baby, I love you more than anything in the world."
My words made her press herself against me more closely and hold her arms tight to my neck. She needed my reassurance, I knew that.