The Single Dad (The Dalton Family #3)(30)

Taste her.

To leave without her scent on my body.

But that was the circumstance I was facing as my hand rested on her thigh instead of the gear shift, my car still in Park.

“Hannah is at my house, watching Everly.”

“I know. I mean, I figured.”

That didn’t make up for the fact that I wanted to tear her fucking clothes off.

That I wanted her in my bed.

That I wanted my lips on her skin, eating, licking. Devouring her until morning.

But my conscience was stopping me, reminding me that it had been a close call last time, and I didn’t want to risk it again.

“Sydney …” Fuck me, she was breathtakingly beautiful. “It just doesn’t feel right to bring you back to my place.”

“I get it; you don’t have to explain yourself.” She sucked in a mouthful of air loud enough for me to hear. “But our evening doesn’t have to end … if you don’t want it to.” Her expression was timid as she said, “Gabby is out for the night.”

It fucking pained me to reply, “I want that. But I can’t stay over.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “You don’t have to.”

“Then, let’s get the hell out of here.” There was no hesitation when I took back my hand, which had been resting on her thigh, and shifted into first gear, quickly maneuvering my way out of the parking lot.

I was just pulling onto the road when she patted her stomach and said, “That was delicious. Better than I remember.” I could feel her gaze on me when she added, “Even the dessert.”

“It’s hard to beat Oreo cheesecake.”

“Wait until you try mine.”

I turned toward her when I reached the light. “Oh yeah?”

“I add a layer of Oreo on top. That way, if your fork doesn’t reach all the way to the bottom, you get a piece of cookie with each mouthful.”

“Jesus.”

“Have I enticed you?” She laughed.

“Sydney, Sydney …” I reached across the space between us, knowing I had little time because I’d need to shift again soon. I just wanted to feel her. My fingers circled under her chin, swiping that bottom lip, the one that was begging for my teeth. “I was enticed long before I knew you could make my favorite kind of cheesecake.”

“But it helps?”

Now, it was my turn to laugh. “It certainly doesn’t hurt.” Silence returned to the car, and I broke it with, “What do you have going on tomorrow?”

“It’s probably time to buy myself a bed. I’m still sleeping with Gabby, and she hasn’t complained, but I’m just starting to feel bad.”

“That’s all the furniture you need?”

“And a dresser and a couple of nightstands. But Gabby and I have this problem where we head out to go shopping and end up at brunch with bottomless mimosas, and all of our plans go to shit.”

“She sounds like my kind of friend.” I turned at the light, weaving my way through the traffic. “How long have you known her?”

“Since high school. She moved in a few houses down from where I grew up. I could see her bedroom window from mine, and in the mornings, before school, we would stand in front of them and show each other our outfits. Because, you know, that was one of the most important parts of high school—clothes.”

“My daughter would agree, and thank God, we’re nowhere close to high school yet.”

“See? So, you get it.” She went quiet for a moment. “We’ve been through everything together, and now, we’re roommates. It feels very full circle.” As I pulled up to the curb, the car coming to a stop, she glanced out the passenger window. “We’re here.”

I waited for her to look at me again before I nodded.

“Have you changed your mind about coming up?”

I lifted her hand off her lap and moved it over to mine, resting her fingers on top of my hard-on. “This is what you do to me. All through dinner. The entire ride here.” My gaze lowered to her mouth. “I can’t stop thinking about you. So, fuck no, I haven’t changed my mind.”

“This is what you do to me.” With our hands still linked, she brought my palm to her face and pressed it flat against her cheek.

Her skin was scorching.

Some women would have slipped me up their dress.

Some would have rubbed their nipples.

Not Sydney.

Her innocence was one of the things I liked most about her.

I pulled my fingers away and reached past her body, opening her door. “After you.”

She climbed out, and I turned off the engine, locking the car behind me as I joined her on the sidewalk. My hand instantly went to her lower back, and I followed her through the front entrance and into the elevator. While we rose to her floor, I couldn’t stop myself.

I needed a taste even if it was going to be a quick one.

I backed her up against the wall and surrounded her face with my grip, my lips pressing to hers. My tongue parted her mouth, moving in with urgency, and I didn’t pull away until I heard the chime of the elevator, signaling we had arrived at her floor.

Her cheeks were flushed, her breath coming out in pants.

“God, Sydney, you’re so fucking sweet.”