Page 28 of Unexpected Temptation

“Thank you,” she murmurs, laying her forehead against the window.

“As long as you’re okay.”

“I’ve got work tomorrow.” She laughs strangely, apparently still sedated and out of it despite beingslightlymore aware.

Not aware enough for me to kiss her, hold her, take her to bed, and forget about everything. We could lose ourselves in each other. I’d pull her into my arms, into my lap, let her feel the stiff rod pushing through my pants, letting her feel how badly I want her on a physical level, at least, but nothing else. I can’t want more than that.

“I think your boss will understand if you don’t come in,” I say, smirking at her in the mirror.

She smiles lazily. “Oh yeah, he’s a real understanding guy. A real hunk.”

“A hunk,” I repeat, chuckling.

Maybe this is how we forget, not by giving into this deep hunger but by laughing it all away.

“He is. Wait, I shouldn’t be tellingyouthis.” She blinks. “Oops.”

“It’s fine. Maya, what were you doing there tonight?”

I’ve tried to hold off from asking her this. After I took her and Riley from the upstairs section, Raffie glared at me withapparent hate in his eyes. It was pure rage, pure determination to get his own back somehow.

Then, I was on high alert as I quickly pulled on a jacket and pants and led the girls out to the car. I don’t know what happened to the kids. I still can’t believe Raffie thought I’d do that. Or maybe I’m the fool for even being surprised.

Yet now, there’s a chance.

“It was supposed to be a party,” she murmurs. “Just some fun. I don’t know. Riley’s wild. She has wild friends.”

“She shouldn’t have Trentini friends,” I growl.

“Youwere the one fighting,” she says, sitting up, seeming even more alert now. I’m glad, even if this new level of alertness comes from her being mad. “What wereyoudoing there?” She leans forward even more, looking at me through her light layer of makeup, just enough to bring out her natural beauty. “You beat theheckout of that guy.”

Yeah, which is why he thanked me for choking him out.

“It’s a long story,” I grunt.

“So you can quiz me, but I can’t quiz you, huh? Is that it?”

I grind my teeth. There’s something about this sudden sass that makes me want to stop the car and drag her from the backseat, squeeze her against me so she can feel this passion, this burning. It’s not just the fight. It’s something else.

“Thanks for the ride,” she says as I pull up outside her house.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“I’m fine,” she says, her hand on the door. “I’m pretty sure I’ll wake up tomorrow, and none of this will feel real.”

“Maybe that will be for the best.”

“No, because then I’d forget you standing under those lights and how you stood up for me. Nobody’s ever stood up for me like that before.”

Before I can say anything else, she pushes the door open and walks toward her house. I watch her go with a pang in my chest. I can’t stop feeling like I somehow just missed a chance, that I should’ve said something or done something.

But what? She’s a young woman with a sick relative, going to parties, trying to make her way in the world. Still, I can’t fight my gaze as I stare at her hips shifting from side to side, that just-Maya sway of hers.

She opens the door, turns, waves. I wave back. It’s not much, but it feels much more significant than it should.

As I drive away from her house, I feel like I should be turning back. I should be in bed with her, maybe just lying there or holding her. I don’t usually let my mind wander to places like this. That’s probably because I never thought I would have somebody to obsess over.

Obsess? This night has got my head twisted up far more than I realize if I’m thinking shit like that. I’m almost relieved when my cell phone rings, even if it’s Raffie. His voice is furious over the speakerphone. “You embarrassed me tonight.”

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