Page 45 of Keep Me Safe

I slip my hands under the hem of her skirt, fingertips skimming over soft, warm skin. Fuck, she’s all curves, sinful in this dress, and when I squeeze her ass, she presses closer, grinding down on me. Through the thin fabric, I can feel how tight her nipples have gotten, and I shouldn’t—but Ilovehow her body responds to me.

I dip my head, capturing one in my mouth, teasing through the fabric with my teeth. Her sharp inhale sends heat straight to my cock.

“Noah,” she breathes out.

Her hand slides down my chest, trailing all the way to my aching cock. She palms it, squeezing lightly, and I hiss, looking at her.

“Fuck, princess,”I groan.“We shouldn’t do this.”

She doesn’t stop. Her palm moves, pressing, teasing. Just as I suck in another breath, the sound of tires crunching over gravel shatters our bubble.

Kira gasps, freezing. Her wide eyes snap to mine.

“Shit,” I mutter, the weight of reality crashing down.“It’s probably Jared.”

Guilt slams into me as she scrambles off my lap, straightening her dress with shaking hands.

“Hello, anybody home?” I hear from the house.

I stand up, moving to sit back across from Kira. I’m still hard, so I readjust myself in the chair. He’s going to know. There’s no way he won’t.

“We’re out on the porch,” I call.

Kira straightens her dress, tucking her hair behind her ear. Following the movement, I see a dark spot on her neck. Did I leave a fucking hickey on her? What am I, sixteen? I gesture for her to put her hair back, and she does, a little confused. Jared pulls open the slider, peeking out the door.

“I just wanted to check-in. I’m exhausted, so I’m going to head to bed,” he says. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to dinner.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you had fun,”Kira assures.

“Well, goodnight, guys,” Jared says as he spins around, disappearing into the house.

What the fuck just happened?

“Go upstairs,” I tell her.

For once, she doesn’t argue, rising to her feet and heading inside. That was too close. What if we didn’t hear him? If he wouldn’t have gotten home when he did…Why do I wish he didn’t?

Easing open the door to her room, I close it behind me and make my way over to her. Kira is sitting on her bed, her feet dangling off the side. She looks up at me with those warm browneyes, an undercurrent of worry filling them. I move her hair to the side, barely touching the red mark at the curve of her neck. I wince.

“Yeah, good job on that one,” she says, a small laugh escaping her lips.

“Kira, that never should have happened,” I say, my fingers trailing her jaw.

“What, the hickey? Yeah, probably not the best idea.”

“You know what I mean. That can never happen again.”

Her face falls, eyes dropping to the wood floor.

“I should have known better. I mean, fuck, Kira, I’m old enough to be your dad. There is no reason I should be touching you like that. You’re still just a kid, and after what you told me...”

“Noah, I wanted that—needed it, really, and I’m the one that kissed you. I practically forced myself on you,” she says.

My eyes trail down to her lips, my thumb brushing over them. I want to kiss her again, feel her body on mine, but I can’t. Nothing more can happen between us. I’m not what she needs.

“Trust me, you didn’t force anything, but it doesn’t matter. It won’t happen again,” I tell her. “Goodnight, princess.”

Turning around, I step out of her room, shutting the door behind me.

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