Page 5 of Your Secret to Keep

Lia stands and answers, “Yes. I work a few odd jobs. Kind of in between a main source of income right now.”

She puts her hand in mine as we walk out. The staff tell us goodnight, and if I wasn’t a regular, I'd feel bad. The valet has already pulled my car to the front, considering it was the only one left.

“Do you need a ride?”

“My place is only a ten-minute walk. It’s fine,” she says, tipping her head toward her direction of home.

There’s no way I’m letting her walk this late—not in those heels and not alone. I'm sure she can handle herself but driving her isn’t a problem at all. Plus, I really fucking want to.

“I don’t doubt that, but you don’tneedto walk. I have a perfectly open passenger seat for you.” I open the car door, gesturing inside.

Lia’s lips press together in a thin line. She looks from my car to the direction towards her place, then back to me. It’s like she’s looking for a reason to say no.

“Please get in the car, Lia,” I press, holding the passenger door open.

“If you’re sure.” She slides into the passenger seat, and I close the door.

The drive is only a few minutes, but Lia launches into a conversation about a rival NBA team. She’s trying to get me to dish onplayers—are they as bad as she thinks? I’m belly laughing at her honesty and borderline ruthlessness. I love it. Lia is a perfect surprise for tonight. I don’t think she knows this, but she was the distraction I desperately needed.

“I’m over here,” Lia explains and points to an apartment building ahead.

I pull over and get out of the car.

“Are you really going to walk me to my door?” Her cheeks are pink and scrunched with a grin.

I put a hand to my chest. “Absolutely. Proper date etiquette is important to me.”

We walk the short distance from the street to her apartment building and I follow her all the way to her door. There’s no lobby or central building; instead, everyone has a door facing the outside—sort of like a multi-floor motel. When we hear people screaming, some from inside their own apartment and some from the mostly open hallway, Lia doesn’t turn to me or say anything, almost like this is the norm. Paint peels from the walls and garbage bags sit outside some tenant’s doors.

This place is a bit rough around the edges—not that I’m judging—and I'm thankful she let me walk her back. She stops in front of a door and I’m relieved that no one is outside, hanging around, at any of the apartments near hers. Maybe she has good neighbors? I can only hope.

“Well, this was unexpected and sort of amazing,” Lia admits, her eyes almost sparkling under less-than-stellar lighting. I’ve never known anyone who looks this good under fluorescents.

I take a small step forward. “Yes. Here’s to Randall being a complete dick bag.” She laughs at the jab, and it warms me from the inside out. “I feel like I owe him a thank you card or something.”

Lia rolls her eyes. “That man deserves nothing. Thanks for turning my night around.” She leans in closer, her lips perfectly pink, and all I can think about is how badly I want to kiss her.

I can’t remember the last time I had a date like this. Easy. Fun. Where I’m sad to see it end. One where they aren’t asking me for basketball tickets halfway through or if I can introduce them to someone I was recently photographed with. It seems like my presence is enough and she doesn’t need anything else from me.

Fuck it. I’m going for it.

Slowly I close the space between us, giving Lia time to back up if she wants to. Placing two fingers under her chin, I tip her face to mine and put my lips to hers. Time drags, but the second our lips touch, it’s like a spark of energy hits my bloodstream. Any ounce of tiredness is immediately replaced with the possibility of more time with her.

My heart beats quick and light—I can hear it in my ears. I bet she could feel it if her hands were on my chest. The thought of her touching me that way has me needing more.

Her tongue sweeps along the seam of my lips and when I open, Lia lets out a sound that could bring me to my knees. It’s like a half moan mixed with a laugh—I want to bottle it and keep it forever.

My hands move to her hair as I walk us back until she’s flush against her apartment door. She takes her hands and grabs the front of my shirt, pulling me closer to her. I let my hands run down her side, ending on her lower back, at the top of her ass.

“Your hands. God. They feel too good.” Lia breaks the kiss as she leans closer to me, and I let them fall an inch or two farther. Her voice is breathy, shallow, and quiet which makes my dick strain against my pants.

I have a handful of her ass as I kiss down her neck. There’s more for me to grab than I can hold onto and it’s ridiculously hot.

Fuck.

She hitches one of her legs and I grab her thigh, digging my fingers into the skin. Her hips push forward, her back arching from the door, and I press my mouth to the top of her breasts. I pepper them with kisses before letting my tongue drag across. Tasting her.

A door slamming above us brings me back to the fact that we’re in public. We pull away and Lia looks at me, her fingers touching her swollen lips.

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