Page 13 of Joint Custody

“Oh.” She smiled and her brows raised in shock. I’m guessing she didn’t know about me owning them. “Well, thanks anyway. I can’t wait to see it.” She turned to look through the window again, but I wasn’t ready to lose her attention, I was enjoying it too much.

“So, was the club everything you’d expected?” I asked.

She laughed and looked shocked that she did. “Nope,” she said, her eyes wide as if she was traumatized.

That made me laugh. “Well, did you have fun at least?” I asked through my grin.

“Um, I mean after that drink I did and then I walked into something I wasn’t sure I should’ve,” she said.

“Yeah, that was uh, interesting. I noticed you didn’t run out of there, though,” I said in gest.

“Well, of course not. I was looking for my friends,” she said in defense.

“Right.” I nodded with a playful tease, and she shook her head, hiding a smile as she looked away. I was about to say more but I thought better of prolonging a conversation about a situation where I was having a hard time containing myself around her.

I was trying to do anything to distract myself from thinking about what I’d rather be doing with her. While doing such a good job of it, I forgot I needed to pick up my car.

“Oh, woah, hold on driver, change in plans,” I shouted a little too loud.

She turned around in fright. “What is it?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s nothing. You wouldn’t mind if we swung by the garden venue first so I can pick up my car, would you?” I asked.

“Oh crap. Your car. My car. I wonder if my parents saw that I left without my car.” She started massaging her forehead. “I’m surprised they aren’t relentlessly trying to reach me,” she said as she dove into her purse for her phone. “Oh, great, the battery died.”

“Hey, relax.” I reached out on instinct to caress her shoulder. “There’s nothing we can do about what’s already been done. So, here’s what I’ll do. We’ll head back to the venue, I’ll pick up your car, drop you home, and come back for mine, okay? Tomorrow, you can figure out something to tell your parents,” I said.

“I can’t ask you to do that. That’s too much trouble,” she rushed out, looking up at me.

“It’s no trouble at all, I don’t mind,” I said, diving into the magnetic circles of her eyes.

“So, where ah we going?” the driver asked, breaking the moment that felt like time had halted as he stared at us with impatience.

“Oh, sorry,” I said as I gave him the address, still rubbing her shoulder. “Oh, um . . .” I dropped my hand in a haste.

The rest of the drive over to the venue was agonizing, and the air inside the car felt like it just wasn’t enough. I felt like I’d just gotten into a time machine and gone back centuries to a time where just holding hands with a woman got a man hard as a rock. The heat from her skin still settled in my hand, in the lines of my palm. And the car became too small as I tried to shift to relieve the pressure of my clothes against my dick, but each movement just caused more friction against the sensitive skin, and I thought I was about to lose my mind.

She was blushing red as my hand left her. Her chest heaved in a way that mirrored my disappointment at not being able to continue touching her. I turned to look out the window to keep myself from burying my head into her bosom, teasing the cushioned flesh with my tongue, my teeth, my lips, and forgetting the taxi driver even existed. I had a yearning for her body that was suffocating me. This was such a cruel game. The kind of game that could drive one mad. Things like these were normally easier than this. When two people were attracted to each other, sizzling with desire for the other, they introduced themselves, they confessed their attraction and interest, they gave it a go and saw where it took them. But we weren’t allowed to do that, and it was insanity.

As soon as the driver pulled up to the garden venue, I couldn’t wait any longer. I paid him and rushed out of the car. I had to leave the small temptation vessel and set my legs free to create distance between us. Necessary distance to keep my sanity from being sucked out of me. I needed the cool air on my face to steady me, the freshness of it to fill my lungs and regulate my thoughts. The quick tapping of her heels on gravel could be heard from behind me. “Hey, slow down. These things are killing me. My car isn’t parked in that direction,” she said.

I paused and looked around. No cars were parked in the direction I was heading in. Just trees. Where the hell was I going? After a few deep breaths, I spun around to face her, determined to be logical and to avoid looking at her, with my tongue hanging out of my mouth as she led me toward her car.

“Thanks for doing this, I really appreciate it,” she said as we walked side by side.

“It’s okay.” I looked at her and she smiled. I was almost home clear. All I had to do was collect the car, drop her home, and spend the rest of the night trying not to think about her.

We were approaching the area where the party was held. We could see through the neatly trimmed hedges that the lights were still on as a clean-up crew dealt with the mess left over from the guests.

“It’s over here.” She stepped out ahead of me only to come running back as if a ghost jumped out of the trees to yell “Boo! Gotcha!”

“What is it?” I asked as my eyes widened in a panic, and I looked around the bend to see what got her spooked, only to be spotted by Mrs. Levine who was standing by Tiffany’s car.

“Oh, Mario! Thank goodness!” She looked relieved to see me as she started hurrying over.

“Shit! Shit, shit! I can’t face them right now. Please,” Tiffany begged.

Crap. Sure, she was a grown woman who didn’t have to hide from her parents, who just left law school and would be working as a lawyer soon enough, which meant she had to have the balls to stand up for herself and now would be a great time to do it. But I also wanted to help her because she looked scared shitless.

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