I’mtiredaswedrive home in the car after the event. It was all better than expected, and I met some nice people.
I had three gift baskets at my feet and a special VIP pass for the aquarium I won in the auction and a handsome man at my side.
“So, your thoughts?” Kyle asks as we move through the quiet streets to my apartment.
“Hmm. I like the cause a lot and I hope they made a lot of money tonight. There was a lot of wealth in that room and not so nice people, but I met some good ones, too. I’m considering taking Remy’s daughter to the aquarium with me, since she’s at that perfect age for it.”
“What?” he asks as I glance at him. “I mean, you spoke that much with them?”
“Yes, at the bar.” What could be bothering him? “They seem like such caring fathers.”
“They’re handling it all well.” Kyle agrees as I think about how to say my next thought. “I had a good time with you tonight, Laina. I’d like to keep seeing you like we did at the event. It’s a relief to have Mom off my back.”
“So, this is beyond a date thing? You want to have a fake relationship?” I ask as he looks at me.
“We have a good time together. I think it will work out well. Don’t you?” Kyle asks as he looks into my eyes. “It won’t be all fake. We’re friends.”
“We are, but dating entails more than just talking and laughing, Kyle.” I look at the driver a few feet away from us.
“He’s my personal driver and nothing to worry about,” Kyle assures me as I look back into his gorgeous eyes, getting lost in them. “We’ll need to establish some boundaries, but I’d like to kiss you goodnight before you go up to the apartment. Just to get used to it. We can practice more later, but I don’t expect anything from you, Laina. We just need to be on realistic looking dates.”
“Kissing,” I murmur as I think about it. Of course, we’ll have to kiss each other if we’re dating. “Of course. You’re right.”
“Good. I’ll line up something for dinner for next week. There will be pictures of us out there from tonight and when we go out on our own. That’s a part of this life, and I hope you’re okay with that.” Kyle raised a brow as I looked at him with a smile.
“I understand that. What about work?” I ask, and he frowns thoughtfully.
“You are one of many employees under me, Laina. There are a host of supervisors there to guide you, and I’ve heard nothing but good things so far. I don’t think we’ll be an issue, but there certainly won’t be any special favors for you, nor will we act any different in the office than we have. Does that work for you?” Kyle asks, and I nod. “That’s an issue that will come up regularly with my family, I’m sure.”
“They don’t like me. Do they?” I ask as he touches my cheek with his thumb, sending heat washing over me.
“They need to get to know you. That’s all.” Kyle assures me.
I glance through the window to see that we’re on my main street. That’s why he’s touching me. We’ll need to kiss goodnight soon, and this is just part of that. I take a slow breath in.
Dave pulls up to the same curb and my cheeks flood with color as I lock gazes with Kyle. He licks his lower full lip, and I never realized how sexy his mouth was before now.
“I’ll take this slow,” he assures me as he cups my face with both hands, leaning in to brush his lips gently across mine. Heat makes me sweat as he makes another pass, pausing over my mouth as he presses a little harder, still allowing me room to adjust to this.
I don’t need it. I long to pull him closer and deepen this kiss, to taste Kyle. I sit still, allowing him control as the kisses linger a little longer and his tongue and teeth tease me.
This kiss is everything. I’ve never felt like this in the past and there have been men. I’ve kissed some and slept with others like any other woman, but it all pales in comparison. From my head to my toes, I feel the kiss and at every nerve ending in between.
I part my lips and his tongue delves into my mouth, dancing with mine as I taste the whiskey he sipped tonight on his mouth. I let out a low moan, reaching my hands up to grip his jacket and pull him closer.
I play back the feeling of being in Kyle’s arms as we danced while his mouth claims mine hungrily, demanding more from me. There was no way I felt this way when we were younger because of our ages, but being an adult is much different.
I think I’d agree to anything he asks right now, and I tilt my head to deepen the kiss further.
“I don’t think this will be a problem,” Kyle murmurs as he pulls away to breathe, staring outside of the window. “You feel… different. Good.”
“That’s one way to describe it. Would you like to come up?” I blush as I hear my words and close my eyes.
“I should get home. Lunch tomorrow?” Kyle asks and I open my eyes to see his locked on my face.
“That sounds great,” I reply, suddenly looking forward to the following day.
“We’ll make a day of it. I’ll pick you up at eleven.”