After glancing around, she sighed and met his gaze. “They have very loud sex.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“She’s very vocal and he’s...well, he’s not quiet either.” Her face turned pink as she averted her eyes to look over his shoulder. “I can’t exactly call management and report my neighbors for having sex.”
His first instinct was to insist that she could do exactly that. He would have. But this wasn’t him. It was Ali, and in truth, he couldn’t see her marching into her management office and demand they tell her neighbors to quiet down when having sex. “When’s your lease up?”
Ali met his gaze again, the blush slowly leaving her cheeks. “Not for another six months.” She rubbed her forehead. “It’ll get better.”
He had his doubts about that. Her neighbors either didn’t know or didn’t care about the noise they were making. Daniel had thought she looked tired last night, but he’d let it go. Tonight, he wasn’t letting it go. He wrapped his fingers around her elbow and guided her the rest of the way to her car. “I’ll follow you home.”
She stared up at him. “Why?”
“Because you’re going to pack a bag and come home with me.”
The weary look she’d had before morphed into what could only be wide-eyed disbelief. Her mouth dropped open, and he knew she was moments away from coming up with some excuse.
He didn’t give her the opportunity. “Just for a night. I’m sure I can find you something tomorrow.”
“But what about my lease? I can’t afford to pay rent on two places.”
Her paying rent was the last thing he was worried about. If need be, he’d pay whatever was needed. It wasn’t as if money was an issue. “Don’t worry about it.” Opening the car door, he motioned for her to get in. “I’ll figure something out.”
She slid behind the wheel but continued to gaze up at him. “Daniel, you don’t need to. I’ll be fine.”
Leaning over, he braced one arm on the hood of her car above the doorframe and met her gaze. “You are not fine. Your eyes are bloodshot and you’re slouching. You never slouch.”
Ali pulled her shoulders back and sat up straight in her seat.
He went on. “That’s not to even mention how many times you’ve yawned since we’ve been here.” He paused, then stood to his full height. “Do you feel awake enough to drive?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
Giving her a curt nod, he took a step back. “If that changes, pull over. Understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He closed her car door before making his way to his SUV and climbing inside. Backing out of Justin’s driveway, he waited for her to do the same.
The drive to her apartment complex was a measure in patience. Twice she’d crossed the white line onto the shoulder before correcting herself. He was tempted to put her over his knee, but he was afraid if he did, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from doing more. Just thinking about her spread out across his lap, her ass in the air, had his cock twitching.
Luckily, they pulled into her complex a few minutes later and he released the tight grip he had on the steering wheel. He was striding toward her before she’d gotten out of her vehicle. “Do you want some help?”
“No. I’ll only be a few minutes.”
He waited patiently for her to return and took the time to reflect on the situation. Ali would be in his home. Even if it was only one night, she’d be in his space, her scent mingling with his.
Closing his eyes, he took several deep breaths to calm himself. Ali was a beautiful woman. Any fool could see that. But she was thirty-two years old. She was young enough to be his daughter. Hell, his oldest was only five years younger than Ali.
The door to Ali’s apartment opened, and he made his way over to her as she locked her door. “I’ll take your bags for you.”
She turned and met his gaze before allowing him to take her duffle bag and suitcase.
He walked to his vehicle, opened the back, and placed her things inside.
“Um?”
Knowing what she was going to say before she said it, he cut off her protest. “I’ll bring you back to your car later. Right now, you’re not alert enough to be driving.”