She quickly glanced at me. “We can’t go to my apartment.”
“We … can’t?”
She shook her head. “I just moved here, like, hours ago, remember? I don’t have a bed yet, so I’m going to be sleeping with Gabby. I can’t kick her out and have her crash on the couch. That would make me the worst bestie ever.”
Fuck me.
That wrecked every one of my plans.
“Can’t we go to your place?” she asked.
My place—a detail I didn’t want to get into.
I glanced out the window, trying to come up with a plan.
I could take her to a hotel; I just didn’t know how that idea would come across. I could sneak us into Dominick’s guesthouse, but Kendall was probably home, and I didn’t want to alarm her.
“Sydney—” My voice cut off as our eyes connected.
The hunger, the need. I didn’t know if I was gazing at my own reflection in her stare or if she felt the same way as me.
Either way, I hauled her body up against me and kissed her. The warmth from her mouth, the taste of her tongue, like silent promises of what was waiting for me between her legs.
I pulled my lips away and said, “Stan, we’ll be going to my house.”
“No problem,” he replied.
I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, what I was saying, what the fuck I was thinking, but I certainly couldn’t walk into my house with Sydney unless I gave Hannah a heads-up.
“I just have to send a quick text. Give me a second,” I said to Sydney and pulled out my phone.
Me: On my way home, and I’m not alone. Make sure Everly stays in her room and doesn’t try to come into mine. It’s been her thing lately—and that can’t happen tonight.
Hannah: Easy solution: lock your door. Now, I’m going back to bed, and I’m going to try not to have nightmares over this conversation. Because gag.
Me: I’ll lock it, but make sure to distract her if she gets up. Please, Hannah, this is important.
Hannah: You know you can count on me.
I slipped the phone back into my jacket just as Sydney said, “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. Sorry about that.”
She cuffed her arm around mine. “Where do you live?”
“Hollywood Hills.” I kissed down her neck, the coconut becoming even stronger as I reached her collarbone. “Not far.”
Thank God for that.
The fifteen-minute drive would be torturous enough. Anything longer, and I didn’t think I’d be able to wait, and I’d have to tear this dress off in the backseat.
“That’s my favorite area,” she said and giggled as I kissed up to her ear, taking her lobe into my mouth. “Why do I get the feeling, Mr. Dalton, that you’re completely relentless?”
“I go after what I want.” My fingers traveled up her chest, slowly moving between her tits until I reached her throat, holding it to keep her face straight. “And right now, that’s you.”
“Ford …” She sucked in her lip.
I growled as I glanced out the window, needing to know exactly how many seconds it would be until we were at my place.
“In less than three minutes, I’m going to taste how wet you are.”
“Oh God.”
I took in her mouth one last time, giving her my tongue until I felt the SUV come to a stop. A peek through the windshield showed me we had reached my driveway. Without waiting for Stan, I opened the backseat door and helped Sydney out, waving good-bye to Stan as I brought us in through the garage—the quieter of the two entrances.
“Do you want anything to drink?” I asked as we passed the row of cars.
“No. I’m good.”
Once inside the main house, I silently shut the door and led her into the kitchen. Everly was a hard sleeper, but I didn’t want to cause any excess noise and risk the chance of her waking up.
With the pendants over the island fully illuminated, the glow was just enough that I didn’t have to turn on any other lights.
We were halfway through the kitchen, just passing the pantry, when Sydney stopped. “Do you bake?”
“Fuck no.”
She appeared to be glancing around. “All I can smell is chocolate chip cookies. It’s making my stomach growl.”
I chuckled as I got a whiff of Hannah’s dessert. “Do you want one?”
“I don’t know.” She smiled. “I don’t think so.”
“Then, you’re coming with me.”
I hurried us through the open space of the living room and toward the master wing. The moment I had her through my bedroom door, I locked it behind us—something I never did—and pinned her against the wall.
“You have no idea how gorgeous you are.” I traced the side of her cheek, her hair framing a face that was far past beautiful. In fact, Sydney was the most breathtaking woman I had ever kissed. “Positively stunning.”
As the cool iciness of her eyes stared back at me, there was such innocence inside. Generosity. Submission.
“When you say those words, I feel them.”
My thumb crossed her mouth. “You should. They’re true.”
Her lips were almost equally as plump, the bottom only slightly larger. I tugged on the bigger of the two. Something about that one made me want to bite it.
“Do you know what I want right now?”
Her head pressed against the wall as my hand lowered to her neck. “I can’t read you like you can read me, but I can feel …”
Our bodies were aligned. Of course she could feel my hard-on; it was practically bursting through my pants.
“I want to devour you.”
“Ford, you have my permission.”
I reached down even farther and gripped her ass. The dress had made it look perfect when I was staring at it in the bar, but nothing compared to the way it felt as I circled my hands around her incredibly full, round cheeks. And just thick enough that I could pull her against my body.
When that wasn’t enough, when I needed her even closer, I lifted her into the air. She wrapped her legs around me while I pressed her against the wall. As I kissed her, her small, sensual moans filled my ears.
Even her sounds were taunting.
“You taste so good.” I licked her off my lips.
“That’s all the alcohol.”
“No, Sydney, that’s you.”
I walked her down the hallway toward my bed, placing her on the floor, only inches from the edge of the mattress. I wasted no time in getting her naked, instantly reaching for the zipper of her dress, lowering it enough so the material fell to her heels.
She stood before me in only her bra and panties, both light pink.
And lace.
Fuck me.I backed up a few inches, needing to take in this view.“Man”—I shook my head—“I’m one lucky motherfucker.”The dress had looked exquisite on her, but what was underneath was even better. Sydney in just her skin was a whole different level of sexy. All curves and dips and muscle. The gap between her thighs just as pronounced as I’d dreamed about at the bar.My stare dipped to her feet and slowly rose, and I moaned, “Magnificent,” as I reached her face.“You’re too much.”“Nah.” I paused, my cock fucking throbbing. “My words barely do you justice.”A flushness moved across her cheeks as she said, “Get over here.”Once I was within reach, she began to unbutton my shirt, working her way down my chest. My sports coat and shirt dropped at the same time. She didn’t stop until the only thing covering me was my boxer briefs. That was when her movements slowed, peeling the shorts down my legs until they fell.“Good God,” she whispered, gradually looking down, viewing my chest, abs. La
My cock teased her as I moved the tip around her opening. “Look at me.” I waited until she glanced over her shoulder before I gave her my crown. Just the head, nothing more. “You’re going to come again, Sydney.”“I’ve never …”She’s never had two orgasms in one night?“I’m going to change that.”I rocked my hips forward, giving her my entire shaft. She was closing in on me, tightening.“But if you keep feeling that good, you’re going to make me come.”She began to meet me in the middle, arching her hips up, adding pressure to my cock.“You like this position, don’t you?” I growled.“Yesss.”I could guess why.From here, I could reach even deeper.I could rub her clit at the same time, like I was doing now, and hit her G-spot.And every time I brushed across it, she gave me a reward.Her sounds.Fuck me, it was like music.My head leaned back as my balls tightened, and her hips began to buck against me.“Fuck, Sydney, you’re getting me far too close.”She glanced over her shoulder agai
How could only the lightest graze of his fingers, the subtlest exhale of his air cause me to quiver?But I did.In the last four years, I hadn’t had the time to explore the possibility of dating. Even if the opportunity had presented itself, I would have been in no position to act on it, far too tied up with my job.Back in LA for less than twenty-four hours, and this had already happened.Blanketed by this incredible man’s heat.As I stared at his face, I couldn’t help but wonder where this was going to take me and what this was going to look like.So many unknowns.What I did know was that I needed to fill myself with caffeine, or he would open his eyes to a side of me that was wickedly devilish.He was far too adorable to wake up, so I carefully lifted his arm a few inches and squeezed my way out, sneaking soundlessly off his bed.Rather than putting my dress on, I found his button-down on the floor and slipped my arms through the large holes, buttoning the middle as I tiptoed to h
“No, no.” I shook my head. “I took a job right after graduation, and I’ve traveled the world for the last four years. College has always been on my radar, but the timing was just never right. When it became possible, I made the move.”“But what an experience that must have been.”I tucked my unruly hair behind my ears. “I don’t regret it for a second.”“Good luck with school. I have a feeling it’s going to go great for you.”I grinned. “Thank you—and for you too. Wear that crown and show those boys at the law firm what it looks like when a girl kicks ass.”“Ohhh, yes. I plan to.”I waved good-bye and returned to Ford’s room, bringing the coffee into bed. Even though I’d been quiet, the movement of the mattress caused him to stir, his eyes gradually opening, meeting mine.God.He was perfection in the morning. Hair completely messy, beard a little thicker than it had been last night, a stare that was lusty and feral.I was ready for whatever he wanted to do to me.“Good morning,” I sai
He returned to that same spot on my neck. Kissing. Caressing. “Then, yes, I most definitely would like to see you again.”He was holding himself up with his arms, and I skimmed them, feeling the muscles bulge on each side. “Give me your phone. I’ll save my number.”He unlocked the screen and handed it to me, and I went into his Contacts and added my information.Rather than setting a date, this felt like the option that put the least amount of pressure on him.Still, the thought of him calling sent that tingle afire, and the thought of him not calling made my heart start to ache.I set his phone down and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him against me. My nose went into his hair, smelling, my mind memorizing.Just in case.And once a few beats passed, I respected his wishes and whispered, “Let’s go.”He gave me a quick kiss, his eyes holding mine as our mouths parted, and we climbed out of bed. He went into his closet, and I tossed his button-down on the bench in front of his
I nodded. “My absolute fave.” There was a smudge of chocolate on her cheek, telling me Hannah had probably given her a cookie before bed. “You know what else is my fave?” I held up my free hand. “Hannah’s cookies.”“Cookies for breakfast!” she shouted.I laughed, pulling back both hands. “That’s what I had for breakfast, but it sounds like you’re going to have pancakes, and that’s just as yummy.”“You like pancakes too?”“Of course.” I winked. “Who doesn’t love pancakes? They’re the best when they have loads of chocolate chips.”“Daddy, you have to make some pancakes for Syd. She likes them like I do.” She glanced at me again. “Did you get pretty to have pancakes with us?”I realized she was talking about my dress and heels—an outfit that felt outrageous at the moment.When I didn’t respond, she gasped and said, “Daddy, we need to have a pancake party. I need to go put on my pink dress!”“No party, baby.” Ford held the side of Everly’s face and kissed her. “Sydney only came over for c
“He’s so good with her. He has been since the very beginning.”I wanted so desperately to pick her brain, but I knew how inappropriate that was, so I said, “It sounds like they’re lucky to have each other.”She was silent for a few moments while listening to the app give the next instruction and then asked, “Now that you’re starting school, will you be working as well or just focusing on classes?”“Oh, no. I need a job.” I traced my fingers against the glass, staring at the palm trees that lined the street. “I haven’t begun looking for one, but it’s on the agenda along with getting a bed and furniture—I have nothing.” We connected eyes as she slowed for the stop sign. “I have so much to do. I’m what I call a hot mess.”“I can take one thing off your plate. I have the perfect job for you. You could be Eve’s nanny.”My hand immediately went to my chest. “Me?”“If you helped homeschool three children and you’re going to UCLA to become a teacher, there isn’t a person more suited than you.
“What do you want to do today, baby?”“Hmm.” She rubbed my prickly beard, her fingers getting lost in my whiskers.“We can do anything you want.”She sat up, resting one of her legs across me, her eyes wide and lit. “Anythiiing?”“Well, within reason.” I pushed her curls out of her face. “I know, given the opportunity, you’d pick Disney, which wouldn’t be practical today, or to go to Uncle Jenner’s house in Utah—also not an option.”“I want to have pancakes with the girls.”“What girls, baby?” The braid I’d put in her hair last night had fallen so loose, and her hair was a wild nest. I pulled the elastic out of the bottom and tried to form it all into a ponytail, tying it together.“Hannah and Syd.”I chuckled, trying to think of a way around this.“Daddy, I’m going to help you make a big batch of chocolate chip pancakes. And wear my sparkly pink dress. And they can come over and eat them. Okaaay?”“Eve, I don’t think Hannah is available today—”“Just call her. Pleeease.”I glanced at