I softly whimper. “Daren.”

“I know,” he whispers beside my ear. “I’ll give you everything you want.”

A shiver runs over my body and his fingertips lightly brush over the tiny shiver bumps on my stomach as his hand moves down to my shorts. He pulls them off in a few short movements, leaving me in only my panties. Then, finding my knees, he runs his hands up the inside of my legs and trails his fingers over the sensitive skin at the top.

Then he spreads my thighs, opening me up all the way. I let my legs fall open, reflectively arching my back as the cool air in between our bodies wisps over my wet panties.

With my body fully opened, he skims his fingers up and down the inside of my thighs and I exhale and let my head fall back. The barely-there touch, causing a needy ache inside me, is soft and careful—and only for me.

He can’t see me or my reactions, so I know the light brushing of his fingers over my tummy and the underside of my breasts and the inside of my arm aren’t for his benefit, but for mine. They’re so I know he’s there. Connecting us softly.

He rubs a thumb over the wettest part of my panties and I jerk. He does it again and my thighs quiver as I let out a gasp.

He gently suckles on my earlobe as his thumb finds my clit through the thin material of my panties and strokes tiny circles around it.

I pant as my thighs jerk. “Ye—yes.”

Slipping his fingers inside my panties, he gently strokes me between my legs and I whimper. I’m already wet and hot, but his long fingers, slipping in and around my slick folds, make me even more aroused.

His mouth finds mine and he traps my moans and my gasps as he works me closer… closer…

I’m panting and shaking. I let my thighs fall open even more and squirm beneath him eagerly.

Closer…

He teases my entrance with one thick finger and slides it inside. My tiny inner muscles squeeze him with need. He adds another finger and starts to move them in and out of me, drawing out more wetness from my center. Then withdraws both fingers, shoves my panties to the side completely, and uses his thumb and forefinger to softly pluck at my clit.

I cry out at the touch, feeling my core tighten and ache as he rolls over my clit again and again.

Closer…

He pushes his big fingers back inside while his thumb continues to tickle against my most pivotal place. My body tenses as I reach the peak, and my thighs begin to quiver as pure ecstasy courses through me, pulling a cry from my throat. Daren bends to kiss me as my climax washes over me in waves, and I bend my back in a tall arch to meet his mouth and his skillful fingers. And then—

The phone rings.

26 Daren

No.

It rings again.

No, no, no. Dammit.

I slowly withdraw my fingers from Kayla’s tightness, gently cupping her between her legs as her thighs shake around me and her arousal spills onto the bed. I kiss her deeply, sucking in her quiet moans and whimpers and loving every desperate cry. Pleasing this woman is pleasure in itself.

I shift above her, willing the phone call to disappear and leave me to this plush, naked body I have beneath me in the dark.

But it rings again, and this time Kayla pulls away from my mouth and breaths out, “Do—do you need to get that?” Small spasms continue to run through her and she lets out a wanton sigh.

“No,” I say, my fingers still playing inside her panties where she’s wet and warm and ready for me. And I am most definitely ready for her. Fuck, I’m hard.

Not a chance in hell.

Kayla seems distracted now, shifting as the phone rings again. “Sh—shouldn’t you at least see who’s calling?” she pants.

I hang my head. Only one person would be calling me at this hour.

“Probably,” I say, out of breath. My dick aches in mean protest as I slip my hand out of her panties. “Is that okay? I’m so sorry.”

“Yes. Of course,” she says, scooting out from under me with quivering legs. I curse all the phone gods in all the land as I lift away from her hot naked body and reach for my phone. I adjust myself but it doesn’t help. I’m already so hard it hurts.

“Hello?” I say, bracing myself.

“Hi, Daren. Sorry to bother you at this hour, but it’s important,” says Eddie Perkins. I knew it.

“What?” I say, pissed off and irritated.

“Your father’s arraignment for the accident charges is tomorrow, and he’s refusing to plead guilty.”

“Shocking.”

“I need you to come down to the courthouse and talk some sense into him—”

“No.” I start shaking my head even though he can’t see me. “No way. I’m done speaking to him.”

“You’re the only one he will listen to and if he doesn’t plead guilty and this goes to trial he could end up in prison, Daren. Prison.”

“He deserves prison.”

Eddie sighs. “You and I both know you don’t mean that. Will you please come?”

I clench my jaw, hating that my father has spiraled so far down that I feel like I’m at the bottom of a deep, dark pit. “Fine. I’ll try to talk to him.”

“Thank you,” he says. “I really appreciate it. I’ll see you at eight a.m. tomorrow.”

I hang up and throw my phone back on the nightstand with a curse.

Beside me in the dark, Kayla quietly says, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I shake my head. “Just some stuff I have to do in the morning for Eddie.”

“Oh.” She shifts on the bed and I feel a tug against the handcuffs.

“Fuck,” I mutter, running my free hand through my hair and pulling at the ends. I hate my father. Then I turn back to Kayla and quietly say, “Sorry.”

The darkness makes it impossible to read her face, but the passion that filled the room just minutes ago has all but evaporated, and I’m sure her sexual desire probably went with it.

“No problem.” Her voice is soft.

I run my fingers up her arm and to her jaw, wishing I could see what she wanted right now. She covers my fingers with her free hand, holding them to her face.

“You seem upset. Maybe we should just get some sleep,” she says. “And we have to get up early, anyway.”

I inhale slowly, frustrated and irritated with Eddie for calling so late and my father for being such a dick that his decisions now affect my sex life. “Yeah.” I nod even though Kayla can’t see me. “Maybe you’re right.” I find her face and gently kiss her on the lips, not wanting her to think I’m pissed at her in any way, and she kisses me back.

It’s a sweet kiss. No heat. No wanting. It’s a goodnight kiss.

I pull away and she fumbles to put her shirt and shorts back on, the mattress shifting beneath her movements as she yanks it back up her arm and over her head. I do the same. Then we lie back down.

I feel her body heat beside me but we’re not touching anymore.

Silence falls over the room as I stare blindly into the black and mentally curse my father for ruining my life and interrupting the feel of Kayla Turner in my arms.

27 Kayla

This morning, we brushed our teeth side by side at the bathroom mirror. We turned our backs on each other while we got dressed. And then we descended the staircase in the big empty house and got in my car.

Not once did we mention last night. And so much happened.

Getting swept up in the heat of the moment in Daren’s bed was a game changer in itself. But I also told him about my mom dying—something I haven’t told anyone other than the paramedics and cops. It’s strange how comfortable I am with Daren. Telling him actually made me feel… lighter, in a way. Like talking about my mom unloaded a burden I didn’t know I was carrying. Between working and taking care of my mom, I haven’t had much time to maintain my other relationships. So I didn’t really have anyone I could talk to about my parents passing away. But Daren makes it easy.