When I come back to her mouth, our kisses grow deeper and needier, hands roam and caress until she’s popping the button on my pants, fingers slipping inside my boxer briefs.

  “Ah, fuck,” I groan when her warm hand encases me. I push up on my arms, hovering over her as she strokes, pressure firm, thumb brushing the head with each pass.

  Her gaze stays steady on mine as I ease a hand down her side, edging under the waistband of her pajama pants. “Can I take these off, then?”

  “Yes, please.”

  She has to release me so I can drag them over her hips and down her thighs. I pause when her panties appear, and glance up, cocking a brow. Her grin widens and her nose wrinkles. These look new and very unlike something Kailyn would choose. They’re black cotton with a gold cheetah print and the words GO WILD! over the crotch.

  “These are interesting.”

  “I had help picking them out.”

  “Oh? Are there more?”

  “Mmm. They had a great ‘buy three, get two free’ deal going.”

  “I look forward to taking each and every pair off your gorgeous, sexy body, then.”

  “Well, if you want that to happen, I guess you better impress me this time around.” Her eyes glint with mischief.

  I like this side of Kailyn. I expected soft and shy, but her playfulness is a pleasant surprise. I grin and drag a finger along the edge of her panties, from her hip to the juncture of her thighs. “I’ll do my very best.”

  She nips at my bottom lip, but I don’t give her more kisses. Instead I sit back on my heels, tuck my thumbs into the waistband, and lower her panties over her hips. Her impishness disappears as her fingers drift to her mouth. I lower my head to place a gentle kiss below her navel.

  Kailyn drags in a tremulous breath, followed by a barely audible whimper when I suck the skin. I take my time removing her panties, heightening anticipation; hers and mine.

  She presses her thighs together, that shyness returning. Tucking my fingers into that warm space at the bend of her knee, I ease her legs open a few inches. “I want to see you.”

  When she parts for me, I kiss the inside of her right knee, then move to the left. From one side to the other, I kiss a path up the inside of her thighs, toward the place I’m looking very forward to spending some time.

  “Dax.”

  I lift my eyes, pausing to suck the skin. “Can I taste you?”

  Kailyn’s teeth sink into her bottom lip on a nod. A shaking hand glides down her stomach and stops just below her navel, but no words follow.

  When I finally reach the apex of her thighs, I drag a single finger along her slit. Kailyn jolts, body bowing with her quiet cry of surprise.

  “Is this okay?”

  She nods, cheeks pink. “I didn’t expect that.”

  “I’m going to touch you now, okay?” I warn with a grin. Parting her with my fingers, I brush my thumb over her clit. She exhales another unsteady breath.

  “And now I’m going to kiss you.” I drop my head and lick her, eyes on her face.

  She covers her mouth with her palm, as if she’s trying to hide her reaction. She bites her knuckle and turns her head to the side when I do it again. “God, you’re really good at that.”

  “Would it be better if I fumbled around a bit, like we’re in college and I don’t know what I’m doing?” I tease.

  She huffs a laugh, which turns into a sigh as I put my mouth on her again. Her sweet moans are quiet as I drag an orgasm out of her. Maybe because she’s cautiously aware of how not alone we are in this house.

  I kiss my way back up to her mouth. Kailyn’s hands ease down my sides, and she pushes my pants and underwear over my hips. “You should be naked like me.”

  Once I am I reach for a condom from the nightstand.

  Kailyn plucks the foil square from my fingers and pushes on my chest until I sit back. Tearing it open, she rolls it on, then pulls me over her again.

  I drop my face into the crook of her neck, muttering a curse as I sink inside her, satin heat surrounding me. Kailyn’s lips are at my temple, legs wrapped tight around my waist, the palm of her hand curving around the back of my neck.

  I breathe through the tightness in the pit of my stomach, my body in overdrive, the sensation almost too much. This is different. It’s far more intense than just physical need.

  When I feel like I’m under control again, mostly, I kiss a path from her neck to her mouth.

  Then I push up enough so I can see her face. “Hi.”

  She smiles, eyes soft and hazy. “Hey.”

  “You feel incredible.”

  “So do you.” She tips her chin up. “Kiss me, please.”

  So I do. With our mouths fused I move over her, and despite wanting to take my time, to go slow and savor this, desire eventually wins out.

  Gentle thrusts become more frantic as her quiet moans turn into pleas for me not to stop. I can’t kiss her anymore, too intent to watch her unravel for me. My name is a whisper on her lips as she comes. Like a domino being pushed, I let go, chasing the high of the orgasm.

  When the sensations finally abate, I unhook her leg and roll to the side so I don’t crush her with my weight. We kiss for long minutes, hands still roaming each other’s bodies.

  When I finally pull back, I trace the edge of her jaw with my fingertip. This isn’t like any other sex I’ve had before. I’m not sure if it’s tied up in her connection to my past, or her being involved in my present, or somewhere between the two, but I know I want to keep this.

  “Was that impressive enough?” It breaks the tension, and for a moment I wish I could take it back and say something else. Something better.

  Emotions flit across her face, none of them lasting long enough for me to catch and hold them. She skims my lips with her fingertips, a small smile tipping the corner of her mouth. “Top-of-the-class impressive.”

  “I’ll get to see the rest of your pretty new panties, then?”

  She arches a brow. “I don’t know about that.”

  “But I gave you orgasms, more than one.”

  “What if your performance next time isn’t as impressive?”

  “I promise that was just a warm-up. Next time will be even better.”

  I move to kiss her, but we both freeze at the slam of a door and the thump of footfalls coming down the hallway.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tread Lightly

  Kailyn

  Panic sets in as I push on Dax’s chest. His arm tightens around my waist, the steady, quick thump of his heart vibrating against my palm. Logically, I know we should be safe because the door is locked and Emme has no idea we’re here, but the gravity of my decision hits me. What if Emme finds out?

  Heavy feet tread down the stairs. I’m relieved for a moment before I realize she could be down there for a while.

  “What if she doesn’t come back up right away? What if she decides to watch TV?” I whisper.

  Dax smooths my hair away from my face. “She’s probably getting a snack.”

  I seriously hope that’s all. I’ve never lost my head over a man like this. I can’t believe we just snuck up to his bedroom to have sex without considering the worst-case scenario, which would be getting caught by his sister. It was pretty great sex, but still, this isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done. It’s actually right up there with walking through a Frisbee game with my eyes closed and that time I was watching reruns of It’s My Life between classes but my earbuds weren’t in properly and everyone could hear Daxton and the female lead sharing their first kiss. “I left my phone and my purse in the living room.”

  “Mine’s in my pants.” He smiles a little. “Don’t worry. We can always climb down the trellis and run around the front of the house if we need to.”

  I imagine what that would look like, two adults climbing down the side of the house to hide the fact that we’ve had sex from a thirteen-year-old. His grin widens, possibly at my horrified expression. I am not a fan of heights. “It’s not a joke, Dax!”

  I push on his chest again. He’s still inside me, half-hard based on how full I still am. “We should get dressed. I don’t even know how long we’ve been up here.”

  Dax unlocks his arms, rolling to his back, breaking the physical connection, as panic takes over. “Shit. We probably should’ve waited until Emme was out with friends for this.”

  Now that the heat of the moment is over I can see his point, and wish I’d thought about it before we ended up in his bedroom. I feel exposed as I reach across the bed for my flashy panties and pajama pants.

  “She doesn’t even know we’re here. Plus, we were quiet and careful, and she’s always wearing earbuds, isn’t she?”

  “Yeah. But it still feels like I’m up for the Shitty Parent of the Year Award.”

  “Hey.” I put a hand on his chest. “You’re new at this. Cut yourself some slack, Dax.”

  He blows out a breath. “I just don’t want to mess this up.”

  He picks up his boxers and throws his legs over the edge of the bed. I watch his incredible ass disappear into his boxer briefs, then he disappears into the bathroom to discard the spent condom.

  I rush to grab my bra from the floor and slip my arms through the straps.

  “Let me help.” Dax sweeps my hair over my shoulder and hooks the clasp, dropping a kiss at the base of my neck. I shiver at the tender contact, and again when he drags a single finger down my spine. He plucks my shirt from the edge of the bed and helps me into that as well.

  “Are you okay?” I ask.

  “Yeah.” His wide palms settle on my waist and he gives me a chagrined smile. “I would’ve liked some naked cuddle time.”

  I can’t quite judge his mood, unsure if he’s trying to defuse his own panic or the sudden tension between us. This isn’t some casual screw. There are consequences for our actions, and one of them is downstairs right now.

  I laugh, but my anxiety comes through loud and clear in my high pitch. “What if I’m not a cuddler?”

  Dax slips a hand through my hair, maybe trying to tame it. “You’ve never cuddled with me.”

  I’m sure he can sense my worry, and I’m certain he believes it has everything to do with Emme. “They’ll be other opportunities,” I tell him.

  Part of me realizes that the sex shouldn’t have happened, and not solely based on location and timing, but the other part of me wants this connection because it’s so much stronger than anything I’ve ever known before. And that terrifies me because I have so much wrapped up in both of them. The stakes are high, the potential losses great, and the possible damage frighteningly emotional.

  “We need to be careful, for Emme’s sake,” I whisper.

  “I agree. It’s complicated, isn’t it?”

  “It is.” She’s already attached to me, and I’m attached to her. I don’t even want to consider how this might compromise my career, or my role as Emme’s conservator on top of everything else. And if we don’t work out, then what? I lose him, Emme, and the one thing I’ve been working all these years for? What will I have then?

  I tense at the sound of footfalls coming up the stairs. The slam of a door follows and I blow out a relieved breath. “We should go back downstairs.”

  Dax nods, but he doesn’t look all that happy as he dresses quickly. Before he opens the door, he takes my face in his hands, eyes searching mine before he tips my head up and kisses me. It’s a slow tangle of tongues that makes my knees weak and my heart stutter. He pulls away on a deep inhale and caresses my bottom lip with his thumb. “Let me make sure the coast is clear.”

  He unlocks the door and opens it a crack, cringing as it creaks. “I’ll WD-40 that for next time,” he whispers, then peeks down the hall. “All clear.”

  My heart hammers in my chest as we tiptoe to the stairs and steal swiftly back to the living room.

  I rush to the front hall and take our shoes out of the closet, then open and slam the door, maybe a little harder than I need to.

  Dax leans against the doorjamb, looking ridiculously calm. I poke his shoulder and he grabs my finger, pulling me to him. “You need to relax, Kailyn.”

  I exhale a deep breath. Maybe I’m overreacting, but then there’s more going on here than two consenting adults having sex. “Sorry. I think we need to plan this better in the future.” I’m talking like this is going to happen again, even though I’ve already told myself it shouldn’t.

  “I agree. I’d like a sleepover where I get to see what you look like with bed head, and we can have lazy morning sex.”

  I need his levity with everything going on in my head. “Pretty sure a sleepover is out of the question for the time being.” I lift my chin, eyes on the ceiling.

  “We’ll figure something out.” He links our pinkies. “Come sit with me for a while before you tell me you have to go home.”

  Two days later I’m in my office, files spread out over my desk, when my cell rings. It’s Dax. Yesterday he sent me a very beautiful flower arrangement. I’ve never been much of a hearts and flowers girl, but the gerbera daisies in vibrant colors are particularly lovely, and coming from him they mean something special. Which is a problem. I’m more invested than I ever meant to be, and now not only do we have to try to hide this from Emme, I’m also supposed to convince him to work at Whitman. My head’s a mess over this.

  I pick up my phone and put some cheer in my voice. “Good morning, Mr. Hughes. How may I help you?”

  “Are you at your desk right now? Can you check your email?”

  “Yes, and yes. Why? Is there a problem?”

  “No problem, this could actually be the opposite of a problem. I’ll wait until you open the email before I ask more questions.”

  “Personal or professional?”

  “Personal.”

  I grab my home laptop from my bag and access my emails, pulling up the one he forwarded. “This is about the alumni conference.” Our law school is hosting a two-day conference featuring panels, speeches, and workshops led by some of the top lawyers to graduate from their program. I was offered an opportunity to lead a panel, but wasn’t sure I could commit to it, or even wanted to.

  “Are you going?”

  I have to stop chewing on the end of my pen in order to answer. “I reserved a spot, but I wasn’t sure if it made sense to attend. Why? Are you?”

  “I’m speaking on a panel on Saturday.”

  “Oh.” So much for seeing him this weekend. “Do you need me to watch Emme?”

  He laughs. “No, Kailyn. I’ve made arrangements with one of her friends to have a sleepover.”

  “Have you talked to the parents? Will they be there? Does she know them well?”

  “Yes, yes, and yes. She’s been friends with Marnie since first grade and they’ve had plenty of sleepovers, so she’ll be in good hands for the weekend.”

  “Well, that’s good news.” I’m a little bummed that he’s going to be away all weekend. Maybe he’ll have an evening free this week or something.

  “Kailyn?”

  “Yes?” I rearrange my mugs on my desk—the old and the new one with the chip. I think it’s going to be my favorite now, because of the memory associated with the shopping trip and the events that followed.

  “I have a hotel room booked for Friday and Saturday night.” At my silence he presses on. “We could spend the entire weekend together. No pretending we’re going for a walk, no hiding”— his voice drops—“and we can have lazy morning sex. What do you say? Are you in?”

  I squeeze my thighs together. “Yes. I’m in.”

  His voice is smooth silk. “Are you thinking about lazy morning sex, Kailyn?”

  “No.” I’m sure lazy morning sex will be nice, but I’m looking forward to experiencing his other talents again.

  He chuckles. “I think you’re lying.”

  I smooth out my skirt, my body already responding to the endless possibilities that will come with an entire weekend together, uninterrupted by time constraints or the presence of a teenager. But I play it off as coy. “And why would you think that?”

  “Because you’re suddenly all breathy.”

  I can feel my face heating up. “I am not.”

  “You definitely are.”

  “It has nothing to do with lazy morning anything.”

  “Oh no? What does it have to do with, then?”

  I check to make sure I have privacy before I drop my voice to a whisper. “That very talented tongue you have.”

  “Oh, really? Should I assume you’re not referencing my stellar conversation skills?”

  “You assume correctly, although I do appreciate your ability to keep me entertained, mind and body.” My cheeks grow hot at the thought of having his head between my thighs again.

  “Did you like it when I made you come with my mouth?”

  I throw his words back at him. “You’re good at reading people, aren’t you? What do you think?”

  “I think you liked it a lot. I might even go so far as to say you love my mouth on you.”

  “Is that right, Mr. Hughes?”

  “It is. I enjoyed the taste of you very much, Miss Flowers, and I’m very much looking forward to repeating that experience multiple times.”

  “We should probably schedule that in, just to be sure you have enough time between panels to make that happen.”

  He laughs. “I’ll get on that right away. Well, now that I’m highly uncomfortable and can’t leave my desk without embarrassing myself, I should probably get back to work.”

  It’s my turn to chuckle. “I hope you have a productive day, and it’s not too hard.”

  “Interested in a quick lunch date?”

  “Enticing, but I have meetings all day.”

  “That’s unfortunate.” Dax is silent for a moment, and his voice drops low. “Kailyn?”

  “Yes, Dax.”

  “Pack all your fun panties for me, please.”

  I laugh. “Of course.”

  “Have a nice day, Miss Flowers.”

  “You, too, Mr. Hughes.”

  I end the call and exhale a long breath, considering all the ways in which I plan to enjoy this uninterrupted two-day span. But first I need to run it by Beverly as it means missing part of Friday. Something I should’ve done before I said yes to Dax, but I can’t see her saying no.