He glances at his watch. “Midnight. A little past.”
“I should probably get home.”
He grunts, watching me. “You can come back to my place.”
I shake my head. “Gem will expect me in the morning.”
He stares for an uncomfortably long moment, not bothering to cover himself. Which isn’t really a bad thing. His cock is still half hard, still massive, and still incredibly beautiful.
But finally, he tugs on underwear and dresses. Once we’re presentable, he knocks on the divider and tells the driver to take me back to my building.
We drive in silence. He tries to engage me, but I don’t give him much. There’s a pleasant ache between my legs, but I’m busy thinking about what this all means.
And what I’ve gotten myself into.
“Think about my offer,” he says at the door to the building. I made him promise not to follow me inside, just in case Gem’s still waiting up.
“I really don’t want to.”
“That’s not an option.”
I think about kissing him again. But the heat of the club and the rush of fucking him in the car is quickly fading.
“Just give me some time, alright? Can you do that?”
“I’ll try. But I’m not patient.”
“I noticed.”
“I’ll come to the diner during your first shift in three days.”
That’s not long, but I have a feeling he won’t care. “Fine. I’ll have an answer by then.”
“Good.” He touches my hip.
But I’m already turning away. I slip inside and push the door closed between us. I feel him still there, lingering while I catch my breath in the hallway.
I shouldn’t have done that. Sleeping with him in his car was insane. Especially after he asked me to marry him.
What the hell am I doing right now? Am I really considering it?
He could give Gem the stability she needs. I believe him when he says he’ll take care of her.
He might even take care of me too.
“Stop it, Kira,” I mutter to myself, fixing my hair in the little mirror hanging in the hallway a few doors down from my apartment. “Good sex doesn’t mean he’s a good person. Don’t you dare forget it.”
A door suddenly opens. Mrs. Walker looks out, frowning at me. “Did you say something? Why are you making so much noise, young lady?”
I hurry past her. “Goodnight, Mrs. Walker.”
“You always were trouble, Kira Santoro!”
I stumble into the apartment. Everything I do is so damn loud. I drop my keys on the kitchen island. The place is dark and silent, and I do my best to sneak back down the narrow hall. Everything is so dingy and pathetic. All our furniture is cheap particleboard and rotting stuffing.
I poke my head into Gem’s tiny room. My genius little sister is fast asleep on her twin bed, wrapped in her secondhand blankets, curled into a tight ball.
She deserves better than this.
