My heart skips. "You don't?"
"No. I want more of this. More of you." He reaches over, tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "If you'll let me."
I should think about this. Should consider all the reasons this is complicated like his past, my daughter, the fact that we barely know each other. I should be practical and cautious and smart.
But I'm so tired of being practical.
"I want that too," I whisper. "I want more."
His smile is small but genuine. Real. "Good."
We sit there for another moment, just looking at each other. Then reality crashes back in. I glance at the clock on my dashboard.
"Shit. It's almost three."
"You need to get upstairs."
"Yeah." But I don't move. Don't want to leave this bubble we've created.
"Go," he says gently. "Get some sleep. I'll text Rampage to come get me."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Go take care of your girl."
The mention of Daisy brings everything back into focus. I have responsibilities. A daughter who needs me. A life that exists beyond this car and this man and this incredible, reckless thing we just did.
But God, I don't want to leave him.
"Thank you," I say. "For tonight. For everything."
"Thank you for not running when I told you about prison."
"Thank you for trusting me with it."
He leans over and kisses me one more time.
"Go," he murmurs against my lips. "Before I convince you to stay out here all night."
I laugh, pull away reluctantly, and grab my backpack from the backseat. Open the car door. The cold night air hits me and I shiver.
Danny's leaves the car too, already pulling out his phone to text Rampage.
"Goodnight, Danny," I say.
"Goodnight, Joanna."
I close the door and head toward my building. When I reach the entrance, I look back. He's watching me, making sure I get inside safely.
Always protecting.
I wave. He raises his hand in response.
Then I'm inside, climbing the stairs to the third floor, to unit 3C, to my sleeping daughter and my regular life. But I can still feel Danny inside me. Can still feel his cum leaking into my panties with each step. Can still feel the ghost of his hands on my body.
And I'm smiling the whole way up.
Chapter 9 - Bruiser
