“Oh my God,” I say, climbing off Dax.
“What’s wrong?”
I stumble to my closet like I’m drunk, then shake my head—Dax has me in a special hypnosis. He sits up, the sheet around his trim waist, his eyelids heavy.
I’ve never seen this side of him. The side that goes beyond platonic friendship.
It’s equal-parts heartbreaking and beautiful. He’s every woman’s dream, the kind of guy a woman could really fall for, but he’s also dangerous in many ways.
I clear my throat, shaking off this warm and fuzzy yet frightened feeling coursing through me. “I told Jacob I’d pick him up half an hour ago for pancakes.”
“But everything’s fine with him?”
“Yeah.” I shift from one foot to the other, watching him as he throws the covers to the side. He stands, his impressive length armed and lethal. I bite my lip, but he doesn’t seem fazed that he’s standing nude in front of me. It makes my mouth water. “Umm… do you… want to come?”
He smirks, obviously knowing I’m not thinking about pancakes at all. Even if he didn’t know me so well, he’d still see right through me.
“I’d love to.” He dips me back, and his mouth covers mine in an all-consuming kiss that makes my body limp.
His hard length hits my stomach.
My toes curl into the carpet.
I drop my clothes, then splay my hands on his pecs, digging my fingers into his hard chest. Part of my brain knows this is Dax. That we don’t kiss Dax.
But the other part of my brain screams there’s a hot guy in my room, one who held me all night in his strong and warm arms. It’s been so long since I’ve had a guy around, and this is one I’d be crazy to kick out of bed.
He leans his forehead to mine. “Let’s go,” he rasps, his voice low and seductive like he said, “Let’s get back in bed.”
My knees are weak as I kiss him once more, then force myself to back away. I’d like nothing more than to stay here, in the confines of my bedroom, with the guy who made me scream, but we need to go.
We get dressed, stealing glances at each other, then head toward Grayson’s house. On the way, a slow silence settles between us.
We crossed a major line.
We’re different now.
He’s still Dax. He still kissed my temple once we left my house, like he used to, but everything’s changed.
My chest heaves as I pull into the driveway. Dax is in the passenger seat with his hands folded in his lap. I clear my throat to speak, but he beats me to it. “I won’t say anything, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m not worried.”
He tilts his head, an amused grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “You’ve been biting your lip since we left your house, like the time we took our SATs. I thought you were going to chew your bottom lip up and spit it out.”
The tension in my shoulders eases. “Let’s keep this between us for now, please. I want to protect Jacob.”
“Understood.”
“It’s about time.” Jacob’s head bobs down the steps toward my car.
I jump out and meet him halfway, scooping him up into my arms. “Did you have a good time, bud?”
“The best.”
Sidney steps onto the porch. Her hair’s in a high ponytail, and she’s in simple jeans. Yet, she somehow looks classy and cute.
Luke pops out from behind her and races toward us.
“Jacob can come back anytime,” Sidney says warmly and joins us by my car just as Dax comes out.
“Uncle Dax!” Jacob squeals, running to him.
“So much energy.” I cross my arms, my throat clogged from seeing Dax’s genuine excitement over Jacob. “I figured he’d be wiped out by now.”
“Me too. Grayson just got up. He definitely had enough laser tag.” We giggle, and I can barely imagine a grown and quiet man like Grayson being loud and playful with ten-year-olds.
Jacob tosses his backpack to the ground, so he, Luke, and Dax can throw a baseball around.
“We’ll get you boys ready for little league in no time,” Dax calls.
Jacob’s grin is glowing and innocent, and my chest swells when I glance between him and Dax.
“They’re great together, huh?” Sidney snaps me out of my thoughts. “Jacob talked a lot about Dax. Said they were the best Minecraft friends.”
“Yeah. They’re definitely more than that too,” I answer. “I’m sorry for being so late.”
“Don’t apologize. We don’t have much planned for the day, anyway.”
“Well, anytime Luke wants to come over, let me know, and you and Grayson can have time to yourselves.”
“Hmm, what’s that like?” She smiles, and we both pause to watch the boys. “You know, I never pictured this. I used to be so driven by my career until I met Grayson and this little brown-eyed boy. They stole my heart immediately.” Her eyes shine, watching Luke as he chases after the ball and throws it to Dax.
From what she told me, Sidney wasn’t there from the beginning as Luke’s mom, but she’s in the process of adopting him. She’s his mother in every sense, and it’s obvious how much she loves him just by the way she looks at him.
I squeeze her arm. “They change your world, don’t they?”
“Definitely.”
We make small talk for a few minutes, and the boys’ laughter drifts between us.
I thank her again, and we head out for those pancakes. The whole way, we laugh over Jacob’s stomach making hungry groans.
“I’m like the Cookie Monster,” he jokes.
Throughout breakfast, we focus our conversation on Jacob, but Dax and I steal coy and knowing glances at each other. When we reach for the syrup, our fingers brush.
Sparks explode.
It’s new and exciting, and I don’t feel like myself. Not the me I have been the last few years, anyway.
I’m a lighter version of myself.
As we finish up, my mom calls to ask if we want to spend this nice day together at the winery.
“I’d love to.” Dax’s whole demeanor brightens even more.
“You don’t have to
