Page 109

That plan falls to crap the second I open the door and spot Cullen in his usual spot by the lamp post.

I barely have the mental capacity to swing my arms out and rebalance myself to avoid tripping down the three steps.

He has the audacity to laugh at me.

“It’s not funny. I could’ve gotten a concussion or sprained my ankle, and then our entire date night would’ve been ruined as we waited in the ER.”

He reaches out a hand to me and I take it, letting him pull me close.

“My friends know a private doctor; you would’ve been fine.”

“Of course they do.” I roll my eyes. “What’re you doing here? I thought we were meeting outside West Fourth station?”

“Changed my mind. I wanted to see you sooner.”

My heart squeezes.

This man is truly ruining me.

“Well, we’re going to miss the train if we don’t leave now. I walk a lot slower in these shoes.”

“I called us a car.”

“What?”

“Yeah, they’re turning down the street now.”

Sure enough, a silver car comes to a stop on the street beside us just a moment later. Cullen opens the door for me and holds my hand as I step inside. Because my standards are extremely basic, I smile at the princess treatment.

“You know it takes longer to drive than to take the subway, right? Or have you forgotten from all your years away,” I tease him as he settles into the seat next to me.

The driver takes off, and while the street I live on is pretty quiet, I know that within a few blocks it will get a lot more congested. Driving in the city is always a last resort in my eyes, something you do only when absolutely necessary. Like when you’ve been at an event all night and the shoes you wore are making your feet bleed so you need to hail a taxi, or your roommate insisted on buying a twenty-pound bag of rice that neither of you can lug with the other groceries you purchased.

“Yes, but we aren’t in a rush, and this way, it’s just us.”

He slides his hand over my bare thigh, fingers pressing into the soft flesh. It sends a tingle straight to my core, and I swallow thickly, trying to push away the momentary arousal. I am not about to get all hot and bothered by a single touch. That is absolutely ridiculous.

Cullen, however, doesn’t seem to care. His fingers continue to trail higher and higher, nudging dangerously close to the hem of my dress.

The pad of his finger toys with the fabric, slipping under it. I clench my thighs together before angling my head toward him and tossing him a warning glare.

“Cullen, we aren’t alone.”

“And?”

“And I doubt the rideshare driver is going to give you a five-star customer rating if you try to finger bang me in the back of his car.”

“Maybe he’ll enjoy a little show?”

His hand curls on the inside of my thigh, forcing the dress higher, his ring finger seriously close to my underwear.

“Well, I don’t.”

I swat at his hand, but it has zero effect, so instead I attempt to angle myself away from him.

“Really? You seemed to enjoy the show we gave at the ballet.”

His sultry voice curls close to my ear, sending shivers down my spine.