Page 25 of Daring to Love You (Priestly Family #3)

Chapter Eighteen

D orian loved watching as Lynix enjoyed the breakfast she’d prepared.

Like him, she should be devouring the empanadas and homemade spicy honey dipping sauce, as well as the strong hazelnut-mocha coffee he’d made.

Instead, she couldn’t think straight with him being hugged up on her right side.

The big, solid, bear of a man was so close that he was wreaking havoc on her senses.

He was right, the lounger was big enough for the both of them. However, he was hogging up the space, and his masculine, woodsy scent made her want to snuggle against him. Well, that and the cool breeze brushing against her heated skin.

Still, knowing he was a ladies’ man, she shouldn’t want to be hugged up to him. If anything, that should make her want to keep her distance, but it didn’t. Spending time with him like this was allowing her to see other sides to him.

Lynix might be a babe magnet and a little gruff at times, but he was also sweet, kind, and thoughtful.

Which probably had a lot to do with why women gravitated to him.

For her though, it was the small things he did that made her want to know him better.

Like when he’d given her a ride home after her fiasco of a date with Glen.

Or when he sent her flowers the other day at the B&B.

And even this morning his thoughtfulness showed in more ways than one. She loved how he had arranged for her SUV to be valeted to one of his underground parking spots. She could’ve parked on the street, but no he made it convenient for her to drop the car off and come inside.

How sweet was that?

Now that she thought about it, Lynix was also extremely generous with his time and even his wealth. Who offers to give you their car, a top-of-the-line BMW, because your car is on its last wheels? Lynix. He’d done that for her.

There was more to him than she originally thought.

Dorian glanced out at the lake, still awed by the view and the sounds that came with a new day. Birds chirping, sea gulls squawking, and the lapping of waves crashing against the shore was starting to relax her. What a perfect way to start the day.

Watching the sunrise with Lynix had been dreamy and jaw-droppingly beautiful. It was like one of those moments that should be experienced with the one you loved. Not the one you were secretly lusting after like she was doing lately.

“I can hear the gears inside your brain working hard. What’s on your mind?” Lynix asked, and Dorian smiled as she brought the mug of coffee to her lips.

No way would she tell him how her feelings for him were starting to shift. Lynix would pounce, and she’d be defenseless to say no to him. Even though thoughts of him had taken up permanent residence in her mind, she had to remember that this wasn’t real.

Lynix nudged her. “You know you have skills in the kitchen when you can make a little hand pie taste this good. These empanadas are delicious.”

“I’m glad you like them.”

The chorizo, potato, egg, and cheese hand pie with peppers and spices were easy to make. It helped that she assembled them last night. Then all she had to do this morning was let them bake while she got dressed.

“I should’ve asked if you were allergic to anything. Are you?”

“Only green vegetables.”

Dorian jerked her head to look at him. “All green vegetables? Seriously?”

He chuckled. “Nah, I just don’t really like them, but I force myself to eat them because they’re supposed to be good for you.”

She smiled and set down her coffee. “Just like a little kid.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a big kid at heart, but to answer your question, I’m allergic to mangoes. I also might have an intolerance to walnuts since they make me cough.”

“Interesting. What about other nuts?”

He shook his head. “Not that I can tell, but I don’t eat any of them too often. What about you? Any allergies?”

“None that I know of, and considering how I love to cook and eat, I’m glad I don’t have any.”

“Good to know. Now, going back to my original question. What’s on your mind?”

Dorian grinned. She had hoped he had forgotten. Apparently not. Good thing there was something else on her mind that was a safe topic.

“Remember how I’m supposed to cook dinner for you Thursday?”

Lynix groaned. “Come on! You can’t cancel on me. I was looking forward to having dinner with you.”

“I’m not exactly canceling. Just tweaking the plans a little. How do you feel about having dinner with me and our godbabies?”

When he didn’t respond, she glanced at him and laughed when she caught him frowning. Okay, having dinner together would’ve been a nice, relaxing way to spend an evening. Having dinner while babysitting five-month-old twins? Not so much.

“It’ll be fun,” she insisted. “Zion has to travel to New York for work, and he wants to take Raven with him. My parents would keep the kids, but they’re going to Lake Geneva for a long weekend to celebrate their friends’ fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Essence will be staying with the babies, but she has to work overnight Thursday.

So I volunteered to watch them until she gets off work Friday. ”

“And where do I come in?” Lynix asked, humor in his tone.

“You will come over and babysit with me. In doing so, you’ll earn an incredibly delicious home cooked meal that will have you licking your lips.”

He laughed. “That sounds great and all, but I’d rather lick your lips.”

Dorian’s mouth dropped open, but she quickly closed it as goosebumps scattered over her skin. Wow. She hadn’t expected him to say that. Her gaze immediately went to his lips, remembering how good they felt against hers each time they kissed.

“Umm, okay,” she said slowly as she tried to come up with a response. “I guess we can add that to the list of things to do that night.”

Her words sounded as unsure as she felt in that moment, knowing she shouldn’t be encouraging Lynix. Yet, the idea of licking lips, possibly leading to tongue aerobics, sounded exciting.

He chuckled and slid his arm around her back, then pulled her against his side. “Why wait?”

The man moved so fast, his mouth covered hers before she could respond, and Dorian immediately tasted the spicy honey sauce on his tongue. Delicious.

She moaned into his mouth as their intense lip-lock went from five to sixty in a heartbeat. His masterful tongue explored the inner recesses of her mouth as the kiss sent spirals of ecstasy powering through her.

Goodness, the man could kiss, and with his long arm wrapped around her and his large hand cupping her butt cheek, her senses were on overload. Yeah, the heady sensations that he was creating inside of her were mind-boggling.

How? How could one little kiss make her want to throw all common sense out the window and allow Lynix to have his way with her? She couldn’t explain it, and right now, she didn’t want to. She just wanted more of him.

The panty-melting kiss intensified, and Dorian wasn’t sure if she moved or if Lynix lifted her.

One minute she was sitting beside him, and the next, she was straddling his lap.

And what a lap it was. The way she was positioned on top of him, she could feel his hardness between her thighs and one of her many questions about him was answered.

Yes, his package was as big as she’d imagined. Of course it was. The man was huge everywhere else, why wouldn’t he be big down there too?

Her hand gripped the back of his head, holding him in place as their tongues continued tangling. She was surprised by her eager response to him, but she shouldn’t be. It was this way each time they shared a kiss, but this one… this one somehow felt more fervent. Like she couldn’t get enough of him.

That might’ve also had something to do with the way he’d skillfully slid his hand under her T-shirt and unsnapped her bra.

She moaned and shivered at the feel of his hand on her bare skin.

Then it was as if her body had a mind of its own.

As he squeezed and fondled one of her nipples, she couldn’t stop her hips from rotating on top of him, grinding against his erection that was poking her.

They were treading into dangerous territory, and she should stop this before it went too far. But it felt too good. Too right.

Warmth spread through her body, and the throbbing pulse between her thighs was almost too much. This… all of this was like nothing she had ever felt with a man, and Dorian wanted to feel more of him. Maybe if she…

Oh my God. What am I doing?

She jerked back. Chest heaving, mind whirling, she placed her hand on her mouth and couldn’t look at Lynix. She’d messed up. She tried to scurry off his lap, but he held her in place.

“I’m sorry. Let me up,” she mumbled, still trying to pull away, but Lynix held on to her.

What the heck had gotten into her? This was fake. They were not a couple, and they sure as hell shouldn’t have been dry humping each other.

“Dee, slow down and listen to me,” he said, his voice gravelly, yet calm as his chest heaved and he fastened her bra with practice ease.

Still breathing hard, she shook her head. “Lynix, I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened. I didn’t mean to…”

“ Shhh , sweetheart. Just stop,” he whispered, and suddenly she deflated and fell against his hard chest.

Lynix’s heart was pounding loudly against her ear, and she was glad to know she wasn’t the only one worked up.

“Why are you apologizing?” he asked as he rubbed her back. “You didn’t do anything that I didn’t want us to do. I should be the one apologizing. I broke your no kissing rule.”

Dorian snort laughed. “Like you were really planning to stick to that rule.”

A laugh rumbled inside his chest, the sound soothing against her ear.

“I was going to try. At least for a while,” he said, still laughing.

Releasing a long breath, Dorian settled into him as he held her in the safety of his big, strong arms, and her eyes drifted closed.

This was nice. She was still straddling his lap, and though he was still semi-erect and pressed against her, it didn’t freak her out. If anything, it made her want to grind against him again. Instead, she remained still and soaked up the comfort that came with the way Lynix held her.

He placed a kiss on top of her head. “I’m not going to lie, Dee. If you hadn’t stopped us, I don’t know if I could’ve. You feel too perfect in my arms, and that kiss…” He shook his head, and his words drifted off.

“You’re so tempting,” she mumbled, hating to admit she’d lost control. Something she had never done with a man before, but Lynix wasn’t just any man. He was different from anyone she’d ever met. “Maybe when we’re alone together, we stick with our rules for this arrangement.”

“Umm, you mean your rules? Because if it were left up to me, we’d do whatever came naturally. And sweetheart, that kiss and the way you were grinding on top of me was definitely natural.”

Dorian didn’t respond. He was right. It had felt natural. Actually, everything about her alone times with Lynix felt perfect, and that was a problem. A big problem.