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

Chapter Three

“ L ynix, don’t make me regret going outside with you,” Dorian said, and with those parting words, she headed toward the nearest exit.

He stood back for a second with a smile on his face as he watched her sashay away from him. If he wasn’t mistaken, he was sure she was adding a little extra swing to her hips, and he was here for it.

Damn, she was fine .

Lynix followed a few steps behind her, weaving around people who were huddled together talking and laughing.

He was trying not to stare at Dorian’s ass, but it was impossible not to.

He’d always thought her a cutie-pie, but this evening she was giving off Nubian queen vibes.

The incredibly sexy, strapless black dress that stopped just above her knees hugged her curvy, petite body.

Add that to the strappy black sandals highlighting her shapely legs, and he was about ready to bow down to her.

Or better yet, carry her out of there and straight to his condo.

As they slowly moved across the room, he continued checking her out.

She often wore her hair in long, individual braids, which he liked, but they always made her look ten years younger.

However, seeing her with her thick hair, straightened and hanging loose around her shoulders, had him itching to run his fingers through the long tresses.

He couldn’t. He had to tread lightly with her.

Dorian was still skittish around him, and he understood some of the reasons why.

She’d been hurt in the past by some asshole and had erected an invisible wall to protect herself.

Which was making it hard for him to slide past her defenses.

Another reason why she was keeping her distance was because she thought he was a lady’s man.

She wasn’t wrong. He used to be. He unapologetically loved women.

They were beautiful creatures, and there’d been a time when he welcomed their company.

But something had been missing in his life.

He was tired of the chase and tired of the game of dating.

Actually, he couldn’t even call what he’d been doing dating.

He’d just been out here floundering until one day he saw Dorian.

Like really saw her. He’d always tease Zion about hooking up with his sister, Dorian, but a few months ago, the teasing didn’t feel right.

Lynix started to realize he really did want her, and the more he spent time with her, the more he wanted to.

They still bantered, and she still acted like she couldn’t stand him, but he felt… No, he knew something had shifted between him and Dorian. Now all he wanted was her.

Lynix caught up with her. “This way,” he said, nodding toward the back hallway.

He almost reached for her hand but stopped himself, not wanting to attract too much attention from the party guests. Instead, he placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her to the hallway that led to the backdoor.

Touching her anywhere always sent a jolt of electricity shooting through his body, and now was no exception. His hand rested just above her butt, and it was taking every bit of control he had not to let it slide lower.

Hell, he was surprised she had agreed to follow him outside, and he was even more shocked that she didn’t swat his hand away.

This was a good sign.

The only reason he had even taken Raven up on the invite was with hopes of spending a little time with Dorian.

But the way she’d been staring at him while he was sitting at the bar, he figured the best thing to do was get her outside.

She didn’t like crowds, which was probably why she’d been hovering near the buffet table.

Knowing her, she was looking for any excuse to do anything but mingle with other guests.

Now that he’d talked her into going with him, he hoped no one stopped them. It was time he upped the pressure in getting her to give him a chance. He just wanted to spend uninterrupted time with her alone. Without one of her family members showing up, especially her brother.

He’d eventually have a talk with Zion about his intentions with Dorian, but not today. Today his focus was to make sure Dorian knew he wasn’t going anywhere. He wanted her in his life as more than a friend, and he’d wait patiently for her to come around to his way of thinking.

No matter how she tried to deny it, their attraction was undeniable.

For years, he’d always thought her a sweetheart and adorable inside and out, but it was only recently he’d been ready to pursue her.

He loved the way he felt when they were together.

She was easy to be with and one of the kindest people he’d ever met.

At thirty-five, he was finally ready to settle down with one woman—Dorian—but he’d known he had to come correct.

He had to be ready to make a serious commitment.

Otherwise, she’d never take him seriously.

Which was why he’d started making changes in his personal life.

He hadn’t been on a date in months, trying to prove to himself that he could be a one-woman man.

He was ready because the only woman he thought about these days was Dorian, and no other woman would do.

She reached for the doorknob, but he stepped forward.

“Let me get that,” he said, and a second later, they were outside.

It was almost the end of June, and the seventy-degree temperature was perfect. The sun was almost setting, and a gentle breeze brushed across his skin.

Dorian glanced around. Behind the building was a big, green dumpster several feet away from the door, as well as a couple of parking spaces. When she returned her attention back to him, her perfectly arched eyebrows were bunched together as she narrowed her eyes.

She planted her hands on her narrow hips. “Okay, so what was so important that you had to show me?”

He nodded his head to the right, where he’d created his own parking spot. He moved past her old jeep, and on the other side of it was his car. He stood next to the driver’s side door with his hand on the roof of the vehicle.

“I heard you’ve been having car trouble. I wanted to give you something a little more dependable to drive.”

Dorian’s gaze bounced from him to the car and then back at him. Her facial expression went from confused to shock, and then it transformed into something he couldn’t quite identify.

Damn, she was cute.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead serious,” he said as he opened the door to the 2023 BMW 8 Series 840i. Her brother had mentioned her having car trouble over the last few weeks, and Lynix thought about this car that he rarely drove. He had even considered selling it, but now he was glad he hadn’t.

“I don’t know how much a car like this costs, but I do know I can’t afford it,” Dorian said as she walked the length of the vehicle, inspecting it as if she was on a car lot and knew what she was looking at.

“I wouldn’t charge you for it.”

She stopped and looked at him with wide eyes. “Sooo, what? You’re just going to let me have it?” Her tone was incredulous, sounding as if that was the most ridiculous idea in the world.

“Yes.” He shrugged. “I have three vehicles, and I really only drive my truck.”

It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford to give her the car.

He’d barely touched the trust fund his maternal grandfather had left him for when Lynix turned twenty-five.

During the last ten years, since being able to access it, the fund was just sitting there earning interest. The only thing he’d purchased was a luxury condo that overlooked Lake Michigan.

As well as investing in a couple of small businesses.

Yes, he could afford to let her have the car.

Or hell, even buy her one of her choosing.

“Lynix, this is extremely generous, but it’s too much. I can’t take your car,” she said, backing away and shaking her head. “But if you’re willing, I might want to borrow it on occasion for when I have a date.”

Lynix stiffened, and an involuntary growl rumbled inside his chest as he watched her, trying to determine if she was serious. Her expression never changed, and he was in her face in a heartbeat.

He backed her against her jeep and gently gripped her chin in his hand, lifting it until their eyes met. “If you think for one minute I’m going to let you drive some other brother around in that car, you clearly don’t know me at all.”

His voice had gone deep as he tried to control the sudden jealousy rearing its wicked head.

Now that was an emotion he’d never experienced.

Leave it to her to bring it out of him. He didn’t care if it was irrational considering they weren’t a couple, but the thought of her dating anyone but him had him ready to spit bullets.

“Besides,” he continued when she didn’t respond, only studying him, “any man who asks you to drive on your dates doesn’t deserve to be with your fine ass. You deserve to be catered to, worshipped even, and I’m the man who can do that.”

Lynix’s eyes zoned in on her tempting lips that hung open slightly at his words, and before he could stop himself, he covered her mouth with his.

Dorian froze, but as he moved his mouth over hers, she relaxed and kissed him back.

Her hands slid up the front of his body until she wrapped her arms around his neck.

That was all the encouragement he needed to deepen their connection.

He cradled the back of her head in his hand, and his other hand circled her waist, holding her close.

Having her softness pressed flush against his body made his dick stir with need. No doubt she felt the effect she had on him, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she moaned into his mouth, her arms holding him tightly.