Page 16 of Sharing Shadow Secrets (High Five Novella #6)
T aylor Williams. Of course I want to sleep with her. But I need to turn down the sexual stuff. That’s my default: straight into bed. Taylor has the potential to be so much more than someone I’m hooking up with. I need to slow this down.
After paying for dinner, I ask, “Can I walk you back?”
“Both of my roommates are home,” she says slowly while searching my eyes.
“Okay?” I ask, not understanding, but after the word comes out of my mouth, I get it. She doesn’t want to hook up at her place because her roommates are home. “Oh … I’m trying really hard to not fuck on the first date anymore.”
“We should be respectable people,” she says with a light laugh.
I nod, pushing my chair back to stand. “I can call you an Uber if you don’t want me to walk you back.”
“You’re not getting out of kissing me,” she says, standing and reaching for my hand.
Interlacing our fingers, I really enjoyed this date. “I promise I’ll kiss you,” I say softly, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
We exit the restaurant, and I notice the orange and pinks coloring the sky. Long daylight hours is one of my favorite things about summer. Plus, it’s still above seventy degrees out. Walking back to her place, we step in comfortable silence. “Can I cook for you soon?” I ask as we near her place.
“You’re not leaving the country next week, are you?” she asks, looking up at me as we walk.
“No.”
“How about on Monday?”
“You got it. I live in River North. So, want to come over whenever you’re done with work?”
“Sounds good.” She smiles, and I’m falling. I can’t wait to see her again.
As we approach her door, she stops walking, tilting her chin up.
Her lips part. I squeeze her hips, staring down into her beautiful eyes.
“I had a great night with you,” I say, moving one hand to her ass.
“This dress is very fucking sexy.” I lean down and squeeze her cheek as I brush my lips into hers.
Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling me closer.
Our kiss deepens, and her tongue swipes mine.
I want to give in. To call a car and fuck her all night, but taking it slow is what I should do.
I need to separate the sex from the attraction. “Goodnight, Taylor.”
She pouts. “Come up. I don’t want to be done hanging out just yet.”
I sharply inhale as her arms wrap around my waist. She hugs me deep, resting her head on my chest. “Kissing is all that will happen if I come up.”
“Works for me,” she says, giddy, ending our hug.
Taylor turns to the entry door, tapping in a code and then grabbing my hand, pulling me behind her.
We start up the stairs, and I know this is dangerous, but I also want to make out for hours.
I grab her ass, and she turns her head back, squinting at me but smiling.
Unlocking her door, we step into her apartment’s living room hand in hand. A dirty-blonde woman sitting on a couch yells, “He fell for it!” She’s holding a champagne flute, and I immediately get the sense that she’s drunk.
“Morgan is going to be VP!” a girl with black hair cheers from another couch as we step into the apartment.
“Your honeytrap thing worked?” Taylor asks, excited.
“Yes!” the blonde says. “We’re celebrating.”
Taylor looks up at me, half apologizing.
“You’re a coder?” I ask, because the only person I’ve ever heard use the phrase honeytrap is my best friend Patrick, who is a coder.
“Data engineer. I’m Morgan, by the way.”
“Gwen,” the black-haired girl says.
“Brandon.”
“Oh we know,” Morgan teases.
“I’ll let you ladies celebrate,” I say, then look down at Taylor.
She pouts the slightest amount, and I go for it, giving her one more kiss. Her roommates cheer, and I pull back. “Goodnight, Taylor. Goodnight, ladies.”