Page 23 of Summer Fling (The Kingston Brothers #5)

Dalton washed his hands. "You want to change or wash up while I take Lilliana?”

"Okay," I said, knowing he felt badly for her when her mother left her here. As much as he wanted to have her all the time, he didn't want her to feel abandoned or neglected by her mother.

Unfortunately, it was something he had no control over. I jumped in the shower in the hall bathroom, rinsing off before dressing in lounge pants and a T-shirt then returned to the kitchen. Lilliana was happily playing in the sink, the water running over plastic dishes while Dalton cooked.

It was a nice scene, one I wouldn't mind coming home to every day. If this thing between us lasted, would I work outside the home, or would he always need me as the nanny? Those were things I hadn't thought of before.

Dalton looked up at me. "Everything okay?"

I slid onto the stool at the island. "It's actually perfect."

He grinned. "I thought so too. I love having Lilliana home with us."

"Me too." He left the rest of it unsaid. One day, Lilliana would know that her mother's social life came before hers. There was still time for Oakley to change, but right now, it wasn't looking good.

Dalton winked at me. "She wanted to help, so I thought I'd put her to work."

"I can see that. Lilliana, you're doing a great job with those dishes."

She splashed the water and said, "Bub. Bub."

"She loves soap and bubbles," Dalton said.

"We spend a lot of time in her water table outside."

He pulled the casserole dish out of the oven. "Looks ready."

"I'm starved."

He scooped taco casserole into two bowls, and we sat at the table. He'd reserved plain noodles and beans for Lilliana to eat.

When she was done eating, Dalton cleaned her up and then took her for a bath. I cleaned up the kitchen. We'd fallen into an easy rhythm. He usually spent time with Lilliana in the evenings since he missed breakfast with her.

This was my favorite time of the day. Lilliana was winding down for bed, and we'd have a bit of time to ourselves. But tonight was different. Things had changed last night, and I wasn't sure if Dalton would continue our relationship, or if he'd take a step back.

I settled outside with a paperback. Thirty minutes later, Dalton appeared. "She's in bed."

I set the book aside, not sure how to handle this situation.

He sat next to me and drew me into his side. "I'm sorry you had to deal with Oakley."

"That's okay. She wasn't that bad." Except I'd had a sick feeling in my stomach all day and again whenever I thought about what she'd said. I shouldn't let her get to me.

"I hate the message she's sending to Lilliana."

"All you can do is be there for her. She'll know she has you."

He sighed. "You have no idea how much I wanted to stay in bed with you this morning."

"Yeah?"

"I hope you didn't mind that I snapped that picture of you. I wanted to remember how you looked sleeping in my bed."

"Sleeping naked in your bed?"

He chuckled. "That too."

"You want to go to bed early?" I asked, taking a chance that he'd say no.

He stood lifting me into his arms. "I thought you'd never ask."

He carried me to his bedroom, closing and locking the door. He had a monitor so that he could hear Lilliana if she so much as squawked. She wasn't old enough to even realize I was sleeping in her daddy's bed. So I felt okay with what we were doing.

It only had the potential to hurt me, and I was ignoring those warning signs. Because I'd never let go quite like this, I was going to enjoy every single second of this fling.

This job was an escape from the worries about my future, my career, and my studies. If I found a man who knew how to make me feel good, then I should indulge. It might only last a short while, but I was prepared to take that risk.

I'd always been a good girl, and it was my chance to be very, very bad.

I backed up until the back of my knees hit the bed, and then we were tumbling to the bed together. I laughed, but when I caught his serious expression, I sobered.

He brushed a strand of hair out of my face. "You're something else; you know that?"

"I am?"

"You know you are. Amazing. Gorgeous. Intelligent. Kind." He kissed a different place on my body, punctuating each word. Soon I was writhing under him, needing so much more.

I made quick work of my clothes while he reached for a condom. He ripped open the wrapper, smoothing it over his dick. I wanted him inside me.

I reached for him. "Please, Dalton. I need you."

He hummed. "I love hearing my name on your lips."

"I love feeling your cock inside me."

He gripped his cock between my legs; his gaze lifted to meet mine. "You're a very naughty girl."

"Are you going to do something about it?" I asked cheekily as he positioned himself between my legs and entered me in one slick motion.

I whimpered at the invasion, loving the feel of him inside me.

"I'm going to do a lot of things, and you're going to be crying out my name through all if it."

I raked my nails down his back, needing him to thrust harder, to be more. I'd never get enough of this.