Page 14 of Hard to Resist

“Yeah.” She throws a thumb over her shoulder. “The ACE is a block away.”

“You’re not taking the subway.”

“Yes. I am.”

“I’m not letting you take the train alone in the middle of the night half-drunk.”

“Half-drunk is a stretch.”

“Verity.”

“Really. A little tipsy but perfectly functioning.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Yes. Tipsy is only one-third drunk. Maybe even one-quarter.”

“Seriously, we can share a car.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why?”

Verity purses her lips and slides her gaze to the side, a slight pinkish hue to her cheeks as she quietly mutters, “I don’t sleep with men on the first date.”

Oh.

I tilt my head to the side. It’s not like the thought hadn’t crossed my mind while we’d been chatting earlier. She’s fucking gorgeous, and I would give anything to see what she looks like under that dress, what her skin would feel like on my skin. I wonder how different her moans of pleasure are and if she would get that same blush from a little dirty talk? But that’s not my intention—not tonight, anyway.

“So, you admit it was a date.”

Her lips part as she realizes her mistake. I use her momentary freeze to close the distance between us.

“What about a kiss? Do you kiss on the first date, Verity?”

I lean forward, shortening the space inch by inch until mere centimeters separate our lips. The air becomes thick and heavy as we both stay in this tempting state.

Verity breaks, taking a hasty step back.

“I need to go home.”

I reach out and lightly grab her shoulder. “Not on the subway. Please.”

She stares at my hand for a second before giving me a resigned sigh. “Fine. I’ll take a car. Alone.”

“Here.” I hand her my phone so she can use the rideshare app on my account.

She’s quick to get her address in, and the car she calls is less than a minute away.

Of all the times, of course tonight there has to be a driver readily available. I don’t want this night to end. I want moretime with her, more conversations and hidden smiles. I want to hold onto this feeling that she’s reignited within me. But I’m not brutish; I was raised better than that. So, I’ll let her go for now and use whatever means necessary to see her again.

The white SUV pulls up next to us. I open the door and hold my other hand out to help her into the car. She slips inside, but before she has a chance to pull out of my grip, I tug her slightly toward me.

She blinks as I raise her hand to my lips and drop a kiss to her knuckles.

“Until next time, angel.”

CHAPTER FOUR

---