Page 52 of Daring to Love You
“I am,” she said quickly. “I know we’re just hanging out, pretending and stuff, but I still want to...you know, with you.” She blushed and lowered her gaze.
“Look at me,” he said gently, and she did.
How could he tell her that he wasn’t taking her virginity until he knew she was in love with him? He was sure of his feelings for her—he loved her—but the feelings weren’t mutual… yet.
Instead of saying any of that, he said, “I’m going to make sure your first time is perfect. That you’re not only sure you want me, but you’re ready for what we’re going to share. I don’t want you to have any regrets.”
“I won’t. I know I won’t, and it won’t change our friendship. I promise.”
Lynix nodded. He was disappointed she was still seeing him as a friend, but deep down, he knew she felt something more between them. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have let him touch her so intimately earlier. He knew she cared about him and more importantly, she trusted him.
He could work with that.
“How about I leave you to put Zanaya back to sleep, and I’ll go heat up the food?”
“That’s a great idea because I’m starving.” Dorian glanced down at the baby in her arms who was drifting off. “I’ll be in there shortly.”
“Okay.” Lynix placed a lingering kiss on her lips before leaving the room with Onyx following him into the kitchen.
After giving the dog a treat, Lynix glanced at the food on the counter, and his stomach rumbled. He’d worked up an appetite and couldn’t wait to dive in. Instead of putting the dishes in the microwave one at a time, he turned on the oven. He figured he could heat everything at once, and then by the time Dorian came in there, the food would still be warm.
While he waited, Lynix sat at the table and scrolled through his emails, checked his voicemail, and skimmed through text messages that he’d missed from earlier. When he saw Wes had texted him back, he read the message.
I don’t know the owner of Concept Marketing, but I’ll get my assistant on it. You’ll have contact info by the end of the day tomorrow. BTW, you need an assistant.
Lynix snorted. Yeah, he was going to need more than an assistant. He was going to need a complete brain overhaul to go from a cop mentality to a businessman. He just hoped the learning curve wouldn’t be too hard.
Onyx, who’d been laying at his feet, scrambled up and started barking. That was when Lynix smelled something burning. Then the smoke detector blared.
He leaped from the seat and hurried to the oven. When he opened the door, smoke billowed out. What the hell?
A peek at the stove’s control panel made him realize what he’d done wrong. The oven was on the broiler setting.
“Oh, this is just great,” he ground out and turned off the stove. Then he searched desperately for something he could use to get rid of the smoke. Which in turn would stop the ear-piercing noise.
A dishtowel would work.
He spotted one at the end of the counter and started waving it back and forth beneath the smoke detector. “Everything’s okay,” he called out to Dorian, wanting to assure her that he had it all under control, but seconds later, she rushed into the kitchen.
She looked around frantically. “What happened?”
“Umm, I might’ve burned dinner,” he said, still waving the dish towel until the shrieking noise stopped.
“Really, Lynix? All you had to do was put the food in the microwave.”
“You see, what had happened was, I put everything in the oven. I figured if I turned it down low, the food would slowly warm up and still be warm by the time you came in here.” He told her how he accidentally pushed the broiler button.
Dorian shook her head and laughed. “So much for a delicious, lick-your-lips home cooked meal. Well, I think there are takeout menus in one of these drawers. Get to calling, buddy,because I’m starving. Oh, and before you even think about it, I don’t want pizza or burgers.”
Lynix chuckled and looped his arm around her before she could leave the kitchen. He pulled her against his body and kissed her lips.
“Thanks for one of the most soul-stirring, entertaining, and enlightening nights I’ve had in a while. I can’t think of any place else I’d rather be than here with you.”
I love youwas on the tip of his tongue as he stared into her pretty brown eyes, but it was too soon to admit that to her. They were still in a weird place. Somewhere between fake dating and friends getting to know each other intimately.
He might not have ever been in love before, but Lynix knew deep in his heart he was in love with Dorian Priestly.
Now he just had to wait for her to feel the same about him.
