Page 42 of The Seal's Promise
His groan was tortured.
“Are you sure?” he asked, looking her in the eyes in the dim light.
“Yes, even if I shouldn’t be. But I can’t risk Max finding you here or the neighbors talking.”
He nodded and kissed her again. “It doesn’t have to be tonight; I just want you to be sure before this starts because I may never get enough of you.”
She gulped—that sounded way more serious than a summer fling. And they both knew he wasn’t staying.
“I don’t want to sound harsh, but I’m not interested in dating you while you’re in town. It’ll complicate my legal situation with Max’s dad, confuse Max, and get the town talking. But if you want to spend time with me privately, then I suggest you buy some condoms in bulk and we’ll have to figure out times we can be together without anyone knowing.”
“But you don’t want to be seen with me?” His brow furrowed, and if she didn’t know better she’d think she’d hurt his feelings.
She sighed but still clung to his warmth. “It’s not that. I mean, what woman in her right mind wouldn’t want to be seen with you, and claim you for their own?” She met his eyes, which studied her. “I don’t want the gossip, or Max thinking it will make us some kind of family, or his dad using it against me. I haven’t dated anyone since Tyler.”
“You haven’t been with anyone since your divorce?”
“No. But I can’t deny I want you, and I’m tired of trying. So if you can deal with my terms, then yes, I want to see you again.”
He nodded. “Okay, for now I can deal with these terms as long as you promise to be open to more.”
She was terrified of wanting more and knew that could never happen. So she would keep her feelings locked away and just enjoy this physical side of being with Dalton.
“Any chance you can get your sister to stay with Max sometimes?”
“So we can shack up at your gran’s house?”
He laughed and played with her hair.
“No, I moved into Levi’s place, it’s farther out on the property. Private and has a great view of the ocean.”
“It just so happens my folks have Max on Wednesday nights and get him to school in the morning. It’s their bonding time.”
“Sounds like it’s going to be our bonding time too,” he said, and kissed her.
It was the kind of slow, sweet kiss that made her wonder how a man as gorgeous as Dalton got away with kissing girls like that and yet he wasn’t married.
“I better go,” he whispered as he peppered more kisses along her jaw.
“Yah, before I change my mind about needing protection.”
“Our first time together isn’t going to be on the floor of a laundry room, even if it would be insanely hot. You deserve better than that.”
The intensity of his tone made her want him even more.
“Okay, then get out of here before I try to change your mind.” She stepped out of his arms.
“Wednesday,” he said, then kissed her again before opening the laundry door. He peeked out to make sure the coast was clear in the kitchen and then held the door for her.
It was quiet. Max was sound asleep, and they could easily slip into her room, but she didn’t want Dalton in her bed. She didn’t want that memory when he was gone. That was why she’d pulled him into the laundry room. It was on the opposite side of the small house from the bedrooms.
At the front door, he gripped her hand. “See you tomorrow.” Then he kissed her once more before opening the door and letting himself out. She watched as he walked down the short sidewalk to her driveway and left. He was exactly the kind of man she could spend the next few years hung up on and pining for, but no one else needed to know that in this small town, and neither did Dalton. He would be her little secret.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Dalton
Consequences of a Moment
