I looked her straight in the eyes, trying to gauge what this meant for her. Was she staying because I could show her a good time in bed, or was she feeling this connection between us grow deeper too? Did she want to let it grow and deepen? Or was she content with the way things were?

Peyton called for me again, interrupting the moment. I kissed Val’s forehead. “Come on. I’ll show you where you can shower.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Val

I took my sweet time showering, and when I came out I heard Carter talking on the phone in his office. It hadn’t taken long to get Peyton to bed after all. That little girl reminded me so much of Hailey. So curious and sweet, though Hailey had never been shy.

I shimmied my hips to an imaginary song in Carter’s bedroom, half listening to check if he was still talking so I’d know when to storm in and steal the show. When I’d passed his office, I’d heard the words deposition and witness, so I gathered it was a work conversation. It wouldn’t do to tempt him while he was at it, no matter how much I was dying to do just that.

When I couldn’t hear him talking anymore, I tightened the robe around me and tiptoed down the corridor before remembering the girls’ bedrooms were on the other side of the apartment.

As I stepped into his office, his leather chair was turned toward the window, but I knew he was sitting there. His presence filled the room. I intended to surprise him, but he must have heard me, because he spun around with his chair. Even in the semidarkness, I saw his smile.

“Sorry this took so long. I thought you’d fall asleep by now.”

“Nope.”

“Close the door behind you, Val. Lock it.”

I swallowed, the rich baritone of his voice sending tingles of anticipation down my spine. The second he heard the key turn, he added another command. “Come here.”

When I stopped in front of him, he straightened in his chair, bringing one hand to the side of my knee, skimming it up my outer thigh.

“Tell me what you’re wearing under the robe.”

“Nothing.”

“Good answer.”

He tugged at the robe until it opened. He kissed the underside of one breast.  When he sucked the nipple into his mouth, I clenched my thighs reflexively. Carter rose from the leather chair, capturing my mouth, kissing me deeply. He cupped the back of my head, tilting it at the angle he wanted, taking control of the kiss. It was wild, needy kissing. My knees weakened with every stroke of his tongue.

“You came here to tempt me?” he spoke against my lips.

“Absolutely. I plan to unleash all my seduction skills to lure you into bed.”