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All I could think about was the guy sitting next to me, wondering how had I lost my way in such a short amount of time.
I pulled into the parking lot of our apartment complex, killing the lights and cutting the engine. It was full dark and far too late—Aimee and Matt had insisted on going out to TGIFridays after the movie for something to eat, and we’d stayed talking and drinking Cokes and eating mozzarella sticks until I noticed it was after midnight and told Dale I had to get home or I might turn into a pumpkin.
I made a joke out of it but Aimee gave me a worried look when I mentioned it and she noticed the time. She knew as well as I did—the stepbeast didn’t allow me to go on dates, at least not while I was living in his house, and I had to make up all sorts of excuses to be out that didn’t include boys. My entire relationship with David had been a great big secret, and Aimee had spent most of our junior year covering for me.
“So Cinderella, did you have a good time at the ball?” Dale turned toward me in the darkness, the only sound the ticking of the car’s cooling engine.
“Yes, thanks.” I glanced down at the heels I was wearing. My feet were killing me, but the look on his face had been worth it. “Although Cinderella has to return her glass slippers to her fairy godmother in the morning.”
“They seem to be getting on pretty good,” he said, and I knew he was referring to Aimee and Matt. I’d been surprised how familiar the two of them had been all night long, lots of public displays of affection.
I glanced at my watch. “Aimee’s mom’s at some law conference. She won’t be home all weekend. I imagine they’re getting it on right about now.”
“That’s not what I meant… but you’re probably right.” Dale laughed. I felt his hand brush mine in the darkness. I’d been anticipating it, waiting and hoping for it, and still, it made my breath catch. “Too bad we don’t have a place to be alone.”
“There’s always the back seat.” I was only half kidding, my eyes skipping to the roomy bench seat just a few feet away. Dale followed my gaze, looking tempted, almost as tempted as I was, even if we were parked right in front of the apartment building at one in the morning. The light in our apartment was off, which was a good sign. The stepbeast had probably been drinking all night—typical for a Saturday. Likely he was passed out in the chair. My mother usually just covered him up and left him there until morning.
“Come on.” I leaned into him and he slipped his arms around me, our breath so warm on the cool September night it was already fogging the windows. “Let’s do it.”
He lowered his head to my shoulder, gathering me up even closer, breathing me in again like he did. I loved when he did that.
“No.” His voice muffled in the denim of his jacket—I was still wearing it. Then he lifted his head, pressing his forehead to mine. “No backseats for my Cinderella.”
“Then one of us has to get a castle before I… die.” I took a deep, shaky breath, feeling the heat of his body, the way his hands moved lower on my back, up under the jacket, seeking bare skin. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I kept asking myself how I could possibly feel this way, after just a week, but it was a ridiculous question, because I’d fallen in love with Tyler Vincent in an instant. Or… I thought I had. I was beginning to doubt any other feeling but this one, whatever this overwhelming, heart-bursting-open emotion was, the one only Dale made me feel.
He chuckled, eyes flashing almost silver in the moonlight. “You won’t die.”
I lifted my face to his and whispered, “The least you could do is kiss me?”
“Do you want me to?” He traced a finger over my lips, sending a hot rush of blood through me.
“Can’t you tell?”
His smile rose up to his eyes slowly, darkening them. “I like to hear you say it.”
“Yes.” So close. His finger still pressed to my lips. His gaze there too. “Yes, I want you to kiss me.”
“Mmm.” His finger was wet with my saliva now and he rubbed it against my mouth. “Say it again.”
“I want you to kiss me.” I groaned.
“Say please,” he whispered, his gaze never leaving my mouth.
“Please.” My hands moved lightly over his neck and shoulders, broad and strong under my fingers.
“Pretty please,” he insisted, a smile playing on his lips.
“Pretty… pretty… pretty please.” I leaned nearer with every word, my mouth so close to his either of us could have bridged the gap in an instant.
I heard him swallow. “That was a very pretty please.”
“Thank you.”
Then he was opening the passenger side door, letting the cool night air in. “Come on, let’s do this right.”
“Where are you going?” I wailed.
“Come on.” He ducked his head, waving me out of the car. “I’m going to kiss you at your front door, like Prince Charming should.”
