Page 7 of Pucking Daddy

“Last chance,” he murmurs.

My lips part. “For what?”

“To step back.”

I don’t even hesitate. “Not interested.”

And that’s all it takes.

His mouth is on mine in an instant

His hand tightens at my neck, tilting my head just enough, deepening the angle as I gasp softly against his lips. My grip on his shirt tightens, pulling him closer, needing him closer.

God.

This is—

It’s overwhelming in the best way.

He kisses like he’s in control of everything, slow and deliberate for exactly half a second—

and then it shifts.

Something breaks loose.

The kiss deepens, turns hungrier, more urgent, like whatever restraint he had is gone now, replaced with something raw and impossible to ignore.

My back presses into the wall behind me, but I barely register it.

All I feel is him.

2

JAXON

Reckless Hookup

This was not the plan.

Not even close.

I came here for one drink. Maybe two. Just enough to take the edge off after sitting across from my lawyer for three hours, going over worst-case scenarios like they were inevitable.

Custody schedules. Character assessments. Stability.

You need to look solid, Jaxon. Predictable. Controlled.

Yeah. That’s going well.

I was supposed to have a drink, clear my head, go back to the hotel, and catch a flight to New York in the morning. Back to Lily. And a new job. I need my head clear for this.

My gaze drifts to Zara beside me.

She’s not what I expected to find in a place like this.

She’s a force of nature, all energy and light. I can’t look away from her.

Her hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders, catching the low amber light, and her eyes—God, her eyes—are sharp and curious, like she takes everything in and turns it into something brighter.