He nods. “Yeah. That’s a good way to describe her.” He looks away from the kid’s game and more directly at me. “I’m surprised she wasn’t all over you again.”
He noticed her flirting. “I think she wants to work on extra credit for Braxton.”
He snorts. “They don’t need extra credit at this age, and gross. She’s married.”
“And a she.” He grins but doesn’t respond to that, not that I’m trying to out him at his place of work. No one else is around. I move a little closer, not touching, but where we can talk easily. “There’s a party at Glitter tonight.”
He nods like he already knows, and he might. “I can watch Hailey if you need me to.”
“You aren’t planning to go?”
“My friend Gavin wanted me to go, but it’s a school night. So, I passed. Though I can come over and watch Hailey if you need me to.”
They want me to work for three hours, just extra help because tonight is supposed to be really busy. And if I go, I’ll be dragging ass all day tomorrow at my construction job, but the money is damn good. And Christmas will be here before I know it. Hailey has her eye on this Barbie Dreamhouse that is beyond expensive.
His eyes meet mine, and I see a hunger there, one that drives me insane. “Well, maybe Emily could watch her, and you could go to the party. I’ll only be there for a few hours. Then you could come back to my place? Maybe you could take a nap before, so you won’t be too tired tomorrow.”
He clears his throat and takes a step back from me. “You know that’s not a good idea.”
“I don’t.”
“Rafe.” He gives me a warning in his tone, and I deflate.
“Okay.”
He looks torn, and I almost hate doing that to him, but goddammit, I want him. I can’t stop thinking about him, and I don’t get why I have to if there’s a mutual attraction. “I can still watch her if you want me to. If you’re going to work.”
I haven’t heard back yet from Emily if she could watch Hailey, but I kind of doubt it. I was waiting for her agreement before I gave Christopher a solid answer. “Okay. I’d appreciate it. I’m supposed to be there at ten. I’m taking Hailey trick-or-treating before that.”
Finally, a real smile appears on his lips. “Okay. I’ll be there a little before ten.”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
I hear the uncertainty in his voice, but I’m certain enough for us both.
* * *
What the hell is wrong with me? I volunteered to watch Hailey tonight. On Halloween. Instead of going to Glitter to flirt with eligible men who I could have a future with, I’m sitting in Rafe’s apartment.
The father of one of my students.
I have to keep reminding myself of this.
Of course, let’s be real . . . That Halloween party at Glitter is a hookup fest, one I’ve been to and loved in the past.
But I’m done with that.
I’m a grownup, damn it. I want to date, not just fuck.
And then like the bitch that fate can be, Rafe walks through the door, reminding me of just how much I love to fuck. How I love to feel a hot, sweaty muscular body above and under me. How I love being fucked and love fucking. Of how goddamn horny I am.
Because he’s gorgeous in tight jeans and a white tank top that shows off his inked muscles. Covered in orange and black glitter. He smells like the club as he walks closer to me and sits down. I don’t think he’s been drinking, but he looks happy.
“Good night?”
“I made a shitload. In three hours.”
I can’t stop my eyes from roaming over him. His chiseled, uncovered arms with taut veins bulge when he rests them behind his head, leaning back against the couch, displaying his sexy-as-hell tattoos. Yeah, I can see how he made a lot tonight.
“That’s good.”
He drops his arms and sits up, turning to face me. “Did Hailey wake up?”
I shake my head. “Nah. She must have been worn out from all that walking and candy.”
He grins, and it’s so damn beautiful. “Yeah, she had a big day.”
I stand up because sitting this close to him is not good for the logical part of my brain. “Well, I’ll let you get to bed then.”
I start for the door, but he stands also, meeting me behind the couch. “We could go to bed.”
“Rafe . . .”
I start, but it’s weak, so damn weak. “Why not, Nolan?” His voice is quiet as he stands a foot away from me, looking into my eyes. “If you say you’re just not interested, then okay. But if you’re attracted to me too, I don’t get why we can’t very carefully have a good time behind my locked bedroom door.”
Shit. How do I say no to that? Why would I? Yeah, logic is quickly losing out. “What if Hailey . . . ?”
He moves in, his hand grasping the back of my neck, and God, I love when he does that. “She won’t. I promise.”
I swallow, looking into his sure eyes. “I’m her teacher.”
“I’m aware.”
“It’s not professional.”
His lips graze mine, but just barely, a light tease. “You’re very professional, Mr. Burke.”
Fuck. Me. “Let’s go to your room.”
He smiles against my lips but releases me, and we head into his bedroom before he locks the door, making a show of it for me. “No worries.”
There are so many worries going through my mind. Like whether I could lose my job if anyone finds out. Whether it will mess Hailey up if she knows her father is messing around with her teacher. Whether this is just a hookup, or if it could be something real. I need to ask what he wants, at least according to my rules.
I mean . . . no more hookups. Right? No more casual.
Of course, even talking about what I wanted very clearly didn’t work out last time. My “relationship” with Darin didn’t last more than three months because I was afraid I would die of boredom.
Because I’m super fucked up, and when the guy is nice and normal with no issues, I, apparently, am not interested.
“You with me?” I look at Rafe, who’s peeling off his shirt and showing off that insanely toned and lean body.
Damn it. “Yeah.” My voice is pure gravel as I walk closer to him, grabbing the waist of his jeans and pulling him into me. My lips meet his for a hungry kiss I’ve been dying for since the last one.
We can talk later.
He lifts my shirt over my head and tosses it behind us and then brings his lips back to mine, sucking on my tongue and drawing a hoarse whimper from me. “What do you want, Nolan?”
What do I want? Everything. I want everything with him. But I barely know him. My mind begins to roam again as he starts to nip and suck along my jaw and down my neck. “You. I want you to fuck me.”
He groans in approval, his hips thrusting his erection into mine as he kisses me again, undoing my jeans. “We can do that.”
He pushes my jeans and briefs down, and then he lowers himself to his knees, his eyes appraising my cock with hunger and driving me wild. My hips shamelessly thrust forward before his tongue darts out, teasing the tip. “Rafe.” It’s a soft moan from my lips as my hands drag through his hair.