“You look amazing,” Adam says when he picks me up for our first official date.

It feels pretty ridiculous to call it a first date, seeing as we’ve already slept together and even have a child together, but it is what it is.

“Thank you.” I give Adam a smile, even though I'm sure he's being generous.

I know I don’t look the way I did three years ago. It doesn’t sound like it’s been that long, but I’ve gone through some really stressful times. Those things have taken a toll on my appearance.

My hair’s dull, and my skin doesn’t feel as smooth as it used to. I may have seen some fine lines on my face, too, and I’m only twenty-five.

Even this black sheath dress doesn't fit like it used to, especially around the waist. I’m wearing a trench coat on top of the dress, but it’ll have to come off in the restaurant.

I’m just realizing now that all the clothes in my wardrobe are either dated or ill-fitting. It’s not like I’ve needed to keep my clothes updated when I’m always either wearing scrubs at the hospital or wearing puke-stained sweatpants at home.

I probably bought this dress four or five years ago, before William was born. I had a better figure then. And I had time and money to burn.

“You look great, too,” I tell Adam, who's staring at me so intently I’m starting to feel self-conscious.

I’m not just saying it to distract him, though. He really does look great.

I can already imagine the jealous glares I’m going to get from other women in the restaurant. So many people are going to call me fat in their heads tonight.

“Thank you.” Adam gives me his hand and a charming smile. “Your ride awaits, my lady,”

I giggle as I put my hand on his. “Someone’s been watching too much Game of Thrones.”

Adam grins. He wraps my hand over his strong arm. He’s so solidly built I can feel how muscular he is, even over his shirt and coat.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I’m supposed to give something to Sawyer.” Adam reaches into his coat pocket and hands me the car key. “Would you wait in the car while I go back inside for a minute?”

“Okay.”

I step inside the luxury sedan, where it’s warm, and plop my butt on the smooth leather seat. I watch as Adam opens the front door to the house and leaves it open while he goes in to do whatever he’s supposed to do.

I stare at the open doorway, watching it closely. My hand’s on the car door handle. I’m ready to fly out to grab William in case he wanders out.

When I see Adam walking back out instead, I breathe a sigh of relief.

As soon as he joins me in the car, I say, “You know, you really should’ve closed the door earlier.”

Adam turns to look at the front door. “It is closed.” He gives me a confused look.

“No, I mean before, when you walked in, left the door open, and only closed it when you walked out.”

“Oh, I just thought . . . Since I was only going to be a minute . . .”

“William could’ve wandered out.”

“Oh, Sawyer was watching him.”

“Yeah, I mean, just in case Sawyer looks away for a minute and William slips out,” I say. “I know it sounds excessive, but better safe than sorry, you know?”

He nods.

“Please just remember to always keep the door closed. I’ve seen kids who got themselves hurt because someone forgot to close the door, and they just wandered out.”

Adam’s eyes fill with understanding. “I see where you’re coming from. I’ll be more careful about that in the future, okay?”

“Okay. It’s just . . . it’s dark, and there are cars passing by sometimes . . .”

“I totally understand,” Adam says. “I didn’t mean to upset you. Do you feel okay now?”

“Yeah.”

“Good,” he says, his voice taking on the commanding tone that sends tingles straight down to my core. He turns on the ignition and faces me. “Because I have another question to ask you.”

“What is it?” I ask, my heart racing.

“Have you done what I asked you to do?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow.

“Yeah.” I realize my mistake and quickly correct myself. “Yes, Sir.”

“Very good.” Adam smirks.

As the car glides easily through the bright streets of the city, I wonder what kind of wickedness Adam’s planned for the night. Whatever it is, I know this won’t just be an innocent dinner.

I mean, there’s probably good reason why I’m not allowed to wear panties tonight . . .

* * *

“Hold on,” Adam says as I grab the door handle.

I stop and twist to look at him.

“There’s something I need to check.” Adam places his hand on my bare knee, then he slides it up my thigh. His fingers move lightly, steadily, slowly.

I watch as he pulls the hem of my dress up. I know exactly what he’s about to do. He’s going to touch my most private, intimate place right here, right now.

The car is parked on the street right outside the restaurant. It’s quieter than usual here tonight, which is nice.

One big advantage of working shifts is that sometimes I’m free when other people aren’t. Like tonight, for example. While other people have work tomorrow morning, I can come home late tonight because tomorrow’s my day off.

Still, there are cars driving by and people walking past.

“Adam, someone might see . . .” I protest, although the heavy sigh at the end of my sentence gives away the fact that I don’t mind this much, or at all.

“Let me worry about that, kitten,” he says, leaning over the center console and trapping my gaze with his commanding eyes. “You just relax and let go.”

“I think that guy was staring at us,” I say, pointing at a man in a thick, white, puffer jacket.

“Michelin Man?” Adam grins. “Nah. Pretty sure he was just admiring the car.”

“But he—”

“The windows are tinted, kitten,” Adam whispers as his fingers reach the top.

I gasp as he brushes over my lower lips and smiles with satisfaction.

“Good girl,” he says simply. “You’re already so wet for me.”

I look away, but it doesn’t help. Even though Adam’s already told me the windows are tinted, I can’t help but feel like an exhibit in a museum. I feel like people are watching while Adam’s collecting the wetness dripping between my thighs with his fingers.

“Look at me,” he growls.

When I meet his gaze, I see pure, unadulterated lust in his gorgeous, green eyes. This man . . . He wants me.

And not just, like, in a normal way. He’s obsessed with me. I can see something that almost resembles madness in his eyes. He wants me to the point where he makes me the focus of his life.

And he wants me to want him that way, too.

It scares me. I have no idea why he even likes me. What does he even see in me?

At the same time, his attention feels good. Really good. Better than any drug I ever tried in my life. I crave him.

So, I guess, in a way, we’re both just as crazy.

I part my legs wider for him. Adam’s fingers are poised at my entrance, but he’s not moving. I’m getting impatient.

“Please, Sir. I need you to fill me up,” I plead.

Adam’s lips form a lopsided smile.

“As you wish,” he says. “You’ve been a good girl, and good girls get rewarded.”

He pushes two fingers inside me, and my lips part of their own volition, letting out a want-filled moan.

“I love it when you beg for it,” Adam says, his low baritone sending shockwaves through my system as his fingers rub my pussy walls. “You look so sexy when you’re like this. It makes me want to skip dinner and go straight to the . . . after-dinner activities.”

My brain’s so foggy I can’t even come up with an answer. My eyelids flutter shut, trapping me in complete darkness, shutting out the people outside who may be walking past the car right now.

The scent of musk and leather fills my lungs when I suck in a deep breath as Adam’s fingers rub my sweet spot.

Just as abruptly as he started, Adam pulls his fingers out of me. When he pulls them out from underneath my dress, I can see my wetness coating his fingers, making them glisten under the yellow street lights.

“Lick my fingers clean,” he orders, pressing his fingers against my lips.

I look up at him from underneath my lashes and part my lips, letting him in. My tongue runs over Adam’s fingers, lapping up my own slick juices as Adam watches me with darkened eyes.

“You make me want to put something else in your mouth, kitten,” he groans as he pulls his fingers out. “But that’ll have to wait. We have a reservation in five minutes.”

And just like that, the dark, dominant, absolutely filthy beast disappears. In his place is the perfect gentleman.

Meanwhile, my lipstick has smeared a little, my legs are parted wide, and my dress is all over the place. If he called me a lady right now, it would sound like a sarcastic insult.

Somehow, after just a short drive, he’s turned me from a respectable lady into a desperately horny slut.

As we enter the restaurant, the difference feels even more stark and jarring.

I’m throbbing with arousal underneath my nice, demure dress, but people don’t know that.

And the hint of mischief in Adam’s eyes is because he knows my dirty little secret, but people don’t know that either.

This place is swanky. There are huge, conspicuous crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Murmurs of dignified conversation fill the air. The men look dapper in their suits while the women swish around elegantly in their pretty, silky dresses.

It’s been a long time since I even had a night out, much less a date. I almost feel like a different person.

I may not be the skinny, carefree girl I was three years ago. But for the first time in a long time, I remember what it’s like to be outside wearing something presentable and looking put together, doing adult things. I feel great.

As Adam pulls out my chair for me, I almost laugh at how gentlemanly he’s being.

And yet, when I take my seat as gracefully as I can, he whispers in my ear, “Your ass looks so tempting right now. I wish I didn’t have to wait until the end of the night to fuck you.”