Lilly
"ALL RIGHT, GUYS. You did great today! I'll see you next week."
Choruses of "Bye, Ms. Lilly" rang out around the room as the little girls scattered to their parents. I lifted my gaze just as Quinn pushed through the studio room door.
My heartbeat kicked up several notches at the sight of him. He stood at least a head taller than the rest of the parents in the room, so I didn't miss the tiny smirk that played on his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall like he didn't have a care in the world. God, he was fine.
I felt like a teenage girl with a silly crush. My stomach swooped and my skin got tingly as I diverted my attention, staring at anything and everything except him. I could feel the heat in my cheeks as I passed out hugs and good byes to my students.
I finally started in his direction, working to push my nerves back, telling myself I was being ridiculous. But everything about our relationship had changed. Two nights ago I'd seen him naked, felt him move inside me. I had intimate knowledge of his body, and just thinking about it made me want to blush and giggle. We hadn't really had a chance to see each other since he stayed the night at my apartment, but he'd called and texted several times, and each time my phone lit up with his name I got all giddy.
"Hi." Damn it. My voice came out a lot breathier and low than I'd intended.
That smirk of his grew, coming dangerously close to his eyes. "Hi back."
"Daddy!" Sophia came rushing over. "Look what I learned today!" She went down in plié just like I'd taught them before doing a pretty damn good pirouette.
"That's amazing, Angel. You're doing so good."
Sophia's entire face brightened at her father's praise, causing my heart to jump. Quinn was attractive all on his own, but watching him interact with his daughter only made him that much hotter. And judging by the looks on some of the other moms' faces, I wasn't the only one who thought so.
"Go get your stuff, baby girl. I'm going to have a word with Ms. Lilly then we'll go home and I'll get dinner started."
She rushed off to go grab her backpack and Quinn turned back to me, whispering, "How are you?"
My face got hot all over again, and I knew he saw it because his green eyes began to shoot sparks. "Why do I suddenly feel like a fourteen-year-old with a crush when you're around?" It was meant to be a rhetorical question, but that didn't stop him from answering … and making my face flush even worse.
His voice dropped so low only I could hear it as he said, "Maybe because I've been up close and personal with every inch of your body and now know exactly what you look like when you come. Or maybe it's because you know I plan on seeing that look on your face again … very soon."
Sophia came running back just as my mouth dropped open and my eyes bugged out. "Daddy! Can we have tacos for dinner? Pleeeease?"
I was still stunned speechless, a tremor building between my thighs from Quinn's statement as he turned to look at his daughter.
"Yes, we can have tacos."
"Yes!" She pumped her little fist then asked, "Oh! Can Ms. Lilly come?" She gave me her attention and stated enthusiastically, "Daddy's like the best cook ever. His tacos are awesome!"
"Oh, I-uh … I don't think-"
"Great idea," Quinn interrupted, stunning me for the second time in as many minutes. "You should definitely come. We eat around seven. That work for you?"
"Um … " I wasn't quite sure how to react. I knew he said he wanted to try … whatever that entailed, but I couldn't help but compare dating Quinn with trying to successfully navigate a minefield. I never knew when I'd take one wrong step. And even though it had only been two days, I still felt that everything could turn on a dime, that I was just waiting for something to happen to make him push me away again. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised he was so cool with the idea of a cozy dinner at his house with his daughter. I was sure that would cross one of the million invisible lines he had laid out between us. So knowing he not only liked the idea, but insisted upon it, made that floaty feeling in my belly that much stronger. "Sure. Seven works great."
"Yay!" Sophia screamed.
"Perfect." He did that little wink thing that sent a quiver of pleasure through my core. "See you then."
SOPHIA HADN'T BEEN lying. Quinn's tacos were delicious. And the entire evening had been surprisingly comfortable, even with the potent sexual tension that filtered between the two of us.
"So, what did you think?" Quinn asked after I polished off the last of my fourth taco. If he hadn't been sitting right in front of me, I might have gone so far as to lick my plate clean.