Latte Darling: Book Two of The Darling Series

Fucking Hell.

I’m trying to be a good man. A good human. But this little Siren is testing my goddamn limits.

Her big, beautiful eyes and the sad soulful look in them when she said she said didn’t want to be alone… That shit almost killed me.

 How fucking unfair is life if someone as stunning and sweet as Maddie is stuck being stood up at bars when she just wants to meet someone? Because she doesn’t have anyone to go with her to her best friend’s wedding.

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to flip every table in this stupid place, or if I wanted to pull her into my lap, wrap my arms around her, and tell her she’d never be alone again.

My free hand clenches into a fist. Anger at her situation and my helplessness swirling inside me.

I want to tell her that I’ll go to the wedding with her. That I’ll drive her anywhere she needs to go. But I’m all fucking wrong for her. She’s looking for someone to start a life with, not some old man whose kid stood her up.

But having her soft body pressed into my side makes me forget every reason I’ve told myself for why I can’t pursue this.

I pull in a deep breath through my nose, desperate for a hint of her scent.

She’s so small, so damn short, our height difference is almost ridiculous. But walking next to me, Maddie fits perfectly under my arm. And I can’t stop my mind from wandering, wondering how else we might fit together perfectly.

Mentally, I drag a hand down my face. I cannot start thinking like that.

“Here we are,” I let my fingers brush against the soft skin on the back of her arm once more before I force my hand to drop away.

Maddie blinks up at me, before focusing on the Ladies’ Room sign in front of us. “Oh, right.” She takes one step away from me and I feel the loss of her like a warm blanket being ripped away on a cold night. Then she pauses and looks back over her shoulder, “You’ll wait for me?”

She’s smiling, but the question has something coiling tight around my heart, “Yeah, Baby Doll, I’ll be right here.”

Her smile grows and that tightness in my chest only increases.

Every inch of me wants to protect her. But then she’s moving away, and my eyes drop to her ass. And lord help me, I can’t look away. The tight denim is molded to every delicious inch of her, and I want to bury my face between those cheeks.

When the door swings shut behind her, cutting off my view, I slump against the wall and exhale. My mind moving back through all the little breadcrumbs she’s dropped for me tonight.

What has this girl been through? Does Maddie really think I’d just leave her now to fend for herself?

But mixed with the sadness, is lust. Her eyes are filled with it.

I’m sure she thinks she’s hiding that particular emotion, but it’s plain for me to see. Hell, it’s plain for me to feel.

Then there’s the slight tightness at the corner of her mouth, telling me that she’s trying to tamp down her hope. Doing her best to keep her expectations low. And it’s killing me.

Because no matter how much I want to act on the lust that I certainly feel in return, I can’t. She’s been drinking and I’d never be able to live with myself if I took her like this, unsure if she truly wanted me or if it was just the alcohol talking.

I shove my sleeves further up my arms, and wish I’d taken more care in my appearance. Not that I ever look much different than this. But for once I actually give two shits about how I look.

I grabbed this thin hoodie as I stormed out of the house mostly because I didn’t want to take the time to change out of my ratty white t-shirt. And even though it’s too warm to justify the extra layer, I’m glad I put it on. Maddie is dressed for a date, looking the perfect combination of adorable and sexy in her pretty top and painted on jeans. My black zip-up isn’t nearly nice enough for how good she looks, but it’s better than a fucking old t-shirt.

The bathroom door swings open, and Maddie’s eyes immediately meet mine, that serene smile on her face. A touch of surprise in her eyes that makes me just a little bit pissed off.

I stand up straight as she steps towards me and watch as she reaches her hand out, flattening it against my chest.

My lids lower and the urge to twist us around, pinning her between me and this wall is real.

“Ready?” I hardly recognize my own voice, it’s so deep and full of need.

“I’m ready.” Her breathy reply goes straight to my dick.

Fuck me. I bet she’s ready.

I close my eyes and breathe. Unwanted boners were a problem I thought I left 35 years in the past, yet here I am.

Maddie sighs, and I know if she leans any closer, she’ll feel the evidence of my arousal. And since she’s so damn short my cock will probably reach up to her tits.

Her big, glorious tits.

Shit.

My mind is suddenly filled with images of Maddie sprawled out beneath me.

Fuck.

I’m straddling her chest, thrusting my dick between her soft tits, her open mouth waiting for my-

“Alright!” I bark out the word.

Maddie clearly doesn’t understand my turmoil because she looks up at me innocently, gesturing behind her with the hand not pressed to my chest. “You don’t need to go?”

I glance at the Men’s Room door and shake my head. The only reason I’d go in there now would be to jerk off in the stall.

The thought should disgust me, but the longer we stand here, the more reasonable the idea sounds.

Maddie steps back, her fingertips dragging down my chest, over my stomach… I catch her hand in mine, before she can absently continue her descent to rockier territory.

Her hand immediately closes around mine, or at least as best as she can. Her tiny palm dominated by my own.

I shove away the impure thoughts as she lets me steer us back through the bar and towards the front door.

I miss the feeling of her tucked into my side, but something about holding hands feels so much more intimate. Maybe it’s the fact that she’s gripping me back, like she’s enjoying it just as much as I am, as opposed to me holding her captive against me.

The heat and humidity hit us the second I hold open the door, and Maddie’s cute little nose scrunches. “Ugh, this weather is so gross.”

I don’t know if I’ve ever described something as so gross but she’s not wrong, so I make a sound of agreement.

A hot nighttime breeze lifts a piece of Maddie’s hair and she swipes at it, “I don’t even know why I bother with my hair when it’s like this.”

I want to bend and press my nose against the top of her head, inhaling the scent of girly shampoo that I’m catching in small waves, but since I’m trying to not be a creepy asshole, I don’t.

Instead, I look at her long black tresses and say the only thing I can think of, “Your hair looks nice.”

Well done, Axel.

I want to smack myself for sounding like an idiot, but Maddie grins like I said just the right thing.

“That’s nice of you to say, but the frizz is real.” She smooths her hand down the length of her hair. “I normally don’t bother straightening it, but I thought it would be nice for tonight. Ya know?”

“Uh…” I don’t know. I didn’t have sisters. I have one son. And I’ve never seen someone straighten their hair in my entire life.

Maddie sighs, “Next time I’ll just leave it alone.”

My grip on her hand tightens. Next time refers to the next stupid asshole that she’s going to try and go out with. And I might have accepted the fact that it won’t be with me, but I don’t have to like it. And I sure as fuck don’t want to hear about it.

“I’m sure it’d look great no matter what you do.”

“Aww, thanks.” She sways into me, bumping her shoulder into my arm. “You’re too nice.”

I snort.

Her head tips back so she can look up at me, “What?”

I shake my head, “Nothing, I just don’t think anyone’s ever described me as too nice.”

“That can’t be true.” The scowl that forms between her eyes is stupidly cute.

“Afraid so, Baby.”

She makes a small humming sound, and somehow I know it’s her way of disagreeing.

I squeeze her hand again, “You want to argue about it?” I tease. I fucking tease! Who am I?

Her exhale is audible, “I really hate arguing.”

Every hackle I have rises and I stop walking.

The abrupt halt combined with my grip on her hand spins her around on the spot. She teeters with the movement, and I reach out with my free hand and grip her shoulder to steady her.

“Woah,” she laughs. Then her smile falters when she sees the thunderous expression on my face. “Everything okay?”

My mouth starts to open, but what am I supposed to say? Is there someone I need to dismember and bury in the woods for disagreeing with you? God help me, I’m trying to comfort the girl, not scare her.

She stares up at me with those big glassy eyes and I can’t handle it.

“Everything’s fine,” I try to not growl the words.

“You sure?” she looks rightfully doubtful.

“Yeah, Doll. I was just teasin’ you.” I try to say the word without choking on it. “But you can disagree with me whenever you want. I won’t get mad at you.”

“Oh.” Her eyes brighten, “See?”

“See what?”

“You’re too nice to me.”

I heave out a breath. “Maybe just to you.”

She grins, “Look at you, making a compromise on top of being nice. Keep this up and people might think you’re just a big softy.”

I narrow my eyes, “Keep trying to reform demons, Angel. See where that gets you.”

Maddie’s head tips back as she laughs, “Demon?! I don’t think so, Axel Davis.”

My full name on her lips is heaven. Mix that with the rich, free sound of her laughter, and I want to fuse my mouth to hers so I can consume the joy at its source.

My feet move me a step closer, nearly closing the distance between us.

Humor still dances in her eyes when she meets my gaze.

She’s undisturbed by my nearness, but the problem is I don’t know if it’s desire or alcohol that keeps her from pushing me away. And that’s the bucket of ice water I need to get my urges under control.

When I don’t do or say anything – like an idiot – she glances at the vehicle I stopped us next to. “Is this you?”

I look over at the rusting minivan and raise a brow at Maddie. “Seriously?”

“What?” she looks back and forth between me and the atrocity, clearly not seeing the problem. “I don’t care if you drive a beater.”

“I care if I drive a beater.” With a gentle push on her shoulder, I turn her to face the way we’d been heading before I stopped us.

Keeping my hold on her hand, I take us down a few more spots.

Digging my free hand into my pocket, I click the fob to unlock the doors to my vehicle, causing the headlights to flash.

“Ooo,” Maddie’s eyes widen. “She’s pretty!”

She starts to hurry, our arms extending between us, before I finally let go.

Stepping up to the hood, Maddie runs her pointer finger across the matte black finish. “I don’t know much about cars, but I can see why you made that face back there. This is nice.”

“Thank you.” With effort, I manage not to puff out my chest. “Cars are kinda my thing,” I say, parroting her words about coffee earlier.

She grins up at me, “It seems so.” Then her head tilts, “It would seem so?” She says it like a question and her brow furrows, and her cheeks go pink. “That sounds wrong, but you know what I mean.”

My own mouth pulls into a smile, “I know what you mean.”

Her shoulders sag, the smallest amount, in what looks like relief. Was she nervous I’d ridicule her?

Before my thoughts can go further, Maddie pulls her phone out of her tiny purse, “Mind if I send another picture to my friend?”

“Course not.”

She takes a step backward, presumably so she can get the license plate and the whole car in the picture, and I move behind her, ready to catch her if she stumbles.

Holding her camera up, it’s in selfie mode and she smiles when she sees me standing behind her.

“Smile, Big Guy.”

Captivated by her beautiful face reflected back in the screen, I don’t catch her words in time to comply before the screen clicks.

I step closer.

Did she just take a picture of us together? That should be weird, right? I certainly shouldn’t feel proud about that.

Maddie taps the button to turn the camera around and snaps a photo of my car, and I watch over her shoulder as she texts it to her friend.

“It really is a nice car,” she says the words quietly, and I’m not sure if she’s saying it to me or to herself. I almost launch into a spiel about the Charger, telling her why it’s my favorite of all my vehicles, but then she looks back up at me over her shoulder and asks, “So, you gonna give me a ride, or what?”

Suddenly, I don’t remember a single fact about cars.

A heartbeat later, she slaps a hand over her mouth. “Oh my god! I didn’t…” Her eyes widen even further.

I can only manage a choked sound, because I want to laugh at her expression- but the idea of giving her a ride is now seared into my brain.

“I’m so sorry!” her palm muffles her words, but I still understand them.

“No need to apologize,” I press my hand to her back and lead her around to the passenger side.

I clear my throat wanting to curse my luck. It’s like the universe knew my type exactly, and dropped her in my lap, about 20 years too young, just to drive me mad. And nothing against skinny women -I’m really not picky, and I’m well aware that the personality makes or breaks someone’s attractiveness – but big girls have always been my thing. Maddie just happens to be both curvy and tiny. Something I didn’t know I wanted until now.

Reaching down, I open the door for her.

She hesitates, “I’m a little afraid to get in.”

I pause, “I’m a good driver, Maddie. I would never put you in danger.”

With my hand still on her back, I feel her vibrate with silent humor, “I meant that I was afraid to mess it up.”

“Mess it up?”

“Like make it dirty.” She waves a hand towards the interior.

Focus, Axel. Fucking focus.

“Unless your pockets are filled with sand, I think it’ll be alright.” She lets out a little snort as she laughs, and I slide my hand up her back until my palm is against the back of her neck. “Get in the car, Maddie.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jesus Christ.

Keeping a lid on my increasing need for this woman, I guide her into the low passenger seat.

Once she’s seated, I make sure she’s clear of the frame before I shut the door.

Needing an extra minute, I slow my stride as I circle around the back of the car, silently begging my dick to chill.

Every time Maddie reveals another layer of herself, I fall deeper and deeper into my desire for her. My body doesn’t care at all that she’s too young. Or that she was at the bar to meet my fucking son. My body only cares about the fact that she seems to have everything I’d look for in my perfect match.

If I were looking for such a thing.

Which I’m not.

But if I were, she’s exactly what I’d want.

She’s smart, witty, a little shy, the flawless mixture of innocent and sexy. And my inner neanderthal likes the sadness in her eyes. It’s fucked up, I’m well aware of that, but I like feeling needed. And I haven’t felt emotionally needed in a long, long time.

Stopping at my door, I tip my head back and blow my breath out towards the sky. “Get a fucking grip, man. You’re taking her home, so she gets there safely. Then you’re dropping her off at the door. Nothing more.”