It was close to midnight and raining when we arrived back in front of my apartment building. I turned to him in the cab when he shut off the engine. "You don't have to walk me up, West. There's no sense in both of us getting soaked."

"And miss the chance of kissing you goodbye at the door? Not a chance, girl." He pointed to the two Minions sitting between us. "But first, it's time for a custody battle. Which one are you taking?"

My mouth fell open. "I want both!"

"Well, you can't have both. You can keep one here, and the other you'll have visitation rights to at my house."

I crossed my arms. "I don't even know where you live."

"I live in Brentwood, not far from here. You can come visit him anytime you want."

"I want Stuart." I picked up the one-eyed Minion and hugged him to my chest. I patted Kevin's head. "But I love you too."

He laughed. "Now that that's settled. Are you ready?" He nodded toward my building.

"I'm ready."

We were both soaked and laughing by the time we reached the covered steps that led up to my floor. "Sixty percent chance of rain, my ass. It's like a monsoon out here," West said over the loud rain. He ran his fingers through his hair, sending water droplets flying in every direction.

His shirt was drenched and clinging to his chest. My eyes drifted down the distinct center line of his torso. He laughed softly, and I jerked my gaze up to meet his.

"Sorry," I said, covering my face with my hand.

He pulled my hand away. "Don't ever apologize for looking at me that way." He pushed my drenched hair back off my shoulders. A fat raindrop drizzled from my hairline, down the side of my face to my neck. His eyes trailed it until they fixed on my collarbone, his teeth gripping his lower lip. He inhaled a sudden shaky breath, then blew it out slowly before motioning up the stairs. "Shall we?"

My brain raced as he followed me to my front door. Do I invite him in? Do I force him back out into the rain? Will he think I'm using the rain as an excuse if I—

"Lucy, what happened to you?" His finger hooked into the back of my sweatshirt that was sagging with the weight of the rainwater.

I looked back at the bruising on my shoulder. "It's nothing. Old bruises. I fell a while ago."

He traced the outline of the massive bruise, sending a chill down my spine. "It looks really bad." He pulled the shirt down even lower.

I gathered the neckline of my sweatshirt up to my chin and turned around to face him. "West Adler, if I didn't know better, I would think you were trying to peek down my shirt."

His brow wrinkled with a scowl. "I worry about you."

"That's sweet." I released my grip on the collar, letting the wet fabric slide back down my skin. Again, West's eyes followed. This time, we were at my door. "Do you want to come in? Wait till the storm passes?"

His Adam's apple bobbed with a forced swallow, and his eyes were still fixed on my damp chest. "That's probably not a good idea. I think I need to say goodbye here and go stand in the cold rain for a while before driving home."

I laughed. "Fair enough. I appreciate your honorability."

He finally met my eyes. "It's all an act, I assure you. Because there is nothing honorable happening in my head right now."

Taking a small step toward him, I put my purse and Stuart down by the door, then looped my arms around his neck. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Enter, Evil Lucy.

He shook his head and slid his arms around my waist. "You have no idea how much of a compliment. I thought you were beautiful before, but now I want it to rain on every date we ever go on. Hell, I might drive you through the carwash with the windows rolled down just for the view."

My nails lightly scraped the back of his neck, triggering a shudder that rippled through him. He closed his eyes and took another forcefully slow, deep breath.

Yes, it was mean of me. I knew exactly what I was doing. He was fighting so hard to be a gentleman, and there I was tampering with the launch button. On purpose. But how could I not? It had been so long since any man had trembled at my touch—and never one this handsome. This tempting. This delicious.

He wedged his hand between us, his palm up and his eyes still closed. "Give me your keys. Quick."

Confused, I retrieved my keys from my purse, then placed them in his open palm. He immediately tossed them down the hallway back toward the stairs, and they clanged against the concrete floor. Before I could ask or figure out why, his mouth crashed onto mine and my back was against the door. His rock-hard body, every single inch of it, pressed into me.

Cool raindrops mixed on our lips as we kissed, then his fingers tangled in my wet hair and pulled my head back to expose my neck. A small moan escaped my throat as he kissed it, his lips tugging and nipping at the flesh that had so effortlessly captured his attention.

Then his hands slid forward and cradled my jaw as his lips came down hard and hot against mine again. His tongue fluttered against the tip of mine, a tantalizing move that spun my mind to very dark and dangerous places.

It was then that I found my hand on the doorknob, twisting and turning hopelessly against the secured lock. The damn keys was the only coherent thought in my brain.

West splayed his hands against my door and finally tore his mouth from mine, leaving my lips raw and bruised and desperately wanting more. "I...have...to go," he panted against my ear. "But good god, I don't want to."

I released the two fistfuls of his shirt that I hadn't realized I was gripping. "Please don't leave me." My voice was a breathy whisper.

He shook his head. "Don't say that, Lucy, or I won't."

I threaded my fingers up through his hair, drawing his face back closer to my own. "Don't go."

He kissed me again, his tongue gently tangling with mine as one arm snaked around my waist, plastering my hips against his body. Then he suddenly pulled away and walked down the hall. I heard the jingle of my keychain around the corner from the alcove that shrouded the door. My heart throbbed against my ribs.

When he returned, he handed me the keys and picked up Stuart and my purse. My hand trembled as I tried to put the key into the lock, and West put his hand on mine to steady it.

When the door was open, I stepped inside, but West didn't follow.

I turned around, and he handed me my things, carefully eyeing the threshold like it was the Bridge of No Return. My shoulders slumped as I hugged Stuart to my chest.

"Come here," West said quietly.

I stepped forward, and he slipped a strong hand back behind my head.

"Soon," he said, studying my eyes. "Very soon."

Then he kissed me and walked away.