“You want to kiss me”—her voice was soft, breathless—“in the middle of the bar?”

With my hand still on her cheek, I aimed up to mine. “It’s not just that I want to.” I lowered my face until we were only inches apart. “It’s that I have to.” The feeling inside me was so brutally overwhelming that I couldn’t leave this bar until I had her taste on my tongue. Until I was satisfied with the feel of her lips. That was why I’d moved my seat next to hers. To have this moment between us, to re-create the fire that I’d felt before. “If you don’t want this, Dara, tell me to stop.”

I waited.

And just as I was about to close the space between us, she whispered, “Jiyong …” She swallowed. “I want this.”

My mouth crashed against hers, my tongue slipping between her lips, a tropical coconut scent filling my nose.

.

She tasted even better than I’d anticipated. A sweetness that hadn’t just come from the liquor she’d been drinking or her perfume. A sensuality that dripped from her body that she seemed unaware of.

This woman wasn’t just y.

She was breathtaking.

As I pulled her closer, moving her to the end of her chair, her back arched. I ran my fingers up and down her spine, taking in the temperature of her skin. There was a thin bra strap, lacy material holding her in place. Her s hard and poking, dying for me to .

Bite.

My ing throbbed.

I widened my legs to move her in between them and held her face, devouring her lips, memorizing their feel, flavor.

When I finally came up for air, every bit of her flesh was flushed.

I was sure mine was, too, and I couldn’t catch my breath.

All I knew—what I was absolutely positive about—was, that kiss wasn’t enough.

She touched , blinking several times as her fingers traced across it. “Jiyong …” Her hand flattened against her chest, pushing as though she were trying to move air through her lungs. “God, you can kiss.” She lifted her hair off her neck.

That was because it hadn’t just been a kiss.

It was a promise.

But, , I wasn’t the same man I had been four years ago, when I would have taken her by the hand and brought her back to my place. It wasn’t just my house anymore; it was Everly’s, and my daughter came first. That meant random hookups and one-night stands were all sacrifices I had given up when she was placed in my arms.

Dara’s fingers were on my stomach, rubbing the outline of my abs, causing my to ing pound against my zipper. I would do anything to be inside her right now, to feel her body pressed against mine, to have her moans filling my ears.

To give her so many ing s that she lost her voice from screaming.

My lips touched her cheek, skin that was soft, delicate. I dragged them to her ear, inhaling her scent that reminded me of a piña colada, hair that tickled my face.

“Your friends are standing at the bar. Go to them,” I whispered in her ear.

Her chest stopped rising as she moved to look at me.

“Go,” I added, “before I toss you over my shoulder and carry you out of here.” I took a breath, only smelling her. “One more second, and I won’t be able to stop myself.” I ground my teeth into my lip, her gaze taunting me, building this tease. “Dara … go.”

Her smile made my even harder, especially as she swiped a finger across my lips, like she was wiping herself off me, before she walked over to her friends. I watched every step she took, the back of her just as gorgeous as the front. An that was the perfect shape with just the right amount of thickness, toned legs that made me groan as I thought about wrapping them around my face, hips that only accentuated her curves.

Goddamn it.

There wasn’t a girl in this bar who compared to her.

I had to force myself not to follow her, to look away, to focus on the guys who were sitting around both tables in front of me.

“Jesus Christ,” Taeyang said, taking the empty seat next to mine, moving it closer before he sat. “Who the hell was that?”

“A girl I can’t get enough of.” I put my back toward the bar, so I wouldn’t keep staring at her.

“She must feel the same way because she keeps looking over here,” Soohyuk said.

“Oh, hell yes, that girl has it bad for you,” Haejin said.

I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. She’s not coming home with me. You guys know I don’t play like that anymore.”

I downed my drink and set the empty on the table.

Soohyuk handed me his and said, “Jiyong, you’re only thirty years old. You’re not dead. You need to ing live a little. There’s nothing wrong with being a father and getting your wet once in a while.”

“You say that like I’m celibate. We all know that I’m not.”

The guys knew I’d dated a little since Everly had been born. None of those relationships had lasted more than a few months, and none of those girls had stepped foot inside my house.

I didn’t know balance.

I didn’t know how to make anyone a priority other than my daughter.

And that was the demise with each girl I’d gone out with.

“Celibate, no. Semi-celibate, unfortunately, yes,” Taeyang said.

“Listen to me, brother,” Soohyuk started. “It doesn’t make you a bad father to take a little time for yourself.” He squeezed my shoulder, shaking me. “And if you don’t jump on that ing girl, then you’re a damn fool.”

“Even if I was going to consider it—which I’m not—Yeji and Everly are at my house. It’s not like Eve is staying at Mom and Dad’s for the night and I’m free.”

“More Yeji talk,” Haejin groaned. “I still can’t believe you let her watch your daughter.”

“Ignore him,” Taeyang said, referring to Haejin. “Everly is being well taken care of tonight, so you do have all the freedom to do whatever you want—and I know that girl is exactly what you want.”

“You guys don’t get it,” I told them. “This is one of the sacrifices you have to make when you have a kid, and being a single dad makes it even harder. I’m responsible for that little girl, and every move I make affects her.” I looked at my brothers. “When you guys were single, you could whomever you wanted and never feel guilty about it. You could jump on a plane and leave at any time. You could stay out all night and not give a .” I chomped on the ice from Soohyuk’s glass and set the empty on the table. “My life isn’t like that.”

“But you can go to her house,” Taeyang said. “What’s stopping you from doing that?” Just as I was about to respond, he added, “Yeji’s at your place, and she’ll stay there until you get back in the morning—whatever time that might be.” I attempted to reply again, and he continued, “You’ve traveled for work; you’ve traveled for pleasure. Both inJaehoces, you’ve left Everly with Yeji or our parents. How would tonight be any different?” He smiled. “Try to fight me on that. I dare you.”

My mouth opened, but I closed it as I thought about what he’d said.

Go to her house.

Somethin