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“Honestly? I’d like to date you and enjoy your company while you’re here in Pittsburgh. There’s just one thing—the most important thing.”
Setting down his fork, he leaned forward with interest.
“And that is?”
“No secrets,” I replied firmly. “No little white lies, big lies, lies of omission—none of that shit whatsoever.”
He blinked, but otherwise didn’t react, so I continued. “In the past, I’ve had a boyfriend, or two, that lied to me so much to the point that it almost destroyed me. I can’t and won’t go through that again. The only secrets we should have are the ones we share.”
Oden stood and rounded the table, coming to stand in front of me. I stood up, too.
“Kerenza, I’m so sorry you’ve been hurt in the past.” One of his hands rose to cup the side of my face. “Please understand me when I say that was the behavior of little boys all dressed up in the bodies of grown men. I’m a man, and I know better than to treat a woman like that. It’s been a short time, I know, but I respect you way too much to do any of those things.”
My heart softened, wanting to open up and let him inside that sacred, fragile place. But my libido, used to being the dominant one, took charge. Standing on the tips of my toes, I began to kiss along Oden’s jawline. He must have shaved recently because it was silky smooth, without a trace of stubble. I sprinkled kisses down his neck, grazing over his trembling Adam’s apple.
“I want you,” I murmured, gliding my hands down his hard chest.
Before they could reach his pants, Oden captured them in one of his. I looked up to black, regret-filled eyes. Embarrassment flitted through me. I snatched my hands out of his grasp and backed up.
“Damn,” I said, wrapping my arms self-consciously around my waist. “Shot down again.”
“That’s not it at all, Kerenza.”
Oden stepped forward, simultaneously reaching for me. I moved out of his reach.
“I’m going to go start putting the food away.”
Without waiting for a reply, I speed-walked out of the dining room, shaking my head to myself. I just didn’t get it. Oden was saying all the right things and putting out all the right signals, but how many times did I have to throw myself at him before I started to look desperate?
Sighing, I went to the sink and started washing up the dishes in it.
