Page 106 of Kentrell

“You want me to go with you to get their gifts?”

I pulled back slightly, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Why you keep asking me shit like that?”

“Like what?”

“Whenever I say something, you run it back with a question.”

She lifted her shoulders in a soft shrug, then placed her cup down on the counter.

“I just—this is all new to me.”

“What is?”

“Dating. Being in a man’s presence and him… wanting me around.”

I lowered my arms, my posture easing as I listened.

“I guess I just wanna make sure I’m not reading too much into it.”

“And what you reading?”

“I don’t know…” Her voice softened. “You like me?”

I let the silence stretch. Let her sit in her own words for a second. Wanted to see if she’d take it back, change the subject, redirect.

She didn’t.

So I smiled.

“Yeah.”

The way her face lit up?

That smile hit me dead in the chest. Warm. Open. Real.

I’d never had a woman do this to me before. Not like this.

She was thawing every corner of my heart—and pretty soon, there wouldn’t be a single piece left untouched by her.

“C’mon,” I said, reaching for her hand and helping her off the stool.

As she stood, I looked her dead in the face.

“I wanna eatmypussy on my bed before I get dressed.”

I said it cool as hell.

Like I was asking for the remote.

She blinked.

Then giggled.

But the way she bit her bottom lip let me know she understood I wasn’t playing.

Not even a little bit.

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