KendalI glanced down at my phone as it buzzed, and responded to Dana's messages as Heather sat across from me, watching me with interest that I couldn’t return. She was a huge contributor to the depravity Damon and I let ourselves get sucked into the belly of in college. Where I wouldn't change much, I sure as fuck didn't want to relive any of it.A smile lifted my lips at Dana's confession of wanting to take out a gallon of ice cream. I'd have my man card taken if I mentioned that I'd done just that on several occasions."You like her." Heather's tone was almost playful.I glanced up. "Yeah. She's a great lady. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better.""And she's aware of your appetites?" She licked her lips and lifted her eyebrows."I'm not who I was, Heather. I don't have appetites.""Shame, really." She reached toward my desk and slid a piece of paper around in a slow circle. "You're being stubborn for no reason at all. I know you're not seeing anyone. I'm not either. I
KendalI took the longest route offered to me from my phone to get to Dana. I needed a chance to cool down completely before I vomited all my dirty deeds in front of her. I wanted someone to tell me that things were different, that there was a chance to find happiness with someone else for more than just one night. Ana had been all of those things. She knew all about my past and was fine with pushing her limits in the bedroom with me. She accepted the parts of me that I was proud of, and those I hated most."And she's gone. Get over it." I ran my fingers through my hair as I pulled into the parking lot for Dana's apartment. The pretty girl who had been more than good to my sister didn't need any of my emotional baggage dragged in behind me, not even for a night.I pulled the mirror down from above my head and checked my reflection. I put my glasses on and turned from left to right, trying to decide if looking studious was better."You freaking pansy." I got out of the car and let out
DanaI tried to convince myself that I was being stupid as I walked to the bedroom. There was no way Kendal was undressing me with his eyes, and yet I'd seen the look on his face on plenty of men I'd dated before Cameron. It was the look I'd get just before I found myself naked, panting and pinned to a bed.Pursing my lips, I let it go and found a cute blue sundress and sandals that would work. I checked my hair in the mirror and decided to leave it down, though it was still a little muggy this time of year."You ready to tell all?" I stopped by the couch and indulged in the sight of him. His dark blue button up brought out the tan of his skin. His dark messy hair was almost too much, but it was the need in his eyes to be accepted, to be cared for, that almost crippled me. I was most likely assigning him issues he didn't have, but either way, I wanted to know his story. There was more to him than he'd shared thus far, which was understandable. We'd had coffee once - sort of."You gonn
Dana"I lied?" I gave him a cheeky grin and opened the door for us. The place was packed, but Kendal pressed his hand to my lower back and moved us to the bar.He leaned over and pressed his mouth beside my ear, speaking loudly."You good sitting at the bar?""Yes." I turned my face a little, putting us too close together.He moved his hand back as his eyes widened a little. "Sorry. I forget most women don't appreciate a man leading them around like he owns her."I moved toward the bar and waited until we were seated in a high-top table in the corner and addressed his comment."I think most women like a man who takes charge. I do.""Good to know." His eyes lingered on me a little longer than was comfortable.I'd have given a million bucks to look more like Jackie. He deserved a long, lean, beautiful girl to sit across the table from him and yet he was stuck with me. Just friends. Nothing to worry about."So the dean calls me in the other day, and guess who the new professor in my depa
Kendal"I'm stuffed." I leaned back from the table and took note of her barely eating one piece of pizza while I'd put away four. "You don't like it?""No. I do. I'm just watching what I eat, you know, trying to be a little more health conscious." She picked up her half-eaten piece and took a small bite."Why? Do you have high blood pressure or something?" I picked up my fourth beer and drained it. The desire to get up and dance some more swelled inside of me, but I denied it attention. Dancing with a full stomach sounded about as good as fucking the pretty girl across from me against a wall with too much in my stomach. Though, I had no doubt that if she were up for it, I'd make all of it work."No. I just..." She glanced around and shrugged."Hey. Look at me." I reached across the table and ran my hand over her forearm as I let my eyes move across her in a way that she would know how beautiful I thought she was. Who the fuck told her differently."What?" She gave me a tight expressio
KendalHer fingers ran through my hair, and it was my turn to groan.I broke the kiss, but gave her another one quickly as she panted softly against my mouth."Kendal," she whispered. "I'm not like those other girls.""I know. I'm counting on that." I kissed her again, taking my time to explore her soft lips, wet tongue. The strong pulls on my tongue as she sucked me deeper into her mouth left my body close to exploding. I pulled back and reached down to grip her thighs."Shit. It's been so damn long." I let my head drop as I tried to catch my breath. My body had gone beyond betraying me as cool and collected. My erection was thick and solid, stretched down my thigh like something from a porn movie. I reached down and tried to adjust myself. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take it this far.""Stop." She reached out and gripped my hands. "I don't want anyone but the carefree guy who's letting himself breathe tonight. So what if you're turned on. I am too."I pulled her in for one more kis
Dana"I'm so sorry, Kendal. You didn't have to defend me." I reached over and touched the side of his shoulder. My heart was racing inside my chest, not over the drama, but over the fact that he'd stood up for me. No one had done that before... no one."Of course I did." He started the car and gripped my hand before lifting it to his lips and kissing my fingers. "You're a woman and I'm a man. That's what we do. We protect women from assholes like your ex. Let's just pray someone protects you from me."I pulled my hand from his and let out a shaky breath. "Why would I need protecting from you?""Because you're obviously not with your boyfriend anymore, and as much as I wanna keep talking about being good friends, I'm interested in far more than friends should discuss."He glanced over at me, and the preditorial look in his eyes blistered my insides with desire. I'd only been sexual with a few men over the years, and none of them were worth remembering."What do you want then?" I tugged
Dana"The kitchen is right over here. Help yourself to anything you want." He pointed to the various rooms as he gave me a tour of his large four-bedroom house. I couldn't help but wonder why he would have such a big place all to himself.I dropped my bag off in one of the spare rooms and walked down the hall, stopping to look at all the pictures of him and Amanda. Several had an older woman in them as well, whom I assumed was his mother."There isn't much I wouldn't do to save her." He crossed his arms over his chest and pressed his shoulder against the wall. "I'd give up my house, my money, my nice car, my job that I've worked so damn hard for...""Your life?" I whispered and turned to walk toward him. I hated his pain, and yet I understood it all too well. Losing my father gave me far more experience with pain than I would have ever wanted."Absolutely." He reached for me, gripping my hip and pulling me flush against him. "Why are you here?""Because you said I wasn't safe in my ap