Page 144 of Prickly Romance

But I have decided to restrain myself.

I want her to know that I am not with her for her body or her youth. Dejonae seems to be influenced by other people’s opinions, so I am determined to ease all her doubts. She is not a way to ‘experiment’ as Akira once insinuated.

She means more to me. There is arightnessto being with her. A sense of a missing piece slipping into place.

Her thick eyelashes remain closed even when I pull back. I swipe my tongue across my top lip, testing whether her mouth is, indeed, pure sugar.

“Oh Lord, if this is a dream, donotwake me up,” she mumbles.

I smile.

Dejonae Williams isanmitsu.

Savory, satisfying, and addictive.

My hands cup her cheeks.

I have not allowed myself to want someone in so long.

Yet, I long for her.

Everything about her.

Everything that she is willing to give.

And even that which she would rather keep hidden.

She is my light in a dark, chaotic world.

“If it bothers you so much, I can have the rose petals boxed up and delivered to your apartment.”

She scrunches her nose. “In a few days, those will be dead roses and then bugs will crawl in and eat them.”

“Hm.” I muse.

The glinting silver lights of the city splashes across her face. She looks up at me suspiciously. “What?”

“You are un-romantic.”

She swats my arm.

I smirk down at her.

“I amveryromantic, okay? But I’m also rational. You spent a fortune so that I could walk on roses. Which is nice. I’m not saying it wasn’t. But it was excessive.”

I bring her knuckles to my lips and kiss it. “If you wish, I will refrain from further ‘excessive’ displays.”

“Aw, you’re letting me win?”

“If…” I add sternly.

She sighs and eases back. “I knew there was a catch.”

“If you agree to tell others that you are taken.”

“Sazuki.”

“Ryotaro.”

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