Page 24 of Tainted

“You know you wanna say it,” he murmured, his voice even lower now like we were sharing some secret.

Kenyon was close enough that I could feel the heat from his body. I should’ve pushed him away, should’ve put some distance between us, but my skin tingled where he touched me, and I could feel my resolve weakening by the second.

His hand slid slowly, deliberately, to my shoulder, his thumb tracing a lazy circle. I had to bite my lip to keep from reacting. The heat in my chest spread, seeping into every part of me. He knew what he was doing, and that only made it worse.

“Don’t make me beg for it,” he whispered.

“That’s your girlfriend’s job,” I finally mustered up the strength to scoot over, breaking our touch, “She’s pretty, but sharing isn’t my thing.”

“You ever been with a woman?” he probed, exposing his motive.

“No, and your birthday won’t be the first.”

“How do you know it’s not yourthingif you haven’t tried it?”

I turned, now face to face with him. “Have you ever been with a man?” His eyes darkened like thunderclouds as I continued. “How doyouknow it’s not your thing if you haven’t tried it?”

Kenyon lowered his voice, purposely mysterious, “EasyZara Nicole,” with his lips so close to my ear they grazed my skin. “You must be new here saying shit like that.”

“Why do people call youKeyes?” I asked, curious because he had been the talk of the club all week. I wanted to know more about him and why all the girls anticipated this night.

“I have theKeysto the city, Babygirl,” he boasted, his playful side returning.

“That is so corny, but with a face like yours and money, women let you get away with anything, I guess.”

How the diamonds on his bracelet sparkled, I knew they had to cost a grip. Fake diamonds didn’t dance like his.

“At least you think I’m handsome, but damn Babygirl,” Kenyon’s hand echoed on his chest. “Keyes is my last name. Is that better?”

I nodded, “Much better.”

“I’d still be Kenyon Keyes with or without it,” he smirked, swiping at my nose like I was a child.

I pulled my head away, but his touch lingered on my skin, “And who is Kenyon Keyes?”

“Whoever you need him to be.”

Something about Kenyon soothed me. I hadn’t experienced this feeling from many humans, but somehow, standing under the night sky, I felt it in a man I barely knew.

“Interesting,” I mumbled, pulling away because his confidence and smooth talking sucked me in like a magnet.

“Tell me something aboutZara Nicole,” he flirted, moving my hair to give him a better view of my face.

“Are you always this touchy with strangers?” I frowned, trying to avoid his question. He wasn’t even supposed to know Zara Nicole, so sharing details was off-limits.

“My hands have been in worse places on your body. Besides, most women like my touch.”

“I’m not most women.”

He laughed as if sincerely amused. “That we can agree on, but you have to tell me something.”

“No.”

“That’s how you’re going to do me. On my birthday. That’s crazy.” Kenyon shook his head, seemingly disappointed. It was clear he was used to having his way with women. How the girls talked aboutKeyesleading up to this event told me so.

I shrugged, knowing I needed to get back inside but enjoying our banter. It might’ve been the birthday magic, but it made Kenyon tolerable.

Kenyon

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