Page 3 of Pomegranate Kiss

“You’ve got it,” Lex said, offering a salute as she made her way to the kitchen. Adrian and Cal chatted with Dad in the dining room while Matty skulked around in the background, trying to avoid conversations almost as much as her. Nellie bustled into the kitchen, yanking out silverware and plates to help.

Lex’s phone buzzed, and she tugged it out. Cam had texted her.

You’ve got six months.

Lex’s lips curled into a grin. Game on.

Chapter Two

Giving in to Lex had been Cam’s dumbest idea yet.

She chopped up the chicken in front of her, the pale flesh not standing a chance against her sharpened knife. Cam channeled the force and fury of the maelstrom in her head into the smooth motion, the slabs of meat fast turning into diced cubes. The rest of the ingredients for this twist on chicken marsala lined the marble countertop of the Horntree manor, yet another meal to cook for this hellacious family.

Back when she’d dropped out of art school, she’d fallen hard on her culinary skills, and for a time, she’d been able to appreciate the creativity. However, the longer she worked in the field—the longer she workedhere—the more the enjoyment ebbed until it leeched away the color from tasks she once enjoyed. Danny was the sole thing keeping her afloat most days.

She’d sank into the monotony of her cycle—working during the day, swiping right on Tinder to go on dates at night, whichended up being one failure after another. Truth be told, most of the men she met were wallpaper-paste boring.

None of them electrified her like Lex. She tried denying it these past six months, yet the memories of Lex’s strong arms around her refused to dissipate. Cam had savored every second of that night, the scent of campfire and wine she breathed with every heavy inhale, the live wire sensations of those lips on her neck, and those skillful fingers against her clit. She’d never had a more intense experience in her life.

Hence why giving in to Lex was a terrible idea. Cam couldn’t be gay. She couldn’t. She’d attended so many services at the mosque where the imam would deliver fiery sermons about the sins of homosexuality, and her parents would stand there, heads bobbing in agreement. She loved her parents despite all of that—they’d been patient teachers, kind guides, and supported her even when she dropped out of school.

Shame colored her cheeks that she blamed on the steam rising from the frying pan as she cooked the chicken in the sauce of marsala wine, chicken broth, and porcini mushrooms. Yet she’d caved to Lex when she should’ve stood strong. Just because she hadn’t met a suitable guy said more about the quality of Tinder than her own tendencies. After all, Danny managed to find the perfect man for her. Maybe if she tried dating someone like Adrian— successful, sweet, and a family man—she’d be happy.

The chicken sizzled, and Cam turned the back boiler off on the rice she cooked to go along with the dish. Her phone buzzed, and her fingers itched on reflex. She gave the chicken another turn with her spatula, the heady aroma of roasted mushrooms, rich Marsala wine, and savory broth hitting the air. Then she checked her phone.

Lex had texted.

Her mouth dried, and she wasn’t sure what to do. If she glanced to the text, she’d be tempted to sway, and she’d begin her slippery descent to Jahannam.

Desire gave out.

Meet me at nine tonight at Mount Pleasant Park. Prepare to get dirty.

Cam’s cheeks flushed, and this time she couldn’t ignore the response. She could imagine the raspy tone Lex would deliver it in, the sharp edge to her words, and the intensity in her eyes. Maybe if she could meet a guy who possessed half of Lex’s confidence—half of the cocky swagger she rolled her eyes over yet secretly loved—maybe then she could settle down.

She turned the burners off and moved the skillet to a cooler section. It was hot enough in this kitchen, and if the text gave any indication, her night was about to get hotter.

***

Cam pulled her Kia into a parking spot at Waterfront Park and turned down the acoustic folk she’d been using to placate her nerves. It hadn’t helped. She flipped the mirror down and began to touch up her lipstick. She’d swung home, scarfed some dinner, and changed into something nicer, but her body and mind had hummed in unison ever since she’d gotten the text from Lex.

The one reason she even considered this was Lex’s reputation. She’d heard plenty from Danny about how the woman avoided commitment like it was a lit Molotov cocktail hurtling her way. So, if Cam dipped her toes in the water, she could always retract. No harm, no foul.

The sun had already set, and the Ravenel bridge stretching overhead lit up with a gentle blue like the ocean. Bright neonlights illuminated the walking paths along the park, and at this time of night, only a few people scattered around the place.

Her phone buzzed, and she sucked in a sharp breath. Mom was calling, because of course she would, like divine intervention. She reached over to answer the phone, her keys in the ignition when her window shook under the force of someone tapping.

Lex’s face appeared in the window, and she tilted her head in the direction of the park. Cam swallowed hard. She let the call go to voicemail.

She opened the door with a click, and Lex took a couple of paces back. The woman had the uncanny ability to suck the air out of a room, or in this case, an entire park. Her black pixie cut was spiked, her eyeliner charcoal dark, and she wore an olive-green tee highlighting her lithe, muscular frame. Lex kept her motorcycle jacket hooked over her shoulder and scanned Cam over like she might swallow her up.

Cam smoothed the maroon maxi-dress she’d worn with black heels that clicked along the asphalt. Not so good for hiking, but she doubted Lex’s plans entailed walking any trails.

“Well, you look fucking gorgeous,” Lex commented, the heat in her hazel eyes pinning Cam on the spot. When her Tinder dates dropped those sorts of lines, her stomach soured like buttermilk and she usually backed away fast. Yet when Lex said it—well, her persistence had swayed her to come here. Being around this woman felt as natural as daylight even though she sparked her body into a new plane of existence.

“You’re not too shabby yourself,” Cam fired back as she set off in the direction of the main paths.

Lex fanned herself. “Keep throwing compliments around like that and I might swoon.” With a couple of quick strides, Lex walked in line with her, the swagger to her step a part of the woman’s fire and brimstone personality. The breeze swept thesalt from the inlet and the crispness in the air from fall’s arrival as they wandered across the concrete path.

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