Page 16 of Lustful Nights

“I’m just saying. If this is something that’s all about sex, then it won’t be worth it.” He shrugs, side-eying me. “I’ve seen you with women, Jensen.”

“No.” I take hold of his chin, turning him to face me. “That’s what I’ve let everyone see or think. I’ve never been just about sex. I’ve never been a hook-up type of person, and I haven’t even had a one-night stand. Of course, I’ve been with women, some you’ve met, but I was always in a relationship with them. Except during my teenage years, but those don’t count.” Lennox laughs, and I smile, chuckling alongside him. There are a few things I need that women haven’t been able to provide me with. I crave to be more dominant or rougher, but I never felt comfortable enough to do that with anyone I’ve been with. “I think you’re pretty damn amazing for knowing what you want. Most people try to get rid of their virginity as soon as they can.”

“Trust me, I’ve tried.” I tilt my head in confusion, not fully understanding. Lennox blows out a breath, closing his eyes. “I want to have anal sex. Like I’ve done hand jobs, blow jobs, frotting, and all the other sexual things you can think of. But I’ve never trusted someone enough to give them my body that way. Maybe there’s just something wrong with me.”

“Nope. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you, and I never want you to say that again. And I want to strangle anyone who made you feel that way.” I know Lennox has had a line of shitty boyfriends in the past, but damn. What the hell was the problem with them? “I will never pressure you into anything. Ican promise you that. And if you ever feel that way, tell me. I don’t want to be another shitty boyfriend. Errr—if we ever decide to take it that far.”

“Okay,” he whispers, planting a soft kiss on my lips. “Is the food done?” he asks right before his stomach rumbles loudly.

“Yeah, let’s eat.” I tap Lennox’s leg, and he jumps off the stool. “Grab two plates in the cabinet up there.” I point to the cupboard next to the fridge and Lennox heads that way. After plating our food, we sit down at the table side by side. “What’s Declan doing tonight?”

“He has to work later, so he’s probably not going to be home.”

“So, he won’t notice if you don’t make it back tonight?” I ask, my heart thumping loudly in my chest.

Lennox raises his eyebrow mischievously. “Didn’t we just have this conversation?” he asks, spearing his food with a fork.

“Not for sex. But I figured maybe after we eat dinner, we could hang out in my living room and watch a movie.”

“Like a date?” His eyes widen and he dips his head, but not before I see the bright pink blush that flushes his cheeks.

“Yeah, Lennox, I am considering this a date. I wanna get to know you better.”

“Okay, so let’s do a quick get-to-know-you. Oh! I know. Twenty questions.” He bounces in his seat, flashing me a wide smile. “I’ll start. What’s your favorite color?”

“Favorite color? Pretty basic question, isn’t it?” I tease.

“We’ll start out easy, then get into the more personal ones.”

“Okay, okay. Blue. What about yours?”

“Is that your first question? If I answer, then the question goes back to me.”

With a nod of my head, I play along with his game. I know he wants to be the one leading the questions. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Pink. Duh.” He smirks, looking down at his pink button-up. “Second question, what’s your favorite TV show?”

“I’m more of a movie person, but I never tire ofSons of Anarchy.”

“Oh my, Charlie Hunnam? Yes, please. Mine isPsych. I love shows that have me laughing my ass off. Hmm…what next?” He taps his chin playfully, eyeing me with a devious smirk. “What did you really think of me when you first saw me onstage?”

I sputter out a cough, my water flying across the table. “Okay, I guess we’re done with the basic questions?” Lennox nods and takes another bite of his food, not so patiently waiting for me to answer. “When you first appeared, and I couldn’t see your face, I was admiring your body. I can appreciate when a man has an impressive body.” Lennox chokes loudly and I snap my gaze up to him. “What?”

“I’m sorry, but what? Are you saying you’ve always been interested in men, and I didn’t know?”

“Men didn’t appeal to me until you,” I scoff, not knowing where he’s going with this.

“But you just said you were admiring my body?”

“Yeah, ’cause it looked like you worked out a lot. So, I was admiring what a body looked like.”

“Hmm, okay.” He giggles, the corners of his eyes crinkling softly. “I think you’ve probably been attracted to men for much longer than you realize, but that’s okay. Everyone goes at their own pace. What were you thinking when you realized it was me?”

I keep replaying his words in my mind—the ones suggesting I might have been drawn to other men in the past. It’s too much to think about right now, so I file it away to unpack later when I’m alone.

“That you looked familiar and when I realized it was you, I instantly worried why you were working at that place in the firstplace.” Lennox goes to speak, and I rush to clarify, “Not because there’s anything wrong with working there, but because the last I’d heard, you were working in a coffee shop, so I was worried something happened.”

“And the next night?”

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