Page 15 of Lustful Nights

“Wait.” He scrambles up to his knees, looking at me wide-eyed. “I don’t know how to cook Jensen. I’m a ‘make a PB&J’typeperson, not a ‘stand over the stove and actually make something’ person.”

“Well, luckily for you, I know how to cook, so get that cute ass of yours in my kitchen.”

“You know how to cook? Wait, you think my ass is cute?” He giggles, hopping off the couch.

“Do you eat enchiladas?”

“That sounds good, but you didn’t answer my question. Tell me more about my cute ass. I mean, I know it’s cute, but I would love to hear more about how you think it is, too.”

Lennox follows me into the kitchen taking a seat on the stool, while I pull out all the ingredients for the green salsa verde chicken enchiladas I love to make. I place everything onto the counter, smiling when Lennox gets right into my space.

“Yes, Lennox, I meant what I said. You have a very cute ass. One I’d love to get to know more. Now, start seasoning the chicken while I make the salsa.” We work side by side, him working on the meat before he slides it into the oven. “So, tell me more about nursing school?”

I don’t want Lennox to think this is all about sex for me. While it might have started off that way—me seeing him on the stage awakening something new in me—our kiss last night changed things for me. I may have known him for years, but do I reallyknowhim? The real Lennox. Not Nick’s little brother Lennox.

“It’s so damn hard, but so rewarding, too. Knowing that once I’m done, I’ll be able to help others has me wanting to finish as soon as I can. I still have a while to go, but I’m slowly gettingthere. What’s it like working remotely? I think I would get so bored if I was stuck in my tiny apartment all day.”

“I actually like it. I work harder when I’m at home and I don’t have to deal with people, which is always a plus for me. And it allows me to try new things, which was how I realized I really enjoyed cooking.”

“What kind of dishes do you make? And why didn’t I know you could cook?”

I lower the burner on the stove, then turn around to face him. “I can make most things as long as I have a recipe. Few people know I can cook at all. I’ve recently tried to bake. It’s not coming out as well as I hoped it would, but I’m not going to give up. We also don’t know much about each other outside surface-level things.”

“Would you teach me how to cook something sometime?”

I step into his space, smiling when he parts his legs for me to step into the middle. With shaky hands, I brush the stray brunet hair off his forehead. Finding a man attractive is so damn new to me. As much as I was confident earlier when I was talking to Lennox, I’m still worried about what this all means. It’s another reason I’m not ready to tell anyone—especially Nick—when it’s something I can’t really explain myself. I go twenty-nine years of my life only being attracted to women, and then one night, everything changes and I’m seeing someone differently.

“I’d love to teach you a thing or two. Since we’re halfway through the dinner for tonight, we can make plans to do it again. Maybe this weekend?”

“I work on Friday and Saturday night, but I’m off on Sunday if that works. Would it be too forward of me to ask for another kiss?”

Chuckling, I grip his chin with two of my fingers. I bend toward him, taking his lips with mine. God, I could stand here and kiss Lennox for hours. There’s something about his warm,soft lips that is so damn inviting. I’msobecoming addicted to kissing him.

“Sunday night sounds good,” I tell him, stepping away to check the sauce that’s on the stove. “Do you work at Peaches a lot?”

“Sometimes. Depends on when they place me on the schedule. I truly enjoy working there. All my friends are there, plus the owner, Caleb, is really sweet. His number one priority is his workers. Can I ask a personal question?”

“You can ask me anything, Lennox.”

“I thought you were straight. Or I always assumed that you were. What changed?”

“You.”

“Me?” he squeaks, his cheeks turning bright red.

“Heh. Yeah.” I scratch at my beard, chuckling as I shake my head. “The first night I saw you dancing, I recognized you, but it was more shock than anything. Then the second night I told myself I was just checking on you, even though I kept staring at your body and the way you moved. But then I watched you perform, and you captivated me. It was so much more than me being in awe of you being able to dance. You turned me on, and it scared the hell out of me. I tried to sneak out of there with my raging hard on, but you caught me. Stomped your ass all the way over to me, demanding to know why I was back there.”

“Oh my god, is that why you were looking at me like a chicken with its head cut off?”

“Realizing you’re rock hard over your best friend’s little brother is rather shocking. But also having a boner in a public place wasn’t my idea of a good time. Sorry if I couldn’t come off that articulate.” I roll my eyes playfully, letting him know I’m messing around.

“Wow. Rock hard, huh?” he asks as I brush my thumb against his cheekbone. He leans into my touch. “There’s something you have to know before this goes any further.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m a virgin.”

I choke on my spit, coughing roughly. “Damn, Lennox. Way to just toss that out there.”

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