Page 15 of Quintessentially

My voice lowers an octave. “I’m looking at you like you’re the most beautiful woman in the world because you are.”

Her voice is soft as the drumming of the rain on the roof registers. “I only feel that way with you.”

Standing, I push the wet dress from her shoulders, letting it fall to a puddle near her bare feet. The sound of the storm again fades as I gently push damp strands of hair away from her face. “I want to spend tonight with you. I want to get so fucking lost in you that I forget about everything and everyone else.”

Like a statue of a goddess before me in only her bra and panties, Kandace’s smile grows. “During the funeral, I wanted to make you feel better. It was all I could think about.” She reaches for my tie and slowly loosens the knot. Next, it’s her turn to undo the buttons on my shirt.

Once the material is pulled from my arms, I wrap the dress shirt around her shoulders. I can’t stop my grin. “My shirt swallows you. You’re so damn perfect.”

Kandace pulls the collar to her nose and grins. “It smells like you.”

Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out my wallet. When I open it, I realize what I’m missing. My Adam’s apple bobs as I look down at her. She’s there also looking into the depth of the wallet before her blue gaze looks up at me.

“Shit. No condoms.”

Her lips quirk. “I suppose you used them all with someone at the brewery?”

“No, there’s no one at the brewery. I guess heading to a funeral…I wasn’t thinking…”

“We don’t have a commitment, Dax. It’s okay.” She inhales. “I’m on the pill.”

“You are?” As I ask, a strange feeling overtakes me.

Why is Kandace on the pill?

Who is she dating?

Who has she slept with?

As if reading my mind, she answers what I have no right to ask. “My periods have been crazy and random. I’m not a kid. I’m twenty-one. The doctor thinks the pill will help regulate them.”

My finger skirts over her flesh, down her neck and between her breasts still covered with the lace bra. I watch as I lower my touch to the edge of her panties. “I have no right to ask you to be exclusive.” Even if I want to more than I want anything else.

“You don’t. Not unless it goes both ways.”

I take a deep breath, feeling the need to be completely honest. “There was one girl. We were on and off—now off. I know college is supposed to be some huge orgy, but it isn’t for me. You see, it’s hard to take sex lightly when I keep thinking about this one girl.” I grin and tease my shirt from her shoulders. “I can’t get her out of my mind.”

Kandace’s eyes flutter as she concentrates on my touch.

When they open, she tilts her head. “I haven’t been with anyone else, Dax. It’s not because we’re exclusive. It’s that I’m not some slut who sleeps around. Besides, everyone here knows everyone else. I mean, I could go to Washington or Vincennes to hook up with a stranger, but I don’t want that. I also don’t want to be someone’s notch. I mean, the only man I’ve slept with isn’t mine to claim. Why would I want that from someone else?”

Me.

That’s who she means.

My chest feels heavy.

“You’re on the pill?” I ask.

She nods.

“We’ve never been skin on skin.”

A rosy hue fills her cheeks.

“I’m clean, Kandace. I promise. After…” I hate saying this. “Her name was Allison. I found out that even though I was only with her during that time, she wasn’t as exclusive. I went to the health center on campus. I was so fucking mad.”

Kandace reaches for the belt on my suit pants and undoes the buckle. Next, she reaches for the button and zipper. Soon I’m standing with my pants and boxers around my ankles.

---