Page 424 of Now and Forever

“You shouldn’t want a man like me, Lil. I’m not good enough for you.” Drake sounds serious; however, I’m having none of it.

No . . . You’re even better . . . I’ve never met anyone like you. The rest of the men lack brilliance when compared to you . . .

“Why would you say that? You’re the only one I want.” I move closer, feeling brazen when he doesn’t move away. I stand on my tiptoes and lick his lips. He tastes of salt and something masculine. My heart is beating erratically; I feel exhilarated and faint at the same time from being so close to him. “I want you . . . I want you to be the one to take my virginity away.”

I feel Drake’s chest heave before he rasps out, “I don’t think you get what I’m trying to tell you here . . .”

Yes, I’m not dense, but I want you so much, Drake Tatum. I’ve loved you for so long. Tonight, I will have you . . . even for a little while.

“I do, but would you rather I do it with someone else then, like Ricardo, perhaps?” I know I’m playing with fire . . . but I’m desperate. I want Drake to see me as a woman. A woman he can be with and desire—not the little girl with frilly dresses that would follow him around.

“Don’t even go there, Lil,” he resigns, heavily huffing and continues on, “OKAY, if this is what you want, then meet me on the veranda in fifteen minutes. Go get ready because there will be no backing out once you come to me. Think it through, okay?”

What else was there to think through? It’s what I’ve wanted; what I’ve waited for.

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