Lawked Flame by Erosa Knowles Page B

of
stepping in or out of the box again.”
    He glanced at her. “Beg your
pardon?”
    She waved her hand. “I don’t plan on having anymore
relationships, not for a while anyway. Been there, done that,
learned the lessons.”
    “ Lessons?” His chest tightened at
her statement.
    “ Men cannot be trusted. They lie
and cheat, but before that they ground your heart in the dust.” The
finality in her tone jolted him. The extra nod she gave at the end
of her speech punctuated her certainty in the veracity of her
ridiculous words.
    A tendril of concern poked his confidence. Perhaps
he had rejoiced too soon. “All men?”
    Her head stopped mid-motion, she
looked at him. “I can’t say all men. Most men.”
    “ You are young, how can you say
what most men will or will not do?” When she crossed her arms
across her chest, he took the opportunity to peek at the tops of
her breasts, which threatened to fall out of the tight purple
blouse.
    “ That was a generalization. You
know what I mean.”She huffed, her bosom rising precariously to the
edge.
    “ Actually, I do not know what you
mean. As a man, I take exception to being lumped with whatever
idiot you cared for in the past. I take relationships very
seriously. I am trustworthy, I cannot lie to my Kee...per. The
Keeper of my heart, I mean. As I said, not all men cheat and abuse
the trust of the one they should cherish above everyone else.” The
idea of someone thinking him untrustworthy was a blow to his gut.
No one had ever doubted his word.
    Her brow furrowed into deep lines. “Most men say
that... at the beginning. If men showed their true natures up
front, no one would hook-up.”
    He chortled, she said the strangest things.
“Hook-up?”
    “ You know, get together, have a
relationship.” She eyed him. “Where are you from? Lorenzo doesn’t
drive, but you do. You talk without an accent, dress in jeans,
while he has on canvas pants.” She tipped her head toward the back
seat. “Why are you so different?”
    “ I am in charge of the Harven. Now
back to your narrow view of men. It is wrong and I would like to
change your mind.” He smiled crookedly at her as he turned into her
brother’s driveway and parked. “Please have dinner with
me.”
    Her eyes clearly said she wanted to, but he knew she
planned to refuse. “Before you say...give me an answer, please know
that I am a persistent man. I am not going away. I will continue to
ask to spend time with you. You are far too precious and
tantalizing for me to leave alone. I want know you better, is that
too much to ask?” Gazing into her eyes, he tried to imprint his
sincerity, and if he were being asked, urgency, in her mind. For
the benefit of everyone concerned, they needed to unlock one
another.
    As she left the car, he watched the soft sway of her
hips and hardened in remembrance of her flawless skin. Right now,
more than anything he wanted to taste her again. Exiting the car,
he caught up with her. His palm cupped her cheek. “You are so
beautiful.”
    Whether it was because of her new starring role in
his life, or the way his heart thumped wildly in his chest at the
thought of her, he was unsure. But he knew without hesitation, she
would always be the most stunning creature in any room he
occupied.
    Pulling free, she unlocked the front door, then
glanced over her shoulder. “Thanks, but the timing is all wrong. I
just got out of a nasty divorce. I’m not ready to date right now.
My mind is all over the place and I can’t focus.” She walked
inside, he followed.
    Khayden schooled his face against the distaste of
her claim of another relationship. Ultimately, there would be one
relationship that would matter.
    Theirs .
    Without thinking, he leaned
forward, spun her around and captured her lips, cutting off further
words. For a moment she froze and then, mercifully, she returned
his kiss. Together they tumbled into a world where no one existed.
Her lips, tongue, and small moans fed him. Until this