Page 35 of Kane

She then breaks into a smile. “I am teasing you.” She laughs, a sound like tinkling bells and music. “The shoe is onyourfoot, now.”

I can’t help but laugh out loud. “That’s…not even close to how that phrase works. But fuck, you’re funny.”

“Also, I am serious. About thebabe. I am teasing and also I am serious. It is very complicated business.”

I sigh, laughing. “Anjalee, Iwantto kiss you.” I brush her cheek, near the corner of her lips. “Sofuckin’ bad.”

She nears me, leaning, mouth parted. “So kiss me.”

My whole body—shit, my entirebeingyearns to kiss her. “Fact is, I’m scared to.”

She flinches away. “You? How canyoube scared? Surely you have kissed many women in your life.”

“Yeah.” I close my eyes, swallow hard. Look at her. “None like you.”

“I do not understand. Is it because I am a virgin?”

“Part of it.” I slump back against the headboard. “A lot of it, actually.”

She deflates. “You do not want a virgin.”

Shit, shit, shit. “No, that’s not it.”

She inflates again, anger sparking. “Then please explain to me, because I am confused.”

“Anjalee…”

She arches one eyebrow. “Yes? I am listening for your explanation.”

“If I kiss you, I won’t want to stop.”

Her eyes go wide, her mouth drops open. “Oh…”

I huff, amused. “Yeah, oh.”

“The kiss was very short.”

I blink—this was not the response I expected.

“I wished it would continue.” She turns on my lap, facing me a bit more. “Perhaps I too would kiss you and not wish to stop.”

“God…dammit.” I hold her face in my palms. “You don’t know what you’re askin’ for, darlin’.”

“I know.”

I fight the urge to kiss her—it’s all-consuming, fire in my blood burning for her. “I’m talkin’ about more than just kissing, Anjalee.”

She inhales softly, pulling back to look at me—her eyes, fuck…they’re soft, and deep, and trusting. Fuck, so trusting. “You are talking about…sex.” She whispers the first part, breathes the last word.

“Yeah, babe. Sex.”

“You want to do this…withme?” She sounds amazed, intrigued, and scared out of her wits.

“Anjalee…”

She turns to face me even more—one leg is thrown across me, the other bent in, so she’s half straddling me. Hands on my shoulders, just resting there. “You say you will not lie to me. Well, omitting the truth is as much a lie as to speak a falsehood.”

“Shit, woman.” I squeeze my eyes shut.