Page 35 of The Dating Prohibition

The pair made a day of exploring Charleston’s French Quarter, holding hands, strolling cobblestone streets, pointing out different

facets of the architecture of antebellum homes, visiting a gallery to learn more about Gullah culture, and enjoying oysters

with a view of the Fort Sumter ferry. After, they grabbed coffee and spent a lazy afternoon traipsing through Waterfront Park,

taking a much-needed nap when they returned to the rental.

Everything about the day felt relaxed and familiar like they’d been traveling together for years. Kendra enjoyed observing

Ben as he geeked out over historical landmarks as much as he seemed to like watching her sample pecan pralines and Low-Country

fare. Back in the room, they shared a shower and stole glances at each other while they got ready for their night out.

Ben helped to zip Kendra’s dress before taking her hand to twirl her around. “You look beautiful, Kenny.”

His hushed tone was a gravelly whisper. She shivered as he kissed her softly, and it took everything in her not to ask him to strip them both naked so that she could show him just how much she loved the time they’d spent together.

Before she could propose staying in, Ben pulled back and kissed her fingertips and her palm, leading her out to the car.

They arrived at a black warehouse-looking building attached to a hotel near the waterfront, and a valet stepped forward to

help Kendra out of the car, an exposed thigh being the first part of her body to exit. Her golden stilettos clicked against

the concrete as she held on to the fabric of her multicolored dress, ensuring that the material in her lap didn’t open and

accidentally expose her goodies. The valet admired her openly, making Kendra blush as she let the hem fall to the floor. She

straightened her back, knowing a good portion of it was on display, delicately adorned by tiny straps tied to hold the bodice

in place.

“Ahem.” BJ stood watching the valet release her hand, his expression unreadable.

The valet took a step back, holding up his hands. “My bad.”

Kendra chuckled, taking BJ’s arm as they stepped through the open doors of the restaurant. “You good?”

He hid a smile as he tugged her inside. “Hush.”

The hostess immediately directed them to a table against the back windows, the view of the water and twinkling lights matched

the ambiance of the flickering candles on the pristine white tablecloth. As they sat, their server appeared to greet them,

unfolding their napkins with a flourish before laying them on their laps. After taking their drink orders, Kendra and BJ perused

the menu, her ankle against his under the table.

“You playin’ footsie with me?”

Kendra giggled and moved her foot. “Not intentionally, but I wouldn’t be upset if you decided to get a little fresh. Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

The server returned with their wine and took their food orders––Kendra chose the scallop crudo starter and the stuffed flounder,

while BJ ordered the hot crawfish dip and a thick rib eye steak.

“I’m curious... what was the origin of the conflict between you and Shonda when she and Logan first started dating? I know

you tried to convince Logan not to pursue her. Was she supposed to be off-limits too?” she teased.

He chuckled. “Nah, I was just looking out for my boy. It wasn’t anything against her personally, but she was still dating

someone else when they met, and I didn’t want L getting caught up in a bunch of drama. The second he saw her, it was like

something clicked, and he knew she was the one. But you know he wants nothing to do with the messy stuff. Turns out, things

ended up the way they were supposed to be. Once she peeped what time he was on, she got out of her situation, and they started

dating.”

Kendra poked her lips to the side. Makes sense. “Do you regret that initial advice?”

BJ shook his head. “You always want the best, but I spoke from the heart, and what I said was out of genuine concern. He’s

done the same for me several times over. And I’m glad to have been wrong, because Shonda and Logan strike a really beautiful

balance together. Not everyone is that fortunate.”

“And so it’s partially cynicism that keeps you from wanting that for yourself?”

“Who said I don’t?”

“If you set boundaries that block a real one, such as myself—” she flipped her hair over her shoulder as he snickered “—it’s signaling something . Care to decipher it for me?”

He observed her quietly in a way that arrested her attention. Kendra’s heart pounded so hard in her chest that she was sure

he could hear it. “The boundaries aren’t for you, they’re for me.”

Kendra’s lips parted slowly, not understanding what he meant. She blinked as the server arrived with their meal. Her mind

raced through possibilities— Is he saying he’s not ready? Does he not trust himself with me? Am I not enough?

BJ thanked the server and held out his hand to Kendra so that they could pray over their meal. When they’d finished, he squeezed

her hand before releasing it. “My boundaries have nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. Aren’t you hungry?”

She nodded. “Of course. And I’m not trying to push, I swear.” It’s just that we’re literally on a date, and yet you don’t want to date me.

“No, I get it. But anyway... do you have some thoughts on what you might do with the space if you decided to choose this

one?”

Surely he knows that I can recognize him changing the subject. Again. She took a sip of her cocktail, the cool liquid gliding down her throat with refreshing hints of cucumber, lemon, and mint.

Even if she was the teeniest bit annoyed that he didn’t want to have this conversation, her eyes lit up at the question. “Well...”

When they returned to their lodging, Kendra didn’t make it all the way in the door before BJ’s hands were on her.

Shutting the door with his foot, he pulled her close, turning them around before pressing her against the wall.

“Do you know how good you looked tonight?” he whispered into her ear as he trailed kisses down the side of her neck.

When he reached the juncture of her throat and shoulder, she sighed contentedly as his tongue grazed the sensitive skin there.

“I don’t know how good you thought I looked. So why don’t you tell me?” She gave him a sultry glance, gazing into his eyes, falling into the pools of

deep umber.

“Every eye in that restaurant was on you.” His hands slid from her waist to her hips as his eyes traveled down her body in

admiration.

“Did that make you jealous?” she teased.

He shook his head. “It made me proud.”

She smiled wide, surprised by his response. “I wasn’t expecting you to say that.”

“Well, it’s not often that you get to walk into a room with the most beautiful woman on your arm and receive dirty looks from

every other person there. They all wanted to be where I was standing.”

“You weren’t receiving dirty looks.” Heat colored her cheeks.

“How do you know I wasn’t? You weren’t making eye contact with these people.”

“Okay, well, if you say so,” she relented. “But still.”

“Still. If people weren’t watching us so closely, I would have had my hands on you at the restaurant.”

Kendra stared at him, her mouth going dry. “And how would you have accomplished that?”

“I would have touched you under the table. Spread your legs and split you open. Had you gasping until your cheeks turned pink

and you were moaning my name.” He pressed his hands into the wall on either side of her head as he dipped his face to meet

her lips, his mouth brushing against hers.

“It surprises me that you even think about public displays of affection. Because you stay so far away from me when we’re at

home.”

“Just remember that it’s not necessarily because I want to.”

“I don’t see anybody stopping you.”

“No one’s stopping me directly, but...”

“But you.” It was like a record was playing and scratched to a halt. She stared up at him.

He nodded. “But back to what I was saying. I wanted to do.”

Kendra eyed him longingly, lust filling her senses as her lids dropped low. Part of her wanted to protest and continue the

conversation, but the part of her that craved him was stronger and won out. “What did you want to do?” she whispered.

“I wanted to bend you over the table and show everybody what I had that they didn’t.”

“Well, that would have been quite a show,” she laughed. “Have you ever done anything like that?”

“What? Have sex with someone in front of other people?” The dark look he gave her said yes, but he didn’t outright admit to

it. “Everyone has a past,” was all he would say. He jerked his head toward the bedroom, caressing her ass and then gripping

it as he followed behind her.

She yelped and faced him when he gave it a smack. Her eyes narrowed playfully, but they grew wide when they met his smoldering

glare.

“Turn around,” he growled. He unzipped her dress, trailing kisses down her spine before licking his way back up. “So fucking

sexy,” he whispered against her skin.

Kendra shuddered at the contact, willing him to keep going.

He whirled her around to face him and pressed his lips to hers with urgency, feeding on her bottom lip until she opened her

mouth to grant him entrance.

The tip of her tongue lightly grazed his and he moaned into her mouth, savoring her. By the time they came up for air, Kendra’s chest was heaving, but she didn’t care about breathing. All she wanted was another drink of him.

In her lacy thong and strapless bra, she dropped to her knees, unbuckling his belt.

“That’s a good girl,” he whispered.

Kendra squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of his words as she felt her way into his boxers.

BJ stroked her hair. “That’s a very good girl,” he murmured.

Kendra’s core emanated heat, her inner thighs already glistening with her arousal.

As she took BJ into her mouth, he gasped, whispering affirmations through gritted teeth.

She took him in all the way to the hilt, cupping his balls as her other hand gripped his thigh for balance. She hummed as

her mouth moved back and forth, her tongue circling his head before taking him back in.

“Damn, babe.”

Kendra could feel him tensing as she began to move faster, wrapping her hand around his shaft, applying pressure as she continued

to undulate, the sounds of fluids swishing as her head moved.

“Fuck.” BJ fisted a handful of her hair, holding her in place as he pumped into her mouth.

Kendra continued to grip his shaft, her eyes gazing up at him as his brow furrowed in concentration.

BJ looked down at her. “Those pretty lips wrapped around my dick.” His thumb swiped at the corner of her mouth before sliding

to the nape of her neck.

That was all Kendra needed.

“Finish me, good girl.”

She shuddered as she went to work, sucking and tonguing him down until he exploded in her mouth. As she pulled back, she kissed the tip, wiping the corner of her mouth while he helped her back to her feet.

“If I could give you an award, I would,” he laughed. “Damn, girl.”

Kendra pressed herself against him. “I can think of ways you can award me when you’re ready,” she purred.

“It won’t be long. What you do to me, I already want more.” As he led her to the bed, he unfastened her bra and tugged her

thong down her body. Grabbing her arm, he slowly twirled her around, admiring every curve of her body, making her blush as

she turned back to face him.

“See? See what you do to me? Dick’s already getting hard again.”

Kendra licked her lips, watching it twitch back to life.

“Are you ready for me?” he asked, lifting her chin to gaze into her eyes. He ran his thumb over the seam of her lips until

she opened them, his eyes darkening as he watched her suck on it.

He pulled his lip between his teeth, focused on her movement, pressing the pad of his thumb against her tongue. “You don’t

know what you do to me.”

“I could say the same,” she whispered as he pulled his hand away.

He cupped her ass, grabbing her and lifting her up until her legs wrapped around his waist. “I hope you don’t plan on getting

sleep tonight,” he growled.

The rumble in his chest reverberated throughout her body and her hips pressed against his dick in response.

As he knelt on the bed and lowered her down, he ground against her, his erection already back to full strength. Rock-hard.

His lips trailed from her collarbone to her chest as he reached for a condom from the night table. “You are a fucking problem,

Kenny.”

She smiled at him seductively, her hooded eyes watching him through her lashes as he returned to her, parting her folds with his thumb before rubbing his tip against her entrance. She gasped, and he looked down upon her with a devilish grin as he pushed himself all the way inside.

She sucked in a breath as her head fell back against the mattress.

He lowered himself to her to claim her mouth. “A fucking problem,” he whispered against her lips.