Page 13 of Tasting Innocence

“What are we doing after this?” Scarlet asks, pulling her red hair up into a ponytail before she starts eating. “Third floor?”

“Oh, hell no. You heard the man. He said we shouldn’t go up there,” Monique exclaims.

Before I can say anything, the chair next to me slides out and Dex plops down. “Can I?”

“Looks like you did,” Scarlet quips.

Monique gives me a look, trying to hide her smile, and my heart rate picks up as his arm brushes against mine.

“What? Having girl talk over here?” he asks.

“No. We were talking about going up to the third floor,” Scarlet answers.

“Oh yeah?” He looks at me, his brows raised.

“That’s the point of being here, right? Explore, scare ourselves shitless, and then have nightmares?”

He snorts. “I guess.”

“You gonna protect us?” I ask him, flirting, though I know I shouldn’t.

Dex angles his head in my direction and gives me a slow once over that has goose bumps spreading down my arms. “I can definitely do that.”

“What about at night?”

Monique clears her throat as Scarlet tries to hold in her laugh. I’m being brazen, and the only reason I can think of as to why I’m doing this, is because I like to see him squirm.

His face changes. It’s subtle, but obvious if you’re paying attention like I am. His tongue dances across his bottom lip as he studies me, his eyes hooded. “You want me to be in your room at night?”

The question is riddled with innuendo. His tone changes and my insides are set on fire while a blush blooms in my cheeks.

“Umm.”

Dexter Anderson just flipped the switch and made me squirm, and holy shit, I love it.

His lips pull up on one side. “Let me know.” He winks and gets up, moving to another table.

“What in the hot-as-fuck just happened?” Scarlet asks.

“Did he just...did he imply…” Monique can’t finish her thoughts.

“I’m in trouble,” I whisper.