Page 15 of Emotional Descent

I nodded. “That’s deep as fuck and a little cryptic at the same time.”

She smiled widely. “I’m not your average woman, Balor Allen. I’m layered.”

“That you are.”

A few hours later, Keiris was done with her wine, we’d both had our fill of fried fish and sides and she hadn’t put me out. By midnight we were comfortable in her living room. Keiris was stretched out on the floor with her feet lifted to the edge of the sofa. I was one cushion away, sitting in the corner of that sofa, staring down at her while she explained her love for coffee and books.

The thrill and passion that laced her words felt good. The smile on her face had me wanting to buy a truckload of books and have them delivered to her spot just to ensure she never came up empty with the thing that put that cute ass smile on her face.

While I sat listening I realized something very different about the time I had been in her presence. Being with Keiris there existed no pretense, expectation, or rush. I was perfectly content sitting on the sofa, listening to her talk about books and coffee blends. I also realized my attraction to Keiris was deeper than the physical.

I noticed the curve of her hips, the fullness of her breasts, and that ass that I wanted to sink my fingers into while she rode me hard. But those things were second to her energy, vibe, and the peaceful state I settled into just from her proximity.

“They’re really good and I make them daily. Some stuff I have delivered but most of it I like to make in house.”

My eyes lowered and connected with hers. She wrinkled her nose and those pretty lips shifted into a pout. “You are not listening to me, are you?”

I grinned, shaking my head. “Nah, I wasn’t. Sorry. Got stuck in my head.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“You.”

Her smile blossomed slowly, almost cautiously. “What about me?”

“How cute you are lying here talking about coffee and books. Neither of which I give a damn about but I feel invested because you love this shit.”

That pretty smile grew more. “You just admitted you weren’t listening to me.”

“Not at that exact moment, but I’ve been listening. I don’t have a clue about half the shit you were talking about but it’s important to you.”

“What’s important to you?” she sang through her big ass smile. Whether she gave a damn or not, I felt like she did.

“My family. Well, my brother. That’s pretty much it.”

“What about your parents?”

My jaw flexed and her eyes fluttered like she sensed my unease. “My parents are complicated. My brother is not.”

“Oh…” She fumbled a little to sit up and tugged her knees into her chest, resting her face sideways on folded arms. “You can tell me when you’re ready. I won’t push.”

That should have annoyed me but instead I laughed lightly. “What makes you think I’ll tell you all my secrets?”

“Because I’ll protect them and you’ll trust me to do it.”

“You gonna trust me with yours?”

“If I had any, I would.”

“Everybody has secrets, Keiris.”

She grinned when I called her name. “Maybe I’m the exception. Exceptions are game changers.”

“Maybe you are.”

She stared at me for a minute longer then exhaled a sigh. Her face twisted in aggravation which had me asking, “What’s wrong?”

“I like you.” She sighed again.