Page 109
His smile faded. The pathetic little truth now sat naked between us, but he deserved it. Omar studied me for a moment. Then he reached up and brushed wet hair away from my forehead. “You don’t have to decide anything tonight.”
My chest ached for him. “You’re too nice, you know that?”
“Nah. I have flaws.”
“Name three.”
“I leave wet towels on the floor.” Omar opened a hand and started counting out on his fingers.
“Gasp! You monster.”
“I steal my little sister’s French fries.”
“Unforgivable.”
“And I’m currently standing in a shower with a guy who just rejected me, hoping he changes his mind.”
I laughed and it felt real.
Omar grinned. Then reached for the hem of my soaked shirt. “Can I?”
I swallowed. I could say no. He had made that painfully clear. And maybe that was why I nodded.
He pulled the shirt carefully over my head and tossed it onto the bench across the way. The air hit my wet skin. I shivered. Omar’s eyes followed the movement. He stepped closer again, but instead of going for my mouth, he pressed a kiss beneath my jaw, running his wet lips over my goose-bumped skin. My eyes closed without my permission. Another wet kiss grazed my neck. Then my collarbone. Slow. Nothing rushed. Nothing demanded.
I turned around and my fingers curled against the edge of the faucet knob in front of me. I couldn’t see him. This felt too good. “Omar…”
“Still okay, Alvin?”
I nodded. His mouth moved lower, kissing the center of my back. My heart was pounding so hard he probably felt it too. I could see myself visibly shaking. This should have been easy.
He was beautiful. He liked me. He wasn’t ashamed of liking me. There was no sneaking around or explaining things away with dumb stories. No fighting. No pretending the moment never happened afterwards.
His hands settled carefully at my waist. Omar spun me around and got on his knees in front of me. I lost my ability to swallow for a moment when his fingers brushed the button of my shorts. Everything inside me seized. I grabbed his wrist. Omar froze as I stared down at his hand.
“I’m a virgin.”
Omar nodded. “Yes, I remember. It’s okay.”
I continued to look at him. “That’s it?”
“What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know.” I considered the question for a moment. “Maybe mild concern.”
He peered up at me. “There’s nothing wrong with being a virgin, Alvin.”
“I know.”
“You don’t sound like you know.”
“I know intellectually.”
“Dangerous place to live.”
I snorted. He kissed my stomach. Just above my waistband. My breath caught and the laugh died into a choked wheeze.
“You tell me if you want me to stop,” he murmured.
