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After hot arguments
and cold denials of her body, this fine girl was finally in his bedroom. He had reached second base, he thought, or, was this first base? Ryan, though, was smart enough to refuse to believe she’d stay in there long enough for him to get too close.
Kennita’s eyes did a swift scan of the tiny bedroom. There was nothing that says a woman visits often. She did, though, take notice of a photo of him and a pretty older woman. Kennita took hold of the picture and notices Ryan was wearing a cap and gown.
“A nice picture. You and your sister?” she asked uncertainly.
“No, that’s me and moms.”
“Oh.”
“That picture of me and moms reminds me why I am here. I was drafted by the Cleveland Indians, their first pick.”
“And? You are here instead?”
“Two problems. One my grandmother is Native American and she hates the name of the Cleveland team. Secondly, my mother was crying while I was on the phone with the Indians. I thought, you know, she was happy, tears of joy and all that. Not. She tells me I was her last hope for a college graduate. My sister and brother, they doing alright, got jobs whatever, but they did not want any parts of college.”
Kennita’s eyes were wanting and sympathetic. The story and the sights of his room impressed her in a way she had no clue this man could.
She was blushing.
“What?” Ryan asked.
“Nothing. It's so sweet.”
They share a quiet moment before moans from the other room interrupt.
“So. You the baby?”
“Nope two more behind me. I am just the one biting the bullet.”
“Biting the bullet?” Kennita frowned.
“Yeah. Going to college.”
“What? I can’t believe you put it like that. A college education is key. It is so important.”
He put the photo back. “If you say so.”
“It is, more than me say so, and I say so. You know that is true, I know you do.”
“It is not the guarantee people make it out to be. You have to have a skill after the book knowledge is learned. You still have to strive to own your own.”
“And college will teach you that.”
“Street smarts goes a lot farther in the real world.”
“Well, me, I wished I could go to college.”
“And why can't you?”
“Money. I can't afford it.”
“Yeah, it ain't cheap. People talk about grants and all that, student loans, but there is more to it. If I wasn't doing stuff on the side we'd be eating Raman noodles and drinking water for breakfast, lunch and dinner like most of the students here.”
The truth was that she’d been relieved to be off the hook with school. School scared her. She’d hunkered down and gotten comfortable with her gig at the mall.
She pushed thoughts of her own shortcomings aside. She got back to him. She asked, “Stuff on the side like what?”
“Tutoring. Catering frat parties. That kind of stuff. What you thought?”
“Just want to know.”
Ryan stops her. Takes her hand and she floats to him. “And why you want to know. You want to know me?”
Her heart clinched. She pulled away, gently, yet stayed near.
“No. Just killing time until my friend is finished putting it on your boy.”
“Right,” he shook his head. He studied her mouth, the sweet lips parted slightly, so pretty and feminine. She fucking hot.
Kennita shot him an open smile-rare for her that night. Not only was the smile was open; she was ready for him to come get a kiss. Would he make the first move? Hell, didn’t look like it. Maybe he didn’t pick up on the fact that she was warming up to him. So she grabbed the soft fabric of his T-shirt, tugged him closer before she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his.
He froze, shocked, no doubt.
He tasted of beer, but not stale, and his lips were strong, but soft. She pushed the tip of her tongue the tiniest way out, offering it.
He didn’t move, at first, didn’t reach for her, didn’t meet her tongue, but she felt him start to tremble. At least that. He was holding back, she thought, how cool? So she decided to show him she meant business.
Kennita smiled seductively. She balled his shirt into a fist. She titled her head and kissed harder, sending her tongue on a hunt for his, anything in his mouth.
He pulled her into his arms. God, she felt right there. Bending he dropped a dozen small kisses across her face and the bridge of her nose. The taste was addictive, and he continued nibbling on her skin.
He kissed her the way a man kissed the woman he loved.
His lips on her skin caused her to goosebump. She liked it. Her nipples ached as they creased. It wasn’t the kind of kiss she was expected. This was a college boy, what he know about romance? A lot.
A sound startled her-a door closing. At the other end of the hall, the sound of giggling went by them. Although Ryan’s door was open she was sure Wanda and Al didn’t notice them in there.
Kennita sighs and then pushed away.
“Please. Can we go back into the living room?”
Ryan nodded; licked his lips slowly.
She had to force her eyes off them kissable lips.