Zara
I stepped off the stage, feeling like I was going to vomit from the bright lights. Needing air, I rushed outside, and the cool night air hit my skin like a shock. I’d never admit it, but Phoenix was right. The stage felt a lot different, with Keyes sitting on it. My fingers gripped the rail as I breathed in and out, trying to calm the storm in my head.
The door opened, and I expected to see Rajah wearing a sarcastic grin, but the soft glow of the streetlights illuminated Kenyon’s silhouette. My heart skipped a beat at the birthday boy and his freshly twisted locs.
“That was one hell of a birthday gift, but if you wanted an invite, you could’ve just asked.”
My head flew back, and I looked up, watching a chuckle escape because Kenyon Keyes was never short on confidence.
“I wouldn't have come if I knew it was your party,” I quipped, turning around to hide how he made me blush.
His powerful and well-muscled body moved closer with a confident ease that had the opposite effect on me. It didn’t help that he stood beside me smelling so fuckin’ good.
“Damn, it’s like that, Nicole ?”
“Stop calling me that.”
“My bad, you’re Nova tonight.”
“Don’t call me that either.”
I didn’t want Kenyon or Keyes to call me anything. His voice was far too hypnotic and made me consider thoughts I didn’t need to have. There was no time for love, a man, or anything in between, but watching Kenyon rest against the rail made me consider what having him would feel like. Would he give me butterflies, or would his kisses feel flat like Calvin’s?
“What’s going through that big ass forehead of yours?” Kenyon asked.
“I was going to say Happy Birthday.”
“Aite, my bad.”
“Nope. It’s too late now,” I replied, lifting my chin in finality.
"Pretty please?" His voice was low, teasing, wrapping around me like smoke. "Let me hear it."
The heat that flickered inside me started to build, and I hated that he could do this. He had no business flirting with me like this, but his voice, the way it dipped when he said my name, was messing with my head.
Kenyon knew it too, grazing my arm just barely, his fingertips brushing my skin like a whisper.
“You know you wanna say it,” he murmured, his voice even lower now like we were sharing some secret.
Kenyon was close enough that I could feel the heat from his body. I should’ve pushed him away, should’ve put some distance between us, but my skin tingled where he touched me, and I could feel my resolve weakening by the second.
His hand slid slowly, deliberately, to my shoulder, his thumb tracing a lazy circle. I had to bite my lip to keep from reacting. The heat in my chest spread, seeping into every part of me. He knew what he was doing, and that only made it worse.
“Don’t make me beg for it,” he whispered.
“That’s your girlfriend’s job,” I finally mustered up the strength to scoot over, breaking our touch, “She’s pretty, but sharing isn’t my thing.”
“You ever been with a woman?” he probed, exposing his motive.
“No, and your birthday won’t be the first.”
“How do you know it’s not your thing if you haven’t tried it?”
I turned, now face to face with him. “Have you ever been with a man?” His eyes darkened like thunderclouds as I continued. “How do you know it’s not your thing if you haven’t tried it?”
Kenyon lowered his voice, purposely mysterious, “Easy Nicole ,” with his lips so close to my ear they grazed my skin. “You must be new here saying shit like that.”
“Why do people call you Keyes ?” I asked, curious because he had been the talk of the club all week. I wanted to know more about him and why all the girls anticipated this night.
“I have the Keys to the city, Babygirl,” he boasted, his playful side returning.
“That is so corny, but with a face like yours and money, women let you get away with anything, I guess.”
How the diamonds on his bracelet sparkled, I knew they had to cost a grip. Fake diamonds didn’t dance like his.
“At least you think I’m handsome, but damn Babygirl,” Kenyon’s hand echoed on his chest. “Keyes is my last name. Is that better?”
I nodded, “Much better.”
“I’d still be Kenyon Keyes with or without it,” he smirked, swiping at my nose like I was a child.
I pulled my head away, but his touch lingered on my skin, “And who is Kenyon Keyes?”
“Whoever you need him to be.”
Something about Kenyon soothed me. I hadn’t experienced this feeling from many humans, but somehow, standing under the night sky, I felt it in a man I barely knew.
“Interesting,” I mumbled, pulling away because his confidence and smooth talking sucked me in like a magnet.
“Tell me something about Nicole ,” he flirted, moving my hair to give him a better view of my face.
“Are you always this touchy with strangers?” I frowned, trying to avoid his question. He wasn’t even supposed to know Nicole, so sharing details was off-limits.
“My hands have been in worse places on your body. Besides, most women like my touch.”
“I’m not most women.”
He laughed as if sincerely amused. “That we can agree on, but you have to tell me something.”
“No.”
“That’s how you’re going to do me. On my birthday. That’s crazy.” Kenyon shook his head, seemingly disappointed. It was clear he was used to having his way with women. How the girls talked about Keyes leading up to this event told me so.
I shrugged, knowing I needed to get back inside but enjoying our banter. It might’ve been the birthday magic, but it made Kenyon tolerable.