Fear of Falling

,” she muttered shaking her head.
    “Them?”
    “Yeah, them ,” she sighed. Her eyes met mine, the rosy flush of her cheeks giving away her reticence. “One of those guys who have freakishly amazing hair first thing in the morning. Those guys that don’t even have to style it. Just run their fingers through it a few times, and it’s magically perfect and gorgeous. Them .”
    I chuckled to mask my relieved breath. “Them. I wasn’t aware there was a club. Do I get a membership card?”
    “I don’t know,” she shrugged. “I’ve never seen one in the flesh. I’ve never woken up beside a guy. Other than Dom, but of course, he doesn’t count.”
    Again, my eyes widened, and my playful smile faded. Was she trying to tell me she was a… “Oh. Oh. That’s ok, I mean, uh…”
    “Oh no!” she giggled shaking her head. “I mean I’ve slept with a guy…like…you know. Slept with -slept with. But I’ve never slept with one for the sole purpose of sleeping.”
    “Never?” I asked, my brow cocked with skepticism.
    “Never.”
    I ran my hand through my tousled bedhead without thinking, earning an eye roll from her. “Well,” I smiled, “glad I could be your first.”
    Kami shook her head before climbing out of bed and crossing the room to the bathroom. She turned back to look at me before reaching the doorframe. “Well, why don’t you and your sexy head of hair go make some coffee? Since this is the first time,” she rolled her eyes again, “I should warn you: I am a bitch on wheels without my coffee.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” I grinned, rolling out of bed.
    Kami giggled as she entered the bathroom, causing the smile on my face to widen even more. “Ugh! You southern boys with your perfect manners! Kill me now!”
    I popped into a hall bathroom to freshen up before heading to the kitchen in search of steaming hot ground goodness. They had one of those fancy machines that made one cup at a time. I had no fucking clue how to work one, but after tinkering with it and finding the little cups of assorted coffees, I finally figured it out. Kami walked in just as the first cup had finished brewing.
    “I made you French Vanilla,” I said, handing her the hot, steaming mug. “You guys have so many different flavors, and I didn’t know which one you’d like. I figured it was safe.”
    Kami took the cup in her hands and took a sip without the use of cream or sugar. “Oh, so you thought I looked like a vanilla type of girl?”
    I had to turn away from the task of trying to brew my own cup to assess her face. I didn’t know if I had offended her or not, but the sweet smile on her face told me she was just teasing me. “I don’t know, Kami. Do you like vanilla?”
    She shrugged, then took another sip. “It’s great sometimes; vanilla can be really good when it’s done right. But I like it a bit bolder. Stronger.”
    I had to grasp the edge of the counter to keep from splaying her body across the breakfast bar and covering her with my mouth. Shit. There was no way we were still talking about coffee. The evidence was right there in her pink cheeks. Kami was flirting with me. And if she wasn’t careful, she would see just how bold and strong I could be.
    Still blushing, Kami broke eye contact and set her mug down. I took the opportunity to finish making my cup of coffee, taking it black as well.
    “Are you hungry?” she asked, making her way to the refrigerator. “I can make you breakfast.”
    I sipped my hot brew and contemplated her question. Oh, I was hungry alright, but not for eggs and bacon. The way I was feeling at the moment, I was ready to make Kami my breakfast, and I didn’t have enough time to fully savor her.
    “No, thanks. I actually have to get going. CJ will be by to pick me up soon. I texted him earlier.”
    Her face instantly dropped though she caught it quickly, slipping on a manufactured smile. “Oh? Big plans today?”
    “I don’t know. That depends, Kami,” I shrugged.
    “Depends on what?”
    “Whether or not you can be ready by 6.”
    I set my cup on the counter and walked over to her at the refrigerator. I eased the door closed and propped an arm over her head, gently pushing her back against it. “I have to go by the bar, but I want to take you out later. I know it’s your day off so I understand if you have plans already. But if not, I want to spend the evening with you. Will you let me?”
    I looked down at her big green eyes, our faces mere inches from