That calmed him down and he pulled himself from the bed. Deven had to look away to keep from staring at his chiseled body. He placed his hands on her arms to massage them. “So, what is it, Deven, honestly?” He paused. “Is it because I’m white?”

“No, of course not!” But the retort made it more than obvious that wasn’t completely far from the truth. Shame colored her cheeks, and she averted her eyes. “It’s not just that,” she clarified. “I’m in a relationship. You just got out of a relationship. With my sister—”

“You know it’s not like that.”

“Technically it is.” His fingers were fogging her rationality, so she stepped back to put some distance between them. “There is just too much going on right now, Paul. You know that. Do we really have time to worry about dating and sex?”

Paul curled his lips in a mock frown. “Technically, we already handled the sex part so it’s really just dating now.”

Deven rolled her eyes, refusing to be amused with his joke. “I’m serious.”

“I am, too.” He took a step closer, raising his hands up to show he had no intention of touching her again. “I want you, Deven. All of you. But not if you have reservations. So, if you say this was a mistake, it shouldn’t have happened, and never will again, I can respect that. I mean, shit will hurt like hell, but it is what it is.”

Deven chewed on her bottom lip and watched him. He was completely sincere, she knew that. She just wasn’t sure if she was completely ready to give Paul up. He was a great friend, the sex had been amazing, but would it be fair to tell him what he wanted to hear for her own selfish reasons? “May I think about it?” she asked, her voice frail.

“Of course.”

She paused, using her eyes to reference Paul’s nudity. “May I think about it with clothes on?”

It was only after he smirked and strolled past her that Deven risked letting loose the breath she had been holding. Now what was she going to do?

By the time, she showered and put on some lounge clothes, Paul had made himself comfortable in the living room. As requested, he had re-dressed and had even made them each a cup of coffee. Deven entered the living room, snatching her cell phone from the kitchen counter as she walked through.

“Someone has been looking for you,” Paul announced, passing her a mug.

Deven sat down across from him on the chaise and took a sip of the steaming drink. It kept her from saying what she didn’t want to admit; that she was dreading looking at her call log. Just her luck it was Justin. She couldn’t speak to him right now, not with her guilty conscience.