Page 10 of Certified Pressure 3 (Certified Pressure #3)

Trill-Land, Jungle Estate

Even though me and Kashmere just had some good ass sex, I could feel the tension between us.

That shit was sittin’ right in the middle of the room with us, even with the water runnin’ down on us.

She was too quiet, and Kash ain’t never been the type to stand here with her mouth closed unless somethin’ was eatin’ her alive.

Normally she would be laughin, talkin’ shit, tryna get my attention every second, and now she was stoic, like she was stuck in her head.

I ain’t need to play the guessin’ game to figure it out, ‘cause I knew what the fuck it was. Pluto… my baby, me callin’ her right after I busted her open and dicked her down.

I knew that shit cut her, but at the end of the day, my baby was gon’ always come first. That shit wasn’t even up for debate, and Kash had to understand that, especially if she wanted to be my wife.

She could cry, roll her eyes, and throw a tantrum, but she wasn’t gon’ never make me turn my back on what was mine.

Still, I ain’t like seein’ her like this.

Kash might’ve been loud at times, her mouth reckless as fuck, but that girl loved me.

She had been stickin’ it out with a nigga through all types of shit.

When everybody else switched up, she stayed right where she was supposed to be, and to me—nobody else, that shit counted.

She wasn’t weak, and she wasn’t shy about wantin me either.

She let it be known, every time and I liked that about her.

I thought about Pluto and Zurie too. I couldn’t come between them, nor was I tryin’ to.

I respected that bond. After I paid for Zurie’s surgery and watched her bounce back, I couldn’t help but have love for that little girl.

But Pluto wasn’t in arms reach, and that shit bothered me, ‘cause now she carryin’ my baby and I needed to be there.

Shakin’ away my thoughts, I pushed off the wall and stepped over to Kashmere, lettin’ the water beat across my back. I slid my fingers under her chin and tilted her head up. Her eyes met mine, and I could see the storm behind ‘em.

“What’s wrong wit you, Kash? You too fuckin quiet, and you know I don’t like that shit.”

She let out a sigh but ain’t say a word. That made me tilt her chin up harder, not rough enough to hurt her, but just enough to let her know she wasn’t finna look away.

“I know what it is,” I told her, my voice low but sharp. “You mad about me callin’ Pluto. You mad about the baby. But let me put this in your head right now—that’s my baby, and I’mma always check on what’s mine. That don’t mean I don’t love you, Kash. Don’t ever get shit twisted.”

Her lips parted like she wanted to clap back, but nothin’ came out. I leaned down, kissed her slow and slid my tongue against hers until I felt her body give in. When I pulled back, I licked her bottom lip and smirked.

“I do love you,” I told her plain. “I wouldn’t have you here if I didn’t. You think I let just anybody up in my room? Sleep in my bed? Hell nah. You here ‘cause you mean somethin’ to me. Don’t let that mouth of yours blind you from seein that.”

She looked softer then, mumblin’, “I love you too.”

I frowned. “Say that shit like you mean it. Don’t give me no weak ass, stank attitude behind it.”

That cracked her. She smiled, tryin’ to hide it.

“I love you,” she said again, stronger this time.

“Damn right you do,” I muttered, kissin’ her forehead before wrappin’ my arms around her waist. I held her under the water, lettin’ it pour over both of us, feelin her soft body press into mine. Her hands slid up my back, holdin’ me like she ain’t wanna let go.

I grabbed the washcloth, soaped it up, and took my time with her. I ran it down her shoulders, across her arms and squeezed her titties in my hand before slidin’ it down her stomach. She gasped when I pushed it between her thighs, scrubbin’ slow, just showin’ her I was gon care for her too.

“I told you,” I whispered in her ear, “you mine. Don’t forget that shit.”

She nodded, then grabbed a cloth and started washin’ me.

Her hands moved slow. She rubbed my chest, traced my tats, slid lower, and the whole time her eyes stayed on mine.

By the time she finished, I could see her whole mood shift.

That smile was back creepin’ across her lips, the attitude gone.

That was the Kash I knew—the one who made me laugh, who had me ready to argue and fuck at the same time and the one who made me feel like she would ride about me no matter what.

We rinsed off, and when we got out, I handed her a towel, watchin’ the way water dripped down her curves. She caught me starin’ and smirked, brushin’ past me with a lil’ extra sway in her hips. I shook my head and followed her to the sinks.

We brushed our teeth side by side, laughin’ when she almost dripped toothpaste on her titties, and I spit in the sink, rinsed, and looked at her through the mirror. She kept sneakin’ glances at me like she couldn’t help herself, and I smirked right back.

By the time we was dressed, the tension was long gone. We left the room together, walkin’ down the hall like we always did, me leadin’, her.

Kash was always gon feel a way about Pluto and the baby, but I needed her to understand somethin’… That didn’t take away from what I felt for her. She had her place in my life because she earned it. She was here when I needed somebody the most, and she stayed when shit got ugly.

She wanted me, she showed me she wanted me, and I loved her for that.

Cloud 9 Dining

When we pulled up to the spot, Kashmere looked around like she ain’t know where the hell we was at.

Cloud 9 Dining sat tall as hell in the middle of the city, the glass glimmerin’ with the sun hittin’ it just right, lookin’ like money from the outside.

I ain’t even gon lie, the shit was fly. It wasn’t no regular rooftop joint.

This was the type of place you pulled up to when you really tryna show somebody they was sittin’ next to a nigga who lived different.

You could see the whole skyline stretchin’ out, the ocean sittin’ in the distance, and the closer we got, the more I could see Kash’s eyes widen like she was fallin‘ in love with it before we even stepped inside.

The elevator shot us up smooth, and when the doors opened, she damn near froze.

White tablecloths, crystal glasses sat perfect on every table, tall-ass wine bottles gleamed under the lights, and greenery sat everywhere like we was eatin in a fuckin’ sky garden.

Chandeliers hung off a glass canopy stretched across the center of the rooftop, so when the light hit, the whole thing glowed like diamonds.

The floors was laid with sleek black stone tiles that shimmered under the sun, every piece cut perfectly and polished.

The whole rooftop opened wide where you could see the city below like ants movin’.

The air was crisp, cool breeze hittin’ just right, and I could see Kash tryin not to gasp out loud.

“Pressure…” she whispered, turnin’ in circles, her heels clickin’ against the black tile. “How the fuck you even find something like this?”

I smirked, slid my hand down her back, and leaned into her ear. “I ain’t find it, baby. I bought it. The whole buildin’ is mine. I’m ’bout to hire staff, and get this shit runnin’ for real.”

Her mouth fell open, and she turned to face me, her eyes wide. “You bought this? Pressure, what the fuck? I ain’t even know you had shit like this going on.”

I shrugged like it wasn’t nothin’. “That’s ‘cause you ain’t supposed to know everything all at once. But now that you my fiancé, you gon’ find out more and more. I ain’t just one thing. I got my hands in all type of shit.”

She shook her head, still lookin’ around like she couldn’t believe it. “Nigga, this look like something out a movie.”

“Yeah,” I said, pullin’ her chair out for her. “A movie you starring in now.”

She laughed, slid down into the seat, and crossed her legs, still takin’ in every detail around her. I sat across from her, lettin’ the waitress slide over with menus. Kash picked hers up, flipped through, and immediately started laughin’.

“See, this the type of shit that be exposing me,” she said, shakin’ her head. “I can barely pronounce half this shit. What the fuck is a croque madame?”

I laughed and leaned back in my chair. “It’s basically a bougie-ass ham and cheese sandwich with an egg on top.”

She looked up, surprised. “How you know that?”

I grinned. “Don’t get it twisted, girl.”

She smiled, bit her lip, and shook her head. “That’s sexy as fuck, I can’t even lie.”

I took her menu out her hands and scanned it real quick. “A’ight, we gon’ do the smoked salmon omelet, fruit platter, pancakes on the side. “Bring us mimosas with passion fruit, top-shelf champagne. Matter fact, bring two carafes.”

The waitress nodded fast and hurried off like she already knew not to question me. Kashmere leaned forward, restin’ her chin in her palm, starin’ at me like she was tryna study me.

“I swear I’m learning new things about you every day,” she said softly. “You not just who people think you are.”

“Nah,” I said, leanin’ back, my eyes locked on hers. “People see what I let ‘em see. You just catchin’ on.”

Her cheeks warmed up, and she reached across the table to lace her fingers with mine. For a second we ain’t even say shit, but just sat there with the city stretched out beneath us, the sun hittin’ off the glass towers like the whole view was put there just for us.

When the food came, Kash cracked up laughin’ again, pointin’ at her plate. “See, this too fancy for me. They done dressed this damn salmon up like it’s going on a fashion show.”

“Just cut that shit and eat it,” I said, laughin’. I sliced a piece and slid it into her mouth, watchin’ her eyes close as she chewed.

“Mmm,” she said, smackin her lips. “Okay, I like that.”

“I know you do, baby,” I said, cuttin’ another piece for myself. “You eatin’ good with me now.“