Page 26

TARAJI

A t home, Taraji sits on her bed, her mind racing. She feels torn between her love for Nikolai and the horror of what he’s done. She can’t escape the image and realization of how far Nikolai is willing to go.

Her phone buzzes again another message from Keisha checking in. Taraji finally replies: “I think I’m in over my head. I don’t know what to do.”

As she stares at the screen, the gravity of her situation sinks in. She loves Nikolai, but the darkness surrounding him feels suffocating. If he’s willing to go this far for her, what else is he capable of?

She takes a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. “I need to figure this out,” she whispers to herself.

She sits on her bed, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. After a long evening of contemplation, Taraji stares out the window and the weight of her decisions hangs heavily on her heart.

She loves Nikolai, but the darkness of his actions looms large in her mind.

As she gazes outside, she catches a glimpse of him. She blinks, thinking that it can’t be him. But there he is .

Nikolai standing beneath her apartment, looking up at her with concern etched across his face. His presence stirs something deep within her a longing for safety, for comfort, for the Daddy she knows he can be.

“Daddy!” she calls out impulsively, the word spilling from her lips before she can stop herself.

Nikolai’s expression shifts from worry to relief, and he quickly heads inside the building. Taraji’s heart races as she realizes that calling him “Daddy” feels right, that the love they share transcends the chaos surrounding them.

Nikolai knock on the door. She opens it and lets him in, his presence filling the room. “Taraji, are you okay?” he asks, concern etched on his face.

“I, I don’t know,” she stammers, feeling vulnerable as she stands before him. “I was scared. I didn’t know what you were capable of.”

Nikolai steps closer, his voice low and soothing. “I did what I had to do to protect you. You’re everything to me.”

Taraji takes a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his words. “I know, but I can’t ignore the darkness. It frightens me.”

He reaches out, gently cupping her face in his hands. “I’ll always be your protector, baby girl. Even in my darkness, I will keep you safe. You have to trust me.”

The sincerity in his eyes begins to break down her walls. “I want to trust you, Daddy,” she whispers, her heart swelling with emotion.

“Ok so come home with me, I don’t want us to not be together. Come with me!”

“Ok daddy”

They leave the apartment and the driver takes them into the car.

The drive back to the penthouse is quiet and peaceful with an underlaying state of tension.

Once they reach outside the building, Nikolai gets out the car and goes around to open Taraji’s door.

He couldn’t help but give her a small lingering kis s

“It's been too long since I have tasted your lips, so soft, so sweet. Let's go up”

Nikolai takes them into the lift and as the door closes, he leans in, capturing her lips in a soft, tentative kiss. The taste of him ignites a fire within her, and she melts against him, feeling safe and cherished. As the kiss deepens, their worries fade away, if only for a moment.

“Please don’t shut me out,” he murmurs against her lips. “You belong in my arms, in your little space.”

As they pull apart, Taraji looks up at him, her heart racing. “I’m ready. I want to embrace it all to be your little girl again.”

Nikolai’s gaze softens, and he smiles. “That’s my girl. I’ll always be here for you.”

As Taraji sinks back into the comfort of her little side, Nikolai draws her close. “But you need to understand that denying who you are is not an option,” he says, a hint of seriousness returning to his tone.

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispers, feeling a twinge of guilt. “I didn’t mean to push you away.”

Nikolai nods, his expression firm yet loving. “You need to remember that I need you to embrace this side of yourself. And sometimes, little girls need a reminder.”

His stern side comes out and Taraji couldn’t help but shudder from the way he feels. She squeezed her thighs together to ease the discomfort of her wet lips.

Nikolai grabs her firmly and opens the door to the house and as so as she is in before she can react, he sits on his chair and he gently but firmly guides her over his knee. The thrill of vulnerability rushes through her, and she feels a mix of excitement and apprehension.

“Daddy, please,” she whimpers, but there’s a spark of excitement in her voice.

“I’m doing this because I care,” he says, his voice steady. “You need to learn that rejecting yourself hurts us both.”

With each measured swat, Taraji gasps, the sting mingling with a sense of belonging. She feels the warmth of his love wrapped around her, grounding her in the moment. “I understand, Daddy,” she replies, her voice a mix of submission and affection.

After a few more swats, he lifts her back up, looking deep into her eyes. “Do you understand now, baby girl?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she breathes, her heart racing. “I promise I won’t deny who I am again.”

Nikolai pulls her in for another kiss, this one filled with passion and promise. “Good. Because I’ll always be here to protect you, no matter the darkness.”

“I love you Daddy”

“I love you too baby girl. Now let’s go to bed”