Page 23 of Inadmissible

Tristan

T he officiant cleared his throat as Kaos tongued Serenity down. She’d just walked down the aisle, and he couldn’t wait to get her in his arms.

“Sir, it’s not quite time for that,” the officiant said, and Kaos pulled away, but he kept his eyes on Serenity.

“She’s already his wife,” I declared, opening my tuxedo jacket and showing off the gun on my hip. “Who gon’ check him?”

“Oh God,” Taj said, lowering her head in shame.

I didn’t give a fuck. I also didn’t give a fuck where I was traveling and how safe it was supposed to be. The only reason I checked a small bag when I flew was to be able to bring my gun.

“Boy, if you don’t put that away!” his Mama fussed, air swatting at me, while his father bobbed his head and beamed with pride.

“That’s what you get for making Kaos leave his,” Adam, his father, teased.

“They have no reason to bring that mess to this beautiful place. Just hood and thuggish for no reason,” she grumbled, making us laugh.

“Aye, you can take my boys out the mafia and the hood, but they gon’ always be about that life and keep that thang on ’em.”

“You got that right, Pops,” Kaos mumbled, “but I apologize. I’ma behave. Please skip the other stuff and get us to the I Do’s. I’m ready to become one with my wife.”

The officiant had beads of sweat dripping down his forehead in this cool ass weather, and I could only imagine how our Black asses had stressed this man out. I bit back my laugh as he quickly led them through their vows and I Do’s.

Kaos was not exaggerating. As soon as they were pronounced husband and wife, he picked Serenity up and carried her into the villa. Me and the boys cheered them on while their moms shamefully tried to direct guests to the back of the house for the dinner and fireworks.

Two Days Later

It was our last full day in Lake Como, and the crew had a blast. Serenity’s best friend and sister, Nessa and Taylor, ended up kicking it with us, and I know Taj appreciated that.

She insisted on letting me do my thing with the guys, but I wanted her to explore the island with us.

Taylor had become like a little sister to me almost instantly.

I’d been screening the men she’d been dating since she made it to Rose Valley Hills and looked out for her when Kaos and Serenity couldn’t, or when it was something she didn’t want them to know about.

Yesterday, the ladies went shopping and did major damage to the point we had to have their items shipped back home. It was cool. I loved spoiling the women in my life and ensuring they were happy, and Zander and Carson were the same way.

Carson thrived off that shit. The better he treated and spoiled women, the more he felt like a man. Nessa had been having the time of her life because literally everything she wanted or needed he provided, and it wasn’t because he wanted her romantically. That was just the type of man he was.

Today, our first stop was Bar II Molo. It was definitely giving tourist spot vibes, but the view was worth it, and we shared light bites and shots as a group before grabbing lunch elsewhere.

We took the boat cruise even though it was super cold because we couldn’t come all the way out here and not take the tour.

The boat was warmed when we got on, and champagne was flowing nonstop, which further helped us stay warm.

After that, we spent the day visiting galleries and museums before having dinner and going back to the villa for our last night.

When we arrived, we showered and soaked in the tub before climbing into bed. It was still slightly early, but since we had such a long day of travel ahead, I didn’t mind trying to go to sleep as soon as the sun went down.

Taj’s smile seemed permanent as she climbed into bed.

I wondered if she knew. I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to call her attention to it and take her head to a place where that hadn’t been the case.

A place where the men in her life weren’t prioritizing that beautiful smile staying on her face.

As soon as she was close, I kissed the tattoo on her chest. When she explained to me why she’d gotten Proverbs 4:23 there, it made me want to beat Destin’s ass.

I admired her strength and the lengths she was willing to go to, to never make the same mistake again though.

“Your heart is safe with me,” I reminded her before kissing the tattoo again.

She moaned. “I know, angel, but it’s always nice getting that reassurance vocally.”

I knew that, because words of affirmation was her love language.

For a woman like her, that made her easy to use and lie to if a man didn’t have pure intentions.

He could talk shit and make plans that he never intended to follow through with and she’d still feel slightly satisfied for a while.

That’s why every time I said something, I tried to follow it up with actions, so she’d have no doubt that I was different.

In this moment, I wanted to give her those words of affirmation in a way she’d never forget.

As we made love, I affirmed her.

Right in her ear, I whispered affirmations with each stroke.

I loved her.

She was beautiful.

Worthy.

Valued.

Intelligent.

Sexy.

Sweet.

Captivating.

Kind.

Fun.

Protected.

Safe.

A genuine soul.

My safe space.

My reward from God.

My influencer.

My motivator.

An increaser of my happiness and peace.

The key to my future.

She kept cumming and cumming and crying.

And I kept telling her that she was safe. That I was here. That she was loved. That she was mine. That I was hers.

By the time we were done, the bed was soaking wet, we both were tired as hell, and she went to sleep with a satisfied smile on her face.