Page 250 of Invisible Bars

I raised an eyebrow, matching his energy.

“O-oh, I still got you,” I teased. “I hope—frost me like a funnel cake!—” I slapped a hand over my mouth, laughing through the blush on my face. “Oh, my God! W-where did that come from?”

Imanio smirked, eyes low and filled with mischief.

“Wherever it came from, I hope there’s more where that came from. ’Cause that just turned into myfavoritedessert.”

I bit my lip, then continued. “As I was saying... I hoped you s-saved room... because dessert’s gonna start with me. By the time I’m done with you that pie gon’ be cold and forgotten. I hope your tongue got stamina—'cause it’s got work to do.”

Imanio let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “They say the freaks come out at night... but I ain’t know mine had punchlines.”

“Come o-on, silly!” I giggled, nudging him playfully.

As we walked to the car, I leaned against him and whispered, “Thank you for always choosing me.”

He kissed my forehead passionately. “Every time, baby. Every time.”

Chapter Forty

IMANIO “GATEZ”

The next morning rolled in slow, warm, and heavy. It was raining, and the only thing that felt right was doing absolutelynothing.I had plans for that day… lazy ones—the kind where Naji and I stayed in bed all day, ate off trays on our laps, maybe found a new show to binge, or rewatched something old and good. And from the way Naji was stretched out across my chest, arm draped around my waist, snoring, I knew she’d be down for that too.

I ran my fingers through her once curls. After the savage beating I put on her pussy the night before—and all that sweating and moaning she did—her curls were flattened, matted in spots like we’d been training in a damn sauna. She was still beautiful, though… and still mine.

I didn’t want to wake Naji, so I let her lay there and pulled my phone off the nightstand, checking emails and socials. Everything was looking good—until I opened Instagram. The calm in my body snapped like a rubber band stretched too far.

The sudden tension in my arm made Naji shift slightly, stirring.

“This bitch won’t stop…”I muttered under my breath; eyes narrowed at the screen. Then quieter, darker—"…not until I kill her.”

Naji tensed, eyes fluttering open as her body jolted with alertness.

“W-what did you just say?” she asked, voice hushed and uncertain.

Her knee bucked up sharply, thudding against my thigh as she gasped.

Then it came—her outburst, loud and startled. “Don’t smother me with justice, you homicidal sexy villain!”

I looked down at her, then burst out laughing.

Naji covered her mouth; eyes round with horror. “I—I didn’t mean—was that about me?”

“Hell no, baby,” I chuckled, pulling her closer and kissing the side of her head. “You’re safe with me… always. That wasn’t meant for you. I promise.”

“Oh.”

Naji relaxed just a little, still side-eyeing me like she wasn’t totally convinced.

“Who… who was it for then?”

I exhaled, then reluctantly flipped the phone around so she could see.

“I need you to see this.”

Naji squinted, still half-cocooned in the sheets, her lashes heavy from sleep. But as her eyes scanned the screen, that comfort dropped away fast.

There it was.