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“That shit right there,” I said, kissing the skin of my teeth, “That shit is why we never get through a full night without my face planted in your pussy and my dick waiting for its turn.”

Chuckling, she turned around and took my face into her palms.

“And, there’s nothing wrong with that. I love a man who loves to eat.”

“I like to do more than that, Mellow. You feel that shit.”

She slid her hand down my leg, running it the length of my rigidness.

“Umm hmmm.”

“Then, we should leave before we find ourselves in a sticky situation.”

“I agree… and disagree,” she said, caressing my dick through my pants.

“Maybe a quic–”

I took her by the hand and marched toward the door. She could sell water to a whale with those big, doe eyes and soft tone. Tonight, however, I wasn’t having it.

“Sac…”

That frown on her face nearly cost me the night, but I stood my ground. Her arms were folded over her chest as she stood beside the car.

Pretty, even when she’s mad .

“It breaks my heart to deny you anything, especially pleasure. But, we’ve got plans, baby. Get in the car.”

“Two minutes,” she reasoned.

“Two minutes?”

I was chastising myself for even considering it. Because, it was becoming increasingly clear that I’d do anything for Mellow. Including giving her two minutes of pleasure knowing she’d agreed to a lifetime for me.

“Yes.” Breathlessly, she responded.

The gift bag she’d brought out of the house rattled as I closed the distance between us. I pressed her body against the car and slid my hand up her thigh. A bare, meaty pussy greeted me.

“You’re not slick, Rome.”

With a smile, she admitted, “I didn’t think I wa– uhhh.”

My index and middle fingers stuffed her. I pulled them both in my direction and began thrusting them in and out of her. The weight of her body rested between me and the car. She couldn’t hold herself together so she surely couldn’t hold herself up.

“Sa– Oh God. Mmmmm. Yes. Yessss. Yessss.”

Her whimpers made it hard to resist her. She was piping hot. Inside out. Her skin felt like fire. So did her pussy. I wanted in. But more than anything, I wanted to stay in. Never coming out. However, I couldn’t.

If I wanted to save myself the agony of hearing my mother and father chastise me for making Rome a mother before I made her a wife, I had to think with the head on my shoulders and not on my dick.

The battle was challenging, but it wouldn’t be long.

I was ready to see Rome in all white. I was ready to make Mellow my wife.

“Babyyyyyy.” She cried out.

I watched as she unfolded in front of me, blossoming like a flower. Her pollen coated my hand. It was plentiful. She was plentiful.

Two minutes. I wanted her there in sixty seconds. I wanted our plans to fall through. And, I wanted to make this night special. We both deserved it, but Rome deserved it so much more than me. Her body had been through so much.

“Mmmmm— Saint .”

After experiencing a miscarriage, she wouldn’t be the same young, fragile girl she had been. Things would be different. She would be different. The lessons learned would be gifts as much as curses.

Her grip on my shoulder tightened. Her ascend was notable. She stiffened. Her limbs locked. And her body froze.

“Oh baby,” she moaned, feeling a quickening in her stomach.

I ushered her orgasm toward me. I needed that. Immediately .

“Saiiiiinnnnt.”

She landed beautifully. Her appreciation coated my fingers, touching my wrist with ease. I leaned forward and kissed Rome’s lips.

“One minute, love.”

I ejected my fingers and left Rome standing outside of the car.

It wasn’t long before I joined her again.

With a wet wipe, I cleaned her center and then my hand.

I took the bag and placed it in the backseat before helping her into the car.

She was still on cloud nine. Unable to speak. Unable to think.

Now look at your pretty ass .

I made myself comfortable in the driver’s seat.

Rome was still unmoving. Unresponsive. I reached over, removing her phone from her purse.

I put in the code to unlock the device and went directly to her playlists.

Whatever she was playing as she prepared for the night had my interest. Every song that filled the speakers was a hit.

I found myself moving and grooving during preparation, making it feel like a breeze although it took nearly an hour.

I search through the lists. They were plentiful, but neither seemed to contain the songs I heard over the last hour. I turned to Rome, desperate for her help.

“Bab–”

“The Huffington Note,” she interrupted, “R and S Date Night.”

I paused, realizing what she was saying to me. What she was revealing.

The Huffington Note | R+S Date Night

“Date Night?” I chuckled.

She would never fail to amaze me. Her thoughtfulness would be the glue that held me together, even when I felt like falling apart.

“You made that for us? For tonight?”

She nodded. “Yes. I thought maybe you’d–”

“I do.”

“Do what?”

“Like it.”

“Good, because I worked hard on it.”

“When did you make it?”

“The night of our first date. I’d dreamt about it. Even about this moment. I just figured I’d– I don’t know. I felt so strongly about it,” she explained, reaching into the backseat, “And I remembered how excited you were to get your new vinyl player that I had the tracks added…”

She removed a twelve inch vinyl cover from the gift bag.

“To make your first record. Feels so corny but I love it.”

Nodding, I admitted, “You’re not the only one, Mellow.”

“That makes me happy.”

Her smile sent a message straight to my heart.

I can’t keep shit from her. I chuckled, preparing to reveal the secret I’d been keeping for all of six hours.

I fled from the car, leaving her clueless. However, she never exited the vehicle. Her legs were still in limbo. Her body had yet to recover. I rushed through the house and into the guest bedroom on the first floor. I stepped into the enclosure and scooped the furry creature into my arms.

When I emerged from my home, Rome’s eyes expanded beyond their capacity. Her mouth slackened and her chin nearly collided with her chest. I opened the door, introducing her to the fluffiest animal I’d ever laid eyes on.

“A bunny?”

“I thought it was more of your speed.”

I kneeled, placing the bunny on her lap.

“Oh my goodness, he’s gorgeous.”

“She.”

“She? Oh, even better!”

“I thought you could use something more to love after what we’ve experienced. Get some practice in. Prepare ourselves for greater responsibilities. She’s just a start. A dog needs far too much attention.

“Our lives can’t handle that level of attentiveness at the moment. A cat just didn’t feel like– didn’t feel like your speed. This little girl though… She reminds me of you. Gentle. Soft. Fragile. Fluffy. Gorgeous. And, good with her feet.”

Rome chuckled, adding at least three years to my lifespan.

“She’s perfect.”

“What will you name her?”

“Balle–”

“Balle?”

Rome nodded, sadness coating her orbs.

“Since the incident, there’s been silent tension between the guys. Without them saying it, I know they think what happened was their fault. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to make them feel better– make them understand that it wasn’t– or at least that I don’t hold it against them.”

“Balle sounds like the perfect fit,” I told her. “And, I hope that they understand they are not responsible for Aliza’s actions. No one is. No one except her parents, at least. They didn’t get her the help she needed, now they’re all gone.”

Telling Rome about what Aliza had done was one of the hardest things I’d had to do.

Accepting what Aliza had done was the hardest. I wasn’t a stranger to the way August and Koen felt.

Shit, I felt the same way sometimes, but I had to remind myself that Rome wasn’t Aliza’s first victim.

Whether I was in the picture or not, she had it out for Rome just like she had it out for the person before Rome.

“Can I take her with me?”

“Most of her shit still in the back. I guess it wouldn’t hurt. We can make sure we take what she needs in the restaurant.”

“Oh– wait. What if they don’t allow animals inside.”

“It’s me, baby. And, it’s you. Tonight, they won’t have any other choice.”

I shut the door and made my way around to my seat. Once we were both settled and Balle was relaxed, we headed for our destination.

Cedars .

I pulled into the roundabout, stopping in front of the valet booth. An attendant joined us. Rome was the first out after her door was opened for her. I met her on the sidewalk and took her hand. We walked into Cedars and was immediately greeted by a sign printed with our names by each other.

Congratulations Rome and Saint.

Rome turned on her heels. Squinted eyes served as a warning. My shoulders lifted and then fell.

“What have you done?” She asked.

“Nothing much.”

We were led through the empty establishment. I’d paid good money to clear the place for three hours. We reached our designated dining area within seconds. Rome halted in stride.

“Congratulations!”

My mother.

Her mother.

My father.

Roulette plus one.

Range.

Royce.

Rugger plus one.

Rather plus two.

Roaman.

Nadia.

And, those I hadn’t met but had heard great things about decided to show their faces as well.

Malachi plus one.

Milo plus one.

Makai plus one.

Mercer plus one.

Pops.

“Sinner,” the thin, loud one of the group of brothers called out to me, “You alright with me, playa.”

“Sinner?” I repeated aloud, not knowing Rome had heard me. Confusion furrowed my eyebrows.

“Please disregard anything that comes from that man’s mouth. He doesn’t have it all. He doesn’t have any, honestly.”

Hugs were plentiful. So was the love. Rome was moved to tears. Balle began to experience overwhelm. Rome held her closer like the teddy bear she resembled, calming her down instantly.

“Thank you, baby.”

Her words struck me like lightning. There wasn’t much I wanted in life. I had everything. But, still, Rome’s happiness had become my goal. I desperately wanted to make her happy every day I was blessed to see.

Not only was Mellow deserving, so was I. Since she’d come into my world, I’d experienced a different level of peace and comfort and joy. To lose that would be ignorant of me. To lose her would be the end of me. I wouldn’t have it. Not in this lifetime and not in any others.

She was stunned to find everyone she loved in one room. Everyone except one person. The person she loved almost more than she loved herself. Her person . Her Teddy.

“Chemistry sends his love,” I whispered, bringing her closer.

“And, I send mine,” she responded, taking me by the hand.

She pulled me toward the empty seats at the head of the table. One reserved for me. One reserved for her. We both sat down, unable to hide the smiles that uprooted every feature on our faces.

Everyone around the table was full of cheer.

Prima Ballerina and MVP. Our talent preceded us.

Their celebration was inevitable. Stopping for a brief second to reflect on the moment was necessary.

Matrimony was in order as well. More than anything, the thought of it is what had the gears in my head and heart turning.

Marrying Rome would be my proudest moment. My greatest accomplishment. It didn’t matter that most didn’t consider marriage an accomplishment.

They weren’t marrying Rome so it wasn’t understood. We weren’t on the same field. We didn’t share the same experiences. My baby was the highest achievement. Everything about her said so.

“How you feeling, baby?”

“Comfortable,” she responded, resting her head on my shoulder.

Balle relaxed underneath her palm, enjoying every stroke of her hand.

“Good,” I whispered, kissing her forehead. “That’s exactly how I want you to feel, my love.”