Page 2 of Rose

“Hey baby,” she answered, voice dropping to that soft, sweet tone she only used with him.

William smiled the moment he saw her face, his background noise fading as he focused on her. “Hey beautiful. You still at the shop?” His eyes scanned the familiar artwork behind her.

“Yeah, just eating lunch with Ky. I’ll be home at a decent time today,” she teased, dragging out the word playfully.

He laughed, catching the sarcasm in her tone like he always did.

“You better. Anyway, check your email—I just sent you a confirmation. You got a spa appointment at Lavish at three.”

Her mouth fell open. “Wait! You got me an appointment there ? William, they’re booked for the year ! How’d you pull that off?”

Her smile stretched so wide her cheeks hurt, Kyre grinning beside her like a proud sister.

William’s smile deepened, his voice dropping low and warm. “I’m your husband. I make the impossible possible for you, beautiful.”

She melted right there on the spot. “Thank you, baby.”

“Anything for you. I gotta get back to work, but I just wanted to hear your voice. I miss you. And I can’t wait to see you tonight... I miss my sweet pussy too.”

Her jaw dropped.

“ Babe! You’re on speaker—I don’t have my AirPods in!”

Kyre choked on her drink, fake gagging in the background.

William just laughed, unbothered. “And I meant every fucking word. I love you, beautiful. See you at home.”

She smiled, shaking her head but unable to hide her blush. “I love you too, nasty.”

The call ended, leaving the room buzzing with amusement.

“You two some damn freaks,” Kyre said, rolling her eyes.

“How you think this little one got in here?” Ahzii fired back, taking a bite of her food.

“A lot of fucking and love making,” Kyre cracked, sending them both into another round of laughter.

They spent the rest of lunch talking and eating, the room filled with the kind of peace you only find with your best friend.

Eventually, the clock nudged them back to reality—Ahzii packing up to head to her spa appointment, and Kyre slipping her heels back on before returning to the courtroom jungle.

But for a little while longer, life was soft, simple, and full of love.

???

Ahzii walked through the two-story home she and William built together—luxury wrapped in love, tucked inside a gated community just beyond the city’s noise.

Between his cybersecurity salary and her booming tattoo and art empire, they lived comfortably.

But it wasn’t just the wealth that made her heart full.

It was the neighborhood itself—a sanctuary of Black excellence, families who looked like them, thrived like them, raised their kids with love and legacy.

That’s what mattered. Not just for her and William, but for their daughter and the life they were building.

The house wasn’t a mansion, but it was theirs . Four bedrooms, a private theater, a backyard built for summer pool parties and cozy fire pit nights. Every inch reflected them—warm, stylish, filled with laughter and peace.

She hung her matte black Mercedes Benz AMG keys on the hook by the door, ready to unwind, but paused when the sweet melody of Dru Hill’s “Beauty” poured from the surround sound speakers, washing through the house like silk.

Her brow lifted.

William wasn’t supposed to be home yet. He usually didn’t clock out until six-thirty, and it had barely hit six. She must’ve been too relaxed to notice his truck in the driveway after that spa appointment.

She smiled softly to herself, the lingering peace from her massage still wrapped around her body like a hug.

William had been right. Taking the day off.

.. unwinding... letting go. She hated to admit it, but it had been exactly what she—and their baby—needed.

The prenatal massage, the peaceful atmosphere, the care they gave to expectant mothers like her.

Sure, she didn’t look as pregnant as the other women there, but her body still carried the weight of exhaustion, and today gave her relief.

As she passed the staircase, the music got louder, drawing her toward the kitchen where warmth—and something else entirely—awaited.

The moment she stepped in, her laugh cracked through the air before she could stop it.

There he was.

William.

Standing over the stove like he was hosting a five-star cooking show... wearing nothing but a black apron and a matching chef hat tilted over his long locs.

And nothing else.

Completely naked.

Like God dropped him fresh into her kitchen, golden brown skin glowing beneath the recessed lights, every muscle flexing with casual perfection, tattoos— many of which she had inked herself—sprawled across his chest, arms, and back.

His subtle facial hair framed a smile that could melt glaciers, and those dark brown eyes.

.. they found her, smirked, and lit the whole room.

The scent of whatever he was cooking should’ve been the first thing to steal her attention, but it wasn’t.

It was him .

Her man. Her peace. Her forever.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered.

The sound of her laughter pulled him from the stove, and when he turned around, his smile was as wide as her heart.

“You like what you see?” William asked, striking a ridiculous pose with a spatula in hand, flexing like he was posing for a magazine cover.

Ahzii nearly doubled over, laughter bubbling from her chest, filling the kitchen with warmth.

When she finally caught her breath, he closed the distance between them, cupping her face and brushing her lips with his own.

The kiss started soft, tender... then deepened until her quiet moan melted into his mouth.

His hands slid down, gripping her ass through her black tights, pulling her closer as his body spoke a language only she understood.

“Mhm,” he hummed against her lips, his eyes devouring every inch of her like it was the first time, yet loving her like it was the thousandth.

The way William looked at her wasn’t casual. It was home. It was devotion. It was a man who knew his entire world lived in her smile.

“I missed you,” she whispered, barely catching her breath before he kissed her again. He forced himself to pull away before his self-control snapped entirely.

“I missed you too.”

She bit her lip, eyes trailing down his body, slow and deliberate. “What’s all this?” Her gaze made it clear she wasn’t talking about dinner.

His muscles flexed beneath the black apron, every line and curve of him on display. Even the faint outline of his dick had her body remembering how much she craved him. And that look in his eyes... possessive, loving, hungry—it had her weak.

“Just cooking dinner for my beautiful wife,” he replied, wearing the smirk that made her fall for him over and over again.

She tried to focus. “It smells good. What you cooking?”

But her mind wasn’t on food.

“You’ll see soon enough,” he said, his voice dropping as he brushed his thumb across her cheek. “But right now... I need you to go upstairs and take those clothes off for me.”

The way he said it—low, commanding, full of heat—sent a shiver down her spine.

“Okay... you coming too?” she asked, her voice matching his tone, soft and teasing, drenched in want.

“Yeah. Just let me finish down here.”

She blushed, heat spreading through her chest as she slowly turned and headed upstairs, feeling his eyes burning into her back the entire way .

In their bedroom, she stripped out of her clothes, letting them fall to the floor without a second thought. A soft glow peeked from the cracked bathroom door, drawing her in.

She stepped inside and stopped, her breath catching in her throat.

Rose petals were scattered across the white marble floors, leading to the freestanding tub filled with bubbles and floating petals. Soft candlelight flickered across the room, casting a warm, golden glow. The air smelled like vanilla and jasmine, her favorite scents.

Tears threatened, but she smiled instead, heart full to bursting.

“Aww, I love him,” she whispered, stepping into the water, sinking into the heat that wrapped her like a hug.

The warmth eased every ache in her back, shoulders, and soul. She leaned back, closed her eyes, and let herself drift in the stillness.

All she could feel was peace.

She had everything she prayed for. A love that felt like home. A life built from nothing but dreams and grit. And soon, she’d be holding their baby girl, bringing a new chapter to their story.

If someone had told her this would be her life one day... she would’ve laughed in disbelief.

But this—this was hers.

Perfect. Beautiful. Real.

Minutes later, she felt the soft brush of lips against hers, pulling her from her peaceful haze. Her eyes fluttered open, a lazy smile spreading across her face as she tasted the faint sweetness of wine lingering on his mouth.

“Mmm... I miss the taste of wine,” Ahzii whispered, her voice teasing. “Can I get one more kiss?”

William chuckled, sliding into the tub behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist as the warm water embraced them both.

“In a few more months, baby. I’ll give you all the wine you want. But our little girl comes first.”

She rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance. “I guess.”

She turned, straddling his lap, their bodies pressed close as her fingers trailed up his chest.

“How was the spa?” he asked, brushing damp curls from her face.

Her smile softened, her whole body relaxed. “Wonderful.”

He grinned, proud of himself. “So you’re admitting I was right. You needed that day off.”

“Never,” she shot back playfully, making them both laugh.

“Stubborn ass,” he teased, shaking his head.

But the laughter faded, replaced by something thicker in the air. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, maybe it was just the way he looked at her like she was the only thing in the world... but she needed him.

“Wanna know what I really need though?” Her voice dropped, sultry and low.

William’s dark eyes never left hers. “What’s that, beautiful?”

“My dick,” she whispered, bold and confident .