Page 4 of Strange Seduction (Strange #2)

Now Leaving Finger City.

Still Arrival Day.

When I get my hands on that man…

He’s gonna beg to stay with me.

And I meant it in the most nastiest, toe-curling, make your eyes roll back in your head kind of way possible.

As I sat alone in the living room of the penthouse, the echo of the door clicking shut still rang in the air like it couldn’t quite believe he’d walk away either. He’d kissed me like I was his everything. Then, he told me he loved me, as if he couldn’t hold it back.

And then just left.

The audacity.

I was still smiling though, my pulse buzzing in that delicious way that only he could summon.

God, I loved him too.

I wanted to be mad that he left so quickly, but I knew him—he needed to handle business and get things in order.

Probably had a list in his head, ticking away tightly.

So I figured I might as well explore a little, maybe find the room full of gifts in this penthouse.

The space was ridiculous in the best way.

Everything was bright and open, bathed in this golden afternoon light that made the marble floors gleam and the glass balcony doors sparkle. It smelled like lemon, clean linen, fresh flowers, and expensive polish.

It was so quiet, too. Well, except for the low hum of the much-needed air conditioner.

I slipped off the couch and walked barefoot down the hall, trailing my fingers along the wall. One door was cracked slightly. Something inside smelled faintly of jasmine and flowers.

My curiosity made me push it open.

Found it!

And nearly lost my breath in the process.

The room looked like something out of a fairytale. No, not a fairytale.

Something way fucking better.

Rose petals. Everywhere.

They were scattered across the bed like they’d been hand-placed one by one.

Crimson, soft, lush. The duvet was a crisp white that made the color pop in the most dramatic, luxurious way.

There were more fresh flowers in tall glass vases on every surface—roses, lilies, hydrangeas, and my favorite, peonies—all blooming and fragrant like they’d been picked with care.

The man must’ve dug up a meadow.

A part of me wanted to record this for my Insta, ready to show off just how much my man loved me. But I decided to give @ cosmic.carmen a break while I was here. That way I could spend my time focusing on my Teddy Bear.

At the foot of the bed sat a stack of gift boxes, some wrapped, some with silk ribbons draped lazily open as if he hadn’t quite finished or couldn’t wait for me to find them.

Above the headboard, pinned delicately to the wall in soft calligraphy script, was a banner.

Welcome Home, Baby.

I covered my mouth with one hand, eyes stinging with heat that came from nowhere and everywhere all at once.

He did all this?

For me?

I took one slow step inside, then another, scared I might wake up if I moved too fast. There were candles on the dresser, unlit but already scented—amber and vanilla, a warm and comforting scent.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and pressed a hand to my chest.

God, I could feel him in every inch of this room.

His thoughtfulness.

His stubborn, romantic heart.

The way he always said he didn’t know how to show his feelings, and then did something like this.

I stretched out across the bed and let my fingers run through the rose petals. I couldn’t stop smiling, even as tears pricked the corners of my eyes. He wanted me. After everything we’d been through and all the years of long distance, he still made room for us.

Fuck.

He still made room for me.

I picked up one of the rose petals and held it between my fingers, twisting it gently.

Theo was always this complicated mix of blunt and gentleness, rough edges with a silk center. And this room seemed like his way of saying I want a life with you.

I stared up at the banner again.

Welcome Home.

Not welcome to Italy.

Home.

I pressed my face into the pillow and screamed quietly into it like a teenager, kicking my feet once in the air.

When I get my hands on that man…

He will forget all about business.

I couldn’t stop smiling. My heart was still doing this jittery, thumping thing in my chest, and the only logical next step?

Tell the girls.

I pulled out my phone, propped it up on the pillow beside me, and hit FaceTime on our group chat.

It didn’t even finish ringing before Jayda and Izzy answered. “Finally!”

“I’m here, bitches!” I grinned, flipping my camera around so they could see the room.

Izzy screamed. “Yay!”

Jayda clapped her hands like a proud auntie at a graduation. “Took you long enough. I’ve been waiting for a damn update!”

Alyssa popped up next to them in the split screen, already smiling. “Carm! You’re in Italy! Do you like it?”

I sat up, letting the phone tilt a bit to show my face. “Don’t know yet. I only just got in.”

“Girl, pan the room,” Jayda said. “Let me see this Italian romance setup you got going on.”

I flipped the camera again, giving them a slow tour. Their reactions were instant.

“Ouuuuuuu,” they all said in unison.

Izzy narrowed her eyes. “Wait… where’s Theo?”

I cleared my throat, pulling the camera back to me. “Working.”

“Working?!” They all screamed.

Jayda shouted, “What the fuck is he working for?!”

“You two haven’t seen each other in forever!” Izzy added. “He can’t spare one day?”

“I’m calling him right now,” Alyssa stated, already dialing.

“No, y’all. Seriously.” I laughed, though a little half-heartedly. “It’s fine. Really.”

No, it’s not.

I knew it wasn’t. And the part of me that still buzzed from his kiss was now quiet with disappointment.

“I think it’s for the best,” I went on, forcing some logic into my voice. “I’m tired anyway. I need a shower, and he’s taking me out to dinner tonight, so he probably has something planned. Romantic, hopefully.”

Izzy raised a brow. “Ouuuu, maybe you’ll get some after dinner.”

“God, I fucking hope so,” I said, flopping back on the bed with a groan. “I need some dick badly.”

Alyssa made a face. “Ew! Carmen, that’s my brother you’re talking about.”

“Sorry, Aly,” I laughed. “But it’s true. I need it. My fingers ain’t cutting it anymore, y’know.”

Jayda snorted. “Same here.”

Izzy turned toward her on the screen. “Wait. Why aren’t you getting any, Jayda?”

Jayda’s face immediately flattened. “Because Ty’s new agent bitch has him doing all this press tour bullshit, so he’s barely home! Says it’s good for exposure.”

Alyssa tilted her head. “That’s good, though… right?”

Jayda rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out. “Tuh. The only thing that bitch wants him exposed to is her pussy .”

I choked so hard I had to sit up.

“He can’t understand that, though,” she went on with a dramatic sigh, “and I’m tired of fighting about it. So it’s fuck him and Finger City for me.”

Alyssa winced. “God. Well, I’m celibate, so at least I’m dickless by choice.”

Izzy huffed, adjusting her camera as her toddler’s head popped into frame.

“Well, Darius is in his terrible twos. And me being a stay-at-home mom while Darwin’s working overtime means the sex life is nonexistent.

I’m so busy I don’t even get the luxury of fingers.

I’m lucky if I can get a moment alone with my shower head—Put that down! ”

She suddenly disappeared off-screen as Darius made a mad dash for something, her voice trailing off mid-sentence.

I smiled to myself, still holding the phone up. “Remind me to thank Theo for that vasectomy.”

“Girl…” Jayda wheezed.

“I’m serious. This is the most peace of mind I’ve had in years. This trip is gonna be so slutty. No need for Plan B’s. No pregnancy tests. No late period panic. Just dick and vibes.”

Alyssa groaned. “You’re so nasty.”

“Thank you!” I grinned.

I looked around the room. Flowers. Banners. Fancy perfume gift sets lined up in a basket labeled Welcome Home, My Love .

It was everything. And it still wasn’t enough to distract from the elephant in the room. Or rather, the lack of my man in it.

I should’ve been more annoyed. But instead, I just felt… lonely.

“But of course, that is whenever he decides to actually take me to Fuck City,” I sighed.

“Carmen, normal people say Pound Town,” Jayda corrected.

Alyssa rolled her eyes. “Actually, normal people don’t talk about this shit in front of their boyfriend’s sister.”

“Girl, you’re my friend too,” I reminded her. “And I’d talk about this in front of God. I don’t give a damn. We all deserve dick!”

That made them both laugh, but I was serious.

Is this what our lives have become?

Grown-ass women too busy, too tired, too disconnected to even have sex with the people we supposedly loved?

We used to run through men like tissue paper. We used to have group chats with receipts, screenshots, and code names for side pieces.

Now?

We’re rationing orgasms like wartime supplies, and how fucking sad is that?

I sighed, blowing a curl out of my face.

Well, at least Theo and I didn’t have the added pressure of kids on top of everything else.

Thank God for that.

I heard a voice and looked around the room for the source.

Nothing.

Izzy popped back on screen, breathless.

“The little bastard got into Darwin’s pre-workout.”

Alyssa wrinkled her nose. “Izzy, don’t call him that.”

Izzy rolled her eyes. “What? He is a bastard. At least until his father and I finally decide on a wedding date.”

“Not how that works, Iz.”

Jayda jumped in, curious. “How’s that going anyway?”

Izzy’s face fell into something bitter. “Horrible. I hate his weird-ass uncles and that stupid aunt who can’t cook but keeps offering to cater! Like, ma’am, your fried chicken tastes like Elmer’s glue.”

I chuckled. “Woah. Maybe you need some alone time with your shower head to calm down.”

Izzy flipped me off with a playful glare. “Bounce on it, bitch.”

“Don’t need to. I prefer Theo’s.” I winked.

Alyssa made a dramatic gagging sound. “Again—ew.”

“Shit, sorry!” I laughed.

Just then, Mantis finally joined the call.

“Did I miss something?”