Page 6

The moment I stepped onto Legend’s yacht, I knew I had officially entered a different universe. It wasn’t just a boat. It was a floating empire. It was massive, polished with white leather seating, a full bar, and a sun-drenched upper deck that looked like something out of a billionaire’s Instagram.

I let out a low whistle, adjusting my sunglasses as I walked toward the railing, taking in the endless stretch of blue water. I wore a black bikini with a matching cover-up and black knockoff Fendi sandals. “Well, damn,”

I muttered. “This is… nice as hell.”

Legend smirked, settling into one of the plush seats. “You sound surprised.”

“I mean, I expected luxury,”

I admitted, turning to face him. “But this is… next level.”

He stretched, arms draping lazily over the back of the seat, completely at ease in his kingdom. “I’m not your average nigga,”

he said smoothly stated, patting the seat next to him. “C’mon. Let’s talk business.”

Legend wasn’t playing around when he said he wanted to discuss my business. He let me lay it all out—the current revenue, the obstacles, the areas I wanted to scale. And, for the first time, I wasn’t pitching to someone who was just humoring me. He listened. Really listened.

“You’ve got a strong foundation,”

he said after a moment, setting his drink down. “But you’re stretching yourself too thin. You really do need a team.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I know. It's been a lot to handle.”

Legend leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “Don’t sweat it. I gotchu but I need to know you’re ready for this shit.”

I swallowed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,”

he said slowly, “you built this from the ground up. You’ve been in survival mode. You’re used to doing everything yourself. But to scale, you’re literally gonna have to let go of control in some areas. Trust muthafuckas. Delegate.”

I bit my lip. “Letting go is… hard for me.”

“I know.”

Legend studied me for a moment, then smirked. “But I think you’re learning how to surrender in other areas just fine.”

Heat flushed up my neck. “Legend...”

“Relax,”

he chuckled, standing. “We’ll figure it out. Now, let’s get in the water.”

I had never seen water so clear before. It was warm, and endless, the sun glinting off the surface like scattered diamonds. Legend dived in first, disappearing beneath the waves, his powerful body cutting through the water effortlessly. I stood at the edge, adjusting my bikini, suddenly self-conscious under his gaze.

“I know your ass ain’t waiting for an invitation,”

he teased, floating lazily a few feet away. I huffed, pulling my wavy hair up into a bun as I rolled my eyes before diving in. The water wrapped around me, warm and refreshing. I surfaced only to find Legend swimming toward me, grinning. “Okay then. What, you a mermaid or some shit?”

I chuckled. “I had to learn how to swim early. Grew up with summers at my aunt’s place in Florida.”

Legend nodded, eyes flicking over me as I treaded the water. Then, without warning, he grabbed my waist, pulling me against him. I gasped, my hands flying to his shoulders as he held me easily, effortlessly. “Legend,”

I warned, my pulse spiking.

His smirk was devastating. “What?”

“You know what.”

His grip on me tightened slightly, his lips brushing just below my ear. “Tell me you don’t like it,”

he teased. I swallowed hard, my legs wrapped around his waist now, his strong hands steadying me, keeping me exactly where he wanted. I didn’t say anything because we both knew I’d be lying. Legend hummed, pleased. His smirk deepened. “Relax. We’ve got all night for that.”

My stomach flipped violently as we climbed out of the water, the sun drying our skin as we made our way back onto the upper deck of the yacht. I grabbed a plush towel, running it over my body, and tried not to stare at the way the water beaded on his tattoed body, slipping down the dark ink of his tattoos, tracing paths along the ridges of muscle.

I failed. He must have caught me because he smirked as he grabbed a bottle of dark rum from the bar. “Want a drink?”

he asked, already pouring.

I nodded, settling into one of the lounge chairs as the yacht rocked gently with the waves. He handed me a glass before settling into the seat across from me, stretching his long legs out, his tattooed fingers idly rolling his glass between his palms. For a moment, we just sat there, letting the ocean breeze cool our sun-warmed skin.

I took a sip of drink, letting the burn of the Tequila settle in my chest before tilting my head at him. “So, you know a lot about me now,”

I mused. “Feels like I don't know anything about you.”

He watched me for a second like he was assessing how much I actually wanted to dig. I held his gaze, waiting. Finally, he exhaled through his nose, setting his amber drink down. “What you wanna know, Honey?”

I leaned forward slightly, setting my elbows on my knees. “You always this private?”

“Yes.”

I scoffed. “Not even gonna pretend to deflect?”

“No point,”

he said nonchalantly.

I studied him, watching the way he held himself so effortlessly, how everything he did felt measured, and controlled. “You’re used to people not asking questions, aren’t you?”

His smirk was slow. “Most don’t.”

“But I’m not most people.”

“No, you’re not.”

A flicker of heat passed between us, something unspoken but charged but I refused to let it distract me. Not yet. “So tell me something,”

I said, swirling my drink. “Where are you from?”

“Here and there,”

he said smoothly.

I narrowed my eyes. “That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the one you’re getting.”

I rolled my eyes but a small smile played on my lips. “Okay. What do you do?”

He lifted a brow. “For work?”

I nodded. Legend took his time answering, rolling his glass between his fingers again. “Investments,”

he said vaguely. “Real estate. A few other things.”

I tilted my head. “A few other things?”

He smirked. “You’re nosy as fuck.”

“You’re avoiding the question.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I make money. A lot of it. And I don’t like to waste time explaining the details to people who only care about the number in my bank account.”

I pursed my lips, tapping my nails against my glass. “Is that how you see me?”

Legend’s dark gaze sharpened, his smirk fading slightly. “No.”

I exhaled, studying him, trying to figure him out, but this man was like a locked vault. He gave just enough to make you think you were getting somewhere. Then he shut the door before you could get inside. A man who had control over everything and let very few people past his walls. I took another sip of my drink, letting the warmth settle, then glanced at him again.

“Okay,”

I said finally. “No more questions.”

Legend smirked. “Didn’t think you’d give up that easy.”

I shrugged. “I know when to pick my battles.”

He hummed, leaning back against the lounge chair, watching me like I was just as much of a puzzle to him as he was to me. “Smart woman,”

he murmured.

Something about the way he said it made heat pool low in my stomach. I bit my lip, exhaling through my nose before setting my empty glass down on the table between us. “So,”

I said, tilting my head, “what time is dinner?”

Legend stretched, his muscles shifting under glowing chocolate skin, then stood. “Few hours,”

he said. “Long enough for you to rest before I make you scream again.”

He leaned down, gripping the armrest of my chair, his mouth close to my ear. “Go inside,” he ordered. “Get comfortable."

My breath was shaky as I nodded, my body already betraying me again. No matter how much I tried to act composed and calm, his ass was still pulling me under. And I had a feeling that by the time dinner was over, I’d be too far gone to ever find my way back.

When I stepped back inside Legend’s villa, I shut the door behind me, the soft rush of waves muffled as I made my way to the bathroom. I exhaled as I turned on the massive rainfall shower, watching the hot steam curl into the air. I needed to clear my head. I stepped under the hot spray, tilting my head back, letting the water rush over my skin, rinsing away the ocean salt and the lingering ghost of Legend’s touch.

I had barely closed my eyes when my phone vibrated on the counter. It was Tyrae and I already knew why her ass was calling. With a sigh, I grabbed my towel, wrapping it around me before picking up my phone.

“Bitch.”

Was the first thing she said before I could even speak.

I laughed, shaking my head. “Hi, Tyrae.”

“Don’t ‘hi’ me. You better start talking.”

I exhaled, glancing at my reflection in the mirror. My skin was still flushed, and glowing, my lips slightly swollen from where I’d been biting them all day. I looked a mess.

“It’s… a lot,”

I murmured, my voice hushed, even though I was alone.

Tyrae groaned. “If you don’t start spilling, I’m flying down there myself.”

I laughed, tucking my towel tighter around me. “Okay, okay. Where do I start?”

“Uh, how about last night? What happened? Are you dead? Are your legs still functioning?”

I swallowed hard, my thighs pressing together instinctively. Because Jesus Christ. I exhaled slowly, lowering my voice. “Tyrae… this man tied me up.”

“WHAT?! Oh my God, oh my God, oh my GOD!”

I winced, hissing. “Bitch, if you don’t stop all that damn screaming. Damn!”

“NO!”

she screeched. “YOU LET A MAN TIE YOU UP? Honey!”

I closed my eyes, fighting a laugh, pressing my fingers against my temple. “Yes. And I...”

I swallowed. “I liked it. No, I fucking loved it.”

Another dramatic gasp. “Oh, hell no. I need a drink,”

she muttered. “Hold on.”

I rolled my eyes, waiting while she presumably poured herself a glass of wine. A few seconds later, she sighed dramatically. “Okay. Start from the beginning. Details, bitch. Don’t hold out on me.”

I glanced at the bathroom door and then took a breath. And then, I told her. Everything. The silk restraints. The vibrating toys. The way he pushed me so far, I lost track of where I ended and he began. By the time I was done, Tyrae was breathing heavily.

“Honey,”

she said, voice hushed like she was afraid of being caught. “That sounds like some next-level shit.”

“It was.”

She let out a slow breath. “So… what now? Do you like him? Or is this just… sex? Business?”

I opened my mouth but then immediately closed it. Honestly, I didn’t have an answer. Did I like Legend? I barely knew him. And yet, I couldn’t ignore the way I felt around him—the way he made me feel seen and like I could do anything and yet completely out of control at the same time.

I exhaled, shaking my head. “I don’t know. This was supposed to be simple. But he…”

“He what?”

I chewed my bottom lip. “He doesn’t just want my body. He actually wants to help my business. He listens. He pays attention.”

Tyrae went quiet. Then, finally, she exhaled. “Oh, girl. This shit sounds like a movie.”

I groaned, rubbing my forehead. “I know.”

We talked for a few more minutes and then she made me promise to keep her updated before I went back to my shower. Finally leaving the bathroom, I lightly moisturized and slipped into a two-piece pajama set and before I knew it, I was out like a light.