Page 16 of Surrender Your Heart (Surrender #2)

Did this man ask me about having babies? The question kept circling in my head, even as warm water lapped over my thighs and a soft jazz playlist played from hidden speakers overhead.

I stared at the flicker of candlelight on the edge of the tub, body limp, mind racing.

One second, he had me damn near crying from holding back my orgasm, and the next, he was deep inside of me, asking if I wanted babies.

Babies, like… plural. I exhaled and tilted my head back, eyes closed.

And then I felt it.

Strong arms sliding under me.

The subtle shift of water as his body sank behind mine. And that familiar scent—spice, sandalwood, sin—wrapped around me like silk. I opened my eyes. He was behind me now, arms pulling me gently against his chest, fingers sliding through suds to wash my arms, my stomach, my thighs… slow, deliberate. Thoughtful.

“You were in your head again,”

he murmured against my ear.

I swallowed.

“Just… processing.

You dumped a lot on me.”

“I know.”

He grabbed a soft cloth, ran it gently between my legs, and hummed low when I shivered.

“What are we really doing?”

I twisted a little, just enough to face him.

“We live in two different places.

You have businesses, I have Honey Luxe Beauty and… shit’s complicated.”

He dipped his head and kissed my shoulder, then whispered, “Not that complicated.”

I frowned, brows knitting. “Legend…”

“I’m launching the escort agency in your city.”

I blinked.

“Wait… what?”

He nodded, eyes on mine.

“Already been in motion.

Got the paperwork.

Licenses. Just need to go house shopping.”

I was speechless.

“You think I was gon’ lay all this dick and dreams on you and not be where I can watch what’s mine?”

he said, voice calm but firm.

“I don’t care where you from, baby.

I’m making home wherever you are.

I’m ready for this.”

My heart hit the brakes, then the gas.

“You’re serious?”

“I’ve never been more.”

I turned fully toward him, straddling his lap in the tub, our wet skin slick against each other.

“So this is real?”

He grabbed my chin.

“I already told you what it is, sweetheart.

You just have to lean into it and accept it.

And understand that I’m not coming up off you.”

That should’ve scared me.

Instead, I leaned forward and kissed him like I’d known him my whole life.

This wasn’t lust. It wasn’t delusion. This was two people who didn’t plan for any of this… but couldn’t walk away now if they tried. And just as he wrapped his arms tighter around me, as if he could feel me choosing him… there was a knock at the damn villa door.

Legend growled low.

“Let me see who that is.”

He stood, water dripping off his god-sculpted body, grabbing a towel and wrapping it low around his waist.

I didn’t move at first until I heard a woman’s voice.

“I know you weren't expecting me,”

she snapped, her voice carrying down the marble hallway.

“But I couldn’t let this shit go.

You think I don’t know what this is? What you’re doing? You don’t even see what I see.

You gave me everything and now you… what, toss me for some other investment bitch?”

Legend’s voice stayed cool. Calm.

“Watch your mouth, Devyn.”

“What the fuck?”

I whispered to myself, then rose out of the tub, water dripping from my skin like my patience.

I wrapped the towel around me and padded barefoot down the hall, my jaw tight.

I turned the corner just as Devyn turned too, and the second our eyes locked, the air cracked like thunder.

She took one look at me—wet skin, towel barely covering these thighs, lips parted, collarbone glistening—and I knew what she saw.

Everything she lost.

“I fucked up,”

she said, eyes snapping to Legend as she walked in further.

“I admit it.

But Trez? He ain’t you.

He doesn't move like you. I’m trying to forget what you gave me and I can’t.”

Legend’s head snapped toward me, eyes darkening as if instinct took over.

He stepped in front of me fast, shielding me like I was sacred with his voice rough.

“Go back to your villa, Devyn.”

“I’m not done talk—”

He didn’t raise his voice.

He didn’t have to.

“I said go,”

he bit out.

“Go back to Trez.

Back to another night of pretending you know what you’re doing.”

She laughed, but her eyes glistened as if she wanted to cry.

“You need to leave… now.”

I said, calm but laced with steel.

She turned toward me like I wasn’t supposed to speak, like I didn’t belong here.

“You’re not even his type,”

she hissed.

“You think you are because he’s fucking you right now, but you ain’t built for that.

For all that he is.”

I smiled slowly and poisonously.

“I’m not mad at you.

I’d be bitter too if I fumbled a man like him and had to watch him be better for someone else.”

That was the kill shot.

Her whole body stiffened.

“Ayo, what’s going on in here?”

a voice called out behind her. Trez.

Legend exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“You know I don’t do drama.”

Devyn scoffed.

“You followed me?”

“Hell yeah.

What the fuck, Devyn? You still want this nigga?”

Trez snapped, stepping forward.

Legend laughed, low, dangerous.

“Both of you need to leave. Now.”

“Fuck you, bro! Always think you better than—“

Legend didn’t even let him finish.

One fast lunge and he had Trez slammed against the wall, forearm locked across his throat.

“You know what type of nigga I am, Trez.

All this bullshit… I’m not for it.”

Trez gasped, struggling, feet kicking.

“You come into my circle, begging for an investment opportunity, and I put you on, right? But now you’re getting beside yourself.”

Legend barked, voice thunderous.

“You're a bottom-feeder.

A young-minded muthafucka letting women use your dick as a ladder.”

“Legend!”

I yelled, heart racing.

He didn’t even blink.

“You’re out,”

Legend snarled, face inches from his.

“No deals.

No more connections.

You fucked up. Now get the fuck out and take her with you.”

He released him, and Trez dropped to the floor, coughing, nose leaking, gasping for air like he was drowning in his own poor judgment.

Devyn’s face was soaked in tears now.

She backed away slowly and ran out the front door barefoot, mascara streaked.

Trez stumbled behind her, mumbling under his breath. And just like that, the air was silent again until I finally looked at Legend. He was standing there like nothing had just happened with his broad chest rising, towel low on his hips, calm creeping back over him like violence wasn’t still radiating off his damn skin.

I blinked, heart still banging in my chest.

“What the hell was that?”

I barked.

“You could’ve broken his damn neck!”

He didn’t say a word.

So I stormed off, heading down the hallway, still dripping water, towel barely clinging to me, my footsteps loud and angry across the marble.

My mind was racing.

Not just because of what I’d seen, but what it meant.

That calm, smooth, bossed-up man I’d been falling deeper for had a switch. And tonight, I saw what happened when someone flipped it. That scared the shit out of me. I made it halfway to the bedroom before I felt him behind me. Then his hand wrapped around my wrist—firm, not forceful—and he spun me to face him.

“Honey, don’t walk away from me like that,”

he said, voice low.

“You just choked the life outta one of your business partners, Legend,”

I snapped.

“You don’t get to act like that’s normal!”

“He came into my space, disrespecting me.”

I yanked my arm away, chest heaving.

“He couldn’t breathe!”

He stepped forward, eyes narrowed.

“And you think I give a fuck?”

I shook my head and tried to move past him, but he backed me up until I hit the wall, cold stone pressing into my back as he leaned in.

“You think I built this billionaire lifestyle by letting people play with me?”

“I think you’re used to doing whatever the hell you want and not having to answer for it,”

I hissed, shoving at his chest.

Legend caged me in with one hand pressed next to my head, the other hovering at my waist.

His jaw ticked.

“Tell me.

What am I to you besides another investment? Huh? Is that what all this is about? More control? Am I in debt to you?”

He smirked, but there wasn’t an ounce of humor in it.

“You’re not an investment, baby,”

he said.

“You’re the return.”

That hit differently, but I wasn’t letting him off that easily.

I swallowed hard, heart still racing, eyes burning.

“Don’t smooth-talk me, Legend,”

I whispered, voice trembling now.

“You don’t get to look at me like that and then expect me to ignore what I just saw.”

“Honey, if you think that I would ever let someone disrespect me or what we’re building, you got me fucked up.”

I shivered.

Not from fear.

From how damn real he said that. How protected I felt, even in the middle of all this chaos.

“I’ve seen men pretend to love women while plotting behind their backs,”

he said, voice softer now but deep, raw.

“I don’t move like that. This?”

He looked down at me.

“This is the first time I’ve wanted a future with someone, so fuck the past.”

I couldn’t breathe for a second because I knew he meant it.

Every single word.

My hands found his chest.

“Please don’t make me regret this.”

He nodded slowly.

“Then don’t make me question if you’re strong enough to handle all of me.

Some of what I do ain’t pretty, sweetheart, but I wouldn't even dream of hurting you or having you scared of me.”

I reached up, tracing his jaw.

“You mean that?”

“Always, baby.”

His lips brushed mine.

“And next time? Let me handle the bullshit without you coming outta the tub like you was ready to scrap in a towel.”

I laughed, just a little. “I was.”

“I know,”

he smirked, leaning in closer.

“That’s why I fuck with you.”

Then his mouth claimed mine, and just like that, the fire between us burned hotter than the tension ever did.