Page 104 of Serenity

“Talk thirty to me.”

“Damn. Is that my woman wearing the fuck out of that dress? What do they say nowadays? You fucking pressure, baby. Big pressure.”

Helplessly, I beamed. “It’s perfect, Duke. I have zero complaints. I fucking love it.”

Of course, he’d bought the three-thousand-dollar dress. Of course, it fit perfectly against my body. Of course, he was behind me in the mirror, hyping me up as I posed.

We’d had our rocky moments and come out unscathed. Furthest from my concerns was his ex, videos of other women, or even the video of us. Tonight was my night. All that other shit was background noise.

“Are you wearing what you have on?” I asked, motioning to his suit. Italian cashmere forever was his uniform of choice. He looked great in it. I just wanted him to change his shirt to match my dress.

“I’m not going.”

Five feet.

From five feet, my mouth fell from where it once was. “What do you mean?”

“I figured you might want to turn up with your girls solo.”

“Solo? Duke, baby, it’s my birthday party. All of my family will be there, along with my friends. I wanted everyone who mattered by my side to bring in this occasion.”

Sincere refused to accept Duke’s money to shut down the club, offering it as part of my birthday gift. We still weren’t speaking, but for now, cordial would suffice.

Duke had paid for everything within his allowance. The cake, the dress, my shoes, hair, makeup, nails, the décor. I had yet to see the interior of the club and had little input on the styling. His absence at the celebration wasn’t part of the plan. I wanted to celebrate entering another year of life with my man.

Brows hiked with a smile tugging the corner of his mouth, he asked, “I matter?”

“Duke, stop playing with me.”

“Stop pouting.”

“No, because I want you there.”

“I was under the impression that you were still hiding me from your friends.”

“I’m not—”

Opening my mouth to speak, I abruptly stopped, realizing he’d called me on my bullshit. Since we’d been together, reaching a level of acceptance that other people wouldn’t accept us over our difference in age had been a learning curve. While the validation wasn’t needed, I craved it because I was human like everyone else. I’d grown past it, but I had yet to bring him into my world the way he’d done with me. I’d met his father and grandfather—the people closest to him. He’d only met my family because of Supreme’s interference that day at Greek Geek. He raised a fair point.

Duke was a wise, studious, and attentive man. Not much slipped his radar. Of course, he noticed my hesitation in introducing him to my friends.

And it wasn’t for lack of want. I just…hadn’t gotten around to it. With the new spa construction plans being made, the classes I taught on occasion, and occasional pop-ins at Vivid, a bitch was busy.

“Our romantic life was meant for me and you only. I don’t have time to involve other people.”

“I hear you, Big Bee. I ain’t tripping,” he shrugged.

So, why did I feel like I needed to explain it in depth to him?

“Okay. I admit there were times when I felt that we—I wouldn’t be comfortable with them around you.”

But that was in the past now. None of that shit mattered. Not for real.

“Did I do something to make you feel like that?” He asked, rubbing the length of my arm in the mirror.

“No, Duke. I—” Opening my mouth, I quickly closed it.

Duke moved away from behind me, loosening his tie from his neck.