Page 128 of Serenity

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Page 128 of Serenity

Once upon a time, I believed a stampede of butterflies was what I needed. That fluttery, flighty shit that made me weak. I was wrong. In the beginning, Duke had indeed made a mess of my thoughts and quickened the pace of my heart. But that was infatuation. Now, he’d caused the slowing of my thoughts and the resting of my heart. My nervous system relaxed in his presence. Completely and utterly, I was exposed but rooted and grounded simultaneously. Anytime he was near, he exerted his command. I was convinced we could withstand any storm with such a foundation. Love did that. It strengthened and solidified.

Bergamot, toasted vanilla, and warm fucking sunsets. It all assailed my nostrils and resuscitated the pulse in my thighs. He always had that effect. The scent tattooed on his skin was almost as intoxicating as the man wearing it.

“I was debating between Barcelona or Puerto Viejo,” he spoke to the shell of my ear.

Usually, he never told me where we were going. Now, things were different. He was different. We were different. Far removed from the different we were a few months ago, but different in a good way. We were growing together.

Aladdin and Jasmine. That’s what it felt like. Floating wasn’t enough. The man made me soar. Through the clouds. Around the world. Wind in my face. Sand on my buns. It was indescribable. We were indescribable. We were everything and nothing all at once.

Everything ceased to exist in his presence. Nothing mattered. It was just us in our bubble. Serenity and Duke. The Duke and Bee. Love without limits.

“Hmm. I’ve always wanted to see the black sand beach,” I smiled, rocking leisurely in the swing against him.

“Costa Rica it is then,” he said, stilling my movements and wrapping his arms around me. “Then maybe afterward we could hit Cape Verde. I heard that shit is gorgeous.”

YOU AIN’T LOW, BUMBLE BEE

Light snores erupted from the soul cocooned under the blanket beside me. Only in sleep could she be so blemish-free. So innocent.

Again and again, I replayed the events in my head, scaling every decision that led us here. Maybe if I hadn’t said anything that morning, we’d be in a different space. Maybe if I’d moved after that run-in with Mya after the gym, it would have never come to this. Maybe if I’d gone after Mya personally instead of paying everyone else, none of this shit would have transpired. I could have even given Mya the M and forced her ass into a string of nondisclosure. Let her bend me over and fuck me? Naw.

Maybe I was overthinking all of this shit.

I was good. Me and Bee? We were good.

Get out your fucking head Duke.

Serenity shifted slightly drawing my focus back on the outline of her frame.

Big Bee.

Like honey, she was both sweet and sticky. I was covered in it. Escape would prove a futile fucking task. She’d locked me in, and a nigga held no desire to switch up. Regardless of what took place that day, I wasn’t letting her go. Couldn’t be rid of my honey bee if I tried.

Serenity rolled over and readjusted herself so she was facing me. Despite the cover of night, the light of the moon aided in outlining her features. She was fucking flawless. This shit she pulled was fucking flawless.10:41.

“Mmh, What are you doing up?”

That dulce voice pierced the air, disrupting the silence. Snuggling closer, she rubbed her feet against mine.

“Staring.”

Wondering how the fuck you pulled it off… 10:41. Nineteen minutes.

I fought to make sense of it. But maybe it didn’t matter. Maybe this was fine. Maybe I was swimming too much in my mind. I needed to go the fuck back to bed.

“Checking in.”

“Go back to sleep, baby.”

“It’s three o’clock, and you’re wide awake, staring at me. Let me carry some of that load, please.”

“I don’t believe in that, Bee. You don’t need to carry a damn thing. Just lay there and look pretty. I’m good. It’s not heavy.”

Pulling her closer, I wrapped my arms around her as my thoughts shifted to 10:41. It was the timestamp shown on the camera. The time she was seen hustling from the elevator with haste toward Mya’s condo. Head on a swivel. Dressed in my sweats and hoodie with that shit covering her head. At 10:42, she stopped near the door, stooped, and placed a small black object in the corner. Standing to her full height, she about faced heading in the direction of the elevator. At 10:44, she returned to the door, gathered the tape, and proceeded to bang on the door. At 10:59, she exited the condo, returning to the penthouse floor.

You ain’t low, baby.

The faint scent of peach and hibiscus massaged my senses. Serenity’s fingers raked through my beard repeatedly. She knew that shit relaxed me. Knew that gentle caress of the side of my beard put me in a tranquil state.




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