Page 135 of Kentrell

Beautiful, flushed, lips parted like she’d tried to speak but forgot what words were.

I studied every inch of her face—like I hadn’t just had the privilege of being inside her soul.

This woman.

This soft, brilliant, frustrating, fire-starter of a woman.

She had no idea what she’d just done.

No clue what she’d pulled out of me.

What she’dputin me.

She looked up slowly, eyes meeting mine. We didn’t say a word.

We didn’t need to.

The silence was loud.

And it said everything I wasn’t ready to admit.

My phone rang again.

Same vibration. Same ringtone.

Persistent this time.

Zoe stirred beneath me as I groaned in frustration.

The moment had barely settled, and already the outside world was trying to creep back in.

She blinked up at me, soft and slow. Still dazed.

Still glowing.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” she whispered, voice barely above a breath.

“A’ight,” I muttered, pushing up on my palms. “I’ma join you when I get off the phone.”

She made a move to slide out from under me, but I stopped her.

“Come here.” I wrapped a hand around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss.

She giggled into my mouth, that sweet little sound vibrating against my lips, but she didn’t pull away. She parted for me, welcomed it.

Let me taste her one more time.

“Don’t be long,” she said, slipping away with a teasing smile as she padded naked across the room, hips swaying, headed toward the bathroom.

I watched her disappear behind the door.

Then picked up the phone.

“Why you calling me?” I asked, flat. Already irritated.

Malcolm’s voice came through sharp.

“I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. You never called me back.”

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