Page 177 of Kentrell

I carried her straight into the plane, through the cabin door, and sat with her on the same leather seats we rode in on days ago—except now everything felt different.

We were different.

Zoe curled into my side, and I pulled the blanket over us as the pilot came over the speaker, confirming we’d be in the air in less than ten.

The door sealed shut behind us.

And just like that, we were up again.

Flying back toward the real world.

But nothing about this felt like a return to old shit.

Because whatever we were before—whatever I was before?

That version of me died the second she let me in.

The second I knew she was mine.

Zoe yawned, pulling the blanket up to her neck, head on my shoulder, leaving no part of her uncovered in that damn blanket like she hadn’t already spent the whole weekend naked in my arms.

I glanced down at her. “What you got planned when we get back?”

She sighed like she didn’t wanna think about it, but answered anyway. “A couple meetings. Kensington Holdings needs a contract revised by Wednesday. Maggie Sinclair wants to schedule a sit-down about patent issues—again. And I gotta follow up on a licensing issue for Romano Vineyards.”

“Mmmm.” I nodded. “Attorney Davis back in action,” I announced as she giggled.

“I sent you those files you asked for before we left, too.”

“I saw ‘em.” I leaned back, shifting my legs under her so she wouldn’t topple over when I stretched my arms across the seat. “Ain’t looked yet, though. Told myself I wasn’t gon’ touch work ‘til we got back.”

“Of course you didn’t.” She shook her head, biting back a smile. “You were too busy folding me like laundry all weekend.”

“You loved every minute.”

She didn’t even try to deny it. Just sighed and leaned her head on my shoulder. “It’s gonna be hard going back to regular life.”

“Why you say that?”

She glanced up, voice soft. “Because I got used to falling asleep with you. And waking up?—”

“On this dick,” I cut in with a smirk.

Her gasp turned into a laugh as she shoved my arm playfully. “Yeah… that too.”

There was a pause. A softness I wasn’t expecting.

“I already told you, ma… you ain’t gon’ have time to miss me.” I reminded her of what I said earlier that morning. “You either gon’ be in my bed… or I’ma be in yours. Either way, you gon’ get what you need.”

“And what do I need?” she pressed, lips twisting, that flicker in her eyes making me damn near consider grabbing her up and taking her to the back room for another mile-high session.

“A’ight, Zoe…” I warned, low and deliberate.

She laughed, backing down like she knew exactly what she was doing.

“And I meant what I said about my keys to your place,” she added after a beat.

“Oh yeah?” I teased, brow lifted.

---