Page 222 of Kentrell

She searched my face like she was reading something under the surface, like she wasn’t quite sure if I was being sweet or serious.

I pulled her closer, arms around her waist. “You hear me?” I said, voice low. “Ain’t no part of me that wants this without you in it.”

That made her blink. Just once. Then she nodded, resting her hands on my chest.

“I hear you,” she said. “Loud and clear.”

I leaned in and kissed her, slow and unrushed. No urgency. Just that full, intentional kind of kiss that told her everything without needing to explain it.

Her fingers slipped up around the back of my neck, and for a while, we just stood there, swaying a little.

“Come on,” I whispered against her lips. “Let’s get you upstairs.”

I laced our fingers together and led her up.

By the time we reached the bedroom, the lights were low and the city outside glowed amber through the curtains. She stepped out of her hoodie, revealing the same leggings and fitted tank she’d been lounging in.

Still soft. Still beautiful.

Still mine.

I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her gently into my lap, arms wrapping around her from behind as she leaned back against me.

“You good?” I murmured against her shoulder.

“Mm-hmm.” She let her head rest against mine. “Tonight… was what I didn’t know I needed.”

I let my fingers drift over her thigh. “Yeah?”

She nodded. “You, them, all of it. I just—” She paused, then added softer, “I haven’t laughed that much in forever.”

“You deserve to laugh.”

She turned in my lap and faced me, legs now straddling mine as her hands cupped both sides of my face.

“Can I tell you something?” she asked.

I nodded.

“I know what tonight was,” she said slowly. “It wasn’t just you introducing me to your people. It was… you letting me in. For real. And I see that.”

My jaw flexed before I caught myself, but I couldn’t hide the way her words hit.

I didn’t let many people in. Hell, I barely let myself in sometimes.

But she was right.

This wasn’t just family dinner.

This was me giving her a seat at the table.

I held her tighter and kissed her again—this time deeper, firmer, like I was sealing a promise.

“You ain’t goin’ nowhere, Zoe,” I whispered against her lips.

She smiled, forehead pressed to mine. “Good. Because I wasn’t planning to.”

Her smile lingered against my lips as I kissed her again, slower now.

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