Page 89 of Kentrell

Didn’t want to ruin it.

But then?—

Rrrrrrrrggghhhhhh.

My stomach growled loud enough to make both of us pause.

Kentrell blinked, and I groaned, tucking my face into his neck.

“Really?” I muttered against his skin.

He laughed low, deep from his chest. “Aye,” he said, voice amused, “I was gon’ try and let you play it off, but that was a whole-ass earthquake.”

I couldn’t even be embarrassed. I wasstarving.

He leaned back slightly, one hand still around my waist, glancing over at the coffee table.

The untouched pizza box.

“Damn. I forgot I brought that in,” he said, shaking his head.

I sat up just enough to look at him. “You brought it or ran into the delivery guy?”

“I knew you said you was ordering one this morning,” he said with a shrug. “Figured I’d try to get it, but I ain’t make it back in time. So, I ended up running into yo delivery guy.”

That smile crept back across my face. Not just because of the food, but the fact that he remembered. That after everything… he still showed up for me.

Even in silence. Even with all he was carrying.

My stomach growled again.

He laughed louder this time, already reaching for the box.

“Come on, ma. Lemme feed you so I can eat again.”

“Again?” I tried not to moan, but it slipped out anyway.

Whatever he did to me… my mind, body, and soul were still craving it. Still humming from it.

“You liked that shit, huh?” He smirked, back on his regularly scheduled crassness.

I twisted my lips, trying to act unbothered.

“You can tell me,” he pressed, pulling the pizza box open and grabbing a slice for me. “Don’t lie to me,Zoe.”

His tone was low. Direct.

Warning.

“Yes, Kentrell,” I muttered with a fake attitude before bubbling into laughter. “Thank you.”

I took the slice from him and sank my teeth in.

“Mmm.”

That first bite waseverything.

“You got paper towels?” he asked, lifting me off his lap like I weighed nothing and settling me gently at his side.

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