Page 78 of Falling Into Gravity

Malik leaned over the middle console, one hand gripping under her thigh to hold her still while the other slid up her inner thigh - fingers slow, teasing, savoring every inch like it was holy. He pushed her panties to the side.

“Show me how sorry you are.” His tongue met her folds, and she gasped—sharp and sweet. He licked her like he missed her…like he was apologizing with every stroke. Long, deliberate swipes up her slit, before locking onto her clit and sucking soft, then harder, tongue rolling over it until her hips were twitching.

“Malik…” she moaned, head tilting back against the window, hand threading into his braids.

He hummed against her, the vibration sending shivers through her thighs.

He flattened his tongue and dragged it up slow, letting it rest there for a second, before he circled her clit with the tip like he was spelling his name in cursive. His fingers slid in next—two, then three—curling upward with every thrust while his mouth stayed locked on her.

“Oh fuck,” Aku whined, her breath hitching.

He kept going, eyes glued to her face while she unraveled. Her legs shook., her body jerked., but he held her down, anddidn’t let up either…just kept licking and stroking until her thighs clamped around his head like a vice grip.

“Malik—”

He didn’t stop until she came - loud and hard, one hand pressed into the dashboard.

Didn’t stop until she pulled his braids and cried out his name like it was the only thing she had left to give.

Only then did he rise up off her, licking his lips and sliding his fingers up her stomach, his chest rising and falling likeyeah, I meant that.

She looked at him, dazed but satisfied, lips parted…breath caught somewhere between disbelief and do that shit again.

Malik leaned over her, eyes dark. “Still mad?”

She smiled, wild and breathless. “Shut up and drive.”

chapter 14

. . .

“Goto the meeting for me. It’s time I let you do more. You’re ready, Niah. Calm down, you got this. Besides, you’ve been trained by the best. Take a lot of notes—don’t leave a detail out.” Aku balanced the phone between her cheek and pillow, whisper-yelling to keep from waking the heavy sleeper beside her.

“Aku,” Niah whined. “Why you just throw this on me last minute? They’re expecting you.”

“And they’re getting me. You are me. You got this, I promise it ain’t so bad. Do what you think I’d do and close the deal.”

“Ugh…okay. But please don’t throw me to the sharks like this again. I need time to pray about it.”

“Niah!” Aku’s voice rose a few octaves. “This is the job. Sometimes you go into things unprepared. This is what separates the stylists from the assistants. Bye.” She hung up, not wanting to go back and forth with Niah all morning. She was still a little groggy from last night, her head still heavy with the smell of cologne, liquor, and Malik’s skin.

When they got home last night, she willed herself not to give Malik any pussy. He was on punishment—still—because she had to set that tone. He needed to understand she wasn’t one ofthem. She was the daughter of French and Solar, and they raised a boss.One who knew the difference between love bombing and consistency…between sweet talk and soft action.

Malik was still laid out in her bed, deep in sleep like he had nothing to run from today. One arm flung over the pillow she normally hugged. His braids were fuzzy at the edges now, his mouth slightly open, a low snore escaping from the depths of his chest. He looked younger when he slept. Gentler. Not like the nigga who would swing on someone for getting too close to her, or who walked around with fire in his stomach and ghosts in his blood. Lashes were ridiculous on a man that hood. A tiny smile tugged at her mouth. He was fine when he was vexed, but sleeping? Dangerously pretty.

She climbed onto the bed and straddled his back softly, pressing a kiss to his shoulder.

He stirred, groaning.

“Wake up,” she whispered into his ear, dragging her nails down his spine.

He squinted with a sleepy grin. “You tryna start something?”

“I’m tryna ask if you hungry.”

His grin widened. “You cookin’?”

“I mean…” She rolled her eyes and flopped beside him. “Breakfast ain’t hard.”

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