Page 24 of River & Crown
"Four," he spoke.
"Um, yeah, you can stay."
"Ight. Think about what you wanna eat. I had reservations, but I'm not in the mood to fuck with it tonight."
Crown got out of the car and then rounded the front to open the door for me. I placed my hand in his, allowing him to gently pull me out. We walked through the parking garage hand in hand, entering my building from the back entrance.
"What is that?"
We entered, and on the floor were dark blue spots that could have been flower petals, but I wasn't sure.
"Crown, you don't see this?" I asked, staring at him with a narrowed gaze. The closer we got to the elevator, the more the navy-blue color covered the floor.
"Pick it up and see what it is." He shrugged.
"Fine, but I'ma tell the management company on Reggie for not doing his job. Why he let someone throw?—"
I bent down to grab the dark blue markings, and sure enough, it was a rose petal, but it felt fake. I turned it over and gasped as I read the ivory writing.
"Six months down, forever to go." As I rose to my feet, Crown grabbed me, pinning me to the elevator doors.
"You did this?" I held the petal in his face, making sure he knew exactly what I was talking about.
"Happy six months, Four." He grinned.
Unable to contain myself, I smashed my lips against his. Inhaling his scent, my eyes fluttered shut as I fed him my moans. His fingers found their way to my curls and massaged my scalp. Kissing him harder, nastier, I pressed my body into his in hopes of morphing into his skin.
"Four," he growled, jerking my head back. My curls filled his fist, and his tongue swept along my throat. Pecking along my jaw, Crown left me panting for air, my clit throbbing to be touched.
"Four, how you gon' get freaky behind some funky ass petals?" He chuckled, sinking his teeth into the dip between my neck and shoulder.
"It was unexpected," I cooed.
"Yeah, but a nigga gotta put in work if you gon' get nasty. You deserve more than some fucking petals."
"You say that like you're not the one who covered my lobby in them."
"Nah, I say it like a nigga who knows you deserve more."
"Is there more?"
"Press the button for the elevator and find out."
Crown sloppily made love to my mouth. His tongue dipped between my lips. I nibbled on his tip, then sucked. Gripping my curls tighter, he reared my head back more. I opened my mouth, ready to receive him. My tongue curled toward my chin as spit slipped from his mouth to mine. Swallowing his essence, I shook my curls free of his grasp. I reached around him to hit the elevator button, then pushed him inside as the doors opened. His back slammed against the elevator wall, and my chest slammed into his.
"Crown," I breathed.
"Wassup, Four?"
"I—" the words were right there, but as I thought to say them, my throat went dry with fear sweeping along my body. Our eyes danced as he followed mine. What I wanted to say was right there, literally. I heard it echoing in my mental space, but each time I parted my lips to speak, nothing but a sharp gasp fell through.
"Four."
Our eyes never left each other, but I wasn't present until he called my name.
"Cortez," I matched his breathless tone, hoping he filled the awkward space with jokes instead of feelings.
"You good?"
