Page 26 of Surrender Your Heart
“Like?” I scoffed. “My dick bricked up walking in here. You sitting pretty, checking muthafuckas professionally and calling shots… That shit makes me wanna nut and invest a million.”
She cracked up, shaking her head, but her cheeks blushed deeply. That vulnerability she tried to hide? I saw through all of it. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders from behind, kissing her cheek softly.
“I’m proud of you,” I murmured.
She melted just a little. “Thank you. You ready?”
“Been ready, sweetheart.”
I was about to spend every second making sure this woman knew her position with me. As the wheels of my jet touched down and the city lights greeted us, I had one hand on her thigh, and one plan in mind—build an empire, and fuck her into forever.
HONEY
One Year Later
T h es c e n to fwhipped shea butter, fresh invoices, and strawberry lemonade Skittles hit me the second I stepped inside the storefront. I greeted my staff and smiled at a few customers as I made my way to my office.
The new shipment had just come in. Shelves were being stocked, phones buzzing with pre-orders, and I was officially the woman who didn’t have to run the day-to-day anymore. Now I was strictly overseeing everything.
“Biiitch!”
I didn’t even flinch at the voice. I just slid my oversized shades down my nose and turned slowly. “Why is it always‘bitch’ like it’s not nine in the damn morning?” I asked, smoothing my top over the curve of my stomach.
Tyrae waltzed in loud as ever in a neon pink jumpsuit, lashes curled to the gods, and her usual chaos on ten. “Oooh. You all glowing and shit,” she said, pointing at my belly. “I love this for you.”
I smirked. “Thanks, Ty.”
“I’m serious. You just got a multi-six-figure restock coming, a full product expansion on the way, a whole 'nother businessanda grown ass man who really don’t play about you.”
“Shut up,” I mumbled, grinning. “Anyway, the agency’s finally official. Paperwork came through last night.”
Her eyes lit up. “Y’all really launchingsoonsoon, huh?”
“Yes. NDA’s are drafted as well. It’s getting real, Ty.”
“Yesss! Boss shit!”
“Always.”
She studied me, then smirked. “So what now?”
“Now?” I placed a hand on my stomach as it shifted gently beneath my palm. “You take charge and don’t let us fall under. I’m trusting you to step up.”
“You know I gotchu.”
I looked around the store—my name on the products, my vision on the shelves, my aura in the damn paint. Then I exhaled, letting the moment settle. “I can’t believe all this,” I said quietly, “I’ve never felt this secure and protected. This seen. It’s… a shift.”
Tyrae grinned. “That’s how you know it’s real. I'm just waiting for my grown ass man to scoop me up one day.”
Later that afternoon, I’d just finished paying invoices and was on my way out the door when my phone buzzed. It was a text from Legend.
Get home safe. No stops.
I smirked.
Will do.
He texted right back:
