Page 68 of Rose
Her glare cut back to him, sharp and daring.
“I’m not leaving you the fuck alone,” he continued. “And you not paying me for doing what I’m supposed to do—as your man.”
Her laugh was short, humorless. “I’m not one of them bitches you’re used to. I don’t let a man come in, talk crazy, do crazy, and call himself ‘mine.’ Take the advice I gave you... and take the fucking money.”
She left the cash on the cart and moved toward her car without another word.
But the ache in her chest stayed put.
She helped Ace into the backseat, but just as her hand reached for the driver's door handle, she felt it—Savior’s grip on her arm. Before she could react, he spun her around, pinning her back against the car. His lips crashed into hers, urgent, rough, and uninvited.
Ahzii froze—only for a second.
Then she melted.
Her eyes fluttered shut as his tongue slid past her lips, and she let him in. Her body betrayed her mind, leaning into the kiss, letting it deepen. Savior’s hands gripped her waist, grounding her in the moment, making her feel something she hadn’t felt in years—safe. Protected. Desired. Her chest ached as her heart and mind went to war, but still, she didn’t stop him.
She should’ve. She should’ve shoved him away. Cursed him out. Slapped the shit out of him.
But she didn’t.
Because the last man whose touch made her feel this anchored was William.
And that thought shattered everything.
“Beautiful…”
His voice echoed in her mind, soft and warm. His face appeared, vivid and haunting.
The tears came fast.
“No—” she gasped, panic flashing across her face as she shoved Savior back with everything in her.
He didn’t stumble. He simply stepped away, licking his lips, now smeared in her gloss. He looked dazed—but not apologetic. Not even a little. He could still taste her on him.
Ahzii’s voice cracked as she screamed, “Never do that shit again! Why would you—why the fuck would you do that?!”
Her voice was loud, but her soul was crumbling. The kiss wasn’t hollow or meaningless like the ones she gave Kiyan to feelsomething.This one was real. It reached the parts of her she’d buried with her husband. The love she swore died with him.
And now it felt like she betrayed William.
Savior’s voice was calm—too calm. “To let you know I’m not changing shit about how I feel. You can be guarded all you want, but that’s not gon’ stop a nigga like me.”
He dragged his tongue across his bottom lip, slow, eyes locked on hers, craving more of what he just tasted. Knowing he'd feel it again. Knowing she felt it too.
Ahzii backed away like she’d touched fire.
“Stay far the fuck away from me. Leave me the fuck alone, Savior!” she snapped, wrenching open the car door and climbing in.
She didn’t wait for another word. She peeled out of the garage like her life depended on it.
And maybe it did.
Savior stood still, hands in his pockets, unbothered on the outside. But inside, he was already replaying the kiss—burning it into memory. He knew she was running, but he also knew she wouldn’t be able to outrun the way that kiss made her feel.
Ahzii, meanwhile, drove through the dark with tears streaking down her face, gripping the wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Her heart screamed. Her guilt screamed louder.
