Seconds later, he rolled off of me.
I struggled to breathe through the simmering fire still burning so hot inside. It was incredibly good. The best I ever had.
Glancing at him, I took in his profile. He stared at the ceiling, his chest heaving. I reached out and placed my hand over his heart. Asa smiled, holding it there as his heartbeat slowed to a dull rhythm.
“Rissa,”—he turned on his side to face me—“baby, I?—”
The doorbell rang.
Jumping up, he slid his pants on while I bolted to the master bathroom. He handed me a washcloth and I took my firstheauxbath in years.
“Asa!” Paityn screamed.
He ran out of the room. It took a few minutes, but as soon as I got myself together, I followed him. The room smelled like bacon and bread, signaling that Tyn was finished cooking.
I followed the sound of voices to the door. They were talking to someone. Quickly, I rushed over, stopping when I recognized Karma on the other side of the door. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed movement. Then, I spotted the baby carrier on the ground. The blanket moved a little and I heard a soft cry.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Asa roared.
“Were you just going to leave the baby on the porch?” Paityn asked incredulously.
Struggling to catch up, I asked, “What happened?”
Paityn picked up the carrier. “The alarm system alerted me to movement outside. Through the camera, I saw her sitting the baby on the porch. When she walked away, I called Asa out and stopped her from leaving.”
My eyes drifted to the baby, then to Karma. “That’s crazy.”
Karma stuffed her hands into her jeans. “I can’t take care of him,” she cried, tears streaking down her face. “And Gemma wouldn’t want me to.”
Confused, I said, “That still doesn’t explain why you thought leaving a baby on a porch makes any sense.”
“I knew he would hear the motion sensors.” She paced the small porch. “I didn’t think the baby would be outside long and I didn’t want to talk to anyone right now.”
Paityn rolled her eyes. “I can’t . . .”
“You could’ve just called,” Asa said.
Karma stopped in her tracks. “I did call! It went straight to voicemail. Look, Gemma is gone. I wantedher. I didn’t want the baby without her.” She pinned Asa with a weird look. “I know what you did.”
Asa narrowed his eyes on her. “Get the fuck out of here,” he growled.
Surprised at the raw fury in his voice, I peered up at him, noticing his rigid posture, his clenched jaw and fists, the rage building behind his eyes. I squeezed his arm, offering him a silent lifeline.
“I knew you weren’t shit,” he spat.
Karma shook her head. “Wow. I told her you would try to turn her against me after we met last night.”
“AndI,”—he smacked his chest—“told her to stop messing around with busta-ass niggas.”
I blinked. I’d never heard him raise his voice, let alone talk to a woman like this. “Asa,” I whispered.
He held up a hand but didn’t take his eyes off Karma. “I’m good, Rissa.” He sucked in a deep breath. “It was clear to me when I met you that you would break her heart. I’m glad you never had the chance.”
“Don’t talk to me like that!” Karma scolded. “Ezra isyourresponsibility and you know it.”
My blood ran cold as the blurry details came into focus—the way he’d reacted whenever Ezra’s name was mentioned, the way he kept changing the subject earlier. I opened my mouth to speak, but Tyn beat me to it.
“What is she talking about, Asa?” Paityn pressed.
