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“The only turn our relationship will take is in the right direction of growing stronger.”
“No one plans for relationships to fall apart. Devindidn’tplan to cheat when we married.”
I didn’tplanon divorcing him after three months of marriage.
My father didn’tplanon cheating on my mother.
I trust Maliki, but never say never.
His jaw clenches. “You and Devin didn’t work out because you belong with me, not him.”
I scrub my hand over my face. “My father needs an answer by the end of the day, or the landlord will rent to someone else. It’s the only place available, and if I don’t take it, who knows how long it’ll take for another one to open up?”
“What if we rent it together?”
My mouth falls open.Together? As in him moving out of the apartment?I grin at the thought of us being in our own new space, but then reality crashes through.
I shake my head. “The only reason the apartment was offered is because the landlord is an associate of my father’s. My father wouldn’t allow him to rent tous, nor would he be okay with you staying there.”
He nods in disappointment. “It’s your decision, babe. If it counts for anything, I want you here as much as I can get you. If you’re scared of breaking up and need a backup plan, go ahead. I won’t be upset. As for me? I’m not doing anything to fuck this up. Now that I have you, I won’t risk losing the woman I love.”
“What?” Good thing I’m sitting, or his words would’ve knocked me on my ass. I stare down at my lap, studying my hands, unsure if I’m fighting back a smile or a sob.
“Look at me, Sierra.”
That’s Maliki’s thing—always wanting me to look at him, to keep that eye contact. He wants to read me—read my eyes, my heart, every emotion bleeding through me.
When I do, there’s a tenderness on his face I’ve never seen. His eyes are soft with affection when our eyes meet. Maliki has never been a softie.
He smiles. “Even with you being a pain in my ass, I fell in love with you.”
“Really?”
He nods. “I think it’s been obvious for a while.”
I laugh. “And I think it’s been obvious I love you.”
His voice turns arrogant as he cracks a giant grin. “Oh, babe, I know.”
I roll my eyes. “Shove it.”
He wraps his arms around my shoulders, drags me into him, and kisses the top of my head. “This is the best way for us to say it—romance with a hint of sarcasm and teasing.”
“That’s our style.” I grin. “You know what else is our style?”
“Hmm …”
I pull away, and he relaxes against the couch when I straddle him. I skim my hands up and down his chest and lean forward until our lips are nearly touching. “You’ve had feelings for me for a long time.”
He gulps. “Probably. I was just too pissed at myself for wanting an eighteen-year-old.”
I gasp when his hand falls to my ass, catching it and pulling me into him. “I wasgrown.”
He clenches his jaw while I grind against him. “Yes, eighteen—old enough to gamble and do porn is what you said. You don’t understand what those words did to me.”
My lips part as he cups my chin and brings my mouth to his.
“I wanted to make a point,” I whisper against them.
