“Yeah? Do you want to talk about it?”
I let out a sigh and clinch the steering wheel. She places her hand on mine.
“Duke, are you alright?”
I pull into the driveway, shut off the engine, and turn to look at her. “I need to tell you something.”
She looks at me, eyes wide, “Okay.”
I get out of the car and hold her door open for her and take her hand, leading her inside of the house. I leave her by the entrance and say, “Stay here,” as I make my way through the house, inspecting all of the rooms and ensuring all of the windows are shut and locked. After the house is inspected, I walk back to Raya, still standing by the door, and pull her further into the house.
I sit her on the sofa and she asks, “Duke, what’s going on?”
Sitting next to her, I take her hand, “While you were singing, Davis called me. He told me that there may have been a sighting in the city.”
“You mean someone found Derrick?”
“We don’t know for sure. And it could be wrong. We just haven’t confirmed it yet.”
I expect to see her panic but surprisingly she is calm and collected.
“When did this happen?”
“Last night. But like I said it could have been anyone.”
She pulls her hand out of mine, stands up, and walks away, looking out the window at the ocean, “Or it could have been Derrick.”
Shit, she’s already pulling away from me. My heart sinks into my stomach as I try not to think about her leaving.
I stand up and walk behind her, “Raya, at first I didn’t want to tell you but I know you have a right to know. And I know you must be scared, but please, baby, don’t run off on me again. I won’t be able to handle it again.”
She spins around to face me, “You think I’m scared?”
I’m stunned, “You’re not?”
She shakes her head, “Nope, I’m tired of being scared and running. I’ve come so far and I won’t be a victim again. I won’t let Derrick win. If he comes, then so be it, ‘cause I’m going to go down swinging no matter how long it takes.”
“You don’t want to leave?”
She puts her palm on my cheek, “Duke, I told you I wanted to stay to be with you. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. It took me a long time to realize this, but I need you. You changed my life, Duke, even before everything in Chicago happened. You make me a better person. And ever since I came back home, my life has changed. I’m no longer numb or shut people out. I’m in touch with my emotions and I stand up to face my fears. But all of this was because of you. You showed me how to trust again. I learned to open my heart and share my soul. I followed my gut and believed in myself because you believed in me. You brought me back, Duke.”
I look into her blue eyes, “Remember the day we met? In forensics class? That was the day that I became yours. I tried to deny it for so long but I just couldn’t get you out of my head. You have completely captivated me. You’re that girl—the one of a kind—who you only find once in a lifetime. You are it for me, Raya, and have been for the past seven years. You have my heart. It will be yours, forever and always.”
Tears escape from her eyes and she whispers softly, “Duke, I love you.”
The beautiful words that just came out of her mouth completely catch me by surprise. A huge grin spreads across my face and I pick her up in my arms, spinning her around in circles. She squeals as we spin around and kicks her feet in the air. I stop spinning and set her on the ground, still keeping my grasp on her waist.
“Raya, I’ve always loved you.”
I plant my lips onto hers and we kiss each other with a fierce passion. I glide my hands up her back and around her neck, pulling her closer to me. Her hands move up my back and into my hair, combing her fingers around the strands. I part my lips and stroke my tongue with hers. My breaths for air become irregular as a heated intensity soars throughout my body. I feel the electric current between us siphon through from me to her, expelling charges of pleasure and desire. I lick her bottom lip and she moans with need. Oh hell, she’s turning me on.
At that moment I pull away and notice we are both panting heavily.
I stutter, “I’m…I’m sorry. I don’t want to pressure—”
She puts her finger on my lip, stopping my apology, and hushes me. She then kisses me and briefly bites my lower lip. I can feel my insides turning inside out as she continues to devour my lips. My dick is already busting at the seams, making it harder to control myself. Fuck.
I pull away from her, “We don’t have to. We can stop.”