Page 98 of Tainted

“As a nigga who can’t stop thinking about you, I disagree.”

“Goodnight, Kenyon.”

I leaned over and pecked her lips, thinking that would be enough, but it wasn’t. After the first taste, I was hooked, so I reclaimed her lips, demanding more this time.

“Goodnight, Zara Nicole.”

Zara’s first full night sleeping over left me exhausted. She tossed, turned, and repositioned all night. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I patted around, looking for the bandit who hijacked my sleep, but it was empty. Downstairs, I rounded the corner, stopping dead in my tracks. Zara turned my open floor plan into a dance floor, giving her ample space to move.

Her body ebbed and flowed with the music, every turn and extension executed perfectly. It looked that way, but she wasn’t satisfied, so she stopped resting her hands on her wild mane and visualized the correct movements. Zara started over again, her focus so intense that she hadn’t noticed me yet. Her dedication was one of the many things I admired about her.

“Oh, good morning,” she breathed out, slightly out of breath. “I hope I didn’t wake you, but I couldn’t sleep.”

“I don’t know why when you were the one rolling around all night.”

Zara didn’t deny or object but followed me into the kitchen.

“How long are you holding me hostage today?”

“Depends. What do you have to do?”

“Pay off Nana’s account and finish this routine for Rajah.”

“It’s stressing you out that bad?” I asked, noticing the distant look in her eyes.”

“A friend of Nana’s owns a studio. She called in a favor whenever she’s back in town. If she even comes back. I don’t even know if it’s a sure thing. I’m just,” Zara rambled.

“Nervous,” I replied with the word she couldn’t seem to get out.

“I don’t even know why. This is all I’ve ever wanted. Now, it could be happening, and I’m scared. What if this is my one shot, and I fuck up?”

Oddly, I felt the same about Zara, so I offered her the same solution I’d come up with.

“Trust yourself. Anything you care about, you’ll find a way to take care of. Just don’t lean over too fast. That forehead might make you tumble, and there’s no coming back from that.”

“You are so annoying. What are you doing today?”

“I have some business to handle, but I want you here tonight.”

“Hmm, I have to check my schedule. I’ll get back to you on that,” Zara flirted before spinning back into the living room.

* Fuck you.

17

Zara

Walking through the halls of Serenity Springs didn’t create anxiety like it used to. Nana’s account was current, and Brandy gave me control of her affairs. She wasn’t happy about it, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t giving her another opportunity to make a mess I would have to clean up.

“Well, don’t you look happy?” Nana slurred.

“I’m looking at you. There’s a lot to be happy about today,” I grinned, moving closer to her bed.

“Or that man gave you your soul back. Along with something else.”

“How are you feeling today, Banana Girl?” I asked, changing the subject. Nana was always my safe place to admit things I couldn’t share with anyone else, but my sex life was not one of them.

“I’m alive. At my age, I can’t ask the Lord for anything more,” Nana replied, her eyes closed as if opening them required strength she didn’t have.

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