Page 16 of Crowned

Finally, just before dawn, I hear the soft sound of footsteps outside. I rush to the door and open it to see Bhodi and Reef, looking exhausted but triumphant.

“We made the drop,” Reef says, a tired smile on his face. “Now we wait.”

Bhodi steps inside, his eyes meeting mine. “If anyone can help us, it’s Kehinde. We just have to be patient.”

“Patience has never been your strong suit,” I remind him with a wry smile.

Bhodi chuckles. “I know. But it’s worth it this time.”

As we settle in to wait for a response, I can’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. We’re taking control of our fate, and no matter what the Elders say, we won’t stop until we have the answers we need.

Malia sits bolt upright with a shuddering breath, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

“What is it, my love?” I’m on edge, unable to sleep, unable to shake the feeling that there’s something out there, watching us. I’ve been guarding Malia while she sleeps but it seems I can’t protect her from the demons that come calling while I’m awake.

“I thought it was real.” Malia wipes her tears with the back of her hand, her eyes darting around the dimly lit room. “I…I had a nightmare,” she whispers, her voice barely audible in the stillness of the night. “It felt so real, Vance. Like I was being chased by something…something dark and malevolent.” Her hands tremble as she reaches out for mine, seeking comfort in the darkness that threatens to consume her.

I pull her close to me, wrapping my arms around her trembling form. “It’s alright, Malia. It was just a dream,” I murmur reassuringly, though I can’t shake off the unease that grips my own heart like icy fingers. The shadows in the grove seem to shift and writhe, whispering secrets that I can’t quite make out.

“I miss the others,” she confesses, the words sounding pained. I know she’s been pining for the others, whilst trying to hide it from me to spare my feelings. She needn’t have done that. I never want her to put me first.

“I know, love,” I murmur, holding her closer and cupping the back of her head in my hand. My thumb rubs small circles on her scalp, trying to offer silent comfort. “I do too.”

She surprises me by giggling.

“What?” I ask, pulling away slightly so that I can study her face. Tears to laughter isn’t unusual for Malia, but flipping between the two so fast is.

“You miss having sex with them?” She asks with a teasing smile. Her eyes still hold sadness and the shadows of her nightmare, but she’s trying to be brave and lighten the situation and I can give her that.

I smirk. “No, Miss Van Der Zee. I do not miss having sex with them, because you can’t miss something you never had.”

Malia chuckles softly, the sound a balm to the tension that had settled between us. Her laughter echoes, mingling with the rustle of leaves. I can’t help but join in, the heaviness in my chest lifting for a moment, as I revel in the connection we share.

“It’s more than just the sex that I miss,” she sighs.

“I know.”

I lean in slowly, capturing Malia’s lips in a tender kiss. It starts soft and sweet, a gentle reassurance of our love and bond. But as the moments pass, the kiss deepens, fueled by an unspoken need to feel alive, to feel connected in a world that seems intent on tearing us apart.

Malia responds eagerly, her nails digging into my shoulders as she pulls me closer. The taste of her on my lips is intoxicating, drawing me further into the whirlwind of emotions that swirl between us. Our kisses grow more urgent, more passionate, as if trying to convey all the unspoken words and desires that linger in the spaces between us.

The shadows around us seem to fade into insignificance, leaving only Malia and I entwined in our own world of shared solace. Her heartbeat is echoing mine, a rhythm that speaks of longing and belonging in equal measure.

As we break apart, breathless and flushed with desire, I gaze into Malia’s eyes and see a reflection of my own longing mirrored back at me. There are no nightmares haunting us, no doubts or fears creeping at the edges of our sanctuary. There’s only us, bound by love and passion that transcends the darkness that threatens to consume us.

The tension between us has dissipated, replaced by a newfound sense of comfort and reassurance. Malia’s hand reaches for mine, and I take it, gently guiding her to lie back down.

As we sink into the softness of the mossy ground, I kiss her once more. Malia’s breath hitches, her fingertips trailing down my chest, her touch sending electrical shocks through me until she fists my shirt and pulls me closer.

My hands explore her body, tracing the delicate lines of her curves, as if to commit them to memory. I want to know every inch of her, to lock away these memories in my soul so that they might protect us both from the darkness that lurks beyond.

“Vance,” she pleads.

I gaze into Malia’s eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation or uncertainty. But all I see is a deep longing and trust, a silent plea to take her completely.

I take a deep breath, unsure if I can give her what she wants. Words fail me in this moment, my mind consumed by the overwhelming desire that courses through me at the thought of making love to Malia.

She must sense my hesitation because she reaches up to cup my cheek, her touch grounding me in the present. “Vance,” she repeats, softer this time.

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