Page 14 of Surrender to Me

“C’mon. You think I offered to fund your company just to get you in my bed, Honey?”

I hesitated. Because, well… yeah. That’s exactly what I thought. I bit my lip, thoughtful. “So… you’re actually interested in my brand?”

Legend exhaled through his nose, shaking his head with a smirk. “You really don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what?”

His expression softened just slightly like he was seeing something in me that I wasn’t seeing myself. “You don’t belong in those rooms begging for money,” he said, his voice smooth but firm, like an undeniable truth. “You’re tryna build something real, something that people need. You just needed the right person to back you.”

My stomach flipped. Because I had spent so much time fighting to be taken seriously, so much time convincing people that I belonged in this industry—that hearing him say it so casually like it was a fact, not a question… It did something to me.

I picked up my coffee, sipping slowly, trying to ground myself. “So, let me get this straight. We spend the day on your yacht, we talk business, then what?”

Legend’s slow, wicked grin made my thighs clench on instinct. “Then we come back here,” he murmured, stepping forward just enough for his fingers to brush my bare knee under the sheet. I sucked in a sharp breath, heat crawling up my skin. “And after dinner,” he continued, his fingers trailing up my thigh, teasing, not quite touching where I needed him to, “I’ll spend the rest of the night exploring your body again.”

My breath stuttered. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. Legend’s eyes flicked up, watching my reaction, pleased with how easily he had me unraveling again. “Sound good to you?” he questioned, his voice pure sex.

I swallowed hard, my lips parting slightly. “Yeah,” I whispered. “Sounds good to me.”

He nodded. A satisfied smirk on his face was the last thing I saw before he turned and walked away, leaving me breathless and aching before the day had even started.

The moment I stepped onto Legend’s yacht, I knew I had officially entered a different universe. It wasn’t just a boat. It was a floating empire. It was massive, polished with white leather seating, a full bar, and a sun-drenched upper deck that looked like something out of a billionaire’s Instagram.

I let out a low whistle, adjusting my sunglasses as I walked toward the railing, taking in the endless stretch of blue water. I wore a black bikini with a matching cover-up and black knockoff Fendi sandals. “Well, damn,” I muttered. “This is… nice as hell.”

Legend smirked, settling into one of the plush seats. “You sound surprised.”

“I mean, I expected luxury,” I admitted, turning to face him. “But this is… next level.”

He stretched, arms draping lazily over the back of the seat, completely at ease in his kingdom. “I’m not your average nigga,” he said smoothly stated, patting the seat next to him. “C’mon. Let’s talk business.”

Legend wasn’t playing around when he said he wanted to discuss my business. He let me lay it all out—the current revenue, the obstacles, the areas I wanted to scale. And, for the first time, I wasn’t pitching to someone who was just humoring me. He listened. Really listened.

“You’ve got a strong foundation,” he said after a moment, setting his drink down. “But you’re stretching yourself too thin. You really do need a team.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I know. It's been a lot to handle.”

Legend leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “Don’t sweat it. I gotchu but I need to know you’re ready for this shit.”

I swallowed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” he said slowly, “you built this from the ground up. You’ve been in survival mode. You’re used to doing everything yourself. But to scale, you’re literally gonna have to let go of control in some areas. Trust muthafuckas. Delegate.”

I bit my lip. “Letting go is… hard for me.”

“I know.” Legend studied me for a moment, then smirked. “But I think you’re learning how to surrender in other areas just fine.”

Heat flushed up my neck. “Legend...”

“Relax,” he chuckled, standing. “We’ll figure it out. Now, let’s get in the water.”

I had never seen water so clear before. It was warm, and endless, the sun glinting off the surface like scattered diamonds. Legend dived in first, disappearing beneath the waves, his powerful body cutting through the water effortlessly. I stood at the edge, adjusting my bikini, suddenly self-conscious under his gaze.

“I know your ass ain’t waiting for an invitation,” he teased, floating lazily a few feet away. I huffed, pulling my wavy hair up into a bun as I rolled my eyes before diving in. The water wrapped around me, warm and refreshing. I surfaced only to find Legend swimming toward me, grinning. “Okay then. What, you a mermaid or some shit?”

I chuckled. “I had to learn how to swim early. Grew up with summers at my aunt’s place in Florida.” Legend nodded, eyes flicking over me as I treaded the water. Then, without warning, he grabbed my waist, pulling me against him. I gasped, my hands flying to his shoulders as he held me easily, effortlessly. “Legend,” I warned, my pulse spiking.

His smirk was devastating. “What?”

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