Page 153 of I See You

“No, no, no—fuck all that emotional wreck shit for a second. Let me process what you said. He held you after, kissed you slow, then had you moaning like a damn soprano?” Dorian’s voice got more animated, her wine forgotten on the table. “Like… not just dickin’ you down—but making love to your soul too?”

“Bitch, yes,” Sevyn finally admitted, laughing despite herself. “That man had me floating. I don’t even know when I fell asleep—I just remember feeling safe.”

Dorian threw her hands in the air. “That’s not dick, Sevyn. That’s demon dick. That’s 'I think I love him' dick. That’s 'turn my phone off, I’m busy catching feelings' dick.”

“Harper’s gonna kill me when she finds out I fucked her cousin,” Sevyn groaned, slumping back into Dorian’s couch.

Doriansatinstunnedsilence,stillprocessingeverythingSevyn had just shared about her night with Hassan. “Girl, please. That bitch is gonna be jumping for joy. She looks at you like a sister, and now you got her cold-ass cousin out here feeling actual feelings. Based on what he did for you? That nigga deep in it,” Dorian said with a smirk, taking a sip of her drink.

Sevyn rolled her eyes. “Well, it’s not happening again.”

“Why not?” Dorian asked, immediately side-eyeing her.

“I just told you he dipped in the middle of the night like I was just some quick fuck. I think that’s all he wanted—to hit and move around,” Sevyn said, bitterness creeping into her voice.

Dorian burst out laughing. “Bitch, what did you expect? Cuddles and forehead kisses? That man is Hassan Ice Gaines. He don’t even do ‘goodnight’ texts, let alone post-sex snuggles.”

“I just… I don’t know. I guess I wanted something. A note. A text. A fucking pigeon at the window. Anything to let me know I wasn’t just some pussy to him,” Sevyn snapped.

Dorian snorted. “So let me get this straight. You wanted the most cold-blooded, ruthless nigga in the city to write you a love note after rearranging your uterus? Be fucking for real.”

Sevyn glared at her. “You laughing, but I’m deadass. After everything he did—the way he touched me, talked to me… I thought I meant something more than just a warm body. But he just reminded me that I’m his therapist who gave him some pussy. Just like every other woman in his life.”

Dorian’s laughter faded as Sevyn’s voice cracked at the end.

“And the craziest part?” Sevyn whispered. “I still miss him. Still wonder if he’s okay. Still want to feel him again. What the fuck is wrong with me?”

“Nothing,” Dorian said, reaching for her hand. “That’s just what happens when you let a man who’s more than a fuck touch you like you’re more than a body.”

Sevyn stared into her empty glass, her tone soft. “I was supposed to help him heal… not fall for the fucking storm inside him.”

Dorian sighed. “If it makes you feel any better, Roman left in the middle of the night too. Told me it was business—but I got a feeling it had something to do with Hassan. That might be why he left like that.”

Sevyn let out a shaky breath. “Whatever. I don’t care anymore.”

“Bitch,stoplying,”Doriansnapped.“Youcare.Youlooklike somebody snatched your emotional support animal. Just call the man.”

Sevyn didn’t answer. Her phone buzzed again. Hassan’s name lit up the screen. And just like the last time—and the time before that— she let it ring.

Then pressed ignore.

“Yo ass ain’t even mad that he left. You mad he left you craving more.”

Sevynpaused,glasshalfwaytoherlips,eyesflickeringwith something she didn’t want to name.

“…Maybe.”

“Exactly,” Dorian said, leaning back like she just won the case in court. “That nigga turned your body into his personal journal. And now you can’t stop rereading the pages.”

Sevyn took the shot. Hard and fast. Because it was true.

All of it.

???

Hassan sat in his office, trying to focus on the only thing that ever brought him peace—numbers. With Norman working to clear his name in the Braxton case, and Von, Jules, and Roman digging deeper into Carlos DeVille, all he could do now was lay low. Keep shit tight. Handle the casino. Stay invisible.

But powerlessness? That wasn’t something he wore well.

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