Page 34 of You Deserve Good Things

I smiled, heart feelin’ like it was damn near floating.

“Good,” I whispered, pullin’ her tight.

“’Cause, I only got eyes for you, my love. Ain’t no woman alive could ever come close to my beautiful-ass queen.”

And right there, in the warmth of our bodies, tangled in sheets and forever, she didn’t look scared no more.

She looked loved. She looked found. She looked mine.

Chase + Daniale

I was patient.Hell, I had always been patient, played it cool, let women do what they did—act like they didn’t want a nigga, toss the “I’m good” line like it wasn’t a damn lie. I’d let ’em dance in denial, play that back-and-forth game. But this shit with Daniale? This was different. She was different. She might not wanna admit it yet, but she was already mine. Her soul had already signed the damn lease—I was just waiting on her to recognize she’d been living in my heart rent-free since day one.

That was why tonight, I was setting the damn record straight.

We were sitting in this moody little hookah lounge off the corner of Montrose—low lights glowing amber like meltedhoney, thick smoke curling in the air like whispered secrets. The music was low, heavy bass thumping like a slow heartbeat, people all around us vibing. . . but I didn’t see none of that. All I saw washer.

Daniale.

Slick mouth. Smart-ass attitude. Nails long enough to scratch a man’s soul and a face so fine it could cause traffic on foot. Lips sitting plump and glossy like they were dipped in temptation. She was sipping on her drink, legs crossed, her body moving to the beat just enough to drive a man insane, acting unbothered like she wasn’t burning up under the surface. But I saw it, the way her eyes flicked to me every few seconds like I was gravity, and she didn’t know how to fight the pull. The way she licked her lips like they were dry when they weren’t. She was tryin’ to play cool . . . but baby girl wascrumbling.

I leaned back, legs spread slightly, postured like the king I was, my arm slung across the back of the booth while I watched her with a smirk that said,you not gon’ win this war, mama.

“You look good, Dani,” I murmured, voice low and slow like syrup on a summer biscuit.

She side-eyed me over her glass. “I know.”

I chuckled. “Cocky as hell.”

She shrugged like she didn’t just throw gasoline on my desire. “It ain’t cocky if it’s facts.”

That made me grin, slow and wicked. “You something else, mama.”

She leaned her chin on her palm, feigning innocence. “You love it, though.”

“Damn right I do.”

That made her breath hitch. She tried to hide it, but I caught the way her thighs shifted under the table. Mmhm. She felt me.

I picked up my drink and took a slow sip, letting the glass kiss my lips like I was trying to seduceherthrough every motion. When I set it down, I locked eyes with her.

“Look, baby,” I said, calm as a quiet storm about to tear shit up.

She raised a brow. “Oh, hell. You ’bout to say something deep, huh? Let me prepare.”

I smirked, but my eyes didn’t waver. “Nah. I’m just letting you know what it is.”

She leaned in slightly. “And what’s that?”

“I don’t do maybe, Dani,” I said, my voice rough and real. “You mine. Ain’t no more playing like you don’t feel this. I’m done letting you pretend like we ain’t already wrapped up in each other.”

Her smile froze. Her lips parted slightly, but she didn’t speak.

“Oh, so we making declarations now?” she finally said, trying to keep it light, but her voice had that telltale quiver to it.

I tilted my head, grin curling at the corner of my mouth. “Baby, I don’t declare nothin’. I just state facts.”

She let out a breathy laugh, shook her head, sipped her drink again like it could cool the heat rising in her chest. But her hands were trembling just enough for me to notice.

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