Page 87 of Falling Into Gravity

Her voice cracked around the pleasure, breath catching as he dragged his length through her slowly, then slammed forward again. “You feel that?” he asked, burying himself deeper.

Her hands roamed his chest, fingers grazing the small tattoo over his heart. “Mm hmm…”

“Say it.”

“I feel you, Malik,” she whispered, eyes glassy. “Allof you.”

His mouth dropped to her throat, kissing and sucking, leaving soft bruises that matched the way her legs trembledaround his waist. She held him tighter, moaning his name, body slick with sweat, heart floating somewhere outside her chest.

“You off punishment now,” she panted, smiling through the pleasure.

“I better be,” he growled, rutting into her deeper. “Or I’mma commit another crime.”

She laughed breathlessly, then whimpered as he changed angles—hitting the spot that made her legs stiffen and her toes curl.

“Fuck…”

“Talk to me,” he said, his voice ragged.

“You got it, baby,” she breathed. “It’s yours…all yours.”

He kissed her again—sloppy with need. Their tongues met like they knew each other in a past life.

When she came, her whole body arched. Her nails dug into his back. Her breath hitched in his ear. And he followed right behind her, cussing low and letting her name drag out of his throat like a warning and a thank you.

They collapsed into each other—sticky, hot, still pulsing.

The room was quiet for a minute, just the sound of their breathing and the soft hum of the fan spinning above them.

That’s when she spoke again, voice muffled against his chest. “I’m going to Emerald City tomorrow.”

Malik lifted his head. “That right?”

“Mm hmm. Gotta see my people. Clear my head. Get some love from home. You gon’ be cool without me?” she asked, her voice teasing.

He laughed, still inside her, still warm and full. “I’mma miss this,” he said, rolling his hips one more time. “But I think I’ll be cool.”

Then, grinning, he kissed her neck and added, “Gotta get my money back up after this expensive ass date anyway.”

She snorted and shoved at his shoulder. “Boy, shut up. That was alightdate.”

“Speak for yourself,” he said, holding her tighter. “You cost somethin’, Aku. And I’m down to pay it.”

chapter 16

. . .

The doorof the jet opened with a hiss. The humidity of Emerald City kissed Aku’s skin before her feet even hit the ground. Sunlight spread itself across the tarmac. It felt good to be back home even if she was already missing Malik.

The scent of jet fuel faded fast, replaced by a breeze that smelled like the end of summer and nostalgia. Aku pulled her oversized Chanel shades down the bridge of her nose and squinted across the landing zone.

Posted up against a matte black Chevy Tahoe with the windows down and music playing low, stood her daddy, French - still tall…still too fine to be somebody’s father. Light-skinned, golden almost, like a Cartier watch left out in the sun too long. Tattoos covered both his arms, dark ink sprawled across them. Over his right brow, slightly faded but still bold, was her name. No frills - just her…his baby girl.

He didn’t move, just pulled a toothpick from his mouth and twisted his lips into a grin so cocky and cool, it made her heart swell. He wore a white tee so fresh it could’ve come out the plastic, a pair of designer joggers, and black and blue sneakers. She didn’t have to see his full outfit to know he’d matched theblue trim on his hat to the logo on his socks. French was never half-stepping. He taught her how to put that shit on too.

Aku didn’t walk, she ran. “Daddy!”

Her carry-on dropped behind her with a thud. Security guards yelled after her, and the pilot laughed to himself, but she didn’t hear none of that. She leapt into her daddy’s arms like it had been a year, not just some months. Her legs wrapped around his waist like she was still fifteen and going through a breakup he swore he’d handle himself.

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