Page 177 of Treason's Temptation
“Of course. You just want a smaller, more arrogant version of yourself running around.”
He chuckled low, tilting his head until I was forced to meet his eyes. There was a softness there that always disarmed me, “Nah. That’s not it. We need more sailors in your Navie, making sure you’re straight so you can keep me in line.”
“That’s sexist, as if women can’t serve too.”
“Not my fuckin’ Princess.”
“Not myPrinceeither. It’s not his job to look after me.”
His lips curved like he’d been waiting for that.
“Practice starts at home, Blue. If I don’t teach him how to look out for you, how’s he ever gonna know how to look out for his own woman one day?”
The heat in my chest spread lower, tangled in the weight of everything he said, Corny or not, it was Treason laying out a future I didn’t even realize I wanted to picture.
“Look at you sounding like a father already. That’s how I know you trapped me.”
“Man, nobody trapped yo’ ass.”
“That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Are there any old girlfriends I need to be aware of?”
“Why, so you can drug them too?”
“So I can beg them to take you back, asshole!” I laughed, hitting him with my elbow.
“Nobody can compete where they can’t compare.”
“Cut the shit, Tre. You can be honest with me.”
“None that matter, Blue.”
“What about Danielle. Does she matter?”
“Not to me. Does it matter to you that she’s on the project?”
“I’d prefer not to do it at all,” I replied, being honest.
“Me too, but gotta’ pick our poison, Blue. I can’t go out like this, especially with you pregnant.”
“I know.”
Love wasn’t agreeing on everything, it was putting someone else’s needs over your wants because they’d do the same for you. Nobody else saw the pressure on Treason’s shoulders like I did. Some of it was understanding the gravity of being responsible for another life. Most of it was his own father rooting for him to fail.
Chapter 28
“Where’s Blue?” Ward asked, pushing through the door to our suite.
“Watch it, nigga. It’sNavieto you, and she’s asleep.”
“Damn, that baby put her down.”
“Trying to hang with Rayven and her friends put her ass down.”
I agreed to make an appearance at my alma mater, Naylor Southern, but the administration turned it into something bigger than just a campus visit. It became a homecoming-level celebration, with the student body buzzing days in advance. It was good publicity, and I needed all I could get right now.
“I can’t believe you’ll be in charge of somebody else’s life.”
“Shit, me either.”
