Page 200 of Treason's Temptation
Heat shot through me, the burn in my muscles blurring with something else entirely. I swung again, harder this time, to feel his approval.
“That’s it,” he groaned like my jab had touched something in him.“Good girl.”
That did something to me—made my chest ache and my arms sting a little less. Still, I shot him a glare.
“Stop. That’s how we got in this the first time,” I warned, damn near out of breath.
“Let’s get intoitagain,” he flirted, planting a quick kiss before tossing me the rope. “Sweaty and tired, you’re still fine as fuck.”
I hated jumping rope, and he knew it, but his encouragement made it easier to push through even when I felt like my legs would give out.
Do you even know how strong you are?
You created Cyan. You’re a big deal, baby.
The way he guided me was addictive. He was my biggest cheerleader and the only reason I survived another dreadful day in the gym with him as my trainer.
“You have the money. You should’ve just let me get on the table like everybody else.” I complained as I stepped off the elevator.
“We both know that won’t fix it. Good work today,” he replied, smacking my ass.
“Keep it up, and there will be another on the way,” Inez laughed, wiping Cyan’s mouth.
“It’s him!”
“You hear your Mama snitching on me?” Treason asked Cyan like he could reply.
Instead, he babbled from his high chair, making spit bubbles, while his eyes followed Treason to the refrigerator.
“How was the gym?” Inez asked.
“Hard!” I groaned, stroking Cyan’s cheek. “Has he been cranky?”
“A little, but food always does the trick. Keep an eye on him. I’m going to check on the laundry.”
All my weight gain and hard work for him to come out as a carbon copy of Treason felt like the cruelest joke. Thankfully, his daddy was fine, so that helped.
“Why does she think we need a reminder to watch him?” Treason asked, once Inez was a comfortable distance away.
“As much as she helps, she can say whatever she wants.”
“That’s crazy, choosing her over me.”
If there was ever a mother to emulate, Inez was it. She never made me feel stupid or less than for the things I didn’t know. Even if I grew tired of Treason one day, Inez and I were locked in for life.
The elevator beeped, and I halfway expected Fallon to round the corner. Instead, it was Sloane, in high-wasted jeans and a cream blouse, removing her sunglasses.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Girl, I’m not here for you. Where’s Glamma’s baby?” Sloane announced.
“I told you about that. Keep it up, and you’ll be back to asking for permission to get up here.”
A lesson she learned the hard way, criticizing my choice to breastfeed like it was her breast. On our first night home, she pissed me off so badly that I cried. Treason didn’t hesitate, revoking her access to me, Cyan, and the penthouse. After anapology, he warned her that if it happened again, he’d impose a lifetime ban.
That reminder made her correct herself, “I came forBlue, too.”
It might’ve been a joke to her, but Treason didn’t play. Cyan might’ve controlled our world, but I was the gravity that held everything together. Treason made sure that everybody knew that without me, their world would spin out of control.
