Page 217 of The Ninth

“YOU TRAPPED ME!”

“I’LL TRAP YO ASS, FASHO!”

Giggles erupted from me as he picked me up, spinning before running to the bed. We didn’t even make it onto the mattress before our lips touched the other’s. For the first time since last night, his body finally wasn’t tensed. He laid back, pulling me up into him. Little groans escaped his mouth as I kissed along his jaw and neck.

“Cassandra. I promised you my life. I’ll stop at nothing for a woman like you.”

“And I believe you, Kenzo, although your love is enough for me.”

“I love you, Crybaby”

“I love you, Papa. With everything in me.”

A sobering feeling fell onto me as we laid there, kissing deeply. I’m going to live a great life. Give my child a great life. Have a great marriage and family.

Mama and Deddy, I thought I died seeing them lower your caskets into the dirt. I’ve never felt more alive.

Chapter 43: My Girl

Devyn’s POV

Soft rustling caused me to turn over in bed, reaching for my personal teddy bear. When I came up empty, I sat up on my elbow, looking for him. I watched sleepily as he shut the room door quietly and slipped into the t-shirt in his hands. My eyebrows furrowed as I realized he was getting ready to leave.

One glance over at me and he saw I was awake. After standing for a few seconds, he made his way to me, slipping into bed and pulling me into his chest.

“Oh, Duke...” the words slipped out of my mouth as the smell of his freshly washed body and cologne invaded the space.

“How you doing, my Devyn? Jumping up and going out of the country? Meeting my family?”

“Um, it definitely all happened quickly and took me by surprise. I’m perfectly okay, though. Your family is beautiful and welcoming. You’ve also made me super comfortable.”

“Our family. After you went to bed, I went and spoke to my mother and father. She talked my head off for a smooth hour about you, folks. K2 says you’re a gorgeous woman and are like a female version of myself. He also can’t let go that we have more tattoos than everyone else combined.”

I giggled remembering cracking up laughing every time he made the joke. K2 literally was just a smaller, older K3. Talk about copy and paste.

“They feel so warm. Just like my Uncle Cash and Aunt Tami did. Every time they came around...it just felt like family. Without them? I don’t know. It always just felt like I was being supervised by three adults. Cassie and K3’s love is rooted and surrounded by even more love. I’m glad to be a part of it. It makes me want better with my own peoples.”

He chuckled at me speaking like him, “I promise that we’ll do whatever we can to mend things and get that bond right between y’all. I also promise I will not let your efforts tear your down.”

“Thank you, baby boy. This trip so far has given me a glance at a beautiful future. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for us. Also...I’m so sorry for all that I’ve done up until this point.”

“It’s okay, baby I’ma be there to care for you, always. I didn’t mean to wake you up, but I’m glad I did.”

“Why?”

“I just wanted the chance to tell you I love you. I can’t tell you enough and need you to understand just how much.”

“I do, Duke. I love you even more.”

“Go ahead and lay back down, Big Head. You ain’t missing shit, gang.”

I laughed, punching his side as he cracked up laughing. He swears every time he makes one movement in the bed; I pop up asking what he’s doing and where he’s going.

I closed my eyes, allowing his big hand to rub up and down my back. Eventually, I dozed right back to sleep.

****

Opening my eyes, I could feel Duke wasn’t in the room. The loudest groan left my body as I stretched, sitting up and taking in my beautiful surroundings. This may be the most relaxed I’ve felt since seeing the two guys outside of the tattoo shop. This is exactly what was needed.