"Come out, we not gone jump you 😈"
That was the text Paris woke up to from Jessica. It made her smirk.
But the smile faded when she saw the other notifications. Texts, a missed call, and a voicemail from Xavier.
She threw the covers off, hit play on the voicemail as she walked to the bathroom.
"Good morning, beautiful... sorry I fell asleep on you last night. I'm already working on making it up to you."
There was a pause.
Paris froze in front of the mirror.
"I—"
But he caught himself. Took a breath.
"I hope you have a good day. I'll talk to you later."
Click.
She smiled softly. She knew what he almost said. She could feel the "I love you" clinging to his hesitation.
She brushed her teeth slowly, letting the scent of breakfast and loud kush drift into her bathroom. Her stomach growled and her head buzzed from the smell alone. She tossed on her robe, didn't bother with her hair, and unlocked her door.
The first thing she saw was Shane.
Laid back on the weight bench, chest glistening with sweat, white gym shorts clinging to him like sin. Every rep made his abs flex and the imprint between his legs more obvious.
They locked eyes, just for a second. But that was enough to restart the ache in her thighs.
She kept walking.
Jessica was already outside on the balcony, breakfast laid out. Paris fixed herself a plate, just eggs and fruit, and joined her.
"'Bout time," Jessica said, glancing over her shades.
"I'm surprised you're even up," Paris shot back, referencing last night with a smirk.
Jessica laughed. "I know I'm late and it's already done, but... were you okay with that?"
Paris shrugged. She wasn't mad. She and Jessica had history, deep history. Nights in prison where hands and mouths blurred the lines between boredom and survival. If anything, she was jealous. Of the moaning. The connection. The release.
"I was fine with it," Paris said, biting into a grape.
But her eyes weren't on Jessica anymore.
They were locked on Shane.
He was now running on the treadmill, overlooking the city. Headphones in. Mind somewhere else.
Dick still jumping in his shorts.
Paris licked her lips without thinking.
"Stop starin' at that man," Jessica teased. "Before he give you what you asking for."
Paris dropped her gaze to her plate, clearing her throat.
"What you got planned today?" she asked, switching gears.
"Shane wants my help with a project," Jessica said, watching him too now.
"What kind of project?"
Jessica paused. "He told me not to tell you. I wasn't even supposed to say that, so don't snitch."
Paris rolled her eyes. "I don't even know why he brought me here if I can't do shit."
Right then, a knock interrupted them. All three turned.
