𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑋𝑜𝑛𝑒

𝑋𝐼𝐼𝐼

We stepped outside, the warmth of Janet's hand still holding mine as if she never wanted to let go. Joey led us to a sleek, black Escalade parked discreetly by the curb. The windows were tinted, a necessary veil for someone like Janet, always under the public eye. Joey opened the door for us, and I slid in first, feeling the soft, luxurious leather under me. It felt like the kind of comfort I could sink into, almost as if I was melting into the seat.

Janet followed, her presence grounding me in the moment even though the air between us was quiet. The driver set off after Joey took his place in the passenger seat. There was no partition this time, just the two of us in the back, with Joey and the driver in the front, allowing us a sense of closeness without the illusion of privacy.

I tried to stay calm, but my nerves were firing off endless scenarios. What was next? Where was she taking me? The quiet between us felt heavier with unspoken tension, and my mind raced through the possibilities. I shifted my gaze to the window, watching as the streets of Los Angeles blurred past. The city was busy, as always, but inside this car, it felt like a world of our own, a little bubble where time moved slower, the weight of Janet's presence pulling me closer to her.

I glanced over at her, watching as she rested back against the seat, her fingers gently tracing mine. There was a calmness in her, a certainty that made me want to ask a million questions but, at the same time, keep silent.

I watched her silently, her fingers delicately playing with mine as they rested between us. It was a simple gesture, but it felt intimate, like she was saying something without words. I wondered what was going on in her mind, what she could be thinking. She was always so hard to read, her expressions calm and composed, but her touch was soft, almost tender.

I didn't want to ruin the moment by speaking too soon, but the silence between us was thick with unsaid things. Her thumb traced gentle circles on the back of my hand, and I felt the warmth from her skin seep into me. It was moments like these that made me feel like I was falling deeper into her world, one I didn't fully understand but couldn't resist either.

I thought about asking her what she was thinking, but part of me was afraid to break the spell, to shift whatever mood was lingering between us. Instead, I just watched her, trying to decipher the mystery behind her eyes, wondering if she was as caught up in this moment as I was.

Her fingers continued to glide over my skin, her thumb tracing lazy circles as she caressed my hand. She seemed completely lost in the moment, as if nothing else existed outside of the two of us. I couldn't tell what was on her mind. "Where are we?" I asked, my eyes wide as they wandered over the rows of luxurious houses lining the streets. Each one was more extravagant than the last, almost like something out of a movie.

"Calabasas," Janet said softly, her voice calm and steady as she lifted my hand. She brought it to her lips, pressing a gentle kiss against the back of it. The gesture caught me off guard, but the warmth of her lips sent a wave of comfort through me.

She was clearly in her own world, her mind somewhere distant, yet she remained present in the touch of her fingers as they traced slow, soothing patterns across the back of my hand. I watched her, her eyes half-closed in peaceful contemplation, completely focused on me in that moment.

Her thumb glided over my skin, sending soft shivers up my arm as she caressed the smooth surface. She hadn't spoken much, but there was something about her presence that was enough. It was like she didn't need words, her touch said everything.

I didn't want to disrupt the peace that seemed to surround her, so I remained quiet, letting her have her moment. But curiosity tugged at me. I couldn't help but wonder where she was taking me and what was running through her mind.