𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑋𝑜𝑛𝑒

𝐿𝑋𝑉

In my sleep, I could feel her, her hand wrapped around my back. Her touch was featherlight, grazing my skin in a way that felt both familiar and new. I opened my eyes to the warm, cozy sensation of her beside me. She was so close. Her face was just inches from mine, her eyes still closed, and her lips slightly parted as if caught in the middle of a dream.

A smile crept across my face at how close we were. All it would take was the slightest movement, a small lean forward, and our lips would touch. I didn't hesitate, letting my lips meet hers softly, savoring the warmth and smoothness of her mouth. It felt so good I couldn't resist a second kiss.

Her eyes fluttered open, hazy with sleep. She smiled, her lips closing quickly as if embarrassed by how intently I was watching her.

"Good morning, Janet," I whispered.

"Good morning," she murmured, her voice low and soft. "So, last night wasn't a dream?"

"No," I giggled, my heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. "It was too real to be just a dream."

"It just... happened so fast," she said, her brow furrowing slightly, but the smile on her lips never wavered.

We lay there, body to body, chest to chest, stomach to stomach, skin to skin, tangled together on her couch. If she let go of me, I was sure I'd tumble onto the floor.

"I know," I said. "But I think I'm ready now."

"You think?" she asked, raising a skeptical brow. "I need you to be sure, Mariah. If we're going to do this, we have to do it right—this time."

"This time," I echoed, holding her gaze. "Will be the last."

"The last, the best," she promised, her voice steady with conviction. "I promise to always love and protect you, Mariah Avant."

"That sounds like a pinky swear," I teased, trying to lighten the moment.

She smiled, though her expression remained serious. "I'm serious, baby."

"Mm-hmm," I hummed, nestling closer to her. "I missed hearing you call me 'baby.'"

"Baby," she said again, her voice dropping into a playful tone. "You like that?"

"I like everything you do," I replied honestly.

"Not everything. There are times when I piss you off," she said, her eyes narrowing playfully.

"You're human," I said, shrugging. "And I forgive you."

"Okay, then you'll forgive me when I say this—your breath stinks," she teased, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Oh, so you've got jokes?" I said, laughing. "Your breath stinks too, but I love you so much I wasn't going to say anything."

"Aww, you love me," she cooed before attacking my neck with kisses, making me laugh uncontrollably.

Her playful assault ended, and we stared at each other, the room quiet except for the sound of our breathing.

"I don't want to go back to Tyra's," I admitted softly.

"Okay," she said without hesitation. "Stay here. This is your place too. We'll start dating again, and when you're ready—when we're ready—you can move back in with me in Cali. How does that sound?"

"Good," I said, though my voice betrayed some hesitation.

"It's not good," she said, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. "I can hear it in your tone."

"No—Janet, I love it," I assured her. "It's just... traveling back and forth from Cali to the city can be exhausting."

"Right," she said, nodding slowly. "Are you suggesting long distance? Because I can't do that."