Love & War (Slowly Revising)

"Janae, for real-I like you. A lot. I always have. I wanna see where this goes. I know you've been through a lot, but I want to show you something different. I won't hurt you."

His words hit me like a wave. This was what I had been waiting to hear for so long, but now that he was finally saying it, I was speechless.

"So, will you be my girl... and Leah's stepmom?"

I felt a smile creeping onto my face, even as nerves twisted in my stomach. This was big. Terrifying, even. But something in me wanted to take the chance.

"Yes," I said, my voice softer than I expected. "I would love to be Leah's stepmom... and your girl."

Before I could say anything else, he pulled me into him, covering my face with kisses. His touch was warm, familiar, but when he paused to look at me, there was something new in his gaze-something intense, filled with hunger.

Then he kissed me again, slower this time, deeper. As his hands slid down to the waistband of my shorts, my heart pounded.

I caught his wrist. "Wait, Chance... I'm not ready."

He exhaled, his voice dropping into something low and smooth. "Chill, woman. I just wanna taste what's mine."