“I’m not your ex,” he says. “And I saw a glimpse of it last night. I saw the way you lit up when I choked you, and how you were truly in the throes of pleasure when I hit you. I saw it, and I know what it is because I recognize something similar in myself. So, don’t worry about scaring me away. Instead, be worried that I won’t want to leave you alone now that I’ve seen it.”

I stare at Nas with pure shock in my face. He saw the darkness in me come out last night, and he isn’t afraid of it. He wants more of it. I could scream shrieks of joy up to the clouds because I’m so happy, but what is the similar thing inside him?

“What are you doing later?” he asks, disrupting my thoughts.

“Well, after work I’m going to happy hour with my girls at Chili’s. If you're not busy you should come.”

“Okay, I will,” Nas agrees. He steps forward and I open the door for him. Once he’s outside, he turns around and leans against the jamb. “Just take the day and think about it. If you decide you still wanna explore this with me, tell me at happy hour, and then we’ll talk about it later on in the evening … at my place. Deal?”

A smile threatens to take over my entire face as I think about being in Nas’s house, but I keep it in check as I nod my head. “Okay. Deal.”

Chapter Seventeen

“Okay, everybody be quiet because I have waited all day at work to say this out loud. Y’all, this bitch has a bruise on her face from having sex!”

“DeShaun!” I snap, nearly spitting out the drink I just sipped before his outburst.

Juliana, DeShaun, and Shay all burst into laughter at our circular table in the back corner of Chili’s, but I just glare at DeShaun like he’s crazy, because he must be if he thinks I want the entire restaurant knowing about my sexual exploits. I’m a bit embarrassed, but luckily nobody seated around us seems to be paying any attention to my loud friend with the beautiful dark skin and fuchsia jacket. We’ve only been here ten minutes, but everyone is already at least one drink in, so if DeShaun hasn’t single-handedly annoyed the Chili’s patrons, the rest of us will be helping him do it soon.

“I don't wanna hear it, Alina!” DeShaun snaps. “I want all the details right now. At work, you told all of us you’d explain later. Well, it’s later, I’ve already had one Patron Margarita, and I need all the damn details right now! So, finish your drink like a big girl, and tell us everything before your kinky author boyfriend shows up.”