XV | Knock Knock

When Halle returned to the penthouse, she was on her best behavior. She got up early enough to make breakfast every morning, and ironed Rowan's clothes every night. She kept their home spotless at all times, and ran his bath water after dinner. She did everything in her power to stay out of his way unless it was to cater to him.

Anything not to raise suspicion.

Anything except her usual antics to seduce him.

I deserve a freaking Emmy.

The past seven days had been glorious for her body and mental state. She'd been working out every evening without stepping foot in the gym.

There wasn't a trace of boredom in her psyche, but soreness was ever present. The best kind.

"So I guess I'll leave you ladies to it then?" Rowan cupped Halle's hips and planted a kiss on the side of her mouth. He went in for another one, but she dodged it, making his lips land on her cheek.

"Yes, leave us to it." She chuckled uncomfortably.

Imperceptible to her tone, Rowan released her. "Alright, I better get back to the office. I've got some X-rays to study. See ya at home, Hals."

"Okay. See you there." Halle shoulders unwinded as soon as he walked out of the door.

Successfully dodged him again.

"Now, which one of you beauties is the bride?" The sales associate cheesed as she took in the group of four women. Her uniform was reminiscent of a flight attendant with a canary ribbon tied around her neck.

Sage raised her hand bashfully at first, before her soon to be mother-in-law grabbed it and held it higher.

"Perfect! My name is Joanne and I will be helping you pick out your dress. What is your budget?"

"12 thousand dollars." Ms. Beverly's pride shined at her contribution to her son's big day.

"Wonderful." Joanne smiled. "Right this way."

Sage followed the woman to the back, while Halle sat next to Brezdin's mother and younger sister on a white padded bench. She hummed to herself, lost in her own little world while Ms. Beverly and Kara chatted, all of them waiting for her best-friend to be fitted.

Halle subconsciously tapped her foot to the rhythm of last night's activities, teleporting her mind to a naughty place.

Chiko stared into her teary eyes, a low hum coming from deep within his belly as he eased himself back into her mouth.

The navy blue sky's beauty blanketed over them was only second to the attractiveness of Halle's glossed lips as they wrapped around the shaft of his dick. He pumped slowly, letting her take control at first.

"Slurp that shit." He gripped the baby hair above the nape of her neck, and like gelato on a hot summer's night, she melted between her thighs.

Chiko kept an eye out for any peeping Toms. It wouldn't be too hard to spot them anyway. How discreet was a lone vehicle in an otherwise empty parking lot at 10 PM?

He would have to find out later.

Throwing his head back as the tip of his dick reached the back of her throat, Chiko focused on not spilling his seed too soon. "Fuck!"

"Halle, what do you think?" Sage was standing on a circular podium, a poofy white dress swallowing her figure.

It was stunning, but not daring enough to be Sage's final pick, she thought.

"Very princessy." Halle assessed. "But not sexy enough."

"You're right!" Sage studied her own reflection before squinting at Halle through the mirror. "You know, you've been glowing lately. Somebody must be doing something right."

"Oh you have no idea." Halle winked, shooing her to the back to change.

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The penthouse was quiet, save for the low volume leaking from the late-night talk show host on the  TV. Halle's keys jingled slightly when she picked them up, making her wince and pause her step, listening for the sound of his snoring.

When it continued, she let out a relieved sigh and reached for the handle on the front door.

"Hals?" Rowan yawned, and the bed creaked as his weight shifted.

Damn!

Halle rolled her eyes, but her voice was cheery. "Yes?"

"Where are you going?" He walked into the hallway, evidence of sleep baked into his features.

"To Sage's house." She was quick with her alibi, turning around with a light expression.

"You guys have been hanging out a lot lately." He takes in her appearance, starting from her footwear. It was casual enough - light jacket with some leggings. "Any chance of you staying in to watch a movie with me? I'm all free of my work duties tonight."

"Ahh, well, wedding planning is very time consuming and important. So no, sorry." Halle twirled her key ring around her index finger. "How about tomorrow night?"

For a fraction of a second, his face fell before he remembered himself. "I'll be busy then. Tell Sage I said hello... again."

"Of course. See you later."

And with that, they went their separate ways.

Halle pressed the pedal to the metal as she traveled down the interstate to the other side of town. She rationalized her decision with the fact that Rowan has canceled on her plenty of times before. Her simply returning the favor here or there would not matter in the long haul.

Had she not been outstanding in every other way?

While Chiko's apartment complex was gated, it wasn't as lavish as anything that the Belliars owned. She chose a vacant parking spot towards the back, squinting underneath the beaming blue streetlights as she made her way up the third floor of building C.

Just as her knuckles were about to tap the front door, Chiko answered it, a pair of sweats hanging low on his defined waist.

"What're you smiling at?" Halle playfully shoved him, and he pulled her in for a hug. They inhaled each other's scents greedily before letting go.

"The fact that you finally showed up." He stepped aside, allowing her to enter the apartment and locked the door behind them.

Halle's eyes grew as she took in the well decorated space. It was warm and inviting, complete with family photos and beautifully painted art along the walls. Nothing like the soulless white slabs that she was used to.

"My grandma had this same picture." Halle pointed to an Ernie Barnes' The Sugar Shack print hanging over the maroon sofa.

The sudden burst of nostalgia from the hot summer nights sleeping on her grandmother's floor with her cousins made her smile.

"Every Black person should have a classic piece from a Black artist." He kissed the back of her exposed neck, and she shivered.

He rotated her body until their lips were just centimeters apart, taking in the scent of her fruity lip oil.

"You want a snack?" He nodded towards the rinsed bowl of cherries on the counter.

"Sure." Halle's voice was lighter than a feather.

They navigated into the kitchen and fed each other, over conversation that deepened as the night went on.

"Your problem is you're thinking too small. You think that where you are currently is where you'll always be, and that doesn't have to be the case."

"I've already picked a career though." She sighed. "And it's easier to just stick with what I know."

"Something being easy doesn't always mean it's for the best. Your initial plans don't have to last forever, Halle. People change, people grow."

Halle had spent the past five years believing that all of her dreams had come true. From her job down to the man she laid next to every night, she thought that she had everything that she could ever want. Now she was unsure.

Was it ungratefulness or was she finally being enlightened?

Chiko put the plastic container in the dishwasher, and rounded the kitchen island until he was standing in front of her. "Think about it."

Using his forearms, he scooped her up and lifted her onto the counter top, positioning himself between her legs. "Like really think about it."

She understood the unspoken, and wrapped her arms around his neck. A kiss sensual enough to trigger hums from each of them stole their breaths, and filled the air with lust. Chiko's left hand slipped into her baby tee to palm her breast, giving it a light squeeze.

Halle had begun to live for these moments.

Two firm knocks on the door startled them both, and they broke apart. Another round of harsh knocking made Chiko reach into his draw for a firearm, but his expression was conflicted when the person on the other side of the door yelled.

"Police! Open up."

~

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