Page 45 of Terms of the Flight

She smiled brightly and leaned into Jace with her arm wrapped around his waist. He leaned down and kissed her forehead before returning his attention back to me. I just stood there smiling, looking crazy.

“When Jace told me you were bringing someone to the wedding, I was a little skeptical. But the way you’re looking right now is like a man who’s been bitten,” Simone said.

My brow rose.

“Bitten by what?” I asked.

Jace chuckled and then rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Simone poked me in the center of my chest. “You and I can’t wait to meet her. Don’t think we didn’t see you cheesing extra hard over here on your phone.”

I waved them off, not wanting to agree or deny. I needed them to believe this was real. I was about to reply when my phone vibrated. I pulled it from my pocket, and it was a text from security letting me know Khaleya had arrived.

“Aye, give me a second. I’ll be back,” I told them.

“Mm-hmm, go head and run,” Simone said.

I shook my head and chuckled as I jogged up the steps to head towards the lobby entrance.

The moment I stepped into the lobby, the double doors opened. My steps slowed as she came into view. I bit my lower lip as I took her in from top to bottom.

“Damn.”

Khaleya’s hair was full and curly, brushing against her shoulders. Her dress, damn, that dress. I’m glad she didn’t show me at the store, because seeing her draped in champagne gold had my mouth watering. The split that went up her right thigh was dangerously close to revealing everything I’d bark and hop on one foot to taste.

Simply put, she was every synonym of the word beautiful.

When her eyes found mine, she smiled, and with every step, her hips swayed. The flashing of the cameras weren’t lost on me. The moment she was close enough, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her flush against me.

She knew what time I was on. Khaleya reached up and cupped my chin, then stood on the tips of her toes. I met her halfway as our lips met in a passionate kiss. I slipped my tongue into her mouth, causing her to moan a bit.

The sweet sound was just for my ears, but damn if it didn’t make me want to take her ass into the nearest bathroom. The flashing of the cameras got a little louder, bringing me back to reality. I pulled back, and her cheeks were now flushed. I brushed the corner of her mouth, then stepped back to kiss her knuckles.

“You’re beyond beautiful, Doll.”

“I can tell by the way yo’ ass took that kiss to hell, Big.”

I chuckled and led her towards the ballroom.

“You started it,” I teased.

The moment we stepped into the ballroom, I glanced over at Khaleya, and her eyes were filled with so much wonder. I knew then I had to have done what needed to be done.

I leaned over and whispered in her ear.

“You like it?” I asked.

“I do. You do this every year?”

I nodded with a smile.

“Oh, he got money,” she said. “Get it all for him.” Like Quinta Brunson in that video.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Since this woman came into my life, I’d been laughing non-stop. I needed that. She’s a walking stress reliever.

“Damn, you smile any harder, we’re going to know your dental health better than your dentist,” Jace said, walking over with Simone at his side.

I should have known their nosy asses weren’t going too far, so they could meet Khaleya.