Page 167 of The Ninth

The thought of him looking at another woman and needing her. His dick throbbing while in her throat. He had my video on the phone watching and still didn’t stop or feel remorse until afterwards. It’s so stupid to be angry when I did worse. I’m fucking heartbroken!

“I can’t!” I snatched my hand away roughly, leaping up to run out of the room.

Before I could even pass the bed, his long arm stretched out, catching me. I cried out, pushing against him and mumbling for him to let me go. He just held onto me tightly while looking down at me with those watery, hazel eyes. I can’t wrap my head around a bitch having my man.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you and only you. I never looked at them bitches in there or flirted with them. You have to believe me that it was one time, Crybaby. You’re the most gorgeous woman to ever walk earth. My entire heart. My everything. Believe me when I say it will never be anyone else. No one else will ever catch my eye or make me smile. I will kill every bitch alive right now!”

“I’m going to bed, K3.”

“I’m not leaving you again. I can sleep on the couch or the floor if not in bed with you. But I’m not sleeping somewhere else. I don’t forgive you for right now, but I love you and know I could. G, I’m not depriving myself of such a beautiful woman. Not anymore. We work through it together. Can you forgive me, Crybaby?”

I couldn’t meet his eyes. He had three weeks to think about the Juan shit. I’m just now able to know what happened in jail and process it. I wanted to kick him out so I could control the narrative this time. I could be the one mad, avoiding him. But that’s just not who I am or how I was feeling. As bad as it was, I still didn’t want him to leave.

“I can...at some point,” my voice whispered.

“I’m sorry, Cassandra.”

“I know.”

“I’ll be out there.”

I nodded as he finally released me, sitting me on the bench. Even broken, I still eagerly leaned up to kiss him back when he leaned down. He left me sitting there with my thoughts. Thoughts about him and her. Thoughts about me and him.

In my heart, I know I regret the Juan situation, truly. I know in my bones if I could go back and not do it, I would. Only I could ever feel how deeply I love Kenzo. I know Kenzo loves me the same. If I felt so strongly about my wrong doings then he regretted his as well. That one truth is what made me get up after sitting for two hours.

I left the room, walking across the cold floor and to K3. He was laying on the couch with his arm thrown over his eyes. Just boxers on. Locs surrounding his face. Without even looking at me or speaking, his arm stretched out. I gladly climbed on top of him, melting into his body.

Chapter 32: Our Rhythm

Cassie’s POV

What even is love? At this point in my life, it always seemed linear. I love you. You love me. My parents and I loved each other, period. My friends and I. Cousin and I. Kenzo and I. Why doesn’t it seem so straight forward anymore? No one mentioned the hurt, the forgiveness, the healing that comes with love as well. Something I’ve done with Devyn. Something I’m doing with Kenzo. Is that love? Struggling through battles just to have one another?

My eyes slowly opened for the first time today. They were heavy, sticky, and wet. Even though I went to sleep with K3 and he’s still laying beneath me, I cried all night long. He just held me. At that moment, nothing he could’ve said would have stopped the tears and he knew it. I cried for our time lost and our time together so far. I’m sure he didn’t go to sleep until I did.

K4 pawed at the couch cushion eagerly. Anytime K3 and I are a duo? He wants to make it a trio. Even more now since K3 and I are rarely together during the day anymore. I didn’t even know if Kenzo was awake.

I slowly drug my eyes up his chest, chin, lips and nose. When my eyes got to his, I realized he was already awake. Already looking at me. Worry coated his face as well as concern and sadness. To be honest? I hated seeing my man feel this way.

My hand found his face, cupping it softly. Stretching up, I connected our lips. The kiss was simple yet carried so much love. My body released a deep sigh as we pressed into each other. As soon as we pulled our faces away, both of us grabbed the other at the same time. My heart fluttered taking in the smell of my man during our hug.

“I’m sorry—” we said at the exact same time. Both of us chuckled, pulling apart and looking into each other’s eyes.

“I’ll never hurt you again, Cassandra. If a nigga could take his heart out and lay it at your feet, I would. It’s important to me that you know that no one else comes before you. You have me until my last breath.”

“I know, Kenzo. I hope I was able to bring closure to my situation. I don’t think about it at all. Only when I think about how I hurt you. You’re my everything.”

“I know, Cassandra. Promise me we gon be together forever, beautiful girl.”

“I promise you, Papa. My first and my last.”

“Aight now.”

I giggled as he gripped me tightly, kissing on my lips and face. Finally he picked our son up and allowed him to snuggle on the couch with us. The three of us laid silently, enjoying the others’ company. If it wasn’t for K3 speaking up after so long, I would have fallen back to sleep.

“Where yo fine ass gon be today?”

“If you gotta get up and go be a hoe, just say that!” I rolled my eyes.