She did.
“You have nothing to be intimidated by.Nothing.”
Rhythm let out a small breath. “Sincere—”
“Let me finish,” I cut in gently. “Tempo and I are done. That story is closed. I respect that family because we built real business together and they treated me like family. That does not mean I’m still tied to her.”
Her eyes searched my face like she wanted to believe me but did not want to be stupid.
“You’re not her,” I added. “And I do not want you to be.”
Rhythm’s throat moved when she swallowed. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Being… intentional. This is a lot.”
“Because I want to be a part of your life, and I know that means adding to yours.”
She stared at me for a long second, then her voice softened. “I’m not used to that.”
“I like you. I like your mind. I like how you move. I like how you love your kids. I like how you listen when you’re learning and how you get so confident and proud of yourself when you know what you’re doing. The attraction is there, yes. But it’s not the whole thing.”
Rhythm blinked fast, then looked away like she needed a second to hold herself together.
When she looked back, her smile was smaller, but real. “Okay…” then she took a deep breath and smiled. “Okay.”
RHYTHM BROOKS
The elevator ride up to Sincere's condo in the South Loop high-rise felt like it went on forever. My heart and pussy were pounding with the anticipation that had been boiling all night.
It still felt surreal to be dating a man like Sincere. He was educated, confident, and clearly wealthy. I wasn’t poor, but I wasn’t rich either. I’d spent my adult life with men who lived in the same lane I did, figuring it out as they went. Kodi had money, but it was hustle money that was temporary. His money was always one bad decision away from disappearing. Sincere was different. His money was stable. I was honored that a man like him even wanted me physically. But what humbled and shook me was that he wanted to date me. He wanted to be seen with me, to take me places, to invest time and intention in me. It didn’t feel like a game or a phase. It felt sincere in a way I wasn’t used to.
Our date had been perfect. We’d had dinner at an upscale restaurant overlooking the river. His hand continuously brushed mine as we talked about everything from my kids to his latest project at the firm. He was trying so hard to do this right, to court me like I deserved, and I appreciated it more than Icould say. But, all evening, my mind kept drifting back to Friday morning, when he'd slipped out of my apartment before the kids woke up, leaving me sore and satisfied, craving that dick again.
When the door of his condo opened, I stopped dead in my tracks. The condo was stunning with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the glittering Chicago skyline, sleek marble counters in the kitchen that probably cost more than my monthly rent, and modern furniture that screamed money. It was the kind of luxury I'd only seen in magazines, and for a second, I just stood there, overwhelmed, taking in the polished hardwood floors and the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air.
But Sincere didn't give me time to gawk. His hands were on my waist, pulling me close, and his lips crashed into mine before the door even clicked shut behind us. The tension that had built all night exploded right there in the living room. We tore off our clothes like they were on fire. He scooped me up effortlessly, carrying me down the hall to his bedroom, and by the time we hit the king-sized bed with its crisp sheets, I was naked and aching for him.
Sincere was like Clark Kent by day with those wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose and educated, white-collar vibe from his high-powered job making him look so clean-cut and put-together. But peel back the layers, and he was pure Superman, with an attitude and swag that radiated big dick, real nigga energy. He knew exactly when to be soft, whispering sweet nothings over candlelight, and exactly when not to be… Like now.
He pushed me back onto the bed, climbing over me. “You have no idea how bad I've wanted this all night,” he murmured as his fingers traced my thighs before spreading them wide.
He positioned the tip of his dick at my entrance, entering cruelly slowly and stretching me inch by inch. My eyes locked onhis, and he watched me with that smirk playing on his lips like he owned the desperation building inside me.
“Look at you, so pretty for me,” he said, thrusting deeper, pushing past what my body thought it could take, filling me completely. His hand cupped my jaw, holding it firm so my gaze couldn't wander, forcing me to see the beast he'd become.
He fucked like he hated me, hips slamming hard into me, each drive pulling a cry from my throat, but then he'd lean down and kiss me like he couldn't live without me. His tongue tangled with mine in a tenderness that made every ache in my soul finally rest.
He kept me right on the edge, slowing just when I was about to tip over, drawing it out to watch my body writhe beneath him.
“Feel that pussy gripping me?” he tortured me. “I'm so thankful I get to be inside you like this, Rhythm. You're so fucking tight and wet for this dick.”
His dirty and intimate words drove me crazy, like he was having a conversation with my soul while he wrecked my body. He dragged my hips back to meet his thrusts, like letting go was never an option, his free hand pinning my wrist above my head.
“Tell me how bad you want it,” he growled, picking up the pace, gentle strokes turning brutal in seconds.
I babbled nonsense, begging, my nails digging into his back as he destroyed me, wave after wave of pleasure crashing until I shattered around him, screaming his name.
