Chapter 17 Solana
The music in The Crown was loud enough to rattle the glasses against our table, lights flashed across the room, and laughter drifted up from the dance floor high enough to let me know a time was being had.
I barely noticed any of it.
My attention stayed on Duke as he walked away from our section with Juelz in tow. He moved through the crowd like he owned it, weaving between bodies and flashing lights with the kind of calm confidence that made people step aside.
I could tell from across the room that nothing about this chat he was about to have was casual.
"You know, staring that damn hard, you're going to burn a hole through that man, right?"
Jessa's voice snapped my attention back to her and Aubree. I blinked and turned toward them. She was leaning back against the couch, sipping her drink, while Aubree bobbed her head to the music.
"Ma'am," she added, grinning. "You ain't even pretending to look at anything else."
I shrugged and leaned forward to grab my drink, then took a sip.
"Well. That's mine, and I need to see where he's going," I responded with my nose in the air.
I held it for a moment, but unable to hold it a second longer, we burst into laughter.
"I don't know what that man has done to me, but if I could be in his skin, I would. He's quickly become my safe place. Which is a good and bad thing."
Jessa's smile dropped and her brows drew in close. She sat upright and turned her body to face me. Aubree noticed the shift and moved in closer to hear what was being said.
"You know it's not crazy to feel good about where you are and who you're with. It doesn't have to be this big 'what if.'"
I took a sip of my drink, then placed it on the table in front of me. Then leaned close enough that I knew only they could hear me, since Rico was nearby.
"Yeah. I just feel like I should be able to feel safe by myself. It shouldn't only be with him."
Aubree reached out and rubbed my hand. "You will be.
Just give yourself some time. You already out and about looking like the bad bitch you are — not hiding, outside of those damn shades.
I'm proud of you, and soon you'll be able to yell 'fuck you' to those folks who think they own the rights to you. "
I knew she was right, but it was a feeling I was still working through.
"Now let's have a good time before your man comes back. I have a feeling soon as he gets back, we gone be heading out."
Jessa suggested it standing in the middle of our section. I couldn't help but laugh as she bent over and threw her ass in a circle. Aubree giggled and slapped Jessa's ass, hyping her up. I was the sitting-pretty type, so I just danced in my seat.
Ten minutes went by before Duke and Juelz came walking back into our section. Duke stood in front of me, then leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"You ready?"
I glanced back at my girls and they nodded, already knowing what was asked. We all stood and began filing out of the section. I was ready to go — I had long since stopped being a club girl.
Duke held his hand out to help me up, then helped Jessa. Juelz walked in front of Aubree, Duke was glued to my side, and Rico walked behind Jessa, making sure we made it outside safely.
The need to check my surroundings continuously was nonexistent whenever I was in Duke's presence. His hand never left the small of my back as we went back out the way we came in. The men walked around the bikes, checking them before allowing us to get on.
Once I was secure behind Duke, he nodded at Juelz and Rico, letting them know we could go. I wrapped my arms around his waist tightly, then leaned into him. I wanted to savor this feeling of contentment and warmth. I needed it all.
It felt faster getting back to Duke's place than it did getting to the club. Duke pulled up in front of his building along with Juelz and Rico.
"You staying with me tonight?" he asked, looking over his shoulder.
"Sir, I do have a home, and I don't have any more treats prepped for tomorrow like I did today. As much as I want to say yes, I have to say no — but you can come stay with me." I tilted my head with a smile. "But only if you just can't bear to part from me."
I added in a British accent. Duke chuckled and shook his head.
"I'll come stay with you. Let me grab a couple things before we go."
I nodded, then got off his bike to talk to Jessa and Aubree, who were in conversation with Rico and Juelz for a moment. The moment I walked over, Juelz and Rico stepped away to speak with Duke.
"Damn, it's been so long since I've gone out like that. But I also appreciate the short amount of time we spent there. We aren't in our twenties anymore, and my bed is calling my name," Jessa said as I wrapped my arms around her to give her a hug.
"You ain't never lied. You don't have to worry about bringing me home, Jessa. Juelz said he would do it," Aubree said, leaning in to hug us both.
"Mhm, I'm sure he did. Don't let me find out you're being fresh with a man on a bike like your other friend over here," Jessa said, pointing in my direction.
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms against my chest.
"You could be fresh with a man who rides a bike too, but you playin'." I pointed it out with a nod over my shoulder in Rico's direction.
Rico glanced our way just as we were all looking, causing us to look away quickly. Jessa turned her back to him and widened her eyes.
"Y'all get on my nerves. I'm going home, and I don't want to hear nothing about that man. My car is parked right over there — text me when y'all get home," Jessa instructed, then quickly crossed the street to her car.
Rico jogged past us and stood beside Jessa's door. She had the nerve to be giggling after fronting on that man over here. Aubree and I couldn't pull our eyes away if we wanted to. Jessa reached into her purse, then started typing, so I knew she had to be getting that man's number.
A few minutes later, Rico was jogging back across the street with a smirk.
He made a beeline for his bike, then nodded at everyone before pulling off behind Jessa.
I turned to look at Aubree and we burst into laughter.
We knew Jessa well, and she was getting ready to give that man the night of his life.
"Yo' friend loves to pretend like she isn't feeling someone."
"And do," Aubree agreed with a giggle.
Juelz walked over and hitched up his pants a little. "You ready?" he asked Aubree.
She nodded with a smile, then turned to me, kissed her fingers, and waved. I returned the gesture and made my way toward my man. Duke was leaned against the brick wall by his loft entrance. As I got closer, he stood upright and opened the door so I could walk ahead of him.
The entire way up the steps, the heat from his eyes practically burned a hole in my back and ass. My heart raced like I hadn't been alone with him before. I don't know why my hands always got moist or why the need to bounce from one foot to the other came over me in his presence.
"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" he asked, pulling his keys out to unlock the door.
"I didn't have a choice but to have a good time with Jessa around," I joked.
"I'm sure. I hope I didn't cut your night short too soon. I could tell you put a lot of thought into your outfit tonight. You look damn good."
He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and walked me through the front door, then placed kisses along the length of my neck.
"You didn't. The majority of the energy we had for tonight was used trying to put our outfits together. We got to dance, drink, and look cute. What more can a girl ask for?" I asked.
"I could name a few things I'm willing to grant," he said, then leaned down and bit my shoulder, causing me to yelp.
"I'm sure you will. Now go get your stuff — you're trying to distract me." I shooed him.
He smiled and jogged up the steps to his bedroom.
When I first saw his loft, this was exactly what I had imagined Duke lived in.
It was all moody colors, steel, and dark wood.
I had been concerned when he gave me that money earlier, but seeing that he had two places let me know money wasn't a problem.
I still didn't want him giving me money because I had plenty of it. I just chose to leave it all behind. I could fix any financial problem with a single decision to step out of the shield I had allowed Rose Haven to give me — and was now allowing Duke to give me.
Normally I felt his presence, but this time I was too deep in my thoughts. He stood directly in front of me and lifted my chin to bring my eyes to meet his.
"What's up, Sweets? You were good when I went upstairs."
I tried to smile. "I'm fine. I just spaced out a little."
He never looked away. His eyes always made me feel like I was drowning when he stared down at me. I couldn't move unless he looked away, and he wasn't letting this go. I could feel it.
"Nah, what's up."
I huffed and released a sigh.
"I was just thinking about the money you gave me earlier. I don't want you giving me money for something I could fix in an instant. All I have to do is stop hiding."
I finally found the strength to look away, but he brought my attention back to him.
"I know this is new, but I'm gone make some shit clear. If I have it, so do you. Take what you need from me, baby — security, money, comfort. You got that shit if I have it to give."
I nodded, then wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head against his chest. I wasn't trying to end our night on this note. I didn't want to be a burden to him.
Duke wrapped his arms around me and we stood that way for the next ten minutes.
I pulled back and he grabbed his bag. On the ride back to my shop, I directed him to the garage in the back so he could put his bike inside with my car.
Once everything was secure, we took the back way up to my place above the bakery.
The moment Duke walked in, he smiled as he looked around. I had always known it wasn't the biggest place — it was one of the reasons I loved it. But with him standing in the middle of it, it felt like a small closet.
"Allow me to give you a tour of the space," I said.
He smiled, showing all thirty-two, then placed his bag down by his feet and crossed his arms.
I walked over to the two-seater table by the window and waved my arm like Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune.
"This is the two-seater eatery. All thoughts and plans are handled here. Oh, and a little bit of eating."
He chuckled as I continued to point out other areas within the space. I walked over and went to pick up his bag so I could lead him to my room, but he placed his hand over mine.
"I got it. Lead the way, love."
I released my hold on his bag and turned to lead him to my bedroom, which I prayed wasn't a mess. I couldn't remember if I had left clothes on the bed when I came to grab a few things earlier.
I pointed to the chest at the end of my bed, so Duke placed his bag on it. I ran my hands across the bed.
"This is where—"
“The magic happens?" Duke supplied.
My brow rose and I gripped my hips.
"Of course not. This is where rest happens — but now that you're here, I'm going to assume you're in the business of providing a little magic to the space. Am I right to assume that?" I asked with a smirk.
Duke bit his bottom lip and his cheeks reddened for the first time. He looked away, rubbing his hands together, then turned back to face me.
"Let me find out I got you blushing," I teased as I strolled over to him.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, his mouth claimed mine, and his hands made their way down my spine to grip my ass. I pulled back and took a seat on the edge of the bed, then lifted my leg so he could unzip me.
Duke ran his tongue across his lower lip as his hands traveled from the heel of my foot, past my ankle, and up my thigh.
"Damn. I've been waiting all night to grip these."
I giggled as he dragged the zipper down slowly, then tossed my boot to the side and did the same with the next one. He stood to his full height and pulled his jacket from his shoulders. I tucked my feet underneath me and got on my hands and knees to crawl backward across the bed.
Duke laid his jacket over his bag, then pulled his shirt over his head. His brow lifted when he noticed I was no longer on the bed but peeling my clothes off in front of the bathroom door.
"It's a good thing you don't have neighbors," he said.
I giggled. "And why is that?"
Duke's gaze dropped, slow and deliberate.
"Because I'm about to give you a bit of that magic you were talking about."
My laugh broke loose as I turned to head into the bathroom. Before I could get any further inside, I was lifted off the floor and Duke was nuzzling my neck.
"Duke!"