Chapter 10
ten
. . .
Vegas and Malibu had been action filled considering the cars, cameras, and people watching.
But this was seclusion, and the heat was something interesting.
The drive into Scottsdale felt different before we even reached the house.
The road stretched out with nothing but desert on both sides; the sky was wide and open.
The sunset was settling, and a beautiful hue of blue started to drape over the sky.
I let the window down just enough to allow the air in.
It was warm, but dry and clean. It felt like a release.
Kier didn’t say much as we pulled up the winding drive, but he didn’t need to.
The house came into view slowly, rising out of the landscape.
This was a sight for sure. Clean lines, glass, and soft lighting tucked into the ground that traced the path up to the entrance.
Cactus and desert plants surrounded it, reminding me exactly where we were.
From the outside, it felt private but intentional.
Kier couldn’t have stumbled upon something this beautiful by accident.
I stepped out before he came around to open my door, turning in a slow circle as I took it in. It was quiet enough that I could hear my own footsteps against the gravel, and my breath leaving my mouth.
“This is where you come to regroup?” I asked, glancing back at him.
“Yeah, when I don’t feel like being bothered with the world.”
That made perfect sense. Everything about this place screamed control and peace.
Inside, the house felt just as calm. Floor-to-ceiling windows opened the space up to the desert, letting the last of the light pour in.
The floors were smooth under my feet, cool against my skin, and the furniture was minimal but appeared comfortable.
I set my bag down near the island, taking in the kitchen, the open layout, and the way everything connected without feeling crowded. Kier walked past me, pushing our suitcases to a hallway. When he came back, he grabbed two glasses and poured us some water, setting one down in front of me.
“How you liking the desert?” He asked.
“This is different, Kier.”
“Yeah, that’s the point. I don’t like being around noise all of the time.”
I understood him completely, though his response was so simple.
The energy here didn’t leave room for distractions.
Instead, it made you more aware of everything, including your thoughts, your body, the person standing in front of you.
Kier followed me as I walked toward the back of the house, drawn to the glass doors that opened out to the patio.
The pool sat still under the fading light, and the water was a dark blue.
Beyond it, nothing but desert, nothing but space and darkness.
Momentarily, I forgot about everything else. The uncertainty that had followed me since this rendezvous with Kier started, seemed to evaporate. I’d only been here for a moment, and I had already felt the physical shift in my body.
“This is dangerous,” I said quietly.
“How?”
I turned just enough to look at him. “I thought Malibu was something. But places like this make it easy to forget reality.”
“Or it gives you space to figure out what’s real.”
The horizon pulled my attention back while I sat with what he said instead of over-analyzing it. “Agreed.” I smiled back at him.
He pushed off the doorframe then said, “Relax, Si. We ain’t doing nothing tonight.”
“Works for me. I have a presentation I need to get started on.”
“What I just say? You’re relaxing, work can wait.”
For the first time since I’d met him, there was nothing pulling our attention away from one another.
Kier was right, work could wait. Grabbing my bag, I headed to the bedroom he pointed out earlier.
It mirrored the rest of the house; clean, open, and quiet.
I unpacked slowly, feeling my nerves relax just as he insisted.
By the time I finished, the sky had gone completely dark.
I stepped back out into the living area, drawn again to the openness of it.
Kier was stretched out along the couch, one arm behind his head, the other resting against his chest. He looked over when I walked in, eyes taking their time roaming over me as if he were reacquainting himself.
“You settle in?” He asked.
“I did.”
“Cool. What do you want to eat? There’s a restaurant a few-”
“Kier, you said this was your relaxation time.”
“Yeah.” He pushed himself up without hesitation and started toward the island. “But we still gotta eat, baby.”
I followed, leaning against the counter as he made his way around the kitchen.
“If I can’t work, then you can’t leave to get us something to eat. We will either starve or figure it out together, but you’re not leaving.”
“You’re a little bossy,” he laughed.
“I sure am! This is supposed to be relaxing for you, but you’re still living like you’re on the go. Let me make a grocery list for the week or so, and I’ll do your cooking for you.”
“I told you I didn’t want you lifting a finger this summer.”
“It’s the least I can do. And tomorrow I can drive into the city to-”
“No. I want you with me. Make your list, and I’ll send it to my butler. He’ll have everything here by morning.”
“K.”
“He did stock a little before we got here. You want a salad or something?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Honestly, I’m not that hungry since we ate on the plane.”
“Aaight. Well, make your list then.”
“Give me a minute to figure out what to grab.” I walked around the kitchen, opening cabinets to see what was currently there. When I turned back, he was watching me. I couldn’t help it, and a small smile slipped through. “You got a taste for anything in particular?”
“Yeah, something sweet.” He grinned, walking towards me.
“Is that so?” A small smile pulled at my lips. “You’re still gonna need something real.”
“Word.” He stepped in, brushing a kiss against my shoulder. “Real talk, Si, can you cook?” He asked, leaning against the counter.
“Uh, kinda.”
“Kinda? You bout to have a nigga in the desert eating noodles?”
“Stop playing with me.” We both laughed, and I nudged him. “Look, you get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit!”
“Like I said, bossy,” he whispered close to my ear as he slid pass me.
I smiled and began working on my list. Kier was a health nut; protein this, bulk that.
Then on the flip side he had a cabinet full of junk food.
When I finished canvasing the kitchen, I took the ingredients out for our meal.
He prepared the salads; keeping it simple with romaine, kalamata olives, banana peppers, cucumbers and feta cheese.
We ate out on the patio, while the night humidity engulfed us.
At some point, I realized I wasn’t thinking about what this was supposed to be.
Questioning his intentions or calculating my next step was the furthest thing in my mind.
And that alone felt unfamiliar enough to make me pause.
I glanced over at him, catching the way he was looking at me.
“You’re doing it again,” he said.
“Doing what?”
“Thinking too much.”
“How can you tell?”
“It’s in your eyes.” He tilted his head as if he was pointing at them. “They become distant, even during conversation.”
“Old habits,” I sighed. “They died hard, Kier.”
“As long as they die. You ain’t gotta figure everything out tonight.” He added, resting his hand over mine.
Nodding, I took heed to his words without pulling them apart.
The need to control every outcome, or to stay a step ahead of whatever could go wrong, was still present.
However, it was much calmer in the middle of nowhere.
My thoughts floated somewhere else, focusing on what it might look like to be here with him and completing surrendering without judging myself.
Even the small things started to take shape, like what I’d cook first or how I would tell him it was no way in hell I was sleeping alone out here since I was scared.
Either way, something new was forming between us and instead of questioning it, I accepted it.
The quiet woke me up before anything else did.
Back home, there was always some sort of background noise.
Traffic, a distant train, or even a noisy neighbor would find their way to be part of my day.
Out here, there was none of that. Just open space and still air that established itself deep into the house; and while it was peaceful, it was super eerie too.
I turned onto my side, staring out toward the wide stretch of glass across the room.
The endless desert should’ve felt peaceful, but it didn’t.
My mind had too much room to wander. I exhaled, pushing the sheet back and swinging my legs over the side of the bed.
The floors were cool under my feet as I stood, tying my hair up loosely as I stepped into the hallway.
The house felt different in the morning, or maybe it felt different because Kier wasn’t around.
I tiptoed a few steps to his room and saw him still resting.
His shirt was off, and his bare chest was on full display as he slept peacefully on his back with one leg bent.
I didn’t wake him. Instead, I gently closed the door and went back to my room.
After showering and completing my facial routine, I dressed in some cotton shorts and a tank.
I made my way into the kitchen and saw the groceries I requested sitting on the island.
Clearly the butler had come and gone, but I didn’t know, considering I didn’t hear him.
I was practically up all night due to the stillness, not sure how I missed him.
Anyhow, I was grateful for the fresh fruits and meat.
I put my earbuds in my ear, turned on some Jhené Aiko, and started putting the items away.