CHAPTER 15 #2
I paused, reaching out and closing the distance between us, my eyes boring into hers.
"But with you... with you, my whole soul stirs, girl.
That is why I was so incredibly pissed off and toxic when you just shunned me away to the side, acting like what we did didn't matter.
You treated me like I was just some random piece of meat you sampled for a night before going back to your regular life. "
Miley stared at me, her lower lip trembling slightly as the pure weight of my confession hit her. The defensive, corporate wall she had been building completely crumbled right in front of me. She reached out a warm, soft hand and placed it gently over mine, her fingers trembling against my skin.
"You are not a piece of meat, Terra. Never," Miley said, her voice dropping into a soft, sweet whisper that made my heart do flips. "You mean the absolute world to me. I just... I’m terrified, Terra. I don't want you falling for me like this, because historically, anyone who ever gets close to me, anyone who falls for me, always ends up getting completely hurt in the end. I’m a mess, and I’m just trying to protect our friendship. "
I let out a soft, emotional laugh, sliding closer to her on the velvet cushions until our knees were brushing against each other.
"I am no Alicia, Miley. I’m not some ghost from your past that you can use as an excuse to hide from the world.
I’m Terra. Your best friend, your roommate, the one who knows every single flaw and beauty mark on your soul.
And now... I want to be your lover. I’m so tired of this toxic, back-and-forth shit we’ve been pulling.
We are so much better than this, Miley. Let’s start acting like adults. "
Miley let out a long, shaky breath, her eyes melting into mine as the remaining distance between us vanished.
"I’m so sorry I shunned you, Terra," she murmured, her hand squeezing mine tight, her thumb rubbing against my knuckles in that sweet, comforting way she used to do when we were just friends.
"You mean so much to me, more than you even know.
But... if we are going to be real with each other, if we are going to be adults...
I have to tell you something about what happened tonight. "
I braced myself, my stomach tightening into a knot. "What happened tonight, Miley?"
Miley took a sip of air, looking down at our joined hands before revealing everything.
"It’s Helisa," she said, the name hitting my ears like a lightning strike.
"She has this intense, crazy lust for me, Terra.
And... before tonight, we actually kissed in the backseat of her Jeep while we were listening to SZA.
And god, it felt so perfect in the moment, I found myself completely kissing her back.
But tonight... tonight she invited me to her penthouse for a 'strategy dinner,' and everything went completely disastrous. "
I listened silently, my jealousy flaring up, but I kept it contained as Miley continued her story, her voice full of drama and exhaustion.
She told me about how the dinner was actually going well, and how Helisa’s house help, an older woman named Naomi, was just absolutely perfect.
Naomi had cooked the most incredible Jamaican oxtail, and she possessed this beautiful, loud sense of humor and deep wisdom that made Miley feel safe.
"But then," Miley groaned, hiding her face in her free hand.
"While Ciara and Naomi were in the kitchen washing dishes, Helisa pulled me into the hallway and literally thrust her tongue down my throat.
It was pure passion, Terra, and I was losing my mind, when all of a sudden, all hell broke loose.
Ciara caught us red-handed. She went completely unhinged with jealousy, took off her designer green heel, and literally threw it at us!
It left a dent in the wall, she called us sluts, and she stormed out.
Helisa took the shoe and ran down the street after her. It was a complete, humiliating circus."
A sudden, unexpected wave of pure relief and protectiveness washed over me as I listened to Miley finish her story.
Hearing about the corporate drama, the flying shoes, and the toxic jealousy from these high-society women just proved what I had known all along—those people didn't care about Miley's soul. They just wanted to consume her light.
I looked at Miley, whose head was still resting against the back of the couch, looking completely vulnerable and human in her messy brown dress. The anger I had been carrying around for weeks completely evaporated, replaced by a deep, fierce tenderness.
"Let’s not hate each other anymore, Miley," I said softly, my voice dripping with that sweet, heartfelt sincerity that only comes when you totally surrender your pride.
I scooted over even closer, completely closing the tiny gap left between our bodies on the couch, my heat radiating against hers.
"Just let me love you while you figure all this corporate madness things out.
You don't have to have all the answers right now. Just let me be your safe harbor."
Miley lifted her head, her dark eyes locking onto mine, filled with a sudden, overwhelming emotion. "Terra..."
Before she could say another word, I leaned in. I reached up, my hand gently cupping the warm velvet of her jawline, and I took Miley’s lips into my mouth.
Oh, god.
The moment our lips met, a literal electric shock traveled straight down my spine, lighting up every single nerve ending that had gone numb in Malik’s bed hours ago.
This was the hit-factor. This was the soul-stirring magic.
I kissed her deeply, my mouth soft but demanding, parting her lips with an effortless familiarity.
Miley let out a low, ragged moan right into my mouth, her body going completely soft as she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me flush against her chest.
The kiss turned steamy real quick. Our tongues tangled in a slow, passionate rhythm that tasted like sweet vanilla and the faint, lingering warmth of red wine.
It was a heartfelt, desperate reclamation of what belonged to us.
I held her tight, my fingers pressing into the fabric of her dress, letting her feel the absolute depth of my devotion through the pressure of my mouth.
We stayed locked in that embrace for what felt like an eternity, the humid Brooklyn air inside our apartment turning completely breathless.
Finally, Miley slowly pulled back, her chest heaving as she let out a soft sigh. Her eyes were glazed over with affection, a beautiful, genuine smile breaking across her lips as she looked at me.
"Thank you, Terra," Miley whispered, her voice full of a sweet, profound gratitude. "Thank you for that kiss... and thank you for being so incredibly understanding about everything. I don't know what I’d do without you."
"You’ll never have to find out," I smiled, brushing a stray box braid away from her cheek.
We sat there for a few more minutes, just holding hands in the quiet apartment, as the toxic static completely cleared away. Finally, the clock on the wall chimed, reminding us that it was now midnight.
"We should get some sleep," Miley said softly, standing up from the couch and picking up her heels from the floor. She looked down at me, her eyes sparkling with a playful, happy energy I hadn't seen in a long time. "Goodnight, Terra. We’ll definitely continue this conversation in the morning."
A massive, giddy smile broke across my face. I stood up, my spirit suddenly feeling lighter than air. "Goodnight, Miley. I like the sound of that."
I watched her walk down the hallway into her bedroom, the door closing softly behind her. The minute she was out of sight, I literally skipped back to my own room, my bare feet bouncing off the floorboards, feeling all happy, chirpy, and completely victorious inside. The emptiness was gone.
I climbed back under my covers, a stupid, joyful grin plastered on my face as I stared at the ceiling.
But as I closed my eyes to finally get some peaceful rest, a small, protective thought crept into my mind.
I only hoped and prayed to God that Helisa wouldn't get possessive and crazy over Miley after tonight.
Because the absolute, unfiltered truth was...
I wanted Miley Palmer all for my own, and I was ready to fight the whole city of New York to keep her.