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Tim scoffed. "I don't do ‘budgets,' son. I want the best. You just tell me what that costs."

Jalen kept himself from smirking. Big money talk. That was fine. Jalen could work with that. "Understood."

Tim watched Jalen as he started making notes on his tablet. "How long you been in the business?" He asked.

"Been running my own company for two years, but I've been in contracting a lot longer than that." Jalen responded while continuing to write in his tablet.

Tim nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You do a lot of jobs like this?"

Jalen knew exactly what he was asking. "I do a lot of high-end renovations. I've worked on custom home builds, commercial projects, and full remodels. I just finished a wine cellar project at the Westward mansion in Buckhead."

Tim's eyebrows lifted slightly at that. "Chris Westward? No shit."

"Yes, sir."

Tim let out a dry chuckle. "That son of a bitch is the most arrogant lawyer I've ever met."

Jalen grinned slightly. "Yeah, he's got a lot of ... personality."

Tim snorted. "That's a polite way to put it."

Before the conversation could continue, a voice called out from behind them. "Daddy, where did you—oh."

Jalen turned and saw a young woman standing a few feet away. She was stunning. Long, wavy auburn-red hair that framed a face so strikingly symmetrical that she could easily have been a model. Her green eyes were piercing, filled with a mix of curiosity and something else Jalen couldn't quite place. Her lips were full and painted a soft shade of pink, and her figure, toned, curvy, and completely effortless, was impossible to ignore. She was wearing a light-yellow sleeveless sundress that stopped just above her knees. The dress had a V-neck with thin spaghetti straps, a slightly cinched or elasticized waist, a flowy tiered skirt that stopped just above her knees. She paired it with white flip flops. Her nails were manicured with acrylic and painted a light pink and her toenails were painted pink as well. Jalen noticed immediately the way her eyes locked onto him, not in the way her father had, but with genuine intrigue.

Tim gestured toward Jalen. "Heidi, this is Jalen Moss. He's the contractor I'm looking at for the guest house. Jalen, this is my oldest daughter Heidi."

Heidi's lips parted slightly, like she was about to say something, but stopped herself. Instead, she extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Jalen."

Jalen took her hand, and the moment he did ... The warmth. The pull. Oh, shit. "No. NO. NOT HERE." Jalen thought.

Jalen kept his expression neutral, but internally, his stomach dropped. Because now he knew ... Heidi Horner ... was one of the eight.

His grip was firm but brief as he released Heidi's hand. Internally, though, his mind was spinning. He had barely processed Karla, and now this? The daughter of a wealthy, influential politician? This was the last thing he needed. Heidi was still looking at him, like she had just felt something too, but she quickly masked it. She was sharp, Jalen could tell. Observant.

"Nice to meet you too," Jalen said, his voice steady, despite the chaos in his head.

Tim barely noticed the brief moment between them. "Heidi's in law school," he said, almost like a brag. "Third-year at Emory."

Jalen nodded. "That's impressive."

Heidi shrugged. "It keeps me busy."

Tim clapped his hands together. "Alright, well, Jalen, I'll be expecting a full proposal in my inbox by next week. Make it good."

"Absolutely," Jalen said.

Tim nodded, but before turning to head back toward the house, he glanced at Jalen again. "And keep me updated, alright? I don't like waiting around for answers."

"Yeah, I bet you don't." Jalen thought.

"Understood." Jalen then said aloud.

Tim walked off, but Heidi stayed behind for a second longer. She tilted her head slightly, her green eyes studying Jalen again, like she was trying to figure something out.

"I'll see you around, Jalen."

With that, she turned and followed her father back toward the house.

Jalen exhaled slowly once they were out of sight. Jalen finished taking pictures, taking measurements, and taking notes on the shed before leaving the residence to go back home and write up his proposal. Jalen drove back toward Atlanta, gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual. His mind wouldn't shut up. Heidi Horner. It didn't make sense. This situation was already insane, but this? This felt impossible. A politician's daughter? A woman raised in a family that likely wouldn't even want to shake his hand, let alone accept him as anything more than a vendor working on their property? How the hell was this supposed to happen?

He pulled up to his apartment, grabbed his notebook, and went inside. He sat at his desk, opening his laptop to start working on his proposal, but his mind refused to focus. Every time he tried to map out costs and labor estimates, his thoughts drifted back to Heidi. Her sharp green eyes. The way she studied him. The slight hesitation in her voice, like she had felt something but didn't want to acknowledge it. Jalen sighed, leaning back in his chair, rubbing his hands down his face. He couldn't do this again. Not right now. He had Rachel, Megan, Kristen, and Sydney, all pregnant, and after their weekend together, Karla could be as well. That was already an overwhelming reality to process. And now the Beyonder wanted him to figure out how to navigate a situation with Heidi Horner of all people?

Jalen exhaled sharply. "Beyonder! We need to talk. Now."

Silence.

Jalen scowled. "Nah, don't pull that disappearing act now! I need answers! How the hell is this supposed to happen?"

Still nothing.

Jalen clenched his jaw and turned back to his laptop. Fine. If the Beyonder wasn't going to explain, he wasn't going to stress over it tonight. For now, he had a proposal to finish. For now, Heidi was just a client's daughter. At least, that's what he told himself.

Later that same night, Heidi Horner sat in her bedroom, perched at her desk with a thick law textbook open in front of her. But she hadn't turned the page in over ten minutes. Her mind wasn't on the material. It was on the contractor, Jalen Moss. That name kept echoing in her head, like a song she couldn't shake. She tapped her highlighter against the edge of the book absently, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the lines of text that weren't registering at all. He was handsome. That was the first thing she noticed. Not just physically, though he absolutely was. Tall, strong build, and light chocolate skin that seemed to gleam in the afternoon sun. But it was something else. The way he looked at her when they shook hands. Like he saw her. And then there was that feeling. An inexplicable warm, magnetic pull that moved through her the moment their skin touched. It unsettled her. Nothing about it made sense. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms and biting lightly at the tip of her thumb. Why was she thinking about him like this? Nevermind the fact that her parents as well as her church pastor would scold her for having lustful thoughts like this. Jalen wasn't just a stranger, he was a contractor. A Black contractor at that. And worse, someone who didn't appear to align with her family's way of life. She had picked up on it immediately. It was in the way he carried himself. Confident. Composed. Like he had nothing to prove to anyone. Like he'd been through things. Real things. The kind of things no one in her gated, pristine world ever talked about. He hadn't been rude. Far from it. In fact, he was professional, respectful ... but that energy. That undeniable energy between them. Heidi pushed her chair back and stood up abruptly, pacing her room like she was trying to shake the thoughts loose. This was ridiculous. She was a Christian. She had values. She had discipline. And she sure as hell didn't entertain thoughts about men who weren't aligned with what she believed. But then again ... she wasn't a virgin anymore either, was she? She swallowed hard, that familiar guilt bubbling to the surface. Her parents didn't know. No one knew. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. So why was Jalen making all of those feelings stir up again? He wasn't even trying to flirt with her, and yet, somehow, it felt like he was already in her head. And that was the problem. Because she liked it. The way he stood toe to toe with her father without flinching. The way he didn't get flustered when Tim gave him that look. The way his voice sounded, deep, calm, grounded. It made her wonder what else he was grounded in. Heidi wasn't the kind of girl who got tempted. Except ... apparently, she was. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest and glanced at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed. Her heart was racing. And she knew damn well it had nothing to do with her law reading.

"I need to focus," she muttered to herself. "This is just a project. He's just a contractor. This doesn't mean anything."

But she knew she was lying to herself. Something had started. And no matter how hard she tried to deny it, she could already feel that it was going to be impossible to ignore. Heidi turned off her lamp, climbed into bed, and pulled the covers up high. But sleep didn't come easy that night. Not with Jalen Moss's face lingering behind her eyelids, and that inexplicable, maddening, exhilarating pull she couldn't explain.

Jalen submits the most ambitious proposal he could come up with. If Tim Horner accepts it and Jalen completes the project, it would yield a payday three times the amount of Chris Westward's project, which is saying something because Chris Westwood's project yielded Jalen's highest payday ever.

Jalen sits at his desk, sipping his coffee, staring at his laptop screen. His mouse hovers over the "Sent" folder, confirming that his ambitious proposal has been officially sent to Tim Horner.

His gut tells him that this is either going to be the biggest payday of his career or a complete waste of time. He doesn't expect a quick response.

Then ... DING. An email notification pops up.

From: Tim Horner Subject: Re: Guest House Renovation Proposal

Jalen exhales sharply, steeling himself as he clicks on the message.

Jalen, Thanks for sending this over. I took a quick look through the numbers, and I'll be honest with you—it's more than I was anticipating. However, I appreciate the level of detail you included and the craftsmanship you're proposing.

I'd like to discuss a few things before making a decision. Can you come back out to the property this Friday at 11:00 AM to go over the details in person?

Let me know if that works for you.

Best, Tim Horner

Jalen leans back in his chair, rubbing his chin. Shit. This wasn't a rejection. It wasn't an acceptance either. It was an opening.

Tim Horner wasn't the kind of guy to waste time. If he was inviting Jalen back out, it meant he was genuinely considering hiring him. But that also meant Jalen would be spending more time around the Horner family ... including Heidi. He closes his eyes for a moment, mentally preparing himself. This job is way too big to pass up. He has to go through with it. Jalen grabs his phone and types his response.

Tim, Thanks for the quick response. I'd be happy to meet this Friday at 11:00 AM to go over everything. Looking forward to discussing the details in person.

See you then, Jalen Moss

That Friday, Jalen pulls into the long driveway of the Horner estate at exactly 10:58 AM. He spots Tim's truck parked near the main house. Jalen takes a deep breath before stepping out of his truck. He's dressed in a fitted polo and work boots, keeping things professional but sharp. He grabs his work tablet and heads toward the house.

Tim is waiting for him on the porch, arms crossed. "Mornin', Jalen."

"Morning, Tim. Appreciate you having me back."

"Let's get to it. Follow me."

Tim doesn't waste time on pleasantries. He turns and leads Jalen toward the shed that would become the guest house. As they walk, Jalen keeps his focus strictly on the job, not the fact that somewhere inside this house, Heidi is here too.

Tim runs his hand along the wooden support beams, nodding to himself before turning to Jalen.

"Alright, here's where I'm at. I like your vision, but some of these finishes you're suggesting, high-end tile, luxury fixtures, imported wood flooring, might be overkill for what I need. You willing to make some adjustments?"

Jalen expected this. Tim wasn't balking at the price entirely, just looking to negotiate, which is funny considering yesterday, he had said he doesn't do budgets. Still, negotiation was a good sign.

Jalen nods. "I can definitely adjust some materials without compromising the quality. How much are you looking to cut?"

Tim strokes his chin. "Just the stuff that I mentioned that feels unnecessary."

Jalen quickly does the mental math. It would still make this project the largest payday of his career by a long shot.

"I can make that happen. I'll send over a revised proposal this afternoon."

Tim nods in approval.

"Good. I'll have my lawyer look it over, and if everything looks right, we can sign by Monday."

Jalen extends his hand. "Looking forward to it."

Tim shakes his hand firmly. "Me too."

As Jalen turns to leave ... The door to the back porch swings open. Jalen doesn't need to look up to know who it is. Heidi.

Her long, auburn waves catch the light as she steps onto the porch, wearing a casual but flattering fitted sweater and jeans. She pauses when she sees Jalen standing there. Their eyes meet. And just like before, Jalen feels it. The pull. The warm, unmistakable sensation that he knows all too well by now. Tim doesn't notice. He's already looking back at his truck. But Heidi notices. Her green eyes linger on Jalen for a second too long before she looks away, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Jalen quickly looks away and heads toward his truck.

The next day, Jalen sends over the revised proposal and Tim Horner approves. They both sign via DocuSign and Jalen tells Tim that he'll be ready to begin the following Monday. So, that following Monday morning, Jalen pulls into the Horner estate at 7:45 AM sharp, ready to begin work on the most ambitious project of his career. His truck is loaded with supplies, preliminary materials for the foundation, framing tools, and everything needed to begin the first phase of construction. As he parks near the shed, he takes a deep breath. This job isn't just about the payday anymore. It's about navigating the complicated, dangerous waters of the Horner family. Tim was straightforward. But Heidi was going to be the real problem. Jalen grabs his hard hat and steps out, determined to keep things strictly professional. At least, that's the plan.

At 8 AM, Jalen's crew arrives with four guys he trusts from previous projects. They unload tools, begin clearing the interior of the shed, and start mapping out the foundation adjustments. Everything is going smoothly. He finally looks up, and sure enough, she's standing at a distance, maybe twenty feet away, arms folded, wearing a fitted long-sleeve top and high-waisted jeans with white sneakers. Simple, casual. But on her? Effortlessly stunning. Her red hair is pulled back today, revealing more of her face. Her expression was curious. Hesitant. Guarded. She doesn't say anything. Neither does he. After a few seconds, she turns and walks back toward the house without a word. Jalen exhales through his nose and shakes his head.

By lunch, the team had finished gutting the entire shed and removed all the debris to the dumpster parked in the driveway. The framing supplies have arrived, and Jalen is finalizing plans with the plumber when his phone buzzes.

A text from Tim: "Heidi made lunch. Come inside when you and the boys get a break."

Jalen frowns. The fuck?

Jalen texts back: "Appreciate it, but we're good. We usually eat on site."

Tim replies instantly: "Don't be stubborn. She made extra. Come in."

Jalen sighs, staring at the screen. He doesn't want this. But turning it down might cause more friction with Tim. And right now, that's not a risk he can afford.

He walks over to his crew. "Hey, take your lunch now. You can eat out here or head to the truck. I'll be back in twenty."

They nod, already grabbing their coolers and Gatorades. Jalen wipes the sweat from his brow, dusts off his boots, and heads toward the main house. Heidi's waiting in the kitchen. And she looks nervous.

"Hey," she says, not making eye contact right away.

"Hey," Jalen replies flatly, keeping his tone neutral.

"I made sandwiches and salad," she says, motioning toward the kitchen island, where a spread of food is laid out. "Figured your crew could use something fresh."

Jalen studies her. "Appreciate it. They're eating outside. Tim said to come in."

She nods, brushing her hands down her jeans. She pauses before saying, "You're not what I expected," she blurts out.

Jalen arches an eyebrow. "Is that right?"

"Not in a bad way," she quickly adds. "Just ... different. I thought you'd be..." She trails off, clearly unsure how to finish that sentence without sounding like an asshole.

Jalen smirks dryly. "Yeah. I know what you thought."

Heidi's face flushes. "No! No! I meant...," she exhales, "Look, I'm not trying to be rude. I just, this is new for me, okay?"

Jalen smirks, amused by how flustered she is. "Your family ever work with a Black contractor before?" He asks bluntly.

She hesitates. "No."

Jalen nods slowly but says nothing.

They lock eyes. For the first time since they met, neither one looks away.

She breaks eye contact first, biting her lip, visibly trying to regain control of herself. "You should eat."

"Yeah," Jalen says, stepping forward. "I should."

He grabs a plate and starts making a sandwich while she watches him, arms still folded, like she's trying not to let her hands do something reckless.

"My dad keeps talking about how he's been told you're the best contractor around," Heidi says casually, though her voice is tight. "He's really curious to see if it's true."

Jalen exhales through his nose, setting his sandwich down. His eyes don't leave hers. "He's not the only one curious," he says flatly.

That hits. She shifts slightly where she stands. Doesn't say anything at first. Then, quieter, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Jalen steps a little closer, not threatening, but unapologetically direct. "It means I've seen that look before," he says. "You've been watching me all morning."

Heidi crosses her arms tighter. "You're working in my backyard."

"I was working in Buckhead last month. Same amount of square footage. Nobody stared like you."

That flush creeps up her neck again. Heidi opens her mouth, but nothing comes out right away.

Jalen leans in slightly, voice lower. "You felt it something, didn't you? The other day when we met."

Her jaw tenses. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, you do."

A long beat passes. She finally swallows, glancing away. "Even if I did ... it doesn't mean anything."

Jalen grabs his plate again. "Sure it doesn't."

Heidi watches him for a second, then turns and starts cleaning up the salad bowl, her hands a little more forceful than necessary. Jalen knows the signs. The denial. The rationalizing. The tug-of-war between curiosity and caution. She's not ready to admit anything yet. But she's already cracked.

That night in her bedroom, Heidi sat cross-legged on her perfectly made bed, her MacBook open beside her but untouched. The textbook on constitutional law lay closed, her highlighter resting on top like a lie she was telling herself. She had no intention of studying tonight. Her phone was in her hand. The screen dimly lit her face in the otherwise quiet room. After resisting for hours, after convincing herself all afternoon that he was just a contractor, a professional hired to do a job, she finally caved.

She opened Instagram and typed in: "Jalen Moss". It only took a few seconds to find him. His profile wasn't private.

His page was a mix of business and personal. Finished renovations. Custom kitchen installs. Before-and-afters of luxury home remodels. And then there were the personal shots, less frequent, but undeniably ... captivating.

One of him in a gray fitted T-shirt, holding a baby boy, captioned: "My friend's king, not mine. Calm down, y'all."

Another of him standing on a rooftop at sunset, drink in hand, grinning at the camera, the skyline behind him.

And then a video of Jalen doing pushups on a job site while one of his crew jokingly filmed him with the caption: "Boss says this is how you reduce stress on-site."

Heidi didn't mean to stare. But she did. His arms. His jawline. That easy smile. She scrolled. Slowly. Her thumb dragging like she wasn't really trying to get anywhere fast. And before she even realized what she was doing, she clicked on a post from months ago, a picture of him sitting on the back of his truck, covered in sawdust, drinking from a water bottle, sweat darkening his shirt. 47 weeks ago.

Oh God. She was deep in the scroll. She clicked back to the main page quickly, heat rushing to her cheeks even though she was alone. She tossed the phone beside her like it had caught her in the act. Heidi leaned back against her pillows, her heart racing. What was it about him? It wasn't just the way he looked, though that didn't hurt. It was the way he carried himself. The calm confidence. The way he looked at her like he wasn't afraid of her or intimidated by her name or her father. Like he saw her. And worse, she did feel something. That strange pull when their hands touched. She sat there in the dark, the glow of her phone still casting shadows across her sheets. She told herself this was just curiosity. She was just trying to understand the man working in her backyard. She repeated it over and over like a prayer. But deep down, she already knew that this wasn't curiosity anymore. This was temptation. A minute later, Heidi had picked up her phone and was mid-scroll again, Jalen in a black hoodie, sleeves pushed up, standing in front of a half-built deck with that effortless grin on his face. She hadn't realized how far she'd gone this time. She was definitely in stalker territory.

Then ... KNOCK—SLAM.

The door flew open.

"Heidi!" Leslie burst in without hesitation. "Have you seen my—"

Heidi damn near jumped out of her skin, thumb slamming the lock button on her phone as she fumbled to toss it under the throw pillow beside her.

Leslie paused mid-step, brows raised. "The hell are you doing? You look like I caught you watching porn."

"I wasn't!" Heidi snapped a little too quickly, eyes wide. "God, Leslie, knock first."

Leslie smirked. "Okay, so it wasn't porn. But it was something."

Heidi's face was flushed, her chest still rising and falling from the adrenaline spike. "What do you want?"

Leslie crossed her arms, stepping further into the room. "Have you seen my Emory sweatshirt? The gray one. You took it like two weeks ago."

"It's in the laundry. I'll give it to you tomorrow."

Leslie didn't move. Her eyes darted to the pillow, the one Heidi had all but thrown her phone under. Slowly, Leslie raised an eyebrow.

Heidi folded her arms, forcing calm into her voice. "Don't even."

Leslie grinned, then dropped onto the edge of the bed and snatched the pillow up before Heidi could stop her.

"Don't you—Leslie!"

Too late. The phone was in her sister's hand. Leslie hit the lock button, the screen lighting up. It was still on Instagram. Jalen's face in full frame. The silence was loud. Leslie looked at the screen. Then at Heidi. Then back at the screen.

"Oh. Oooooohhh."

Heidi yanked the phone back, clutching it like it was radioactive. "Shut up."

Leslie stared at her like she'd just confessed to sleeping with a devil-worshiper. "Heidi. That's the contractor."

"I know who he is," Heidi snapped.

"You've been thirst-scrolling his page?"

Heidi groaned, falling back on the bed and covering her face with both hands. "It's not like that."

"You were deep. Like, months back. That's intentional scrolling."

"Leslie, I swear to God..."

Leslie flopped back beside her on the bed, laughing. "Damn. Wait ‘til Mom finds out her favorite princess has a thing for the hot black guy with tattoos and calluses."

Heidi pulled the blanket over her head. "She's not finding out. And I don't have a thing for him. Also, I am NOT a princess."

"Uh-huh."

Heidi peeked out from the blanket, glaring. "He's just ... interesting. Okay? He's different."

Leslie tilted her head. "Yeah. And you've never experienced ‘different' before. That's what's messing with you."

Heidi didn't answer. Because Leslie was right.

Throughout the week, Jalen forces himself to focus only on the project. From Monday to Friday, he keeps things strictly business, avoiding Heidi whenever possible, however, she still lingers.

She "coincidentally" walks past the worksite at least twice a day. Sometimes she watches from the porch, sometimes she takes calls in the backyard a little too close to where he's working. On Friday, the sun beat down on the Horner estate as Jalen worked shirtless behind the guest house structure, his upper body glistening with sweat as he framed out the new support beams. His crew was off grabbing extra supplies, which meant, for once, he was alone, focused, and moving with his usual quiet precision. Heidi stood by the upstairs window, holding her third cup of coffee but not drinking a drop. She watched Jalen from behind the curtain like she was studying a wild animal in its natural habitat. Her eyes lingered on the way his back flexed when he lifted a beam onto the sawhorses.

This is so stupid. He was just a contractor. She didn't need to talk to him. She shouldn't want to talk to him. But her feet were already moving. She threw on a denim jacket over her tank top, changed from fuzzy socks to clean white sneakers, and tried to fluff her hair just enough to look casual. Not too much effort, not too little. Just "oops, I happened to be walking by."

Out the back door she went. But as she approached, her brain blanked. What the hell was she supposed to say? Hey, just wanted to come outside and bask in the muscles of the man who's challenging my entire worldview? Instead, she glanced around and spotted the garden hose. That'll do. She walked over to the spigot, turned it on, and grabbed the hose like she meant to water the flowers next to the shed ... except they were clearly fake. Still, she pretended like she hadn't noticed.

Jalen clocked her immediately. "You do know those aren't real, right?" he called out without looking up.

Heidi froze, caught red-handed, then forced a breezy smile. "What are you talking about? They're ... decorative."

Jalen finally looked over at her. No shirt. Sweat shining on his shoulders. And that damn smirk. "Decorative and plastic," he said, raising an eyebrow. "You trying to water plastic flowers, Heidi?"

Heidi rolled her eyes dramatically and let the hose fall to the ground. "Okay, fine. Maybe I just needed some air."

Jalen chuckled, standing upright and wiping his forehead with a rag. "You could've just said that."

Heidi shrugged, trying to play it cool. "You looked like you could use a break."

Jalen's gaze narrowed slightly. "You offering me another sandwich?"

"No," she said, folding her arms. "Today I'm offering ... interesting conversation."

Jalen tilted his head. "About what?"

"I don't know yet. But I'll think of something. You just looked like you could use a distraction."

Jalen smirked. "You offering to be my distraction now?"

Heidi paused, eyes steady on his. "Maybe."

Silence.

Then she turned to walk away, calling over her shoulder, "But only if you think you can handle it."

Jalen watched her go, that smirk still on his face, but his eyes followed her the whole way back to the house.

"Heidi, where the heck did THAT come from?" Heidi thought to herself once she was inside.

Later that afternoon around 4:45 pm, Jalen wraps up early to inspect the site before leaving. The foundation adjustments are complete. Next week, they'll start framing out the walls and setting up the plumbing lines. He wipes the sweat from his forehead and walks toward his truck ... only to see Heidi standing near it.

"You just can't stay away, huh?" Jalen says.

Heidi folded her arms. "You're full of yourself."

"I'm just observant," Jalen replied coolly. "What do you need?"

Heidi hesitated for half a second, just long enough for Jalen to smirk again. "You know, you're a little smug for someone who's working for us."

"Correction," Jalen said, stepping closer. "I'm working on your property. Not for you."

Heidi scoffed. "Whatever."

There was a pause, long enough to feel charged, then Jalen shook his head. "Look, Heidi, I'm not trying to get shot by your father because he thinks I'm hitting on his little princess."

"I am not my father's little princess," she snapped, stepping in close, eyes flashing with frustration.

Jalen didn't move. "Really? Because from where I'm standing, you live under his roof, you follow his rules, and every time I see him look at you, he acts like the sun rises and sets on your church attendance and your GPA."

Heidi's jaw tightened. "You think that's who I am?"

"I don't know who you are," Jalen said, softer now, but still firm. "Not yet. But I know what kind of house this is. And I know what kind of fire I feel when I look at you."

Heidi's breath caught in her throat.

Jalen's voice dropped lower. "You want to act like we're just exchanging pleasantries, fine. But we both know what this really is."

She didn't answer. Instead, she looked at him, really looked at him, her chest rising and falling as that pull between them grew stronger by the second.

Then, finally, she said in a low voice, "You're ridiculous."

Jalen stepped in closer, voice just above a whisper. "So are you."

Heidi opened her mouth to say something else, but the sound of the back door creaking open cut through the tension. Both of them flinched and stepped apart.

Leslie's voice rang out. "Hey, Heidi! Mom's looking for you!"

Heidi turned, called back quickly, "Coming!" Then glanced at Jalen one last time, eyes narrowed, face unreadable. Then she hurried inside.

Heidi stormed back inside, her sandals clicking sharply against the hardwood as she made her way upstairs. Once in her room, she shut the door and leaned against it, heart pounding.

"Goddamn it," she thought.

She crossed her arms and stared at the floor, as if it might give her answers. He had a point, of course he did. Her father would flip if he even suspected there was anything remotely inappropriate between his daughter and the Black contractor he hired. It would go from "he's doing good work" to "I want him off my property" in seconds and possibly worse than that. And yet ... Heidi couldn't bring herself to stop wanting to talk to Jalen. Not just small talk either. She wanted a real conversation with him. She wanted to ask him about the life he came from. Why he thought the way he did. What made him so different. So self-possessed. So grounded in who he was.

"Why do you even care?" she thought to herself.

She hated that she didn't have a good answer. She didn't even know him, not really. But somehow, he made everything around her feel ... sharper. Louder. Like the world didn't run on autopilot when he was nearby.

And when he stepped toward her earlier, said "but we both know what this really is" with that steady, knowing look? Yeah. She did feel it. And it scared the hell out of her. Heidi walked to the window, peeking through the blinds at the shed. "You can't talk to him here. Not without looking like you're chasing him." She thought to herself. And she wasn't about to give Leslie more ammo to tease her with either.

But maybe ... maybe she didn't have to talk to him here. She bit her bottom lip, chewing it in thought. What if she invited him somewhere? Casual. Public. Somewhere they could talk without eyes on them. Then she stopped herself.

"Heidi, what the hell are you thinking? You want to take a man you barely know, who your father would literally lose his mind over if he knew, and ask him to hang out?"

Yeah, that's exactly what she was thinking. And that terrified her even more.

Later that evening after going home and showering, Jalen arrives at Kristen's place.

Jalen has been making a point to visit and spend time with each woman in his life at least once a week to make sure they are okay and feel supported by him. Occasionally, he'll get late night calls or texts from one of them asking him to come over right away because they need him to bring them something very specific that their craving to eat, or because they feel an upheaval of emotions and need a shoulder to cry on, or because they might just feel lonely. Jalen always answers the call whenever one of them needs him. Jalen pulls into Kristen's apartment complex, exhaling as he puts the car in park. He's exhausted, but that doesn't matter. Kristen needs him, and that's all that matters. He grabs the bag of food he picked up for her on the way, Chick-fil-A, per her request, along with a few things she mentioned needing the last time they talked. Some ginger tea for the nausea. Vitamin supplements. A few extra pillows for comfort. He made a mental note of it all. This is his routine now. Some nights, it's Sydney texting him at 2 a.m. because she can't sleep and just wants to hear his voice. Other times, it's Rachel suddenly craving a very specific ice cream flavor and him driving across town to find it. Megan calls him when she feels overwhelmed by the weight of everything she's gone through, and he just sits with her, letting her know she's not alone. Jalen has accepted that his life is no longer about just him. These women, and the children they're carrying, are his responsibility. And he won't fail them.

He knocks on Kristen's door, waiting only a few seconds before she opens it. She looks tired but still beautiful, her hair in a messy bun, wearing one of his old hoodies that she "borrowed" and never gave back.

She sighs when she sees him. "Thank God."

Jalen smiles softly. "That's why I'm here."

He steps inside, closing the door behind him. As Jalen sets the food down on the counter and turns to her, Kristen reaches for him without thinking. She just needs to be close to him. Jalen lets her pull him into a hug, his hands settling on her lower back.

"Rough day?" he murmurs.

She nods against his chest. "I don't know why, but today just felt ... heavy."

Jalen kisses the top of her head. "Then let me carry some of that for you."

Kristen closes her eyes, breathing him in. He always says the right things. Always knows exactly what she needs.

"I don't deserve you." Her voice is muffled against his chest.

Jalen tilts her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "Yes, you do."

She swallows hard. "I'm still scared."

He cups her face gently. "I know. But remember, you know that you don't have to go through this alone."

Kristen leans up and kisses him softly, pouring every bit of her love, her gratitude, her everything into it. And Jalen kisses her back, just as deeply.

Fifteen minutes later, as Kristen munched on her meal, Jalen speaks.

"Hey."

"Hm?" Kristen said with a mouthful of chicken sandwich.

"How about you and I spend the day together tomorrow? Maybe go to Stone Mountain Park or something? Just you and me."

"What if one of the other girls needs you?" Kristen asks after swallowing.

"I'll tell them that I will be there as soon as I can, which will be after I have my time with you." Jalen says.

Kristen pauses mid-chew, blinking at him. "Really?"

Jalen nods. "Yeah. You're important to me, Kristen. I want to spend time with you. Just us."

She swallows, then looks down at her sandwich, suddenly feeling a little emotional. It's such a simple thing, just a day together. But it means so much.

"I'd love that," she finally says, giving him a small smile. "Stone Mountain sounds perfect."

Jalen grins. "Good. It's a date then."

Kristen bites her lip. "A real date?"

Jalen reaches over, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "Yeah, baby. A real date."

Kristen feels warmth bloom in her chest. She doesn't care what happens tomorrow. She just knows she's going to hold onto every second of it.

"Why are you so good at this?" She asks.

"What?"

"Making a girl feel special. Even with four other women at that."

Jalen exhales, shaking his head with a small chuckle. "Kristen, I don't have some master plan. I'm just ... trying to treat you the way you deserve to be treated."

She studies him, narrowing her eyes slightly. "And the others? You treat them the same way?"

Jalen meets her gaze, honest and steady. "I care about all of you. I don't want any of you to feel like an afterthought. The truth is, I don't know how the hell I'm managing this, but I do know that you deserve to feel wanted, appreciated, and loved."

Kristen sighs, shaking her head but unable to stop the small, fond smile forming on her lips. "Damn you, Jalen Moss."

Jalen smirks, leaning in a little. "That good or bad?"

She exhales through her nose, rolling her eyes playfully. "I'll let you know tomorrow."

The next day, Jalen and Kristen go to Stone Mountain Park on Saturday and spend most of the day there. They hiked up to the top of Stone Mountain and enjoyed the amazing view of Atlanta together. They stayed up there for about forty-five minutes before hiking back down. After that, they rode the ferry and enjoyed the scenery as it meandered through the waterways. Finally, they cap it off with a picnic. Jalen brought all the food and supplies. He set up a blanket and all the food that he brought. Kristen has had a great time and this only made it that much sweeter. As the sun starts to set over Stone Mountain Park, Kristen leans back on the picnic blanket, stretching her legs out in front of her. Her bare feet rested on Jalen's thigh, her flip-flops long abandoned beside the basket he brought (she had changed out of her athletic sneakers). She watches the sky slowly shift from blue to deep shades of orange and pink, feeling completely at peace for the first time in weeks.

"You really thought of everything, huh?" she muses, glancing at the spread Jalen put together, fresh fruit, sandwiches, bottled water, and even some chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert.

Jalen smirks, leaning back on his hands. "I try."

Kristen turns her head to look at him, studying him in the warm glow of the setting sun. "Why do you try so hard? You already have me, you know."

Jalen shifts, resting an arm on his knee as he watches the lake in front of them. "Because I don't ever want you to feel like you're just ... part of a situation. I want you to feel like you matter. Because you do."

Kristen swallows, her chest tightening at how easily he says things like that. It should be complicated. Hell, it is complicated, but moments like this make it so damn simple.

She sits up, crawling toward him until she's in his lap, straddling him. She rests her hands on his shoulders and searches his face. "You know I love you, right?"

Jalen smiles softly, hands finding her waist. "I know. And I love you, too."

Kristen tilts her head, lips curling into a sly smirk. "Yeah? Show me."

Jalen chuckles, shaking his head. "You really want to get started right here, in the middle of the park?"

Kristen laughs, resting her forehead against his. "Maybe not. But I like making you sweat."

Jalen kisses her gently, lingering, savoring her warmth. When he pulls back, he presses his forehead against hers. "You know, we haven't had sex since my last day working at Georgia Wellness." Jalen says, smirking.

Kristen smirks back, tilting her head slightly as she runs her fingers along the back of Jalen's neck. "Yeah? And whose fault is that?"

Jalen raises an eyebrow, grinning. "Oh, so it's my fault now?"

Kristen leans in, her lips brushing his ear as she whispers, "You're the one who's taking me on these sweet, wholesome dates instead of taking me to bed."

Jalen chuckles, his hands tightening around her waist. "So that's what this is about? You've been holding out on me?"

Kristen shrugs, playfully biting her lip. "I was waiting for you to do something about it."

Jalen exhales through his nose, his gaze darkening. "Say less."

Kristen yelps as Jalen suddenly stands up, lifting her effortlessly in his arms. She wraps her arms around his neck, laughing as he carries her back toward the car.

"Jalen! Put me down!"

"Nope. You started this." He grins wickedly, unlocking the car and setting her in the back seat.

Kristen is still laughing as she settles herself in, but the look in Jalen's eyes sends a thrill down her spine. He gets in next to her and immediately begins kissing her. It is very possible that someone could walk by their car and see them going at it, but neither of them were thinking about that nor very much cared at the moment.

Kristen's shirt quickly came off, followed closely by her sports bra revealing her nice natural perky breasts. Her breasts almost seemed to look at Jalen as if to say "hello, we've missed you."

As Kristen worked to get her shorts and panties off, Jalen athletically removed his tank top, shorts, shoes, and boxers all in the span of about ten seconds.

Kristen looked at him impressed. "Looks like someone is excited," she said amusingly.

"You have no idea how much he and I have missed you and her." Jalen said with a primal hunger in his eyes.

Kristen thought it was adorable how Jalen referred to his cock and her vagina respectfully as if they were lovers themselves. She smiles a devilish smile. Without responding, she looks down at Jalen's pipe of a cock. It had clearly gotten hard when they had kissed on the blanket and then had softened a bit during the time he had carried her to the car and took his clothes off. Kristen's hands wrap around it first, her touch firm but patient. She's not in a rush. She wants to enjoy this. His cock reawakens, rising to the occasion, and quickly becoming rock hard once again. Jalen groans as she finally leans down, her mouth opening wide and replacing her hands. Her lips are warm, soft, wet, and every movement is precise. She doesn't just go through the motions. She worships him. She uses her mouth like she's trying to memorize the way he tastes, the way his body reacts, the way his breath stutters every time she flicks her tongue a certain way.

Jalen's hands slide into her hair, not to guide, just to hold on.

"Goddamn, Kristen..."

She hums in response, and the vibration nearly unravels him. She pulls back for a moment, lips glistening, eyes still locked on his. "Try not to cum yet. This is just the appetizer."

Easier said than done.

She grins, then goes right back to work. Slow. Deep. Unrelenting. Her hand follows her mouth squeezing his cock just enough and moving in a corkscrew motion to drive him crazier. Jalen's body tenses, thighs tight, hips just barely shifting as he groans again, louder this time. One hand covers his face like he's trying to contain what she's doing to him. Kristen senses that he's about to cum and pulls back. Without saying anything, she climbs on Jalen, straddling him.

He slides his hands up her thighs, gripping her ass cheeks tight, pulling her against him. She kisses him again, harder this time. Tongues collide. Teeth scrape. Her forehead presses to his. Both of them panting. His hands slide to her cheeks, gently now. His thumb strokes her skin. She kisses him again, slower this time, like she's not just taking him in, but letting go. She then sinks down on top of him, his cock pushing inside of her.

To Kristen, it felt like his cock was returning home, and her vagina was eagerly welcoming him as if it had been counting down the minutes since his cock last exited her. She takes a moment, shutting her eyes tight as she feels him stretch her just like before, back when they were fucking regularly at Georgia Wellness. Her belly is a little rounder and more pronounced than it was then now with a life now growing inside of her.

She rocks against him, bodies grinding in sync, hands clawing and clutching. Two people giving into the gravity that's been pulling them from the second they met. Before long, the windows have fogged, lights reduced to soft smears behind misted glass. The only sounds are breath and heartbeat, hers, his, and the subtle creak of leather beneath them.

Kristen leans into his chest. She pulls out her hair tie and her hair falls in waves around his face like a curtain shutting the world out. Her eyes hold his. Not a word spoken. She just ... moves. Slowly. Intentionally. Her hips roll, slow and deep, like she's testing the tension between them, drawing it out, savoring it.

Jalen's head falls back against the seat, a low groan escaping his throat, his hands gripping her thighs like they're the only steady thing in the world. "Damn, girl..."

Her lips hover just over his.

"Did you miss me?" She asks, obviously referring to her wet, tight vagina, as she bites her lip through her smile.

Jalen answers by kissing her, this time with a need that's less urgent, more reverent. Like her decision to fuck him in this car, wasn't just wanted ... it was everything. She rolls her hips a little faster now, and Jalen's whole body reacts. His fingers flex, digging into her waist, guiding her, matching her rhythm. The cabin is sweltering now, breath fogging the windows, skin sticking to fabric, and every breath drawn between them thick with need. Jalen's hands grip her hips, hard, then slide around to the small of her back as he tilts his pelvis upward, meeting her movement with a firm, rising push. Kristen lets out a loud moan, eyes fluttering closed for a split second, head tilting back as the sensation lands. Anyone standing near the car would have definitely heard her, not that either of them cared. Jalen pushes deeper, timed perfectly with her roll, slow grind for slow grind. Every press is a silent confession. He holds her tighter now, not just to feel her, but to stay anchored. Like if he lets go, she might slip away. Each movement says, I know what you want. I know what I want. And I'm taking all of it. Their bodies sync completely, fluid, electric. Not frantic. Not rushed. Jalen's hands slide up her spine, holding her to him as he thrusts up again, deep, controlled, and full. Her lips again find his. Not a kiss to claim this time. A kiss to feel. A kiss to remember.

"I want you to cum for me, Jalen," Kristen whispers, "Just like you did that night we did it the very first time in that storage room."

The air catches between them. Her hips continue to move but more hungry now, grinding down on him like she's chasing that exact memory. Her voice is like silk laced with fire. Her rhythm picks up, and Jalen meets it, harder now, deeper, until his head falls back against the seat, jaw clenched, trying to hold on just a little longer. But he's not in control anymore. Their lips brush with every shallow breath, their bodies locked in motion, skin damp, muscles tight, hearts pounding in sync. Jalen's fingers are splayed wide across the small of Kristen's back, holding her down to him like he needs every inch of her.

"Say it again..." He says.

"Cum for me, Jalen." She whispers louder.

That's it. His arms wrap around her, crushing her to him as he groans, deep, guttural, like she just pulled the soul from his chest. His body tenses beneath her as he gives her everything. The tip of his cock pulsates inside of her shooting streams of cum into her over and over. Her pussy fills with his fluid. Kristen doesn't stop moving. Not until the last pulse fades, not until he's completely undone in her arms. Then ... Kristen kisses him softly, this time slow, warm, almost sweet. Jalen just holds her there, hands shaking a little. Breathing wrecked but his heart full. The interior is a sauna now, thick air, damp skin, fogged glass, and the heavy scent of sweat and sex still hanging between them like incense. Their bodies are tangled and flushed, skin slick and clinging in every crevice. Inside the car, it's just skin on skin, shallow breath, and silence that somehow feels louder than anything they've said yet. Kristen is still straddling Jalen, her chest rising and falling softly against his. Her arms are wrapped around his neck. His hands rest on her hips like he's afraid she might disappear if he lets go. Her cheek brushes against his. Her lips find the corner of his jaw, barely a kiss.

Then, quietly, soft, but sure, she whispers against his ear: "I don't ever want another man to cum in me. I only want it to be you."

Jalen's breath catches. He pulls back just enough to see her face. She's smiling.

Her fingers trail through the hair at the nape of his neck. Her eyes hold his like she's daring him to misunderstand her. "Somehow I knew ... even that first day I met you ... That you were different."

Jalen's jaw tightens, not from tension, but from how hard that hits him. He brushes a strand of hair from her cheek, the pads of his fingers dragging slow over her skin.

"You chose me that night we first had sex in that storage room," Jalen says looking straight into her eyes, "And I'll always be grateful that you did."

"Yeah. And I'd do it again." Kristen says, looking right back at him.

She leans in, presses her forehead to his. "I've never loved anyone like this. It's scary." She says still whispering.

"Then we're both scared," Jalen responds stroking her hair, "But I'm not going anywhere."

They sit there in silence, two people who just gave everything, holding each other in the wreckage of pleasure and trust. The fog on the windows starts to fade. But the heat? It lingers.

Kristen groans softly as she tries to peel herself off of Aaron's chest, only to slide right back against him with a warm, sticky squelch.

"Jesus ... we're disgusting." She says, chuckling.

"Nah. We're perfectly wrecked." Jalen replies smiling.

Kristen laughs, really laughs, cheeks flushed, mascara smudged just slightly, hair wild in the most beautiful way. She reaches for her top, now crumpled on the floorboard, but even that feels like too much.

They eventually pull their clothes on, stickiness and all. Jalen goes out and gathers the food and blanket from outside and stuffs it into the trunk before piling into the driver seat, Kristen in the passenger seat now, and peeling off to Kristen's apartment.

Jalen wakes up the next morning with Kristen laying naked on his chest. They had come home from Stone Mountain Park the previous evening and had more sex that went well after midnight. They both had fallen asleep feeling very content. Jalen stirs slightly, his arm instinctively tightening around Kristen's waist as the morning light filters through the blinds. Her bare skin is warm against his, her breathing slow and peaceful. He exhales, his fingers lazily tracing circles along her back, feeling the soft rise and fall of her body with each breath.

Kristen shifts slightly, nuzzling into his chest, her lips brushing against his skin as she mumbles sleepily, "Mmm ... you wore me out."

Jalen smirks, his hand sliding up to run through her tousled hair. "You started it."

Kristen lets out a soft chuckle, eyes still closed as she tightens her hold around him. "Yeah ... but you damn sure finished it."

Jalen laughs lowly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You good?"

Kristen sighs, finally blinking her eyes open to look at him. "More than good." She lifts her head slightly, her gaze softening as she studies him. "I don't think I've ever felt this ... at peace before."

Jalen nods slowly, knowing exactly what she means. For a brief moment, there were no outside stresses, no complicated dynamics, no looming responsibilities. Just them, tangled in each other, completely satisfied.

Kristen rests her chin on his chest, grinning mischievously. "You're gonna have to carry me to the shower. My legs don't work anymore."

Jalen chuckles, stretching slightly before rolling them over, pinning her beneath him as she lets out a surprised giggle. "Who said we were getting up yet?"

Kristen laughs, her fingers threading through his hair. "Oh, so now you're trying to kill me?"

Jalen smirks down at her, pressing a slow, teasing kiss against her lips. "Nah, just making sure last night wasn't a fluke."

Kristen pulls him back down, her body already responding to him all over again. Neither of them would be getting out of bed anytime soon.

Chapter 13

Later that week, on Wednesday evening, Heidi sat on her bed, her lamp casting a soft glow across her room. Her phone was in her hand, the screen already pulled up to Jalen's Instagram page. She stared at it for the tenth time, thumb hovering over the "Message" button.

"Don't do it," she thought to herself.

She tapped it anyway. Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard.

"Just ask something simple. Casual. You're not flirting. You're being polite. Friendly. Curious," she thought.

She typed: "Hey! Hope this isn't weird ... I was just thinking about that guest house project and was wondering how long something like that usually takes?"

She stared at it. Read it again. It sounded neutral. Innocent. Informational. Totally normal. She hit send. Immediately regretted it. Then put her phone down like it was radioactive and flopped back against her pillows.

"God. What am I doing?"

A second later, her phone buzzed. She sat up so fast she nearly pulled a muscle.

Jalen Moss replied to your message. He wrote: "Hey. Not weird. Timeline depends on how many surprises we run into, but best case? Around 10-12 weeks. Why? Thinking about moving in?"

Her heart skipped a beat. She bit her lip and typed slowly, deliberately: "Haha nooo, just curious. It's definitely looking more like a guest house than a shed now. You guys are fast."

Another buzz: "We don't play around. Gotta impress your dad, right?"

She smirked. Then hesitated. Then typed: "My dad isn't the one who needs impressing."

Delete. Re-type. "Lol well you've definitely impressed me so far."

That's better. Still flirty, but vague enough to deny later if she had to. She hit send. And now she was in it.

A minute later, Jalen responded: "You trying to get me in trouble, Heidi?"

Heidi stared at the message and felt her stomach do an involuntary flip. God, why did that sound so good coming from him? She smirked and tapped out her reply: "Only if you deserve it ... and maybe a little."

She hit send before she could talk herself out of it. She immediately pulled her knees to her chest, phone clutched between her fingers, adrenaline spiking. It was playful, maybe a little bold, but she wanted to see how he'd respond. Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then came back. Then stayed.

Jalen: "I definitely don't deserve it ... but I'm starting to think you're trouble."

Heidi bit her lip, hard. Her fingers hovered again. Her head said log off. Her heart said lean in.

Heidi: "And what if I am?"

Send. Silence. A full minute passed. Then Jalen texted: "Then I need to stay the hell away from you. Because trouble with you sounds really tempting."

Heidi stared at the screen, pulse pounding. Shit. What the hell was she getting herself into? But damn did it feel good.

A minute later, Heidi had barely set her phone down, still catching her breath from the DM exchange with Jalen, when she heard the familiar knock-twist-open combo at her door.

"Sweetheart?" her mother's voice chirped as the door opened.

Heidi quickly flipped her phone face down on the bed, sitting up straighter. "Hey, Mama."

Sylvia Horner stepped inside with a soft smile and a freshly pressed blouse, looking like she had just stepped out of a Southern Living magazine shoot. She sat on the edge of the bed and patted Heidi's leg like she used to when Heidi was little.

"I wanted to talk to you about Sunday," Sylvia said. "Church is doing a singles luncheon after service for the young adults, and I thought it might be nice for you to meet someone."

Heidi blinked. "Meet someone?"

"Yes." Her mother's eyes lit up. "Hunter. He's the son of my friend Linda. Remember her? Blonde, sings in the choir. Anyway, Hunter just got his MBA, and he's working with his father's company now. Drives a nice truck, loves dogs, goes hunting. A very nice young man."

Heidi smiled politely, but her stomach sank. Hunter. MBA. Truck. Hunting. He was everything her mother wanted for her. And perhaps a few weeks ago, he would have been. But now all she could think about was the rough timber of Jalen's voice in those DMs. The way he looked at her like he wasn't afraid of her sharp edges. The tension under the surface of every one of their interactions.

"Heidi?" Sylvia tilted her head. "Doesn't that sound nice?"

Heidi forced a smile. "Yeah ... he sounds great."

But in her mind, all she could picture was Jalen, sweat on his brow, sun hitting his skin as he worked out back, eyes locking with hers like he saw through every layer of her upbringing and expected her to still rise.

Sylvia patted her leg again, satisfied. "I'll let Linda know. I think you two would really hit it off."

Heidi nodded absently. But her heart was already somewhere else. After her mom left the room, Heidi sat on the edge of her bed, staring down at her phone. The screen was dark, but her mind was racing, "Should I do it?"

She hadn't been able to stop thinking about Jalen all day. Not Hunter, not church, not law school. Just him. Something about him got under her skin—his confidence, his calmness, the way he said exactly what he meant. And God help her, the way he looked at her like he wasn't intimidated one bit. But what was she even doing? Asking him to "hang out"? Was she insane? She could already hear her father losing his mind. Could already see the headlines if this ever got out. Still ... the idea of talking to Jalen without everyone else watching, without the weight of her last name or his job hanging over them, felt right. She wanted to hear what he had to say without the filter. Without the pressure. She wanted truth. She picked up her phone and opened his Instagram DM thread again. Her finger hovered over the keyboard.

She typed: "Hey ... random thought. Would you ever be open to grabbing a coffee sometime? Just to talk. I feel like there's stuff I can't say around here."

She stared at it. Then deleted the whole thing.

Typed again: "Do you ever take a break from building things to just chill?"

Nope. Weak.

She sighed and tossed the phone on the bed, flopping back against her pillows. "This is so stupid," she muttered aloud.

But her heart was still beating a little too fast. She wanted to send something. She just didn't know how to ask without sounding obvious. Or reckless. Or like some girl with a crush. But maybe that's exactly what she was. And deep down, she didn't want to fight it.

A few minutes later, Heidi's phone buzzed. She blinked, reaching over, assuming it was another text from her mom or some reminder about church or Hunter. But when she saw the name on the screen, her breath caught.

Jalen Moss. She tapped the notification with hesitant fingers, her pulse already rising.

"Hey, would you be down to roll with me to a pizza joint? Just you and me? It's a low key spot about 20 minutes from your house. Maybe we can finally talk without too many eyes on us."

Heidi sat up in bed, heart thudding. For a second, all she could do was stare at the message. He messaged her first. And it's like he read her damn mind. She bit her bottom lip, rereading it. He wasn't asking for anything inappropriate. He wasn't trying to cross a line. He just wanted to talk. And the fact that he asked her first to talk outside the walls of his job, away from the tension at her house, meant more than she expected. She took a breath, thumb hovering over her screen.

Then she typed: "Yeah ... I'd like that."

She hesitated, then added: "When?"

The second it was sent, she exhaled. God, what was she doing? But for once, she didn't want to overthink it.

Heidi saw the response pop up immediately.

Jalen: "You free this Friday? Around 8?"

Her stomach did a little somersault. She hadn't even figured out how she was going to sneak away yet, but her fingers moved on their own.

Heidi: "I can make that work."

She stared at the message after sending it. No emojis. No overthinking. Just ... clear. But inside she was spiraling. Friday. 8 p.m. Dinner. With Jalen.

Not "contractor Jalen," not "man my father's paying to build a guest house," but Jalen. The man who made her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time, if ever.

Now all she had to do was come up with a damn excuse. Something believable. Something that didn't scream "I'm going to meet a man my father would absolutely lose his mind over."

Because it was game over if her parents found out.

On Friday at 6:37 PM, Heidi stood in front of her mirror for what had to be the fiftieth time, a pile of rejected outfits scattered across her bed like casualties of war.

A black bodycon dress? Too obvious. The floral sundress she wore to brunch last week? Too sweet. Jeans and a tank top? Too casual. God, why was this so hard? It wasn't just about what to wear. It was about what it meant. She wanted Jalen to think she looked good. Hell, she wanted him to want her, but she didn't want to show up looking like she was auditioning for a music video. She still had her pride and class. And more than that? She had to live with herself after this. And yet ... she pulled a soft olive-green wrap top from her closet and held it up. It hugged her waist, showed a tasteful amount of cleavage, and complimented her skin and hair without screaming "thirsty". She paired it with high-waisted jeans that showed off her curves and nude wedges that gave her height without looking like she was trying to seduce him in stilettos. Subtle. Sexy. Safe enough to tell herself it wasn't a date. She double-checked her makeup, clean, glowing skin, a soft nude lip, lashes full but not overdone. Her signature wavy hair was parted to the side, falling effortlessly over one shoulder. Still ... she felt the nerves bubbling. This wasn't just dinner. This was her stepping into a world her parents would never understand. A world she barely understood herself. With a man who made her think..., about everything. About herself. About the bubble she'd always lived in. About what else might be out there. About him. She checked her phone. 7:13 PM. His message from earlier still sat there.

"You free this Friday? Around 8?" "I can make that work."

Heidi took one last look in the mirror and whispered to her reflection, "Don't screw this up."

Then she grabbed her bag, her keys, and her courage, and walked out the door.

The low-key pizza joint sat at the edge of a quiet strip center, just off the main road—a place you'd only find if someone told you about it. Heidi pulled into the parking lot at 7:50 on the dot, nerves simmering just beneath the surface. She took a deep breath and turned off the engine, staring at the entrance for a second. You're just meeting someone to talk. That's all. You're not doing anything wrong. That's what she told herself, anyway. She'd told her mom she was grabbing dinner with some law school friends. Sylvia bought it easily. Why wouldn't she? Heidi had played the good daughter for years. The obedient student. The devout churchgoer. The future lawyer with the perfect record. But tonight wasn't about being perfect. Tonight was about him.

At 7:55, Jalen's truck pulled in. Heidi watched as he climbed out, black T-shirt hugging his chest, dark jeans, clean sneakers, and a quiet confidence that made her stomach twist. He hadn't even spotted her yet, and she was already warm in the face. Jalen glanced around, then caught sight of her sitting in the car. He smirked, just a little, and started walking toward her. Heidi quickly grabbed her bag and stepped out before he could reach her door.

"Right on time," he said, eyes scanning her once. Not in a crude way—just enough to make her feel seen.

"You too," she replied, adjusting her bag strap, hoping he didn't notice how fast her heart was beating.

"You look nice."

She raised a brow, playing it cool. "Thanks. You clean up alright yourself."

He chuckled under his breath. "Let's eat. I'm starving."

They walked inside together, close, but not too close, like two people pretending this was just dinner. Like they didn't both feel the electric current humming quietly between them. The door shut behind them, and for the first time in weeks, Heidi felt like she was exactly where she wasn't supposed to be. And exactly where she wanted to be. They found a booth near the back, dim lighting, brick walls, and a jukebox in the corner playing faint 90s R&B. Jalen let Heidi slide in first, then sat across from her. A waitress took their order, two custom pies, a couple of drinks, and once she walked off, there was a beat of silence. Jalen leaned back slightly, arms stretched out along the back of the booth. He studied Heidi for a second. Not in a flirtatious way. Just ... curious.

"So," he said, voice low and relaxed. "Tell me about your family."

Heidi blinked. "You want the polite version or the real one?"

Jalen smirked. "I want your version."

She exhaled, looking down at her napkin for a moment before meeting his eyes again. "It's ... structured. Very structured. My dad's a big personality. Commands every room. Mom plays support, she's a church volunteer, fundraiser, plays piano during service ... that kind of thing."

"And you?" he asked. "Were you always the golden child?"

Heidi laughed softly, rolling her eyes. "Pretty much. Straight A's. Sunday school star. Debated for the conservative youth council. My dad loves telling people I'm in law school at Emory. Says it like it's a badge of honor."

Jalen nodded slowly. "Bet he's got your whole life planned out."

"From the college I'd go to, to the kind of man I'm supposed to marry." She paused. "You met the house. The flags. That's not just decor. It's identity."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "And how much of that identity actually fits you?"

That question landed harder than she expected. Heidi looked away for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Less and less as of late," she said quietly.

Jalen didn't push. He just nodded like he understood. Because he did.

"Be honest. What would your dad do if he knew about this little meetup?" Jalen asked.

Heidi let out a dry laugh and leaned back in the booth, eyes drifting toward the window like she could see her father's disapproval materializing in the parking lot.

"Oh, he'd lose his mind," she said flatly. "Like, full-on meltdown. Bible verses. Gun-cleaning. Talking about how I was raised better. The whole Southern dad starter pack."

Jalen smirked, but there was a sharpness in his gaze. "Because I'm Black?"

Heidi didn't flinch. "Because you're you," she said carefully. "You're everything he can't control or predict. You're from a world he doesn't respect. And yeah, being honest, being Black definitely makes it worse in this case."

She let the words hang there. No sugar-coating. No retreating behind a polite smile.

Jalen's eyes didn't leave hers. "And yet ... here you are."

Heidi's lips curled just slightly. "Yeah. Here I am."

"You always this rebellious?" he asked.

"No," she said. "But I think I'm starting to like it."

The waitress returned with their drinks, giving them both a brief reprieve from the tension that had started crackling between them.

"You sure you're ready for what comes with this?" Jalen asked once they were alone again. "Because I'm not about to be your little secret forever."

Heidi looked at him, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she said, "I don't want you to be."

"How much time have you spent around black people?" Jalen asks.

Heidi blinked, caught off guard. She set down her drink and tilted her head slightly, considering the question.

"Honestly? Not much," she admitted. "A couple of classmates at Berry. A professor. Some group projects. But ... not like this. Not one-on-one. Not in a setting where I'm not keeping a safe distance."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "Keeping a distance?"

"I don't mean physically," she said quickly. "I mean ... emotionally. Culturally. I grew up in a bubble, Jalen. A big, white, conservative, Jesus-and-guns bubble. My dad's the kind of man who hears ‘Black Lives Matter' and immediately starts talking about Chicago crime stats."

Jalen nodded slowly, sipping his drink. "So what changed?"

Heidi's eyes flicked up to meet his, and for a second, the noise of the restaurant disappeared. "You showed up."

A beat passed. Jalen didn't break eye contact.

"And what do you see now that I've shown up?" he asked, his voice low and calm.

Heidi exhaled, her voice softer now. "Someone who challenges me. Makes me question what I thought I knew. And someone I'm starting to want to know more about."

Jalen leaned back, folding his arms. "Careful, Heidi. That sounds dangerously close to growth."

She smirked. "Yeah. Scary stuff."

Jalen chuckles before asking, "So what did you think I'd be like before you first spoke to me? A gangsta?"

Heidi's eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "No! God, no—I didn't mean it like that."

Jalen gave a low chuckle, taking a slow sip of his beer. "Relax. I'm messing with you ... kinda."

Heidi looked at him, then let out a nervous laugh, shaking her head. "I honestly didn't know what to expect. My world's just ... small. Everyone I grew up around is the same, same church, same schools, same politics, same everything. You're the first person I've talked to who really lives outside of that."

Jalen raised an eyebrow, still watching her. "And how's that going for you so far?"

Heidi smirked, her voice quieter. "Surprisingly well. A little uncomfortable ... but kinda freeing."

Jalen nodded, letting the silence settle for a beat before saying, "Good. Discomfort's where the truth lives."

"For the record, I like you Heidi. But you need to understand who I am and where I come from if you and I are going to keep having conversations." Jalen said.

Heidi's expression softened, but there was a flicker of nervous energy behind her eyes. "I want to," she said. "That's why I'm here."

Jalen nodded, steady. "I'm not from your world. I didn't grow up with country clubs, private schools, or politicians in the family. I grew up in apartments where we had to sleep with a box fan to drown out the sirens outside. I've seen friends get profiled, harassed, locked up for bullshit. I've seen Black women be everything to everyone and still get overlooked."

Heidi swallowed hard, not out of discomfort, but out of realization.

"I'm not asking you to agree with everything I believe," Jalen continued. "But if this"—he gestured between them—"is going to keep happening, I need to know you're not just curious about me like I'm some social experiment."

Heidi met his gaze head-on, her voice quiet but firm. "You're not. I swear you're not. And I don't just like you, Jalen. I respect you. Even if I still have to ... rethink a lot of shit to fully understand you."

That earned a small nod from Jalen. "Then keep showing up like this. Keep asking questions. But don't fake it, and don't run when it gets uncomfortable."

"I won't," she said. "I promise."

The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was thick with truth. And tension.

"So if you don't mind me asking, are you a Christian?" Heidi asks, breaking the silence.

Jalen leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing, thoughtfully. He respected the question because he could tell it wasn't coming from judgment. Heidi genuinely wanted to know.

"I was raised one," he said slowly. "Church every Sunday, Wednesday night Bible study, vacation Bible school in the summer ... all of it."

Heidi nodded, waiting.

"But somewhere along the line," he continued, "it started to feel more like performance than faith. Like I was just going through the motions. After my dad passed, I had a lot of questions, about God, about justice, about why the hell the world looks the way it does. And the answers I got? They didn't always sit right with me."

Heidi's brow furrowed, but she didn't interrupt.

"I still believe in God," Jalen said. "Still pray sometimes. Still try to live with purpose, treat people with compassion, protect those who can't protect themselves. But I don't go to church much anymore. And I'm not big on religious rituals for the sake of appearances."

Heidi stared at him for a long moment, her lips slightly parted.

"That's honest," she said softly.

"You expected something different?" Jalen asked.

"I don't know," she said. "I guess I thought ... maybe you'd be defensive or dismissive."

"I'm not ashamed of how I see the world," Jalen replied. "And I don't think faith should be a weapon."

Heidi looked down at her glass, swirling the ice with her straw. "I admire that," she said. "Even if I'm not in the same place spiritually, I admire how you carry your beliefs. With depth."

Jalen gave a slight smile. "That's probably the nicest way someone's ever said ‘we don't believe the same things.'"

Heidi laughed, shaking her head. "Shut up."

"You shut up."

They both grinned, and the tension softened. The check came and Jalen took it and paid for everything.

"You ready to get outta here?" Jalen asked when he finished adding the tip.

Heidi tilted her head. "And go where?"

"That depends," he said. "You still feel like talking?"

Heidi paused for a second before saying, "Yeah I do."

"Then follow me."

Later, Heidi followed Jalen's truck as he led her away from the busy lights of town and into a quieter, more rural stretch of back roads. When he finally turned into a gravel lot tucked behind some dense trees, she parked beside him and stepped out, glancing around curiously.

"This is the spot?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You'll see," Jalen said, grabbing something out the bed of his truck—a folded blanket and a mid-sized cooler. "C'mon."

They walked a short trail through the trees, the sound of their footsteps crunching lightly on the dirt path. The trees opened up into a wide clearing with a grassy hill that sloped down toward a quiet lake. There were no other people in sight.

"You've been holding out," Heidi said, impressed.

Jalen dropped the blanket in a good spot and unfolded it with one hand while setting the cooler down beside it. "I come here when I need to get away. Nobody bothers you out here. Cell service is trash, but that's kinda the point."

Heidi sat down beside him, smoothing her dress over her thighs as Jalen popped open the cooler. He pulled out two cans of beer, cracking one open and handing it to her.

"I figured you for a wine girl," he teased.

Heidi took the can with a smirk. "Don't let the church-girl reputation fool you."

They clinked cans and drank in a silence that felt surprisingly comfortable. The night air was cool, the sounds of crickets and distant water lapping against the shore filling the space between them.

"This is ... nice," Heidi said after a while. "Unexpected, but nice."

"That's the point," Jalen said. "I figured if we were really gonna talk, it needed to be somewhere nobody could interrupt."

Heidi nodded, sipping again. "So what do you usually think about when you come out here?"

"Everything," Jalen said. "Sometimes I just need to get quiet. Think about my dad. Think about my business. Lately ... it's been a lot of thinking about what the hell I've gotten myself into when it comes to a situation I'm currently in."

Heidi took another sip of her beer and looked out over the park, the soft orange glow of the streetlamps starting to flicker on in the distance.

"So," she said softly, her eyes still on the horizon, "this ... thing in your life you're dealing with. Do you ever regret it?"

Jalen glanced at her, caught slightly off guard by how perceptive she was. "What makes you ask that?"

She shrugged. "I can tell something weighs on you. You carry it around in your shoulders. In your eyes. Like your mind's always working overtime."

Jalen exhaled slowly, running a hand over his jaw. "Yeah ... life's been heavy lately."

"You want to talk about it?" Heidi asked, her voice gentle but curious.

Jalen looked at her for a moment. Then he shook his head. "Not tonight."

Heidi nodded, not pressing. "Okay."

They sat in silence for a while longer, just sipping their beers, the night settling around them like a soft blanket.

"You've never been with a non-white guy, have you?" Jalen asked.

Heidi let out a small, breathy laugh and looked down at her beer.

"No," she said honestly. "I haven't."

Jalen raised an eyebrow, watching her reaction. "Why do I feel like there's a ‘but' coming?"

She glanced back up at him, biting the inside of her cheek. "But ... I've definitely thought about it. Especially lately."

Jalen leaned back slightly on the blanket, his expression unreadable. "Why now?"

Heidi hesitated, then shrugged, her voice soft. "Because you're not what I expected. You challenge me. You make me think. And you don't take my crap."

Jalen smirked. "You like being challenged?"

"I didn't think I did," she said. "But with you ... yeah. I do."

There was a pause. The air between them charged now. Heavier. Warmer.

Jalen's voice was low. "So what now, Heidi?"

She didn't answer right away. Her eyes locked on his, the beer bottle resting forgotten in her hand. "I don't know," she said. "But I'm not ready to walk away from this."

Jalen nodded slowly, eyes never leaving hers. "Neither am I."

Jalen looked up at the sky for moment as he took a sip of his beer. Heidi watched him carefully. He was so handsome. Honestly she suppressing the urge to go over and lay on him. Jalen exhaled before saying,

"Heidi ... I'm pretty sure you and I are on opposites sides of the spectrum when it comes to politics and social issues. Can we be friends? Yes, but more than that? I just don't know."

Jalen was in the middle of taking measurements for the guest house's flooring when he heard the distinct sound of heels clicking against the pavement behind him. He didn't even have to turn around to know it was Heidi.

Heidi looked down for a moment before looking back up at him, locking her eyes with his, the flicker of tension sparking instantly. "I know," she said quietly. "I've been thinking the same thing."

Jalen exhaled, eyes narrowing slightly, not in judgment, but in measured caution. "You come from a world where I'm not supposed to fit. Hell, I'm not even supposed to be sitting here with you right now."

"I know that too," Heidi replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I also know I've never connected with anyone like this. Not in a real way."

Jalen looked at her for a long moment. "You're attracted to me. I can feel it. But attraction's not enough."

"I'm not just attracted to you, Jalen," Heidi said, her jaw tightening a little. "I'm intrigued by you. I want to know how your mind works, why you see the world the way you do. Even when it challenges everything I was raised to believe."

That hit different. Jalen studied her for a beat before replying, "That's a dangerous road, Heidi."

She smirked softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "So maybe I'm finally ready for some danger."

The silence between them was heavy again, but not uncomfortable. Charged. Loaded with everything unsaid.

"Look," Jalen said, voice low, steady, "If you want to keep talking, keep hanging out, I'm cool with that. But I'm not gonna lie to you. This ain't simple. It never will be."

Heidi nodded slowly. "I'm not asking for simple."

A beat passed.

"You're asking for something though," Jalen said, eyes narrowing again.

Heidi met his gaze head-on. "Yeah. I'm asking for a chance to see where this could go ... even if it scares the hell out of me."

"How about I take you on a little excursion tomorrow?" Jalen suggested.

"An excursion? To where?" Heidi replied asking.

"To my side of town. To my world." Jalen said looking right into her eyes.

Heidi's breath caught in her chest. The way he said it ... my world ... hit her in a place she didn't fully understand yet. She looked at him, really looked, and saw that he wasn't playing. This wasn't just a casual offer. This was a challenge. A door cracked open.

"You mean, like ... where you grew up?" she asked, cautiously.

Jalen nodded slowly. "Where I grew up. Where I live. Where I eat, shop, laugh, argue, work. I want you to see it for yourself. Not through the filter your family gave you. Not through the news. Through me."

Heidi swallowed, her pulse quickening. She wasn't afraid—at least not in the way her parents would expect her to be. But there was fear. The fear of being changed. Of stepping across a line she couldn't uncross.

"I don't want to be a tourist in your life, Jalen," she said quietly.

His eyes didn't waver. "Then don't act like one. Come as you are. Let me show you what made me who I am. And then you can decide if we're really on opposite sides ... or if maybe, we're just standing in different places looking at the same sky."

Heidi bit her lip, her chest rising as she took a slow breath. "Okay," she whispered. "I'm in."

Jalen smirked, just slightly. "Good. I'll pick you up at noon."

Jalen picks Heidi up at 12:03 pm on Saturday morning right at the mailbox where she waited for him. Heidi had only told her parents that she was going to spend the day with friends. She hoped that they didn't see that it was Jalen's truck picking her up.

"Morning," Jalen said smiling, passing her a coffee he'd picked up from Starbucks for her on the way here.

Heidi looked at him nervously. "Why are you smiling so much?"

"I'm just looking forward to seeing you react to a world that's probably very different from yours." Jalen responded.

"Jalen, I'm not THAT sheltered." Heidi retorted.

Jalen chuckled. "We'll see." And he pulled off.

Jalen played some music from his playlist as he drove.

{Intro to song} Ayy (Ayy), yeah Ayy (Ayy), yeah Ayy (Ayy)

{Chorus} I'm a T-R-A-P-S-T-ar (USDA in the building, ayy) Got the city on lock, big shoes on the car And she likes it (She likes it n****), ayy And she likes it (Yeah), let's get it!

"Who is this?" Heidi asks, turning the volume down just a little so she could talk to Jalen.

Jalen glances at her and chuckles. "So you're not familiar with my boy, Young Jeezy?"

Heidi frowns. "I've heard of Young Jeezy. Just not this song."

"This song is called Trap Star. It's from his first major label solo album back in 2005," Jalen explains, "Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101. One of my favorite albums ever."

"I was four years old then!" Heidi exclaimed.

Jalen laughed. "Well I'm old enough to remember when that album came out and how dope it was."

"I don't think I've asked. How old are you anyway?" Heidi asks.

"Twenty-nine," Jalen says.

Heidi didn't respond since she was now absorbing the lyrics to the song. For the rest of the ride, Jalen continued to play some of his favorite rap songs from artists like T.I., Lil Wayne, Roscoe Dash, and Outkast. Some of the songs Heidi had heard before, but others she never had, and it made her feel a bit out of touch.

Jalen drove to Doraville, Georgia where he pulled into the parking lot of the Doraville MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) train station.

"What are we doing at the MARTA station?" Heidi asks, looking confused.

"This...," Jalen begins, " ... is how I used to get around when I was younger. Now be honest. You've never ridden Marta before have you?"

Heidi looked away feeling a little embarrassed. "No," she said softly, looking out the window. "My parents made me swear to never ride MARTA. They say it's infested with criminals and dangerous people."

"Yeah, I figured as much." Jalen said, smirking. "Which is why I thought it would be the perfect way for us to get around today. Unless of course you're not up for it..."

Heidi shot him a dirty look. "Let's go." She said, and then she promptly got out of the car.

The moment Heidi stepped onto the MARTA train, she knew this was going to be a completely different world than anything she had experienced before.

The train smelled of a mixture of cologne, sweat, and the faint scent of fast food. A group of young guys were freestyling in one corner, hyping each other up. Across from them, an older man in a tattered jacket mumbled to himself, his gaze unfocused. A woman with a baby on her hip sat nearby, scrolling through her phone while her toddler tugged at her shirt.

Jalen stood beside Heidi, arms folded, completely at ease.

"You look uncomfortable." His voice was teasing.

"I'm not," Heidi lied, keeping her expression composed but her body language stiff.

Jalen smirked. "Relax. Nobody's gonna bite you."

As the train rattled forward, a homeless man shuffled down the aisle, holding out a cup.

"Aye, anybody got something for me today so I can get something to eat?"

Most people ignored him. A few shook their heads.

Jalen reached into his pocket and handed him a five-dollar bill. "Be safe, man."

The man nodded gratefully. "Bless you, brother."

Heidi watched the exchange, feeling something stir inside her.

"You do that often?" she asked.

Jalen shrugged. "When I can. A lot of them out here ain't just ‘lazy.' Some are vets. Some had one bad break and never recovered. It ain't as black-and-white as people like to think."

Heidi glanced back at the homeless man, her mind running through everything she had been taught by her parents about how people should "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" when faced with adversity and not to expect "handouts".

She didn't respond to Jalen.

They get off at Kensington MARTA station in southwest DeKalb County about ten miles east of Atlanta, and take a short bus ride from there. Heidi had seen MARTA buses on the road from her car all the time, but now it felt so strange actually being one of the people on the bus and watching people in their own cars pass by them. After they reached their stop, Jalen led Heidi into a small, busy barbershop with music playing low in the background. The scent of aftershave and fresh haircuts filled the air. Conversations overlapped, from sports debates to loud laughter to arguments about politics.

The second Heidi stepped in, all conversations paused for a split second. Jalen noticed. He expected it. White women did not usually walk into places like this.

"Aye, J, who's this?" a man called out from one of the chairs.

"This is Heidi," Jalen said smoothly, his tone casual but firm, as if daring anyone to make it weird.

His barber, Duke, an older Black man in his late forties with salt-and-pepper dreads, raised an eyebrow. "She lost?"

A few chuckles followed. Heidi straightened her posture, refusing to let herself feel intimidated.

Jalen smirked. "Nah, man. Just showing her my side of things."

Duke's sharp eyes scanned Heidi before nodding approvingly. "A'ight, cool."

Heidi took a seat in the waiting area, feeling the weight of several curious eyes on her. Jalen fist-bumped a few of the guys, then sat in Duke's chair as his haircut started.

"So, Heidi," Duke said casually, lining up Jalen's fade, "what brings you to the South Side?"

"I'm ... learning," Heidi admitted.

Duke chuckled. "Well damn, you picked the right tour guide."

Jalen just smirked. "I told you she's different."

Later on, Jalen took Heidi to an American Deli down the street. By now, Heidi had a lot on her mind.

She picked at her plate of lemon pepper chicken wings and fries, still digesting everything she had seen that day. Jalen, meanwhile, dug in like he had been waiting for this meal all week.

"Alright," Heidi finally said, setting her fork down. "Let's talk."

Jalen wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then leaned back in his chair, giving her a smirk. "Oh, this should be good."

Heidi took a breath, staring at her plate. "You said earlier it's not all black-and-white. I think ... I'm starting to see what you meant."

Jalen stayed quiet, watching her.

"I've always believed that people fail because they don't try hard enough. That if you work hard, stay out of trouble, believe in God ... you'll be fine. That was how I was raised."

Jalen nodded slowly. "And now?"

Heidi looked at him, her green eyes more vulnerable than before. "Now I don't know what to believe. I've seen more in one afternoon than I have in years."

Jalen leaned forward, elbows on the table. "That's the first step. Most people never even take it."

Heidi fidgeted with her napkin. "Do you think I'm naïve?"

Jalen tilted his head. "No. I think you were kept in a bubble. There's a difference."

She nodded, swallowing. "My parents would lose their minds if they knew I was here with you. They think all of this, the city, MARTA, places like that barbershop ... they think these places are dangerous and filled with shady characters. That I'm in danger just being around it."

Jalen took a sip of his drink, then set it down. "That's how fear works. You teach someone to be afraid of a whole group of people, a whole side of town, and you never have to ask whether your version of the world is wrong."

Silence hung between them for a moment. Then Heidi asked the question that had been building in her chest since the train ride.

"Why do you still believe in people?"

Jalen's answer was simple. "Because I come from people who had every reason not to be believed in, and they still showed up. They still worked, loved, built something from nothing. That deserves more than being called lazy or dangerous."

Heidi's voice was quiet. "I never knew how much I didn't know."

"You're learning," Jalen said. "And that matters."

She met his gaze across the table. "So now what?"

"That's up to you," Jalen said. "I know who I am. I know where I stand. Question is ... how far are you willing to walk away from what you were taught to see the world for yourself?"

Heidi didn't answer right away. But deep down? She already knew.

"Do you want to keep going, or should I take you home now?" Jalen asks, smirking.

Heidi exhales and looks at Jalen, still processing everything. "Let's keep going."

Jalen raises an eyebrow. "You sure? I mean, I wouldn't want to keep shattering your worldview or anything."

Heidi scoffs, shaking her head. "Oh, please. You act like I'm about to break. I can handle it."

Jalen grins. "Alright then. Let's go."

They leave the restaurant and walk back to Jalen's car. As they drive, Jalen asks, "So tell me something. What's the most diverse space you've ever been in? Like, when have you actually been surrounded by people who don't think or look like you?"

Heidi pauses, thinking. "College, I guess?"

Jalen glances at her. "Where'd you go?"

"University of Georgia."

Jalen chuckles. "Yeah, that's not exactly the melting pot of diversity."

Heidi smirks. "Okay, then what about Emory where I go to law school? It's in Atlanta."

Jalen shakes his head. "Being in Atlanta doesn't mean much if you only hang out with other white conservatives or mostly take online classes."

Heidi gives him a sideways look. "You assume a lot about me, you know that?"

Jalen shrugs. "You grew up in an ultra-conservative, wealthy, white family that doesn't trust Black people. It's not that big of a stretch."

Heidi stays quiet for a moment, then sighs. "You're right."

Jalen glances at her, surprised she actually admitted it. "Damn, I wasn't expecting that."

Heidi laughs. "I mean, I hate to boost your ego, but yeah. My world has been pretty ... insulated." Jalen smirks. "Glad you're aware."

They drive for another ten minutes before Jalen pulls up to a lively neighborhood spot. An old-school Black-owned jazz lounge with a mix of people inside. The air is warm with the sound of a live saxophone, and the vibe is completely different from anything Heidi is used to.

She hesitates as she steps out of the car. "A jazz lounge?"

Jalen nods. "Yep. Ever been to one?"

"No."

"Good. First time for everything."

He leads her inside, and immediately, Heidi feels the shift in energy. The room is filled with people, old heads reminiscing, young creatives networking, and couples swaying to the music.

Jalen leans in. "This? This is culture."

Heidi scans the room, taking it all in. "I'll admit ... it's kind of cool."

Jalen grins. "‘Kind of'? Girl, this is history."

Heidi rolls her eyes but follows him toward the bar. Today is already nothing like she expected.

They grab two drinks, nothing heavy, just something smooth to match the lounge's atmosphere. Jalen nods at someone he recognizes, and Heidi clocks how respected he seems here. This is his space. His world. And somehow, despite the fact that she sticks out like a billboard, no one makes her feel unwelcome.

They find a small table near the back, just close enough to the stage to feel the music in their chest. The saxophone wails, backed by a soft bassline and subtle drums. It's intimate, moody. The kind of sound that makes you feel things before you can explain why.

Heidi sips her drink, watching the band for a second before looking at Jalen.

"So ... do you bring all your girls here?" she asks, trying to keep it light but failing to hide the genuine curiosity behind the sarcasm.

Jalen smirks without looking at her. "Only the ones who need a little soul in their life."

Heidi arches an eyebrow. "And what makes you think I need soul?"

He turns toward her now, really looking at her. "Because you've spent your whole life around people who think it's dangerous."

The words land harder than she expected. Heidi doesn't respond right away.

Instead, she lets the silence stretch, letting the music speak while she processes.

After a moment, she sets her drink down and leans in slightly. "You were right earlier. About my world being a bubble. But I think maybe I needed to see what was outside it."

Jalen's smirk fades a little. "And how do you feel now?"

Heidi meets his gaze. "I'm really glad I came with you today."

He studies her for a second longer, like he's weighing something unspoken. Then he nods slowly and leans back in his chair.

"I am too."

The music softens into a smooth, melancholy tune, one of those jazz tracks that seems to crawl right into your chest and sit there. Heidi swirls the last bit of her drink, staring into the glass as if it might help her find the words she's afraid to say.

"I used to think my parents were perfect," she said finally, her voice just above a whisper. "Like ... they had it all figured out. They had rules, answers, certainty. And for a long time, I thought that made them good people."

Jalen didn't interrupt. He just listened.

"But lately..." She sighed. "I've started seeing the cracks. Not just in them. In me, too. I hear the way my dad talks about people. I see how my mom clutches her purse a little tighter in certain neighborhoods. I've felt it in church, in our friends, in myself. And I hate that it took meeting you for me to really look at it."

Jalen's voice was quiet but firm. "We all come from somewhere, Heidi. What matters is what you do when you finally see another perspective."

She looked at him, her green eyes softer now. "Is that why you asked me to come today? To ... open my eyes?"

"Partly." He nodded. "But also ‘cause I like you. And I needed you to know what liking me really means. Where I come from. What I carry."

Heidi hesitated, then asked, "What do you carry?"

Jalen leaned back, his jaw tight for a second as if debating how honest he wanted to be. Then he let it go.

"Loss. My dad died when I was a kid. I watched my mom work two jobs just to keep food on the table. I carry every time someone locked their doors when I walked by. Every time I had to prove I belonged in a room. Every friend I've lost to bullshit, prison, violence, the system. Every woman who gave herself to me hoping I could be her escape."

He looked her dead in the eyes. "I carry the weight of being a Black man in America, Heidi. That's not something you can just flirt with."

Her breath caught. She felt it again, that undeniable pull, low and deep in her chest. "I'm not flirting," she said, barely above a whisper.

Jalen didn't blink. "Then what are you doing?"

She stared at him, lips parted slightly, the air between them thick and warm. "I don't know," she admitted.

Jalen smirks, "Well hopefully we'll find out by the time today is over."

They continued to sit and sip on their drinks. The conversation eventually shifts. Heidi swirled her straw in her drink, tilting her head as she studied Jalen.

"Okay, so I have to ask ... how many women have you been with?"

Jalen smirked slightly, taking a sip of his beer. "Why? You trying to compare numbers?"

Heidi scoffed. "We both know you'd win."

Jalen chuckled. "You sound pretty sure about that."

"I am." Heidi leaned forward, resting her elbow on the table.

"I mean, let's be real. You have the vibe of a man who knows exactly what he's doing."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "Go on..."

Heidi smirked. "You're ... confident. Experienced. Dangerous."

Jalen exhaled, shaking his head. "You really think I'm dangerous?"

Heidi shrugged. "Not in the way my dad would mean it."

Jalen chuckled. "So in what way then?"

Heidi bit her lip, her eyes flickering with amusement. "Like you could probably ruin a woman for any other man after you."

Jalen leaned back, resting his arm over the back of the booth. "That's really the vibe I give off?"

Heidi nodded slowly. "Yep."

Jalen studied her for a moment before smirking. "How much experience are we talking on your end?"

Heidi's smirk faded a little. Not from shame, but from the sudden weight of the question. Her fingers tightened slightly around her glass, and for a second, she didn't answer. When she did, her voice was softer.

"Enough to know the difference between someone who just wants to get off ... and someone who knows how to make it mean something."

Jalen's expression shifted. The teasing edge in his voice dropped away as he leaned in slightly.

"So which kind have you been with?"

Heidi looked down at her drink again, swirling the straw in slow circles. "The first kind. Only the first kind"

Jalen nodded slowly, his tone more serious now. "That's unfortunate."

"Yeah," she said, glancing back up at him.

A long silence settled between them. Not awkward, just heavy. Real.

Then Jalen asked quietly, "Do your parents know?"

Heidi let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "God, no. Are you kidding? My mom thinks I'm saving myself for marriage. My dad would probably try to have me exorcised if he found out I'd let a boy who wasn't my husband touch me."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "So you've been carrying that alone?"

She shrugged. "What choice do I have? That's just how I grew up. You don't talk about that stuff. You don't admit to those kinds of mistakes. You pretend you're pure, and everyone else pretends with you."

He nodded slowly. "But you're not pretending right now."

"No," she said, looking him in the eyes. "Not with you."

The tension returned, but it wasn't just sexual now. It was intimate. Emotional. Like a door had cracked open between them and neither one knew how far they were willing to step through.

Jalen studied her face. "So what are you hoping happens next, Heidi?"

She didn't blink. "I don't know. But ... I don't ... I don't like pretending."

Jalen leaned in, just slightly. "Then stop doing it."

Heidi sighs, "It's not that simple, Jalen. You know that."

Jalen nods then takes another sip of his drink.

The music played on behind them, soft sax, low lights, the hum of voices fading into the background as their eyes held steady.

"So how much experience exactly? You didn't quite answer that." Jalen asks.

Heidi rolled her eyes. "I have ... experience."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "How much?"

Heidi hesitated. "More than some, less than others."

Jalen chuckled. "That's vague as hell."

Heidi huffed. "Fine. I had a boyfriend in college, and I lost my virginity to him. We had sex maybe ... four or five times I think? Anyways, I broke up with him a year later. I've had sex once since then with another guy that I briefly dated my senior year of college ... Neither guy was anything to write home about when it came to the sex."

Jalen took another sip of his beer. "So they weren't handling business?"

Heidi laughed, shaking her head. "Not really. I mean, it was okay, but ... I don't know. I feel like I don't even really know what I like because I've never been with a man who actually took the time to find out."

Jalen smirked slightly. "That's unfortunate."

Heidi sighed dramatically. "Yeah, I guess."

Jalen studied her for a moment. "So you're telling me you've never had a man take his time, figure out exactly how to drive you crazy, and then make sure you were completely satisfied before he even thought about himself?"

Heidi stared at him. "I mean ... no."

Jalen shook his head. "Tragic."

Heidi chuckled. "Alright, Mr. Experience, what do you like?"

Jalen set his drink down. "I like a woman who knows how to match my energy."

Heidi tilted her head. "And what kind of energy is that?"

Jalen smirked. "Intense. Passionate. Dominant when the time is right, but also willing to let me take full control when the moment calls for it."

Heidi swallowed. "Oh."

Jalen's smirk deepened. "You asked."

Heidi cleared her throat, reaching for her drink. "Right."

Jalen leaned in slightly. "You ever had a man look you in the eyes and tell you exactly what he's about to do to you ... and then do it?"

Heidi felt her face heat up. "No."

Jalen chuckled. "You ever had a man make you come just from his mouth alone? No hands."

Heidi blinked. "Uh ... no."

Jalen exhaled, shaking his head. "Damn."

Heidi threw a napkin at him. "Stop acting like my sex life is some kind of tragic documentary."

Jalen laughed, catching the napkin. "I'm just saying, you've been missing out."

Heidi smirked, sipping her drink. "Well, I just haven't met the right guy yet to do that for me. Plus I was led to believe that kind of sex was bad from all my Christian teachings so I never really pursued it."

Jalen held her gaze, his smirk lingering. "If the opportunity presented itself at this point in your life, would your Christian principles stop you from indulging?"

Heidi looked away, her mind racing. She had always looked at her faith as a foundation for her life, but lately she has felt like it was holding her back from seeing a wider perspective of the real world. Did indulging in pleasures like this really make her immoral? Or was it just a way of connecting deeper with someone you truly care about and possibly ... love? That could only be a good thing, right? Especially if you and your partner's goals and expectations are aligned.

"No," she finally said. I don't think they would.

Jalen just smiled.

The tension between them stretched, thick enough to cut with a knife.

Heidi looked at Jalen and saw him smiling at her answer. She shook her head with a chuckle. "You're impossible."

Jalen just grinned. "I get that a lot."

He leaned back slightly, still watching her, the weight of their banter hanging in the air like something neither of them wanted to name yet.

Heidi let out a soft sigh and looked away, her gaze drifting toward the dim lighting and the stage where a saxophonist had started a new, slow melody. The mood had shifted from playful teasing to something heavier, deeper. She could still feel Jalen's eyes on her, and it both unnerved her and pulled her in.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she finally asked, turning back toward him.

Jalen didn't flinch. "Because I'm trying to figure out if you're just curious ... or if you're ready to actually explore what you've been missing."

Heidi bit her lip, her pulse quickening. "You think I'm just some bored conservative girl who's trying to rebel?"

"No," he said calmly. "I think you're a woman who's been fed a very narrow version of life ... and now you're starting to wonder if there's more."

She looked down, her voice quieter now. "There is more."

Jalen nodded. "And it scares the hell out of you."

Heidi didn't respond right away. Her thoughts were racing, flashes of her upbringing, her parents' expectations, the version of herself she had performed for years. Then this man. This frustrating, confident, infuriatingly attractive man who was peeling back layer after layer without even trying.

"Yeah," she admitted. "It does."

Jalen leaned in closer, his voice low and even. "You don't have to figure it all out tonight, Heidi. But just know ... if you ever decide you want to stop playing by everybody else's rules—"

He paused, eyes locked on hers. "—I'll show you exactly what you've been missing."

Heidi's breath caught in her throat. She felt warm all over, her body reacting before her mind could catch up. She took a slow sip of her drink just to ground herself.

"Are you always like this?" she asked, her voice a little shaky.

"Like what?"

"This ... intense."

Jalen smirked. "Only when it matters."

The music played on, but in that booth, it was like the rest of the world had quieted. There was nowhere left to hide.

"So you've gone down on girls? Like ... lick their vagina and make them orgasm?" She says lowering her voice to just above a whisper.

Jalen spit out his drink laughing. It takes him a moment to calm down before he can respond.

"Is that all you think it is?" He replies once he gathers himself.

Heidi's face burned, but she held her ground, staring at Jalen expectantly. "Well? Answer the question."

Jalen wiped his eyes, still chuckling. "Yes, Heidi. I've ‘licked vaginas' before. And no, it's not just some simple little act."

Heidi bit her lip, shifting slightly in her seat. "So then ... what is it?"

Jalen leaned in slightly, resting his elbows on the table. His voice dropped low. "It's an art. It's about reading her body, knowing when to go slow, when to speed up, when to tease, when to go all in. It's about learning what makes her lose control and then taking her there over and over again until she can't even think straight."

Heidi's breath hitched, her fingers tightening around her glass. "That sounds ... intense."

Jalen smirked. "It is, when done right."

Heidi swallowed, her mind racing. "And you enjoy doing that?"

Jalen tilted his head. "Why wouldn't I? Seeing a woman completely unravel because of what I'm doing? Feeling her body shake, hearing her beg for more, knowing I'm the only one making her feel that way? Yeah ... I enjoy it."

Heidi exhaled slowly, pressing her thighs together under the table. "Jesus Christ..."

Jalen chuckled, sitting back. "What? You asked."

Heidi shook her head, fanning herself playfully. "I did. And now I regret it."

Jalen smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "No, you don't."

Heidi laughed, shaking her head. "You are so full of yourself."

Jalen shrugged. "I just know what I'm talking about."

Heidi took a long sip of her drink, trying to collect herself. "Well, I can confidently say I've never had that experience."

Jalen smirked. "Like I said earlier ... tragic." Heidi threw another napkin at him. "Shut up."

Jalen just grinned, catching it effortlessly. "I'm just saying ... maybe one day, you'll understand what I mean."

Heidi's heart pounded as she stared at him, wondering just how far she was willing to take this.

The air between them was charged, no longer playful, not quite dangerous, but pulsing with something raw and undeniable. Heidi could feel it in the base of her spine, that slow, steady ache of curiosity turning into need.

She looked at him, really looked at him, his calm confidence, the way he watched her like he already knew the answer to the question she hadn't dared to ask yet. Jalen didn't push. He didn't have to. He knew the effect his words had on her.

Heidi shifted in her seat again, this time not to hide it, but to let herself feel it. Her voice was softer now, more vulnerable. "Do you think I'd even be able to handle that?"

Jalen's expression didn't change. His voice stayed level, but the heat behind his words was unmistakable. "I think ... if you ever let go of all the shit you've been taught to be afraid of..., if you trusted yourself enough to want what you actually want, you'd handle it just fine."

Heidi's pulse roared in her ears. She wanted to look away but couldn't. Her chest rose and fell a little quicker now, her fingers lightly tapping the side of her glass to distract herself from what she was feeling.

"I don't know what I want," she whispered, almost to herself.

Jalen leaned forward again, his tone quieter now. "Yeah, you do. You're just not used to saying it out loud."

That shut her up. She dropped her gaze for a long second before looking back up at him, cheeks still flushed but her eyes more defiant now. "You don't scare me, Jalen."

He nodded slowly, his smirk fading into something deeper. "I know. That's what makes this even more exciting."

"Please tell me you've at least gotten yourself off." Jalen said.

"Yes. Jeeze Jalen, I'm not a total prude."

Jalen laughed under his breath, eyes glinting with amusement. "Okay, just checking. You were starting to sound like a nun for a minute."

Heidi rolled her eyes, though her cheeks flushed again. "I've had orgasms, alright? Just ... not the kind where someone else really took their time and made sure it was amazing."

Jalen's voice dropped a notch. "There's a big difference between getting yourself off and being completely unraveled by someone who knows exactly what they're doing."

Heidi's breath caught, and she looked away, suddenly finding the dim lighting of the jazz lounge a little too intimate.

"I bet," she muttered.

Jalen leaned in slightly. "One day, if you're ever ready ... maybe you won't have to bet."

Heidi turned back toward him slowly, eyes locked with his. Neither of them said anything for a moment. The tension between them wasn't just sexual now, it was emotional, risky, layered with all the complications of who they were and what they weren't supposed to be. But neither one of them backed down.

Heidi sighed, finally lowering her hands. "Okay, enough about me. What about you? You're clearly very ... experienced. What gets you going?"

Jalen raised an eyebrow at her sudden shift, but he could see the curiosity in her eyes. He leaned in slightly. "You really wanna know?"

Heidi hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Yeah. I do."

Jalen studied her for a moment before responding, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down her spine. "Confidence. A woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. A woman who takes her time teasing, making me wait until I can't take it anymore. The kind who gets a thrill out of making me lose control."

Heidi swallowed hard, gripping her glass a little tighter. "So ... someone who can challenge you?"

Jalen smirked. "Exactly."

Heidi exhaled, feeling her body heat up under his gaze. She wasn't sure what was happening between them, but she knew one thing for certain, she was playing with fire. And she wasn't sure if she wanted to stop.

"Also...," he takes another sip of his drink, "a pair of nice So Kate high-heeled pumps don't hurt either." He says smirking.

"I'm surprised you even know what those are." Heidi says amused.

"I didn't know the name for the longest, but I eventually looked it up and figured it out. I know they hurt to walk in, but I'm a sucker for them." Jalen says.

Heidi laughed softly, swirling the last of her drink. "Well, I do have a pair back home."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

She nodded, biting her lip. "Nude color. Red sole. Only worn once."

Jalen's gaze didn't waver. "You should wear them again sometime."

There was no mistaking the tone, low, suggestive, laced with meaning.

Heidi felt her pulse quicken. Her thighs pressed together again, this time more intentionally. She wasn't used to feeling this stirred up. Not just turned on, but seen. Disarmed. Cracked open in ways that felt as terrifying as they did exhilarating.

"I'll think about it," she said, voice a little too breathy.

Jalen chuckled. "You do that."

Another pause settled between them. Not awkward. Not unsure. Just thick.

It wasn't lost on either of them that this night had become far more personal than they intended. This wasn't just casual flirting. It wasn't even just physical. It was intimate in a way that was starting to blur lines, dangerously.

"You think I'm bad at sex, don't you?" Heidi says.

"I wouldn't know. I've never had sex with you." Jalen responds.

"I mean based on what you've heard about my experiences or ... lack thereof." She responds kind of somberly.

Jalen looks at her and smiles. "No Heidi. I think you'd probably be great at sex, unfortunately you have not found the right man yet to bring it out of you."

Heidi looked down, her fingers absentmindedly running along the rim of her glass. She let the words settle. "You really think that?" she asked, voice quieter now. Vulnerable.

Jalen leaned forward, his tone gentler than it had been all night. "Yeah. I do."

She looked up at him, and for the first time, the teasing edge between them faded. What replaced it was raw. Real. The kind of silence that said everything words couldn't.

"You don't know how long I've wanted to feel ... seen like that," she whispered. "Not judged. Not handled. Not expected to fit a mold."

Jalen nodded slowly. "Well, I don't do molds. I do you, as you are. No edits."

Heidi's breath hitched. Her eyes welled, just slightly, and she blinked it away, pushing a small laugh through her throat. "God, why are you saying all the right things right now?"

Jalen didn't answer. He just looked at her like he was already undressing everything beneath the surface.

Silence settled between them again, not awkward, just heavy with possibility. Then Jalen stood, tossing a few bills on the table for their drinks. He didn't say anything, just extended a hand toward her.

Heidi stared at it for a beat. Her fingers hovered for a second ... and then she took it.

On the way to take Heidi home, Jalen suddenly sees flashing blue lights in his rearview mirror. Jalen's jaw tightened. He slowed down and pulled the truck to the shoulder, putting it in park with deliberate movements. His hands stayed visible on the steering wheel. Calm. Controlled. Practiced.

Heidi sat up straighter. "Were you speeding?"

Jalen didn't look at her. "Ten over. That's enough."

He reached slowly into the glove compartment, pulled out his registration and insurance, then set them both on the dash where they could be seen. Two officers exited the patrol car. Jalen saw it immediately. They weren't approaching casually. They were on alert.

One stayed back near the cruiser. The other, a stocky officer with mirrored sunglasses and a tense jaw, approached Jalen's side of the truck.

"Step out of the vehicle," the officer said flatly.

Heidi's head snapped toward Jalen, confused. "Wait, why?"

"It's fine," Jalen said softly, without looking at her. He cracked the door open and stepped out slowly, keeping both hands visible.

The officer immediately squared up.

"Keep your hands where I can see them. You got any weapons or illegal substances on you?"

"No, sir."

"Who does this truck belong to?"

"Me."

The officer looked him up and down. "Got ID?"

"Yes, sir. Back pocket."

"Get it out. Slow."

Jalen did exactly that, methodically pulling his wallet out, handing over his license.

The second officer, a thinner man with a mustache and a patronizing smile, walked over to Heidi's side. He tapped on her window. She rolled it down slowly.

"You alright, ma'am?" he asked, voice too sweet.

Heidi blinked. "Yes?"

"You with this man of your own free will?"

She stared at him, speechless. "Excuse me?"

"It's a simple question, ma'am. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm okay," she said, stunned. "He didn't do anything wrong."

The officer didn't look convinced. "Mind telling me where y'all are headed?"

"We were on the way home."

"From where?"

"Dinner."

The officer looked at her like he didn't believe a word of it. "Just ... be careful, ma'am. Sometimes these things go sideways."

Heidi's blood boiled. She gripped the door, holding herself back from saying more. Outside, Jalen remained calm as the other officer finally handed his license back.

"Slow it down. And watch yourself."

"Yes, sir."

Jalen got back in the truck silently and closed the door.

The officers walked back to their cruiser without another word.

Heidi turned to him. "Jalen, what the hell was that?"

He didn't answer immediately. He started the engine, checked his mirror, and merged back onto the road.

"That," he said finally, voice low, "was a Tuesday night."

Heidi stared at him, heart pounding. She had no words.

That night. Heidi can't sleep. All she can think about is how Jalen had enlightened her about how he and millions of others less fortunate have to deal with such unfair circumstances every day. And then the traffic stop. It was jarring to witness that. She had always learned that cops were the good guys. That if you just comply with their orders, then they wouldn't give you trouble. Heidi lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The room was dark, quiet. Too quiet. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Jalen's face under the flashing blue lights. Calm. Composed. But there was something else in his eyes too. Resignation. It haunted her. She turned over, pulling the covers tighter around her, but the ache in her chest wouldn't let up. Jalen had complied. He had done everything right. And yet those officers looked at him like he was dangerous. They looked like they had been ready to shoot him. Like he was disposable. It was disgusting and now she didn't think she could look at policing the same way again. Jalen hadn't just told her about injustice, he showed her. She also remembered the way the officer questioned her, as if she was in danger simply because she was sitting next to a Black man. As if Jalen's presence in his own truck was suspicious enough to justify everything that happened. It made her stomach turn again. "How many times has he gone through that?" she thought. "How many other men like him deal with that kind of humiliation every single day?" The answer hit her like a punch: "too many." Heidi covered her face with both hands, feeling a tear slide down her cheek. She wasn't sure if she was crying out of guilt, anger, or heartbreak. Maybe all three. All she knew was that the world felt different now. And she would never see it the same way again.

At Sunday dinner, Heidi sat between her sister and mother, quietly pushing green beans around on her plate while her father launched into a rant about the "decay of American values" and how "entitlement" was ruining the younger generation. "It's like nobody wants to work anymore," Tim Horner said, his fork stabbing into his steak. "They want handouts and special treatment. You ask me, if people spent less time complaining and more time pulling themselves up by the bootstraps, they'd be better off." Sylvia nodded in agreement, sipping her iced tea. "Especially in those inner-city communities. It's a shame, really. So much wasted potential." Heidi glanced up, her expression neutral. "Or maybe ... maybe those communities aren't just filled with people who are lazy. Maybe it's harder to pull yourself up when the system wasn't built for you to succeed in the first place." The table went quiet. Tim paused, his knife midway through another cut. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying maybe it's more complicated than just ‘work harder,'" Heidi said, her voice steady. "Maybe we should stop assuming that everyone has the same opportunities we had." Sylvia frowned. "Heidi, where is this coming from?" Heidi shrugged, spearing a piece of chicken. "Just something I've been thinking about. That's all." Tim grunted, shaking his head. "Sounds like that damn liberal law school rubbing off on you." Leslie smirked into her mashed potatoes, glancing at Heidi with subtle amusement. Heidi didn't respond. She kept her face calm, but inside, she could feel it—a slow-burning defiance. A growing discomfort with the comfortable lies she'd been fed her whole life. She wasn't ready to blow everything up. But the cracks were showing. And once they started, they were hard to stop.

On Monday morning, The sun hadn't been up long when Jalen pulled into the long driveway of the Horner estate. He parked in his usual spot near the shed and killed the engine, letting the quiet hum of early morning settle around him. The events of Saturday still lingered in his mind, Heidi's reactions, her questions, the way her entire perspective seemed to shift in real time. But today wasn't about reflection. Today was about progress. He stepped out of the truck, hard hat in hand, and surveyed the structure. His crew was already unloading materials, their familiar rhythm and banter setting the tone for a productive day. The shell of the old shed was already transforming, walls framed, insulation stacked nearby, plumbing and electrical supplies prepped and ready to go. Jalen gave a few instructions, double-checked some measurements, and reviewed the day's plan with his foreman. He was deep into marking off outlet locations when he heard a door creak open behind him. He didn't need to turn around to know it was her.

Heidi.

She stood on the back porch in yoga pants and an oversized Georgia Bulldogs sweatshirt, holding a mug of coffee. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she looked like she hadn't slept much, which was probably true. She didn't wave or say anything. Just stood there, sipping her coffee and watching him work. Jalen kept his focus on the blueprint in front of him. Not out of indifference, but because this was the line he had to hold. Professional. Clear. No distractions. Still, he felt her eyes on him like a pressure he couldn't ignore. After a few minutes, Heidi turned and went back inside without a word. Jalen exhaled slowly. Today was going to be a long one.

At the end of the day, after Tim had finished his daily afternoon inspection of the progress of the guest house, the crew was packing up as the sun dipped low behind the trees. The air smelled like sawdust and fresh lumber, the hum of drills and saws finally quiet. Tim Horner had already done his usual lap around the site, inspecting every corner with a critical eye before muttering his approval and heading back inside.

Jalen stood alone now, double-checking a few things on his tablet, trying to wind down the day. His shirt was damp with sweat, dust on his jeans, boots worn from a full shift. The sound of soft footsteps behind him made him pause.

Heidi.

She walked toward him slowly, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. The other workers nodded to her as they passed on their way to the trucks, but she barely acknowledged them. Her eyes were locked on Jalen.

"I figured you'd be gone by now," he said without turning.

"I could say the same about you," Heidi replied.

Jalen finally looked up, his face calm but guarded.

"I wanted to talk to you," she said.

He already knew what it was about.

"Heidi—"

"I can't stop thinking about the other night," she interrupted. "The traffic stop. It's been eating at me."

Jalen exhaled and shook his head. "Don't."

"What do you mean, don't?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Not with you. Not here."

She blinked, surprised by the firmness in his voice. "Why not? I just want to understand—"

"You can't understand, Heidi. Not fully. Not from where you're standing."

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "So help me see it. Help me—"

"No." He turned toward her now, wiping his hands on a rag. "Because this isn't going to work. You coming out here, asking questions, trying to make sense of something you were never meant to be part of."

Heidi stared at him, stunned. "So what, you're pushing me away now?"

"I'm giving you the truth," Jalen said, voice even. "You want to know who I really am? Fine. Let's make it real."

He stepped closer, meeting her eyes. "There are five women in my life," he said. "Sydney, Kristen, Megan, Rachel, and Karla. All of them are pregnant with my children."

Heidi didn't move. Her breath hitched. The words landed like a punch to the chest. Jalen kept going.

"I didn't plan it this way. I didn't expect it. But it's my reality. They're not flings. They're not mistakes. They're part of my life. I care about them deeply. I take responsibility for every single one."

Heidi's mouth parted slightly, but she couldn't speak.

"I figured if I told you all this, it'd make things easier," Jalen said quietly. "You'd realize this is a mess you don't want to be anywhere near. And maybe then, I can just do this damn job and keep things simple."

He stepped back and grabbed his bag. "I'll be here at seven tomorrow. Like always."

Then he walked past her, leaving Heidi standing in the middle of the construction site, completely shaken. Her chest was tight, her thoughts racing, and for the first time since she met Jalen Moss ... she didn't know what to say.

Later that evening, Heidi sat on her bed, back against the headboard, knees pulled tight to her chest. The soft glow of her bedside lamp cast long shadows on the walls, but she barely noticed. Her mind was spinning too fast. Five women. Five pregnancies. And Jalen had told her with zero hesitation, like it was just another fact of his life. No drama. No apology. She hadn't even responded when he walked away. Couldn't. The words felt like a gut punch. And yet ... it wasn't anger she felt. It wasn't even judgment. It was confusion. Frustration. Jealousy? God. What the hell was she even thinking? She rubbed her temples, trying to make sense of it. All her life, things were supposed to be clear. Clean. Simple. You met someone. You got married. You had kids. You lived a "respectable" life. The life her parents praised, promoted, pushed down her throat. And then Jalen Moss came walking into her world. This man with passion in his voice, fire in his spirit, depth in his eyes ... and a mess of a life. And yet ... she still wanted him.

Heidi sighed. She didn't feel like she could talk to Leslie about this. Hell, she couldn't talk to anyone about this. She tossed the phone aside and got up, walking over to the mirror. She stared at herself. The soft pink pajama shorts. The oversized shirt. The doubt on her face.

"What are you doing?" she whispered to her reflection.

This wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to feel this way. Not for someone who went against everything she had been taught was "right."

And yet, every time she thought about walking away, her mind drifted back to that day on MARTA. The barbershop. The look in Jalen's eyes when the cops pulled him over. The way he made her feel seen, challenged, wanted. She'd never experienced anything like it. And now that she had, could she really go back? Heidi sat back down, her fingers brushing her lips as if she could still feel the heat of his words. This man had five other women carrying his children. And still ... she didn't want to let him go. She laid back in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind a storm of contradictions. And in the silence of her room, one truth rang louder than all the rest. She was in deep.

Jalen continued to work on the shed at the Horner House that week. Heidi watched him from the windows. She didn't go out to see him. She was keeping her distance. On Friday afternoon around 2 pm, Sylvia pops her head into Heidi's room and asks, "Hey sweetheart, could you give me a hand with some of the decorations downstairs for the party tonight?" Damn. Heidi had completely forgotten about her father's 50th birthday party that was happening that night. She forced a polite smile and nodded. "Yeah, sure. I'll help."

But inside, she felt sick. A birthday party. For him. A whole house full of people who looked like him, thought like him, voted like him. Dripping in smug patriotism, God-and-guns rhetoric, and country club cheer. Heidi already knew the script. Booming laughter, stiff hugs, bourbon breath, jokes that weren't funny, and speeches full of self-congratulation masked as humility. And she would have to stand there, dressed like the perfect little Christian daughter, smiling beside her mother, pretending that she hadn't just spent the last week emotionally unraveling over a man who her father would probably shoot on sight if he knew what was going on. After she finished helping her mom in with table clothes, party favors, and wall streamers, she headed upstairs, shutting the door to her room behind her, letting out a long breath the second it clicked shut. She stared at her closet. Dresses. Dozens of them. Neatly arranged by color. All appropriate. All modest. All approved. And not a single one she actually wanted to wear. She hated this party already and it hadn't even started. She hated having to perform. She hated that she couldn't talk to anyone about what was happening inside of her. But most of all, she hated that Jalen was still just outside, working, like he hadn't just cracked open her entire world the moment he told her the truth. Five women. Five pregnancies. And she still wanted him. That was the part that scared her the most. Not the judgment. Not even her father's inevitable wrath. No. What scared her ... was that if Jalen asked her to run away with him that night? She just might say yes. She grabbed a wine-colored dress off the rack. It was elegant but form-fitting. The one dress she owned that didn't scream "Sunday service." She slipped it on and stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. She had gotten her nails done the day before and they were a freshly done acrylic, painted bright pink. She completed the look with a pair of patent leather Christian Louboutin pink-colored So Kate high-heeled pumps that she had recently ordered online. She had ordered them the day after her excursion with Jalen. She had ordered them for him. She knew it didn't make much sense to wear them now, but she still wanted to, as if she was somehow acknowledging or honoring him. Her heart was pounding. Tonight would be a performance, but deep down, Heidi knew that she wasn't playing the same role anymore.

By 6:45 pm, the party was already in full swing. Most of the guests had arrived and had been indulging in the catered food and open bar while engaging in conversations that Heidi has absolutely no interest in whatsoever. Heidi mostly floated around thanking people for coming and helping her mother out with miscellaneous tasks. At around 7:15 pm, Heidi was standing near the dessert table, smiling politely as one of her father's friends droned on about tax reform and the "absolute absurdity" of student loan forgiveness. Her smile didn't reach her eyes. It hadn't all night. She let her gaze drift, just trying to give her brain a break. That's when she saw him. Through the back window, barely visible past the porch lights and the string-lit backyard, was Jalen. Still working. Her breath caught. He was out there packing up, alone, head down, dust on his shirt, the last of the golden sun outlining his frame. Even from the house, he looked tired. Determined. And somehow even more magnetic than ever.

Why was he still here?

Before she could even process it, her feet were already moving. She placed the untouched cupcake back on the table and quietly slipped through the back door, as quietly as her heels would allow, anyway. Thankfully no one noticed. No one ever did when she left the room. They were too absorbed in their safe, secure, and simple world. She crossed the lawn quickly, her heels digging slightly into the soft grass. Jalen had just slung his tool bag over his shoulder when he looked up and saw her coming.

"Heidi?" he said, surprised. "What are you doing out here? You have a par—"

"I need to talk to you," she said, voice low, cutting him off.

Jalen exhaled, glancing back toward the house. "I don't think this is a good ti—"

"Five minutes," she said, firmer now.

She grabbed his hand without waiting for a reply and led him around the side of the house. They reached the basement door. Unlocked, just like she left it from when she had dumped a bucket of dirty ice water earlier. She pulled him inside and shut the door softly behind them.

The quiet was immediate.

Jalen placed his tools down slowly, arms folding across his chest. "What?"

Heidi stared at him for a second, her breath shaky, but her eyes sharp.

"I've been thinking all week," she said. "About what you told me. About all those women you're having babies with. About everything."

Jalen didn't speak. His expression was unreadable.

"I know you told me all that so I'd walk away," she said. "So I'd back off and let you finish your job here without complications."

Jalen's jaw flexed. "You needed to know the truth about me."

"I know. I realize this was what you were referring to when you mentioned your situation that night we drank beers outside." Heidi stepped closer. "And ... I still want you."

Jalen blinked. "Why?"

"Because I was drawn to you from the moment I met you. You probably guessed that. But also because you've made me see the world in ways I never did before. Because now, every day I'm not around you, I feel like I'm suffocating in this place."

He didn't answer. His eyes just stayed locked on hers.

"I know who you are now, Jalen. And yeah, your situation is crazy. But so is this thing between us. And I'd rather chase something real and scary than go back to pretending I'm happy in a world I don't believe I truly belong in anymore."

Jalen stepped toward her. "You know your father will find out. Your whole family. It won't be pretty, Heidi. It could ruin things for you."

Heidi nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I'll live with that. What I can't live with ... is letting you walk out of here thinking I don't want you."

Jalen closed the final space between them. His hand moved to her waist. "I want you too, but are you absolutely sure about this?"

"Yes." she whispered.

And then he kissed her. It wasn't gentle or hesitant. It was hungry, messy, full of pent-up tension and weeks of denial finally snapping in half. Heidi melted into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, her lips moving in sync with his as her back hit the basement wall. She didn't care about the party. She didn't care about the dress. She didn't care about what anyone would say. In that moment, all she cared about ... was him.

Heidi had never kissed anyone so hungry and messy before, and yet her mouth seemed to easily synchronize with Jalen's. Heidi felt his mouth open up and his tongue enter her mouth. It caught her off guard but only for a moment as she unleashed hers in return. God, he tasted so good. She licked his tongue like ice cream while her hands roamed to the sides of his face until they ended up wrapped around his neck again as well as his head. Both of their mouths were fully open now, her nude colored-lipstick had long been ruined and was now smudged all over his mouth. Kissing Jalen was better than she ever imagined and she had imagined it quite a bit. Heidi was practically drinking his saliva and she couldn't get enough of it. There was a hint of an orange Powerade taste to it, obviously because he drank one earlier. She loved the way he smelled too. He was still a little sweaty, dirty and musky from work with a mix of that "outside" smell. Normally, Heidi wouldn't care for that smell, but on Jalen, it somehow made her want to consume him even more.

Jalen was pressed up against her and Heidi felt a bulge in his jeans pushing up more and more on her, and only kept growing. No way. That bulge felt like a long soft pipe that was only getting harder. That couldn't be his penis, could it? Could they really get that big? She had to know. She had to see it for herself. Now.

Without breaking the wet, sloppy, full-mouth tongue kiss, her hands traveled down his chest, past his abdomen and continued to his belt. She fumbled with it a bit, still being quite consumed with his tongue in her mouth.The only sounds in the room were the clicking of his belt buckle as Heidi tried to undo it without looking down at it. At last, she felt the belt come loose at his waist. Then a moment later she managed to pop the button of his jeans allowing her to slowly pull his zipper down and then tug his jeans down revealing his maroon Hanes boxers. Heidi broke the kiss and looked down where her hands hovered at the waistband of her boxers.

This was it, the grand reveal. Heidi's hands began to tremble with anticipation. This felt so surreal. She had imagined what this moment would be like so many times. She braced herself for what she'd find underneath his boxers. Jalen didn't say anything. He just stood there, letting her take her time. Heidi wondered what he was thinking right now. She wondered if he thought she looked foolish just standing there with her fingers hovering over his boxers. No, Jalen was being the patient and understanding gentleman that he'd always been to this point. He wasn't going to rush her even knowing that if by some chance someone suddenly came downstairs and caught them then his whole life could suddenly be in danger. Heidi took a breath, slipped her fingers and pink acrylic nails into the waistband of his boxers and tugged them down.

Jesus Fuck.

Heidi's breath hitched and her mind short-circuited the second his monstrosity he called a penis sprang out and bounced in front of her. It almost looked like a brown battering ram. Fuck, how could that even fit into her? Jalen's cock made her two previous sexual partners look laughably small. She had naively figured that most men were around their size. Yes, she had heard the stereotype of black men having larger penises, but she never truly took it seriously.

Heidi looked at it and her hands started to reach for it before stopping herself suddenly. She wanted to touch it, to stroke it, but she wasn't sure if she should. Would that be disrespectful to him? To treat his cock like it was some kind of specimen? A large, long, intimidating, and quite frankly, gorgeous specimen?

As if he read her mind, Jalen whispered softly, "It's okay." He gently took her hand and placed it on his gargantuan rod where her warm fingers enclosed it. Holy shit it was insane. Her fingertips weren't even connecting. She wasn't sure if it was because she had small hands or because his cock was just that big. Maybe a bit of both. Heidi began stroking the underside of his cock, rubbing the slit at the tip with her thumb. After hearing a sharp intake of breath from Jalen, she then began to work on his shaft. Her hand had to travel quite a ways to go from his tip to his base and back again. Slowly, back and forth, she stroked him, quickly becoming mesmerized. She put both hands on it now, and his cock, incredibly, continued to harden until it was fully stiff in her hands. She could hear Jalen's breath grow louder and more ragged.

A new wave of desire and boldness began to swell up inside of her. She remembered listening to a few girls talk about sucking dick when she had attended college. She recalls how they described doing it, while she mostly kept quiet during those conversations, feeling a bit scandalized internally. Sucking dick seemed to be the furthest thing from being a good Christian girl. She remembered telling herself at the time that she was compromising by having sex, but that she'd never do something so slutty and scandalous as sucking a man's penis.

And now ... here she was, thinking about doing just that. It was amazing how the right man can come into one's life and completely make one rethink all of their rules and principles. Or just disregard them all together. Suddenly sucking his cock not only seemed like an okay thing to do, it felt like the right thing to do; like exactly what she wanted to do both for herself and for Jalen. She wanted so badly to please him; to show him that she could make him feel just as good or perhaps better than the other women make him feel, even though they were probably all much more experienced than her. Suddenly Heidi felt like she was competing with five other women whom she hadn't even met yet. She didn't even remember all their names.

Before she could stop herself, Heidi kneeled down onto the floor. Thankfully, there happened to be a rug where they were standing so it wasn't too rough on her knees. She glanced up at Jalen, who was now looking down at her, expressionless, clearly waiting to see what she would do. Waiting to see if she was truly about to do what she was threatening to do. Heidi looked back in front of her staring into the slit opening of the head of his cock. It had its own unique musky smell to it. She inhaled it and could feel herself getting more wet from the smell. She didn't care that her father's birthday party was still in full swing right above them. That somewhere up there, her father, a well respected and influential political figure, had no idea that his daughter was on her knees about to suck a black man's cock. She wanted to do a good job, and to do that, she knew that she couldn't be tentative. She could call back on those conversations that she had been a part of back in college, but she knew that she'd largely be winging it for her first ever blowjob.

Heidi's pulse rate was through the roof. Her emotions were everywhere. She was nervous, intimidated but also, very very excited. Her lips then parted slightly and kissed the bulging tip of his erection. It was warm and tasted a little salty. Jalen's breath hitched when her lips made contact. She quickly glanced up and saw his head tilted back and his eyes now closed, which Heidi figured must be a good sign and encouraged her to take it further. She gave him a few more strokes with her hand before then steadying him again. She then opened her mouth and took the first few centimetres of the head into her mouth, sucking gently. Jalen groaned. Heidi swirled her tongue around and he groaned again.

"Fuck..." He whispered, exhaling softly.

Heidi was pleased that he seemed to like what she was doing and continued. She licked along the base of his shaft and swirled her tongue once more around the head of his cock. She fed off Jalen's reactive breathing and groans. She took him back into her mouth, deeper this time, sucking on him with an intensity that felt just right. She then swallowed his cock to mid-shaft and slurped as she pulled back. She hadn't meant to slurp, it just happened. But when it did, she realised how much she loved hearing it. To her, it meant that she was really in it now, which was exactly what she wanted. Heidi continued to bob her head back and forth, sucking on his shaft and gradually taking more and more of Jalen's cock into her mouth with each mouth stroke. Heidi instinctively moaned through her sucking with the satisfaction of having the cock of this gorgeous man in her mouth. She was quite sure that she would not have enjoyed this nearly as much with another man. In fact she might've even been repulsed at the idea of sucking a man's cock had she'd been asked by any other guy before today. With Jalen though, it felt right. It felt comfortable. She wasn't sure if it was because of how attractive he was or because of the person he was. Again, probably a combination of both.

Heidi's lips continued to go further and further down his shaft. Feeling more confident now, she decided to try something else that she had heard the other girls back in college talk about. She placed both of her hands at the base of his shaft and began stroking it, up and down the whole length as she also continued to suck and slurp on him. Jalen's grunts grew slightly louder and his hand instinctively reached down to gently grab some of her hair in the back. Again, Heidi took this as a sign that Jalen was pleased and doubled down on her efforts.

Heidi was now moaning almost as much as him and felt like she had a very good rhythm now. She quickly glanced up without stopping her movements. Jalen's eyes were closed a little more tightly now, his head was tilted back, and his mouth open even more. His expression read sheer, unfiltered pleasure, and it made Heidi feel really good. She wasn't sure how long she could leep this up but she had no intention of stopping any time soon. Heidi decided to do her most daring act yet (at least to her). She removed one of her hands, steadied his cock and then took him into her mouth as far as he could.

"Shit! Fuck!" Jalen blurted out.

Heidi wasn't too worried about being heard. It was pretty loud upstairs from the background music and all the people talking and moving. So, she was quite sure they weren't in danger of being heard. Her lips continued their journey to the base of his cock. She kept going until his head was now firmly at the back of her throat. She held it for a few seconds, her mouth now completely full of cock, until her throat finally had enough and protested by triggering her gag reflex. Heidi coughed, temporarily removing Jalen's dick from her mouth while she did. Jalen looked down, smiling at her. Once she gathered herself, Heidi looked back up at him, saw him smiling and smirked back at him. She then re-inserted him back into her mouth. She continued taking him deep, not quite as far as the previous time to avoid triggering her gag reflex again, but far enough where her mouth was almost completely full. Heidi went back and forth, slurping audibly as she did so. The area around her mouth was covered in saliva and precum. Heidi's hands joined the fray again, instinctively stroking in a twisting motion following the path of her mouth. Jalen was cursing constantly now from the intensity and pleasure. Heidi was locked in and lost in his cock now. All she was focused on was making Jalen feel good. She wanted the pleasurable sensations to last as long as possible. Her panties were now soaking wet too. Who knew that pleasuring a man that you were crazy about could be this insanely arousing. Heidi didn't realize how close he was to losing control and exploding. Jalen meant to tell her that he was about to cum, but the sensations overwhelmed him, and the climax came up so suddenly that he couldn't manage to muster a word of warning in time. Heidi, suddenly felt a blast of warm milky fluid shoot into her mouth. Her eyes widened when she tasted it. Another blast of semen entered her mouth started to drip from her mouth. She had never had cum in her mouth before and it showed. After the third blast, Heidi had to withdraw his cock from her mouth. Unfortunately this meant that several more blasts hit her square in the face around her upper lip and nose area before it finally subsided. Heidi was a bit shell shocked. Her mouth was full of salty cum and now the bottom half of her face was covered in it. With seemingly no other option, she swallowed what was in her mouth. It was not the best tasting fluid she's had but at least it was Jalen's. Jalen took a minute to come down from his high and looked down.

"Oh shit." He said sheepishly looking at her face.

Heidi looked up at him and then just laughed. And then Jalen did too. They both laughed for a full minute at the ridiculous scene they were in. After they both calmed down, Heidi stood up, cum face and all.

"Let me go get a towel." She said as she walked toward one of the closets near the bathroom.

"I don't know. Your face looks good like that." Jalen said chuckling, with his pants still around his ankles.

"Shut up," Heidi said, grabbing a towel and then walking toward the bathroom. There was no malice behind it though, as Jalen could tell she was suppressing more laughter. Heidi looked at herself in the mirror as she continued to wipe the cum off her face. Her jaw and lips were glistening with saliva and cum. She couldn't help but think about what her parents, and even her church pastor, would think if any of them saw her like this. Her parents might actually disown her on the spot. Heidi shook her head as she continued to whip off the evidence. On one hand, it was the most exhilarating feeling in the world. On the other hand, it was a bit nerve wracking and scary. She had just crossed a major line that she couldn't take back. She just sucked off the black contractor and her parents would not only not approve of, but actively retaliate against if they found out that he was having sexual relations with their daughter. Jalen was right in that Heidi could not just keep him as her dirty little secret. He deserved better than that. She would tell her parents eventually, but not tonight. Tonight she just wanted to focus on Jalen and not their potential disapproval nor that stupid party upstairs.

Heidi's pussy was still dripping wet, and now that she had gotten a taste of Jalen's cock, she was ready for her vagina to her its turn. When she finished cleaning her face up, she walked back out where Jalen was still standing. His pants and boxers were still around his ankles. It was obvious that he was waiting to see what Heidi wanted to do next. They looked at each other and smiled like two idiots.

Then ... Heidi crossed her arms, reached for the hem of her dress and pulled it up and over her head before tossing it on a nearby sofa. Heidi was now standing there only in her white bra, white panties, and pink So Kate high heels. Jalen's mouth began to water. Heidi then slipped her pink acrylic nails inside of her panties and pulled them down. Jalen's breath hitched. She didn't stop there. She reached behind her, unclasped her bra and pulled it off, revealing her natural round breasts. This was all surreal to Jalen. Heidi Horner, the twenty-four-year-old daughter of a prominent conservative politician, was now standing in front of him naked and, judging by the look on her face, clearly ready for him to fuck her brains out.

"You're ... fucking gorgeous," Jalen said almost breathlessly.

Heidi smiled, clearly appreciative of the compliment, and glad to know that he was as attracted to her as she was to him.

She started to take off her heels before Jalen quickly said, "Wait..."

Heidi stopped and looked up at him.

"Can you keep those on? You look like perfection right now." He said smiling.

Heidi grinned. "You know I got the heels with you in mind."

"Well I like them. A LOT." He said looking hungrier for her by the second.

Jalen kicked off his own shoes, socks, boxers and pants, and then followed up by pulling his damp shirt off so that he was now completely naked. Heidi's lips parted as she took in the sight of this godly man in front of her. His body still was still moist with the sweat from working all day. He looked absolutely delicious and she wanted nothing more than to have those toned arms envelop her and for him to completely have his way with her. She couldn't wait anymore.

Heidi quickly walked up to him, closing the distance in a flash, even in her So Kate high-heeled pumps, and her lips crashed into his. They began to drink each other's saliva again as their mouths opened up and their tongues assaulted each other. Heidi moaned through the kiss as if the kiss itself was giving her life. Hell it WAS giving her life. Jalen reached down and squeezed her surprisingly round firm ass. God his hands felt so good. Feeling his large hands squeeze her ass cheeks so firmly only made her kiss him harder if that was even possible. Her hands were firmly clutching the sides of his face pulling it into hers as much as possible. She wanted to be his. She wanted him to claim her and utterly destroy her vagina right now. She wanted him to show her just how intense and amazing sex could be. She needed it.

Right on queue, Jalen lifted her up by her ass and pinned her to the wall. The ease in which he lifted her was so fucking sexy. Heidi wrapped her legs around Jalen's waist locking her heels in place right above his butt. Heidi felt the tip of his revived cock pressing against the entrance of her dripping vagina, very much ready to enter. Heidi tried her best to relax but she knew that Jalen was so much bigger than anything she had before and it was a little scary, but more so exhilarating. The moment she had imagined so much the last few weeks was actually happening. Heidi hoped that her soaking wet pussy would help accommodate Jalen's massive tool that was about to enter her. Then, at long last, slowly and carefully, Jalen pushed inside inch by inch, spreading the lips of her pussy until the head of his cock was inside of her.

Heidi had to stifle a yell by quickly covering her mouth with her hand. Jalen stopped pushing into her genuinely concerned about hurting her.

"Are you okay?" He asked her.

Heidi shut her eyes tight, trying to absorb the shock of Jalen stretching her more than she could've imagined. It hurt, but she was determined. She quickly nodded her head, her eyes still shut, her face inches apart from his. Then she whispered, "Don't stop."

Jalen hesitated for a moment, and then slowly and carefully pushed further into her. Heidi moaned loudly through her covered mouth. Jalen's dick was impossible. How the hell was he going to fit all the way in there? Jalen continued his journey into Heidi's pussy inch by inch. Her vagina stretched and stretched. Then after a few moments, the pain began to feel ... good somehow. It didn't make sense but she now desperately wanted Jalen to keep pushing further in. Jalen did so as his hands still grasped her butt cheeks where he supported her. Heidi removed her hand from her mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. She controlled her loud moans by alternating between biting her lip and kissing him. Jalen's monstrous dick continued its trek into the deepest depths of her pussy, spreading her walls wider and wider.

Jalen groaned with pleasure as the sensation of Heidi's walls hugging his cock tightly felt nothing short of heavenly. He suddenly pulled back again and then rushed back. He pulled out to about the middle of his shaft before pushing back in, refilling Heidi's pussy. Heidi let a loud moan escape her. Jalen prayed that no one heard her.

Heidi felt the walls of her vagina twinge with a slight stinging sensation from the sheer size of his cock moving through her, back and forth now. Jalen had pressed his way mostly into her pussy by now. The pain Heidi felt was slowly becoming less intense as the walls of her pussy began to get used to his ridiculous size. The pain was turning more and more into pleasure. Heidi's moans reflected that now. She realized that she was being a bit too loud and pulled Jalen into another sloppy hungry kiss to make herself quieter, moaning into his mouth instead. Jalen's thrusts soon became hungrier and more aggressive. Jalen was penetrating further and further into her pussy with each stroke until he reached the deepest depths at her cervix. Heidi's pussy had fully embraced him now and the pain, while still there, had long been overshadowed by the pleasure. Heidi moaned harder than ever through her kisses. She wanted all of Jalen. At that moment, she didn't care if he broke her. It all felt so amazing, so incredibly right. Almost as if God put Jalen on this Earth to liberate her from the confines of her sheltered, controlled, monotonous life. That thought warmed Heidi's heart and she chose to embrace it. Yes, God purposely led Jalen to her and now she felt like a new and evolved woman. A woman who had broken free and Jalen had been the key. She was now bouncing his cock like a ball. The sound of moist skin slapping on moist skin filled the basement den. His hips were thrusting powerfully and rocking Heidi's whole world each time. She was now just holding on, kissing him and enjoying the ride. Her pussy was completely filled with cock. And now she could feel something else. An intense sensation bubbling inside of her and building like a volcano. It was building fast. She could tell it was going to be explosive. She didn't know how she'd suppress her screams of pleasure. Heidi could hear Jalen. His urgent grunting and ragged breathing. He was close to his own explosion. She looked at him and could see it in his face. He had that agonised expression and the way his teeth were grit together told her clearly that his release was imminent.

Heidi wanted to make the most of the moment. She instinctively clung tightly with her legs so that she could work my body against Jalen's to match his thrusts. Through this combination of motion Heidi reached her climax. It surged through her like lightning. She couldn't help but let out a scream of pleasure. Luckily the music had been turned up upstairs so it was now more unlikely that anyone would hear them. The feeling was overwhelming. She'd never felt anything like it before. Jalen did it. He brought it out of her. He was the one for her. For many reasons, but this just sealed it. Jalen let out a guttural groan before Heidi felt the head of his cock pulsate and pump waves of semen into her. His whole body clenched and jerked with odd stiff movements that matched the rhythm of his ejaculating dick as it soaked her walls. The cum began to drip out of Heidi and onto the floor, pooling beneath them. Jalen mustered out a few more shots of cum inside of her before his body went limp and relaxed. He and Heidi just held each other tightly for at least a minute.

The room was quiet except for the muffled sound of music and laughter from upstairs, a surreal reminder of the world they had just stepped away from. Jalen's face was still inches from hers, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. Heidi looked up at him, flushed, stunned, and speechless. Her legs were still wrapped around his waist, her arms still wrapped around his next. She could still heel his penis inside of her and his cum dripping out of her vagina.

"That was ... way better than I ever could have ever imagined." Heidi said, chuckling.

"You can say that again, Jalen replied, smiling breathlessly.

Jalen slowly pulled out, his movements gentle, careful. Heidi let out a soft exhale, feeling the sensitivity in her body as she adjusted. As soon as his cock was fully extracted from her pussy, a glob of cum oozed out of her and fell to the floor. Jalen put her down and Heidi stumbled as she tried to stand on her own in her heels. Her pelvis was incredibly sore and her legs felt like jelly.

"God, you really, fucked me up." She said laughing as she tried to steady herself.

Jalen looked over at her, lips twitching into a slight smirk. "My bad..."

"Don't apologize," Heidi said smiling, looking directly at him, "It's what I wanted."

Jalen helped Heidi clean up the mess they made, including wiping up all the fluids on the floor and straightening any furniture that had been moved out of place. Then they wiped themselves down before putting their clothes back on.

"You should get back to your party. We'll talk more later." Jalen says.

Heidi groans. "I really don't want to go back to that party. I wish I could just leave with you."

Jalen chuckles, "As much as I would like that, we both know that's a bad idea."

Heidi sighed, leaning her head against Jalen's chest for a moment. "I know," she muttered. "I just ... I hate pretending."

Jalen ran a hand gently down her back, his voice calm. "Yeah. But this? What just happened between us? That was real. You don't have to pretend about that."

She looked up at him, her green eyes soft but conflicted. "I meant what I said, Jalen. I'm not walking away from this."

He nodded, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I believe you. But from here on out ... it only gets more complicated."

Heidi gave a small, sad smile. "I know. But I'd rather deal with complicated than go back to being numb."

Jalen pulled her into a soft kiss. When he pulled back, he said, "We'll handle whatever happens. No matter what, I'm with you."

Heidi smiled at him feeling a wave of affection for him. She was crazy about him now, and she didn't feel like she could ever go back to the way things were 45 minutes ago even if she wanted to. She belonged to Jalen now, and the rest of her life would now go through him.

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