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I frowned, felt something tighten in my chest.

“That’s your, no correction, our home.” I cupped her chin gently. “Baby, why you making this shit so difficult? I don’t want nobody else, and yo’ ass damn sure ain’t leaving me.” I pulled her a little closer. “You mine, Lakelyn… been mine. I ain’t still dating you trying to figure out where this shit is going. I already know, so ain’t nothing left for me to figure out. I want my woman in my house, in my bed every night, waking up next to me every morning.”

For a second, I almost asked if she knew how many women would’ve traded places with her without thinking twice. Women who would’ve packed their shit the first time I offered, moved into that big-ass house, slept in my bed every night, and considered themselves lucky just because Caspian Black wanted them there.

But I kept that shit to myself.

I wasn’t talking to some random bitch who was impressed by my money, my house, or the weight my name carried around the city. I was talking to Lakelyn… my girl, the same woman who had never given a damn about any of that unless it affected the kind of man I was when I came home to her. Telling her somebody else would happily take her place wouldn’t make her feel lucky; it would’ve pissed her the fuck off. And honestly, I didn’t want any other woman in Lakelyn’s place, anyway; I wanted her there.

Lakelyn finally faced me, and I caught the worry she was trying like hell to keep off her face.

She never hid that shit from me as well as she thought she did.

“Baby, what’s on yo’ mind? Talk to me.”

Her hands tightened around the edge of the dresser. “Caspian, I don’t want to move in with you… not like this.”

My brows pulled together. “Like what?”

“You know.” Her voice cracked just enough for me to hear it.

“Nah. I know the bullshit excuses you give me every time I bring this up. I’m asking you what the real problem is.” I moved closer to her. “I know you love a nigga, and you know damn well I love you. Four years in, you should know I ain’t playing about you or what I want with you. So what is it about moving into that house with me that got you this damn scared?”

Lakelyn stared at me for a long moment, deciding how much of my morning she wanted to ruin and how honest she wanted to be. Then she started counting on her fingers like she was presenting evidence, her voice gaining strength with each point.

“For starters, you have too many exes.”

I crossed my arms. “Wrong.”

“Women you used to sleep with then.” She raised her eyebrows, challenging me.

“Different. I don’t deal with none of them anymore… haven’t in years.”

“They still exist, Caspian!” Lakelyn yelled, throwing her hands up in frustration, nearly losing the sheet in the process before snatching it back against her chest. “They still know where you live, and they definitely know I’m your woman. I can’t even go to the grocery store, get my nails done, or go out with Willow without eventually running into some woman who has either slept with you, wanted to sleep with you, or got a damn story about the time you almost slept with her.”

I had to bite back a smile because laughing was probably the quickest way to get put out of her bedroom.

“Baby, you fine as hell, and you got one of the richest and finest niggas in the city. There was bound to be some previous applicants before the position got permanently filled.” When her mouth fell open, I kept going like I had enough sense to stop but simply chose not to. “But shid… if I was a female, I’d be jealous of you too.”

Her face twisted. “What?”

“I’m serious, baby.” I leaned back slightly on the wall, taking her in from head to toe like I needed time to consider my response. “You beautiful as hell. You know how to carry yourself, and you ain’t loud, sloppy, or ghetto with it. You dress in the best shit, your hair stay done, skin glowing, and your body is crazy.”

I licked my bottom lip when my eyes dropped to her ass.

“That ass alone would piss somebody off.”

She tried not to smile, but I caught it.

“What?” I grinned. “I’m telling the truth. Real shit, baby, you ain’t just some pretty face walking around looking good either; you a fuckin’ nurse. You got yo’ own career, yo’ own money, yo’ own mind. Everything about you is top tier. So yeah… if I was another woman and saw you walking around with all that ass, knowing you got yo’ shit together and knew Caspian Black was coming home to you every night? Hell yeah, I’d be jealous.”

“Well, thank you for that very detailed evaluation of me. I appreciate the fact that you apparently think I’m beautiful, educated, successful, well-dressed, and carrying around an ass powerful enough to ruin somebody’s day, but Caspian, that is not the point!” Her voice rose at the end as frustration crept back in.

“I’m starting to feel like the point doesn’t want to be found.”

Lakelyn was getting worked up now, animated in that way that made her even more beautiful.

She caught the look on my face and pointed at me, eyes flashing. “Caspian, I’m being oh, so serious right now.”