“See how different that felt when you didn’t m on the brakes when we were going around the curve. Just coast and focus on staying in yourne. OK. This time remember to keep your foot on the brake while you’re putting the car in park.”

    Driving lessons were eventful to say the least. Steel was surprisingly patient with me as we had multiple near-death experiences. It took a while for me to get the hang of it. Driving a car was definitely not like riding a bicycle. It takes a minute for it toe back to you. I hadn’t driven a car since I was eighteen years old.

    My friend’s wreck traumatized me to the point where I didn’t give a damn about driving anymore. Steel’s refresher course restored some of my confidence in driving. In time, I would be able to drive on my own. I wasn’t in a rush to do it any time soon. When I got out of the car, I wanted to kiss the ground, but I resisted.

    “I’m thinking about going to see my sister,” Steel mentioned, toying with my hair as he walked next to me. I noticed that he loved ying in my hair.

    “I think you should,” I dered.

    “I have to see what I need to do, and I really have to think about it.”

    “Understandable. Thank you for today,” I told him.

    “You’re wee, princess.”

    “I’m serious, Steel. Thank you for everything from breakfast and orgasms to helping me restore my confidence behind the wheel. I really appreciate you.”

    Taking my hand, he pulled it to his lips. “You’re wee. I’m probably going to be working for the rest of the day but just knock ande into my office if you need me.”

    “OK.”

    My chest swelled with pride as I considered his words. A few weeks ago, I would have never even dreamed of going into his office. Now he was weing me with open arms. It felt good to be in this ce with him. I looked forward to the evolution of our rtionship.

    “Now let’s get inside. I know your babies miss you.”hr

    Three days of driving lessons had given me a sense of freedom that I’d forgotten existed. I was literally able to hop in a car and drive myself somewhere, not that I had a car or was even ready for one of my own at this point.

    It had been a week since he’d given me my first lesson, and I had the confidence to drive to the store on my own. I wanted to grab a few things without sending someone out to get them. Steel cleared it with Gerry and Simon, so they knew that I was free to go. It felt good driving myself to the store and back.

    When I made it inside, I went straight to the kids’ room to make sure that they were still down for their naps. They were both out like a light, so I put the activity books and extra crayons and pencils on the shelf in their room and walked back out. I wanted to wake them up since it was almost time for dinner.

    They would be whining when it was time for bed, but I liked having a little quiet time as much as the rest of the adults in the house. Steel was in his office, so I knocked softly before pushing the door open and letting myself in.

    My heart soared when he looked up at me with that handsome smile on his face. Pushing back from his desk, he sat back in his chair and gave me his full attention.

    “So, I drove myself to the dor store and back without freaking out,” I bragged as I walked closer to his desk.

    “See I knew you could do it. Next week we’re going into the city.”

    “I didn’t say I was ready for all that,” I protested.

    “You didn’t have to. Come here,” he said, motioning for me toe behind his desk. I giggled as he pulled me down into hisp. “I’m proud of you, princess.”

    “Thank you for being patient with me.”

    He brushed my hair back from my face before leaning in and kissing my nose. “What did you get at the store?”

    cing the bag on his desk, I ran down the list of things I’d gotten. “I wanted to get some more of the extra-long hair ties to help keep all of this hair at bay. I got some coloring books for the kids. Oh, and I got a phone.”

    Steel’s hands shot to the stic bag. He emptied the contents on the desk before snatching up the phone. “The fuck you need this for? Did I tell you that you could get another phone? Who the fuck are you trying to call?” he asked, almost dumping me on the floor as he sprang to his feet.

    “What do you mean? I didn’t think I needed permission to have a phone at this point.”

    “Answer my question, Den. Who the fuck are you trying to call? You worried about your boy Brendan? You trying to tip him off that I’m looking for him? I’ma kill that nigga either way it goes. You can’t save him, Den.”

    “Steel, what the hell are you talking about? You think he’s the only person I know?” I quizzed.

    “I’m just wondering what you’re up to. You trying to call someone to rescue you from me? You want help? You think you need to be saved? That’s why you’re so eager to drive by yourself. You n on running?”

    “What are you talking about? I’m not trying to run! I barely feel like I have a reason to run anymore,” I said, taking a step back to put some space between us.

    “Barely, huh? You know what this is, Den!” he barked.

    “No, I actually don’t, and I’m not sure that you do either at this point.”

    Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to decide if I should try to run or not. I’d seen what he was capable of, and I was terrified of falling victim to his wrath.

    “You’re right about that. I feel like you’re ying with me right now. You buttering me up with all that sweet and innocent shit, so I’ll let my guard down, Dev? Tell me what you’re up to. I’m a big guy. I can take it.”

    “I’m not trying to pull anything, Steel. Why would I show you the phone if I were trying to y you? I’m not trying to run away from you. I don’t want to leave you, Steel. I fucking love you! Why are you acting like this?”

    He didn’t respond to my statement immediately. I looked back at his office door as I considered making a break for the door again. As I looked over at the door and back at him, it seemed so far away. Steel just stood there shaking his head before closing the space between us. He reached out and touched my face. I snatched away as he swept the single pesky tear from my cheek with the pad of his thumb.

    “I’m sorry, baby,” he said,pletely throwing me off. “I thought you were pulling away from me, and I panicked. I-I don’t want to lose you, Den. I love you too. I never thought I would love anyone like this. Here,” he said, rushing over to the desk and picking up the phone. “I trust you. I didn’t mean to snap at you, baby. I’m just so scared that you’re going to wake up one day and decide that you don’t want this anymore, especially after how it started. I apologize for overreacting. I know I have to trust you. I also know that I don’t deserve you. It makes me nervous about losing you. One day you’ll decide that you can’t deal with a broken man anymore. I just don’t want it to be today.”

    “I don’t want to leave you, Steel.”

    “But you will. I just want to soak up as much of your love and light as I can until that dayes.”

    Shaking my head, I protested. “I’m not leaving.”

    “Everybody leaves, princess.”

    “I’m not them, baby,” I said, reaching out and cupping his cheeks in my hands. “I’m not everybody. I see you, and I love what I see.”

    The rapid blinking of his sorrowful eyes kept the tears at bay as he leaned down and kissed my forehead.

    “I don’t like waking up without you. Why do you keep getting up and leaving so early? Are you just a morning person?”

    “Some days I am, but mostly I know how you don’t want everyone around here in our business. I try to get up and go upstairs or get my day started before the staffes in.”

    He frowned at my response. “When did I say I didn’t want anyone in our business?”

    “I just figured you didn’t. You told me your business is your business.”

    “And that still stands. At the same time, why do you think I wouldn’t want the world to know you’re mine after everything I went through to get you?”

    “Yours?”

    “Are you not?” he grinned, looking down at me.

    “I am,” I said, dropping my eyes to his shirt.

    “Head up, princess. Look at me,” he instructed, causing me to lift my eyes back to his.

    “Move down here with me.”

    “You sure?” I asked, smiling softly at his request.

    He chuckled. “Yes, I’m sure. I never wanted you up there in the first ce. Under the circumstances, I knew it was better not to hold you captive in my bedroom when I have four extras and a whole upstairs apartment.”

    “OK.”

    “Really?” he asked, allowing a boyish grin to spread across his lips.

    “Yes, really.” I nodded.

    “Thank you, baby. I’ll move your stuff downstairs today,” he said, kissing me before releasing his hold on me.hr

    An eventful day of me moving into Steel’s bedroom and him answering a ton of questions from King of why Ms. Devy couldn’t sleep in the room with him and Evie ended with my face buried in the pillow as I got another lesson in self-love.

    “Tell me, Den,” Steel demanded as he drilled into me from behind. I had no idea why he thought I could concentrate on answering questions while he was stretching my pussy to the limit.

    “Ah! I’m beautiful,” I shouted into the pillow.

    “Another one, princess. Tell me why it’s an honor for me to be in this pretty ass pussy right now.”

    “Because I’m important,” I mumbled.

    “What else, baby? That’s two. I need three more reasons why you’re perfect and any man would love to have you. I’m not asking for me. I already know why. I need you to understand how fucking amazing you are. We’re gonna keep going through this until you get it.”

    “I can’t,” I whispered.

    “You can. Tell me how your smile lights up every room you enter. Remind me of how you make people fall in love when they hear you sing.”

    “Yes, I can sing. I’m resilient, and I’m good with kids,” I managed to utter as Steel continued to fuck me like he was mad.

    Burying his fingers in my ass, he pped me on my ass and pulled me back on him harder. “You’re nurturing. You’re loyal. You’re strong. Your energy is addictive. When you walk into a room, you make me smile for no damn reason. You’re beautiful and sexy. Your hair is gorgeous. You have the best pussy in the whole fucking world,” he grunted, as he added to my list. “Do you need me to go on?”

    “Yes!” I shouted, loving the positive affirmations.

    “You made life around here bearable for those two precious souls down the hall. You made life worth living for me. You treated my family like your own, without question. You give me a reason to wake up and look forward to the day. Do you understand that you’re the best fucking thing that has ever happened to me? Huh? Fuck the money. Fuck this house and those cars out there. Fuck it all if I can’t have you, Den. I’ll give up everything I own just to be with you.”

    I couldn’t answer him for the tears that left me breathless. Realizing that I wasing undone, he pushed me forward, helping me toy down. Falling tears and a raging orgasm threatened to rip me to shreds as he guided my body into a morefortable position. Steel never disconnected from me as I got into position t on my stomach. He fisted my hair and peppered kisses on my face as he slow stroked in and out of me with his chest on my back.

    “Thank you for loving me the way you do, Steel,” I breathed, letting my eyes drift closed.

    “Have my baby,” he blurted. “I want you to have everything I own when I’m gone. Don’t answer me now, just think about it.”

    “OK.” I nodded as exhaustion lulled me to sleep.