After our escapades, I just wanted to bury my head into the sheets and close my eyes, drifting off to sleep but we had to leave otherwise the Carter mansion would dig its nails deeper into my skin and never let go. Devontae helped me into the shower and turned on the water, standing under the cascading water, Devontae lets the warm water wet his hair and the rest of his body, and he pulls me along with him, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I roll my head back onto his chest and I close my eyes, sighing in contentment.

"You know your sister was the one who convinced me to do this." I say, enclosing my hands over his that's wrapped around my waist.

"No, shit." He says into my hair. "Well, her and your mom were the ones who noticed we were faking it but knew we liked each other anyway."

"Damn."

"I know but they gave me the push I needed otherwise I wouldn't have done this."

We let the water flow, as they stand in each other's embrace, he places light feathery kisses on the side of my neck, making me laugh as he knows I get ticklish, his fingers skim done my stomach, itching nearly to my clit.

"No, no, no. We can't waste any more time than we have already. You just had to go 'the Hulk' on me and now every where's sore." I shove him away playfully, grabbing his shower gel and flip the cap open. "That means I did my job right."

I roll my eyes, "you're so cocky." He gives me a smug grin and my eyes widen at the double entendre. "Shut up."

He laughs, throwing his head back, "okay, fine let's get you cleaned up." He opens the door, taking my wash rag on the rail and stepping back in. He squeezes a generous amount of shower gel on it, lathering my body in the soap suds, paying extra meticulous attention to my breasts and thighs. I give him a blank stare and he shrugs nonchalantly.

When he's done, he wrings out the excess water and hangs it over the shower door and hands me his. I repeat his actions, leisurely running the wash rag over every muscle and tattoos that run all the way from his shoulders down to his wrists.

"You know you never told me what your tattoos meant." I start, washing his defined pecs. "You never told me what yours meant either." He retorts like a toddler.

I chuckle, "real mature. How bout you tell me first then I will."

"The day you do that is the day I do it too. It's tit for tat." As he says that he looks down to my boobs and I do the same too. We both begin to snicker as he rinses off and shuts the water. I push open the door and dries myself off, padding across to Devontae's bedroom. He follows and goes to his closet; I pull my underwear up my legs, already dreading to search for clothes in my ready packed suitcase.

I put on a bra and walks over to Tae's closet, hip bumping him out of the way and start searching for his clothes to steal. "Wow." He says from behind.

I stick out my tongue out at him over my shoulder as I take a white tee and black shorts. I slip them on and roll my damp hair into a high bun. I find a tee and pull it on, when I turn around, I find him staring at me, still naked as confident as ever leaning against his closet.

I arch a brow at him, "are you gonna keep staring at me or are you gonna get dressed?" He shrugs, "I'mma go for the first one."

I roll my eyes sighing. He lets out a laugh and begins getting dressed. I put my luggage and his near the door and retrieve my Vans under the bed and put them on. "You need to let them shoes go." He comments and I pout, "they're comfortable."

"Nah, the first thing I'm doing when we get back is throwing those crimes against humanity in the trash." I narrow my eyes at him, "unless you plan on replacing them."

He grins at me, and my brow raise in worry about whether he's really gonna throw my trusty Vans in the trash. Means first thing when we get back is to hide them away.

...

We bid farewell to the Carters, promising to come back soon to visit again. Hopefully by then, Mr Carter would have tried to mend the distance he placed between himself and his family. I hope. I know that's what Destiny wants and needs more than ever.

Speaking of Destiny, she snuck her phone number into my phone when I wasn't paying attention, saving herself as Dez with a heart emoji and a rainbow. I rolled my eyes when I saw it in the car when we were driving back to Cali.

One thing I envy about Destiny is that she still has her father, he never got repulsed by their situation or them to make him wanna up and leave. I would've given anything for my dad to not leave, but he did. He thought he could just worm his way back into my life, waving a cheque in my face, offering to pay off my tuition and student loans. As tempting as it sounded, my dignity and pride caught up with me. My momma busted her ass to send my brothers and I to school then he thinks a cheque will make me forget the pain and suffering and trauma he put us through. Mostly momma, she came back home bone tired and beat down every single day, sometimes surviving on two or three hours of sleep.

She made sure we were fed, we were clothed, had a place to call home. Her siblings supported her all she could until she opened her own bakery. It's small but it helped us to get by and I'm indebted to her always, which is why I need to get into a recognised university where I can do my honours on scholarship, 'cause I can't be killing my mom any more with the tuition.

I've been staring at the screen of my laptop for the past four hours now and I'm going through every single possible university I can get into; my GPA is not the problem but the fucking scholarship policies fucking suck. "Must prove to receive a lower annual gross income of less than 300 000..." I angrily shut my laptop closed and rub my temples, releasing the tension built up and pounding of an impending headache, pounding against the front of my skull. Devontae walks in with to plastic bags and I'm hoping it's greasy, takeout food 'cause God knows how much I need it. "Hey, mama."

"Hey," I say, exasperated. I need a drink at this point because this is draining the shit out of me. With graduation fast approaching, I need a response. I needed a reply as soon as last semester. "You good?" I sigh, contemplating whether to divulge the information about me secretly applying to schools. The gang all assumed that I'd probably take a gap year or something, but I honestly wanted to pursue my major even further. A degree is mainly just entry level to be a psychologist or recognized as one but still, you know. I want to make sure that all my momma's hard work means something.

"Better now that you're here. And you've come bearing gifts." He hands me a takeaway container and a Sprite. I open the container and my mouth water immediately, chicken chow mein is heaven on earth. After we found this little place that sells traditional Chinese food, we ordered noodles with chicken and occasionally, I get food from their whenever I'm craving. I rummage through the plastic bag to find a plastic fork, while Devontae retrieves the hot sauce from the kitchen.

He dollops some in his chow mein and gestures to me if I want some, "nah, I'm good." He looks at me like I've grown another head, "are you crazy, woman? What Black person don't like hot sauce?"

"Me. I don't play about that bullshit either. I already know how much our people love putting hot sauce in everything, plus I come from the south."

He takes a seat at the table with me, placing a kiss on my cheek, "I should have your Black card revoked."

"Devontae," I laugh, "look, I don't mind eating some hot wings from Wingstop or some Chilli Cheese fries from McDee's but – when it comes to put raw chilli concentrate in my food, don't count on it." I say, putting a forkful of noodles in my mouth.

Tae chews and swallows before speaking, "why is it such a big thing for you?" I crack open my bottle of Sprite, taking a big gulp of it and burping immediately after, from the acidity. "My body doesn't tolerate it, hence why I eat spicy or hot stuff only occasionally, when I do, my nose and ears burn, and it'll have me going to the bathroom with my ass on fire."

At that, Tae fucking snorts loudly before bursting into full on laughter. I chuck my pen at him, but his laughter does not cease, I don't even bother faking it and join him too, "at least I know my girlfriend has a weak stomach."

"Excuse you, says the person who's body can't take gluten." Anything that has gluten in it has him shooting like a rocket. I found out the hard way when I bought some baguette sandwiches during our lunch break.

"Ayy, now it wasn't necessary to bring that up." He narrows his eyes at me and now it's my turn to laugh. "Uh huh, ain't you the one who was talking about my weak stomach, learn to hush up before you become a hypocrite."

"Mmm hm." Is all he says as I snicker, piercing the chicken with my fork.

...

Our friends were downstairs playing monopoly and Devontae and I had snuck off to the bathroom. I was like a cat in heat whenever he was around, quadruple it ever since officially became a couple. Every moment we could get alone, it's either we're getting food or fucking. We've been trying to keep our relationship on the low, it's more fun plus the peace of mind of not having everybody in your business is blissful. There will obviously come a time where the word would get out, but I might as well enjoy while it lasts because with the social media presence and popularity Devontae has as a Carter, they will find out. Whether by gossipmongers or their fucking paparazzi.

"Fuck you feel so good." Devontae groans in my ear and I moan softly. He's tugged the top of my yellow sundress down revealing my breast and yanked the flowy hem. I'm splayed across the counter of my bathroom vanity and he's in between my legs. He pushed down his jeans along with his briefs and they now rest at his ankles. We had not enough time to get into foreplay as much as we would've liked but I knew the moment his dick enters me, I'm a goner. "Can't believe you weren't wearing any panties since we were playing the game."

I did that on purpose. "Ohhh, fuck..." I claw at his back, panting heavily as he keeps digging recklessly. Not as his used calculated strokes which pull me to the edge, the carelessness of his hips and frantic kisses and my laboured breathing are all a result of the hunger and burning desire, I can't get enough of him, and I don't think I ever will. I feel my stomach tightening, throwing my head back I whimper, "I'm close." He's got a firm grip on my hips, making sure I don't try and run from him

"So am I, baby." He grunts and he hooks his arm under my thigh, lifting it slightly, allowing me to feel all of him. I can barely keep my eyes open, yet I have the need to keep them open, seeing the lust in his eyes as he takes in my expressions and watching my titties bounce to the rhythm of his strokes. My orgasm floods through me, I open my mouth to scream but he silences me with his lips. My pussy squeezes his dick, and he comes soon after me, still pumping in me. He stills when both of us come down from our high and he pulls out of me, disposing the used condom in the trash.

I wet my washrag, to clean myself up but he swipes it out of my hand, wiping me clean himself. "Baby."

"Brat." He retorts and I childishly stick my tongue out at him, and he rolls his eyes. "You think they know that we were – you know..."

His brows raise at me, amusement clear on his face, "if you mean do you think they heard us fucking. I think they did but I'm not sure."

"So much for keeping it quiet." I mumble, pulling my dress to cover my boobs and I swear Devontae pouts. He pulls up his briefs followed by his jeans, zipping them up. I slide off the counter and onto the floor.

"Your mouth is what can't keep quiet." He says, tucking his pockets back in. I slap his chest. "You were all like 'ooh, ahh, ooh. Fuck'." He pitches his voice higher to attempt to make it sound like mine as he makes scrunches his brows together, rolling his eyes.

He did not just fucking do that. I slap him again this time harder and he laughs, blocking my hits each time. When I restrain, he laughs at my mock anger and mixture of embarrassment, "for that, I'll make sure I keep quiet when we fucking."

I've never seen a smile drop so fast, "like hell you are, I'm gonna make sure you forget how to speak afterwards if you try that shit with me." Damn, I feel like going for round two.

"Then stop mocking me."

"Okay, okay, baby. I'm sorry." He kisses my nose.

"So how is your PR gonna handle everything when shit hits the fan?" I ask, releasing my hair from a bun, letting my curls flow down my shoulders. He watches as I fluff my hair out before saying, "what?" He didn't hear a damn word I said.

"I said how's your publicists gonna handle our relationship when the world finds out?" He steps closer to me running his hand through my curls most likely messing them up even further. "I'm not worried about that; all I'm focused on is making this work."

I frown, "you're not worried? 'Cause it's only a matter of time where TMZ and all these other gossip blogs will plaster my photo and tag me in their new scoop of "Golden Boy Carter with new flavour of the week." I can see it now in size 26 Arial black font with three exclamation marks."

"That's oddly specific."

"I'm on Instagram a lot."

"You don't need to worry about the details but if someone wanna talk shit, they gonna catch all the smoke."

Flatterer. I can't help but blush and try to calm down. Maybe I'm just anxious and overanalysing instead of living in the moment. "You're right, you're right, let's go before our friends send out a search party."

Once we get downstairs, I open the fridge and pour myself a glass of juice which Devontae swipes out of my hand taking a large gulp of it, practically emptying it. I scowl at him, and he smiles widely, "C'mon, you love me."

"Eh", I shrugs, and he spins me to face him, kissing me unexpectedly. So much for discrete. And just as I expected, I find seven pairs of eyes looking at us in shock. Damn it, Devontae.

"So, you're not gonna explain what the hell's going on here?" Cassie starts. "Yeah, we saw what you guys did back there." Rome arches a brow. "Plus, your hair looks a bit untamed more than usual." Sasha points out. "Are you guys ─?" Amaal motions her hands between me and Devontae.

Well, no use in trying to lie now. We look at each other then turning back to our friends who are waiting patiently for an answer, I nod, "Yes, we're together."

Roman reaches into his pocket and hands a dollar to Travis, James hands his to Lucas, Sasha hands hers to Cassie and Amaal hands hers Cassie again. I puff out a breath in disbelief whereas Devontae's jaw drops, "You guys bet on us?"

"Duh," Cassie rolls her eyes, "we bet you'd get together before the end of the year and these losers bet, you'd get together by the end of the year. Now I'm two dollars richer." She stuffs the cash into her bra.

"Anyway, we're def talking about this later." Amaal wiggles her eyebrows at me, and I blushes furiously. Devontae kisses my cheek, "it's okay, baby." We join them in the living room, he sits on the recliner and scoots over a little, my legs draped on his lap.

Rome throws his monopoly cards onto the table, "Cap has officially joined simp nation along with this bitch." He says, pointing at James, who narrows his eyes at him.

Tae wraps his arm around my waist, tugging me into his lap, "ay, man leave me alone. I'm with my girl."

"Ugh, I can smell lovey dovey shit in here." Travis scrunches up his nose in disgust. Sasha smacks him on the upside of his head, "Shut up, man. It's not our fault you ain't got nobody that'll would wanna date your sorry ass."

I snicker and Devontae muffles his laugh against the fabric of my dress. "A'ight since I'm being abused, I'm out." Travis stands up, putting on his jacket.

"Yeah, I'm gonna head out too. I gotta go to work." Rome says, grabbing his car keys.

"I gotta ask you something." Devontae says suddenly. My brow join in a line, "okay?" He pulls me off him and gets up, dragging me back up to my room.

"I got spare condoms if you want some!" Cassie yells. "I think you need them more than I do!" I shout back. We enter my bedroom and I sit on my Bathonly chair, "so what did you wanna talk to me about?"

"Nothing. Just wanted kiss those beautiful those lips of yours." He hovers over me before pressing his lips against mine, "and to tell you that I'm taking you on a date tomorrow."

My eyes light up, "A date?"

"Uh huh, I'll come by to pick you up after practice, okay?" I grin, "Okay." He kisses me again, "We've only been dating for a week and you're already spoiling me."

"Only the best for you, baby."

...

AUTHORS NOTE

Sigh. To be Kiana.