Page 31 of Certified To Handle You 2

My hand went straight to my neck while I tried to breathe, and it took me a few seconds to realize nobody was touchin’ me. Couture wasn’t standin’ over me. I wasn’t against the dresser, and my face wasn’t hurt.

I was still in the hotel bed…

Couture’s alarm was goin’ off on the nightstand, and he was layin’ beside me with one arm over his face while he reached around for his phone.

My chest was movin’ so fast that I felt like I had been runnin’. I rubbed my neck and looked around the room, tryna convince myself that none of that shit had really happened.

Couture finally cut off the alarm and turned toward me. The second he saw my face, his brows pulled together.

“You good, baby?” he asked, pushin’ himself up on one elbow while he looked me over.

I blinked a few times and forced myself to nod even though my body was still reactin’ to that crazy ass dream like it was real.

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“You sure baby?” he asked, reachin’ over and rubbin’ his hand across the same damn cheek he hit me in, in my dream.”

“I’m sure,” I told him, and this time my voice sounded a lil’ more normal.

Couture watched me for another second before layin’ back down. I could tell he ain’t completely believe me, but he also wasn’t about to press me this early in the mornin’.

“You have fun last night?” he asked after a minute.

The question hit me harder than it should’ve, but I kept my face straight.

“Yeah…I did. I’m sorry I stayed out so late, though. It was my last night here, and me and Toni ended up drinkin’ more than we planned. Then we stopped by an after-hours spot before we called it a night.”

He nodded slowly while rubbin’ his face.

“It’s cool, baby. Do you. I know you missed us people. I figured you was enjoyin’ ya cousin, and I ain’t wanna keep callin’ and actin’ like I was rushin’ you.”

“I should’ve checked in more,” I told him. “That was on me. I’m sorry for real.”

“Long as you made it back straight, we good, baby.”

He glanced at me, then grinned a lil’. “When we move in together, though, we both gon’ have curfews. Ain’t no comin’ in after the sun damn near up.”

I forced a laugh ‘cause he said it like a joke, but I could hear the part of him that was serious too.

“Both of us?” I asked. “You gon’ give yourself a curfew too?”

“I said both, didn’t I?” he replied, reachin’ over and pullin’ me closer by my waist. “I ain’t about to be out all night while my woman at home, and I don’t want you out all night while I’m waitin’ on you either.”

The way he said my woman made somethin’ inside me twist ‘cause he was talkin’ about our future like it was already decided.

Me and Couture had talked about takin’ shit further, but him bringin’ up us livin’ together made it feel more real than it had before.

I smiled it off and laid my hand on his chest.

Then he sat all the way up, leaned over and kissed my lips while rubbin’ my hips.

That one kiss made the guilt from that damn nightmare hit me all over again ‘cause Couture was still bein’ himself. He was kind, patient, and talkin’ about buildin’ somethin’ with me while I was layin’ beside him carryin’ a secret that could destroy all of it.

We finally got out the bed not too long after that and started gettin’ ourselves together. Couture went into the bathroom first while I packed the last few things from the nightstand and double-checked the drawers to make sure we ain’t leave nothin’ behind.

When he came back out, Couture had already brushed his teeth and washed his face. He walked over, slid one arm around my waist, and pressed a kiss to the side of my head before reachin’ for his clothes.

That small gesture made me feel even worse ‘cause it reminded me how normal and comfortable we usually was together. Couture wasn’t corny or the nigga Renza made him out to be to me, and he damn sure wasn’t weak. He was secure enough not to put on a show every second. He knew who he was, and when he loved, he moved with purpose.