24. Derek's Destiny

Derek’s next surprise is in motion, but Destiny’s own secret might just outplay him.

AUTHORS NOTE: Another week, another hurricane, and this one—Hurricane Milton—was a big one. We made the call to ride it out at home, and I’m so grateful that my family and house are safe. Though we’re without electricity right now, I have to give it up to Mr. Make It Happen, my husband, who figured out a way for me to charge up my MacBook and get just enough internet for me to do a quick review of this chapter and send it your way. I hope you’re all staying safe, especially if you were in Milton’s path. Sending love as you dive into this chapter! Don’t forget to drop a comment when you’re done reading with your prediction of…well, you’ll see at the end.

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Are you new to this series? If so, tap below to start from the very beginning…

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DESTINY

“Derek, no… no more…” I groaned in my sleep, barely aware of the world around me, still lost in the haze of exhaustion and what he’d put me through last night. My body protested, every muscle aching as I felt someone shaking me awake.

“That’s disgusting, Destiny Boseman! Wake up!” My mama’s voice cut through the fog like a knife, sharp and full of that no-nonsense tone she always carried.

My eyes flew open, heart racing as I sat up too quickly, wincing the second I moved. Damn. Derek hadn’t been lying when he said his adrenaline would be through the roof after the show. I thought it was just talk, but the second we stepped through the door last night, he came at me like a man possessed. He’d turned me every which way but loose in the shower, his hands all over me, his lips demanding. And when we tumbled out, dripping wet, he fed me to the mattress like he was starved for something only I could give him.

Between that and standing on my feet all day for the Jubilee, I was feeling every damn bit of almost thirty.

“Ma, what are you doing here?” I croaked, my voice hoarse from last night.

“What kind of nastiness are you and Derek up to?” she asked, her eyes sweeping the room. She stood up, shaking her head like she’d seen something she couldn’t unsee. “I’m never sitting on this bed again,” she muttered, disgust flickering across her face.

I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corner of my lips despite the soreness in my body. Typical Mama.

“Where’s Derek?” I asked, ignoring the sting of embarrassment creeping up my neck.

“Where he’s supposed to be,” she said dismissively, waving her hand like it was obvious. “He did such a good job last night, the way he brought Juniper together.” Her voice softened, and for a moment, something misty crept into her eyes. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

I couldn’t help but smile, the memories of last night rushing back to me. Derek on stage, larger than life, his voice commanding the crowd, making them hang on every word. He was electric, the way he moved, the way he connected with the audience—he was born for this. Watching him live out the dream he used to practice in his room when we were kids, seeing the way people sang his songs back to him, every word etched in their souls—it was like witnessing a rare comet streak across the sky. Something you don’t forget.

He was unstoppable. And even though he wore me out last night, there was no denying the pride swelling in my chest just thinking about him. My Derek, the boy from Juniper who was always chasing big dreams, was living in it. But right now, all I could feel was the lingering ache in my bones, a reminder of just how much it had cost to be part of that dream.

“He’s pretty incredible,” I admitted, feeling the blush creep up my cheeks. Just thinking about him sent a warmth through me I couldn’t shake.

“He’s your fiancé,” Mama said, her eyes gleaming. “And right now, he’s got a whole glam squad in the living room waiting to get you ready. He says it’s the same ladies from the night he proposed.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Are you serious? What does he have planned now?”

Mama smiled knowingly. “I’d tell you if I could, but he swore me to secrecy. I can only tell you that I’m supposed to be getting ready too.”

I shook my head, a grin tugging at my lips. “He’s too much.”

“He said you’d say that,” she laughed softly, “and to remind you that nothing is too much when it comes to you.”

The way she said it, the affection in her voice, made me pause. There was a time she could barely tolerate the mention of Derek’s name. I thought back to all those moments when she tried to pull me away from him, when she saw him as nothing more than trouble waiting to happen. But now, the way she looked at me, the way she spoke of him—it was like watching a bridge that had once been burned now rebuilt, stronger than before.

“You and Derek being in a place where you even had that conversation…” I trailed off, laughing lightly. “That’s mind-boggling to me.”

Mama’s expression softened, her gaze far away for a second. “Time passes, baby. People grow. And if Derek’s done nothing else, he’s proven that his love for you is consistent, unwavering. He’s shown me that loving you is worth everything, even putting himself on the line.”

Her words hit me deep, a warmth blooming in my chest. She didn’t hand out praise lightly, especially when it came to Derek. But her eyes told me everything—the same eyes that once held suspicion, now reflected a respect that could only come from watching him fight, time and again, for me. For us.

I smiled at her, a soft chuckle bubbling up. But then she gave me a look, one that told me she had more to say, something heavier weighing on her mind.

“I have a confession,” she said, her voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

My brow furrowed. “What?”

She sighed, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her dress. “I knew he was coming back for you.”

“What?” The surprise hit me like a jolt, the realization settling in slowly. “Mama…”

She held up her hand, cutting me off gently. “He called me and your daddy before he signed on for the Jubilee. Wanted us to know what he was thinking of doing. Apologized for the way he hurt you… and for things we didn’t even know about. Things y’all did as kids.” She shook her head, a small smile on her lips. “He laid it all out on the table, no secrets. He wanted to know if he had our blessing to start pursuing you again and let us know his intentions.”

The words hung in the air between us, heavy with a weight I hadn’t expected. Derek, calling my parents, owning up to everything. The mistakes, the pain, the boy he used to be—and the man he was now, standing on the other side of all of it, asking for another chance. It hit me harder than I thought it would.

“He did that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mama nodded. “He did. That boy was ready to do whatever it took to make things right. Not just with you, but with us. He didn’t just want you back, Destiny. He wanted to make sure we all understood that he wasn’t playing games this time.”

Tears stung my eyes, the kind that come when the truth finally settles in, when you realize how far someone has gone for you. How much they’re willing to fight for the life you’re building together.

“He’s really changed,” I whispered, more to myself than to her.

“Yeah, baby,” Mama said, her voice soft but sure. “He has. And he’s done it because of how much he loves you. Don’t ever doubt that.”

I smiled, the tears slipping free, but for once, they weren’t from pain or regret. They were from the overwhelming truth of it all—the realization that sometimes love, even after it’s been broken and battered, can come back stronger than before.

“So that’s why you weren’t trippin’ when I was telling you about him being here,” I said, eyes narrowing in mock accusation. “Wow! The betrayal!” I pressed a hand to my chest, pretending to be upset, but the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth gave me away.

Mama just chuckled, shaking her head. “You love that boy. Always have. It didn’t surprise me one bit how quickly things started moving once he came back home. You two? You’re meant for each other. You always have been.”

Her words hit me with a softness that only years of knowing someone—really knowing someone—could bring. I hugged her tight, and when we pulled back, I saw it in her eyes. We were both on the verge of tears, the weight of the moment pressing against us like a shared secret.

But Mama wasn’t one to dwell on emotions for long. She straightened her shoulders, giving me a knowing look.

“Enough of that,” she said, waving off the tears. “Go shower and meet me in the living room, chile. There’s a car picking us up at noon and some pretty dresses for us to try on.”

I made my way to the shower, letting the hot water wash away the tension that had built up over the last few days. When I finally stepped out, I felt lighter and grabbed my phone off the counter, swiping it open to check my messages. Nothing from Derek. A sure sign he was plotting something. But the flood of notifications from social media? That was impossible to ignore.

I scrolled through the madness—footage of Derek’s performance at the Jubilee, videos of us on stage together, the moment he pulled me into his arms with the crowd screaming in the background. One clip in particular caught my breath: Derek holding me, his eyes closed as if he was in prayer, and then looking up to the sky with tears streaming down his face.

The comments had exploded. People tagging Derek, speculating, gossiping. Most of them were focused on the big ass rock on my finger. Speculation ran wild—rumors about our engagement, people tagging him, asking him to confirm if we were really getting married.

It was a circus. And I was standing in the middle of it, trying to breathe through the chaos swirling around me.

I let out a slow breath, trying to process it all. But as overwhelming as it was, something settled in me too. The way Derek looked at me in those videos, the way he held me—like he was sure. It was enough to quiet the noise around me, at least for now.

I put my phone down, my heart racing. Whatever Derek was planning, I had no doubt it was going to be something I’d never forget.

With our hair and makeup done two hours later, Mama and I were chauffeured to a short drive that felt familiar but I couldn’t quite place it—until we pulled up. Derek’s parents’ house. My heart skipped a beat. I should have known he was up to something, but this? I wasn’t prepared for what came next.

As soon as we stepped into the backyard, a chorus of voices erupted from every direction. “Surprise!” Familiar faces filled the space—family, friends, people I’d known my whole life. They were all here, surrounding me. Mama threw her head back, laughing like she was in on it the whole time, and honestly, she probably was.

But the sight that stole my breath—stopped me in my tracks—was Derek. Standing at the front of the crowd, his eyes locked on mine, a slow, confident smile spreading across his face like he had all the time in the world. He was dressed in cream, the same shade as me, a perfect match. It wasn’t a coincidence. Nothing about Derek ever was. The dresses he had the stylist bring over? This one, the halter skater skirt dress I was wearing, was the only option he really wanted me in. He was intentional, always, even down to the smallest details.

I glanced down at myself, the way the dress hugged me in all the right places, flowing out just enough to feel flirty but elegant. The heels, taller than what I’d usually dare to wear, gave me an extra sense of confidence, making me feel powerful, and the jewelry—oh, the jewelry—dripped from my ears, down to my neck, and wrapped around my wrists like it had always belonged there. This wasn’t my usual style. It was bold, luxurious, something that felt out of my reach at one time, but now, standing here, I felt like I’d stepped into a new version of myself. A version he’d helped me discover.

I couldn’t help but feel like a queen. Derek, in his cream-colored linen shorts set, looked every bit the king beside me. The soft fabric of his shirt clung to his chest just right, his presence commanding but effortless. The way his smile widened as his eyes roamed over me made me feel seen, made me feel powerful. Like we were two pieces that fit together perfectly, radiating this energy that everyone around us could feel but only we truly understood.

I felt untouchable.

“What’s happening?” I asked, my heart racing, still trying to piece it all together. The scene felt surreal—the familiar faces, the decorations, the energy buzzing around me—but none of it made sense yet.

Derek moved toward me, cutting through the crowd like he was the only person in the room that mattered. His steps were slow, deliberate, as if he wanted to make sure I felt every second of his presence closing in on me. In his hand, a glass of champagne caught the sunlight, sparkling like a promise. When he reached me, he extended the glass, his eyes never leaving mine.

“This,” he said, his voice low and smooth, the sound of it wrapping around me like a warm embrace, “is to celebrate you, Princess.”

His words sent a shiver through me, the kind that makes your heart skip, the kind that makes you feel like everything else has faded into the background. “The biggest moment of your career,” he continued, his gaze intense, unwavering. “You did an incredible job with the Jubilee, and I want you to sit in this moment and be proud of yourself.”

There was something about the way he said it—like he wasn’t just talking about the Jubilee. He was talking about me. About everything I’d worked for, everything I’d become. Derek had this way of seeing all of me, even the parts I didn’t show the world, and right now, in his eyes, I could see pride. Not just in what I’d accomplished, but in who I was.

I took the glass from his hand, my fingers brushing against his, and for a moment, everything felt still. The noise of the party, the laughter around us—it all faded. All that mattered was Derek and the way he looked at me like I was the center of his universe.

“Be proud of yourself,” he repeated softly, his voice only for me. And in that moment, I realized that this wasn’t just his celebration for me. It was his way of reminding me to stop, to breathe, and to recognize the power in what I’d achieved. He saw me. All of me. And with him standing there, champagne in hand, eyes full of love and admiration, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

I blinked, taken aback, gratitude and disbelief settling over me. For a split second, I questioned whether the Jubilee was even worth celebrating in comparison to everything Derek had achieved. I hadn’t won a Grammy or changed the world. I’d just planned a Juneteenth celebration for our small town. That’s all.

Yet, he found it worth celebrating.

Before I could fully process those feelings, a familiar voice rang out behind Derek, cutting through my self-doubt.

“And it’s an engagement party too!” His mother’s voice was bright, full of excitement, her grin wide and proud as she practically danced with joy at letting the secret out.

Derek rolled his eyes, chuckling softly under his breath.

“She insisted,” he muttered with a playful smile as he turned back to me, his eyes shining with affection. “But if you want, we can celebrate each of these milestones separately. I don’t want our engagement to overshadow what you worked so hard on. I originally planned this to celebrate what you’ve been working so hard on.”

I paused, looking around, feeling the weight of the moment wrap itself around me. The faces surrounding us, the laughter and warmth in the air—all of them were people who had been part of my life’s journey. Family. Friends. People who had seen me grow, who had been there for the highs and lows. And Derek, standing there next to me—solid, intentional, loving me in a way that made me feel like anything was possible.

This wasn’t just about the Jubilee. It wasn’t just about our engagement. It was about the life we were building, the way these moments intertwined and fed into each other. Every step had led us to this.

“No, this is perfect,” I said, my voice thick with emotion, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. “The Jubilee is what brought us back together. It reconnected us. This… you… this is exactly what I want.”

Derek’s smile softened, and the intensity in his eyes shifted to something deeper—something that made my heart swell in my chest. His love was steady, unwavering, and in that moment, I knew that everything—the Jubilee, our engagement, our shared history—was worth celebrating.

He lifted his glass, tapping it gently against mine with a quiet clink. “Then here’s to everything,” he said, his voice low, strong, and full of meaning. “To you, to us, and to every single moment that brought us here.”

I held my glass tighter, the weight of his words sinking into me. As I looked around again, at the people who meant the most to us, I realized how rare it was to be standing here, celebrating not just one milestone, but the layers of life that had woven together to bring us to this place.

I took a sip of the champagne, letting the bubbles fizz on my tongue, and smiled. For the first time, I allowed myself to fully embrace it—the significance of everything, the beauty of our journey. Derek had always believed in me, in us. And now, standing here, surrounded by love, I knew he was right.

Derek leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, “You deserve all of this, Princess. And I’ll make sure you get more. I will always celebrate you.”

“You have to stop spoiling me like this,” I insisted, my voice soft but firm as I looked up at him, trying to sound more serious than I felt.

Derek’s eyes darkened with mischief, his lips curling into that wicked grin I knew all too well.

“You can’t tell me what to do,” he said, his voice low and teasing, a promise wrapped in defiance.

Before I could even respond, he leaned in, capturing my lips with his. The kiss was possessive, slow, his hand slipping to the back of my neck, pulling me closer until the world around us faded away. His lips told me everything—that this, us, was exactly what he wanted, and no matter how much I protested, he wasn’t going to stop. Not now. Not ever.

"Alright! Alright! Let me hug my child, Derek, damn," my father teased, his deep voice cutting through the laughter as he stepped forward. Derek chuckled, hands up in mock surrender, stepping back just enough to let my dad in.

My father pulled me into a tight hug, his familiar warmth grounding me, even in the whirlwind of everything happening.

"I’m proud of you, baby girl," he whispered in my ear, his words thick with emotion. There was something in his voice—something deeper, like he could feel how much had changed, how much I had grown.

Before I could say anything, we were swarmed by more family and friends, all coming up to congratulate me on the Jubilee and the engagement. Their voices blended together—laughter, excitement, the occasional “ooh” and “ahh” as they ogled over the ring on my finger.

I couldn’t stop smiling as I told them about Derek’s perfect proposal, each detail falling from my lips like a dream I was still living. How he’d caught me off guard in the middle of it all—his timing impeccable, as always.

"That ring is stunning," my cousin chimed in, eyes wide as she took my hand. "Leave it to Derek to go big."

"He always goes big," I laughed, glancing at him from across the crowd. He was surrounded by my uncles and cousins, already telling them some story that had them all grinning.

Suddenly, the soft clink of a glass being tapped cut through the chatter, drawing everyone’s attention. All eyes turned toward Ant, who stood up, his presence commanding the entire backyard before he even said a word. There was no mistaking it—he was asking for the moment.

“I wanna say something before we really kick this off,” Ant’s voice boomed, instantly quieting the crowd. The laughter and conversation faded, replaced with the kind of anticipation that comes when someone is about to speak from the heart.

Derek came back over to me, sliding his arm around my waist, his touch grounding me as all eyes shifted to us. My pulse quickened, but there was something comforting about having him there, solid and steady, his thumb brushing gently against my side.

Ant looked around at the faces, nodding as if acknowledging every one of them. “Everybody here is family, so y’all know Derek is my little brother. And Destiny? I’ve known her since she was 15, back when her and my brother first got together.”

The crowd murmured softly, a few heads nodding as they remembered those early days. But Ant wasn’t done. His grin widened, and he glanced at Derek, a gleam of brotherly mischief in his eyes.

“But before all that,” Ant continued, “D used to talk my ear off about this girl at school. Some girl he couldn’t stop thinking about. Said she had him twisted up inside, couldn’t focus on anything else. He was writing raps about her every night.”

Laughter rippled through the crowd, and Derek shook his head, embarrassed but unable to hide the smile tugging at his lips. He didn’t try to interrupt, though. This was Ant’s stage now.

“So one day,” Ant went on, leaning in like he was telling a secret, “he tells me he’s gonna ask her out using one of those raps. I told him he was crazy, but D? He was always bold when it came to Destiny. So when he came home one day and told me it worked—I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked.”

The laughter that followed was louder this time, genuine, and Derek chuckled along with everyone, shaking his head at the memory. I laughed too, feeling the warmth of those old stories wrapping around us like a shared history only we could fully understand.

“But from there,” Ant continued, his tone shifting slightly, growing more serious, “those two… they were thick as thieves. D was always about Destiny. And Destiny, she was always about him, even when others felt she shouldn’t have been.”

There was a ripple of knowing laughter, and I felt a flush of heat rise in my cheeks. Ant wasn’t holding back, and I knew he was right. Even when things had been messy—when they hadn’t made sense—I had never been able to stay away from Derek.

“I can talk freely, ’cause we family,” Ant added with a grin, casting a glance at Derek.

Derek cleared his throat, giving Ant a warning look, but the grin on his face said he wasn’t really upset.

“But that’s the thing about love,” Ant said, his voice dropping into a deeper, more reflective tone. “True love doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else. It’s between the two people living it, and the rest of us? We just get to watch it unfold.”

The crowd had quieted again, everyone hanging on his words now. The energy shifted, softer, more intimate.

“Destiny never stayed away from D, not really. And even through all those years of separation, when they weren’t together…Destiny was still all D ever talked about. All he ever asked about.”

I turned to look at Derek. The blush on my cheeks deepened as Ant’s words sunk in, the truth of them undeniable. Derek had always been there, always in my heart, no matter where life had taken us.

And now? Now, we were standing here, in front of the people who mattered most, finally where we were meant to be.

“Derek always looked up to me,” Ant continued, his voice softening but still commanding everyone’s attention. “But right now? Right now, he’s the one teaching me. He’s teaching me how to go after the love you want, the love you know deep down is yours, the love you’re destined for.”

He paused, his eyes sweeping the crowd before landing on me and Derek again. There was a weight to his words, the kind that made you feel seen, like he was cutting straight to the heart of it all.

“When Derek came back to town,” Ant said, his voice low, “I told him straight up to leave Destiny alone. I’m his blood, sure, but I love Destiny too. I’ve watched her grow, seen her strength, and I knew she deserved the world. And honestly? I wasn’t sure my little brother could give that to her.”

The crowd shifted, murmurs rising and falling like a tide. I felt Derek’s arm tighten around me, a silent reassurance, and my heart swelled at the way Ant was laying everything bare—his doubts, his love for both of us.

“But here’s the thing about life,” Ant said, his voice gaining strength. “It has a way of showing you what you didn’t even know you needed to see. In the time they’ve been back together, Derek’s shown me just how much a man can grow. He’s shown me what it looks like when someone is willing to fight for what’s right, not just for himself, but for the woman he loves.”

He looked at me then, his eyes softening with something deeper, something that made my throat tighten. “And Destiny… she’s shown me what real forgiveness looks like. The kind that doesn’t just wipe away the past, but transforms it. The kind that says, ‘Yeah, you messed up, but I see the man you are now.’”

My eyes stung with unshed tears, the raw honesty of his words cutting through me. Forgiveness wasn’t something that came easily—it was something I had to choose, every single day, knowing Derek’s love had earned it.

Ant’s gaze moved between the two of us, his voice thick with emotion now. “And together? Together, I’ve seen how much love can overcome, how it can weather the storms, break through the walls we build around ourselves, and grow into something more beautiful than any of us could have imagined.”

The backyard fell into a deep, quiet hush, every word hanging in the air like a benediction. It wasn’t just a speech anymore—it was a blessing. Ant was giving us his full heart, his belief in us, in our love.

“Love doesn’t always come easy,” Ant finished, his voice steady but filled with conviction. “But when it’s real? When it’s as real as what you two have? It’s worth every fight, every tear, every second of doubt. And watching you both—watching how you’ve come through it all and found each other again—I’ve learned that love like that, love that’s destined, is the most beautiful thing in this world.”

I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. They slid down my cheeks, not from sadness but from the overwhelming weight of it all—the truth, the love, the journey Derek and I had been on. I glanced up at Derek, and his eyes were shining too, full of the same emotion that was coursing through me.

“So cheers to my brother…to my sister…” Ant paused, grinning as the crowd leaned in. “No relation, though, ’cause that would be nasty,” he joked, sending a wave of laughter through the backyard.

We all laughed, the tension that had built up during his speech melting away into something lighter, easier.

“But seriously,” Ant continued, his smile softening. “This is just the beginning. I can’t wait for the wedding, the babies, and the full life y’all are gonna keep building together. Congrats, ya’ll.”

His words hit me like a gentle push forward, filling me with the kind of hope that felt too big for my chest. I didn’t even think—I just rushed over to him, throwing my arms around him in a tight hug, squeezing all the gratitude I couldn’t put into words. He chuckled, patting my back, and when I finally pulled away, Derek stepped up to hug his brother, too.

The moment was thick with love, the kind that only comes from family—whether by blood or by bond. Laughter and warmth filled the air, and I felt it wrap around us like a blanket.

“Damn, that nigga don’t ever talk much,” Hakeem cracked, breaking the quiet reverence and sending Derek’s crew into a fit of laughter. “Now the one time he does, he’s out here giving Nobel Peace Prize speeches and shit.”

Ant shot him a look, one eyebrow raised, and pointed past the fence to the steep slope beyond. “Hakeem, I will roll your round ass down that hill over there,” he warned, half-joking, half-serious. “This is their day, but don’t play with me.”

Laughter exploded again, a release of the emotional tension in the air. Hakeem threw his hands up in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, my bad, OG!” he called out, his wide grin showing he wasn’t even a little bit sorry.

It was then that I noticed Eden, standing next to Hakeem, laughing harder than usual—too hard. Something about it tugged at me. A flicker of worry sparked in my chest, and my instincts kicked in. Were they cool again? Just yesterday she was crying about how mean he was to her, and now she was laughing like they hadn’t missed a beat.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I started to make my way over, ready to ask her what was going on. But before I could even get two steps, I felt Derek’s hand slip around my arm, gently pulling me back. The warmth of his touch sent a ripple through me, his fingers firm but never rough.

“C’mon,” he said, his voice low as he steered me toward the table. His grip was reassuring, but there was something in his eyes that made me pause. He had that look—the one that said he had something on his mind, something important.

“How did you even have time to do all of this?” I asked, still trying to wrap my head around how he’d pulled this off.

“Destiny,” he smirked, his eyes glinting with that mix of mischief and control that always left me breathless, “stop asking me questions about how I make things happen and just know that I do. Enjoy it.” He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, his lips lingering for a second longer than necessary before taking his seat next to me.

I sighed, half in exasperation, half in admiration. “Fine.”

“Besides,” he continued, lowering his voice as his hand slipped onto my thigh, creeping upward with a slow, deliberate pace, “you have other things to worry about.” His tone was dark, teasing, the kind of warning that sent a thrill down my spine even as I tried to stay composed with people gathering around us.

“Derek…” I warned, my voice strained through gritted teeth as I fought to keep my composure, praying no one could sense the heat rising between us. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to what was happening beneath the table, but my pulse raced with every second that passed.

He leaned in closer. His fingers were slow, deliberate, sliding beneath the hem of my dress, his touch both familiar and dangerous.

“You’re lucky I don’t have a flogger here, Destiny,” he whispered, his voice dripping with dark promise. “Because the punishment I want to give you tonight…” His words trailed off as his hand slipped into my panties, fingers grazing my skin before delivering a sharp pinch to my clit.

The sensation was sudden, intense, and it took everything in me to hold back the gasp that threatened to escape my lips. My body jolted, the need to cry out sitting at the back of my throat, but I forced my mouth shut, my breath shaky as I glanced around quickly, praying no one had noticed. The sound of chatter and laughter continued to fill the air as people slowly made their way to the table, oblivious to the secret torment Derek was putting me through under the tablecloth.

I clenched my fists in my lap, trying to regain control, but his fingers moved again, this time with slow precision, stoking the fire he’d already lit inside me. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind spinning as I fought to keep my face neutral, my breaths short and ragged. The risk of being caught—of anyone knowing what Derek was doing—sent a rush of adrenaline through me, heightening every touch, every stolen moment under the table.

He leaned back slightly, his eyes flicking over the crowd, calm as ever, like he hadn’t just turned my world upside down. I bit down hard on my lip, my nails digging into my palms to keep myself grounded, to keep from giving in to the sensations he was coaxing out of me.

“Keep quiet, Princess,” he murmured under his breath, barely moving his lips as his hand continued to work me in slow, agonizing strokes. “You don’t want everyone to know what a bad girl you’ve been, do you?”

“What did I—Derek—” I stammered, my breath hitching as I fought to keep my voice steady, knowing we were surrounded by people who would have no idea what was happening if they looked our way.

He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against my ear as he spoke. “When I came home, I asked you if there was anyone else I needed to know about besides Jonathan,” he said, his fingers slipping deeper, sending a shock of pleasure through me that made me clench the edge of the table.

I wanted to scream, to throw my head back and let the waves of sensation take me under, but I couldn’t. Not here. Not now. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I couldn’t even process them—couldn’t process anything—because the words he was saying were crashing into me as hard as his touch.

“I don’t know—I—” I could barely form a coherent thought, my body betraying me under his relentless touch.

His grip tightened, pulling me deeper into the chaos between us, but his voice had turned cold, sharp like ice. “Then why does some nigga named Arnold have naked pictures of my fiancée that he’s threatening to leak, Princess?” His words cut through the haze of pleasure, slicing through my fogged mind like a blade, leaving me trembling in its wake. The sharp edge of his accusation hit me harder than his touch, yanking me from the precipice of pleasure straight into the pit of confusion and dread.

Arnold? The name rattled in my head like a distant echo, dredging up memories I hadn’t thought about in years. Arnold. My college boyfriend, if you could even call him that. We’d barely lasted six months before I realized how wrong we were for each other, how toxic it all was. After that, he’d faded into the background of my past, someone I hadn’t seen or thought about since.

What did he have to do with anything now?

But Derek’s question, the cold suspicion in his voice, made my stomach turn. I couldn’t think straight, could barely hold myself together under the intensity of his touch. My body was on the brink of breaking, of collapsing into the release he was holding over me like a weapon. But the accusation in his words—the dark cloud of betrayal—cut through it all, yanking me back to the harsh reality of what he was saying.

“Bad girl, Destiny,” Derek growled, his voice dangerous and low, the vibration of his words sending another wave of unwanted pleasure through me.

His fingers curled against my G-spot, sending a shock so intense I thought I might shatter right there, but his voice was a reminder that this wasn’t just about pleasure. It was about punishment.

“Please,” I whimpered, my voice barely a breath, full of desperation.

I was falling apart, struggling to keep it together, struggling to keep my voice low so no one at the table would notice the war happening beneath the surface. My breaths came in short, ragged gasps, and I could feel the heat rising in my face, the tears pricking the corners of my eyes as I fought for control.

But Derek wasn’t letting up. His fingers worked me with a slow, calculated precision, drawing me closer to the edge while his words, heavy with accusation, pushed me further from any kind of resolution.

“I don’t—” My voice broke, barely more than a whisper, as I tried to gather my thoughts, tried to form words between the waves of pleasure and panic.

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think straight, and his words echoed in my mind. Naked pictures? Arnold? None of it made sense. How could it? I hadn’t been in touch with Arnold since college. The thought of him having anything over me—over us—was a nightmare I hadn’t seen coming.

Derek’s grip tightened again, his fingers still working me as he leaned in close, his breath hot against my neck. “Tell me, Destiny. Tell me why someone from your past thinks he has the power to control my fiancée.”

“I don’t know…” I whispered, the words barely making it past my lips as the tears threatened to spill over. “I swear I don’t know.”

But Derek wasn’t letting up. His eyes were locked on mine, dark and full of intent. “And you’re keeping something else from me,” he hissed, his fingers moving with precision. “A secret he knows that I don’t. Why are you keeping things from me, Princess? I thought we caught each other up on everything.”

His voice was edged with frustration, a barely restrained anger simmering beneath the surface, but his touch remained calculated, deliberate—meant to strip away any defense I had left, both physically and emotionally. He wasn’t letting me off the hook, and the way his fingers curled inside me made it clear he wasn’t going to stop until he had the truth.

“I—” I tried to speak, to form the words, but they stuck in my throat like a weight I couldn’t swallow. My mind spun, grasping at loose threads, trying to make sense of how Arnold could possibly know anything. I only had one secret—one that I had buried deep. I never told Arnold. I wouldn’t have. There was no way he could know. But Derek’s words, his accusation, made the ground beneath me feel unsteady. “Oh God,” I gasped, my body reacting to the intensity of his touch, tensing under the force of it, even as my mind was pulled in a thousand directions at once.

But Derek wasn’t just after my body—he was after the truth. The truth I had worked so hard to bury. He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear, his words sinking into me like ice. “Tell me, Destiny,” he whispered, his voice a dangerous, seductive threat. “Why does he know something I don’t? What else are you hiding from me?”

My heart pounded, a wave of panic washing over me as his words hit me like a punch. Bad enough to go to jail. The words sent a chill through me, unraveling the thin thread of control I was clinging to. How did Arnold know? How had it reached Derek? It didn’t make sense, but the weight of it crushed me all the same.

Derek’s fingers curled again, pressing against the spot that made my body betray me, pleasure rippled through me. It was almost too much, but my mind was locked on the reality of what he was saying. There was only one secret—the secret. And if Derek knew, or if he was close to finding out, everything would crumble.

“Tell Daddy what it is,” he said, his voice low, coaxing, like he was offering me salvation. “So I can make it go away.”

But could he? Could anyone make this go away?

I shook my head, trying to fight through the haze, my heart hammering in my chest. My mind raced, trying to figure out how Arnold could know, how Derek could even be saying these things. Every nerve in my body was on fire, both from Derek’s touch and the weight of his words, as if they were working together to push me closer to breaking.

“I don’t—” I started, my voice shaking, the desperation clear as I tried to speak. But I couldn’t find the words. The panic gripped me tighter, squeezing the breath out of my lungs.

“You’re lying to me, Princess,” he growled, his voice more dangerous now, frustration boiling over. His grip tightened, and the pleasure that had once threatened to consume me now felt like punishment, each stroke a reminder that I couldn’t hide from him, no matter how hard I tried.

“I’m not lying,” I whimpered, the words barely audible as the tears burned at the corners of my eyes, my body trembling with the effort to hold on to the last thread of control. But Derek’s words—jail—spun around in my mind like a haunting refrain, pushing me toward the realization that no matter what I said, he wouldn’t stop until I confessed.

His anger simmered just beneath the surface, and the pressure he was putting on me was more than physical. He was digging for something deeper, and I knew he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.

“I’m not…” I stammered, but my words were swallowed by the flood of sensation rolling through me, my body betraying me even as I tried to cling to any shred of control. Derek’s fingers moved with precision, keeping me teetering on the edge of pleasure and pain, and I could feel his frustration growing, radiating off him like heat.

“Don’t lie to me, Destiny,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous, sending a shiver down my spine. His other hand tightened on my thigh, his grip possessive, demanding. “I don’t care what it is—you tell me. Now.”

Tears stung my eyes, the pressure of his demand mixing with the pleasure, creating a storm inside me that I couldn’t control. I gripped the table, biting my lip hard to keep from crying out, to keep from drawing any attention to us. The room around us seemed distant, muted, the voices of our family and friends blending into a soft hum in the background.

“I’m not lying, I swear—” I gasped, my body tightening under his relentless touch, on the brink of breaking, but my mind couldn’t focus on anything but the overwhelming need to hold it together.

Derek leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered harshly, “Then why does this Arnold have something on you? Something he says you can get arrested for?”

I shook my head, my breath ragged, trying to make sense of his words through the haze of sensation that had taken over my body.

“I don’t know—Derek, I don’t know what he’s talking about,” I cried out softly, my voice strained as I fought against the wave of pleasure crashing through me.

Derek’s fingers stilled for a moment, just enough to make me look at him, his eyes filled with a dangerous mix of anger and something deeper—hurt.

“You’re keeping something from me, Princess. I can feel it,” he said, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. “And you know I will punish you for that.”

Before I could respond, he curled his fingers again, hitting that spot inside me that made my entire body tighten. I gasped, my vision blurring with the tears. I couldn’t take much more of this, couldn’t keep fighting him and the pleasure and the confusion swirling around me.

His jaw clenched, his eyes still locked on mine, searching for the truth in my face. For a moment, I thought he might pull away, might stop, but instead, he leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper against my skin.

“If I find out you’re keeping something from me, Destiny…”

I was right there, on the edge, ready to break, ready to scream as my eyes rolled in the back of my head. His eyes pierced through me, searching, demanding something I didn’t even know how to give as I tried to focus on him. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of his words and his touch making it almost unbearable.

But then Hakeem’s voice broke through the tension like a sudden gust of wind.

“Here goes your drink, Truth,” he said, casually placing a glass of something dark and smooth in front of Derek, oblivious to the storm brewing between us and the waterfall about to break under the table.

Derek pulled his hand from my panties with a slow, deliberate motion, the absence of his touch hitting me like a cold shock. I trembled, caught between the desperate need for release and the sudden break from the intensity. The unresolved tension still pulsed through me, raw and aching, and for a moment, I wanted to cry—not from the relief, but from the cruel emptiness that followed.

Yet, a part of me was glad for the break, for the chance to breathe, to gather what was left of my composure.

“Thanks, Keem,” Derek said, his voice calm and unaffected, like he hadn’t just sent my world spiraling out of control.

He casually grabbed the glass, his casual demeanor so out of sync with the storm raging inside me. He didn’t break eye contact with me, not even for a second, as he dipped the fingers that had just been inside me into the drink, swirling them slowly with a deliberate care that made my breath catch.

And then, with a wicked grin that sent a fresh wave of heat rolling through me, he licked them clean in one slow, deliberate suck, drawing out every second like it was part of some private show meant only for me. My heart pounded, my pulse racing, as he finally took a sip of the drink, never once letting his gaze waver.

“Perfect,” he murmured, his voice low and thick, the heat in his eyes unmistakable. The smirk playing on his lips told me he knew exactly what he was doing to me, knew how close I was to unraveling, and the way he watched me—owned me in that moment—sent a shiver down my spine.

Hakeem, blissfully unaware of the electric tension still buzzing between us, shook his head in disgust as he walked away.

“Psycho ass nigga… why would he put his whole hand in there like that?” he muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief, his words fading as he disappeared back into the crowd, completely unaware of what Derek was really up to.

I sat there, my body still humming from the intensity of everything that had just happened, my mind a whirl of confusion, fear, and something I didn’t want to name—something darker, more dangerous. The way Derek looked at me, the way he controlled me so effortlessly, left me trembling in more ways than one.

Derek didn’t flinch. His gaze stayed steady, powerful, as he watched me struggle to pull myself together. I wiped the stray tears from my cheeks, still catching my breath, my body aching from everything he had just put me through. The air between us felt charged, crackling with unspoken tension, and it took everything in me to hold it together under the weight of his stare.

“You cum when I say you do,” he said, his voice a quiet command that cut through the haze of emotions swirling inside me. The words were soft, but they hit like a warning, sending a shiver down my spine. Derek took another slow sip of his drink, never breaking eye contact, as though he hadn’t just unraveled me in front of everyone without them even knowing.

“Get ready to scream Peonies tonight, Princess,” he murmured, his words soft, intimate, and yet heavy with promise—heavy with a control that always left me spinning.

And then, as if the last few moments hadn’t happened, as if he hadn’t just stripped me bare emotionally and physically, Derek leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. It should’ve felt innocent—like a tender gesture in the middle of a party with family and friends surrounding us. But with Derek, nothing was ever that simple. There was always an undercurrent, a dark edge that simmered just beneath the sweetness he projected to the world. A silent reminder that he was in control. Always.

“Derek—” I started, my voice barely a whisper, unsure of what I was even trying to say. Maybe I wanted him to stop playing these games, to release me from this hold he had over me. Maybe I wanted him to break the spell he’d cast, this constant push and pull that left me breathless, unsteady, and aching for more even when I knew I shouldn’t.

But he cut me off with a smile—soft, disarming, like none of the chaos between us existed. Like he hadn’t just commanded me to keep my pleasure on a leash until he allowed it.

“Enjoy your party, Princess,” he murmured, his tone so sweet it felt almost cruel considering everything that had just happened, considering how undone I felt.

Before I could even respond, Derek turned his attention back to the table, raising his glass as if nothing had happened, as if I wasn’t sitting there reeling, my body desperate for his touch, my mind swirling with the weight of the questions he’d left hanging in the air. Everyone began taking their seats, unaware of the storm brewing inside me, oblivious to the tension that still gripped my every nerve.

“I love that y’all had the engagement party here,” my cousin Cindy said, her voice light and cheerful. “Where’s the wedding gonna be?” she asked as she settled into her seat a few chairs away, to my left.

Derek didn’t miss a beat. “It’s whatever Destiny wants,” he said, his voice smooth as he took another slow sip of his drink.

“Lord have mercy, they about to do some Hamptons shit,” Derek’s dad quipped, his playful tone earning a round of laughter from the table.

The laughter echoed around me, but I barely heard it. I swallowed hard, trying to compose myself, feeling like I was teetering on the edge of something I couldn’t fully grasp. The weight of Derek’s words from earlier still clung to me, his accusation lingering in the back of my mind.

Derek leaned back in his seat, his posture relaxed and casual, but his eyes…his eyes never left mine. They held me there, anchored in a place that felt both dangerous and intimate. Always watching.

My heart pounded in my chest, caught between the tension of wanting to give in to him completely and the creeping fear of how much control he had over me—how much I had already surrendered without even realizing it. The push and pull between us was constant, an unspoken power play that left me feeling both exhilarated and terrified.

In that moment, as my thoughts raced back to the one thing Derek likely wanted to know—the secret I had buried so deep—the weight of it pressed down on me, threatening to unravel everything I had fought to protect.

What does Derek know?

I sat there, frozen in the suffocating tension, torn between the truth clawing at the edges of my mind and the fear of what would happen when Derek finally uncovered it.

Because deep down, I knew that once he did… nothing would ever be the same.

To be continued…