KAELIX MCGILL North Carolina

The house buzzed with quiet excitement as sunlight poured through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the cozy space. Sariyah shuffled into the room, still half-asleep, her hair pulled into a loose bun and her hoodie slightly askew. She rubbed her eyes, not expecting much from the day—her birthday hadn't been a big deal in years.

But as soon as she stepped into the kitchen, a chorus of voices greeted her:

"Happy birthday!"

Kaelix, his mom, Malik, and even little Dede stood clustered around the table, grinning from ear to ear. A small cake sat in the center, its candles flickering brightly, while balloons and streamers decorated the room in mismatched bursts of color.

Sariyah froze, her mouth slightly open in surprise. "Y'all serious right now?"

Malik smirked, holding up a party hat and trying to shove it onto her head. "Yeah, we serious. You ain't the only one who gets to act cool all the time."

"Don't start," she muttered, swatting his hand away, but the faint smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.

Kaelix stepped forward, a soft grin on his face. "I set it up. Thought you deserved somethin' nice for once."

Sariyah's chest tightened at the thoughtfulness of it all. She glanced at the cake, then back at the people in front of her—people who, in their own ways, made this unfamiliar place feel a little like home.

"Y'all really ain't have to do this," she said softly, her voice barely audible.

Kaelix stepped closer, his voice low enough for only her to hear. "Yeah, I did."

Before she could respond, his mom clapped her hands together. "Alright, y'all, let's light these candles again so she can make a wish."

Sariyah sat down at the table as Dede bounced excitedly next to her. Malik handed her a lighter, and she hesitated for a moment before leaning forward to light the candles.

"Make a good wish," Kaelix murmured, his voice teasing but warm.

Sariyah closed her eyes for a second before blowing out the candles, earning cheers from everyone around her.

As the celebration wound down, Kaelix's mom began gathering dishes from the table. Dede ran off to play, her energy boundless even after cake, while Malik slipped out, muttering something about meeting up with friends.

Kaelix leaned against the counter, watching as his mom wiped down the table. "Ma, you sure about this trip?"

"Boy, I already told you," she said, waving him off. "Me and Trey are taking Dede out of town for the weekend. We need a little family time, and I already made sure Malik's staying with his friend."

Her gaze shifted to Sariyah, who was sitting quietly on the couch. "That means you two got the house to yourselves. Don't burn it down. Don't do nothing that I'm gone have to kill yall for" she smiled

Kaelix smirked, pushing off the counter. "Chill ma."

"Mhm," she said with a knowing look. "I gotta take Malik to school Now, so I'll leave y'all to it. Be good."

the door closed behind her, the silence that followed felt heavier than expected.

Kaelix turned to Sariyah, his eyes catching hers from across the room. "So, what you wanna do now, birthday girl?"

"I don't know. You're the party planner remember?"

-

Kaelix didn't disappoint. The day turned into a string of small but thoughtful gestures—picking up her favorite snacks from a corner store, cruising through quiet backroads with the windows down, and finally pulling up to a low-key but elegant restaurant tucked away from the city's chaos.

The place was nothing like Sariyah expected—intimate, with dim lighting and soft jazz filtering through the speakers. The air smelled of grilled steak and fresh bread, and the vibe felt calm, safe, and almost out of place for them. But it was perfect.

As they sat across from each other in the cozy booth, Sariyah couldn't help but notice how comfortable Kaelix seemed. His usual guarded energy was gone, replaced with something softer. He was at ease here, and seeing him like this made her feel more relaxed, too—a feeling she hadn't known in months.

"You really went all out for this, huh?" she asked, swirling her straw in her drink. Her tone was casual, but the small smile on her lips gave away how much she appreciated it.

Kaelix leaned forward slightly, his arms resting on the edge of the table. "You deserved it. Ain't nobody ever done this for you before?"

Sariyah hesitated, her eyes flicking down to her glass. She shook her head, her voice quiet but honest. "Not like this."

Kaelix nodded, his gaze steady on hers. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Well, get used to it."

Sariyah smirked, leaning back in her seat. "You real confident, huh?"

Kaelix shrugged, his eyes lighting up with amusement. "When it comes to you? Yeah."

Her smirk softened into something gentler, something closer to a real smile. She shook her head, looking away for a moment to steady the rush of warmth his words stirred in her.

"So, what made you think to do all this?" she asked, her tone teasing as she motioned toward the restaurant.

Kaelix chuckled softly. "Told you. I was listenin'. You ain't say it outright, but I could tell birthdays wasn't somethin' special to you before. Figured it was time to change that."

She tilted her head, studying him. "You been paying attention, huh?"

He smirked, his tone playful but laced with sincerity. "Always."

The conversation lulled into a comfortable silence as their food arrived. Sariyah glanced down at her plate, the scent of her meal making her stomach rumble. She hadn't realized how hungry she was.

-

The drive back from the restaurant was quiet but comfortable, the kind of silence that didn't need to be filled. The streets were dimly lit, the occasional streetlight casting fleeting shadows across their faces. Kaelix had one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on his lap, while Sariyah leaned against the window, her eyes half-closed as the gentle hum of the car lulled her into a sense of calm.

"You full?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah as hell," she replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "But I feel spoiled."

Kaelix chuckled softly, glancing at her. "Good. You should. Ain't no point in a birthday if it don't feel special."

She tilted her head toward him, her expression softer than usual. "Thank you, Kaelix. For all of this."

"Stop thankin' me," he said, his voice low. "I told you, you deserve it."

They pulled into the driveway of his mom's house, the place eerily quiet without the usual chaos of Dede's chatter or Malik's music blasting from upstairs. The porch light was on, casting a warm glow over the front steps.

Sariyah stepped out of the car, the cool night air brushing against her skin as she waited for Kaelix to lock up. She glanced over her shoulder at him, catching the way he looked at her—not just at her face, but as if he was trying to read her thoughts, to figure out everything she wasn't saying.

Inside the house, the silence was even more pronounced. Kaelix flicked on a light, setting his keys on the counter. "You want something to drink?" he asked, his voice casual.

"Nah, I'm good," she replied, slipping off her shoes and sinking into the couch.

Kaelix leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching her as she stretched out, her back arching slightly as she got comfortable. "You tired?"

"A little," she admitted, turning her head to look at him. "But not enough to knock out just yet."

He nodded, pushing off the doorway and walking over to her. As he sat down on the couch beside her, their knees brushed, sending a jolt of warmth through both of them.

"You know," he started, his voice quieter now, "I ain't never done none of this before."

"What, plan a birthday?" she teased, smirking.

Kaelix shook his head, his eyes locking onto hers. "Nah. I mean... let myself get close to somebody like this."

Sariyah's smirk faltered, her chest tightening at his words. "Why now?"

He hesitated, his hand resting lightly on his knee. "I don't know. Maybe 'cause you different. Maybe 'cause I ain't feel like I had a reason to before. But now..." He trailed off, his gaze never leaving hers.

Sariyah swallowed, her voice softer when she spoke. "Kaelix..."

He leaned closer, his hand reaching up to brush a stray curl from her face. His touch lingered, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "You good with this?"

She nodded, her breath hitching as the space between them disappeared. His lips met hers, soft and tentative at first, testing the waters before deepening the kiss.

Her hands found their way to his shoulders, pulling him closer as he shifted, leaning her back against the cushions. The weight of him was comforting, his warmth chasing away every lingering doubt she had.

Kaelix pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers as his hand trailed down to her waist. "We don't gotta do nothin' you ain't ready for," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sariyah's fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, her voice steady as she replied. "I know. I want this. I want you."

That was all he needed to hear.

Kaelix's lips trailed down from Sariyah's mouth, lingering at the curve of her jaw before making their way to her neck. His kisses weren't rushed, each one deliberate, as if he wanted to memorize the taste of her skin. Sariyah's breath hitched, her hands slipping beneath his shirt, her fingers brushing over the warm, taut muscles of his back.

"You feel good," he murmured against her collarbone, his voice low and thick with want.

Sariyah bit her lip, her nails digging into his skin as a soft gasp escaped her. "Kaelix..." she whispered, the sound barely audible but enough to make his body tense above her.

"You sure about this?" he asked again, his eyes dark and locked onto hers, searching her face for any hesitation.

Instead of answering, she slid her hands to the hem of his shirt and tugged it over his head. "Does it look like I'm not sure?"

Kaelix smirked, but the playful glint in his eyes quickly gave way to something more primal.

"Aight," he muttered, his voice thick. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."

He leaned back down, his hands finding the curve of her waist, gripping her hips firmly as his lips reclaimed hers. Sariyah's hands roamed his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles, the faint scars etched into his skin. She kissed him harder, her teeth grazing his bottom lip before pulling it into her mouth.

Kaelix growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating against her as his fingers slid beneath the hem of her shirt. He tugged it upward, his knuckles brushing against her bare skin, and she lifted her arms to let him pull it off completely.

"You so damn fine," he murmured, his voice low and rough as his eyes raked over her. Her bra was simple, but the way her skin glowed in the dim light made it look like the most expensive thing he'd ever seen.

Sariyah tilted her head, smirking faintly despite the flush spreading across her cheeks. "You staring too hard."

Kaelix chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to the hollow of her throat. "Can't help it. You look better than anything l've ever seen."

His hands moved with purpose now, sliding down her sides and gripping her thighs as he positioned himself between her legs. He kissed her again, deeper this time, his tongue sliding against hers as his fingers teased the waistband of her shorts.

"You gonna let me take these off?" he asked, his voice a low rumble against her lips.

"Why you asking questions you already know the answer to?" she shot back, her voice breathy but bold.

Kaelix grinned, tugging her shorts down in one smooth motion. The sight of her bare skin made his breath catch, but he didn't stop. His hands gripped her thighs, pulling her closer until their bodies were flush against each other.

Sariyah shivered as his fingers trailed up her inner thigh, his touch featherlight but intentional. Her hands found the waistband of his sweats, tugging them down as her lips brushed against his ear.

"You taking too long," she whispered, her voice dripping with need. Kaelix let out a sharp exhale, kicking off his sweats before settling between her legs again.

"You impatient as hell," he muttered, his lips quirking into a smirk as his fingers slid beneath the fabric of her panties.

She gasped, her back arching as his touch sent a jolt of pleasure through her. "And you talk too much," she shot back, though her voice faltered as his movements grew more deliberate.

Kaelix leaned down, his lips capturing hers again as his hands worked her body like he already knew every spot that would make her melt. Her moans filled the room, soft and breathless, and he drank them in like they were the only thing keeping him alive.

When he finally slid her panties down, the heat between them was almost unbearable. Sariyah's hands gripped his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin as she pulled him closer. "Stop playin' with me," she murmur against his lips.

Kaelix didn't need to be told twice. He positioned himself above her, his movements slow and deliberate as he pushed into her. The way her body clenched around him made his jaw tighten, a deep groan escaping his lips as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

Sariyah gasped, her fingers tangling in his hair as he set a rhythm that was both slow and intense, each movement sending waves of pleasure coursing through her. Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper, and the sound of their bodies moving together filled the room.

"Kaelix," she moaned, her voice a mix of pleasure and desperation. "I got you," he murmured, his voice rough but steady. "I ain't going nowhere."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

There were no past mistakes, no dangers lurking outside-just them, tangled together in a way that felt inevitable.

As their movements grew more frantic, Sariyah's nails raked down his back, leaving faint red trails.

Kaelix didn't seem to mind; if anything, it only spurred him on. He kissed her deeply, his hands gripping her hips as he pushed them both closer to the edge while he pushed himself deeper inside her.

When the climax finally hit, it was like the world stopped for a moment. Sariyah's body trembled beneath him, her moans muffled against his shoulder, while Kaelix's grip on her tightened, his head dropping against her collarbone as a deep groan rumbled through his chest.

They stayed like that for a while, their bodies still entwined as their breathing slowly returned to normal.

Kaelix finally rolled onto his side, pulling her close against him. "You good?" he asked, his voice low and soft.

Sariyah nodded, her head resting against his chest. "Yeah. Better than good."

He smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Happy birthday, Sariyah."

She chuckled softly, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his chest. "Best birthday l've ever had."

Kaelix tightened his arms around her, his voice barely above a whisper. "Told you l'd take care of you."

And for the first time in a long time, Sariyah believed it.

—

These niggas moving to fast.. I'm saying that as if it isn't my fault. They the best couple I've ever wrote 😭

Thoughts on this chapter and the book so far?? What do yall think is coming next??