Darling slid into the plush leather seats of her white Range Rover, letting out a long sigh as she started the engine. She watched as Yasmin pulled off first in her Jeep Wrangler, probably heading to meet up with her latest man. But Darling had no interest in going home just yet.

Instead, she took the long way, letting the quiet hum of the engine fill the silence as she drove through the city streets. Her mind was restless, tangled in memories of the past-of Tank.

She had him first.

They grew up together, went through everything side by side. He was her first love, her first everything. They had history, a bond she was sure no other woman could ever replace.

But now? Kayla had him.

Darling gripped the steering wheel tighter, her acrylic nails tapping against the leather. Tank was different with Kayla. He wasn't just fucking her-he was all in. Loving her. Protecting her. Building a life with her.

And worst of all? He gave her a baby.

All those years with him, and not once did he slip up. He was always so careful, always had a condom. But somehow, this girl-this nobody-got what Darling never did.

She should be the one carrying his child.

Her mind replayed every moment of their relationship, searching for where she went wrong. And she knew.

The ultimatum.

It was supposed to push him to be better, to make him choose a future with her, a future she thought was best for them both. Instead, it pushed him away.

And now, Kayla reaped the benefits of the man Darling had helped shape.

The realization settled in her chest like a heavy weight. She wasn't just mad-she was jealous.

Jealous that Kayla had Tank's love, his attention, his loyalty.

Jealous that she was the one he held close at night.

Jealous that she was the one carrying his child.

Darling swallowed the lump in her throat, staring at the red light ahead. It should've been me.

But it wasn't and that? That was something she just couldn't accept.

Darling's fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she replayed that moment in her mind-the ultimatum that changed everything.

"Either come with me to college and get a degree, or we're done."

She had said it with so much certainty back then, believing she was doing the right thing. She wanted him to grow, to do more, to be more. She thought she was pushing him toward success.

But Tank? He never saw life the way she did.

He wasn't the type to sit in classrooms, take notes, and chase degrees. He loved working with his hands. He loved the open road, the hum of an engine, the satisfaction of making his own money without answering to anybody. And when she made him choose, he did-just not the way she expected.

"Then we done," he had told her without hesitation. No argument, no begging. Just finality in his voice that sent a chill down her spine.

She had expected him to fight for her. To say he'd figure something out, that they'd make it work. But Tank never begged for anything. Not even her.

And that was what hurt the most.

She had packed up and left for college, sure he'd regret it. Sure he'd call. But the months passed, and he never did.

Now, years later, she was the one full of regret.

She had spent so much time thinking she was better than the life Tank wanted, trying to mold him into the man she thought he should be. But Kayla? Kayla never asked him to change.

That girl let him be exactly who he was, and now he was hers.

Darling's chest tightened, her heart sinking as she pulled into her driveway. The house was dark, empty. Just like her.

She had lost him.

And no matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she wanted him back. Darling barely got the door closed before the first tear slipped down her cheek. She rushed up the stairs, her heels clicking against the polished hardwood, her vision blurring. By the time she reached her bedroom, her chest felt tight, like all the air had been sucked out of the room.

She collapsed onto her bed, gripping the silk sheets as if they could somehow anchor her, stop her from feeling like she was drowning in her own emotions.

Why the hell am I crying over this man?

But she already knew the answer.

Because she still loves him.

She buried her face in her pillow, but that didn't stop the memories from crashing over her like a tidal wave.

Tank's deep laugh rumbling in her ear as he wrapped his strong arms around her from behind... The way he'd play in her hair absentmindedly while they watched TV... How he used to lift her up effortlessly, and spin her around...

God, she missed him.

She missed how he used to look at her like she was his world.

But that look? It wasn't hers anymore.

It belonged to Kayla.

Darling squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push the image away-the way Tank was with Kayla now. The way he smiled at her, touched her, protected her like she was his everything.

That was supposed to be her.

Darling let out a shaky breath, rolling onto her back and staring up at the ceiling.

She had given him an ultimatum, and he had walked away without looking back. Now she was the one who couldn't let go. Darling's tears fell harder as the ache in her chest deepened. She rolled onto her side, gripping her pillow tight, as if that could somehow replace the warmth of Tank's body.

She missed the way he used to pull her close at night, wrapping his strong arms around her like he never wanted to let her go. How his deep voice would rumble against her skin when he whispered in her ear before they drifted off to sleep.

Now, another woman had that.

Another woman was sleeping in his arms, waking up to his kisses, feeling him pressed up against her in the middle of the night.

Darling let out a bitter, shaky laugh, shaking her head at her own foolishness.

How many times had she turned him down?

How many times had he kissed her neck, slid his hands up her thighs, only for her to push him away and tell him she wasn't in the mood?

She used to think it was cute, how frustrated he'd get. She'd laugh when he'd groan and mumble something about her always teasing him.

Now, she would kill to feel him inside of her again.

To feel that slow, deep stroke he used to give her when he was making love to her. Or the way he would flip her over and take what was his when he was in one of his rough moods.

Her body still knew him, still craved him, even though he wasn't hers anymore.

And the worst part?

She knew Tank.

If he was this obsessed with Kayla, if he had gotten her pregnant, if he was looking at her like she was his entire world- that meant she was allowing him to fuck her like no other and that realization hurt more than anything.

Meanwhile, back at the compound, Tank was in a mood.

He had one thing on his mind, and that was getting between Kayla's thighs.

That was his happy place. His peace. His heaven on earth.

And ever since she got pregnant, her pussy had been extra wet, damn near drenching him every time he slid inside. He didn't know what it was about pregnancy, but her body stayed ready for him. It was like her pussy knew he was coming and prepared for him in advance.

Just thinking about it had his dick hard as hell, pressing uncomfortably against his shorts.

Kayla was in their room, curled up on the bed in one of his T-shirts, flipping through something on her phone. Her belly was showing now-not too big yet, but definitely there-and Tank loved looking at it, knowing his baby was in there growing, protected, safe in her body.

And speaking of bodies...

His eyes dropped to her thick ass thighs, barely covered by his shirt, and he licked his lips.

Yeah, he needed that. Right now.

"Kayla..." His deep voice was thick with need as he climbed onto the bed, pressing up behind her, sliding his big hands over her belly before letting them drop lower.

She sighed, already knowing where this was going.

"You really can't leave me alone, huh?" she murmured, but there was no protest in her voice.

Tank smirked against her neck, his lips brushing over her skin. "You know I can't." His hands slid between her legs, fingertips teasing, feeling exactly how wet she was already.

"Damn, girl..." He groaned, rubbing against her slick heat. "This pussy stay ready for me."

Kayla gasped, her breath hitching as she arched into his touch.

Tank grinned.

Yeah, this was exactly what he needed.

Tank rolled Kayla onto her back, his big hands gripping her thick thighs as he stripped his T-shirt from her body, tossing it to the side like it was in his damn way. His hungry eyes roamed over her bare skin, lingering on her soft belly, her full breasts, the way her nipples pebbled just from his stare.

Damn, she was perfect.

One thing about Kayla-she had never denied him. Never made him feel like he was too much, even though he knew he was.

Especially when it came to sex.

With her, he didn't hold back. Didn't have to.

She let him be himself and he had a lot of sexual kinks.

Shit, some of them, she still didn't even know about yet.

But she allowed him to thrive in his desires without judgment, without hesitation.

That's what made this different. That's what made her different.

Tank ran his rough palms down her body, taking his time, feeling the heat of her skin, the way she shivered under his touch. He loved that shit. The way her body responded to him, always ready, always eager to take whatever he gave her.

"You so damn fine," he murmured, his lips finding the swell of her breast, flicking his tongue over her nipple before taking it into his mouth.

Kayla moaned, her fingers threading through his curls, pulling him closer.

Tank groaned against her skin, loving the way she reacted to him, needed him just as much as he needed her.

Kayla whimpered, being pregnant had made her so much more sensitive, and he damn sure knew it. He used it to his advantage every chance he got, teasing her, touching her just right, making her fall apart quicker than before.

Tank smirked against her skin, rolling her nipple between his teeth just to hear that soft little gasp she always made. His hands slid lower, over her belly, down to the inside of her thighs, parting them with ease once again.

"You always so wet for me, huh?" he murmured, sliding a thick finger between her folds.

Kayla's breath hitched, her hips arching. "I-"

"What you tryna say, baby?" Tank teased, circling her clit, making her tremble beneath him. "That you need me?"

Kayla bit her lip, nodding.

Tank groaned, loving how needy she got for him. It wasn't just the pregnancy hormones-Kayla had always been like this for him. Always ready. Always his.

He leaned down, pressing a slow, deep kiss against her lips, his fingers still working her.

"You know I got you, right?" he whispered. "I'ma take care of you, every part of you."

Kayla moaned into his mouth, her hands gripping onto his shoulders as pleasure rolled through her.

Tank grinned against her lips. Yeah, tonight he was gonna have her screaming his name.

Tank pulled back, his eyes locked on hers, taking in her flustered expression. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her lips parted as she tried to catch her breath. He smirked, knowing she was already gone for him, but he wanted to hear her say it.

"How do you want it?" he asked, his voice deep, rough with need.

Kayla hesitated, her mind spinning. She loved when he pinned her ankles to her ears, stretching her out, making her feel everything-but saying it out loud made her stomach flutter. Some nights, she was bold, talking her shit, telling him exactly what she wanted. Other nights, like now, shyness crept in, making her hesitate.

Tank saw it immediately, the way she chewed on her lip, eyes darting away for a second. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her jaw before murmuring, "Don't hold back, baby. I wanna hear it."

Kayla swallowed hard, meeting his gaze again. "I-"

"Come on, talk to me," he encouraged, his fingers tracing slow circles on her inner thigh. "You know I'ma give it to you exactly how you need it."

Her body shivered beneath him, the anticipation building. She took a breath, then finally whispered, "Pin my ankles back."

Tank groaned low in his throat, his whole body tensing with heat at her words. "Damn, girl..." He grabbed her thighs, pushing them up, spreading her wide beneath him. "You already know I got you."

Kayla's breath hitched, her body ready, aching for him.

And when Tank lined himself up, pressing deep into her, she knew she'd never get enough of this man. Her ankles were pinned back, just like she asked, her body stretched beneath him, taking every inch of him with a delicious mix of pleasure and intensity.

"Damn, Kayla," Tank gritted out, his grip tight on the back of her thighs. "You feel so fuckin' good."

Kayla's fingers clawed at the sheets, her head tipping back, overwhelmed by the way he filled her. "Tank-oh my God-"

"Nah, don't run from it," he growled, rolling his hips deeper, making sure she felt him. He could tell by the way her walls clenched around him, the way her body trembled beneath his, that she was right there on the edge.

Her breath hitched. "I-I'm about to-"

"Go 'head, let me have it," he commanded, his strokes never faltering.

Kayla's back arched as her orgasm hit hard, her cries spilling from her lips as pleasure rushed through her. Tank didn't stop-he wasn't letting up-riding her through it, making her feel it.

"That's it," he praised, watching her unravel beneath him, her body shaking. "That's my girl."

Kayla barely had time to recover before Tank shifted, pressing his weight into her, taking her deeper, his strokes turning rougher, greedier.

"You still wit' me?" he murmured against her ear.

Kayla moaned, wrapping her arms around his back, holding him closer. "Always."

Tank smirked. "Good-'cause I ain't done wit' you yet."

And just like that, he had her calling out his name again.