Chapter 1
Cast:
Chris.
Journee.
Michael.
Jamie.
Legend.
Maxi.
Malik.
Cameron.
Hank.
Sisco.
Woody.
Juice.
Luke.
Andy.
5 Years Later
Houston, Texas:
“I’m at the bar. Got eyes on Ellis. Journee, he’s on your six,” Michael muttered into his wire.
“Got him,” Journee replied smoothly, a smile forming as she waved at Ellis. His lingering smirk told her everything; he was more than satisfied to have her attention.
“Remember,” Michael continued, “we wait until he makes the deal, then we move in. You hear that, Luke?”
“Yeah, I’m by the DJ booth,” Luke responded, his tone laced with concern. “We’ve got a problem.”
“What is it?” Michael asked, glancing in Luke’s direction. Journee’s gaze, however, was drawn to Chris, who had just stepped into the club. He paused mid-stride upon noticing her, his eyes widening in surprise as he processed the sight before him. For a moment, time seemed to freeze; his expression was one of disbelief, as if he questioned his own senses. Her heart raced, emotions she thought she’d buried long ago surging to the surface at the mere sight of him.
“I’m going dark,” Journee murmured into the wire, her mind made up.
“Journee, that’s not smart,” Luke warned, urgency creeping into his voice. “Chris is here. He knows we’re cops. We need to leave.”
“I can salvage the investigation; just give me a minute,” she insisted, brushing aside their concerns. Before either Michael or Luke could argue further, she switched off her wire. Stepping back as Chris approached, his gaze locked on hers, she turned and navigated through the crowd, slipping into the bathroom. She checked each stall, confirming they were empty before leaning against the sink to steady herself. But just as she was about to collect her thoughts, the bathroom door opened with a quiet yet determined click, and Chris stepped inside, closing and locking it behind him.
Their eyes met again, the tension palpable, thickening the air between them. Neither spoke at first; the silence was deafening, filled with unspoken words and unresolved feelings.
“I... I’m working,” Journee stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. “My team—”
“Did you think I wouldn’t find you?” he interrupted, his voice low and unwavering as he stepped closer, invading her personal space.
His hand gripped her neck, firm yet trembling, the anger and longing radiating off him. “I’m sorry, baby...” she whispered, trying to bridge the emotional chasm between them. She could see the conflict etched on his face, torn between fury and something deeper, more vulnerable. Reaching up, she let her hand rest on his cheek, needing to confirm that he was really there, that this was not just a cruel trick of her mind.
The second her fingers touched his skin, the rage in his eyes began to soften. He exhaled slowly, tension releasing just slightly as she traced her fingers down to his chest. Her hand gripped a handful of his shirt, pulling him close until there was barely any space left between them.
They both knew better, aware of the lives they’d built with others and the boundaries they were about to cross. But in this moment, with his breath warming her skin and his heart racing under her touch, nothing else mattered. She allowed him to kiss her, reluctantly letting her eyelids close as she melted into the moment.
His lips were soft against hers, but there was a desperation in his kiss, as if he feared this moment might slip away. It ignited a fire within her—one she thought had long been extinguished. The urgency of their kiss mirrored their frantic touches; they wanted each other now, and though everything felt rushed, the passion was undeniable. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her off the wall as she pushed his tux jacket off his shoulders. He let her slide it down his arms, and it fell to the ground with a soft thud.
He lifted her dress just enough to grip the waistband of her panties, easing them down while keeping their kiss alive. Her hands moved quickly, unbuckling his belt with practiced ease. She pushed his pants and boxers down, and he grabbed her waist, lifting her up. The moment her legs wrapped around his waist, he wasted no time slipping inside her.
He rested her back against the wall, and she pulled away from the kiss, letting out a loud gasp as she felt him fill her. A knock on the door broke the moment, but Chris didn’t stop. She tangled her fingers in his curls, his face buried in her neck as he thrust in and out of her.
“Yo, Journ, you okay?” Michael’s voice called from the other side of the door.
“Yes,” she managed to reply, keeping it short. “Be out soon.” She bit her bottom lip, quickly suppressing her moans. Her eyes rolled back as she rested her head against the wall, feeling him deeper inside her. She gripped his jaw, pulling him back to her lips, letting out every moan into his mouth as their tongues wrestled for dominance.
The kiss deepened, a frantic rhythm that matched the urgency of their bodies. Every thrust sent waves of pleasure coursing through her, drowning out the world outside the bathroom. With each movement, the air grew thick with heat and unspoken promises. Their bodies melded together, lost in the moment, oblivious to the reality waiting just outside the locked door.
Another knock echoed through the small space. “Journ, come on! We need to move!” Michael called again, his impatience clear.
Journee moaned softly, biting her lip as Chris increased his pace, the urgency of their connection heightening with each thrust. She felt herself teetering on the edge, the pressure building, ready to spill over.
“Forget them,” Chris murmured against her neck, his breath warm and intoxicating. “Just focus on me.”
She nodded, lost in the sensations coursing through her. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she pulled him closer, her body instinctively arching against him. “Don’t stop,” she urged, her voice a breathless plea.
With one final thrust, her world shattered around her, waves of pleasure crashing over her as she cried out, “Chris!” escaping her lips like a prayer. Chris followed her into bliss, their bodies entwined, united in a moment that felt both electrifying and fleeting.
As they slowly came down from the high, reality began to creep back in. The sound of Michael’s voice filtered through the door again, more urgent now. “Journ, we don’t have time for this! Let’s go!”
“I missed you so much,” she murmured against his lips, her heart racing as his forehead rested against hers.
“I missed you too, baby.”
“I gotta go...” she said reluctantly, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
“We need to talk, Journee—this—”
“I know, and we will. Just not here, not now. I’ll call you, I promise.”
“You don’t even have my number.”
“I’m the police, baby. I can get it. I promise I’ll call.” She reassured him, her eyes locking onto his with determination. “I have something important to tell you, so I’ll call.” She added the moment she saw disbelief flicker in his eyes.
“Okay, but don’t make me have to find you, Journee. This ain’t over.”
“As long as you’re not planning to kill me, you won’t have any issues finding me.”
“I love you so much, Journee...”
“I love you too, baby,” she whispered, her heart aching as she leaned in for one last kiss before stepping away, he watched her clean herself up and pull her panties back on. She kissed him one last time before exiting the bathroom. Chris let out a deep sigh as he cleaned himself up, carefully zipping his pants and picking up his tux jacket from the floor. The weight of the moment settled on him, a blend of exhilaration and anxiety as he straightened himself before stepping out of the bathroom.
He eased his way through the crowd, navigating the pulsing mass of bodies and colorful lights until he reached the VIP section where his crew was already settled in, laughing and enjoying themselves.
“Man, I don’t know any dude who brings his wife to the club with him every single time he pops out. That’s all I’m saying,” Woody remarked, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. His tone was teasing, but there was an undertone of genuine disbelief.
“Huh? Man, you trippin’. Maxi makes the experience better, especially if she’s drunk,” Legend chimed in, his smile widening as he glanced at his girlfriend, who blushed under the attention. She leaned over and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, the affection radiating between them.
Chris chuckled as he took a seat at their table. “This dude is the only one who leaves his girl at home,” Legend joked, pointing at Chris with a smirk.
“Yeah, well, I need a break,” Chris replied, shaking his head. “She’s been trying to go at it without condoms and shit. She thinks she’s slick, but I’m always on top of it.” He didn’t care much for the banter anymore; his mind had drifted the moment his eyes found Journee across the club.
Their gazes locked, and Chris felt a rush of warmth spread through him. He couldn’t help but smile, his heart lifting at the sight of her radiant smile. In that instant, the noise around him faded away, leaving only the connection they shared, a moment that felt both electric and intimate. She smiled back at him, her expression lighting up the space between them, making everything else feel distant and irrelevant.
***
