'My world, that I worked so hard to build the past several years, turned upside down in the matter of a few weeks. Buildings destroyed, statues and decorations washed away, and a whole new world came to be. Fresh vegetation, clean water crashing into the sand, and a smile still on my face...with him.'

The lights are dim, setting the scene, and a slow R&B song is playing through the speakers. The scene sets the tone for the couples in the room, portraying this idea that it's just us and our partners. Nobody else.

My mind is in another place as my hands caress Tripp's head, softly holding it as he presses his face into my neck. His hands are working their way down my backside, torturing my spine as he spells out his message of love through subtle kisses against my skin.

This can't be happening right now, especially while slow dancing with a man I've met almost two weeks ago.

It is, girl. It is, and you should take in ever minute of it because you know it feels good.

This wasn't how I pictured my vacation going but fate had other plans for me.

Tripp and I have developed something that I can't seem to break. I don't want to break. I'll break down and say it. He's all I want.

My heart quickens at the unexpected kisses on my collar bone and my eyes roll to the back of my head. My lips below are shivering over the kisses alone. It feels so good.

This can't be just a lust situation.

He's fabulous in bed and knows how to please a woman, despite his insecurities. Well, he knows how to please me. I don't know about the other women he's been with.

What really attracts me to him is everything else about him. His adventurous nature, his positive personality, his charm, his intelligence, his bashfulness, and...everything else. Those teeth really give me a run for my money. How can they be so perfect?

How can he be this perfect without being so perfect?

He's like a dream you never believe will come true; something that's too good to be true. That's where I should raise an eyebrow, feel skeptical, and question my involvement with this man.

Am I seriously letting this man in my head? Should he be taking over my heart and mind like this? This happened way too fast and I'm supposed to be in control of my own shit. My world, my rules.

So how'd he get access?

The answer is in every kiss he leaves on my flesh, like healing. He has the key to access my place of solitude, reconstructing a damaged part of that place just to keep things peaceful.

I'm not alone anymore and it's a bit unfamiliar to me...

But it feels so amazing in so many ways.

"Say what?" Tripp asks as he slowly lifts his head from my shoulder and moves his hands around my waist.

"Nothing. Just thinking about some things."

I am almost breathless, feeling that moist sensation between my thighs. Moments from that night of sensual pleasure play in the back of my mind as Tripp wraps his arms around me tightly.

It's not just the sex that keeps me locked and turns me on. Despite the lovely music playing, it was the small things that has me losing feeling in my legs. Sex is great and all but the small things make a huge difference.

Also, we're in a space where we can't strip each other's clothes off unless we want to spend a night in jail. Anything goes when it comes to teasing. Instead of teasing me directly, he finesses his way to my mind and arouses me with each kiss and touch against my skin. Goosebumps appear, on impact, following his lead.

I planned none of this. The extra week, meeting him, the girls coming by the house, these feelings for Tripp, none of that.

In fact, I've never felt this way in almost five years. This was so fresh for me and my heart has been under lock and key since Davin. My heart was probably shaking the bars of the cage, ready to be released but I wasn't willing to open up for anything.

My world is a different story because I cherish that more than anything. I give someone a small tour and they want to stay, just for them to find a different world to invade. It damages parts of my world and I have no idea how to fix it. So, my world was on lockdown as well.

I gave Tripp the same luxury as I did with Davin years ago. I just turned 18 and started college while Davin was a junior in his undergrad. Davin and I were in the same English class, being the guy every girl had her eye on. The frat guy that cared about his education as much as he cared about his status.

His dark brown skin and eyes captured my sight the moment he walked in the door. Davin wasn't paying any kind of attention to me because his friends were too busy boosting his ego and he fell for it.

From what I heard around the way, he was a double major in business and accounting but had a minor in English. It made me think, wondering how in the world business and English would come together to help him in real life.

We became familiar with each other through our professor, who paired us together for a project. He offered to do the whole project for me but I wasn't having it. I wanted my input on the project and cheating wasn't my thing.

After we presented the project and got a wonderful grade on it, he asked me to hang with him. He and a few other colleagues from class were going skating so I decided to go with him. You could tell that he was excited about me going because a bright smile was stuck on his face all night long.

After that evening, we spent a little more time together and I got to know him better. Once we felt comfortable, he asked me to be with him. I agreed and, as we grew closer, we moved into our own apartment.

It was the perfect time to get intimate in every space, to cuddle, to kiss, to act silly in the kitchen, to have in-house dates, and more; doing what most couples usually do.

In that time, he met my dad and I met his sister. We realized that we all went to the same college and I stayed in contact with her.

As with every real relationships, we had our problems. Eventually, Davin was having trouble staying in school and struggled with his bills. His job didn't pay him enough and I wasn't working because Dad was paying for everything.

I, being in love and shit, decided to ask Dad for a few extra bucks to help Davin through college and pay his bills. He was my man so I felt obligated to help him, right?

Well that's where things grew even worse. After he graduated with his Masters degree, he became distant. With the long hours he worked as an accountant, there was no more time for us. He'd come home late and not even acknowledge me. It was like living with a ghost that came and went as he pleased.

After so long, we didn't speak to each other, kiss each other, touch each other, or even make eye contact. We weren't mad at each other; we didn't even argue. We were strangers, at that point, and I wasn't comfortable with that. I was hoping for something from him but he didn't give me anything.

So, I broke things off with him, packed my shit and moved in with Dad for a year until I could get back on my feet.

This had no effect on my education or anything but it did hurt a bit. We were together for four years and it was sad to see that relationship end the way it did. It's been five years since I've been with anybody else.

Now, he's a tax director and is married, to a random woman, with a baby on the way. We still see each other around and talk for a slight second. We're just not that close enough to be associates anymore. It's awkward because we have nothing to talk about anymore.

Though he appeared so heartbroken in the moment, he was able to move on so easily with someone else. This was about five months after I left him. This had me questioning if he really loved me or not. This pissed me off.

Davin was the first person I fell in love with and no one was worth trusting or worth my time after that. All the time I invested, money that was put into the relationship, and stress I went through wasn't for nothing.

I knew that he could date anybody he wanted after I left, but this was the same woman he claimed to be friends with since the skating event. It made me question his loyalty for me and that's when I knew to keep mad security around my world and lock my heart up.

So, how did Tripp get past security? How was he able to set my heart free like that?

I didn't want to go through the same thing with anybody else, especially with men who didn't know what he wanted. I'm too old to be constantly waiting for an answer; too old to be fucking around just to bump into my future husband.

This is different because it's unexpected. What I thought was just going to be a fun little vacation fling became way more than that. I really want something serious with Tripp and he's found access to everything that was me: my biosphere.

****
Heeeeeeeeyyyyyyy everybody!

Welcome back! Y'all we are almost done with this book. I don't know if it'll be over before the year is over but man...it's been a fun ride!

What do you think of Journee's past relationship? Do you think he'll come back around?

How do you think Tripp would react if he heard about Davin?

Y'all ready for Tripp and Journee to have sex again?

Let me know your thoughts about this chapter or the story in general.

Thank you so much for reading! See you on Friday!

Love ya!