Chapter 5

Flashback A little over two weeks prior, a day before Jalen and Kristen’s first sexual encounter.

Jalen had just finished eating dinner, lounging on his couch with the TV playing in the background, scrolling through his phone when he saw it. A new message request on Instagram.

From Sydney Swanson.

“Hey Stranger.”

Jalen blinked. For a second, he just stared at the screen, processing the two simple words that somehow carried a heavy weight. Sydney. The woman who had been the first of the eight. Finally hearing from her after weeks of silence. He exhaled, rubbing his chin, debating how to even respond. He had assumed she wanted to put that night behind her and move on. So why was she messaging him now? Unless it was to tell him that she’s pregnant...

Jalen’s thumb hovered over the keyboard. Then, finally, he typed back.

“Hey yourself. Didn’t expect to hear from you.”

And hit Send.

It didn’t take long. Sydney was still online, and within minutes, another message appeared.

“Yeah ... I know it’s been a minute. Sorry about that.”

“No worries,” Jalen replied, keeping it casual. “What’s up?”

There was a pause. A long one. And then... “Can we talk? I was wondering if you could come to my place tonight.”

Jalen frowned. Because that? That didn’t sound like a casual check-in. That sounded like something else. Something he wasn’t sure he was ready for. Maybe this was her trying to tell him that she just found out that she is pregnant. The Beyonder had confirmed it to him after all...

Later that evening, Jalen pulled into the parking lot of Sydney’s condo complex, cutting the engine and exhaling slowly. He wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this conversation. Sydney reaching out had been unexpected, but the way she had said, “Can we talk?” That had stood out.

Sydney greeted him at the door, looking just as stunning as ever. Her long blonde hair was styled in loose waves, her skin glowing in a way that made him wonder if she had just come from a spa day or a workout. She was barefoot, wearing a simple fitted crop top and high-waisted sweatpants, and yet she still looked damn near perfect.

“Hey Stranger,” she teased, stepping aside to let him in.

Jalen smirked, stepping inside, hands in his pockets. “Hey yourself.”

Sydney led him into the living room, where she had two Vitamin waters already set out on the coffee table.

“I figured a refreshment would make this conversation easier,” she said with a smirk, curling up onto the couch.

Jalen raised an eyebrow, taking a seat next to her. “Easier, huh? Should I be worried?”

Sydney chuckled, shaking her head. “No, nothing bad. Just ... something I wanted to tell you.”

She picked up her vitamin water, taking a small sip before looking him dead in the eyes.

“I broke up with Greg.”

Jalen wasn’t shocked. He had seen that breakup coming from a mile away. Hell, the night he met Sydney, she had already mentally checked out of that relationship.

Still, he leaned back, nodding. “That right? What happened?”

Sydney let out a breath. “Well, besides him being a total douche, I just ... realized I was only with him because it was the ‘right’ thing to do. The kind of guy my parents wanted me to date. But I wasn’t actually happy. Not really.”

She rolled her eyes at her own words. “After Lonnie’s party ... after that night with you ... I started thinking about what I actually wanted. Not what my parents wanted. Not what my conservative friends expected. What I wanted.”

Jalen watched her closely. “And what changed?”

Sydney looked at him, her blue eyes serious. “You.”

Jalen blinked. “Me?”

Her blue eyes met his, filled with something deeper than just attraction. “You made me realize I haven’t been living my life for me.”

Sydney took another sip of her Vitamin water, setting the bottle down before she continued.

“My parents weren’t happy when I told them I dumped Greg. Especially my mother, God...” She rolled her eyes again mentioning her mother but then she smirked. “But for the first time ... I didn’t care. I told them it’s my life, and I don’t need their approval for who I date or don’t date.”

Jalen chuckled. “Damn. So, you really cut loose, huh?”

Sydney grinned. “You have no idea. I’ve been going out more, meeting new people, doing what I want without worrying about appearances or expectations. And I gotta say ... it feels good.”

She shifted slightly closer to him on the couch, her tone becoming a little softer, a little more playful.

“And part of what I want ... is to keep seeing you.”

Jalen raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”

Sydney bit her lip, nodding. “I don’t want a relationship right now. I just got out of one, and I wanna enjoy being single for a while.”

Then she smirked. “But...” she continued, her voice dropping slightly. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to keep hanging out with you. And ... having sex with you. If you’re up for that.”

Jalen leaned back, rubbing his chin, studying her.

“So, let me get this straight.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You’re done with Greg. Done with your parents’ expectations. You wanna be free, do whatever you want ... but you also wanna keep getting dicked down by me?”

Sydney laughed, rolling her eyes. “I wouldn’t have said it like that, but yeah, that’s the general idea.”

Jalen smirked, running a hand over his beard. “And you don’t want anything serious?”

Sydney shook her head. “Not right now. I just got out of an unfulfilling relationship, and I really do wanna enjoy my single life for a bit.”

Jalen nodded slowly, processing. On one hand, this was ideal. Sydney was fine as hell, fun to be around, and the sex was insane. On the other hand, ... There was still the unspoken truth lingering in the back of his mind. Sydney didn’t know it yet, but she was already carrying his child. Jalen kept his expression steady, not giving anything away. There was no point in telling her now. She’d find out soon enough. And when she did? This whole “just having fun” thing? Wouldn’t be so simple anymore.

Sydney smiled mischievously, shifting even closer, her body now barely inches from his. “Stop thinking so hard and say yes.”

Jalen smiles and says, “Yes.”

Sydney closed the distance and kissed him. Her warm lips attacked Jalen’s and before long she stuck her tongue down his throat. After a few minutes, Sydney stood up, pulled her shirt off, revealing her light blue bra supporting her fantastic round breasts. She offered a hand and Jalen took it. Sydney escorted him to the bedroom.

“Take off your clothes, cowboy.” She ordered with a smirk.

Jalen does as he’s told. He’s naked within about 15 seconds. Sydney removes her shorts revealing her matching light blue panties. Jalen the playfully pushes Sydney on the bed where she giggles. He slowly kisses her thighs all the way up to her most sensitive area. Jalen didn’t rush. Sydney’s breath was already ragged, her pulse erratic, her body burning with anticipation. Jalen hovered over her, his dark eyes locked onto hers as his hands traced slow, teasing patterns over her thighs. Then, his lips followed.

He kissed her softly at first, his mouth brushing against the smooth skin of her inner thigh. Then again. Higher. Sydney gasped, her fingers gripping the sheets as his lips trailed closer and closer to where she ached for him most. Jalen’s fingers hooked into the waistband of her panties. Their eyes met. Sydney’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath shaky as he slowly pulled them down, dragging them past her thighs, past her knees, and finally slipping them off completely. The air in the room felt charged, electric. Jalen settled between her legs, his strong hands gripping her thighs, spreading them open wide revealing her wet vagina.

Then, without a word, he leaned in and kissed the lips of her entrance. Sydney let out a shaky moan the moment she felt his tongue against her. Her hips bucked involuntarily, her fingers flying to his head, gripping his hair as pleasure ripped through her. Jalen didn’t stop. Didn’t slow down. He worked her with precision and purpose, his tongue flicking, teasing, stroking, each motion sending her higher and higher. Then he added his fingers, sliding them inside her in a way that made Sydney arch off the bed, gasping his name. It was too much. Too good. Her body was on fire, her nerves alight, every sensation building, tightening, coiling inside her until she couldn’t hold back anymore. And then--she shattered. Sydney’s orgasm hit her like a tidal wave, crashing through her so intensely she couldn’t stop herself from screaming. Her entire body trembled beneath him, her fingers digging into his scalp, her thighs squeezing around him as the pleasure overwhelmed her. Jalen didn’t stop until she was completely undone, until she had nothing left to give. When he finally pulled back, his lips glistening with evidence of what he had just done to her, he smirked down at her, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Sydney lay there, completely breathless, her body still shaking from aftershocks. Sydney’s breath came hot and heavy, her body still trembling from the pleasure Jalen had just given her. But she needed more. Craved more. Her hands slid up his arms, gripping his strong shoulders, her voice nothing but a breathless plea.

“Fuck me.”

Jalen’s dark gaze burned into hers, his chest rising and falling as he positioned himself between her legs, the heat between them blistering. He could feel how ready she was for him, slick and throbbing, her body practically begging for him. His fingers traced up her thigh before gripping her hip, steadying himself. Sydney’s eyes flew wide as he began to push inside her vagina, stretching her inch by inch, her body clenching around him instinctively. She let out a sharp cry, her nails digging into his shoulders, her lips parting as he filled her. Jalen let out a deep, guttural groan, feeling the way she gripped him, tight, hot, nearly unbearable.

“Shit,” he breathed, his forehead resting against hers, fighting the urge to slam into her all at once.

He gave her a second to adjust, his hands gripping her thighs, his jaw tight with restraint.

“You feel that?” he murmured against her lips. “Feel how deep I am already?”

Sydney whimpered, her body stretching to take him in, the delicious pressure stealing her breath. Her fingers curled into his back, her body arching against him.

“So fucking big ... I love it” she whispered smiling, eyes fluttering shut, her chest rising in uneven breaths.

Jalen smirked, pressing a teasing kiss to her collarbone, then her jaw, then her lips, before pushing even deeper. She gasped--a sound of pure pleasure and disbelief. Her body clung to every thick inch of him, molding around him, taking all of him in a way that felt impossible. The slow, agonizing stretch had her toes curling, her thighs trembling. Jalen let out a low growl, his control hanging by a thread.

“Fuck, Sydney,” he murmured, his voice raw.

She could only whimper in response, her head spinning, her body burning, the pleasure already threatening to consume her. Jalen stayed still for a moment, letting her feel just how deep he was buried inside her, letting her adjust to the sheer intensity of it.

“Fuuuuuuuuck!!!!” Sydney yelled as she could feel his tip basically at her cervix. Before she met Jalen, she never would’ve thought her pussy could stretch this much. It felt impossible yet here she was with Jalen balls deep into her.

And then--he moved. Jalen drew back slowly, making sure Sydney felt every thick inch of him leaving her, only to slam forward again, stretching her all over again. Sydney let out a sharp, high-pitched moan, her head tilting back, pleasure lighting up every nerve in her body. She loved letting him wreck her like this. She wanted him to fuck the shit out of her. Make her barely able to walk when he is done.

Jalen set a rhythm, deep, deliberate, relentless, his eyes locked onto hers, watching her unravel beneath him. Her lips trembled. Her body tensed. Her moans grew louder, needier. Sydney wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down, their lips crashing together in a breathless, messy kiss. Their tongues tangled, hot and desperate, as Jalen thrust harder, deeper, faster, making her lose herself completely. A guttural grunt left his throat as his hand gripped her hip roughly, his other hand sliding up, cupping her breast. Sydney moaned into his mouth, arching up into him, her body matching his rhythm, her breathless cries filling the room. Jalen’s name spilled from her lips, her entire body trembling beneath him.

Sydney bit her lip, body tightening, her head spinning. “J-Jalen, I’m--oh, fuck--”

And then, she shattered.

Her orgasm hit her like a tidal wave, pulsing around him in tight, rhythmic squeezes, each contraction pulling him deeper, harder, making him lose control. Jalen groaned, his rhythm faltering, feeling her body milk him, consume him, take everything from him. He was close. Sydney felt it. She clutched his back, her breath ragged and desperate, her nails digging into his skin.

“Don’t you dare fucking stop,” she gasped, her mind hazy, her body wanting all of him.