Reticent (Surrender Book 3)

Reticent Surrender Series, #3 Tia Sirrah Edited by Telltail Editing Copyright © 2023 by Tia Sirrah All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book is dedicated those in the reading community who have enjoyed my books. Thank you for rocking with me and waiting patiently for me to publish again after a long, long hiatus. I’m back! Contents Blurb Playlist Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Epilogue Also by Tia Sirrah Newsletter Subscription About the Author Blurb Yasmine Clark has always strived to be the perfect preacher’s daughter. And she’s over it. When she meets gorgeous, smooth-talking Hunter Demalio, she knows he’s just the rebellion she’s been looking for. One night of explosive passion with a man she’ll never have to see again. Fate, however, has other plans. Now bearing the consequences of their wild night together, she tracks Hunter down to give him the news. And even though she’s just a few months shy of giving birth to his child, their chemistry is just as electric as it was that night in the club. Wanting Hunter has never been the problem—it’s trusting him that seems impossible. She’ll give him her body, and even a child, but there’s one thing she knows she can never let Hunter Demalio get his hands on. Her heart. Playlist 777 – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic Partition – Beyoncé Blame It – Jamie Foxx, T-Pain Self Care – Savannah Cristina Woman’s World – BJ the Chicago Kid Dollar Bill – Avery Wilson Comfortable – H.E.R. Frozen – Sabrina Claudio Nothing Even Matters – Lauryn Hill (featuring D’Angelo) Ready for Love – India.Arie Love On The Brain – Rihanna Intruded – Justine Skye and Timbaland 24hrs – Savannah Ré The Day (That You Gave Me A Son) – Babyface Friends – Monica (featuring Ty Dolla $ign) Never – Jaheim To listen on Spotify, click here. Chapter One “Oh, hell no,” Niko says, shaking his head from his spot on the couch. “Go change.” I purse my lips at my big brother before looking down at my freakum dress. “I’m going to the club. Not to church.” “Don’t let the pastuh hear you say that, String Bean,” he teases, calling me by my childhood nickname. Reverend Elijah Clark would definitely have something to say about my freakum dress. It’s a far cry from my usual girly tomboy style. But the iridescent gold dress looks amazing against my dark chocolate skin. When I was seven years old, Tina Livingston relinquished custody of all three of her children, sending me to live with my father in New York while Niko and our little sister, Skylar, remained in Houston with their fathers. Up until that point, Elijah Clark didn’t know he had a daughter. I assume my mother didn’t tell him because he had a wife back home when he and my mother conceived me. “Babe, leave your sister alone,” Jordyn says, plopping down on the couch beside him with a bowl of popcorn in her hand. I grin at my brother’s girlfriend. “Thank you, Jordyn.” Niko takes a handful of popcorn from the bowl and shoves it into his mouth. “Whatever,” he mumbles. “What’s Skylar wearing?” I squint one eye, tilting my head. “Umm …” Niko cocks a brow. Jordyn cuts her hazel eyes to me before grabbing the remote from the coffee table. She’s seen Skylar’s outfit—a skimpy pair of shorts and a bustier half-top. She looks incredible in it, but I had to convince her to wear one of her roommate’s outfits. It’s polar opposite from the cardigans and ballet flats she usually wears. Skylar drew the line when said roommate tried to talk her into wearing contacts instead of her glasses. “Sky!” I call out loudly enough so that my voice carries throughout Niko’s townhouse. “Are you ready?” “Almost! Can you come in here?” I walk to the bathroom and knock before I open the door. Skylar’s leaning over the sink, running a flat iron through the last of her loose waves. “You look fine,” I say, leaning in the doorway. “I thought about trying barrel curls, but I don’t have the patience for all of that. Does it look okay? You know my go-to is a bun.” “You look beautiful, Sky-Sky.” A smile touches her nude lips. “Thanks, Yazzy.” Skylar and I are wearing a pound of Fenty on our faces tonight, which is not the norm for either of us. But when in Rome and all that. “Your body is banging in that dress. I wish I had your Michelle Obama arms.” “Aww.” Confidence swells in me at Skylar’s words. I’ll never have the curves God gave my little sister unless I pay for them. But I love working out, so I have some pretty sweet muscle definition. I step closer to the vanity, sharing the space with Skylar to check my hair, which I flat-ironed stick-straight an hour ago. “Over the shoulder?” I ask, fidgeting with my hair. Skylar shifts my hair behind my left shoulder. “Definitely.” We give ourselves and each other a final once-over. “Esme and Liv are meeting us there,” Skylar says, applying another coat of lipstick on her lips. I check the tape on my dress that’s keeping my breasts from slipping out. “Stop messing with it.” “Sorry. I’m not used to hanging out like