Chapter 20 #2
“No. I can do whatever I want, little girl. She may be your mommy, but she’s my woman.
You got that, huh? Or do you need the tickle monster to come out?
” Neela’s “no daddy” pushed through her laughter as I put her back down.
Of course, my own seed ran to her Olive who wasted no time in comforting her.
“Don’t be doing my baby any kind of way, Highland. Come on my pretty minis, come use the bathroom before we leave,” she called out to them and they fell in line, Neela even sticking her tongue out at me.
“I swear it be yo’ own people. C’mon, Jo-Jo, you can use the one downstairs while we finish backing up.”
“Okay, Daddy.” I grinned widely as I tossed my arm over his shoulder and we headed downstairs with me carrying the bag of towels and sunscreen. I would never get used to hearing my son call me Dad.
The sun was at its peak as it shone down on us with the heat blazing my skin.
I scooped water into the bucket I’d taken from one of the kids.
They weren’t playing with it any way. Jo-Jo was with Troy and Darius practicing karate moves in the water.
While the girls were hanging close, building a sandcastle near Olive.
I tracked my way back over to her and Byrdie who were both laid out in the sun, the only difference was Byrdie took the option for the umbrellas.
I dipped my hand in the bucket of water next to me, sprinkling the droplets on her back.
Olive’s skin was hot as hell to the touch.
Sweet moans escaped her mouth as she squirmed a little bit from the few drops I laid across her back.
“That feels good, Captain.” I repeated the process, this time rubbing my hand up and down.
“Come take a dip with me, baby. You need to cool down. You’ve been laying in the same spot for the last half hour.” I leaned down, planting kisses on her back.
“Okay, let me see if Byrdie is up so she can keep an eye on the girls.” Olive didn’t even get a chance to ask before Byrdie answered the unasked question.
“Girl, I’m up, I got them. Go take a dip in the ocean with your man.
” Olive kissed her teeth, which had me smirking.
I stood up, holding out my hand for Olive.
The moment she went to place it in mine, I bent down, tossing her over my shoulder as I began to make my way back to the water with Olive protesting the entire time.
“Wait, Captain, no. Baby, my hair,” she said as I walked us in.
“Shh…baby, I got you.” I wasn’t worried about her hair. I knew her braids were a protective style and that dunking her in the water would be okay.
“No. Highland, put me down,” she yelled with giggles following.
“Put you down?’ I asked as I began to maneuver her around so I could execute my plan.
“Yes…wait, no. Never—” Olive’s words were cut short as I sent her flying into the water. Not even a second later, her head popped up, her wiping the dripping water.
“Oh my gosh, how is the water this cold? I can’t believe I keep falling for that, Captain.” Olive was making her way over to me, still trying to catch her breath.
“I don’t know why either, because if we’re in the water together, I’m sending you under,” I said as I snatched Olive up again, causing the sweet mixture of laughter and noes.
This time, I took us both under, where Olive instinctively locked her arms and legs around me just like the first time we were in this situation.
And just like before, I felt it. The binding of us together.
There was no way Olive and I weren’t meant for each other.
My soul felt it, our love. I brought us up, with Olive still attached.
“Baby, I got you, trust me.”
“Nope.” Olive shook her head. “The trust is gone.” She turned her head up, making me laugh.
“Well, I gotta fix that. Let me make this right. Can I have you tonight, just you and me?” She peeked at me from the corner of her eye.
“Maybe. Will there be food involved?” I snorted as I nodded.
“You just tell me what you want Olive, and I’ma make sure it happens with no hesitation.” Olive’s camera ready smile was present now, making mine come out.
“Okay, then I’m yours.”
“Naw, you been that. But it’s a date.”
“Sshh… baby we have to be quiet,” I said as I led her down the hallway from our room.
Olive and I called ourselves attempting to sneak out for our late night snack date as she called it.
It was well past two in the morning, but we had just gotten the kids down not too long ago.
After the beach, we all came back here to finish the first day of vacation.
Kelvin offered to hop on the grill while I handled the sides.
She giggled as we crept past the kids’ rooms. I pulled her back to my chest right before we hit the steps, covering her mouth with one hand as I leaned into her, whispering into her ear.
“Unless you want to bring one of these damn kids with us, I’m serious, Olive.” I tried to throw a little bit of bass in my voice but failed miserably. And it didn’t help when this crazy woman licked my damn hand.
I huffed as I narrowed my eyes on her. She shot her arms up in surrender, then low mumbles came, letting me know she was done playing. She had been giddy all day and I loved it.
We finally made it downstairs and I thought we were in the clear, good to go, until Kelvin came out of the kitchen with a plate of fruit in his hand that Olive had cut up after dinner.
He cleared his throat, making Olive snicker. “I know who wouldn’t be on my team to rob somebody. Y’all are the loudest, sneakiest people ever. Liv, I heard your laughs from the kitchen. I guess I’m on babysitting duty?” he said, slowly shaking his head, giving us a disappointed glare.
“See, I told you, baby.”
“I’m sorry; I’m just excited. This feels like back when I was in high school and I snuck out to be with—” I shot her a look daring her to continue telling us about her high school creeping session, causing Olive to place her hand on my chest. “Oh calm down. I said high school, Captain. Anyway, yes, Mr. Kelvin, you are on babysitting duty, I hope that’s okay.
Your son said we have a date, but we won’t be all night. ”
Kelvin’s expression seemed to soften even more when he addressed Olive even though she was the one who got us caught up.
“Of course, young lady. And make sure Lando does right by you or you tell me and I’ll fuck his ass up for you.” That caused Olive to smirk as she pressed her lips together, doing her best to conceal the laugh I knew wanted to come out.
“I sure will and thank you. I’ll bring you back something good.” He waved her off as he headed back to the kitchen.
Once we made it outside, Olive’s laughs came out strong as we made it to my car.
“You just couldn’t hold it, huh, baby?” She shook her head innocently as I helped her in then rounded the car.
“So where are we going?”
“You never picked a place, Olive.”
“Oh damn, I forgot. Somewhere between drink four and the food coma you and Kelvin’s food put me in earlier, I completely forgot.
What are my options?” I chuckled because Olive was gone by the time we made it back to the house and asleep soon after she ate.
I didn’t mind it though, because she was with me, and safe.
I wanted her to be able to let loose and have fun.
I smiled at the memory of carrying her upstairs once she fell asleep on me. “Um… honestly, not many. With it being so late, we’re limited. I’ve got a place in mind though.”
Fifteen minutes later we were pulling into Taco Express, a late night drive-thru spot that had the best fucking tacos.
After we placed our order, I headed to the dock so we could take the yacht out. Seeing the stars from the deck was a different type of level I wanted Olive to experience. I grabbed the blanket I had in the car and Olive.
“Highland, I didn’t wear the best shoes for this part of the date.” I looked down to see her in heels that matched the dress she wore.
“C’mere.” I bent down, undoing the clasp, lifting her leg so I could take them off. I held them in my hand as we continued until we found our spot.
“Stay here while I get us ready to take off.” I kissed her cheek before I left to untie the yacht and push us off. Once I got us going and a good enough distance from the dock, I lowered the anchor then went back to Olive.
The cool breeze along with the sounds of the waves gently crashing were the perfect combination to help me set the mood.
I was nervous as hell to even bring up the topic of her career again, seeing how it had only been a couple of days since we’d gotten back together, but it was needed.
I watched her as she wasted no time getting into her shrimp tacos, moaning through each bite. I smirked, catching her eye.
“What? I can’t help it. It’s so good, baby. Here, try it.” She positioned the taco up for me. I nodded the moment I tasted it.
“I know right. I added that avocado ranch with a hint of lime.” I was quiet, still.
Come on, Highland, just tell her.
I briefly closed my eyes, allowing the ocean to help the words flow out.
“So, I’ve been thinking about your career and well… baby, I might have a solution—” I paused and felt Olive’s hand on mine, giving it a tight squeeze before she began to softly glide her silky fingertips against my skin. It was weird how that slowed my racing heart.
Kelvin said suggest, not solution.
“I mean, suggestion. I’m coming to fully understand and appreciate your need to want to help people with their intimacy issues and don’t want to offer anything that doesn’t align with that.
So I’ve been doing some research on the type of therapy you offer and saw that video calls with people or couples are a thing.
They have the people act out the touches and hugs on camera without even being in the same room as them.
I think it’s still in the early stages as far as studies go with how effective it is, but that’s just one of the few I came up with. ”