Chapter 62 Ari
Ari
Ashara walks right in my room with a box of tissue and sits next to me on the bed. She waits quietly while I finish crying, just letting me be. When I’m done, she gathers up the used tissues and throws them away.
“What’s wrong?” she asks as she returns to her spot on my bed.
“I don’t know,” I admit.
She nods and gives me a look I recognize from childhood—gentle, patient, determined. “Well, I’ll be honest. Things feel different now,” she says. “You seem different.”
“How?”
She shrugs. “It feels like there’s distance between us now. It…it kinda hurts, honestly.”
“I’m sorry, Shar. I don’t know how to fix it.”
“Maybe it’s not for you to fix,” she says. “Maybe it’s my fault, I don’t know. I just feel like I can’t do anything right. Even Daddy cussed me out.”
I chuckle softly. “Yeah, that surprised me, too.”
“We were so close.”
“We’re still close,” I say. “It’s just…being on that island did change me, I guess. Maybe I’m still dealing with it.”
She nods.
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. Maybe I’m just not ready for surprises and a bunch of people. It was overwhelming, that’s all.”
She smiles. “Vincent said that, too.”
“You meant well,” I say. “I appreciate it. I’m grateful.”
She tilts her head. “What can I do? I wanna understand what you’re going through.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
Her shoulders sag a bit, and it makes me sad. I swear, if I could be conjoined with that girl, I would. I love her more than life itself. I just don’t know what to say to her. I’m not sure I can even articulate how I’m feeling.
“You’ve never been closer to somebody else than you are to me. Until now.”
“Who, Vincent?”
She gives me a look. “Obviously.”
I’m stunned by this revelation. I stare at my mirror image and think about the fact taht it never even crossed my mind that she might be jealous.
“And I’m not jealous,” she quickly says, making me laugh. “I’m just not used to being second.”
“I’m the one who's second,” I remind her. “Actually, I’m fourth.”
“Yeah, but we’re not talking about you, we’re talking about me.”
We share a laugh at that.
“I like him for you,” she says.
“Me, too.”
“He cares about you. He takes care of you. He handles his business. I love that for you, I really do.”
“Thank you,” I say, smiling. “And no matter what happens or who’s around, you’ll always be my number one.”
Her eyes well up. “Well as your number one, it’s my duty to fix this mess. So tell me what you need.”
A few minutes later, we head back downstairs, hand-in-hand. Shara walks to the middle of the living room and calls for attention.
“Listen up. I appreciate all of you for coming to celebrate with us. But we’re gonna switch it up a little. We’re not gonna do any games, and Ariana’s gonna open up the gifts another day. Let’s keep things calm and peaceful for today. Can we do that for her?”
The crowd of guests murmur in agreement as Vincent takes his place by my side and presses a kiss to my forehead. I smile when I see the little thumbs-up he gives my sister.
The party winds down shortly after the food is served. My parents head back to their hotel room, and Tariq takes the girls with him when he heads out. Shara leaves last, leaving Vincent and me alone in this house for the first time since I’ve been here.
I stretch out on the couch with my head in his lap. I’m exhausted, but happy.
He lifts my hand and kisses it. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say.
“Did you get enough to eat?”
“I did.”
“Did my baby get enough?”
I burst out laughing. “So that’s how it is? You going over my head?”
“Nah.” He puts a hand on my belly. “Just makin’ sure you straight.”
“Not only am I straight, I’m very much interested in playing house with you tonight, Mr. Newcastle.”
He laughs. “Say no more.”
I…may have overestimated my agility at this late stage of my pregnancy. Five minutes later, we’re naked in bed, laughing up a storm over the fact that nine-month pregnancy sex is awkward as hell.
“Fuck. I was tryna make love to you and shit, but the only way I can see us doing this is if I’m behind you.”
“That’s fine,” I say. “That can still be making love.”
“Not the way I do it.”
“Just help me up,” I say, laughing myself silly. “I just want the dick.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He guides me into position on all fours. “Is that comfortable?”
“Very,” I say. “Put that shit in.”
“Relax.” He lines up behind me. “You ready?”
“Yes, nigga, damn!”
“You know what?” He pushes inside of me in one rough thrust, making me cry out. “You happy now? Mean ass. Trying to be considerate and shit and you—“
“Vincent, I swear to God, if you don’t shut up and fuck me.”
He grabs my hips and squeezes. He starts stroking, thankfully, but he’s still too gentle for my liking. I’ve been so horny lately, I thought I was going insane.
“Babe…you’re not…”
He stops. “What’s wrong now?”
“I know you’re trying to be gentle, but like…just go HAM. Beat it up.”
He blows out a breath. “Okay, but you not considering what I’m dealing with.”
“What?”
“The way it feels. If I fuck you like you want me to, I ain’t gon’ last that long.”
I laugh at that. “You did fine on the island.”
“Your pussy didn’t feel like this on the island.”
“Wow.”
“Nah, that ain’t what I’m sayin’. It was flames back then,” he says. “It’s just…different. I can’t explain it.”
“Explain it while you fuck me.”
“Mm. Aight.” He strokes me again, slow and steady. “This shit…it’s swole. Fat muhfucka is huggin’ me back, bae.”
The strain in his voice makes me tingle.
“Ass fatter too, but you knew that.”
He strokes me deeper. Harder.
“Shit. It’s so fuckin’ slippery. It’s shaped different. It’s just…”
He stops moving.
“See. You almost got me. That’s what I’m sayin’.”
“Oh my God. Help me up.”
We manage to get me up and turned around. Once I’m seated, I grab his dick and deep throat it.
“Fuck!”
“Mm hm,” I hum. Because enough of this shit.
I don’t doubt that it feels different to him, because it damn sure feels different to me.
I’m wet all day, every day, I’ve had several wet dreams, I’m even turned on by the old ass delivery driver who has my fucking route.
It’s unbearable, so what I’m gonna do now is solve this problem for the both of us.
I suck him off until he cums, but I don’t swallow. I hold it in my mouth until I know I have his full attention, then lean back on my hands and gaze into his eyes.
I part my lips and let his cum drip down my chin and onto my titties. He licks his lips watching me, eyes narrowing, and just like I knew it would, his dick springs right back to attention.
“Turn yo fine ass over.”
That’s what I thought.
This time, he gives me what I want, fucking me like both our lives depend on it. I cum so hard, it scares me. My whole body thrums with pleasure, and it lasts so long, I shed a tear.
He cums soon after I do, emptying himself inside me, slapping me on the ass for good measure.
After, he helps me get on my back before he grabs a wet washcloth from the bathroom and cleans me up.
When he lays beside me, I smile at him, finally feeling at peace.
“Everything is perfect,” I say softly. “Everything feels right again.”
“I feel the same way.” He brushes my hair back from my face. “My island angel.”
He pecks my lips. “I got you. Forever. Me and you. It’s gonna be okay.”
I let my eyes drift shut, secure in the words he says, because I believe him. I believe in him. And I believe in us.