Chapter 8 Sadia
Light kisses to my temple and forehead pulls me from the deep sleep I was in the next morning.
I can’t remember a time when I slept so well, so it takes me a minute to come out of the fog of my dream.
I blink slowly as my eyes acclimate to the room’s surroundings.
I cover my mouth when I see Chance squatting next to me.
“I want to show you something.” With no other words, he stands to his full height and places socks and shoes on my feet.
“What do you want to show me this early?”
“Trust me, it’ll be worth being woken up for.” Chance helps me stand, and I frown when he takes my hand and leads me out of the room.
With my hand over my mouth, I give Chance my best rebuttal, which I’m sure isn’t the threat I intend it to be.
“I need to brush my teeth first. There is no way I’m going to leave this room or be forced to inhale the mint from your breath with mine snapping like a turtle.”
Chance smirks before he releases my hand with a nod. I practically run to the bathroom and brush my teeth like the room is on fire. It takes me under five minutes to freshen up my mouth and wash my face before I meet Chance at the door.
“Are you ready now?” Chance smirks.
“Yep. Not killing you with my morning breath has been accomplished, so we can go now.”
My feet are sluggish, but curiosity causes me to follow Chance out of the room toward the elevator. Silence echoes around the area and on the elevator when we enter the shaft minutes later. My heart races when we walk off the elevator in the lobby and take a left turn toward the back exit.
“Where are you taking me?” My forehead fills with wrinkles as Chance pushes open the door.
My steps are heavy and loud, even though the sand we walk on is grainy and soft. My eyes are on the ground until I hear faint music in the distance. I nearly stumble over my feet when I see a picnic set up.
“Oh my God. What’s happening?” Tears fall from the corners of my eyes as they bounce around the area.
“Last night you mentioned us watching the sunset, so I thought we should start our morning off with the beauty of the sun rising.”
Well, damn. This man is going to make me fall in love with him, and this isn’t supposed to involve real feelings.
Girl, bye. You know you want this man, so stop acting like that would be an inconvenience.
Chance leads me over to the blanket where instrumental music plays lightly from a speaker. There are small pastries and what appears to be a mimosa on a little table. My chest expands and my lip trembles as I take in the setting before me.
“When did you have time to set this up?”
A low chuckle sounds from Chance as he helps me take a seat on the blanket.
“The minute my eyes opened. Thankfully for me, you sleep like a bear, or I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off.”
My mouth opens and closes several times as I stare at Chance, unable to speak. I had no idea that my suggestion about how we ended today would lead to this moment. Words fail me as my eyes connect with Chance’s playful yet loving ones.
“We can eat after we take in the—oh, it should be any minute now.” Chance looks at his phone before his eyes go to the sky.
Chance, without invitation, pulls me until I’m flush against his hard chest. The feel of him this close makes my mouth water and my thoughts scatter.
Then magic begins in the sky that renders me incapable of doing anything but stare in wonder.
Morning arrives gently as the sun slowly rises over the water.
The sky transitions from black to lavender to pink as night releases its hold. I adjust my position against Chance’s body as his arms wrap about my frame. The silence around us encourages intimacy and passion as I bask in the beauty of a new morning.
“Wow. This is so pretty.”
“Mhm. You deserved to witness this too.” Chance’s words vibrate against my back and fill me with gratitude.
And for this, God, I give you praise.
A giddy feeling dances within me at the knowledge of getting to experience the power of sunset with Chance this evening.
No matter what we do today, this moment and that one will be the highlights for me.
Never has a man thought to do something so simple yet so majestic for me.
This is why being here with Chance is tricky.
“Thank you, Chance.” My voice is featherlight as I fight the urge to let the tears this moment calls for flow.
“Always.”
Alright, God. I pray that your plans extend beyond this moment.
The one-word firm decree from Chance settles within my bones and sends warmth throughout my body. Before long, the sun shines brightly in the sky, and Chance releases me from his comfortable hold. I have to be able to look him in the eye, so I turn and cross my legs over the other one.
“Now that the sun is our backdrop. What’s on the menu, sir?” I tease.
Chance’s lips twist before a panty-melting smile falls into place that nearly causes my body to self-combust.
“Just a few sweet treats to hold us over until breakfast. I wanted to spend some alone time with you before we meet my crew for a full breakfast.”
A frown and a blank expression are my response to that information because I’m not in the mood to deal with or see Peaches.
I have no doubt that she’s going to ruin the light feeling in my chest and the peace in my mind.
Peaches gives me the jealous, jilted lover vibe, which is wild since she’s married to Chance’s friend, not him.
Granted, Chance is irresistibly handsome and would make most women delirious.
But Peaches’s connection to his friend should remind her to focus on her own front door.
“Has anyone ever told you how much your beauty becomes pronounced when you frown like that?” From the smirk on Chance’s lips, I can read between the lines of his sarcasm.
“Is there any way I can pretend to be sick and skip breakfast? This moment is all I need to set my day on the right track.”
“After that, how could I deny such a request? Do I need to be sick with you? Or do you need a doctor, a nurse, or a masseuse? Hell, I can stay back with you at this point.”
Laughter spills from my mouth, instantly restoring the romantic vibes Chance created with this setup.
“You’re laughing. I’m serious. Tell your man what he needs to do to make you comfortable.”
My man. My man. My baby.
The mantra rings in my mind as a giddy feeling makes me feel like I’m floating on one of the clouds that line the night sky.
The thought of Chance being mine fills me with endless possibilities of what it could mean for my future.
Lonely nights could be gone. Solo dates could be gone.
Someone to rub my back at night. Warm thighs to throw my legs over whenever I want.
“Mhm. I see the wheels turning. What do you know good, Dia?” Chance cuts into the thoughts that spin in my mind as I shift my focus back to him.
“I won’t monopolize all your time. You can enjoy breakfast with your peeps. I’ll be okay until you return.”
Chance frowns, and the action incites my full laughter because it’s clear that’s not what he wanted or expected me to say.
“Fine. But don’t be surprised if I’m back in thirty minutes. I can see those niggas anytime. This . . .” His words pause as he motions between us before he finishes his thought. “Is something far more important to me.”
Yeah, I’m going to need a minute to myself, or it’ll be me laying my cards on the table.
I’m not a fan of women begging or anything, but Chance is about to have me throwing my dignity in the trash.
If he keeps saying what sounds like sweet nothings, I’ll be asking him to be mine for real. Dignity be damned.
“What about—”
“Nope. Real connection over everything, remember?”
All I can do is nod as Chance hands me a flute of mimosa, which I confirm with my first sip.
“This is good. I might have to have one of these every morning while we’re here.”
“Good to know. They also have strawberry, peach, and mango ones. I just didn’t know which you would like, so I went with the standard one to be safe.”
I do a little dance as my shoulders bounce at the thought of getting a chance to try every flavor before we leave this resort. The sun serves as a canvas for Chance and me as we partake in light treats and a mimosa.
“What made you create this romantic setting? We could have watched the sunrise without the food and beverages.”
“That’s the thing, we couldn’t. We’re creating moments that will become beacons for where we’re going. I plan to blur the lines so well that you forget everything but the thrills from the experiences we’ll have.”
My eyes peer into Chance’s dark brown ones as I assess the truth or lie within his statements.
A chill slides down my back when his eyes flash with adoration and promises of things to come.
After a second, Chance’s eyes disconnect from mine and drop to my lips, which causes heat to crawl up my neck.
“Blur that line too,” I whisper in a voice that sounds like a pant.
Oh shoot! Are you sure, Sadia? This could ruin everything.
My breath hitches as I subconsciously lean toward Chance.
I want Chance to kiss me, and I feel like I’m unable to breathe easy unless he does.
My body trembles with need and desire as Chance’s eyes bounce from my lips and connect with my eyes.
I feel like I’m in a trance as my eyes become half-lidded and my lips part on their own accord.
For countless seconds that tick into minutes, I breathe Chance’s air as my body teems with energy.
The air around us is thick and charged with enough sparks to ignite a fireplace.
“If we do this,” Chance whispers, and I hang onto every syllable as I wait for him to finish, “this is more than blurred lines.” Chance’s words are heavy with a meaning I’m too far gone to fully comprehend.
All I can do is nod because the idea of stopping feels impossible to my wayward mind.
Longing shoves the tinge of fear within me out of the way.
In the deep recesses of my mind, I can admit that I have wanted this forever.
A shaky breath slips between my lips as time seems to pause when Chance’s lips are in front of mine, like he’s giving me time to change my mind.
I don’t; instead, I remove the inch of space between our lips.
Jesus!
Chance’s lips are softer than I expected.
The kiss starts off gentle, almost hesitant on my part, sending a shiver through me.
My hands curl into the front of his shirt without permission as my mind comes to the determination that this is right.
I swallow the moan at the back of my throat when Chance deepens the kiss.
It’s enough to ignite my treasure as my juices flow.
Chance’s hand settles at my waist, warm and steady like he’s not only anchoring me but himself as well.
We continue our kiss, and our mouths grow less careful before the urge to breathe breaks our connection.
Chance exhales against my lips like he’s been wanting and waiting to kiss me. My forehead rests against his as I breathe heavily, knowing that we’ve crossed a line that we can never return to.
“Wow,” I whisper.
Chance laughs, and the sound vibrates through me like it came from a megaphone. “Yeah, that’s exactly the word.”
In this moment, everything feels different in a way that solidifies change. I’m not sure where we go from here, but damn, that kiss didn’t just give me several reasons to let go. I definitely need a minute out of Chance’s presence to sit with my thoughts and relish in the magnitude of our kiss.