Chapter 11
Eleven
“ I talked too much.”
Trying to create a moment of sharing and vulnerability for Hayden, I gave away too fucking much. What was crazy was, I hadn’t told her nearly everything. I damn sure didn’t give away too much about Terry and how that assignment to terminate him may have been the introduction to my professional relationship with Jacobs, but it would also be the end of Terry’s terrorism in my world.
Across from me in the shower, Hayden’s posture on the bench was similar to mine where I sat. Her one leg was crossed over the other thigh, and she used her arms to cover her swollen breasts as two faucets sprayed warm water her way. She’d closed up on me.
Hayden licked her lips and shook her head. “You didn’t.”
“Look at you. You’re not even in the same room as me.” I snorted, “Was it the illegal mission in Levo ? Or the reminder of my fake smile?”
“Neither. I’m not going to judge you for your past.”
“My past? You mean my present. I shared with you what I do for a living.”
In the cleanest way possible.
Once my mother understood the details of my work, she never asked for confirmation. I was simply trying to be honest with Hayden. If things went my way, she’d move in here until we could find more respectable digs for her and the baby. I didn’t get hurt often, but she could find my next slip as easily as she’d found these last two.
Fucking Aleesa …
I stood to adjust one of the shower faucets over my head. Then I resumed my seat and began to rinse the conditioner from my hair. As I closed my eyes and allowed the water to fall over my head, I knew I’d have to hit up Tina before bed to see if I could get on her book tomorrow. Yes, I’d be off my schedule, but life could be just as unpredictable.
I jumped at her first touch. My eyes were closed, and face covered in the solution of the conditioner. Her small hands were on my thighs, lightly rubbing the top then working into the insides. The soft, silky feel of her flesh against mine had me thickening in no time. Hayden rubbed my stomach, undoubtedly not missing the tensing contraction of my abs from her touch.
Still unable to see her, I fingered my scalp, opening patches of my hair to get all of the shit out. I wanted to hurry up so I could touch my boo-baby. Shocked. I was shocked as fuck at this turn of events. I read people well—had to. In my line of work, it was a matter of returning home with the money or never seeing my family again.
As I felt her warm, soft mouth coat the head of my dick, I knew I hadn’t missed totally on her mood switch tonight. Either way, clearly my sharing wasn’t enough to turn Hayden off. It was evident in her hand strokes on my swollen shaft. It was in the way she cupped my balls with one hand, massaging the underside. I could feel Hayden’s passion in the sounds of her throat squeezing against that area beneath the head of my cock like a sphincter before she released it.
Fuck .
She did it again.
I need this shit out of my hair now!
Her mouth… that tongue … those lips … The fucking combo could get this chick a ring and a fucking promise of forever even if I didn’t have it to give. I wanted that trilogy split equally between my mouth and cock. In the meantime , my hips loosened as she bobbed over my stick, taking in more of me each dive. Her hands worked in tandem, never breaking stride or getting in the way.
I rubbed my eyes beneath the faucet, being sure to rinse away all the silkiness. It was timed well, because the moment I cracked my lids, I caught her spitting on my shit. Her saliva made her strokes smoother, heating my balls by the second in a way the warm water couldn’t.
Fuck …
It was just like in Atlantic City when she necked me for the first and last time. And damn, was this mouth a talented one. In spite of the drops of water catching her face, Hayden managed a few seconds of eye contact. In a shower cap, she tossed her vanity aside to bring me erotica. I watched her fist, suck, and worship me in a way I could get used to easily.
I reached down while grabbing her at the neck and pulling her face to mine. Stabbing her mouth with my tongue, I kissed Hayden hard and fast. Then I wrapped a palm around hers, too, and guided her stroke of my dick. When I released her lips, her mouth returned to my dick where she spit again. We repeated the act once more before I leaned back and was prepared to lift the fuck off.
And when I did let it go, my body jerked then tensed, rendering my fucking feet from the marble floor. I couldn’t feel my damn lungs as air pushed out of them. My heart raced so damn fast—too damn fast to be normal. Then there was some other internal part, one I couldn’t name, blossoming with warmth within me.
“Damn, Boo-baby…” pulled from my tight ass throat as I felt her swallowing my shooting seeds into her mouth.
My head spun until the last of me was emptied and her touch was too much for my tenderness. Beneath me, Hayden’s head came up and her palms went to my thighs. She readjusted her squat and…waited, observing me from below. Immediately, I was so fucking emotional. I felt vulnerable in a way I never had. Needing to feel her mouth again, I reached down and kissed her hard with my tongue, tasting what was left of the silky substance she’d gleaned from me.
What was I going to do with this girl? I still didn’t know her. Still didn’t know if I could trust her. Was she cut out to have this close proximity to me? Distance had always been the mistress in my relationships, in the physical and emotional sense. Feeling too much I wasn’t comfortable with, I yanked my mouth from hers.
With a heaving chest, I studied Hayden’s vulnerable posture.
“You should go. You being here will make our lives more irrevocable than simply sharing a damn baby.” I could hear my voice but didn’t feel myself speaking.
Yo, what the fuck are you doing, my guy? screamed in my head.
“Do you want me to go?” she asked softly with swollen lips.
“Do you want to go?”
As I held the phone to my ear, the moving guy approached me.
“Can you confirm this address?” He held a cell phone out with an Alpine address.
“Yes. That’s it. Thanks.” As he walked off, I could see his colleague carrying out the last of my boxes. “Well,” I returned to my conversation with Rayna. “…that’s the last of everything.”
I took in the metropolitan views from Global Tower in Manhattan. I could see the water and over into Jersey from this penthouse view. This place was pure luxury. These past couple of weeks had felt like I’d been living in a plush hotel suite.
“Okay. I’m glad it all worked out for you getting them into the apartment.”
“Yeah. The concierge was cool. You can have them remove my code now.”
“Nah,” she breathed. “I’ll keep it active for a while, especially until you decide where you and the baby will stay permanently. You’ll have access to the apartment in case of an emergency.”
I rolled my eyes at the prospect and groaned, “This shit is too much.”
“I didn’t mean?—”
My head popped up. “No. It’s okay. I can get through it—I will get through it.”
“You will,” Rayna assured. “And not alone either. You have me, and Sundryia wouldn’t leave your side if you paid her.”
I nodded although she couldn’t see me. “You’re right. It’s just…” I swallowed back a pending cry. “I’ve never lived with a man before.”
“I hadn’t either before Azmir.”
“But you did it when you were ready. Right?”
I heard her dry chuckle. “I did it shaking in my boots. I don’t know how much of a choice I had. Azmir’s always had this larger-than-life persona. His world was so immense and demanding. An unsuspecting Jersey girl could get swept up by him. And I did.” She laughed, sounding embarrassed.
“Do you have any regrets?”
There was a spell before she answered, “Wasting so much time fighting against the storm of his commitment to me. It was inevitable. The energy I put into remaining in control was wasted. He was proposing partnership to me. Why that was so frightening to a girl from the projects, I have no idea. I was inevitably his as he was mine. I’m not sure how this thing with Ishaan is going to work out, but you’re having a baby with him. Don’t fight the partnership. Worse case scenario, you’ll be a mother who’s single. But you won’t be a single mother. Don’t fight against what can only benefit you and your child.”
I took a deep breath. “I know you’ve got to get your day started. And my lunch break is just about over. Just wanted to let you know I’m going to miss this place. Please pass my gratitude on to your husband for his generosity, too.”
“Will do, boo. Let me know if you need anything. And Hayden…”
“Yeah?”
“I mean anything .”
“Thanks, family.”
“You’re very welcome. Now that the kids are off and my home is basically empty but for the window cleaners, let me have my morning latte to prepare for this call with Cousin Monica.”
My eyes went wild. “That’s happening today?”
“Within minutes. She told me what time is best to call.”
“God bless your patient soul, Rayna. May He bless you from the rooter to the tooter because… Sheesh!”
Rayna laughed. “Wish me luck. Bye!”
“Bye!”
My smile fell as soon as the call disconnected. I glanced around once again at the floor-to-ceiling windows seeing just how vast the world was beyond the walls.
“Because you’re susceptible to depression.”
“Depression?”
“I see them. Three demonic spirits lurking over and around you right now. Isolation, lack of trust, and the ability to forge ahead during calamities instead of addressing the calamities head on all attract them. You’re not a community woman because you weren’t raised to be one.”
Ezra’s words from back in May had been playing in my mind for days now. Did I want to live with strangers? Hell no. But did I need to adjust to the circumstances I’d earned after making a bad decision? Yes.
After my conversation with Ishaan four days ago in his pool, I’d been thinking about just how tightly wired his life was. Ishaan’s world wasn’t exactly prepared to receive a baby either. He worked several jobs and one, in particular, was so damn high-risk. If anyone should be demanding an out, whether it was by way of an abortion or only committing to writing out child support checks each month, it was him.
Since that conversation with Ezra, I recalled having bouts with the blues before. In undergrad, I’d been hit with episodes several times. I couldn’t articulate it at the time but had felt lonely and overwhelmed with my workload. I worked hard for the double majors and didn’t feel supported. Still, I “forged ahead” and met my goals. “Forging ahead” was hard as fuck when doing it alone.
Ishaan had been consistent about being a friend. I didn’t trust that prospect. I didn’t trust much, which was another accurate statement Ezra observed about me. Then the isolation. Here, at the ritzy Global Tower in Manhattan, I was isolated these past two weeks. Isolated in luxury but still alone.
You know, sometimes with young women, when they see their mother make something out of nothing while coming up, they lose the ability to see the benefit of having a useful man as a partner. Sometimes, when mommy doesn’t fail alone while being single, it defines your need for partnership as a young woman.”
More of Ezra’s haunting words.
So, yeah. Shaking in my boots, I’d decided to stay at Ishaan’s until… Until either my apartment was ready, or I figured out a better place to bring the baby home to. My wanna-be-baby’s daddy had demanded to be a part of this next chapter of mine. I’d simply have to give him a chance to prove his sincerity , even if I didn’t trust him. This next chapter was bigger than just me. I had to think of my baby. I would be better for my child than my neurotic mother was for me.
Even if I don’t trust him .
Besides, his dick game may have been a motivator in my decision. His sexual bedside manner was superb.
“Fuck!” I groaned, stalking toward the foyer. “Damn hormones.”
As I scrolled BVLGARI ’s website from my phone for something appropriate for a millionaire’s wife, Lucy promenaded into the conference room.
“ Oooh! Cake!” She approached the table where there was an assortment of cupcakes and a decorated sheet cake. “And it’s Nina’s Sweet Cakes , too! Yum!” She squirted hand sanitizer into her palm from the large bottle on the table as well. As she rubbed the gel into her hands, she asked, “What’s the occasion? Looks to be celebratory.”
“We’ve secured funding!” Laura announced, raising her Poland Spring bottled water into the air.
“ Woooohooooo! ” Lex cheered.
Lucy’s eyes lit up with joy. “No. Really? When?”
“Kind of today,” Mika answered. “A new sponsor we submitted an RFA to on Monday afternoon sent in a schedule of payments already.”
“And that’s it?” Lucy asked me directly. “That’s how it works?”
“Not typically,” I attempted to explain. “They usually send an approval letter of sorts then the payout schedule, but this org is moving in their own order, their own way.” I scoffed, “But I have to admit, I didn’t expect to hear back from them so soon. It’s a big and long-term commitment.”
I secretly wondered if Ishaan or Azmir inspired the timeline.
Lucy cut herself a piece of cake and placed it on a small plate. “But it’s legit. Right?”
“I called and spoke with a secretary who confirmed we’ve been approved. She said the official commitment letter could take up to a week, but…” Lex shrugged with a beam of relief. “…they’re funding us, baby!”
“That’s amazing. Great work, Hayden!” Lucy winked at me. “Always coming through with that money!” Then she let out a harsh sigh as she chewed. “I could use a sugar rush after the Zoom call I just got off with one of the kids who used to reside at the safe house.”
“That bad?” Lex asked, eating her cupcake.
“The mom and daughter are still having a difficult time although they’ve been cycled out and in their new place. The daughter’s sixteen and wants to date, which is natural. The mom’s a victim of abuse by the only man she’s apparently been with, who just so happens to be said daughter’s father. So, because of mom’s abusive history with this older man, she doesn’t want her daughter dating until she’s eighteen. Daughter isn’t having it. I had to facilitate an intervention call with those two, who are vicious beasts.”
Christ Cares opened two safe houses for women and children in recent years. Our organization did the work to protect the underserved community. We’d been doing a good job of cycling people of need in and out by providing job training, clothing, interviewing skills, and permanent house searches among other services.
“Why is she imposing her fears and bad decisions onto her daughter?” Mika questioned. “I hate when mothers do that. You made bad calls and now you want to create all these strict rules around your daughter under the guise of protecting her from what you went through?” She shook her head.
Lex added, “Parenting is hard.”
“And I can imagine parenting with trauma and dysfunction of your own is even harder,” I added. “But the sixteen-year-old deserves to live fear-free.”
“That has to be provided intentionally by the parent,” Lex offered. “These women we service often don’t fit that bill. Maybe we should explore a curriculum for young girls to address something like that, Lucy. Maybe you and your crew can come up with something appropriate for the average time we have them in the safe houses.”
“For sure,” Lucy agreed. “That damn conversation was so long. Every time I thought I offered something solid for them to chew on, either the daughter or the mother would spit it into the other’s face. The daughter feels she should at least have guy friends so she can learn the male to female dynamic, I guess.”
I murmured, mind going, “When young girls aren’t raised to expect love—something they deserve—they settle for sex.”
“Shit,” Mika breathed. “That’s deep. And here I thought sex was…” She shrugged. “Sex.”
I shook my head. “Fucking is easy— for men and women . It’s the act mixed with someone you share a mutual respect and…” I shook my head, searching for the right words. “…love for is what every Black girl should be taught.”
“I wish I was taught that,” Lex shared. “I had no clue about reciprocity until I met my husband.”
“I still ain’t find it,” Lucy admitted with a mouth full of cake.
“Well, we got it over here.” Darnell, out of nowhere, came alive in the conversation. Between searching for a “thank you” gift for Rayna and taking on this topic, I’d forgotten he was here having cake, too. He stood, leaving his chair, and began my way. His cold hand lay over my belly lightly because even to Darnell, we were not that conversant with each other. “We make love! You see what comes from love? It’s what I gave her.”
The girls and I laughed. Darnell kept us cracking the hell up when he was in the office, which was rare. He was one of our transportation people and worked primarily out of the office with our clients.
“Cake time over?” Lex asked while he was making his way around the conference table, likely leaving.
“Yup,” he answered, reaching for a napkin on the table. “I’ve got two more pickups and I’m done.”
“Well, thanks for picking up the refreshments for me, D.” Lex smiled his way.
Darnell really was a chill guy. He not only picked up the sweets from Nina’s Sweet Cakes , but Lex asked if he could stop at the store to grab crackers and banana peppers for me. Boss Lady was the plug for real. I didn’t even have to ask.
“Anytime,” Darnell returned. “Anything for my wife.”
When I laughed at that, I realized Mika, Lex, and Lucy’s attentions were toward the door, behind Darnell’s back.
My eyes inched up his extreme frame and found his chocolate irises fixed on me. Ishaan was a fucking Black Fabio. His presence was all-consuming, vacuuming you into an abyss of lust or fear—maybe both depending on the person. His jet-black boxed braids glistened as they hung down the sides of his head and rested on his shoulders. Those tattoos were visible above his crew cut shirt. That eagle was becoming one of my favorite ornaments of his. Ishaan was business casual today, sporting a tan suit while holding a shopping bag.
“Hey, man,” Darnell greeted. “Can I help you?”
With his eyes still pinned to me, Ishaan replied, “Nah. I’m in the right place.” Then he stepped inside with a proffered hand. “Ishaan.”
Confused, Darnell slowly reciprocated. “Do I know you?”
“You don’t, clearly.” He acknowledged the women in the room. “Good afternoon, ladies. Sorry for barging in like this. Good news is, it’s Wednesday. We’re midway through the workweek. Right?” His eyes glistened with charm.
“You look so familiar,” Mika offered stoically as she sat stock still in her chair. She looked completely frozen.
Ishaan turned to me as though entertained. “Do I look familiar to you?”
A goofy giggle sprouted in my belly, and I caught it with my hand to my face. “Ishaan!” Damn him for disarming me without effort.
“Ishaan…?” Boss lady was prompting me for an introduction.
After clearing my throat, I began, “Ishaan, this is my program manager and boss, Lex Carmichael.”
Lex stood for a handshake.
“Mrs. Carmichael,” Ishaan greeted, and I wondered how he knew she was married. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope I’m not disrupting anything here.”
“And this is Mika,” I continued. “She’s my assistant on paper, but in function, I answer to her,” I quipped.
Ishaan offered his hand. Similar to Darnell, Mika moved suddenly. She was clearly thunderstruck.
“Nice to meet you,” Ishaan offered. “Now, I know who to send flowers and chocolate to when in pursuit of the elusive Hayden.” He peered my way with slanted eyes, admitting to the jab he’d just taken.
I rolled my eyes. But then I caught the forbidden grin on Mika’s face.
“And this is Lucy,” I announced as I gestured her way. “She’s one of our counselors here at Christ Cares .”
Ishaan shook her hand as well. “Nice to meet you, Lucy.” He then returned his attention my way. He observed the half-eaten cupcake, Lay’s potato chips with hot sauce, and cracker topped with banana peppers. “Everything okay?”
When you looked at my smorgasbord of a late lunch, one would think I hadn’t eaten much. The truth of the matter was this was my second serving. I took a break waiting for the first batch to digest to make room for more.
“Yeah. Just waiting for my body to make room for me to finish.”
Ishaan traversed the room until he was next to me. “You’re holding out I see.” He pointed to the chips with hot sauce.
“Yeah. It’s a new one. Try it.” I picked up a hot sauce-stained chip and handed it to him.
Ishaan tossed it into his mouth. I watched as he chewed, considering the combo. Then a childlike smile lit up his face and he nodded. “Okay. I can get with that.” He offered a hi-five, which I met in the air.
I nodded, too. “Yeah?” Once again, I found myself giggling, feeling a familiar chemistry with him I didn’t have. I was still getting to know this man.
His face contorted beautifully when he coughed into his fist. “Yeah,” he tried to breathe. The hot sauce had gotten to him.
“Now that you know who we are,” Lex spoke humorously but was firm. “…besides Ishaan, who are you…to Hayden?”
There was a beam to her countenance telling of her finding Ishaan attractive. Good! Now, we were even. Ezra may have been weird as hell, but the man was fine as fuck, too.
“I’m a friend of Hayden’s.” Ishaan tried clearing his throat from the hot sauce. He grabbed my bottle of water, and I held my breath, watching him drink from it without issue. It was half full, so clearly, he had to have assumed I’d drank from it, too. “And for the record: I understand office dynamics. I have several offices myself. But Hayden’s not your wife.”
Just as I’d registered Ishaan was speaking to Darnell, Darnell himself, sputtered, “No. We’re just —I mean… Office wife. It’s just a joke we have around here.”
“Hence my mentioning office dynamics,” Ishaan clarified. “I just want to make it clear she’s not your wife.” He reached down and cupped the bottom of my belly. So close to my pussy, it caused me to softly jump in the chair. “She can’t be because I did this. And I know about this because I put it in her.” He paused for a few seconds before continuing, “It’s what I gave her. You understand why that has to be addressed right here, right now. Right?”
There was a sharpness to his tone. A bite. However, it was also clear Ishaan was attempting diplomacy. It reminded me of when I met him in the swanky hotel conference room in Midtown Manhattan. Ishaan occupied each space he was in. His assertion also brought to mind his disclosure of being a bad ass in his younger years. Ishaan was comfortable with confrontation. I didn’t know how I felt about that.
After a spell, Darnell, muttered, “Yeah, man. I get what you’re saying. Much respect.”
Ishaan stood straight and patted his chest in response. Then he took a seat next to me. I was now as frozen as Mika earlier by his presence.
“I’m out, y’all,” Darnell announced. “Have a good day.”
Out of sync, we all returned his gesture, and Darnell sauntered out.
Lex cleared her throat. “Well,” she sighed, gathering her belongings on the table. “I guess I’ll leave you two alone. I have a call to make before clocking out for the day.”
Mika grabbed her things in a scurry and muttered, “Yeah. Me, too.” Her little frame bolted out of the room, curled over, holding her belongings.
Lucy threw me an expression of confusion. I shrugged with my forehead. Mika had been acting strange lately. We all knew it.
“Have you put in your request?” Ishaan asked me.
“What request?”
“For time off. We leave for Red’s Island on Friday.”
My eyes burst wide. No the hell he didn’t.
“Friday?” Lucy questioned.
“For how long?” my boss asked so casually.
I don’t think I’d ever seen her so smitten.
Maybe we’re not even …
“I’m sorry, Lex.” I shook my head, flipping my fingers in the air dismissively. “We’ve been so busy around here with the RFP I told you about, Ishaan. There’s been no time to look into taking off.”
“We’re done with it now,” Lex inserted. “How much time are we talking?” she inquired again.
Ishaan didn’t even look at me when he plucked a cracker with banana peppers from my plate. “Two weeks.”
I scoffed, “I can’t stay away for two weeks.” There was no need for me to be animated. It was not happening.
“If you have the time off, take what you need.” Lex stood and took her plate to the trash.
Stunned, I explained, “I don’t even get two weeks off. I don’t have the time. Plus, I have an O.B. appointment in a week.”
“We can make that happen,” Ishaan murmured, going for another one of my chips.
“You just won us a huge victory, Hayden,” Lex took on a maternal tone. “Even my husband would encourage you to take some time for yourself considering your last few months.”
“Yup,” Lucy added then turned to leave the room.
I rolled my eyes. “But we haven’t even gotten the official commitment letter.”
“It’s coming. They’ll CC me on it,” Lex assured. “We’re good.”
“I have other grants needing maintenance work, boss lady!” I called behind her back as she made her way to the door. She was being stubborn.
“Take your work assigned laptop!” were her final words before she walked out of the room, woolly hair swaying over her round ass.
I turned to Ishaan. “You’re not kicking this shit off right,” I whispered. “You’re not making this a safe space for a woman who refuses to be controlled. I don’t like surprises, Ishaan.”
He leaned in to give me a quick peck on the lips then pulled back. “And I don’t want to be without you while I’m away.” His gaze on me was strong.
“You can’t pop up to my job, offend my colleague, and demand time off from my boss. Not cool.”
“I thought the popup was romantic.” He pulled the shopping bag he’d arrived with from the floor onto the table. “Just like when you pulled up on me at work last week, I didn’t come empty-handed.”
“And pulling rank on a guy I’ve never been romantically involved with?”
Ishaan cocked his head to the side. “Boo-baby, he said the baby you’re carrying is his.”
I whispered, “It was a joke!”
With his eyes still pinned to mine, he shook his head. “Men don’t joke about shit like that. Whatever office role-play you two had before you get pregnant or engaged is one thing. But when a woman’s pregnant or wearing a ring and jokers don’t take the hint, a man has to step in.”
“That was you stepping in?”
He tried fighting a smile I wanted to smack off his beautiful face. “Politely, yes.”
My eyes went wild, and I whispered, “That was polite?”
With his head still slanted, Ishaan’s eyes narrowed. “I have to remember. You really don’t know me. Huhn?”
“Ish aan —”
“No more romantic role-playing.”
“You’re not my man.”
“I am while you’re sharing my bed.”
“I don’t have to share your bed. You have like seven bedrooms with only three being occupied. I have options.” I felt childish.
Apparently, Ishaan believed the same, which could have been why his face softened. “You remember when I told you in Atlantic City, back in March, ‘don’t give up the ship’?”
I thought for a moment. Suddenly, my eyes shot around the room to be sure we were still alone. “I’m at work.”
“I know.” He chuckled. Ishaan made that abstruse comment right after making me cum with his mouth. “I bring it up to explain you’re not a good liar. You always give yourself away.”
I rolled my eyes, speechless. Then I folded my arms over my belly. “I just shared a new favorite snack with you, and this is how you do me?”
“Okay. Now, that that’s out of the way, including you allowing a man to touch your belly, I actually do wanna give you the heads up on something.”
“What?”
“Tonight, we’re having dinner with Mehki.”
I swallowed, feeling uneasy about how I’d recite my next word. “Why?”
Ishaan began moving my plate, phone, and water bottle from in front of me. He pushed the shopping bag center to my chest. “Because we need to tell him you’ll be living with us indefinitely.”
To give myself time to think of my response, I heeded to his muted request for me to check the bag. I pulled out black tissue paper with Asè Garb printed in purple. After unraveling it, I found a canary yellow bikini. I tried not touching the tag facing up, revealing the one hundred-seventy-eight-dollar price. Ishaan pulled out another item packaged in tissue paper. Inside was another bikini in black. We went on and on, unwrapping a total of five bikinis.
“You’re serious about this Red’s Island thing?”
“I have to be there—should be there now. It’s our opening weekend. I can guarantee you a good t iiiiiii me,” he growled lowly and covertly.
It was one of those, “Yeah, there’s an undertone of sex happening here, but let’s keep it cool,” type growls.
At a loss for words, I remarked, “They’re all mediums.”
“I know.” His eyes sparkled as he sat facing me with his lengthy arm stretched over the back of his chair, and the other one extended over the table.
“You saw me in that bikini on Saturday. The top was like a floss string on my tits. I need at least a large, possibly an extra-large.”
“No, Boo-baby. You’re extremely appealing. Beautiful. I need you to know this. We may not have planned this, but we will run this pregnancy experience up. I found you tempting when we met. I find you irresistible pregnant. Your body is fuckin’ art.”
Someone walked across the doorway, reminding me of where we were. That prompted me to clean up the bikinis. “Well, at least I’ll have Dr. Patterson there as a buffer.”
“Where?”
“At dinner tonight.”
“She’s playing cards tonight with her club.”
“Shit. I’m screwed.”