Chapter 45 Escape
Escape
I glance over at him occasionally as we drive along the lonely road. I think
we’ve been here before, Nature lives somewhere out here, if I remember right. With a smile, I lean my head against the window, watching the few buildings rush by.
Babe’s driving fast. That day was so special. I remember it perfectly, from Nickoi distracting me with that Patek Philippe watch, to proposing an hour after.
And creasing his Clarks, my subconscious laughs.
She woulda affi remember that part…
My eyes drift back to him. I scan him for a while. He’s so perfect and the best part? Hedoesn’t even know it. One hand on the steering wheel, the other on the armrest. Eyessteady on the road. Calm. Composed.
*Drools*
I quickly look away when he catches me staring.
Yes man, stare too much!
A your man still…
Right. So mi supposed to look all mi want.
Yes, till yuh eye drop out.
I see his hand slightly covering his mouth, he’s trying not to laugh. “Um… when we a reach?” I blurt, saying the first thing that comes to mind. We both start laughing. We know why I asked.
Just tek the shame and guh through.
His smirk grows wider. “We almost reach,” he says, and I smack his arm playfully.
“Stop,” I whine.
He just laughs more. He stops at Nature’s gate and speaks briefly to the security. I tune out, already spinning ideas in my head about where he’s taking me.
Him say him a show a different side of himself…
“Yah,” he says, shifting the car into park. He gets out and opens my door. I hop out, and he reaches for my hand. I follow him as he walks around to the trunk.
The night breeze hits me and I shiver slightly. Red blouse, short sleeves. Black biker tights. Not exactly night chill–approved attire.
Stop focus pan it, Zara…
I won’t. My focus is on Nickoi and where he’s taking me. We head to the side of Nature’s mansion. The place is huge, bigger than I remembered. We pass an infinity pool, with gazebos set up beside it. Classy.
“Where is he, babe?” I ask, glancing around. Nickoi looks confused. Before I can say “Nature,” a monstrous bark slices through the quiet night air. Loud. Violent. Terrifying. I scream and latch onto Nickoi’s arm instinctively.
Every dog a monster to you, my subconscious laughs.
He chuckles softly, wrapping his arms around me.
“Him tie, Mami,” he says gently. I nod, breathing heavy with my head resting on his chest. Poor thing… What would you do without Nickoi?
I’d run.
“You did a ask ‘bout Nature?” he asks. I nod again.
“Ohh, him deh inside. Mi shout him pan the phone, but a nuh fi him time right now.” Then he says something that makes my smile stretch even wider.
“A your time now.” Chro mannnn. So… this is about me?
Obviously. I can’t stop blushing. It’s like the blush button stuck.
Muss to rahtid. No man… a weh wi a go Why she nuh relax inna mi head and stop mek mi nervous?
My anxiety’s doing laps as we approach a black gate in the backyard. But I trust Nickoi.
He pushes the gate open, holding it for me, and we step through. I don’t know what to expect but if it’s peace and solitude he wanted, this place has it. It’s quiet. Still. Beautiful. Nature’s house grows smaller behind us the farther we walk. Was Nickoi here alone as a child?
We stop walking, and he looks down at me. I can hear the ocean now. Waves crashing against the shore. The sound is hypnotic. He pulls me in by the waist, arms wrapping around me. We just gaze at each other.
It’s the lovers fa me…
“Mi did done tell yuh seh a Nature place mi did stay when mi father dead, right?” he says softly. “Mi never lie. But a down yah so mi spend most of mi time. Mi would go back up when him call mi.” I stay silent, just watching him.
“So you’d come to the seaside?” I ask. “By yourself?” He nods and leads me closer to the ocean. The waves pound against the sand. I feel the grains tickling my toes through my slides. I take in the view. It makes sense why he came here, far from people, far from noise. A hidden escape.
“It’s so calm down here,” I smile. He chuckles beside me.
“This why you like it?” I ask again.
“Yeah. It’s my getaway.” He stares at the ocean and I sigh. I can imagine how lost he felt after his dad passed. This was his peace. His secret. I wrap my arms around him, head resting on his arm.
“Apart from Nature, a you alone know this,” he says quietly. Wow.
“Thanks for telling me, Nickoi. I love you.”
“I love you more,” he says, smiling. I look around again and my mouth drops. On the right side, near a rock wall, is a small cave. A littoral cave, low and shadowed.
“Damn,” I whisper, pulling his hand as I walk towards it.
Inside, I spot a seat and some paintings resting on the sand.
I kneel down slowly. One of them is a portrait of his father.
My eyes blur immediately. This hurts. I hate that he lost his best friend.
And it hurts knowing he’s still grieving, still carrying that weight, quietly.
“This is perfect, Nickoi,” I whisper, wiping away a tear. He doesn’t say anything, just watches. I look closer at the painting. There’s a date on the corner. It was done recently. So he was here… recently?
“You did deh here recently?” I ask. He hesitates, then nods.
“Other day.”
“Okay,” I say softly. “I love it.”
“Yeah… Mi do a couple more, but dem inna the office,” he tells me.
“I want to see the others,” I say, instantly excited.
“That a when we go home, Zara,” he smirks.
He reaches for my hand, and soon after, we strip down and walk into the water together.
The sea wraps around us like silk, moonlight spilling on our bare skin.
I’m in my bra and panties. He’s in his boxers, and we’re tangled in laughter, in teasing, in something that feels like freedom.
Nickoi splashes me and I squeal, splashing him back. We’re weightless, two people falling for each other again.
“How often you used to come here?” I stare up at him.
“Every day when me did younger. Then life get heavy… mi stop. But mi fawud last week still,” he says, glancing out at the horizon.
“It’s beautiful. I get it.” He nods when I say that, silent for a moment.
“Out of everywhere me ever go, here so a mi favorite.”
“But…?” I nudge gently.
He hesitates. “Mi nuh know how fi say it.” I don’t push. I just smile and drift closer. He grins, then lunges, chasing me in the water. I run, slip, fall and he lifts me easily, laughter spilling from both of us. Then his hands land on my waist, pulling me back against him.
“Bout you a run from the killa,” he teases, turning me to face him.
His eyes are different now, hungry. He leans in, sucking the skin just under my ear.
My heart damn near leaps from my chest. His fingertips trail down my sides.
I gasp as he lifts me again, my legs locking around his torso.
“You see how you sexy?” he mutters, biting his lip and spanking my ass.I moan, breathless.
He slides my panties aside and I whisper, “Right here..?” He doesn’t answer, just commands.
“Hold it to the side.” I do. His length bounces free and we both freeze, eyes locked.
When he pushes inside me, my breath catches. “Ohh shiiit… ahhh…” My arms wrap tighter around him as he thrusts deeper. My moans spill out, shameless and sweet.
“Jah know… suhmm bout you,” he pants, rocking into me harder. I close my eyes, riding the rhythm, bouncing on him while he holds me like I’m weightless. Our eyes meet, we smile, dark and dirty.
“Gimme it hard,” I whisper. “Doh have no mercy pan me. All if mi bawl.” His smirk is wicked. His thrusts turn brutal. Ughh!
My moans turn to squeals. “Yesss… jus like t-that,” I grind into him slow, and the way he fills me, deeper when I wine it has my toes curling.
“Nickoiii…” I bite his neck and he groans.
That sound? Sends tremors through my spine.
The man strokes me like he knows what he’s doing.
Like he’s studying every moan I make and dialing it up.
My breasts spill from my bra, and his tongue trails between them.
I move faster, hungrier. He slams into me, lifting me with each thrust, our bodies clapping against each other.
“Zara…” he groans, breath hitching. I kiss him, soft and sloppy, as he grinds in slow circles that sends lightning through my veins.
“It feel like… you inna mi belly,” I whimper, trembling.
“Mi a go cum…” he slows down, on purpose.
“Please,” I beg, breathless. “Don’t stop…”
He smirks. “You want it?”
“Yes, please… Nickoi…”
He grinds again, then punishes my G-spot.
My cries echo off the water. He lays us on the shore and pounds into me like he’s trying to rearrange my organs.
I scream, his name tangled in every breath.
I grab his cornrows, elevate my legs and squeeze around him.
He curses, teeth digging into his bottom lip. “Hold it,” he growls.
“I… C-can’t!” My voice breaks.
“You can,” he breathes. “And you will.” I try. God, I try.
“You want cum with me?” His eyes close.
“You can now,” once he says that, I explode, literally. My body convulses, my toes curl, and a gush rushes down my thighs. My eyes roll back, tears falling without shame. I shake beneath him, breath caught somewhere in my chest.
“Mami,” he whispers, stroking my back. I hum, dazed.
“Look in a mi eyes nuh.” I do. His gaze makes my chest flutter.
“First time a do this inna the sea?” he asks. I blush and nod.
“Words.”
“Yes, Nickoi,” I say, smiling. “It’s my first time.” We walk out of the water. My legs weak. I’m freezing. He pulls his shirt over my head and zips me into his hoodie, kissing my cheek.
“Love you,” he whispers at my ear. My stomach flutters.
“I-I love you too,” I whisper back. Later, we talk about Anna’s party. About matching outfits. About nothing important and everything that matters. Then he goes quiet again.
“You okay, baby?” I ask.
“Yeah… mi just ready fi answer you.” I turn to him, giving my full attention.
He exhales. “Mi go nuff places. But here so… this always been mi escape. Especially when mi did depressed bout mi father. Mi used to come here just fi feel peace.” He stops.
“Continue, Nickoi.”
He looks at me. “But lately… mi start feel that same peace even when mi nuh deh here.” I blink, heart full.
“What else give you that peace?”
“It’s not a place,” he says. “It’s a person.”
I already know.
Still, hearing it softens my chest. “Mi inna the room with you… and even if mi think bout mi father, your presence alone mek mi feel that same peace. So mi bring yuh here fi show yuh what yuh mean to me. You think yuh nuh give me nutt’n, but Zara, you give me everything.” Tears prick my eyes.
“You a mi escape,” he says gently. I reach up to kiss him, arms wrapping around his waist, lips soft, deep, real. You’re his peace. You’re his escape. Damn…