Chapter 20
For the life of me, I couldn’t understand how we could get around the fraternization policy.
I read the clause backward and forward. The language was clear.
But because Russ was the CEO of RLF, I had hope that he’d figure something out.
He asked me to trust him, and I did. But the reality was that I didn’t want to lose my job and I didn’t want Russ to lose his company.
It scared me to think that one or the other would need to happen in order for us to be together.
I wouldn’t want him to resent me.
“Did I mention how good you look?” Russ murmured in my ear, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I rotated my ass against his semihard dick on the dance floor. Leaning back into his chest, my lips pulled into a smile. “You did. But I don’t mind hearing it again.”
His fingers gripped my hips, and he nuzzled his nose into my neck. “You look so fucking good in this dress.”
I closed my eyes momentarily.
The mocha-tinted dress with crystal embellishment gave the illusion of sheerness and fit my body like a glove. The G-string that I wore was soaking wet as I listened to the complimentary words he whispered into my ear. My nipples strained against the fabric as I turned around in his arms.
I looked up into his handsome face and smiled. I placed my hands on his cheeks, gently scratching his beard before bringing his lips down to mine.
“Thank you,” I purred as our mouths connected again. “You should see what I’m wearing underneath it.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” he groaned, pulling me closer. “You’ve been trying to get my dick hard since we finished dinner.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “Is it working?”
He laughed against my mouth, allowing me to taste his joy, to swallow his happiness. The happiness I felt in him and with him caused me to shiver. I couldn’t remember a more perfect night.
There were about forty or fifty people on the dance floor, so it was crowded but not ridiculously so. We had enough privacy that we weren’t overheard, but I was tipsy enough to not care if we were, and the other half of the guests were under a tent or by the lake.
“On the count of three, turn to the birthday girl and yell ‘Happy birthday, Aaliyah!’” the DJ shouted. “One! Two! Three!”
“Happy birthday, Aaliyah!” I yelled out with about a hundred other people.
“Now make your way toward the lake—we have something special happening in two minutes,” the DJ continued. “Two minutes.”
Russ intertwined his fingers with mine. “There’s more?”
“Yes,” I replied as he spun me in a circle.
Pulling me close, he tucked me into his side. “Your girl knows how to throw a party.”
“She’s been planning it for a year, and it’s turned out so good. The dinner was perfect—”
“The chef did the damn thing,” he interrupted, escorting me toward the lake with the rest of the guests. “Every course was good.”
“Every single one!” I agreed. “The food, the music, the vibe. Everything has been amazing. I hope she’s having a good time.” I looked around until I saw her with her date and smiled. “It looks like she’s satisfied with how the night turned out.”
He glanced over. “From that smile on her face, I’d say so.”
I looked up at him. “And what about you? Are you having a good time?”
“Yeah, I am. I always have a good time with you. But it’s been real cool meeting your friends and seeing you with your people.”
“They love you.”
A smile pulled on his lips. “Oh, for real?”
“What’s not to love? You’re perfect,” I blurted out.
His smile grew. “You think I’m perfect?”
Stepping back, I rolled my eyes and gestured to him. “Look at you. You’re smart and sweet and charming and funny and sexy…” My eyes swept up and down his body as my sentence trailed off, lingering on the last adjective.
Russ looked good in his navy blue pants and matching shirt.
His dark brown tie, belt, and shoes pulled his look together and kept him from looking too matchy-matchy.
The quality and tailored cut of the expensive threads fit his sculpted body perfectly.
The colors complemented his dark caramel complexion, which seemed to glow under the moonlight.
I forced my eyes back to his. “And the dick is immaculate.”
He burst out laughing. “Yoooooooooo!”
The fireworks exploded in the sky, and I shifted my focus.
The elaborate display over the lake was so pretty.
Bright streaks of white danced high above the trees.
The sky was so dark it looked black, except where the moon peeked over the trees and made it look purple.
There weren’t many visible stars in the sky, but the fireworks made up for that.
“Did you see that one?” I asked excitedly, pointing to the “Happy Birthday” formation. “It’s so beautiful.”
“You’re so beautiful.”
I glanced over at him and saw his eyes were on me. Grinning, I bumped him with my hip. “You’re missing the show.”
“I’m watching the one that matters.”
A new flurry of fireworks went off, but my eyes stayed trained on him.
He studied my face. “I love when you get that look.”
I smiled up at him. “What look?”
He cupped my cheeks. “That one.”
“Why?” I whispered.
“I love seeing you happy.” His fingers skated across my skin as he moved down to my neck. He held my gaze and his thumbs slid down my throat. “And I’ll do anything to keep you happy.”
My heart skipped a beat. “I like the sound of that.”
He brought his lips down to mine and gave me the sweetest, most romantic kiss.
I felt that kiss throughout every inch of my body.
When he pulled away slightly, his face hovered over mine.
There was such adoration and love in the way he looked at me, and I felt emotionally raw.
I wanted to tell that man I’d be his girlfriend, that I loved him, that I was ready to suck the skin off him.
My lips parted.
“Nina!” Jazmyn called out, pulling me from my trance.
I’ve had too much to drink, I thought as I swallowed my feelings and turned toward my best friend’s voice.
Jazz and Aaliyah waved me over to where they were near the dock.
“Go be with your friends,” Russ told me, brushing the back of his hand against my cheek. “I’ll be right here.”
My stomach fluttered.
Oh, he’s about to get sucked and fucked, I thought as I made my way to my girls.
I looked between my two best friends as I approached, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Aaliyah was stunning in green, but it was the way her hair indicated she’d gotten fucked earlier in the night that really made her shine.
Jazz was beautiful in black, but it was her smile and the way her eyes danced that made her glow.
“The two of you look happy as hell,” I commented, stopping right in front of them.
“I am,” Aaliyah admitted, practically gushing. “I really am!” She pointed at me. “But clearly, I’m not the only one. You’re smiling from ear to ear.”
“Right?” Jazz added, putting her hands on her hips. “And you’re one to talk, Nina. You damn near floated down here!”
I laughed. “I’ve had a good amount to drink tonight.”
Aaliyah pursed her lips and cocked her head to the side. “You’re really going to say it’s the alcohol when it’s clear that you and Russ are a thing.”
I shook my head. “We’re not a thing… not officially. He says he has a plan to solve our problem. So, for right now, we’re… we’re friends with benefits.” I looked over my shoulder to find him standing with both Jazz’s and Aaliyah’s dates. “No, we’re colleagues with benefits.”
“Does he know you’re in love with him?” Aaliyah asked.
My head snapped back, and I stared at her. My heart raced as I processed her question. “Wh-what?”
“Don’t deny it. It’s written all over your face. He’s the one.”
I looked at Jazmyn for help, but she smirked. “I have never seen you like this. And if I’m being honest, seeing Nina Ford locked in with one man and settling down almost makes me believe in love again.”
I shook my head. “Just because the man is literally perfect for me doesn’t mean we’re in love.” I glanced over my shoulder to make sure we wouldn’t be overheard. “Until he puts this plan he has in motion, we’re just… colleagues with benefits,” I explained.
“And unofficially?” Jazz wondered. “Because he’s been looking at you like you two are together.”
Grinning, I looked up at the sky. “Unofficially, that’s my man.”
“The way the two of you have been carrying on, you might as well admit you love him and propose,” Aaliyah teased.
“Propose to a man?” I frowned. “I wouldn’t even propose a toast!”
They burst out laughing.
“But in all seriousness, I really am tipsy,” I admitted. “I almost told that man I loved him earlier. He was looking at me, touching me, saying all the right things. So, I’m drinking water for the rest of the night because that damn drink got me in my feelings and almost got me caught up.”
They were cracking up.
I meant what I’d said. With Aaliyah’s signature drinks running through my system, my inhibitions were lowered, and my heart was on my nonexistent sleeve. But they were delicious. So, when Aaliyah’s cousin, Tamara, and Tamara’s wife came by with a tray of drinks, I took one.
“We want to toast my cousin,” Tamara said with a smile. “Where are your dates?”
We all gestured to the three handsome men huddled together in conversation. Her wife took the rest of the drinks and went to go get them.
“So, which of you will be the next to be married?” Tamara teased before taking a sip of her drink.
“Aaliyah,” Jazz and I answered simultaneously.
All of us burst out laughing.
“Her lovesick ass,” I commented, shaking my head.
“I know you ain’t talking!” Aaliyah exclaimed.
“She’s right, Nina,” Jazz agreed.
I almost choked on my drink. “Jazz! Not you, too!”
She lifted her shoulders and giggled. “I’m sorry. But you look like a woman in love.”
My eyes widened as I looked at her in disbelief. “Hello, pot. I’m kettle.”
Aaliyah and Tamara were weak.
Russ and the others strolled up, looking amused.
“What’s so funny?” Tamara’s wife asked.