Chapter 24 #2
She smiled, leaned her head back against his shoulder. “I really do love surprises when they come from you.”
“Good. ‘Cause I got a lot more planned for this weekend.”
She closed her eyes, and the hum of the plane relaxed her. His heartbeat was steady under her ear, his fingers stretched on her shoulder.
When she woke up, they were descending.
“We’re here?” she asked, voice groggy.
“Almost.” He smiled down at her. “You slept the whole flight.”
“I did?” She sat up, rubbed her eyes and belly. “Damn. I didn’t mean to.”
“You needed it.” His hand found hers.
The car was waiting for them at the curb—a black Range Rover with tinted windows and enough space for their luggage and then some. He loaded their bags while she climbed into the backseat. He spoke with the driver before joining her. She was back to wondering where he was taking her.
After another thirty minutes, she recognized they were getting close to something. The roads got smaller, more winding. Trees thickened on either side. Then he turned onto a private drive, and she sat up straighter.
“No way...”
“Just wait.”
The drive opened up into a clearing, and her breath caught.
A sprawling ranch resort spread out before them—rustic but clearly expensive, with a main building and several villas scattered across the property.
She could see horses in the distance, a lake, endless green.
This wasn’t your mom and pop ranch. This was luxury, and it showed in every detail.
“What is this?” she asked quietly.
“Black-owned luxury ranch resort.” He helped her out of the car. “Figured you been everywhere for work, but probably never had time to be somewhere for the vibes.”
She looked at him with so much adoration, it made her almost weak. “This is incredible.”
“Wait till you see the villa.”
Their villa was tucked into the back of the property, private and quiet. He unlocked the door and let her walk in first.
She stood in the middle of the living room, turning slowly to take it all in.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the hill.
A kitchen she could cook in, but there wouldn’t be any of that.
Furniture that looked comfortable instead of decorative.
Through the sliding glass doors, she could see a deck with a hot tub.
“Ro...” She turned to face him, and her throat was tight. “This is too much.”
“Nah.” He set their bags down and came to her. “This is exactly right.”
“Nobody’s ever—” She stopped, tried again. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything.” His hands found her waist. “Be here with me, and kick back. That’s all I want.”
She looked up at him, this man who’d somehow become everything she hadn’t known she was looking for. “Okay.”
He gave her the rest of the afternoon to settle in, to explore the villa, to breathe. When she explored the villa, she found the deepest tub she’d ever seen, and it was on the back deck. She loved how this place was set. The next villa was far away, allowing them to have privacy.
The tub filled up as she connected her phone to the speaker. She couldn’t wait to soak. She found all types of Black-owned bath salts. She settled on Lemon and Honey. She also found some tea that could be smoked. She was in heaven.
Once the tub was full, she slid in, lit the prerolled cone, and watched the sun move across the sky, listening to the quiet. No traffic, no sirens, no city noise. Just wind and birds and peace.
When he came out to find her, he called out, “Ken, baby?”
“Out back.”
“I should’ve known. You feeling good?”
“So good. Are you going to get in with me?” she asked, reaching out for him.
“Nah, but I’mma smoke some real shit and kick it with you. I know this playlist.”
She laughed. “You swear you know me.”
“So this ain’t the come in and shut up playlist?”
She flicked water at him, and he smiled, seeing her happy. For fifteen minutes, he sat out back with her as they sang to moody music and relaxed until it was time for dinner. She rose from the tub, and he dried her off slowly. His eyes never left hers.
“I gotta wait until after dinner to get between them thighs?”
“No, you can do and have whatever you would like.”
“Oh, word?”
“Word.”
He said, sliding her on top of the railing on the back deck.
He slowly lifted her right leg, allowing the left to dangle.
Slowly, he stepped in between her legs. He ran his hand up her thigh, her dewy skin giving him slight resistance.
He grabbed the Pink velvet body glaze she loved and started at her foot.
He made sure her body was covered and properly moisturized with hazy eyes.
“You’re torturing me,” she breathed, too far gone to pretend that she didn’t need some part of him in every way.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered, kissing her thigh and then the mound of her pussy. His thick tongue slithered between her lips, causing her to shift slightly.
“I gotta restrain you, Ken.”
She shook her head as she continued to pant.
Like the eater he was, Rolani went in like a dog with a lockjaw on her pussy.
The sounds of his smacking drove her crazy.
He never missed a chance to have his head between her legs.
He sucked on her clit while sliding two fingers in slowly.
She scooted closer. The sensation of his fingers sliding in and out of her wet folds caused her eyes to shut tightly.
“Tell me what you want, baby,” he said, angling his fingers until she gasped.
“Ouu baby, that feels so good,” she cried out as he hit her spot and toyed with her clit. “So damn good.”
He lifted one of her legs to rest on his forearm and went back in. Her body responded instantly, tightening, clenching, holding him like she never wanted to let go.
“Open your eyes,” he demanded when she tried to close them. “Look at me.”
When she did, he saw pleasure on her face and underneath it the truth she’d been outrunning since the plane. He had successfully knocked down some of her walls. He was sure she had plenty more, and so did he, but he was here to stay, so he’d knock those hoes down, too.
Rolani’s lips latched onto her bud again. He licked, sucked, and nibbled until she shattered around him. Her body convulsed as her orgasm tore through her. He held her there, watching every expression cross her face.
When she came down, soft and pliant in his arms, he helped her shower before they got dressed for dinner.
She wore a white linen skirt and a ruffled babydoll shirt that exposed her round belly.
The gold sandals she wore added a little sparkle.
She was high on love, sex, and whatever was in that tea. She felt and looked great.
“You look good, baby,” she said, coming out to find him in a tan linen set and tan and white Jordan Ones. His large frame swallowed hers when he brought her in to nuzzle her neck and inhale her scent.
“That’s the one.”
“It’s the Attrape-Rêves from Louis Vuitton. Shout out to my man.”
“That shit got me ready to eat you off the damn bone. Come on, let me get some energy in you.”
The restaurant was in the main building, intimate and warm. They were seated at a corner table with a view of the property, and she could see other Black couples scattered throughout—laughing, holding hands, existing in a space that felt like it was made for them.
“This is beautiful,” she said, looking around.
“Wait till you taste the food.”
He wasn’t lying. The menu was elevated soul food—short ribs that fell off the bone, mac and cheese that made her close her eyes in appreciation, collard greens that reminded her of her mother’s kitchen.
“Oh my God,” she said after the first bite. “This is incredible.”
“Better than Luther’s?”
She opened one eye. “I’m not answering that.”
He laughed, and she realized how much she loved that sound. How comfortable he looked here, how at ease. Like this weekend was as much for him as it was for her.
The chef came out midway through their meal, stopping by tables to chat with guests.
When he got to them, Kennedi’s brain immediately went to work—thinking about questions she could ask, stories she could pitch, angles she could explore.
But she stopped herself. Her very real boyfriend had planned a perfect trip for her.
He’d given her the thing she would forever need, wind beneath her wing, and she cared enough about him caring about her to not taint their weekend with work.
After dinner, he took her hand and led her away from the main building, down a path lit with soft lights. They walked in silence until they reached a clearing at the top of a hill.
He’d already been here. She could tell. There was a blanket spread out, pillows arranged, a small cooler off to the side.
“When did you do this?” she asked.
“While you were exploring.” He settled onto the blanket and held out his hand. “Come here.”
She kicked off her shoes and joined him, letting him pull her between his legs so her back was against his chest. The sky was massive out here, stars thick and bright in a way she’d never seen.
“Damn,” she whispered.
“Yeah, it’s beautiful out here.”
They didn’t talk for a while. Just sat there, his arms around her, her head resting against his shoulder. The quiet wasn’t uncomfortable. It was... full. Heavy with everything they weren’t saying.
“Thank you for this wonderful surprise,” she said finally.
His arms tightened around her. “I want you happy. I want you to stay. I gotta be on my shit.”
“I’m not used to it, but I liked trusting you in this way.” She turned her head to look at him, and whatever she saw in his face made her pause for a second. “You’re a good man, baby.”
His hand came up to cup her jaw. “You mean that?”
“Every word.”
“Dig that. You stuck with me.”
She should’ve felt scared. Should’ve wanted to pull back, protect herself, keep some distance. But instead, all she felt was relief.
“Good,” she said quietly.