Chapter Four
Rome
S urreal.
That’s the best word I can think of to describe how it felt to slide inside of her.
Janelle’s body is a paradise that I could spend my life exploring and it still wouldn’t be enough. What’s more is that it felt so good to just be with her. In between all the sexing, we just talked. About everything. It’s amazing how easy it is to talk to her about shit I’ve never told anyone.
When she texted me that she needed me, I was relieved. Thankful I wasn’t alone in my hunger.
A quickie in a supply closet down the hall from the spa where she was supposed to be wasn’t how I would’ve preferred to see her again, but the smile on her face and limp in her walk when she left made it worth it.
To be honest, I know one week with her isn’t going to be enough time. Now that I’ve had a taste of her, I’m insatiable. There’s not a chance in hell I’ll be able to be around her next week and not want to fall into her warmth.
I’ll take what I can get, though. She could give me literal crumbs and I would devour them like they were my last meal simply because it’s her.
After my workout with the guys this morning we all went our separate ways to enjoy some free time and then decided to meet up at the pool.
Right now, we’re at one of the private pools that only the few located in our wing of the hotel can access.
The pool is oblong shaped, encircled by plush lounge chairs and surrounded by tall trees.
There’s a small outdoor bar not far away from the pool and we’ve already become great friends with the bartender stationed there, Tomas.
Christian has spent his day flirting with every woman he’s seen, and he’s now brought one of them back to the pool with us. Micah is standing with Tomas at the bar while Arnold swims laps like he’s training for the Olympics.
When Arnold finishes his last lap, Christian turns his attention from the woman under his arm.
“Aye, bruh, how come you don’t have any activities planned for us like Amerie does for the ladies? We ain’t special enough?” He laughs.
We all laugh with him. If there’s one thing Christian’s gonna do, it’s talk shit.
“Listen, I told Ri she was doing too much. This extra week is supposed to be about relaxing before all the activities we’re doing with everyone next week but my lady gonna do what she gonna do and you gonna respect it. ”
“I see you, my boy. Learning the language of marriage already. She’s always right.”
Arnold rolls his eyes. “You don’t know shit about marriage or women, fool.”
“I think I know a thing or two about women. Ain’t that right, baby?” He flashes a grin at the woman beside him, whose name we still don’t know because I don’t think Christian even knows, and she returns the grin tenfold.
“Maybe a little something.”
I shake my head. I’m surprised Christian’s even still here and not trying to convince this poor unsuspecting soul to go back to his room with him.
“What else does Ri have planned for them today?” I hope the tone of my voice is casual and not at all like I’m asking because I want to get a gauge on Janelle’s schedule.
Arnold jumps out of the pool and sits on the lounge chair by me where he left his towel. “I have no clue. I can’t keep it all straight, but I know she wanted all of us to go dancing tonight.”
“Where at?” Christian asks.
“Does it make a difference? Yo ass gonna be there,” Micah chimes in, taking a sip from his drink.
Christian sits on the lounge chair on the opposite side of me and his guest invites herself to sit on his lap. “I can’t be curious? Damn. I’m down for a night out though. Shake shit up.”
The woman on his lap looks at him expectantly, probably for an invite to tonight’s festivities, and Christian is acting like he doesn’t notice because I’m sure he plans to be moved on to the next one by then.
“What’s your name, Miss?” I ask Christian’s mystery guest. Christian doesn’t care to involve her in our conversation, but I was raised right, so I will.
She smiles shyly at me. “Tiana.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Rome.” I hold my hand out to shake hers and Christian looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, so I just chuckle at him.
“Oh, um, I know. Actually, I know who all of you are.” She looks around at all of us.
“Oh, really?” Arnold asks, his voice harsh and skeptical. He never trusts anyone who claims to know us, always looking for their ulterior motive.
“Yeah. I admit I didn’t recognize Chris because I’m so used to just hearing his voice but then I saw you guys when we came over here.
” She points to me. “Your article in Esquire was dope as hell and my niece is obsessed with your games.” She turns to point at Micah.
“A friend of mine put me on to your work. I went to your gallery opening a few years back.” Micah nods his head with respect.
She points to Arnold, who still has his eyes narrowed at her.
“And you made headlines for making Jay Daniels the highest paid wide receiver in NFL history. Nobody saw that coming after his injury, but it was well deserved. I was impressed.”
Well, damn. She really does know each and every one of us.
“Wait a minute,” Christian interrupts. “So, you mean to tell me I was the only one you didn’t recognize?” Typical Christian. He wasn’t interested in a damn word this woman had to say until she wasn’t fawning over him.
She chuckles. “I said I didn’t recognize you at first. I don’t live in Baltimore so I don’t listen to your station like that, but I am a faithful listener of your podcast.”
He puffs his chest out with pride. This man is really simple.
We talk to Tiana a little more and I’m surprised that Christian stumbled upon a smart woman to spend his time with when he normally likes the women who are happy sitting in silence while he chops it up like they’re nothing more than life-size dolls.
I’m sure this was an accident on his part, but I hope she digs her claws in him deep enough that we won’t have to deal with anyone else for the rest of the trip.
Watching Christian openly flirt with Tiana makes me wish I could do the same with a certain voluptuous beauty.
“Ay, Janelle!” Christian’s voice travels over my shoulder and when I turn my head, I see the woman who has completely clouded my brain.
She looks amazing in the same copper brown shorts and white tank I saw her in earlier.
Her thick thighs are slick with some kind of oil, making my mans sit up a little in my shorts.
When she hears her name, she stops and scans the area before she spots us and the storm clouds in her eyes tell me that someone undid all the work I did to de-stress her earlier.
She looks behind her before walking over to where Christian, Tiana, and myself are sitting.
“Hi,” she says lamely.
“What’s wrong with you?” Christian asks.
She looks at me briefly before sitting down beside me, careful not to let her legs touch mine. What happened between earlier and now?
She sighs. “Nothing. I’m just tired now. It’s been a long day.” She seems to shake herself out of her stupor enough to notice Tiana. “Hi, I’m Janelle. I love your top.” She gestures toward the black mesh-like top she is wearing.
“Aww, thank you. I love your hair. I’m Tiana. Nice to meet you.” The two women share a warm smile between them.
Christian rolls his eyes and continues his line of questioning. “Where y’all been at all day?”
“Why, you miss us?” We all turn to Eve who somehow snuck up on us.
“It depends, did you miss me?” He licks his lips when he asks the question, causing Eve to stick her finger in her mouth, pretending to gag.
I think he enjoys flirting with her because she genuinely doesn’t like him.
He thinks he can get under her skin and worm his way into her panties just to say he did it, but to flirt with her while another woman sits on your lap is bold even for him.
Tiana doesn’t look put off by it at all, though. I think she has her own motives for spending time with Christian.
“Please, the day I miss you will be the day I strap weights to my ankles and jump in the ocean.”
“You play too much.”
“Who’s playing?”
Janelle cuts into the conversation before these two can really get started.
“Anyway, we did the spa today. After that, we went to explore the ruins, then we went to look for some specific flower Ri really wanted to get from here for the wedding, and now we’re about to do some other errand for her before we all go out tonight. ”
They crammed a lot into their morning while the guys and I did nothing. From what Arnold has told me and the little glimpses I’ve gotten from Janelle, I knew Amerie was a type A personality, but I wasn’t expecting her to have an itinerary for every moment of every day.
A glass appears between Janelle and I, and we both look up to find Micah holding out a Mezcalita for her and a Bay Breeze for Eve.
“Y’all look like y’all could use a drink.”
Eve gives Micah a seductive smile, and he just laughs before walking back over to the bar and scanning the pool area.
“Thank you, Micah.” Janelle and Eve swoon in unison.
“Kiss ass!” Christian yells with his fist wrapped around his mouth.
Eve turns a scowl on him and points her glass in his direction. “Just because you wouldn’t know home training if it looked your stupid ass in the mouth.” She turns to Tiana. “Speaking of home training—Hi, I’m Evie. You’re gorgeous.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re so sweet. I’m Tiana.”
“Can I give you a piece of advice, Tiana?”
“Sure,” she says.
“No,” Christian says at the same time.
“Run far away from this one. Unless you wanna leave this vacation with something you can’t get rid of, if you know what I’m saying.” She winks.
“Now you lying on my dick? That’s foul, Evelyn.”