3. JUSTINA
My flight landed right on schedule, and a driver waited on the tarmac for me.
Hat and shades in place, I quickly sashayed from the jet to the back of the waiting sedan.
The driver closed the door behind me, enclosing me in the cool interior.
North Florida’s weather wasn’t much different than South Florida, but it sure as hell felt like it.
As requested, the driver had some music on.
One song ended, fading into another. Inwardly, I groaned.
Dane Richards seemed to be following me every damn where.
First, it was his voice on the ride to the airport.
Then it was a picture of him on the cover of one of the magazines I flipped through as my flight took off.
Now, it was his voice riding with me to Onyx Cove Resort.
His lyrics never failed to make me stop and listen. I knew every line, every ad-lib, and every beat drop like the back of my hand. Dane’s music was truly in a caliber all its own. A few rappers tried to go up against him, but he always had a bar or two to shut them the fuck up.
I guessed that was one of the things I liked about Dane.
He was lowkey, rarely addressed these niggas, and let his numbers do the talking.
Dane was a walking billboard for how to achieve billionaire status from the work of his own pen, life experiences, and imagination.
Truthfully, if he wasn’t someone in the industry, he would be a potential partner for a woman like me.
Well, if he wasn’t community dick and all.
Although Dane was lowkey, the women he dealt with weren’t the least bit lowkey about it.
It was like they waited for the opportunity to sleep with him just so they could post about it.
Of course, he never confirmed or denied whether he’d actually slept with all those women.
If I had to guess, I’d say that many of the stories were true.
That wasn’t my business, though. As the chauffeur pulled into the winding entrance of Onyx Cove Resort, I marveled at the towering palm trees, lively brush, and magnificent waterfalls, then decided that Dane and his dick weren’t my problem and never would be…
My breath paused inside my throat as we grew closer to the resort’s entrance. Standing outside, hands in the pockets of white linen shorts, locs dangling past his chest, and arms out, showing off the muscles and ink across his toasted brown skin, Dane Richards rendered me speechless.
Even though I’d been in the industry for seven years, the first and only time Dane and I came face to face with each other was at the Music in Black Awards.
He received his fourth album of the year award and stood on that stage looking like a dream I was ready to fall asleep and have.
Presenting him that award was still fresh in my mind.
Shit, it dominated my mind. Dane was nineties fine and had the voice of someone who could talk a woman through it many times over.
At thirty-seven, he was in his twentieth year in the industry, with six albums under his belt, and he wasn’t slowing down.
He stayed on top of his game all the time.
Abruptly, my door opened, shining a hefty amount of sunlight on my skin and snatching me back to the present. I’d been staring with my mouth open.
A large hand fitted with intricate skeletal bones and clean, nicely manicured nails reached for me. His cologne reached for me too, pulling me up by my panties and tweaking my clit as I took his hand. Ashamed of myself, I blushed, just like the last time Dane touched me.
As if he didn’t realize I was in the throes of a mini orgasm, Dane smiled, showcasing his perfectly dressed teeth. The diamonds in his mouth were brilliant and even brighter in person than they were on television.
“Miss Justina…”
Oh, shit. Why would he say my name, my government name, like that?
“Welcome to Onyx Cove Resort,” he practically crooned. That was what the hell he sounded like.
I found my own voice and replied, “Hi, Dane.”
Standing so close to him was akin to standing between the sun, a volcano, and Niagara Falls.
I was hot all over, boiling over, and wet as hell at the same time.
I wasn’t sure why the hell he was here, but Dane had to get out of my presence before I did something stupid, like ask him to meet me in my suite.
I didn’t know this man personally, and if this was the way my body continued to react to him, I could see how women fell into bed with him for no damn reason other than his aura was that seductive and strong.
And why did it seem like he was expecting me?
Onyx Cove Resort was touted for its exclusivity, privacy, protection, and discretion.
Hell, I had to sign an NDA to book a stay here.
With round-the-clock security, chauffeured travel, an in-house five-star-ranked chef, and a ton of other amenities, Onyx Cove Resort was at the top of the list for luxurious resorts.
This was my first time here, but I trusted the word of other patrons who swore by this place.
“Make ya’self at home. If you need anything, just call the front desk. They’ll take care of you,” Dane said.
“Wait… Is this your place?”
He nodded. “Silently so,” he whispered.
I chuckled and pulled myself together. “So far, it looks amazing. I’ll let you know how my suite suits me.”
“Please do,” he replied. “Should I refrain from holding my breath, or you gon’ keep ya word?”
I giggled like a fool, and I never giggled. “I’ll keep my word, Dane.”
His eyes scanned my body so smoothly that I nearly missed it. “Aight, bet.” He motioned a bellhop over who wordlessly went straight to unpacking my luggage from the trunk.
“Thank you,” I said sweetly. “See you around, Dane.”
His lopsided grin was everything chocolate ice cream and chocolate cake were made of.
Only this chocolate was poisonous and likely more addictive than anything known to a woman.
Therefore, standing here ogling Mr. Richards wasn’t a bright idea.
So, I twiddled my fingers at him and followed the bellhop inside the resort.
As we entered the lobby, I removed my shades, and my mouth dropped open. I’d been in beautiful, extravagant, exotic places before. I’d traveled the world and walked through caves that were surely carved by a majestic hand. But this… This was unlike anything I’d ever seen.
From the outside, it looked as though the inside would lean towards a tropical feel.
However, tall columns with intricate painted details framed a double, grand staircase that connected to the second level.
Rich shades of brown, deep hues of orange, and bold tones of green dominated the color scheme.
Cream furniture that had to be plucked right out of the king’s palace created nice seating areas in two separate areas of the lobby.
The walls were cream, and as clean as a whistle.
Not a speck, ding, or spot of dirt blemished the place.
As I approached the reception area, I caught sight of a couple of birds who spent their entire lives with me on their brain.
Immediately, I wanted to turn around and cancel this trip.
I’d go back home and hole myself up inside until the coast was clear, and I was no longer the talk of social media town.
Esian and Oney, sisters from Atlanta, Georgia, ran their wildly popular podcast, Tea Me Up.
If I wasn’t the trending topic on their messy ass podcast, then they would pick the day to dig on another woman.
While they claimed to be an uplifting and positive platform for Black women, I was convinced their brand was all about tearing down other Black women.
Whatever brought us to the same location at the same time really wanted to ruin my time alone.
Then again, I thought about the NDA. They couldn’t speak on anyone they saw, or anything they witnessed.
Putting a pep back in my step, I ignored their shady waves and went to the receptionist’s desk.
“Majesty!” the young lady spoke. I could tell she was starstruck, but she kept it professional when she said, “I apologize, Ms. Knight. It’s so good to meet you. I have your room key ready right here.”
Smiling, I accepted the key card and replied, “Thank you.”
She grinned. “The elevators are to your right, and the bellhop will help you up. If there’s absolutely anything you need, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Staff is on duty ‘round the clock, the lounge and bar are open ‘round the clock, Rose’s is open ‘round the clock, and housekeeping is available at the drop of a hat.” She beamed brightly.
“I hope you enjoy your stay at Onyx Cove Resort.”
“I’m sure I will,” I replied. The bellhop led me to the elevators and up to my floor.
When the doors opened, security politely nodded as I exited the elevator and made my way to my suite.
Using the keycard, I let myself into the suite, which encompassed one full corner of the building.
This suite was a full-on condo, one I could easily fall in love with, I thought as I eased towards the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the sparkling white sands of Pensacola Beach.
This was my first time here, and I could tell this place would be a yearly visit.
Not only was the view stunning, but the silent owner wasn’t so bad either.