Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
A loaded silence gathers in the room as we wait for the inevitable.
“Why can’t she have shellfish?” Iris asks, drawing the question out.
“Yeah.” Lotus frowns. “I know you’re not allergic, so are you…?”
Realization dawns on the cousins’ faces almost at the same time. Kenan, August, and I all seem to find something else to look at, careful not to reveal that we already know. Banner’s lips part like she’s about to explain when she seems to notice our strategically averted gazes and studied silence.
“Jared Foster!” Hands on hips, she turns on her husband. “You told.”
“I didn’t mean to.” Jared pops the shrimp in his mouth. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I mean, it’s not a secret you can keep for long anyway. What’s the point?”
Banner rolls her eyes, surrendering to a happy laugh and accepting the ensuing squeals and questions from Iris and Lotus. Under the cover of all the excitement, no one notices Takira slip through the dining room doors.
No one except me.
I leave the group and cross over to her. My steps literally falter for a second when I see what she’s wearing. Or not wearing. The silvery-white halter dress ties at her nape with fragile straps and dips low in the front, nearly to her belly button, contrasting against the gleaming curves of her shoulders and breasts, baring her arms. It clings to her hips and ass but floats around her thighs in frothy layers. When she walks a little ahead of me, the dress is so low the small of her back is visible.
Is she even wearing underwear?
She looks fantastic. Anticipation swells inside me at the thought of introducing her to my friends. I grab Takira’s wrist and pull her close, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “You look amazing.”
She slants an innocent look up at me. Her dress may not be subtle, but her makeup is. A smoky eye shadow and the slightest tilt of a cat eye at the corners. Nude lipstick and her braids styled into an elaborate updo studded with crystals.
“I was worried you wouldn’t approve,” she says with a small pout.
“Why not? You look gorgeous.”
“Well, I know you wanted me to wear these,” she says, shoving a ball of silk into my hand and closing my fingers around it. “And this dress doesn’t allow for panties.”
“Shit, Kira.” I shove the panties into the pockets of my slacks.
I’m not sure which part makes my dick hardest—her slightly damp panties in my pocket, the sexy-as-fuck dress that barely covers her butt cleavage, or the fact that she just told me her pussy is bare under there.
“Come on.” She turns her back on the room, grinning up at me and tugging my hand where I still grasp her wrist. “Aren’t you gonna introduce me to your friends?”
Chapter Eleven
Takira
My head is buzzing, and I haven’t even had a drop of liquor. My brain is overloaded with names and connections and relationships. When Lotus invited me on this trip, she said it would be a few close friends, which is technically true. There are just so many powerful personalities in one room. Rarely do I feel intimidated. I move in some rarefied circles from time to time in my line of work and rub up against entertainment industry elite, but everyone here is at the top of their game somehow.
Banner and Jared, a power couple, two elite sports agents.
Kenan and Lotus, obviously. Her, one of the buzziest names in fashion; him, a basketball legend, guaranteed first-round Hall of Famer with business enterprises all over the world.
August and Iris. Him, a franchise player, one of the best in the League right now. Apparently Iris is becoming a force in her own right, handling huge accounts with their sports agency, Elevation.
Adding to the bad-assery, Lotus’s close friends and business partners Billie and Yari are here with their boyfriends. Kenan’s sister Kenya, a WNBA player, is here with her new wife, Jade, who apparently is a songwriter and producer and cousin to Grip, one of the greatest lyricists of our generation.
So, yeah. It’s a lot. They’re a lot.
The food was fantastic. The conversation—stimulating, intelligent, hilarious. The best time I’ve had over a meal in…maybe ever. Naz’s friends are incredible, and it’s obvious he cares about them as much as they care about him. They were accepting and kind, though extremely curious. I wouldn’t get this many questions on Jeopardy.
“I need a drink,” I tell Naz, glancing around the emptying dining room.
“Then let’s get you one.” He walks us over to the bar, and I ask the bartender to surprise me. I don’t particularly care what I drink right now, as long as it takes this edge off.
“Didn’t want to drink much during dinner,” I tell Naz. “I had to keep a clear head for the inquisition.”
“Ugh.” He groans but grins. “My friends are nosy.”