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)
“It’s not twerking,” I tell them. “So put that out of your mind. And I don’t wanna see no hula hoops.”
I bend my knees a little, roll my hips to demonstrate, and immediately feel good. It’s like serotonin to my system, the mellifluous motion of my limbs, my torso and hips, and the beat that pounds through my blood.
Lotus actually is decent. She jokingly claims she learned from watching Rihanna.
At least, I think she’s joking.
Yari says she’s Dominican and can dance to any beat under the sun. Also, decent.
That Billie, though.
If there’s a stage that is pre-beginner, that’s Billie.
But she’s trying, and we’re laughing, the spray from the sea kissing our faces and the sun warming our bare skin.
“Now you pelting waist, gyal,” I shout over the music, nearly losing the flow because I’m laughing so hard at Billie trying.
My hips are still swimming in the balmy air, the delicate body chain draped over my neck and around my stomach glinting in the sun, when two large hands bracket my waist from behind. I look up to see Naz towering over me, an indulgent smile shaping his lips.
“You gonna teach me?”
The thought of this huge man—six feet, seven inches of athletic grace, but dancing awkwardness—bubbles laughter out of me.
“Them hips weren’t made for wining,” I tell him, turning into his hug and tipping up to kiss his chin. “How was volleyball?”
“Intense. You’d think the ballers would be the most competitive, but Jared’s a savage.”
“I can actually see that, but then, you hear him FaceTiming with Angela every night, reading to her in Spanish…major heart melt.”
“True. One of his clients, a soccer player, owns a villa in Positano. We’ll stay there for a couple of days when we dock for Kenan’s birthday party.”
At the mention of Kenan’s party, my smile dims. After the party, we fly home, and I’ll continue with Naz and hide it…or continue and tell Cliff…or not continue at all. Each of those options holds a promise of some heartache.
“You okay?” Naz frowns and searches my face, my eyes.
I don’t want the cloud that’s hanging over me hanging over us, over the time we have left, so I set the worry aside.
“Yeah.” I slip my hands around his waist and smile up at him. “I’m fine.”
“Did I miss the lesson?” Banner asks, sidling up beside us. “The wine sesh?”
“You did.” I laugh. “But I can give you a private lesson later.”
“Awesome,” she says, her eyes alight with excitement. “Maybe at the villa. We’ll be docking soon, so pack a bag!”
Chapter Sixteen
Naz
“Ready?” I ask, nodding to Takira’s overnight bag on the floor. “That’s all you got?”
“It’s only two nights.” She lifts the Louis Vuitton weekender. “I’ve learned to be pretty streamlined when I travel, even if it’s just ashore.”
“Let me get it,” I say, taking the bag from her. A buzzing sound makes me frown. “What’s that?”
“What’s what, babe?” she asks, walking to the bathroom. “I was about to leave my makeup bag. Now that would be tragic. I promised to do Billie’s makeup for the party.”
Not only is the sound a buzz, now I feel something vibrating.
“It’s like a buzzing sound. I think it’s coming from the bag.” I set it on the bed. “I can check.”
“Oh, shit!” Takira rushes from the bathroom to stand between me and the bed. “Um, I’ll get it. It’s just… I’ll get it.”
She doesn’t move but licks her lips and shifts her eyes to the floor.
“Well, get it,” I say, grinning, because obviously something’s up. “What is it? Why don’t you want me to see?”
She holds my gaze for a few seconds and then rolls her eyes, releasing a huffing breath. “I did ride your face last night, so I think at this point, no need to front.”
“Agreed.” I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her into me, dipping to kiss along her jaw. “But I may need you to ride my face again right quick to make sure.”
Her eyes drift closed, and she leans into me before popping her eyes back open. “No! We’ll be late.”
“I said right quick.” I laugh, reluctantly releasing her. “Now show me what’s buzzing in the bag you’re trying to hide from me.”
“It’s my…” She turns to unzip the bag and digs around to the bottom. “It’s this.”
She holds up a black device that looks like a…
“Is that a vibrator?” I ask
“Yeah, it’s my lucky vibrator,” she says, like that’s a real thing. “My sister gave it to me for Christmas kind of as a gag gift.”
She turns it off and takes it over to her bedside table, dropping it into the open drawer. “I didn’t realize it was still in this bag from my last trip. I guess it got…pressed.”
I walk over and open the drawer again, looking at the vibrator. “You like it?”