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The property was so peaceful. A private island in the Caribbean, rooting several properties, this being the primary. The entire land was heavily guarded, too. There were armed men monitoring the islet from each end. Earl Ellis was a very wealthy man with exotic taste, and clearly carried an obsession with security like Jas.
“How do you know the Ellises?”
A single thick brow of his lifted as Jas side-eyed me. “What? YouFEDS, Witherspoon?”
I laughed. “I think you just answered a part of that question. But does he just loan you his toys whenever you ask? Is he this way with everyone he knows?”
Jas shook his head, picking through the fruits on the board. “Ashira, Ashira, Ashira,” he sighed, eyes tossed to the open patio doors revealing an endless sea. “There’s so much to share, but at this point in my life, the details are irrelevant, yet still dangerous to some people.”
My eyes fell to my lap. “That’s how we started out: you not trusting me with those details.”
He shook his head. “We’re not back there, though. We’re here where my current life is an open book. I’ve outlined for you the savage I used to be. I’m just not comfortable coloring in the lines.”
“The savage who nearly ripped the head off a man who attempted to shanghai my best friend and me? The one who pummeled my movie star ex-boyfriend in a small bathroom in the back of a privately-owned restaurant? Or the one who viciously beat his cousin whom he felt was flirting with me?” My nipples tingled, and I felt my eyes narrowing.
Why did speaking those truths arouse me?
Continuing to eat without flinching, Jas nodded, triceps bulged as he fed himself. “That nigga. Yeah,” he mumbled.
“What does he have to do with Earl Ellis?”
Jas shrugged. “Double E Bags respected the savage. I ‘on’t know what made me special, but the man’s been solid with me since I was a pup. He respected the savage and respects the man.” He shrugged. “I’m grateful for him.” Then he leaned in to kiss me sweetly. “I get to spend my crush’s birthday with her on a private island.” He kissed me again, this time sucking my bottom lip before pulling it away from my face until it retracted. “Happy birthday, Ashira.”
“It’s been the perfect birthday,” I breathed. “The perfect day until some loud thud woke me up.”
Jas’ face contorted, lips pouting. “Oh, I ain’t hear it. Guess I was wrapped up in prayer.”
That mention warmed me. “Can I ask you something?”
“Shoot,” he agreed, facing forward with rounded shoulders and broad wings.
“What do you think of me? Like really think of me now?” His head whipped to face me. “I mean… I knew you were into me when we first met—or after I forced you to see me. I felt appealing to you. But now, after all the drama, do you find me just as appealing or am I now just a circumstance of a deviation from your trusted list?”
Jas peered toward the ceiling, appearing to consider the question while pulling in a hefty breath through his nostrils. “I get the question. I really do. What I don’t understand is how you could think I’m a settling man? Ashira, I get what I want. It’s my relationship with the King mixed with my hustle. ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good. Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.’ I can go on and on about how I never had to settle for shit even before my walk. It’s not what I do.”
Oh, how I loved when he waxed scripture to me. It was inspiring and, incongruently, arousing. Hope blossomed in my chest.
“So you do choose me to complete your list with because I…” My damn eyes fell again and nervousness descended upon me.
“You what, Ashira?” he snipped.
“I know what I want for my birthday.”
Jas, playfully, twisted his neck to peer around the room. “I got us a whole damn island in the Caribbean, and you want more? How much bread you think I got, girl?”
A soft smile lifted on my face, acknowledging his humor. “What I want money can’t buy,” I whispered.
Jas’ hand reached for me, brushing lightly over my belly. “I’ve already put another one in you. Two was farther down on my list, shortie. Money can’t buy no more.”
He was being playful, something I appreciated, but I wasn’t there. Blame the erratic pregnancy hormones, but I’d been doing a bit of soul-searching since learning about being pregnant.
“I want you. I want you to…” I pulled in a breath, braving myself. “Let’s get married.”
It happened again. A flipping in his pupils, a veil being lifted, exposing a maelstrom of emotions flashing between his narrowed lids. I’d seen the darkness of his soul a million times before and it terrified the shit out of me. Even now my pulse began to race, mouth secreted unbelievably fast to the point of salivation. Danger.
I pushed from the pillows, lunging at his muscular frame with a pulsing clit. My lips landed on him first, tongue pushing through his mouth to find his own. I managed my dress to my hips, onto his lap, and straddled him. My fingers pushed into his soft coils, pressing into his scalp. I fluttered my tongue, sucked his lips while squeezing his frame, melding his essence to me. Jas’ dick swelled against my ass just as fast as I lost my breath.
Pulling away from his mouth, I murmured with full confidence, “Marry me.”
