At First Kiss

by Gwyneth Bolton

  “Oh, three entire points, what a handicap…” he drawled sarcastically.

  “You know, you’re right. I shouldn’t be so harsh on the sorors for being the best. I’ll only deduct two points.”

  The Kappas finally did a party stroll off the stage to Soulja Boy’s song “Pretty Boy Swag.” And if Troy had been inclined to throw a few extra pity points their way, they killed the inclination with their song choice. Like many true old-school hip-hop heads, Troy couldn’t stand Soulja Boy.

  Once he, Jasmine and the other two judges, a man who was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and a woman who was a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority, counted up the final tallies, they had a first-and second-place winner for the sororities and the fraternities. His frat brothers didn’t place. But Jasmine’s sorority sisters took second place, losing out to the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha by one point.

  As they drove back to the hotel, he couldn’t help but clown Jasmine. “I bet you wish you’d kept that two points in there now, don’t you?”

  “Not funny,” she retorted as she playfully glared at him.

  He laughed. “It is absolutely the funniest thing I have ever had the pleasure of seeing in my entire life. If you could have seen your face when they read the winners and the scores. It was cracked and on the ground.”

  “On the ground? Oh well, I guess it felt like it had to keep your frat brothers’ canes company.” She smirked.

  “Oh. You got jokes.”

  “Jokes a plenty, Hubaroni. Jokes a plenty.”

  “Aww, back to the nicknames again. Just when I was starting to miss them… You do care…” He placed his hand over his chest and gave her his best interpretation of lovesick and googoo-eyed.

  She busted out laughing then and cracked up until they made it back to the hotel. Every time she would try and get control of herself, stop and look at him, he would turn and give her the lovesick googoo-eyed expression again and she cracked up again. By the time they got out of the car, she was holding her stomach with one hand and wiping the laugh tears from her face with the other.

  “Stop. Please stop, Troy. You’re killing me. I can’t laugh anymore. It hurts.” She panted the words out between giggles and guffaws.

  He placed his arm around her and a tingling sensation traveled through his body and smack dab into the middle of his heart. He paused for a moment, getting used to the feeling.

  It felt good. Even if he wasn’t ready to admit it to her yet, it felt damn good.

  After waking up in Troy’s strong arms and having him make love to her before they got up and got ready for work, Jazz almost dreaded the Monday-morning planning meeting with the show’s producers and Troy’s father.

  She just hoped there wasn’t a repeat of last week’s meeting, where the tension between Troy and Jordan became so incredibly unbearable and Troy had gotten all bent out of shape about her going to Trinidad for Carnival.

  The tension of the contest Jordan had cooked up only seemed to be held at bay when they were alone at home or in front of the camera doing the show. There was something about the chemistry she felt when she was in his arms that translated just perfectly to their connection on Detroit Live.

  She was becoming more and more attuned to Troy Singleton, and she didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing.

  “So, we told you guys before you left on Friday, Jasmine was in the lead after last week’s shows. But after tallying the votes that came in this weekend, you guys are actually tied.” Jordan nodded at Carmen, who took that as her cue to jump in.

  “Feedback has been coming in also. Viewers have written the show and expressed how much they like seeing you two together.” Carmen paused and looked like she was gritting her teeth.

  Jazz wondered what that was about.

  “Of course there were a few viewers, mostly female, who wrote in complaining that they want the show back with just Troy as host. And complaining about his new marital status.” Carmen shook her head and shot Troy a scathing look. “But for the most part everyone who has taken the time to write in seems to love the addition of Jazz, and they love the two of you together.”

  Jazz chanced a glance at Troy. He had his hands tented in front of his face and seemed like he was in deep concentration. His father, Jordan, had his hands folded the exact same way and had the same contemplative expression on his face.

  Carmen cleared her throat in a way that made Jazz think it was some kind of nervous tic. “The viewers really loved the shows where you two did some kind of dancing together like last Wednesday when we had Cali Swag District on and you both were learning how to do the Dougie and Troy wasn’t as quick picking it up as Jazz.”

  Jazz giggled as she remembered how funny her tall, hunky husband had looked trying to do the dance. It probably hadn’t been fair for her to challenge him to a battle to see who could learn it the fastest, since she had already known how to do it. But she hadn’t been able to help it.

  She glanced up and saw that everyone was watching her. “Sorry. But you guys have to admit, that was hilarious.”

  Carmen rolled her eyes. “Anyway, the ratings are still high and climbing. This week will hopefully be just as high. It will be interesting to see how they compare to the shows we shoot with just Troy while Jazz is in Trinidad next week. Who knew it was going to be such a neck-and-neck battle.”

  “Who knew indeed,” Troy said as he pinned his stare on Jazz.

  Jazz shrugged. “I certainly didn’t. I didn’t even know there was going to be a battle. I assumed I was coming to cohost a show.” She gave Jordan a penetrating stare that broke him out of his contemplation.

  “Well, it looks like I knew it was going to be a success, and I was right. We’ve already picked up another sponsor. I got the call this morning. You two just keep making that magic, and may the best person win. All right, get to work, everyone.”

  Jazz sighed. She couldn’t wait until the camera started rolling and they started taping the show. The tension would dissipate then. And then by the time they made the drive home and walked into the house, the tension would be put to bed until they had to do it all over again in the morning. At least she hoped that would continue. More than anything, she hoped the relationship that was slowing budding and unfolding between the two of them could survive the contest that would leave one of their careers derailed.

  “Dad, can I talk to you for a moment?” Troy walked up to his father as everyone else left the conference room. He caught Jasmine giving him a suspicious glance as she left the room.

  “What is it, Troy?” Jordan asked as he arched his eyebrow slightly. “I hope this isn’t more complaints about the contest. I’ve made up my mind, and we are going to see this thing through. Now, I am sorry that you’re battling your wife for this position. I really like Jazz and I’m happy to have her in the family. But I’m not changing my mind.”

  Troy rolled his eyes. “I’m not asking you to change your mind about the contest. I want you to change your mind about me being able to go with Jasmine to Trinidad. I understand that she should tape the Carnival footage on her own. But I don’t understand why she and I can’t just prerecord a couple of shows to air next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday while we’re in Trinidad. Because she had to rush here for her new job and I had to get back to work, we didn’t really get a chance to have a honeymoon or anything like that. And we’re still in that newlywed stage. I just don’t want to be away from my wife so early in our marriage.” Troy couldn’t believe that he was actually telling the truth. He really didn’t want him and Jasmine to be apart.

  Jordan gave him a piercing and penetrating stare. “I’m running a business here, son. Something you would know about if you would stop playing around and let me show you the ropes. I’m not getting any younger, and someone has to take up the reins when I’m gone. Your sister doesn’t want anything to do with the company. She’s too busy being a wife and mother and spending Kendrick’s money like your mother spent mine. And now you’re in here talking abou
t honeymoons?” Jordan shook his head and heaved a heavy sigh laced with a small dose of contempt.

  “If I weren’t your father would you even be coming to me with this kind of request?”

  Troy narrowed his eyes. “No. If you weren’t my father, I wouldn’t be standing here at all, let alone trying get your permission to go to Trinidad with my wife. If you weren’t my father, I would have left Detroit Live, hired an agent and found another gig long before this contest nonsense. I’ve done nothing but show my loyalty to the Singleton Communication and Detroit Live. Maybe I’m not doing it exactly like you want me to… But I’m my own man, and the sooner you get that, the smoother things will go between us. I want to go to Trinidad with Jasmine. Can you work with me to make that happen?”

  Jordan looked at him with an expression that bordered on respect. Or at least as close to respect as Troy had ever seen from the man.

  “You really love Jazz, don’t you?”

  Troy nodded. “Yes. Yes I do.”

  Jordan smiled. “Well…I’ll be… All right, fine. Carmen is going to have a fit, because she has the shows booked already. And she’s still pissed about that stunt you pulled taking off to Barbados in the first place and messing up a week’s worth of lineups. And I’m not even going to get into whatever little thing the two of you had going on a few years back. You really could have handled that a lot better, son—”

  The last thing Troy wanted to get into was his mistake with Carmen. So he cut his father off instead.

  “It really is for the best, Dad. If I do two shows on my own while Jazz is away, that might give me an unfair advantage in your little contest and give me more face time with the viewers. Viewers who were already mine to begin with…” Troy couldn’t believe he was actually giving up such an advantage and felt a shock course through him as the words fell out of his mouth.

  Jordan must have been shocked, too, because his eyes widened and his mouth fell open. “Well, I’ll be…you really do love Jazz. I never thought I’d see the day when my son would grow up and fall in love. Fine. I’ll handle things and try to smooth things over with Carmen. You can go with Jazz to Trinidad next week. In fact, you two can take the entire week as a honeymoon gift from me. Now get to work while you still have a show to host.”

  Troy smirked. “Thanks, Dad! I appreciate it.” He left the room before Jordan changed his mind.

  Chapter 10

  Playing for keeps…

  Trinidad and Tobago had to be two of the most beautiful islands in the world. Clear blue sky and an even clearer, almost majestically royal blue sea made it so that a person could barely tell where one stopped and the other began. The islands were so lush and green, with flora and fauna in abundance as far as the eyes could see. And the natural beauty of the land didn’t have anything on the beauty of the people.

  Like many islands in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago boasted a healthy mix of people and cultures. With folks from a variety of ethnicities, from African descent, Chinese descent, South Asian descent, Middle Eastern and European all proudly claiming the same heritage: Trinidadian! The people in all their variety were just as beautiful and diverse as the islands. And seeing the costumes and finery associated with Carnival during the weekend and the two-day Monday and Tuesday climax of the event in the parades, the dancing in the streets and nonstop partying offered even more excitement for the eyes.

  Jazz was very pleased with the interviews she had done and the footage she had been able to shoot. She’d even gotten a chance to hang out with her husband a little during downtime. And now they were spending the rest of the week on the much quieter and serene island of Tobago for a short honeymoon.

  She had no idea how Troy had managed to talk his father into giving them the entire week off to spend in this island paradise. But she wasn’t even going to question it.

  All she knew was she wanted to make the most of the time they had away from worrying about who was going to be the solo host of Detroit Live. She wanted to spend the time in Tobago making love to her husband on a secluded beach or walking hand in hand as their toes sank into the sand. All she wanted was memories to last her when it was all over and they went their separate ways.

  The Plantation Beach Villas where they were staying in Tobago were neatly nestled in a plush hillside that overlooked the most amazing white-sand beaches and aqua-blue waters. In addition to the tropical, almost rain forest-like flora and fauna, palm trees seemed to enclose the tranquil space, almost keeping it a secret, a hidden gem. The villas themselves were the cutest shade of peach and white and were classic turn-of-the-twentieth-century West Indian gingerbread architecture. Each two-story villa had three full bedrooms, including a master suite, a fully equipped kitchen and a living room.

  After a day of snorkeling, they had dinner brought to their villa from the hotel restaurant and were enjoying a light dessert of tropical fruits on the private balcony just off the master bedroom.

  The fruit platter had an assortment of starfruit, mango, cherries, dates, guava, papaya and chunks of fresh coconut. And they took pleasure in feeding each other from the bountiful tray.

  She opened her mouth as Troy held out a piece of mango for her and gingerly sucked the sweet juice from his fingers as she took the fruit.

  “Mmm…” She closed her eyes and leaned back into his arms. “This is probably the best vacation I’ve ever had. I see why people get married! Honeymoons are so-oo worth all the I-do-till-death-do-us-part stuff.”

  She picked up a chunk of coconut and traced his lips with it before placing it in his mouth. He chewed it and then leaned in for a kiss.

  His strong, penetrating lips caressed her mouth slowly, and the delicious fruit they had both eaten tasted even sweeter laced with their combined desire. They allowed the kiss to linger, tongues circling and spiraling around and around in their combined mouths.

  He moaned.

  She sighed.

  He lifted her onto his lap and the kiss became more demanding. Their hands joined in, groping, clutching and feeling their way home. His strong fingers grazed her nipples, which were already at attention.

  She reluctantly pulled away from the kiss for a moment and stared into his penetrating gaze.

  “Have I thanked you for getting your father to let us have this time off for a honeymoon?”

  “You have. But you can always thank me again, and again and again.” He winked and gave her a slow peck on the lips.

  “Don’t worry. I will.” She traced his mouth with her tongue, slowly savoring the taste of him and the fruit.

  “Do you feel guilty about what we’re doing to our friends and family? Lying to them about being married—”

  “We are married. We’re not lying.”

  “I know we’re married. I mean really married and in love like everyone thinks we are?”

  He shook his head. “That’s between us, and it’s none of their business. I don’t feel bad about anything we’ve shared, Jasmine. Not one bit of it.”

  He looked so intense and sincere that if she were a more trusting person that would have been the moment she would have let all of her guards down. But she wasn’t. This marriage had an expiration date, and she needed to remember that.

  “Did I ever thank you for coming to my rescue and marrying me?” She gave him another quick peck on the lips.

  “You have.” He kissed her long and sweet. “But.” He kissed her again, his tongue diving into her mouth with purpose and promise. “If you want to thank me again… I can think of lots of ways…” He traced her kiss-swollen lips with his thumb. “You don’t have to thank me for any of this, Jasmine. I’m probably getting more out of this than you are.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that, Hubster, I’m getting great sex, a new BFF, a big inheritance… And did I mention the great sex?”

  Troy laughed. “You might have mentioned something like that. I’m more interested in this new BFF thing. Is Alicia going to hunt me down and take me out because of my new title?”r />
  “No, she’s still my BFF. I just have two of you now. But…” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “I’ll let you in on a secret… You’re my favorite BFF.”

  He pursed his lips in mock consideration. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the great sex thing, would it?”

  She clutched her chest and opened her mouth in mock horror. “Why, never would we give in to our baser instincts. It was the knight-in-shining-armor-aiding-a-damsel-in-distress move that put you over the top. The great sex was just a bonus.” She broke into a laugh.

  He cracked up, too, but turned serious as he moved her from his lap to the seat and stretched her out in front of him. He slid off her underwear, all the while staring deeply into her eyes.

  “I think it’s bonus time. What do you think?” he asked.

  “I think it’s always time for a bonus,” she responded as she opened her legs a little wider.

  He smiled and then looked over at the fruit platter. “You know, I really didn’t care for this fruit much.”

  Fruit? You have me laying here all splayed out and you’re talking about fruit?

  Jazz took a deep breath and forced a grin. “I couldn’t tell. You sure ate your fair share of it. I should know. I fed it to you.”

  He rubbed his hand across his chin, still looking at the fruit. “I know. But it just wasn’t sweet enough. It could’ve been sweeter.” He picked up a piece of papaya and turned to look at her finally.

  The devilish gleam in his eyes gave everything away.

  But when he ran the papaya over her slick, exposed folds and then popped the fruit in his mouth there was no question. He clearly never wanted her to look at fruit the same way again…ever.

  He picked up a piece of mango. The ripe fruit and his very capable fingers penetrated her, working her until she gave him more of the sweetness he desired. When he removed the mango, it was coated in her juices. He licked the fruit lovingly before eating it.