“Baby,” he whispers when he pulls his lips from mine. My stomach twists into a ball of nerves when I lean back and see a serious look on his face. My heart sinks further when he says, “I have to tell you something.”
“What?” I ask after seconds of him not saying anything.
After another dramatic pause, he finally says, “Your breath really does stink.” When his words sink in, my eyes narrow despite my smile. He starts chuckling and I punch him the shoulder.
“Jerk,” I mumble and once again try to climb out of the bed.
He pulls me back down on my back so he can lie on top of me. “I was kidding! It doesn’t matter anyway. We might as well get used to each other’s smelly breath. I’m never letting you wake up anywhere else but in my bed, especially after last night.”
“How are you feeling?” he asks after another deep kiss.
“A little sore.” I blush.
“That’s normal. A warm bath will make it feel better.” A warm and fuzzy feeling takes root in my heart at his tenderness. “No regrets?”
I know what he means. Do I have any regrets about last night? Even though I know the answer, I still take a moment to think it over. The answer remains no. Like I said before, I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I’ll never regret anything about Kulani.
I smile. “None.”
“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he growls. Then he captures my lips. Without breaking our connection, he flips me so he’s on his back and I’m straddling his waist.
I put my panties back on before falling asleep last night, so it’s not skin against skin, but this does nothing to prevent my arousal. All thoughts of being sore are gone once I begin grinding my clit on Kulani’s long, hard length.
Just as we get a rhythm going, Kulani wrenches his mouth from mine. “We gotta stop, baby. I’m already hard enough to pound nails. If we go any further, I don’t know if I will be able to stop, and you’re way too sore to take me.”
It’s the truth, but it does nothing to lessen my need for him, which is probably why I’m pouting. Dear God, please don’t let me become one of those greedy hoes who need to have sex all the time after losing their virginity!
We may not be able to have sex, but there are other things that we can do…I can do. I bite the corner of my bottom lip, and Kulani looks at me suspiciously.
“What are you thinking?” he asks.
I don’t answer. I decide to show him instead. I place wet kisses on his bare chest and down his abs. I reach the start of his carved V when he grabs my arms and hauls me up so I’m sitting back on his erection.
I gasp when he sits up so we’re face to face and grabs a handful of my hair in the back of my head. The gasp isn’t from fear or surprise. It’s because I want him. I crave him, and the craving only gets worse when he starts placing hot kisses all over my exposed neck until he reaches my earlobe.
He sucks on it before whispering in my ear, “You wanna play, baby?” I shiver before nodding. He gives me one more nip before lying back down. He looks me dead in the eye when he says, “Suck me.”
My stomach flips at the command, and even though I have no clue what I’m doing, I repeat my trail of kisses down his stomach, only stopping when I reach my destination.
I wrap my hand around his thick size. Kulani lets out a hiss of pleasure and tosses his head back when I stroke him. To be honest, I haven’t given much thought to what a cock would feel like, but I wasn’t expecting it to be so smooth. Almost like silk.
What I love the most about this is that I’m in control. Last night, Kulani made me feel so much pleasure. This morning, it’s my turn, and judging by the look of satisfaction on his face, I’m doing a damn good job of it.
The faster I stroke, the louder his moans get. Soon, he’s pumping his hips in sync with my strokes. Once I see a drop of pre-cum leak from the tip of his dick, I lean down and lick it.
“Fuck!” Kulani groans as soon as my tongue makes contact. His reaction is all the encouragement I need. I wrap my lips around the head of his dick and suck him deep while twirling my tongue around his length.
“Shit, baby. That feels so goddamn good,” he moans. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him fisting the sheets. When I’ve sucked him in as deep as I can without gagging, I use my other hand to cup his balls.
“Hell, Aria. I’m not going to last much longer! Yeah. Suck me in deep, sweetheart,” he coos as one of his hands leave the sheet to move the hair that’s fallen in my face so he can watch me suck him.
I pick up my pace, and I know he’s close when his movements become jerky and his fist tightens in my hair. “Aria, you need to stop. I’m about to come,” he warns, but I don’t stop. I suck harder. I want to taste him.
“Seriously, if you don’t want me to let go in your mouth, you need to stop.” Once again, I ignore him. “I’m coming, baby,” he calls out just as hot jets of his seed shoots to the back of my throat.
I swallow every last drop while Kulani moans out my name over and over. When I’m sure he’s done, I release his softening cock with a pop. I start to climb up his body, but I giggle when Kulani grabs me under my arms and hauls me up the rest of the way.
He swallows my laugh when he his lips land on mine for an alluring kiss. He doesn’t say anything after our kiss ends. He pulls his face away enough to give me a look that makes me melt and sets my heart ablaze.
The corner of his lips rise in a small smile as he uses the tips of his finger to push the hair away from my forehead. “What are you doing to me, baby?” he whispers.
His question rocks me, and I only have one answer.
“I don’t know, but you’re doing it to me too,” I murmur. My admission is his undoing. He grabs my face and kisses me with reckless abandon. He pulls away, breathless. I know what he’s about to say as soon as he looks me in the eye. I want those words. I need to hear them. I need to know that I’m not alone in my feelings.
“Baby, I—”
“Knock knock?” Layla calls from the living room, ruining the moment. My spirit deflates when I realize I won’t be hearing the words I need so badly.
“What’s she doing here?” he asks
“I told her we could go shopping. She wants to help me pick out a dress for Camille’s party.”
“Maybe if we’re quiet, she’ll go away?” Kulani whispers.
“I know you’re in there. Two seconds and I’m coming in!” Layla warns on the other side of the bedroom door.
I laugh when Kulani groans and flops down on his back.
“I better go. Something tells me she’s serious,” I say, even though leaving is the last thing I want to do.
When he doesn’t reply, I start to climb out of bed for the second time that morning. Once again, Kulani pulls me back to his chest and buries his face in my neck. “I’m going to miss you,” he mumbles into my neck.
“I’ll miss you too.”
“Come back here when you’re done. I was serious about you sleeping here every night,” he says.
“Okay.”
He whips me around to face him so he can give me yet another amazing kiss.
“Have fun, Rocky.”
Chapter Fourteen
Behind Closed Doors
“So, I’m dying here! How was it?” Layla asks a few days after my night with Kulani.
Today is the Monday after the best weekend of my life and we are busy trying to get our cart ready for work before the golf course opens.
“Not this again!” I groan. She badgered me our whole shopping trip with questions, questions I didn’t answer then and am still not going to answer now. What happened between us feels special to me.
“Well, you refused to tell me the other day. I can’t help that I’m curious by nature. I know something happened. You’ve stayed with him every night since.”
“I’m not telling,” I say in a sing-song voice as I search for cups.
“Okay, fine, you don’t have to give me the details. Just nod your head yes or no,” she ple
ads.
I look at her for a second, trying to determine if I want to tell her or not, but thinking it over was the wrong thing to do. Flashes of memories invade my mind, not just of that first night, but the many times Kulani and I did it the next night. My face tells on me when it turns beet red.
I turn quickly to hide my reaction, but I’m too late. Layla sees me. “Ahh. Don’t even bother to nod. It’s written all over your face!” she says excitedly. “Okay, look at me.” When I turn back to face her, she’s wearing a much more serious look.
“You don’t have to tell me details, but as your best friend, I have to ask. Are you okay?”
“I’m more than okay. Kulani has managed to make me feel things I thought were only written in books.”
“Aww, you love him!”
My first instinct is to deny, but I don’t want to. “I do,” I confirm, then continue my search for cups.
“Well, I’m happy for you guys. My two best friends falling in lo—”
“Ladies!” We both jump when Seth’s voice booms from behind us. I turn to see Seth scowling at us. I see hints of rage in his eyes and I wonder if he overheard our conversation. If he did, why is he so mad?
“I’m thinking there should be less gossip and more working.” I’ve never seen Seth be this mean before. I’ve seen him order other employee’s around, but, other than the few arguments I’ve seen him and Kulani have, this is the only time I’ve witnessed his anger.
I know Layla feels that there’s something different about him by the way she doesn’t give him her usual sarcastic remark, but when I look at her, I see something else. Fear.
“I don’t know how you expect to serve drinks all day with only ten cups. We have a tournament. Aria, you need to go to the employee supply closet and grab more. When I come back to check on you two, the cart better be fully stocked and the two of you ready to work,” he yells. He stomps away without waiting for a response.
“What’s wrong with him?” I ask Layla when I’m sure he’s out of earshot.
“I’m not sure, but you should probably go get the cups before he comes back,” she mumbles while stocking the cart with fresh lemons. She’s not making eye contact, and I’m sure it’s because she’s trying to hide her reaction, but there’s no point in her hiding her face. I saw the fear the moment Seth arrived. I’m not waiting any longer. Tonight she’ll be telling me the truth.
I’ve never actually been to the supply closet. After ten minutes of searching all the shelves inside the small closet, I find the cups. Just as I start picking them up, I hear the closet door behind me slam shut.
My whole body goes on alert and tightens with anxiety when I see Seth standing behind me. His face is still a mask of rage and his fists are balled at his sides. It’s clear he’s irate.
The only thing I want to do is run out the door, but he’s blocking my exit. I make myself calm down, or at least appear that way on the outside. “Oh. Hey, I found the cups. I was just getting ready to head back to my cart,” I say nonchalantly.
I start to move to the side in hopes of passing him, but that hope is dashed when he steps in my way again.
“Is it true?” Seth asks menacingly.
“Is what true?” I stutter after a hard swallow. Despite how much I’m trying to appear calm, my hands won’t stop shaking.
“Are you with that fucking asshole?” I don’t have to ask who the asshole in question is. My dry throat feels as if it’s closing up, so I nod.
Seth lets out a bone-chilling chuckle and starts walking forward, leaving me no choice but to walk back until I hit one of the supply shelves. His face is so close to mine the tips of our noses are practically touching. “I should have known. All you fucking bitches are the same. First Layla and now you. Fucking teases! You lead me on. I saw the way you looked at me. Then you met that asshole.”
My breathing catches when Seth leans in to whisper in my ear, “I bet you fucked him too. Didn’t you, Aria?” I’ve had enough. I push him away and watch him stumble to catch his footing.
“That’s none of your fucking business!” I yell and try again to step around him. This time he doesn’t stop me by stepping in my way. He grabs my upper arms and slams me back into the metal shelf, knocking all the wind out of me.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Aria. It is my fucking business. You were supposed to be mine. I had to watch you walk around this fucking resort acting like you’re better than everyone, letting all the guys check you out. You’re a tease, and I think it’s about time I take what I want.”
I’m confused by what he means until he reaches his hands between my legs. Aching back be dammed, I start fighting like a wild cat. I know what sick and evil thing he has in mind and it will be over my dead body before I let him get what he wants.
“Please stop. Don’t do this, Seth,” I plead while trying to tear his hand from my body.
“Just be still. I swear I’ll make this good for you,” he purrs while ripping the button from my shorts.
“Get off of me.” I struggle against him.
“Sit still, god dammit!” he yells. Blindly, I reach my hand on the shelf next to me and almost cry when I come in contact with an old, half full paint can. One calming breath later, I lift up the can and clock him in the side of the head, sending white paint splattering all over us.
He stumbles to the side. “Son of a bitch!” he roars. I don’t wait a second longer. I see my opening and I take it. I shoot from the closet and run straight into a bare chest. The tears I held back from fear come pouring out when I smell coconuts. Kulani
“Whoa. Babe, what’s wrong?” He pulls back and sees the tear tracks and the messy state I’m in. Fury erases all the confusion on Kulani’s face when he sees my torn shorts and Seth stepping out of the closet, bleeding from a wound on his head and covered in the same paint as I am.
The second it registers in Kulani’s mind what happened in that supply closet, he heads for Seth. “Kulani, no!” I cry.
It falls on deaf ears. He’s a man on a mission.
He grabs the front of Seth’s shirt and slams him back into the wall. “You’re dead, motherfucker!” he roars.
“Please, Kulani, don’t,” I say again when a crowd begins to gather.
“What did you do?”
Seth smiles. “Nothing she didn’t want.”
Neither Seth nor I have a moment to register Kulani’s fist until it slams into Seth’s mouth. Blood goes flying.
I see his fist rise again and I squeeze my eyes closed. I don’t know if it’s the violence or the blood, but as soon as my eyes are shut, visions of finding my mom and papi assault me.
Suddenly, it feels like someone’s hands are wrapped around my throat, choking all the oxygen out of me. I can feel myself drop to my knees at the same time I fall to my knees in the flashback.
I watch myself raise my hands and see my mother’s blood. I hear myself scream. It’s only when Layla’s voice breaks through the flashback that I realize that I really am screaming.
I stop screaming when I turn my attention to Kulani. Pika is holding Kulani back while Seth holds his nose, trying to keep any more blood from escaping. I cry harder when I see the crowd staring at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Please, get me out of here. Please,” I cry into Layla’s shoulder.
“Okay, babe. Come on,” she says softly as she helps me up from the floor. I can hear Kulani calling my name, but I just want to get out of here.
***
“You want to tell me what happened?” Layla asks. She’s lying next to me on my bed. It’s been hours since that incident and I haven’t moved from under my covers since the moment I got out of the shower.
I think about her question before saying, “I don’t see why I should have to. It’s the same thing he did to you, right? ”
Layla’s head whips to the side to face me and her face pales. I’m right. I know it the moment I look into her eyes. This makes me start crying all over again. I know what happene
d to me could have been worse, and I’m so scared that Layla, the girl who has become like a sister to me, wasn’t as lucky as me.
“Did he…Did he ra…” I can’t even get the words out before I’m sobbing.
Thankfully, she understands what I’m trying to say. “No, Aria. No, he didn’t,” she says as she pulls me into a hug. I can’t begin to describe the relief that sweeps over me. “He tried, but Pika stopped him.”
“Did he…?” I shake my head before she can even finish her question. “Thank God,” she whispers and cuddles back into my side.
“Why didn’t you report him?”
“It was his word against mine,” she says softly. “I was so stupid, Aria. I was so heartbroken over Pika that I fell for the first guy who paid attention to me. I had just found out that Pika was taking Marcy out. Seth found me crying and asked me out.
“He’s cute, but the only reason I agreed to go was to make Pika jealous. Seth was a gentleman the whole night. I didn’t think anything of it when he asked to go for a walk. As soon as we were in the woods, he was like a different man. I tried to fight him off.”
“How did you get away?”
“It seems my plan to make Pika jealous worked.” She laughs without humor. “He showed up and pulled Seth off me. Beat the shit out of him. I thought he was going to kill him. I was scared that if I reported Seth, he would report Pika.”
That’s my fear too. I’m scared of what could happen to Kulani if I report Seth and he reports Kulani. He’d lose his job. Without income, he’d lose his dream as well. Besides, what am I going to do? Give the police my fake identity? As soon as they start investigating, they and everyone else would know the truth.
“Aria?” Layla says just as I start to drift off.
“Yeah?”
“What happened in the hallway? The reaction, the screaming. It was caused by more than what happened in that closet. It was like you were there, but your mind was somewhere else.”
“That’s exactly what happened. It was the scariest thing, Layla. As soon as I saw the blood on Seth’s face, I was back to the night I found my parents dead. I thought I was getting over it.”
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