Page 81 of Awakening
They were draped in matching Burberry bikinis, but somehow they each wore it like it had been custom-designed for her alone. Yanna’s thick legs and curvy, plush body made the bikini look explicitly sinful, like luxury warfare. Dana’s lean, toned body was butter-smooth and sun-kissed, her gold waist chain glinting like it had its own gravitational pull, and Ajaih?
Yeah.
Ajaih was a showstopper. Her thick thighs gleamed withoil, her skin radiating against the rich tan print. Her bikini top strained deliciously around her chest, and her hair flowed in waves down her back like she walked out of a damn high fashion shoot on a yacht for Burberry themselves.
“Y’all tryna kill me?” I said, low but loud enough for them to hear.
Ajaih smirked, hands on hips, “You look like you forgot how to breathe, Knox.”
“I did,” sipping my champagne, “Still struggling, if we’re being honest.”
Ahmir sidled up beside me, his eyes glued to Dana. “You good?”
“Barely,” I muttered.
“Same,” he said, before raising his voice, “Damn, y’all showing out today.”
Dana turned over her shoulder and winked at both of us, “We figured we’d give our favorite men a little something to fantasize about while snorkeling.”
“Oh, so this is psychological warfare now?” I joked.
“You’re welcome,” Yanna added, grabbing a strawberry off the tray with her teeth.
The energy on that boat was pure flirtation and freedom between a group of fine ass adults, the shit most people’s dreams were made of. Everyone felt it; the comfort between us came with ease. The way the girls swayed their hips sensually as Yanna’s Reggae playlist came through the speakers. The way Ahmir’s hand lingered on Dana’s lower back as she wound her waist in his lap. Ajaih leaned into me, whispering in my ear with a knowing smirk, “I caught you staring at all of us, again.”
“And you wore that on purpose, so I’d keep staring,” Imuttered, slipping an arm around her waist.
“Maybe,” she said, kissing my cheek.
We snorkeled for a bit, then dried off and lay stretched out across the netting at the bow of the boat, soaking up the sun with more bubbles and ripe melon. Ajaih fed me a piece of prosciutto-wrapped fig and grinned like she was feeding a lion.
Dana, lounging across Ahmir’s lap, was playing with the chain around his neck, a look of total contentment on his face.
“You know,” Ahmir said after a while, lifting his champagne, “tonight we’re stepping out.”
Everyone looked up.
“It’s a spot called The Obsidian Bloom, an adults-only play lounge. I heard it’s exclusive and sexy. Cal pulled some strings and got us in.”
“Oh?” Yanna lifted a brow.
“Real velvet-rope energy,” he continued, “Dark lighting, no phones, and heavy on the sensuality. Think upscale kink meets art gallery.”
“Say less,” I responded, already picturing the scene.
“And what’s the vibe?” Maverick asked.
“Sexy, grown. Come dressed like your aura’s gonna break some poor soul’s pockets,” Ahmir joked as he continued, “Leather, silk, whatever says ‘touch me, but ask first.’”
Dana groaned, “I don’t think I have an outfit that says that.”
“You do,” I said, eyeing her lustfully, “You just haven’t worn it yet.”
I leaned back, watching the sun begin its slow dive toward the ocean, casting fire over Ajaih’s oiled skin,Dana’s smile, and Yanna’s mythical eyes. The breeze danced over my skin as the fizz in my glass tickled my nose, and everything about that moment was alive.
The ocean view, the laughter, and the hunger in everyone’s eyes as the promise of whatever came next at The Obsidian Bloom resonated between us.
Whatever it was, we were all ready.
