Page 152 of The Promise

His lids were low, jaw relaxed as he studied me. “You up for a swim?”

“Now?”

“Yeah.” Jas’ expression tightened.

What?

“Ummm…” I glanced down at my tube dress. “I guess. I need to change first, though.”

“Nah.” He took me at the cheeks and stood from the bed. “We got the whole island.”

Jas carried me from the room, down the steps to the lower level as though I was weightless.

I bit his ear, feeling insecure about how he totally ignored my question. “You’re not going to be able to carry me like this for long.”

He slapped my ass. “I’mma always carry you, girl.”

I readjusted my arms around his neck and kissed him again. It was another nasty one. God, I wanted him again, even after the long session this morning. I even kissed Jas while he stood me on my feet, and shuffled my bodycon dress over my hips and down my thighs.

Pulling away from me, he called, “Ashira.” I smiled, rubbing my nose against his. Yeah, I was fully aware of Jas’ past. The violence, the killings…his capability. I hated it for him, but understood I couldn’t change it. I also knew he’d been the biggest protector of me, and would be for our children. The security I felt in that could rival the insecurities caused by my mother’s abandonment. I had a family now, a village to cultivate. This man was at the helm of it, and I wanted it to be official. “Happy birthday, baby,” he murmured against my face.

I smiled. Hard. “Thank you, Ojasvi.”

When Jas’ head lifted above my own, his face left the grasp of my palms. I could tell something else had his attention. Peering over my shoulder, through the open doors off the side of the house, I saw giant balloons. Ivory, tan, a dulled pink—all nude colors.

My head whipped back to face him. “What were you up to while I napped?”

Still expressionless, Jas took me by the hand and we walked toward the doors. Music sounded and, at first, I didn’t recognize it, so stunned by the swift changes of our conversations and moods in such a short span. We padded barefoot outside into the salted air. The balloons were en mass, creating an endless color coordinated wall.

People appeared—whoa! Lots of people. Familiar, smiling faces.

Oh, my god!

Shizu and David. Corinne—Peach, Becky, and Connor! Chelsea, Tanya,Antoine—Jonathan!

I turned to Jas, my mouth hanging agape. This was a birthday party. His family and mine. They came all the way out here to celebrate my birthday. My senses were on overload, synapses firing off in my brain.

The music.

Kamasi Washington.

“Truth!” I asked, wide-eyed and breathless.

Jas’ beautiful smile broadened into a full beam then he pointed. I followed his line of vision to a band. An actual band playing the song Jas introduced me to that touched my soul. This was all too much.

“Mommy!” I could hear Chi-Chi.

I turned to find her on Ines’ hip. Ines.Sheflew all the way out here?Whoa!

A tear slipped as I waved to them both. There were stations of food all around, drinks and desserts in beautiful display.

“How were you able to pull this off?”

Jas’ eyes blossomed wide as he exhaled and shook his head. “With a bunch of people because this shit has had my ass stressed since we landed. You think this morning was about giving you all those orgasms just for fun?” I tossed my head back and laughed. “Thank God your ass took a long nap.”

Ahhh… “That’s what woke me up?”

Jas laughed. “I’m pretty sure of it. Look…” He pointed behind me.

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