Page 96 of The Promise

“Coming, Mommy!” She announced before pushing herself down, not waiting on the crew member, a lifeguard, helping out at the top.

Curious to see if she had sudden regrets, I skipped to the railings. I was just in time to see her last few feet of sliding before she dropped into the ocean. Chivon came up almost in no time, and her mother didn’t give her a moment to clear her eyes before pinning her to her chest.

And Ashira cried, “Told you!” she reminded her from the top of her lungs. “Told you Mommy would be right here!”

“Awwww!” Amy doggy paddled next to them, taken by how emotional Ashira was.

And she was. Ashira clutched Chivon so close to her chest as she cried.

I tapped her. “Hey…” Then I shoved her softly. “Sleepy head.”

Ashira’s eyes opened and flashed wide. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I ain’t mean to scare you.Yougave us the scare.”

She pushed up from the lounge chair to straighten. “What did I do?”

“It’s dinner time.”

Ashira grabbed her phone and checked it for the time. “Shit!” she whispered, then swiped at the corner of her eyes. “I didn’t want to stay in my room, thinking I’d crash. So I came up here for a drink and smoke to keep me awake.”

“And I guess the joke’s on you, kid.” I lifted the glass of what I knew wasMauve. “You never made it to the first drop.”

Her eyes narrowed then she dropped her head to the side. “Take it for me.”

“Huhn?”

Ashira tossed her chin my way. “Take a sip of it. Go ‘head. No one’s around, and I won’t tell a soul.”

I couldn’t ignore the slight seduction in her dare. “Why would I do that?”

“Because no matter how you feel about me, I still have enough influence to push you to your limits.”

My brows shot up. “Oh, word? You think you do. Huhn?” I scoffed.

Ashira giggled, ego suddenly nowhere in sight. I liked it so, without a lot of thought, I swallowed back some of the smooth liquid, burning my damn throat, chest, and stomach.

“Damn…” she breathed. “You did it.” Ashira observed me like some damn animal in a cage. She tossed her chin again and softly ordered, “Drink the rest.”

“The rest?”

“Yeah. You already throated half of it—more than half. There’s a little left.”

I put the tumbler back on the table and stood to my feet. “I’m good.” And I was. That shit burned.

“I’m not.” Her tone testy. “Don’t be a prude.”

“Ashira, we both know I’m not. I took a damn sip. That shit’s gross.”

She picked the glass up, inclining toward me, which caused a strap from her dress to slip over her shoulder. Her skin glowed in the night of the ocean under the skylight and bulbs lining the deck. She then left the lounger and stepped closer to me. “More.” Her smile…so fucking cute, even if I wasn’t beat for it.

I took the glass and turned back the rest of the brandy.Shit!The second one was worse than the first. I choked from the fumes. My eyes were closed when I felt the small of her hand pat me on the back.

“Just let it flow down, Jas. Damn.” My arm accidentally hit her soft tits.

That got me to calm down, and I stood straight, trying to get the hell off this deck. “You good?” I cleared my burning throat again. “Coming down to grub, or what?”

Staring deep into me, Ashira nodded. Then a gentle smirk stretched her face. “I think you just gave me the second wind I needed.”

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