“I’m trying to make sure I fit into my dress for Saturday. It was a little too tight before I flew out,” I confess.
“Nobody’s made you feel… weird?” She waggles her fingers as she says the word weird.
Besides Valentino turning my pussy into a waterfall, the only people I’ve spoken to have been lovely. Even the awkward questions about inspiration were all very kind. I look Junelle over the way she did me. Nothing about her seems different from before she flew out here.
She looks the same as she did before the wedding in Jamaica, for that matter. Her brown skin is glowing with all the extra sun she’s been getting, and she looks at peace. Like everything in the universe is going right the way she planned it.
“What do you mean, weird?” I counter.
She makes a show of looking to see who was outside, and if there was anyone lingering by the door. There are like thirty rooms here, all full. There is always someone just around the corner. I’m not sure who she’s worried about overhearing us either.
“Has anyone tried to speak with you alone or asked you out?” she whispers.
I almost laugh and saywho here would want to ask me out. There are hundreds more attractive people in townto take on a date. There’s no way I’m the last single adult in Italy.
Except Valentino has asked me out. To dinner, no less. After I tried to suck his face off this morning after some kind of insane delirium took over me.
“Yes,” I mumble. “What’s the big deal?”
Junelle grabs my shoulders and shakes me before she pulls me into a hug. “This is the best wedding gift you could possibly give me. The guys and gals here are great, a little rough around the edges, but sooooo fine. Who was it? Who asked? How did they do it? When did this happen? Oh my god, was it Dino? He’s very nice, not so bookish, but I’m sure he’d love Remi Roman’s work.”
“It wasn’t Dino, OMG.” I crack a smile, her enthusiasm catching. He’s cute enough, but a little younger than I like potential partners. “Why is this so great? He’s gonna take me out and realise how boring I am.”
“Hmmm, him, a he…”
I can see the calculation happening in her head. Like Andrea at board games, Junelle can be too smart, calculating chances and counting cards. Being analytical and smart doesn’t make you a cheat in my mind, but it can put the dots together a lot quicker for you. Her eyes go wide, and I swear she’s going to lose her eyebrows into her hairline.
“I should have said no.” I crumple into my elbow. “I’ll still tell him no, that’s not what this trip is about. It’s weird, isn’t it? Why would he even ask me?”
“There’s no rhyme or reason for stuff like this,” she whispers, her head bobbing up and down like there is a manual crank turning her thoughts now. “Plus, it’s fine, Tino is like fifteen years older than Andrea. They act more like brothers most of the time.”
“Fuck, I hadn’t even thought about that,” I groan.
“Babes, I’ve got my happy ending, you deserve yours too.”
“Why are you being weird now?” Panic settles into my gut.
“Who’s acting weird?” Andrea asks, a grin on his face as he sits next to us. He pulls Junelle into him for a kiss before he looks at me.
“Me, I think just too much sun today,” I lie, the words slipping off my tongue so naturally. “I’m gonna have a nap, I’ll see you later.”
I need some quiet time to recharge anyway if I’m actually going on this date. Maybe I’ll finish the food Valentino gave me and write. That always helps me clear my head.
“There’s aloe in the fridge if you need it,” Andrea calls, but I’m already racing to my room.
Like I wouldn’t bring my own aloe vera.
Chapter five
Valentino
On the dot at 7:50, Junelle slides up to me in the kitchen. Andrea and most of the family are outside by the fire pit, grilling and relaxing now that the sun has set. I’m happy to see my family together like this and safe. Our life isn’t one of terror, but it isn’t easy either. There is always a chance an exchange will go wrong or that cops will try some stupid shit.
Or there can be a rat.
Junelle crosses her arms.There is another beautiful member of the family. My heart wells up with a softness I try to keep buried deep inside. For as vicious and animalistic as Andrea says I am, I’ve always wanted a love like theirs. When she moves, a hint of the bite on her shoulder from where Andrea placed his claimcomes into view, and that softness morphs into a desire for my mate.
I could put a mark like that on Cheyenne tonight. A little wining and dining, and as much decent conversation as I can manage before I drag her out of the restaurant and fuck her full of my cum. Her shoulder would look so pretty with a crescent moon of teeth decorating it. I could kiss it every morning while we lie in bed together.
