“This is beautiful,” I said as my eyes roamed over everything.
My hands grazed over the beautiful artwork like I was in a museum. All of it seemed so artificial and rich, yet so poised and arrogant.
“Of course, the sheets and comforter are new, along with the bath towels and everything else.” Syx said, as he placed my suitcase by the bed.
“Thank you,” I responded, glancing back at him.
“Why don’t you get settled in, maybe take a hot shower or a nap if you’re tired from the flight. We’ll have dinner at seven, and then we can talk about what the next two weeks will look like. Ain’t no pressure today, just relax and get comfortable.”
There was it again.
The heavy command in his voice.
Syx seemed he didn’t leave room for anyone to utter a peep. Whatever he said whether you agreed with it or not, you said, ‘yes sir’ and went on about your day. He had a heavy aura about him that screamed boss.
“Okay,” I murmured.
“Good girl,” he grinned. It transformed his face, making him appear youthful and more approachable than the scowl that was washed across it as he stood, waiting for me to exit the boat.
Just being enthralled in his presence for only a few minutes, I was reading him enough to know that he had a gentle nature but could appear rough if it fitted the occasion. Most men have this double-sided persona about them that they keep concealed for business and this was probably business for him.
Iwas probably business and our façade would suit none other than a client transactional relationship.
“I know this is probably nerve-wrecking. But I promise you’re safe here. Everything we do will be at your pace, with your consent. If you’re ever uncomfortable, just let me know.”
After he left, I traced his exit until I was snapped out of a woozy trance. Releasing a long breath was satisfying, considering I had been holding it as our fingers got entwined. That flicker of electricity had died, like a flame and the only thing left was the hazy smoke, filling the air, smelling like smog.
Against my better judgement to appear fine, I was wrecked, and it turns out a hot shower may just be the key to calming my racing heart.
Every time I blinked, I couldn’t believe that I was actually here, tucked away with a man I knew nothing about. On an island with a man who’d claim to know my body better than me and would guide me to my peak. It all felt so surreal, but I’d make sure to bask in all of it and leave traces of this space inside me, to take home.
Before undressing myself, I walked over to my suitcase to find something to wear along with gold accessories and sandals that meshed perfectly with my strapless creamsicle ombre maxi dress. Trotting over to the door, I closed it, though I knew privacy wouldn’t be an issue here because Emma had let that be known prior and Syx had confirmed it as well.
You’d think I was washing sins away, my skin was so red, but I wanted to wash off the flight off me. Along with my caramel toasted body wash by Olay, I smelled so edible. Before puttingmy clothes on I washed my face and brushed my teeth then applied minimal makeup—dewy rose blush, gold eye shadow in the corner of my eyes and I defined my brows with concealer, then lined my lips with dark brown lip liner meshed with some buttercream lip gloss.
The ensemble was grand and the boho braids topped it off, making me look tropical. The caramel and vanilla scents carried on through the room, making my heart flutter just a tad, because I was going the extra mile, appearing sexy for someone who didn’t know an inkling about me.
Carrying on enough with my thoughts, I ventured off into the house to explore. It was even more impressive than I’d initially realized. There was a library, a home gym, a meditation area, and what looked like a massage studio, also there was a wine cellar. Off to the side there were many cigars—all of which I knew nothing about.
“I see you found my cigar collection.” Syx’s voice bounced off the walls making me jump out of my skin.
My head snapped so loudly that I heard it pop in my ear. He was standing in the entry way, on the steps with his hands in his pocket, eyeing me like he’d been doing it for a while—longer than he’d spoken.
My hands clutched my chest because my heart was skipping beats.
He’d changed into something else too. The white Louis Vuitton, short sleeved monogram crewneck looked tailored to fit, the way it accentuated his muscles. He coordinated it with some cream linen beach shorts and Louis Vuitton mules. The only pieces of jewelry he rocked was a Van-Cleef bracelet and diamond studs. Nearing me, his cologne permeated through my nostrils making me want to melt through the cobble stone.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he chuckled. His heavy laughter bounced off the walls too.
“No, it’s fine,” I waved him off. “I guess that’s what I get for lurking around.
“C’mere,” he motioned with his hand. “Let me show you some.”
Without hesitation, I intertwined our fingers and followed wherever he wanted me to go. It was another part of the cellar. It was a door camouflaged between everything else that you wouldn’t have noticed it. When the door opened, he applied a little force and a light lit up the room when he inched further inside. The room was beautiful, big enough to house a family of six. There were mahogany shelves lined with hundreds of cigars in glass humidors, leather wingback chairs arranged around a low table, and soft amber lightning that cast everything in a luxurious glow. The walls were paneled in dark wood, and there was a small bar in the corner with crystal decanters filled with amber liquid.
“This is beautiful,” I looked on in amazement as my eyes bounced off the walls, looking at the beauty in all of it. “I’ve seen these in movies, but I figured that’s where it stopped. I didn’t know?—”
“Black men like cigars,” he cut me off to say.
