Page 83 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“I never said that.” I tip up her chin, and a feeling ofrightness warms me inside as soon as our eyes meet again. “It’s too late forthat.”

She draws a shaky breath, closes her eyes, and nods. “Iknow.”

Cliff and his troubles hover at the edge of this paradise.I’m not afraid of confronting it all when we get back to the States, but I knowit’s not as easy for Takira. I’m giving her space to make peace with the factthat it will have to be done. Because me not with her—that’s no longer anoption. Cupping her face, I drop a kiss on her forehead and pushaway.

“We gotta go.” Standing, I grab her bag and nod to the drawer where she banished thevibrator. “Why don’t you bring it?”

“Seriously?” She lifts her brows and looks from me to thedrawer. “Some guys aren’t down for that.”

Grabbing her bag, I walk to thedoor and open it to the hallway. “Anything that makes you come that hard iscoming with us.”

Chapter Seventeen

Takira

“That was delicious.” I patmy full belly and reach for my third Bellini. “I could get used to this.”

“I am used to this now,” Yari says,swirling the last of her angel hair pasta around a fork. “I need a raise, Lo,so I can afford an Italian chef.”

“Done!” Lotus toasts with her wine glass filled with water.“If this new line sells like I hope it does, we’ll all get raises.”

“It’ll be fantastic, like everything you do,” Kenan says. Hefrowns at her plate with its remnants of pasta and bread. “You barely ate. You feeling okay?”

“This was my second plate.” Lotus cups his face in one smallhand. “I’m fine. The baby’s fine. We’re in a gorgeous Italian villa.”

The villa, nestled into the Amalfi Coast, overlooks theTyrrhenian Sea, has nine bedrooms, two private terraces, a swimming pool withoutdoor showers, ancient fireplaces, antiques intermixed with the most modernaccoutrements, and a gourmet kitchen our temporary Italian chef made impeccableuse of.

“Yeah, nice hook-up, Jared,” August says. “This place isfantastic.”

“He’s been offering it to us for…” He looks to Banner. “How long?”

“Like two years, but we aren’t exactly the best about taking vacations,” she says wryly. “If I’d known howbeautiful it was, we would have come sooner.”

“We’ll come back.” Jared leans over to kiss her hair. “Andnext time, we’ll bring the girls.”

She serves a grin to everyone at the table. “Jared’sconvinced we’ll have all girls.”

“All?” Yari asks, brows lifted. “How many kids y’all tryingto have?”

“Three,” Jared says.

“Four,” Banner says at the same time, laughing and leaningher head on her husband’s shoulder. “We’re negotiating.”

“I think we’re done,” Iris says. “I thought I wanted more,but I’m hitting a stride in my career. Getting my own accounts and making animpact. Firing on all cylinders. Sarai and Michael feel like enough.”

“What do you think, August?” Yari asks, grinning.

August holds his hands up and laughs. “I don’t have auterus. I don’t produce milk. My job has me on the road away from my wife andkids half the year, so I say…yes, dear. Whatever you want, dear. I’msatisfied.” He kisses Iris’s hand. “But I’d be satisfied if all I had was you,baby.”

“Okay, number thirty-three,” Iris says, rolling her eyes,even as they brim with affection. “You’re getting some tonight. No need to layit on that thick.”

August winks. “Insurance.”

We all laugh and push away from the table, agreeing to takeadvantage of the villa’s amenities.

“Swim?” Jade asks Kenya.

“Oh, yeah.” Kenya stretches. “I been slacking on my regimen.I need to get some laps in.”