“You know your room comes with the wedding package.”

Claudia turned around, and a smile spread across her face.

“Nah, we’re going to do it right here on the dance floor,” Claudia joked.

Samiyah threw her head back and laughed. But Jaden seemed to grow even harder. His eyes never left Claudia as she spoke to her best friend.

“Besides, I didn’t think you’d notice, Mrs. Rose.”

“Mmmm, sounds good, too,” Samiyah cajoled. “Baby, do you mind giving Claudia and me a moment?”

“I do,” Jonas said, “I mind it very much.”

The ladies guffawed.

“I think Jaden minds it, too,” Jonas looked at Jaden. “Am I right, brother?”

“Yes,” Jaden ground out, “more than you’ve ever been in your life.”

The ladies laughed again.

“We’ll you’ll have me forever, babe,” Samiyah said. “And Jaden, well… we’ll see.”

Claudia pursed her lips. “You are too much!” Claudia waved at Samiyah and put her sight back on Jaden. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“I’ve already answered that question woman.”

“Awe, I’ll be back.” Her hand caressed his face, and a visible shudder fled through him. Claudia wiggled from his grasp. It was all she could do to keep from crushing her lips to his soft sexy mouth and saying to hell with all reason.

Claudia slid her arm through Samiyah’s, removing her from Jonas’s grasp.

“Men,” Claudia said. “So controlling” she joked.

“Don’t act like you don’t love it,” Jonas retorted.

“Maybe just a little,” Claudia said setting her sights back on Jaden.

The ladies sashayed away with the men staring after them. Jonas spoke to Jaden, “Are you serious, bruh?”

Jaden didn’t take his eyes off of Claudia. “Serious about what?”

Jonas snapped a finger in his face effectively bringing Jaden’s gaze away from Claudia’s backside. “Are you serious about her?”

“I still don’t know what you mean.”

“I think you do.”

Jaden waited a beat. “I don’t know what I am. Still trying to figure that out.”

“You should probably do that before you go after her.”

“What are you, Claudia’s big brother?”

Jonas tapped him on his chest with the back of his hand. “I am now.”

Jaden smirked. “I envy you.”

“Don’t, your time is coming.”

Jaden wasn’t so sure. He turned back to look for the girls but didn’t find them.

“Look at you, I’ve never seen you go after someone like you’ve done tonight.”

Jaden’s brows creased and he slid his hands into his pockets. “I don’t usually have to, and Claudia isn’t making it easy.”

“Is that why you’re going after her, for the chase?”

Jaden pondered on his brother’s words still unsure.

“You should pump your brakes. When you know without a shadow of a doubt what you want, then you go hard.”

Jaden rubbed his chin. “Spoken from experience?”

“You know it.”

“If this is the end result, then maybe I should just go hard.”

“But is this what you want?”

Jaden didn’t know if he wanted marriage. But he knew he wanted Claudia.

 

 

Away from eyes and ears, Samiyah and Claudia exited the tent relieving themselves of the expensive shoes on their feet.

“Are you having fun?” Claudia asked her.

Samiyah beamed. “Girl, I’m having the time of my life.”

“Oooh you lucky, lucky girl!” They laughed.

“Seems like you may get a little lucky yourself.”

“Hmmm,” Claudia said.

Samiyah stopped walking and turned to her friend. “What’s that about? You’re usually excited to be around Jaden.”

Claudia diverted her attention to the shore. “I still am.”

Samiyah wasn’t convinced. “Spill it.”

Claudia exhaled deeply, “I don’t know, I guess, I don’t really know Jaden. As much as we’ve spoken in the past, he hasn’t divulged much about himself. Besides that, I don’t know if whatever this is we’re doing has any legs. And,” she added, “If it does have legs, I’m not sure if we should be together.”

“First, don’t take it too hard that he isn’t letting you right in. Jonas did that to me in the beginning, and I called him out on it.”

“Did you?”

“Yes, because I needed to know, but at that time we were both in agreement that trying a relationship was what we wanted to do. So my advice to you is, have a conversation with Jaden and see where this thing is going. Then call him out on his silence. Tell him to let you in.”

“I don’t know,” Claudia waned.

“Why don’t you know?”

“I’m not his type.”

Samiyah’s hands rested on her ample hips. “Excuse me.”

Claudia smirked and rolled her eyes. “Let’s not get into this okay, it’s your wedding night. We should be talking about where you and that sexy man are going for the honeymoon. I know he wanted to keep it a surprise, but I also know he gives you what you want, so tell me so we can squeal together.”

Samiyah regained her smile. “You don’t get off the hook that easy. I’ll tell you when you tell me what that last comment was all about.”

Claudia sighed, “Oh come on, Samiyah!” Claudia twirled in the sand making herself dizzy before coming to a stop.

“What is this nonsense you’re talking about?” Samiyah said.

“You know I’m not his type. You’ve seen the women he’s been with.”

“Tall, thin, supermodel features, is that what you mean?”

“Exactly!” Claudia said it like she’d won something. “You catch my drift then.”

Samiyah nodded. “I do, but I can also tell you, those women are never the ones that seal the deal, if you know what I mean.”

“Oh hush, you could be a supermodel if you applied yourself.”

Samiyah’s eyes balked. “Says who?”

“Says that fine ass man who didn’t want to let you off the dance floor girl and can you blame him, you’re killing it in this dress!”

Claudia held her hands up motioning them down into a coke bottle shape for added effect.

Samiyah laughed. “My guy’s pretty awesome.”

“Yes, he is,” Claudia agreed. “And one day, so will mine.”

The happiness in Claudia’s voice dipped, and Samiyah noticed.

“Listen, girl, don’t you dare hold yourself back because you think you’re not his type. That is not the person you are. And if I have to remind you of this constantly? I will. Everyday!” Samiyah chimed. “Well, except while I’m on my honeymoon. You’ll have to remind your own self during that time.”

The women chuckled, and Claudia threw her arms around Samiyah. “I love you, girl.

“I love you, too.”

“Don’t look now.”

“What?” Samiyah inquired.

“There are two dangerously gorgeous men walking our way. Samiyah twirled to a stop and the women watched the sexy men traipse toward them. Absentmindedly, Claudia lifted a hand and began to fan.

She leaned into Samiyah and whispered, “If Jaden keeps trying me, Im’ma end up pregnant tonight.”

Samiyah let out a shrill of laughter and doubled over. Claudia’s smile was bright and inviting. As Jaden neared, she slipped her tongue through her teeth and softly bit down. Next time he made a move she was going with it. No holds barred. The mantra repeated in her thoughts. She wouldn’t let her head get in the way again. At least as long as they were in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This was the vacation of a lifetime, and if it were left up to Claudia, she wouldn’t let her childish fears get in the way.