Page 58 of Serenity
“Duke Stepford!”
“The third, Bee. Don’t forget the three,” I tittered, dodging a pillow she threw in my direction.
“You brought me to Ghana? I’ve never been to any African country.”
“I did,” I chuckled before turning serious. “I have a business meeting tomorrow, but afterward, I’m all yours. Go get your hair braided while I work.”
“Ulterior motives, I see.”
“I promise you, it wasn’t. I had to work in Dubai, too. I was prepared to play for days on end after handling business, but someone stood me up.”
“Let’s not dwell on the past,” she teased.
Shuffling around the cabin bedroom, she grabbed a purse and slid into sandals after dressing.
“Come ‘ere.” Seated on the edge of the bed, I called her close. Standing between my legs, she grafted a kiss on my lips.
“Hmm?”
My hands wrapped around the back of her thighs, pulling her closer. Personal space was an impossible ask. The need to feel her, to have her close, was pervasive as fuck.
“Are we okay?” I needed to know. That shit last night was strange as hell.
Her eyes connected with mine. “We’re great, Duke. You’re amazing. And me… I’m just on my period. Don’t let my moodiness worry you.”
“Do you need anything, Bee? Are you good with being here?”
Her comfort ranked supreme. At a moment’s notice, we’d be en route to Paramour should she feel troubled. She only needed to utter the words. But then she bit into her bottom lip and did that semi smile shit.
“Everything I need is right in front of me.”
ACCRA, GHANA
Rich.
It was the sole descriptor for the sensation pirating my soul as I stepped off of the plane.
Accra, Ghana, was exquisite. Absolutely nothing like what colonizers in the West perpetuated, the city was rich with modernization. The hospitality was top-tier, and so was the level of peace. Fresh off the tarmac, Duke and I were led to the rear of an SUV. Once inside, he opened his laptop and buried himself in emails.
En route to our hotel, the Kempinski, I learned Duke owned several rigs off the coast of Ghana in Cape Three Points. We were in the capital to discuss a potential buyout with a seller. Afterward, he promised more adventure. More fun.
“Will we be going to where your rigs are located?”
“I hope not,” he returned, looking up from his laptop. There isn’t much out there. Cape Three Points is a small peninsula city in West Ghana. There isn’t much going on out that way. It’s a pretty sleepy beach town,” he explained.
“I love sleepy beach towns.”
“Not this one babe. Ain’t much out there,” he revealed. “It’s slower than Portofino.”
Returning his attention to the computer screen, he didn’t offer much else.
“I know you’re a busy man. Handle your business.”
“I brought you something to keep you occupied as well.”
Reaching into his laptop bag, he pulled out another device. My laptop.
“How did you—”