SHOWER REUNION
Jada got off the plane in Bucharest wearing her favorite blue tie-dye minidress with beaded embroidery, accompanied by butterflies in her stomach. This was crazy. She was neglecting her whole life to frolic around Europe with a boy. Well, a man. A man almost old enough to be her father.
Ayano was waiting for her among the crowd, trying to hide his very pleased expression. This was the game they played sometimes; who was cooler, who was more aloof, casual, not feeling as deeply as the other. For once, he wasn't wearing anything dark or black. He had on an aqua linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and lightweight gray pants. Even his shoes were casual- some woven slip-ons.
As Jada got closer to him, she saw that he had a long stem rose in his hand. It was hard to say who lost this round of Who's Cooler. She ran to him, held him, and kissed him far more passionately than she would have liked to in public. People were watching, but she couldn't help it. He reciprocated just as enthusiastically. When they took a step back, he looked the happiest she had ever seen him. He handed her the rose.
"The rest are in our bedroom," he said in a low voice.
"I like the summer look," she commented, her face glowing from being smitten and embarrassed at the same time.
"You're here at the best time of the year. We'll go to the Black Sea this weekend. C'mon, let's go get your bags," he held her other hand as they walked to the baggage claim and then out to a waiting Daimler limousine. He signaled for whoever was driving to stay up front, held the door for Jada himself, and took care of her bags.
He got in and sat beside her. Now that they were in a slightly more private setting, pulling away from the airport, they could make out and grope to their hearts' content. He stopped himself as he caught himself caressing further along her thigh.
"Didn't you have a limousine with tinted windows?" she asked breathlessly.
"That would be an invitation to get pulled over," he grinned. "And no, I don't. We will just have to restrain ourselves for the next twenty minutes."
She pushed him back against the window and kissed his neck while her fingers zealously gripped and climbed his thigh, barely able to stop herself.
"
La naiba...
" he said, exhaling tensely. "I'm going to fuck you for a week when we get home," his words eeking out between his clenched teeth.
"I won't stop you," she said, relenting and resting her head on his chest. "I missed you so much, Ayano," she admitted, their hug absorbing the relief from her heartache.
"Me, too," he told her, playing with her hair affectionately. "How long do I have you for?" he asked.
"The only thing I really can't miss is Fashion Week, the second week of September. All of the beautiful people in the world come to New York and I have to make sure they buy art and tell everyone how avant-garde my gallery is."
"Operations here will be able to manage without me by then, certainly. Which reminds me, do you want to come to Monaco with me next weekend?"
"Monaco? Like, Princess Grace? Yes, of course! What for?"
"A group of Swiss bankers is hosting a special weekend event at some casino there. They pay for everything all weekend in the hopes that we will invest our money with them. I prefer to invest my money in Romania but the Swiss
are
very good with money... Anyway, it's a good chance to catch up with old friends and gamble. Stay at a fancy hotel for free."
"That sounds fabulous."
"It is. I'm so lucky to have a date that will make everybody so envious..." he said smoothly.
"Everybody? I don't think so..." she said modestly. "How are you going to introduce me?"
"As Jada Versailles," he said. He tried to look innocent, like he wasn't avoiding the task of naming their relationship.
"You don't want to tell everyone I'm your... paramour? That we're having a
liaison
?" she teased, kissing his chin through his prickly facial hair.