“Holy cow, Famke. My brother is going to pop his trousers when he sees you.” Jubi burst into the bedroom where she was getting ready for the gala.“This is nothing,” she waved down at the ivory-colored ball gown she had on. “Wait until you see Nyx.”Her best friend took this moment to come out of the bathroom and Jubi staggered backwards her eyes wide with disbelief. “What happened to all your tattoos? Your piercings? Your black make-up? You look, look,” Jubi tried to find a word and floundered.“Normal?” Nyx commented with a snicker. “I do know how to clean up.”“You look so different.” Jubi circled her while Famke watched in the mirror. “It’s kind of eerie. I don’t know if I like it. I mean you’re gorgeous, Nyx. A stunner for sure but it’s,” she made a face, “it’s weird.”“She doesn’t look at all li

Famke giggled as Royal danced her in the direction of the exit to the ballroom.“You’re always dancing me away. When we left the nightclub last weekend, you danced me away too.”“Mm,” he nuzzled her neck, “it’s because if I don’t dance with you, I might start fucking you here and now.”She shivered at the way his tongue drew along the curve of her neck. “It’s not even midnight yet. We can’t leave.”“We’re not leaving. We’re going to my private rooms. It’s going to take me time to get ready for the explosive countdown.” He lifted his eyes and stared into hers. “It’s going to be fireworks.”If Famke ever doubted this man’s desire for her, they would have evaporated at the blatant lust on his face. She couldn’t look away from his heated stare, “okay. Let’s go.”“Famke!” Nyx hisse

Chapter 76Famke decided the only thing worse than taking off in a plane was landing in one. The groggy feeling, she from the medication was not helping the situation either. She stumbled down the metal stairs, only vaguely aware of the difference in temperature.“Miss Noor, the car is this way,” a polite man about Bram’s age waved her. “Come, come.”“Mommy, wait for us!” Precious screeched as she bounded down the stairs. After her nap on the plane, she’d woken exuberant and full of life and forgetting her earlier terror.She half turned and held her hand out and Royal took it and kissed her knuckles.“You look like you need another nap,” he chuckled at her.“Royal, there better be a hammock where I can lay and listen to the surf.”“I promise you will love this place.”“Can we play on the beach?” Precious asked as she bounced in Roya

Famke woke up on the morning of the last full day of their vacation feeling decidedly torn. The past six days had been quite possibly the best of her life. Other than the day Bram got to ring his bell in the cancer ward of the children’s hospital, the time spent with Precious and Royal was a remarkably close second. She was missing her brother though, never having been away from him and she wanted to go home and see him. Yet, she also didn’t want to leave this little bit of paradise and the way it felt to be the happy little family she felt they were.The only thing which would have made the week better would have been more sexy time with Royal but though her period ended after its usual three-day visit, they hadn’t made love even once. The sunshine and the fresh air combined with a very energetic little girl wore her out. On the fourth and fifth night she’d fallen into bed and since Royal hadn’t even tried anything with her, she presumed he was as exhausted as she was. It was as if P

Famke was back at work and was struggling to look Cesar in the eye. When she’d gotten back from the airport the day before, she’d arrived at her apartment just as Cesar was leaving the building. He’d either not seen her or pretended not to see her. However, it was Bram’s state which made her unable to look at her old friend. Bram appeared as if he’d spent the night the way she’d spent hers with Royal and it was unnerving.Then, if the situation with Cesar wasn’t uncomfortable enough, the one with Keshaun was equally as odd. Jubi messaged her last night to say she and the man hooked up at the New Years party. They both drank too much. Keshaun apparently said he was full of regrets which made Jubi angry. He’d given her an apology saying if he hadn’t been drinking to excess it wouldn’t have happened and he felt he’d used her to drown his sorrows. Jubi, according to her messages to Famke, questioned whether Keshaun