The laughter that emerged then, tumbled into sobs for Imani. Roman came to the bed and sat on the edge. Imani immediately locked her arms around his neck.
“Shh...shh...Sere,” he relished their closeness, her sweet airy scent and the softness and shade of her skin. His hands smoothed over her bare arms, shoulders and the small expanse of her back bared by the cut of the garment she wore.
“I didn’t argue when Eka said he was leaving,” she spoke the words into Roman’s shoulder. “I thought I...could use the time alone with Nassor to convince him that we were a bad match. I was a fool and I-” she made a fist against Roman’s chest and pounded.
“We were taking and I...I realized he-he just wasn’t listening and he...started to-to pursue me around the room. I tried to leave but he blocked the door I-I should’ve told Eka to stay-”
“Imani?” gently, he eased her back in order to see her eyes. “You won’t blame yourself for this.”
Imani studied the spot where she began to pluck at his shirt collar. “I knew I shouldn’t have been in there. I knew the rumors. I was desperate and Eka said he would only step out for a moment. He said he would be right in the next room. I started throwing things to get Nassor to move from the door. He chased me, caught me, I-I hit him with something and he-the look he gave me...I ran...to the bedroom of all places-”
Her breath started to hitch again, interrupting the explanation as it spilled from her lips. Roman soothed her with a forehead kiss and then cupped her face. “Look at me,” he said.
“Eka and Nassor are responsible for this,” he said when her eyes met his. “They planned this Imani. Eka wanted Nassor’s mines. Nassor wanted you and the wealth he stood to gain once he got you pregnant.” He frowned, hating the devastation he put in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured, pulling her into another hug.
“Papa says we’ll be leaving in a few days,” her voice was muffled in his shoulder.
Roman brushed a kiss across her shoulder. “I leave with my brothers tomorrow.”
She sniffled, pulling back. “I don’t suppose we’ll see each other again.”
Roman smiled, using the back of his hand to stroke her jaw. “Don’t be so sure. Tesano might set up a factory in Mozambique.”
Imani smiled. “Well you can ask anyone where to find my father. Everyone knows him.”
Roman followed the line his thumb traced against her cheek. “I think I’ll just ask them to lead me to the most beautiful girl they’ve ever seen. Pretty sure they’ll know I mean you.”
“Roman,” she whispered and they came together for another hug.
Roman kissed her cheek, put another to her jaw. He whispered her name when his forehead settled to her shoulder. She pulled her fingers through his hair, kissed his temple and he ignored all the voices telling him to get the hell out of there.
He kissed her. The act was as demonstrative as before, neither of them holding back a thing. Imani barely smothered her gasp when Roman drew her across his lap. She wanted nothing to discourage whatever he was about to do.
The fabric of her gown stretched, giving as it inched higher on her thighs once her knees were straddling his hips. She pushed her tongue against his when she felt the unyielding part of him nudging the center of her body.
The sensations then...these were the ones she’d heard of but had never felt as much as an inkling of. These were the sensations that told her she was a woman-they told her she was alive.
She heard quiet, needy sounds surging from Roman’s chest and smiled during their kiss. Instinct told her she was the reason for those sounds and she was greedy to hear more.
Roman’s better judgement kicked in though and he drew back suddenly as if he’d somehow been scorched by her. His hands were gentle yet strong on her arms as he held her at bay while working to slow his breathing. He stood, taking her up with him, but it was only so he could get her tucked beneath the covers.
He refused to look at her while getting her settled, choosing to avoid her questioning eyes. Again, he kissed her forehead. “Goodbye Imani,” he left the room without looking her way again.
“Goodbye,” she said when the door closed at his back.
~30~
“None of this surprises you, does it?”
Humphrey sent his little brother a cool smile, all the while he shook his head. He had come back to the hotel after his meeting with Ophion wondering how he’d get his brothers to agree to cut the trip short. Discovering the issue had resolved itself, was the cherry on top.
“Em’s been involved in shit Pop doesn’t know about for years.”
“Should we call Uncle Em and warn him?” Vale asked.
“No,” Humphrey threw up a hasty wave. “This needed to happen and it happened in a better way than I could’ve come up with. Let someone other than me be responsible for edging our uncles out.”
“But not completely out.”
“No Vay, not completely out. Our uncles will serve me better in other places. The further I stay out of it, the better.”
“What if they rat you out to dad?” Vale worried.
Humphrey appeared unaffected. “I think they know what a bad idea that would be.”
“And then there’s Stone,” Vale put in. “With Em gone, what do we do about future shipments?”
Humphrey still appeared at ease. “It’s time I taught you a new word, little brother. Contingencies.” Again, he waved when Vale seemed ready with more questions. “You’ll know more soon about how we’ll handle our uncles.”
“And Stone? He’s pretty keen on getting to the bottom of this.”
“Which is exactly how I want him to be.”
Vale grinned, appreciating his big brother’s calm but not totally convinced calm was the right tactic. “You know Stone’s bottom might not be the same as yours, right?”
“I do, but our brother will be on my side long before that happens.”
