“I could help you get over that nervousness, if you let me…”
Persephone stopped her pacing finally, fixing him with a silver glare that flashed like diamonds. “You couldn’t pull off getting a woman over her nervousness on your best day.”
“So you won’t even give me the chance to try, Goddess?” He didn’t wait for her answer. Instead, he caught her wrist and tugged her neatly into his lap.
“Stop!” Persephone cast a nervous look over his shoulder before she sent Hill another brilliant and venomous glare.
He didn’t stop and she forbid her lashes to flutter when his fingers; already beneath the hem of the dress, journeyed higher until his palm covered her mound.
When he finally met her eyes, she sent him an ‘are you kidding’ look. “Taking your own sweet time about following through on your code word ethics, aren’t you?”
“I’m very serious about my code words, Sef.” His smile was somehow devilish and guileless at once when he heard her whimper then in response to his thumb strumming her clit.
“You didn’t meant it,” he tugged at her thigh to give him more room to explore.
Fully intrigued then, Persephone arched a brow in challenge. “I see...so your code words have conditions? I never knew that.”
“They don’t have conditions, Sef. You only said ‘stop’ because you’re afraid my folks will walk in,” he spoke the words like they were a caress similar to the one he was giving her clit.
“And that’s a strange concern?” She refused to be sidetracked and shook her head in an attempt to clear it. “Hill...they’re just out-mmm…” She melted when his finger slipped inside her panties. He treated her to a complete exploration while his thumb still worked atop the panties’ fabric.
“They’re just outside,” her words were a sigh enveloped inside a gasp.
Hill took his pleasure through hers. He adored the sensually affected expression on her captivating face. “And you said I couldn’t take your mind off your nerves…”
He was kissing her then, lazily, lustfully, possessively. Persephone couldn’t nor did she want to do anything about it. That was until she heard a gasp that wasn’t her own. It was followed by quiet laughter.
Hastily shoving away from Hill; who grinned wildly, Persephone stood tugging at the hem of her dress. “Mr and Mrs Tesano I’m- I uh,” she didn’t know whether to apologize for the girls or for being caught with their son’s hand up her dress.
Roman and Imani gave her time to do neither. Quickly, they approached to draw Persephone into a smothering double hug. They each kissed her cheek.
“Thank you, love,” Imani said when she and Roman stepped back.
Persephone shook her head. “Mrs. Tesano-”
“It’s Imani and Roman, darlin’,” Roman squeezed her elbow.
Persephone nodded. “What I did- the girls I-I’m sorry.”
“And now that you’ve said that, no more apologies, alright?” Roman encouraged.
“But I-” Persephone took a small step toward the very tall man who possessed the same darkly intimidating demeanor as his son. “I have to tell you-”
“Hill told us everything we need to know, sweet girl,” Roman dropped a kiss to her forehead.
“But-”
“Now the girls are checking out their room. You come see yours.” Imani steamrolled Persephone’s next attempt at explanation and linked her arm with Persephone’s to lead her from the kitchen.
Persephone risked a look back to Hill. He was standing then, the broad grin still adorning his unbelievable face.
Hill was indeed highly amused as he waved Persephone off with his mother. It felt good to see her experience the shock and surprise for a change.
Roman moved close to his son, clapped his shoulder while watching the women leave as well. “I do believe that young lady is as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. Am I right?”
“Very right, Dad,” Hill’s gaze didn’t waver as it remained fixed on the doorway.
Roman nodded. “Then you do whatever it takes to keep her with you. Got it?”
Hill joined his father in nodding. “Count on
that, Dad.”
~~~
Imani made a brief stop by the girls’ room to show what she and Roman had done. Persephone was of course bowled over. Given the outrageous lengths her own mother went to all in the name of being a grandparent, she soon got past her surprise. It was Tammy who’d been mostly responsible for the girls’ clearly over-the-top digs in Hawaii. With that in mind, she saw neither the need nor the usefulness in urging the Tesanos to hold back on the spoiling.
The women left the girls to their glee in the split level yellow and green bedroom suite. Then Imani was showing Persephone into the suite she was to have for the duration of her stay.
Imani bustled around, showing Persephone all the cozy spaces and plush amenities of her accommodations. The suite was a large, welcoming retreat with its rich colors of bronze, plum and navy. Heavily cushioned oversized furniture decorated the space. Persephone couldn't wait to sink her feet into the deep black rug that covered a large portion of the gleaming hardwoods.
It was, however, the dense forested area; fencing the backyard, that truly stunned. Persephone stood on the adjoining balcony and was mesmerized by the lush, towering green outlined against the riveting azure sky beyond.
“I thought you’d appreciate the quiet.” Imani’s regal accent was soft with parental understanding as she joined Persephone on the balcony. “Whether it’s one child or four, raising kids is a noisy job.”
Sighing deeply then, Persephone bowed her head and hesitated momentarily before she turned to once again try sharing her explanation.
“We told you we don’t need it, love.”
“Imani...please…”
