Black Pearl (16 page)

Nikola woke to the sounds of the ocean waves and his woman tucked under his arm. He smiled to himself remembering the night before. Devyn had sure found a way to help him relax before his day packed with meetings and a big presentation. He lay still for a while listening to the sounds of the ocean and the soft breathing of the love of his life. He closed his eyes and felt a sense of peace; he’d become used to waking with her in his bed every morning. Nikola thought about his future and where it was going. He knew he couldn’t imagine a future without her in it. He wanted Devyn, not just for the here and now, or for a little while, but forever. He wanted the type of life his parents had and he wanted it with her. He knew he loved her, although she still hadn’t said the words to him. He knew what it was when he looked in her eyes, and it was love. He would be patient, for now, but he knew big changes were on the horizon for them. Pressing a quick kiss to her forehead he got out of bed and went to shower and dress for the day. He would be having a breakfast meeting so he didn’t need to eat anything, but he ordered room service for Devyn when she awoke. Leaving a note next to her breakfast tray, and making a phone call to his staff to have a ticket left at the front counter for Devyn, he exited the hotel suite.

Nikola’s morning was jam packed with meetings to update new projects his Brazil office was working on and potential new business ventures they were looking into. Excel worked with one of the largest banks in Brazil, which coincidentally was the bank Raul’s father started, more than forty years ago. Raul was still back in Atlanta, and would be for the next month or two. Nikola trudged through his meetings, trying not to think about what he’d rather be doing, which was showing Devyn the sights in Rio, or hanging out on the beach with her, or hell, even just lying in bed. He just wanted to be with her in the country that had become his second home, in all the times he visited Raul there or did business.

By the time 2:45 rolled around, Nikola was anxious to finally see Devyn just as she walked into the large conference room. He eyed her up and down.

She was dressed in a light pink flowy skirt, a white ruffled sleeveless top, and a pair of brown strappy platform heels. He looked at the muscles in her legs bulge as she came down the stairs, and he felt the usual heat begin to rise in his groin. When she reached her seat, she looked up, spotted him and waved. Clearing his throat, he winked at her before turning his attention to the other men he was presenting with on the stage. By the time he turned back to Devyn, he saw she was seated next to some young looking man. He was probably a student, but he didn’t like the way the man was eyeing Devyn’s legs. He could read the man’s face and knew exactly what he was thinking. His jaw tightened when the man leaned over and said something to Devyn, too close to her ear for his comfort. He watched as Devyn leaned away slightly and shook her head, saying something he couldn’t make out. Devyn returned her attention back to the stage, immediately catching his eye. She gave him the “I’m okay” look she often gave when they were at one of her performances and he thought a guy was getting too close. He knew Devyn could take care of herself, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to take care of her or from letting every man in the place know that she was his.

A few minutes later, the presentation got underway and Nikola spoke about the challenges of working in international markets and ways to overcome these challenges. He listened intently when other presenters spoke about their experiences and how their companies were innovating new ways to do business across international borders. At the end of the hour long presentation there was a question and answer session, which he often enjoyed. He always found he learned something new or was shown a new way to think about a challenge or issue, during question and answer sessions. Although he was extremely successful in his own right, he knew the only way to remain this successful was to keep learning and growing. At one point, while answering a question, he mistakenly looked down at Devyn just as she uncrossed and re-crossed her legs. He lost his train of thought for a brief second as he stared at her thighs. His anger flashed when he saw the man next to her notice the movement as well, though he had the good sense not to try and talk to her again.

“You’re a distraction,” he whispered in her ear, coming up behind her, after the presentation, when he was finally able to get to her.

“You were phenomenal, baby!” She said excitedly, as he leaned in to kiss her. His chest swelled with pride and emotion over her compliment. He’d given hundreds of presentations over his career, but this one felt special because she was there to see him. He knew he had a goofy grin on his face at her excitement, but he didn’t care.

“Thank you.”

“Do you have a few minutes to hangout before your next meeting?” She asked, knowing he had a full schedule that day that wouldn’t let him get back to the hotel until later that evening.

“Yeah, I have another twenty minutes before my next meeting. Come grab a drink with me.”

“So how was your day so far?” Nikola asked as they settled in at a small cafe in the building the conference was in.

“It was good – a little lonely though,” she smiled at him.

“Thanks for breakfast by the way and the spa appointment,” Nikola made an appointment for her at the hotel’s spa to get a full treatment.

“I’m sure it wasn’t as good as my massage last night, but...it’ll do,” he shrugged. Devyn blushed and dipped her head at his heated gaze. They spent the next fifteen minutes talking about their mornings before it was time for Nikola to go back to the office. He saw Devyn off to the car that awaited her, before leaving himself.

Later that night, Nikola walked into a dimly lit suite and his eyes followed the line of candles that led out to the terrace where Devyn was standing. A candlelight dinner awaited him. He was relieved, because after a packed day of meetings he didn’t want to go out to eat, but would have if Devyn had wanted to.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry when you got in, but I took a chance. Did you have dinner?”

He hadn’t.

“Nope and I’m starving,” he said grabbing her and nuzzling her neck. He pulled her into his lap and they ate sitting like that. When their meal was finished, he led Devyn to one of the patio chairs and sat, positioning her in between his legs. With her lying on his chest between his legs, he fingered one of her curls.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she sighed.

“It is. It became like my second home while I was in college and after coming back from Iraq.” Nikola spent a lot of his vacation time in school, visiting Raul’s home and once he returned from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan he took time off, and stayed in Brazil for months.

“How long were you here for when you got back?”

“Probably about eight months off and on. When I retired from the military, I spent more time here than home. My dad knew I needed the time to deal with everything I’d seen over there.”

Devyn snuggled closer to him.

“Tell me about your dad,” she said softly. Nikola’s arm tightened around her waist slightly.

Though it became easier with time, thinking about his father was still painful. He loved him, and even though he had been hard on Nikola, he understood it came from a place of love. His father groomed him from an early age to be the leader of the company. He spent the rest of the night telling Devyn about his childhood and his father, and how he would sit in on board meetings from the time he could walk. By the time he was ten he was well versed in reading financial reports, and analyzing potential investments. It was his father who pushed him to go to West Point, having been an alumnus himself. Nikola missed his father greatly, but the pain he usually felt when he thought about his father was somehow slightly mitigated by the presence of the woman in his arms.

Nikola and Devyn fell asleep out on the terrace, with their arms wrapped around one another.

Devyn laughed out loud as Nikola splashed water on her. It was their fifth day in Rio, and they’d spent the past two days playing tourist, visiting the famous sights, doing a bicycle tour, hiking and of course, eating. Devyn loved Brazil’s national drink caipirinha and ate more brigadeiros than she could count. When she complained she’d have to spend the next month living in the gym to get rid of the weight she would gain from eating so much, Nikola pulled her in his arms and told her he would love her just as much no matter what her weight was. She immediately melted at the sincerity in his voice.

After spending the day visiting the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, and trying even more delicious Brazilian cuisine such as Moqueca, they’d made their way to the beautiful Copacabana beach where Nikola rented surfboards and attempted to teach Devyn to surf. But Devyn paid more attention to Nikola in his black swimming trunks than to any instructions he was giving. She watched as the water glistened off his six pack abs, and the strength of his arms when he sliced through the water. She sighed. She loved him. She’d known it for a while, but had only just admitted it to herself.

“This is why you’re not able to stand on the board yet. You’re not even paying attention to my instructions.” She laughed.

“It’s not my fault you’re wearing those sexy swim trunks with your muscles all out on display. You might be a hazard to half the people out here. Did you see those women ogling you so hard they almost crashed into one another while swimming?” She teased.

He pressed a kiss to her lips. “You’re the only woman who has my attention.” Her heart soared. “Good answer.”

“Even though you can’t find your center of gravity to stand on the board.” He teased.

“I can find my center of gravity to do other things though.” She eyed him up and down suggestively.

Nikola’s grin grew in that mischievous way she loved, but before he could move in to grab her for a kiss, she splashed him with clear blue water. They spent the rest of the day on the beach before returning to their suite to shower and go out to dinner. They ate at a local restaurant that served traditional Brazilian cuisine. Afterwards Nikola took her out to a club that played Samba music. Devyn was again surprised at his dancing ability. He told her that when he would visit, Raul’s family members would teach him Samba. They told him that in order for him to become an adopted Brazilian he had to know how to dance Samba. Devyn thoroughly enjoyed the evening, but she couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel suite. She had something special planned for Nikola.

When they walked into the suite, it was again dimly lit with candles leading into the bedroom. In the middle of the room was a chair. Their butler had set up the room according to her request.

Smiling over her shoulder, Devyn pulled Nikola to the chair and told him to sit, telling him she would be right back. Devyn grabbed the bag she placed her lingerie in and headed to the bathroom to change. A few minutes later she emerged wearing a red corset, paired with red lacy panties, thigh high tights held up by garter belts and four inch high heels. When she saw the look on his face, she smiled seductively. She walked over to Nikola, and straddled his lap. When he went to reach for her, she stopped his hands, placing them on either side of the arms rests.

“Ah, ah, ah,” she said shaking her head.

“You have to keep your hands to yourself.” She almost laughed at the incredulous look he gave her.

“Keep your hands to yourself. Promise?” She waited for his response. He gave a tight nod.

She was sure he would break that promise before the end of the night. Strutting over to her laptop, she opened her favorite Spotify playlist and pressed the button to play the song she chose specifically for this occasion. She pressed the button and the sounds of Goapele’s
Play
began to permeate the room. She turned and swayed her hips to the melody, before dropping down and crawling to Nikola. Reaching his legs she used his knees to press herself up to stand, straddling his hips. She put her fingers in his soft hair, and gyrated her hips and thrust her breasts in his face. Moving back she stood, turned and bent at waist so her ass was right in his line of sight. She swiveled her hips and turned, placing one heeled leg on his knee. Slowly removing her garter, she slid one legging down her leg, removed her shoe and put the legging around his neck, leaning in to lick his ear. She did the same with the second legging.

Devyn turned and looked over her shoulder, she could feel Nikola’s control slipping. He had been good until then, managing to keep his hands where she put them. She winked and thought of something to finally make him lose his control. She slowly slid her hand over her breasts and down the corset, circling her hips, until she reached inside her panties and began touching herself. She was already wet. Devyn heard Nikola’s low growl before she felt him. Before she could even turn around, he spun her around, lifted her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Walking to the nearest wall, he pushed her back to the wall and Devyn heard a loud tear.

“I’ll buy you more.”

He grunted before ripping open her corset allowing her breasts to spill out. He immediately captured a nipple in his mouth sucking hard. Devyn cried out from the small bite of pain that was quickly abated by Nikola’s stroking tongue. Devyn heard the faint sounds of Nikola unbuckling his belt and pants, just moments before she felt his cock press at her entrance. Nikola lifted his head and took her lips in a passionate kiss as he pushed himself inside her to the hilt. Before Devyn could even catch her breath, he began pounding her, pressing her against the wall behind her over and over. Devyn threw her head against the wall, grabbing a handful of Nikola’s dark brown hair as she screamed his name. When Nikola let his thumb rub her clit, Devyn cried out, as the sensations washed over her and she came apart. Nikola continued to pound into her, and she soon felt another orgasm building in her just that quickly. She felt Nikola grow even harder and knew he was close. She bent her head to lick and suck his ear lobe, and squeezed her pussy muscles around his pounding cock. Nikola grunted and groaned loudly as his seed spilled into her. His release signaled yet another one for Devyn and they came together.

Nikola leaned into Devyn’s shoulder panting, coming down from his climax. Devyn continued to run his fingers through his hair.

“You broke your promise.”

He grunted. “Like you didn’t know that was going to happen,” he said pulling out of her.

He stepped out of his pants and carried her to the bed. Once he deposited her on the bed, Devyn stared at his tight butt as he walked into the bathroom. Devyn closed her eyes and settled in when she felt a dip in the bed and then a warm cloth wiping her down. She felt Nikola crawl into bed and move her so she had her head resting on his chest with his arm wrapped protectively around her. She snuggled in deeper and inhaled his scent. 

“I love you,” she said just above a whisper. She felt Nikola pull her in tighter.

“Doesn’t count,” he said mimicking the words she told him when he first told her he loved her. Devyn’s lips turned upward. “Okay,” was all she said before falling asleep. 

The following morning, when breakfast arrived, Devyn watched as the butler opened the tray of a medley of fruit that spelled out the words “I LOVE YOU,” she watched as Nikola’s face brightened by his smile.

“Does this one count?” She teased as he wrapped a strong arm around her waist. After the butler left, it was a long while before Nikola let Devyn up for air, let alone have breakfast, but it was well worth it.

The day before they were to leave Rio, Nikola took Devyn to meet Raul’s parents, whom he called his second family. Nikola referred to Rosaline and Manuel Santiago as Mae and Pai Santiago. They lived not too far from the Copacabana Hotel, in the beautiful Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas area in a large four bedroom, three bathroom home. When they arrived, a man who looked exactly like Raul, twenty years from now, answered. Devyn knew this man had to be Raul’s father.

“
Filho
!” Manual exclaimed as he pulled Nikola in for a hug.

Manuel was only an inch shorter than Nikola, with bronzed coloring that spoke to his mixed ancestry and dark, almost black hair. Aside from a few greying hairs along the side and some wrinkling around the eyes, the man could easily pass for someone in his late forties or fifties, instead of mid-sixties.

“Who do we have here?” Manuel asked, eyeing Devyn with the same devilish twinkle in his eye, she often saw in Raul’s.

“Pai Santiago, this is my woman, Devyn,” Nikola said pulling her to his side.

“Hello, Mr. Santiago. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Nikola has told me so much about you.”

“I hope he hasn’t told you everything. I don’t like all my tricks to be revealed.” He winked at Devyn before pulling her in for a hug.

“Oh Manny, hush. She doesn’t care to hear about any of your tricks.” Devyn heard as she saw a beautiful light skinned woman, with hazel eyes and a big smile. This was Rosaline Santiago.

“
Ola filho
,” she said as Nikola hugged her.

“Mae Santiago, this is my Devyn.” Devyn’s heart always did a little flip when he called her “his woman” or “his Devyn” as if he was so proud to show her off.

“Welcome, Devyn, it’s nice to meet you. We’ve heard great things about you as well.” She reached into hug Devyn.

“Thank you for having us,” Devyn said as she returned the woman’s hug.

As they were escorted in, Devyn looked at the tropical-style decorated home. The living room contained a white couch and loveseat that held ocean blue pillows. Through the large floor to ceiling windows Devyn could see a stunning view of the lagoon and in the distance stood the Christ the Redeemer statue. The two couples chatted for a while before sitting outside to a catered lunch of traditional Brazilian cuisine, and of course lots of caipirinha. They enjoyed the afternoon, talking with one another, and even took a walk down by the lagoon as Manuel explained the latest construction and changes going on in the area. By the time they left, Devyn had fallen in love with the Santiagos. It was clear to see where Raul got his teasing and charming personality from.

By the time they stepped on the plane to return home, Devyn had begun to think of Brazil as a home away from home. She counted the months until she could return. Nikola promised they would return soon enough, and would be coming back for Carnival the following year. She told him she would hold him to his promise.