What Azmir isn’t expecting is our musical guest, seated behind the baby grand piano, starting a jazzy tune. Before we’re deep into the room, Azmir turns his tall frame towards me with wrinkled brows. But it’s the wonderment in his eyes that takes my breath away. He’s pleasantly surprised and I’m thrilled by that. I bite my bottom lip, slightly embarrassed all of a sudden. My heart’s elated. Thankfully, I don’t have to speak, as our entertainer kicks the show off.
“Good evening, folks. I’m here to serenade you tonight, hopefully, to add to the romantic holiday ambiance.” The keys from the piano bellows melodiously. “I’ll be your entertainer for the next few hours. I go by the name of Ragee and I’m honored to play my chords at the,” he cranes his neck, stretching his eyes over the great room. “…massive home of one Azmir Jacobs,” he transitions into a mellow version of Winter Wonderland.
After experiencing his awesome talent last summer at his listening party, I had to throw him a bone and hire him for tonight. Azmir’s budget for this event was astronomical in true A.D. fashion, so there was plenty of room for his fee.
Ragee goes on to introduce his two background singers who are all dressed in black, just as he is. When he belts out I’ll Be Home for Christmas I know I’ve made a great decision in including him to entertain our first “official” guests.
Not even midway into the song, Azmir turns me around and takes me into a dancing stance as he leans down and buries his face in my neck, inhaling deeply. I melt into his lanky frame instinctively, wondering how I could ever leave his enfold, even to pee. His delicious cologne does things to me, prompting me to want to do things to him that are indecent.
During our circular movements, I can see Lenny and Mia in an embrace. He’s whispering—apparently—salaciously in her ear as she quietly giggles. It’s hard not to get caught up in romantic realms with the sparkling, white clustered lights I had hung throughout the great room and terrace.
Well, at least that’s what I’m thinking until I see Jackson and Evelyn, sitting apart, but certainly engaged in the performance. There’s a strange set of dynamics between those two. Jackson seems sad. Like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. He’s articulate, extremely handsome, polite, and…dejected. I can’t wait to ask Azmir about him and Lenny.
My attention is taken when Azmir swipes his long pinky finger in the crack of my cheeks and wiggles it. My eyes flutter and my spine shivers. I moan into his chest. Then slowly, I peer up into his eyes and immediately note they’re smoldered.
“I love having your back exposed. I can pull you against me and still get my fill of your skin in front of mixed company.” His brandy-hinted breath turns my nipples taut. I want to suck his tongue right from his face.
“I was wondering what was up with the partial nudity of this dress,” I tease.
“I love your skin. In fact, if you hadn’t contracted with a stylist already, I would put you in a stunning gown for the Mauve signing that would expose this silken casing again,” he rubs my back chastely, using his entire palm. I close my eyes to try to focus on quieting the moans escaping my mouth.
Hearing the staccato sounds of Ragee transitioning from Let it Snow, the Boyz II Men rendition, to Donny Hathaway’s This Christmas brings me back to the here and now. And now I’m faced with the decision of sharing with Azmir that his deputy PR guru shot me a botched designer for kicks. I’m still committed to decision of accepting her presence in Azmir’s life, only because I believe it’s limited to business only.
“Ummm…actually I haven’t contracted with a stylist yet,” I murmur, then meet Azmir’s bemused gaze. “The one Dawn recommended didn’t possess the…avant-garde quality that I’m hoping for.” My eyes bounce nervously in his gaze, praying for acceptance of my bland answer. Azmir’s no fool, but I’m also not prepared to play the whiney girlfriend who cries wolf.
After a tentative pause, he nods, “Okay, I’ll make a call in the morning. I already have the perfect gown in mind. The only thing that’ll be left to do is me determining just how I’ll keep my hands off you until I have you back home in our bed.”
I can’t hide my split face grin. I warm in Azmir’s decision to take care of the matter. I’m getting better at accepting him and his lofty lifestyle.
I can do this.
“You’ve done well this evening, Brimm,” he appraises, breaking me from my contemplation.
“I tried,” I purr sensually. “Is there a reward for my efforts?”
“Sure, there is. What would you prefer?” he breathes into my neck, and I generously inhale the aromatic brandy that’s blending with his cologne and natural body odors so well.
“You pounding me into the mattress until I lose consciousness.”