Page 56 of Lemon Drop

“This is so beautiful.”

His expression softened into a smile. “Sit down and eat, baby.”

For the next hour, we cruised along Port Isle’s coastline, eating breakfast, laughing, and arguing, because… well, we wouldn’t be Saadiq and Topaz if there weren’t arguments. I discovered a few things that I didn’t even know about the great Saadiq Masters. Apparently, he couldn’t stand pineapple on pizza, he liked board games, and he had once gotten suspended from school for selling candy out of his backpack.

“You were hustling in elementary school?” I asked.

“Had three employees and everything,” he responded with a satisfied little grin.

My mouth fell open. “Employees?”

“Little dudes from my class. I paid them in candy.”

“So, you used child labor!”

“I was engaged in a lil’ entrepreneurship,” he defended.

“You were engaged in a lil’ exploitation!”

“I was showing young cats how to build generational wealth, girl.”

I discovered something about myself, too. I enjoyed Saadiq Masters like this. I was having too much fun. It wasn’t the expensive boat or the beautiful scenery.

It was him.

By early afternoon, we’d anchored in a secluded cove where the water was so clear I could see straight to the sandy bottom. The beach curved around us in a perfect display of powdery white sand, framed by towering palms and lush tropical vegetation. Rocky outcroppings were visible on either side of the water, creating a natural barrier between the cove and the open Atlantic. The captain assured us that the water was calm enough for swimming and pointed out a shallow reef about a hundred yards from the yacht. I was still admiring the view when Saadiq emerged from below deck.

And ooh, Lord Jesus.

He’d changed into a pair of black swim trunks that hung low on his hips, leaving an absolutely unreasonable amount of dark brown skin on display, including that delicious Adonis belt that I wanted to trace with my tongue. His chest was broad and muscular, his stomach flat and defined, and the tattoos covering his arms and shoulders made my mouth water.

I took a long sip of my juice. Yep, this man was going to be the death of me.

“Come on, Apple!”

I adjusted my sunglasses. “You go ahead. I’m comfortable right here.”

He looked at me smugly. “You scared?”

“Of water? No.”

“Of me?”

I lowered my sunglasses. “Boy, please.”

“Then bring yo’ fine ass down here.”

I stood, slipped off my cover-up, and watched his entire expression change. My swimsuit was a simple emerald-green two-piece with a high waist and a plunging neckline. It wasn’t anything particularly scandalous, although I’d specifically chosen it because the color complemented my complexion and brightened the softer green of my eyes. It didn’t hurt that the cut did wonderful things for my breasts.

Apparently, Saadiq agreed.

“Topaz.”

“Hmm?”

“Come here.”

“Nope. You wanted me in the water.”