• • •

People didn't experience time the same way. If you're in prison, time probably dragged for you, whereas if you had to work on Monday, the weekend flew by.

Laken was somewhere in the middle.

The last month had been a whirlwind of revelations. New friendships, relationships, commitments—it dragged some days and on others if she blinked a week had gone by.

Now, the last two hours of this flight were going painfully slow. It helped that it was only them on the plane, but that didn't make it go any faster.

Kelsey giggled, and it drew Laken's attention to her and Jared. It was strange, actually. Weird, if you will.

Those were the two words that kept coming to her head when she saw Kelsey and Jared interact as a couple. Touching, smiling, giggling. She didn't even know Kelsey knew how to giggle.

She wasn't the only one who noticed it, as Trey cocked his head, "I don't know how I feel about this. It's scaring me."

"Take a shot every time she smile." Noah mumbled, sinking deeper in his seat.

"We'll be dead in three minutes."

As they were laughing, Tyler glanced sideways at them, "I think it's cute."

"I was just playing." Trey immediately backtracked, "I love seeing people happy."

Tyler was different than anybody Trey had ever dated. At least the ones he brought around them. Laken wasn't sure how to describe her, but free-spirited would likely be the word to use.

Tattoos decorated her light-brown skin. A smiley and a septum piercing. Her hair was just...There. Wild and somehow still cute.

It made her wonder if she wasn't using enough of her free will. She turned to Noah, "Should I get a tattoo?"

He sighed, "A tattoo of what, Laken?"

"Your name." Laken lied, just to see his reaction.

"Where at?" Noah was interested now, "We can find somewhere in Aruba to do it."

"Above my coochie."

Jared scrubbed his face, "I'm not listening to this shit—what's wrong with y'all?"

"Y'all over there doing soft porn and nobody said shit." Noah argued, "Just vibe. Now, back to this tattoo."

Trey gestured to them, "If you think this bad, you should've been around before they started screwing."

"I thought you said they were already screwing?"

"You telling my business, Trey?" Laken asked, "And yes, Tyler. We've been screwing since fifteen."

"Jesus. When's the wedding?"

Trey winced, "See? I didn't tell her everything."

The story was no longer a touchy subject. It just was what it was, and Laken didn't give a fuck what anybody said about it, or her.

She started feeling like that three days ago. Hopefully it lasted.

Tyler was more than interested as she was brought up to speed about everything that happened, Trey, Kelsey, and Jared interrupting every so often with their chain of events.

When the recap was finally over, the plane had landed.

To make it to where they were staying for the next three days, they all climbed into a boat where champagne awaited them.
Of course, Trey was the one to pop the bottle, "I hope y'all boys been hydrating."

Laken laughed as he poured it into Tyler's mouth, and opened hers when he made it to her. After swallowing, she looked at Noah who was watching Trey.

"Come pour it in mine, too, fuck nigga."

Trey didn't care, "Open up."

The captain looked back when the occupants' laughter sounded over the sound of the engine.

Laken had her phone up nearly the entire time, enlisting Noah's help when her arm wasn't long enough for a picture to include all of them. The ride made her emotional—having everybody together, the gorgeous island.

She'd been to every continent, but not with these people. Not like this.

Eventually they docked, and when Laken gazed ahead of her, she realized again that she wasn't using enough of her free will.

House wasn't close, villa didn't cover it, this was an estate. An insane property that sat along the beachfront with more space than any of them would fill. Three stories high with windows damn near taking up entire walls and balconies on every floor. The pool added to the aesthetic, stretching across the back of the property with an equally ridiculous layout.

Inside, rooms were already designated, and if hers and Noah's looked like this, she could only imagine Kelsey's.

"I'm so fucking obsessed." Laken held up her phone to take a picture, "Like, actually obsessed."

"It's crazy that you still can find a way to be impressed with shit."

Not really, "Yes, because I found out on the way here that Jared planned it. It's basically a free for all with his credit card—that's the sweetest thing ever in life."

Kelsey was notorious for skipping birthdays. She accepted gifts, but wouldn't celebrate with anyone. Laken tried every year, and every year she declined. So, for her to accept not just a celebration, but a three-day-long one, it was a big deal to Laken.

"Jared told you that? I'll beat his ass—'cause why the fuck he raising the stakes?"

Laken shrugged, "I'm sure you'll think of something."

"I did eight birthdays, Lake. I need help this time around."

"You did such a good job, too." She stood on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck, "I have so much faith in you."

"Let me go find this nigga, dawg."

• • •

Trey had the same idea, standing in the kitchen when Noah walked in, "Bro, I just had to explain to Tyler don't get no ideas—Niggas ain't broke but they ain't really having shit like this, feel me?"

"Laken told me figure some shit out for her birthday. I'm finna drown him."

"I'm saying, though. Why even invite us? Mind you, this her first impression of him." Trey paused, "Do that nigga want my girl?"

"Probably. Me, personally, I wouldn't let that slide."

"I'm not. Tyler got lucky—folks just gave me a fat ass bonus. I'm finna go band for band with his bitch ass."

Noah nodded, "I'll give you my shit if you need it. Not finna let him hoe you."

"Hell yeah. Just put me on the account in case something like this happen again."

Noah wanted to change the subject. He wasn't adding Trey to shit, "What they gave you a bonus for?"

"Remember that project I was telling y'all about? It's months ahead of schedule. Shit should be in the air in like two months instead of the six that the other dude was talking 'bout."

There weren't many, if any, things that Trey took seriously in life, but his career was one of them.

Noah knew he wasn't dumb the moment he realized Trey was in college on a full-ride, and it was confirmed when he told him he was majoring in aerospace engineering.

He'd never even heard of that before meeting Trey.

Now, he was making his way to the top of his profession faster than anybody expected. It seemed that every other week he had done something else to deserve recognition.

"Good shit. I'm proud of you."

Trey looked at him, "You must think you my daddy or some?"

"No, bitch. That's the last time I try to show love to you."

"Good. You been 'round Lake emotional ass too much."

Jared entered the kitchen then, standing next to Noah, "Y'all fucking with the house?"

He never got a response as Noah wrapped his forearm around his neck.

• • •

By eight, the kitchen island was filled with bottles, mixers, food and cards. Noah didn't know why they designated him as the bartender, but he was having fun with it.

Nothing like watching people take the first sip and declare it tasted like juice, only for it to hit them when they stood up.

"Noah!" Kelsey shouted across the room, "Come be my partner."

"This bitch has lost it—Please don't play with me."

Jared looked at his sister then back to Kelsey, "You know she only win when her and Noah cheat."

Noah and Laken never cheated at spades. It just worked out because they watched the other person and knew what card to play.

He should've told Kelsey no, but after Jared's comment, Laken insisted they couldn't be on the same team.

Now, he was sitting there trying not to yell at the birthday girl.

"Kels, why the fuck would you cut me?"

"You knew I was cutting clubs!" She yelled, "Why play it?"

"My shit walked! Are you—I gotta get off this table."

Laken laughed into her cup, "Good shit, Ty. We whooping ass all night."

"All night." Tyler pressed her cup to Laken's, "Sending niggas back to the couch crying."

Trey was shaking his head, "I got next. Ian finna let them do you like this, bro."

"The baby need help." Laken poked her lip out, "You wanna be my partner again?"

Noah didn't respond. He just tossed every card down without looking at it so he could get Kelsey off the table. Fuck it. They'd lost anyway. He didn't remember her being this bad, but damn.

When Trey sat down, Noah acknowledged that the whole house was terrible at this game. He left the cards on the table, face up, "I quit."

Tyler laughed, throwing her hand down, "We undefeated."

"We got a cool fifteen til Kels birthday." Jared was checking the time, "Laken, go get a knife. Trey, grab the cake—Noah you on plates and get that bottle." He paused to look at Tyler, "Can you get the candles and a lighter, please?"

"She get a please, but we got bossed around. Shit crazy."

Everybody completed their assignments, reconvening on the patio. Laken bounced beside him, her excitement overriding Kelsey's, who had a look that Noah couldn't place at first. He realized it was because he'd never seen that emotion from her. For the first time since he'd met her, he categorized her as shy.

"Should we do a countdown?" Tyler asked, "I'll tell y'all when to start."

Kelsey played with her fingers, "We don't have to do that."

"The fuck we don't!" Laken shouted, "We'll probably never get a chance like this again."

She stood by and let them count down the last ten seconds to midnight, closing her eyes when they started singing happy birthday.

Loudly. Off-key. They sounded a mess.

After she blew out her candles, her eyes opened, shining under the light, "Take a shot, bro. We not doing that crybaby shit tonight."

Laken was already crying.

• • •

It was almost two in the morning before everyone went to their rooms with instructions to be ready by eleven for brunch.

Tomorrow would be a long day, but Laken was excited for it. She'd been having so much fun already and they hadn't even left the house yet. It was a much-needed break from real life, and as she sat on the balcony, she didn't want to go to sleep—just to preserve the peaceful feeling.

The sliding door opened, Noah poking his head out, "We sleeping out here?"

"Do you want to?" Her hand extended toward him, "We can make a mean ass pallet."

"If I go to sleep down there, I hope you ain't planning on going nowhere else this trip."

Her smile was slow, "Remember when we used to sleep on the floor in the living room?"

"That was before Darren knew I liked you."

"We had sleepovers til like twelve. We didn't start 'dating' til eighth grade."

"Lake," Noah sat beside her, "I sent you some for Valentine's day every year in middle school—you think I was just doing that for everybody?"

"Yes, actually. You bought Jasmine one too."

"I had to keep my options open." He flinched when she made a move to hit him, "I didn't even remember that girl name."

"Well, I did."

"'Cause you obsessed with me."

"Yes." Laken agreed easily, turning on her side to gaze at him, "Are you not?"

"You know I am."

She did—she wouldn't have asked if she thought otherwise. Every chance he got, Noah showed her that. Laken looked back out at the water, a calm wave that came and went.

She continued to reminisce. Starting with soft memories, ones that were suitable to tell her at family dinner, then moved towards ones she wouldn't dare repeat to them.

Those lingered, and her eyes moved to Noah, "Are you sleep?"

"No."

"Do you remember spring break? Senior year?"

"What about it?" Noah glanced at her.

She remembered it vividly—wondered if he did, "I was just thinking about it."

It took only a few seconds, "That's what you want?"

Laken nodded.

"Let's go inside—You be too loud."

"I can be quiet." She didn't want to move.

Noah stood to lean over the railing, scanning the dark below before leaning his back against it, "Show me."

She lifted her hips to pull down her shorts and underwear, both falling to the ground as her hand went in between her legs.

"You in a rush?" He asked, "Take all that shit off."

Her shirt was next to go, pulled over her head and dropped with the rest. The warm air hit every inch of her skin and she shivered, but her hand never stopped moving.

Noah followed all of it, quiet—in a trance almost.

Her knees fell open wider, her heels hooked on the edge of the cushion. She pushed her fingers deeper trying to replicate him. Laken wished he would touch her, "Can you...Help?"

Noah moved toward her and set his hand along her jaw, thumb under her chin, and tilted her face up until she was looking at him. His other hand slid between her thighs, taking its time while her breath hitched. He didn't let her look down, and when he finally took himself in that wet hand, he did it with her chin still in his grip, so all she could do was watch his face.

If all that was all the help he had to give, it worked.

His mouth curved watching her cum, "Open for me, baby."

She did, her tongue out waiting as Noah leaned in, letting his saliva drip into her mouth. A moan slipped out, "Fuck me."

"I will." He promised, "Work for it."

Laken didn't need it explained. She was already sliding off the chair, knees finding the warm boards. She didn't want slow—that was the point of this. Her mouth wrapped around him but she didn't move, looking up at him instead.

"I want another one while you down there." His hand slid to the back of her head, gathering her hair.

The part that never really made sense to Laken was his ability to nearly talk one out of her. She disregarded that thought, wincing at the sensitivity as she placed her hand back on her center.

Her eyes watered the deeper he went, "Fuck, you so pretty like this." His thumb caught the tear sliding down her cheek, "Relax your jaw. I got you. Let me have it."

The next push went further as Noah gripped her face, holding her in place. She gagged on every thrust, spit dripping down her chin and neck—Noah kept his pace steady staring down at her and she wondered what he was thinking, how she looked to him.

She couldn't ask for help that time, so she tried to convey it with her eyes while her fingers moved sloppily against her clit.

Noah's voice was low, "Slow, baby."

Her knees ached and her jaw burned but none of it mattered.
Laken's stomach clenched, her thighs trembling against the deck—moaning around him and relishing in the groan he gave back.

"I know it's so wet." Her eyes closed at his words, "I wanna see you cum with my dick in your throat."

Frantic, now. Slick, too sensitive. Noah held her at the deepest point, nose almost to his skin, and that sent her spiraling towards her second.

Laken nearly cried at the feeling of relief.

"Shhh." Noah knelt in front of her, muffling the sounds with his mouth. Laken parted her lips, meeting his tongue with hers as she caught his face between her hands.

"Now?" Breathless, "Please?"

He shook his head, "One more."

Laken could barely feel her legs, relying on Noah to steady her as they stood, turning her towards the rail and placing her hands on the steel. The dark yard stretched out below her, and his hand pressed between her shoulder blades until she bent.

His palms slid down to grip and spread her, and he dragged his tongue from her clit higher, slower, until it was circling and pushing against where he wanted.

Laken forgot where they were but didn't really care. The feeling and warmth in an area that hadn't been touched since him made her gasp for air, the waves doing little to mask the sound.

That thought paired with Noah's mouth made her grip the rail, pushing her ass back against him, "I need it, Noah."

"Give me one more—I'm tryna' taste you." His breath hot against her skin, ragged, "Let go for me; I'll give you whatever you want."

That didn't feel within reach, until Noah continued, "Please."

There wasn't a build, it just happened.

He stayed against her, groaning into the wetness that dripped down her thighs—kept his mouth on her until the shaking stopped.

Laken felt him kiss her spine and hissed at the contact, "Can I have a second?"

"I thought you needed it?" He lifted her off the rail, carrying her the few steps to the lounge chair, "Ain't no second."

Laken didn't think she could take anymore. Her body was hot, goosebumps covering her skin despite the humid air surrounding them.

When he finally pushed in, tears welled in her eyes. It wasn't pain, but the stretch of him when she was already so overstimulated.

"Talk to me, Lake." He tilted her face, "You good?"

All she could do was nod, arms spread above her. Noah folded over her, forearms braced on either side of her head. Slow, in and out—It was fine, she was fine.

Until he leaned back, pressing his hands against her thighs, pinning her beneath him. Whatever sound was forming got caught in Laken's throat, her mouth hanging open.

"Wettest pussy I ever had in my life." His head fell back, "And you take it so fuckin' good."

Laken whimpered, her vision blurring as Noah kept going deeper, harder. There weren't any words for what she felt, still she tried, "Tell me it's mine."

His head snapped forward, a smile forming, "You know it's yours, Laken. Look at you—taking your dick."

"It's made for me?"

"Fuck yes." He shuddered, his eyes growing lower, "Just for you. Only you."

"Then cum in your pussy."

Noah hooked her knee over his elbow and drove in deep, the chair scraping the boards, every thrust hard enough to knock a sound out of her that he didn't bother to muffle.

"Cum with me." He didn't say it above a whisper, "One more time, Laken, I swear just one more."

Laken clung to him, her legs locking around his waist, pulling him in.

They both got what they asked for.

• • •

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