Finding Love At Life's Crossroads: An Interracial Novel

by Skylar Ward

  “I was born February 15th, 1978, which makes me ten years older than you,” Ace said. “Are you certain you want to give your innocence to an old guy?”

  “Nine years and months,” Efia said, nodding vigorously.

  “No, sweetheart,” Ace said. “No head bobs. I want a verbal. I want to hear you say it.”

  “Yes,” Efia said. “I want this. I want to experience this with you.”

  Ace dropped his forehead to hers. “You deserve a good man, Efia. One who can marry you and take care of you. I am not worthy of what you are offering.”

  “Efia dug her nails into his ass. “Shut up!”

  Ace flinched. “I will try to make this experience as comfortable for you as I can. There will be some discomfort. I can stop now if you want me to, however, the further we go, the more difficult it will be. Are you sure about this, Efia?”

  Efia lifted her hips. She was the last of her friends to experience the pleasures of sex. If not now, when? she wondered. No one will ever know. I will always have the memories of doing something a little unexpected and mischievous. And I don’t have to ever see this man’s face again. “Yes, I am sure.”

  “Are you ready?”

  “Yes.”

  Ace gripped his cock, and ran it over her entrance, causing Efia to suck in air between closed teeth, the action creating a whistling sound. Ace pushed forward, meeting resistance. He eased back. Taking a deep breath, he surged ahead, gaining more purchase than the previous attempts.

  Efia cried out.

  “I am sorry, sweetheart,” Ace said in a quivering tone as globs of sweat dripped from his forehead onto Efia’s skin. He let out a slow breath. “God, this feels so damn, good.” He circled his hips.

  Efia bit her lip, hoping to ease the pain. Ace orbited, going a little deeper. Her breathing became erratic as pleasure eclipsed the pain and Ace took her through the rites of passage and into the part of womanhood that had previously eluded her. Efia soon found her rhythm—not only moving to the beat that Ace had set—but initiating her own pace and forcing him to follow. Shortly, her body tensed. She shouted. Her screams, giving way to whimpers and then aftershock as little tremors took over her body.

  Ace’s body appeared taut before it shook. His shouts followed, rivaling hers in both depth and intensity. His guttural groans, almost painful to the ears. With one final thrust, he drove his entire shaft into her core. He stilled. Drenched in sweat, he slumped forward, dropping on top of Efia.

  <>

  Several minutes later, Ace lifted himself from Efia’s sleeping frame and headed to the bathroom. When he returned, he sat on the side of the bed. Slowly, he ran his hand along her arm. “Wake up, sweetheart.”

  “Hmm.”

  “I have prepared a bath for you.”

  “I want to sleep.”

  Ace chuckled. “Trust me, this will feel better.”

  Efia stretched her legs and winced.

  “Exactly.” Ace stood and offered her his hand.

  When Efia made no attempt to move, Ace picked her up and carried her through to the adjoining bathroom, depositing her into the freestanding garden tub.

  “Oh!” Efia said as the warm water washed over her lower parts.

  Ace climbed in behind her. “It will feel better soon.”

  Efia reached for the body wash.

  “I don’t think that is a good idea,” Ace said. “Unless you are into burning sensations.”

  Heeding his advice, Efia left the body wash alone and gathered her hair piling it on top of her head. Ace reached for a nearby towel. He aligned Efia’s body with his chest and wrapped the towel around her hair.

  “Thanks.”

  Silently, they stayed in the tub until the water started to lose its warmth. When Ace stepped from the bathtub, he helped Efia out. After drying their skins, he handed Efia a fluffy white robe and donned a similar one.

  “Oh, No!” Efia exclaimed, pointing to the bed linens when they entered the bedroom. “I can’t leave those here. I have to wash them.”

  “I will take care of it,” Ace said, hurrying from the room. A few minutes later, he reemerged with an opened bottle of red wine in one hand and a fresh set of sheets under his arm. He handed the items off to Efia. He dragged the sheets from the bed, spreading them on the floor. “Pass me the wine.”

  Efia gave the bottle to Ace who then sprinkled the red wine on every spot on the sheet.

  “What are you doing?” Efia asked.

  “You don’t want to be the talk of Calico Cays Resort, do you?” Ace winked. “Trust me on this.”

  After watching the red wine blend with the prior stains, Efia threw the fresh sheets on the bed, and removed the towel from her hair, placing it over a nearby chair.

  “I guess, I have no other choice than to trust you since you seem to have a world of experience.” She grabbed her bra and panties from the floor.

  Ace raised his eyebrows. “What’s wrong?”

  Ignoring his question, Efia picked up her skirt and top.

  “This is no way for us to start,” Ace said, placing the wine bottle on the dresser. He came around the side of the bed where she stood. He took her hand. “I am only thinking of you. I don’t want any of your coworkers to disrespect you.”

  “Don’t mind me,” Efia said. “I don’t know why I am being so sensitive.”

  Ace took the clothes from her hand, placing them in the chair. “I will walk you back to the staff’s lodgings later. In the meanwhile, why don’t we lie down?”

  Thrilled to return to his arms, Efia grinned. “All right,” she whispered.

  After he and Efia had made the bed, Ace took his robe off, and they climbed into bed. He reached for Efia, lifting her onto his chest. He slid his arms between their bodies, loosening the sash on her robe and pushing it aside. Ace felt around until he found the end of the sheet, raising it up and over her body. Within minutes, they were both asleep.

  <>

  An hour or so later Ace opened his eyes. He slid his hands down Efia’s back, cupping her firm ass. She stirred, causing all the blood in his body to travel in the same direction—southward. As his excitement intensified, Efia awoke.

  Smiling, she rotated her lower body into his. When her moisture touched his skin, Ace rolled to his side, taking her with him. He lifted her top leg and aligned the tip of his cock along her opening. Slowly, he worked his way back into her body, loving the feel and scent that was uniquely hers. How could he ever let her go after what they shared? Ace shook his head, staying in the moment. The future would take care of itself!

  Chapter 14

  Four hours later, Ace breathed a sigh of relief when he realized Efia was still nestled into his body. I could stay in the position until daybreak. Who the hell am I kidding? I could stay like this forever. Ace ran his hand across her breasts.

  “Humm.”

  “Wake up, sweetheart,” he whispered. “We have to get you back before Maria breaks the door down.”

  Maria’s name seemed to have a sobering effect on Efia.

  Her eyes popped open. “I have to get dressed.”

  “You need to take a shower, first,” Ace said. “Ease up a bit. It’s three o’clock.”

  “I need my clothes. I can’t believe I slept this long.”

  “You were tired. Go on, I will bring them.”

  Efia scuttled from the bed and through to the ensuite. Ace retrieved their clothes, placing them on the vanity. He joined Efia in the shower where he grabbed the shower gel.

  “I thought you said …”

  “This is not for you, sweetheart.” Ace took her hand, pouring a generous amount of gel. He guided her hand to his chest. As she made circular motions across his skin, he washed her. Before long, they were both dried and dressed.

  “I am going to get my shoes,” Efia said.

  Ace drew her close. He kissed her forehead. “I will be right in.” As she disappeared, he glared at his reflection in the vanity. No one had to tell him that he wasn’t
the same man who had stepped off the water taxi at Calico Cays Resort because the glow on his face made him appear ten years younger.

  “I owe you a new shirt,” Efia said when Ace entered the bedroom.

  “You owe me nothing. Come here.”

  Efia walked into his arms. And Ace held her tightly. He inhaled her hair—her scent, a mixture of his cologne, hair conditioner, and the shower gel.

  He exhaled. “We have to go.”

  Efia moved from his arms and reached into her handbag, removing her scarf. “I need your help.”

  “You are doing this now—this time of the morning?” Ace asked.

  Efia giggled. “Long story, Ace.”

  Hearing his name roll from her lips that hour sounded strangely sweet. Although she didn’t have a strong accent, there was something there, and by God, Ace loved the sound of it. When he finished, Ace tapped Efia on the butt and pointed her toward the door. He grabbed his iPad from the small desk in the hallway.

  “You need that, this time of the morning?” Efia asked, throwing his words back at him.

  “Since I can’t walk you into the staff’s residence and tuck you into bed, you have to text me as soon as you enter your room. I won’t leave until I receive your text.”

  “Ok, let us go,” she said.

  As they strolled along, Ace glanced sideways at Efia, wondering how she had managed to keep her chastity intact for so long, considering he had lost his at the age of eighteen.

  “This is it,” Efia said, minutes later, breaking into Ace’s reverie. “I should go inside. Goodnight.”

  “Efia?”

  Efia twirled. “Yes?”

  “Can you come by early tomorrow?”

  The door opened, and she disappeared.

  Ace stood with his iPad in his hand—waiting.

  Seven minutes later, his iPad chimed. He exhaled and read the message:

  Efia: Thnx 4 walking me home. Get some rest, I’ll see you later.

  The happiness in Ace’s spirit matched his outer glow as he strode back to the Fiesta Villa. Even though it was still early in the morning, his body felt more relaxed than it had in years. His mind, devoid of the guilt that had stolen his happiness throughout the past few years. With a grin as wide as the ocean which was mere feet away, Ace’s thoughts were only of Efia Kwateng.

  Chapter 15

  After spending the better part of an hour unraveling the mini twists, she had spent two hours creating, Efia’s straight hair was now a thing of the past. Even with less than usual hours of sleep, she wasn’t drowsy. In fact, she felt more alert than the days when she had slept for seven hours. Efia slid a small headband over her forehead, sweeping each strand of hair away from her face. She completed the style by rubbing a little Curl Enhancing Smoothie in her hands and finger-combing it through her curls.

  “You are up early,” Ashley said. She gazed at Efia’s head. “I told you to invest in a set of Curlformers.”

  I need that money to buy a gift, Efia thought, but she said, “It is on my list, after my apartment, my furniture, a new computer, and a new cell phone.”

  “All right,” Ashley said. “I will treat you to a set of the cheaper versions.”

  “Don’t waste your money. I am used to doing it this way.”

  “Before I forget, how was last night?” Ashley asked.

  “Oh, it was okay,” Efia replied. Sensing that the sound of her voice was a dead giveaway, Efia kept a straight face.

  “Just okay?”

  “It was good.” Efia picked up her hair supplies. “Excuse me.”

  “Not so fast, missy.” Ashley blocked Efia’s escape. “Did Davenport kiss you?”

  “Why would you ask me that?”

  “Because something is different about you. I just can’t put my finger on it.”

  And I hope you never do. “I want to grab a croissant and a cup of coffee before I meet with Maria.”

  Ashley stepped aside, allowing Efia to go. “I haven’t seen Mr. Davenport. Why don’t you encourage him to come to the comedy show? The comedian is hilarious.”

  That would take away from our time together. “I will try.” Efia picked up her iPad. “See you later.”

  Ashley shook her head.

  “What’s wrong now?” Efia asked.

  “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

  “Bye, Ashley.”

  “Now I am curious as heck to see this man, Davenport, who has you so stoked.”

  Efia made a face before opening the door. She hated keeping secrets from her best friend, but Ace Davenport deserved discretion. He wasn’t some recent college graduate. Putting Ace’s business into the public square wasn’t something she felt comfortable doing. As Efia left the room, all she could think about was seeing Ace and spending time with him, but before she could do that, there was one more hurdle to jump over.

  <>

  Standing outside Maria’s office, Efia counted to ten, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Efia exhaled and entered. “Good morning.”

  “How did it go?” Maria asked, without lifting her head.

  “It went well,” Efia said in a small voice.

  Maria’s head popped up. She stared at Efia in silence.

  Don’t turn away! Don’t turn away! Efia mentally reminded herself. With laser precision, she kept her eyes on Maria’s face.

  “What time did you get in last night?” Maria finally asked.

  “After three this morning,” Efia replied.

  Maria pursed her lips and tapped her nails on the desk, staring at Efia’s face.

  “Did you know that Mr. Davenport lost his wife and child during childbirth?” Efia blurted out.

  “Oh, Dios Mío!” Maria stood up. She made the sign of the cross. “Poor thing! No wonder he kept you talking all night. He probably can’t show his vulnerability at home. He won’t be here much longer. I will pencil you in for an extra day off when he leaves.”

  Efia’s heart raced. She pointed to the stack of invoices on a chair in the corner. “I can help input those.”

  “Thanks,” Maria said. “First, let me log out then I will set you up.”

  Efia took a stack of the invoices, hoping to enter them quickly and stop by the on-premises gift shop.

  “Are you meeting Mr. Davenport tonight?” Maria asked.

  “In a few hours,” Efia replied.

  “Well don’t stay here too, long,” Maria said. “I am going to the dining room, you want anything?”

  “No thanks.”

  Maria paused at the door.

  Efia held her breath.

  “Efia?”

  Forcing herself to face Maria, Efia thought, God, I am in trouble!

  “Thank you,” Maria said. “I will let upper management know about this.”

  Efia could not find her voice, she bobbed her head.

  Chapter 16

  Where is she? Ace wondered. Possibly she slept in, he reasoned as his stomach growled. He took a slice of mango from the fruit bowl and popped it into his mouth. He poured his second cup of coffee for the morning and added a touch of cream.

  His cell phone chimed. “Ace Davenport.”

  “How is the vacation going?” Mary, his assistant asked.

  “Better than I could have ever imagined,” Ace replied.

  The sound of rustling papers could be heard.

  “Are you there?”

  “I am still here,” Mary said. “Just thanking my maker that my boss is having a good time.”

  Ace grinned, knowing that Mary’s religious sensibilities were never far behind.

  “How are things back there?” he asked.

  “Everything is wonderful at my end. I spoke with the pilot. The plane will be in Great Exuma early Friday.”

  Ace peered out the window. “So soon?”

  “Is that a problem?” Mary asked.

  “No,” Ace replied while his inner voice shouted, Yes!

  “Sound
s to me like you are not ready to return. Why don’t I set up a video conference call for Monday’s meeting with the sellers on the Las Vegas project?”

  “I would love nothing more,” Ace said. “Unfortunately, persuasion is more effective face-to-face when dealing with the Belington brothers.”

  “I am sorry, Ace.”

  “For?”

  “For dragging you away from whatever or whoever makes you want to stay in the Bahamas.”

  Ace laughed heartily, knowing that he could never get anything over on Mary. She had cut her teeth working for Steven Davenport, who besides being his father was one of the savviest executives Ace had ever met—and Ace had met many.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “I have to go.”

  “Is everything to remain as planned,” Mary asked.

  “Yes. Bye, Mary.” Ace ended the call and headed toward the door. “This can’t end,” he whispered. “I won’t let it.”

  <>

  “Good Afternoon,” Efia said, entering the villa.

  Ace’s eyes swept over Efia and his lips curved upwards.

  Efia’s eyes swerved to the covered dishes on the food cart. “Lunch?”

  “No,” Ace said. “Breakfast.”

  “You got up late.”

  “No.” Ace’s voice softened. “I was waiting for you.”

  “I am sorry.” Efia’s brows bunched. “I met with Maria. I should have messaged you.”

  Ace reached for Efia. “You are here now.” He twirled a strand of her curls around his finger. “I prefer your hair like this.”

  “My Twist-Out? Thanks.”

  “Your what?”

  “My curls,” Efia replied. “Where I come from we call it a Twist-Out.”

  “You should wear it like this more often.”

  Too bad you won’t be able to see it, Efia thought. “I will.”

  “Come sit with me. Are you hungry?”

  “A little.”

  He poured a glass of orange juice and handed it to her. “I am leaving on Tuesday.”

  “That means we don’t have a lot of time left.”

  “I am afraid so,” Ace said.

  As Efia’s heart bashed against her chest walls, she realized there was no turning back. She had moved beyond having a connection with Ace Davenport to one-hundred percent in love with the man.