None of them compared to Ocean. His swag, his charm, and how he loved her. The tremendous yearning Ocean had brought within her made her breathless. His sharp blue eyes bore into her, reading her soul, and leaving her speechless.
The only man who dared her to throw her ass back to him in bed and he ended her with just a few thrusts. Aaliyah felt her knees buckle as she thought about how Ocean loved to bend her over and lick her wet slit from behind. “Listen, O, you can’t just come back into my life, sweet talk me, see me naked, and think all is forgiven and the last two, almost three years never happened. It doesn’t work that way.”
“I told you I wanted us to talk and work on everything,” he kept his distance, “I also told you I would be as patient as you let me.”
“A lot has changed within the last few years, O.” Aaliyah began. “I have my successful studio. I’m in talks of getting a reality show out of the deal. Two of the D’Amato Brothers is producing it.” She referred to the eponymous family. “I have my own life here. You’re a freakin’ senator, for crying out loud! The public wants to see you with Suzy Homemaker not Aaliyah the Tattooed-Up Reality Star.”
“You put a lot of energy of what people will think of you and we’re not even back together.” The smile on Ocean’s lips matched his eyes. “It’s like you’re pushing me away, citing my reputation and yet, it bothers you it doesn’t concern me.”
“It should concern you,” Aaliyah moved closer to him and covered her chest in the chilly Buckhead weather. “Politicians are all about the public image. Even if we’re rarely seen together, people will nitpick everything I do. I can handle that but can you? Can you handle going online and seeing someone degrade me because they think I’m not good enough for you?”
You will not destroy the Ellison name over a piece of forgettable pussy.Thomas’s biting words rung in Ocean’s ears and he blinked to shake the thought out of his head. “I don’t go online that much at all. I have assistants who handle all of my social media.” He took off his jacket and covered Aaliyah’s shoulders. “I only go on it unless I absolutely have to.”
“I’m on social media all of the time. I get a lot of business from there. Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram…Snapchat!” Aaliyah gestured. “I’m going to be stalked relentlessly, O. You need to understand what you’re asking me to go through. You say people won’t care and they probably wouldn’t have if I wasn’t getting a reality show. They probably wouldn’t care if you weren’t an Ellison. But they’re going to care, O. And I need you to be prepa—”
Aaliyah’s speech was silenced when Ocean took over her mouth. He swept his lips along hers before he pushed his tongue inside. He made love to her mouth and drank from her, keeping his hands at bay.
Ocean almost lost it when he heard Aaliyah’s soft moan vibrate in his ears. He was going to be a gentleman for as long as he could but even he started to wonder how much longer was that going to be. He pulled away. “Hungry?”
Aaliyah’s body softly swayed and she blinked a few times to get her bearings together. “Yes.”
“Good. Let’s eat.” He kissed her forehead. “Inside or out?”
“Inside, please.”
Ocean opened the door and let Aaliyah walk before him. He pulled out her chair and waited for her to sit down. Aaliyah blushed when she realized how much she missed his chivalry. He was always a gentleman.
She took a brief glance around the restaurant. Decorated in deep colors of brown and burgundy, the off-white colors added a softness and exquisiteness to the décor. Clear floor-to-ceiling windows showcased a different part of Buckhead. Wall sconces gave the restaurant a romantic feel. She picked up the ecru paper and glanced over the menu. There were no prices and Aaliyah immediately knew she was in a different world. “What do you recommend?”
“The halibut or the duck with maple glaze.” Ocean glanced over his menu. “Everything on this menu is excellent.”
Aaliyah was confused on what she wanted. Everything looked delicious. “I don’t know what I want.”
“Do you want me to order for you?” He asked.
Ocean always ordered for Aaliyah when they dated. It was treatment that was weird and unusual at first to her but she’d grown to accept it and love it. It’s also what ruined her for any future relationships. “Yes, please.”
Moments later, a server appeared at their table. “The lady will have the roasted duck. I’ll have the filet mignon. Two glasses of water and a bottle of your finest pinot noir, please. Thank you.” Ocean ordered. The server disappeared and returned a short time later with appetizers, only to disappear again.
It was a weird, still silence between them. Ocean calmly enjoyed his wine and bread while Aaliyah looked everywhere but the man in front of her. A surge of emotions went through her body, with the prominent one was an emotion of infatuation.
Did she really still have feelings for a man who didn’t even acknowledge her presence during his campaign?
“I see your business has done well,” Ocean’s voice was deep and husky. “A lot of celebrities have been sporting your work.”
“Um, yes.” Aaliyah cleared her throat. She was a favorite amongst rappers, athletes, and actors. Even the A-list white actors have taken pictures with Aaliyah and recommended their friends. “It’s nice to have recognition but I do it for the love. Even if one celebrity didn’t shout me out, I wouldn’t be offended. It’s the Plain Janes and the Joe Schmoes that concern me the most.”
“I like that,” Ocean replied. “You’ve always cared more about the unpopular and unfamous than anything else.”
“Celebrity and fame is fleeting. You can be hot one minute and the next no one cares about you.” Aaliyah’s voice was soft as a feather. “When people love you no matter what, you can’t beat that. The diehards will always support you no matter what the naysayers think and believe.”
“The same says for politics.” Ocean replied. “You can apply the exact scenario to politics.”
“And I still don’t understand why you entered that game?” Aaliyah met eyes with her ex and felt her breath stolen. With his chiseled cheekbones, sultry blue eyes, and kissable lips, Ocean was truly a beautiful man. “You hated politics and everything that it entailed. Now you’re on your second year of your first term with talks of a re-election in a few years.”
“It’s too soon to talk about re-election when I’m still getting my feet wet,” Ocean replied, “some people see the name and don’t think about anything else other thanfavors. They couldn’t care less about why I’m voting for a certain bill or why I rather not accept expensive dinner invites.”
“So why did you become a senator, then?” Aaliyah softened her voice when she realized it sounded accusatory. “Why did you give up your life to become the one thing you hate?”
