Chapter 45: Chapter 45

DRAYA

Jackson Sr. really went all out for Daniel’s birthday: Victoria’s Secret models, celebrity DJs, basketball players, and other high society men and women all came into his mansion dressed to impress. Even Reece and Chris Lannister Jr. were there; after all, they had nothing to do with Camille causing trouble, and they made it clear they were on Draya’s side.

It’d be hard to pick a best dressed winner since everyone was on their A-game tonight, but Draya thought the birthday boy looked the most handsome and sexy in his custom Tom Ford suit. She wore Tom Ford as well, and her dress and heels matched her man perfectly.

A little while into the party, Draya led Reece toward the bar area, where Daniel’s dad stood talking with a few men his age.

“Lexi, my future daughter-in-law!” Jackson Sr. yelled above the music. She hugged him tightly, and he returned her enthusiasm, placing a kiss on top of her hair. “You look beautiful, sweetheart. My son is a lucky man.”

Draya giggled and smiled at him, but when Jackson Sr. noticed her best friend, dressed in red, he looked conflicted. He was quiet for a long moment before asking, “Who is this?”

Beaming with pride and love, Draya formally introduced them. “Oh, this is my best friend, Shareece Cole. Reece, this is Daniel’s father.” To Jackson Sr., she added, “She’s been taking care of me for as long as I can remember. She’s more than a friend; she’s my sister. I probably wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for her.”

Carlos Jackson kissed the back of Reece’s hand.

“Nice to meet you Mr. Jackson,” Reece said politely.

“Call me Carlos,” he replied, finally releasing her hand.

Reece winced at the mention of the C-word. “Sorry, I’d rather not call you that. I dated someone named Carlos, and he’s not someone you want to share a first name with.”

Jackson Sr. laughed. “I hope I will be the best Carlos you’ve ever known then, so it’ll cancel out the bad taste the other one left behind.” He paused. “Lexi here is already a daughter to me. You’re like her sister, so consider me a father figure. If you need anything or any advice, let me know.”

Draya smiled at both of them. “Reece is opening a shoe store in Miami soon, exclusively for people like you. Maybe you could stop by when you’re in town?”

He smiled back. “Will do. And congratulations Reece.”

Reece grinned from ear to ear, but her response was unusually soft. “Thank you.”

Jackson Sr. kissed Draya’s forehead like he would his own daughter. “Enjoy the party, girls. And daughter-in-law, I love the new dark hair color on you. Very elegant.”

“Thanks, Dad.” The words left Draya’s mouth before she could rehearse them, but the smile on his face made her realize he was happy to hear her call him that.

Just then, Carlos’s leggy girlfriend appeared out of nowhere and dragged him to the dance floor.

Seeing Reece’s shocked look, Draya jumped to defend him. “Yeah, he has a model for a girlfriend. Don’t judge my dad, okay? He’s a good man. He lost the love of his life—~two~ loves of his life, according to Daniel. So, he’s entitled to some fun.”

Reece shrugged and walked to the dance floor, never one to need a dance partner, but Draya suspected she was really heading that way to get closer to Chris. They’d been throwing subtle glimpses at each other from across the room all night.

By now, Reece normally would’ve bagged and forgotten other men. But Chris seemed to be getting close to a part of her body she’d never willingly shared with anyone besides Draya: her heart.

Draya watched as Chris approached Reece, and she waved awkwardly. He slowly looked her up and down.

Draya was sure she saw her best friend’s cheeks burning up.

“What’s Chris doing?” Daniel asked in Draya’s ear. She had no idea when he’d snuck up behind her.

“I was just wondering the same thing. They’ve both been staring at each other all night.”

“Ten bucks says they hook up tonight.”

Draya grinned up at him. “Well, they already kissed, so I’ll take that bet.”

Daniel’s eyes grew wide. “They what?” he practically shouted.

Draya covered his mouth and slapped his arm in warning. “I’ll tell you later. Now shush.”

Daniel pulled her outside to the pool area. All jokes aside, he wore a serious expression. “Don’t let them date,” he said sternly.

“Babe, they’re not our kids; we can’t just forbid them. They’re adults. As a matter of fact, they are both older than us.”

~What’s the big deal?~ she wondered.

“I know you think you know Chris because he spoke to you nicely a couple of times, but take it from me, he’s not nice to the women he hooks up with. And I don’t believe that Reece sees him as one of her usual hookups either. She seems to like him a lot. She looks at him the way you look at me, and I don’t want her to get hurt.”

Draya stopped to think if she had also noticed the difference in the way Reece interacted with Chris.

“Besides, his little sister is at odds with me, with you, even with him for coming here. Do you really think she’ll let it go if she finds out your best friend wants to date her brother? All this drama about us would be nothing compared to the shit storm she would rain down on Reece.”

“Reece can take care of herself,” Draya told him.

“Not with them she can’t.”

Draya knew that the Lannisters were rich and elite. Their connections ran so far and wide, they could destroy anyone who didn’t have the connections to protect themselves. She’d seen firsthand how easily Camille had her followed and dug up everything from her past.

~Imagine what she could do to Reece’s store.~

“Okay,” Draya agreed. “I’ll talk to her. It’s not worth messing up her life.”

The sound of glasses ~clinking~ inside the house drew their attention. Daniel led his date inside, where the music had stopped. They joined the guests gathered around an LV-designed cake decorated with lit candles.

Carlos grabbed a microphone, and everyone went silent. They knew his speech would be sentimental and long.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate my son Daniel’s birthday. He actually hates birthday parties, but he doesn’t stop me from hosting them every year anyway.

“Years ago, I met the most incredible woman. She took my breath away the first time that I saw her, and I literally discovered I had asthma that day.”

The room erupts with laughter.

“She changed me completely, and with that change and that love came Daniel. I’m sorry that she isn’t here to see the man you’ve become. She’d be as proud of you as I am.”

Jackson Sr. paused, apparently gathering his emotions. Draya imagined it must not be easy talking about his late wife.

“I love you, Daniel, more than human words can express. I thought of asking your girlfriend to say a few words before we cut the cake, but I won’t put her on the spot like that. I’m sure she’ll give you plenty of love later.”

Guests chuckled again.

“Everyone raise your glasses and join me in a toast to my only son. To Daniel.”

“To Daniel,” the guests said in unison.

Champagne glasses ~clinked~. Daniel pressed a quick kiss to Draya’s lips and dragged her over to the cake.

***

“This is your birthday—why am I being teased?” Draya whined as hot wax dried near her aching nipple.

The sensation from the cold ice in Daniel’s mouth trailing over her skin, then the hot wax from the candle, created a delicious contradiction of torture and pleasure. Draya didn’t know whether she wanted him to stop…or never stop.

“I like you like this,” he said with a smirk.

Looking up at Daniel through the haze of lust, Draya managed to stick her tongue out mischievously. “I have plans for you too, babe. Don’t worry.”

She watched as he undid his pants and guided his erection into her mouth.

~Whose birthday is this anyway?~