The Thrill Of It All II:
Birthdays
Another month went by and yet another event was here again, but for Tiana it was a favourite. Daniel's birthday. Three years ago became the one of most painful but wonderful day in Tiana's life. And she would do it all over again if she could. The party was to be held at Charlotte's home and everyone with a child was on the birthday list. Tiana of course had to convince Jacques to make that happen.
"Mama! Mama!" Daniel ran down the stairs with Max barking right behind him into the livingroom.
Tiana smiled and couldn't be more happy for her son. "You're ready?"
Daniel nodded his head. "Yes ma'am."
"Good," she took his hand as they started towards the foyer.
But Daniel noticed one person missing. "Where's daddy?"
Tiana sighed. "He had some business to take care of. But will be back in time for your party."
"Okay," Daniel said with disappointment in his voice.
"Hey, you got Max and ya mama!" she smiled.
But Daniel sighed. "A girl and a dog..."
()()()()
When they arrived at Charlotte's they were escorted by her butler to the ballroom, and what usually looked like a formal fairy tail ballroom straight out of the Cinderella book transformed into a crazed kiddy planet. The entire house ballroom was filled with children, food, games, the brightest colours, live music. And there were more activities going on outside.
"Look mama!" Daniel pointed over at the horses. "May I ride a horse?"
Tiana saw that professionals were assisting the children on the horse but being the worried mother that she is, "Sure baby but let me come with you," she said protectively.
"Oh no you don't Tia!" Charlotte said, wearing a very pink but beautiful princess gown.
Tiana who was wearing a white floral sundress wasn't surprised at her friend's flamboyant attire at all. "You look very festive."
Daniel smiled. "Good afternoon Ms. Lottie,"
"I'm 'Princess Lottie' today birthday boy!" Charlotte curtseyed. "Now if you would take my hand I will walk you to your station where your valet will take you wherever you please honey"
"Really?" the boy asked excitedly.
"What valet?" Tiana raised a brow.
"That very handsome one with the mask and very distinguished hat," Charlotte pointed her finger at a man.
Tiana saw the man and did a double take. "Naveen? Is that Naveen?" she noticed a glass of what looked like wine or champagne in his hand.
"Yep. And don't ask me where I got the champagne. Come on honey...," Charlotte and Daniel hurried over to a disguised Naveen and Tiana couldn't believe it. All she could do really is shake her head. Her heart almost broke when she saw how excited the boy was when he discover who was under that disguise.
'Of course Naveen would be here for Daniel and not Jacques,' Tiana thought. She didn't want to tell her son that his father chose to go to take a business trip to Mississippi over him. It wasn't as if they needed the extra money.
"Well there you have it Tia!" Charlotte walked over to Tiana who was in a daze. "Tia?"
She shook her head. "Hmm? What? Oh hey Lottie."
"Daniel should be fine. Where's your husband?" Charlotte asked.
"In Mississippi for business," Tiana said with an eyeroll.
"He chose work over his own child's birthday?" Charlotte couldn't believe it.
"It was last minute but also not surprising," Tiana crossed her arms.
"I would've kicked Travis' big head into another continent if he did that to our children!" Charlotte frowned.
"I know you would Lottie," Tiana looked over at her son who was now playing with other children.
"You seem upset Tia," the blonde said with concern. "Why don't I have you lay down in my bedroom-
"No..." Tiana shook her head.
"Alright in one of my guestrooms? Please? I just got it redecorated with brand new furniture from Milan!" Charlotte bragged. "I had you in mind while getting it decorated."
Tiana sighed. "I'm fine...really Lottie."
"I insist," Charlotte locked arms with her.
"All right but only to look at it," she kept her eyes on Daniel before leaving the room.
But Tiana didn't go up to the room right away. She was greeted by other parents including Dihann who had some gossip to share with her about Katherine and her husband.
The room Charlotte had redecorated was as beautiful as she described it to be. And surprisingly it wasn't pink.
"Lottie its beautiful in here!" Tiana saw the beige, orange and crème themed room.
"We were thinking about getting a pool built outside but didn't want to seem too snotty with this disastrous economy and all," Charlotte smiled. "Have a seat"
Tiana sat on a chair at the vanity table. "This is beautiful."
"Open the drawer and see the interior work...oh Tia it's absolutely marvelous," the blonde beamed.
When Tiana opened the draw, the door slammed shut followed by a lock.
"Lottie?" Tiana looked around before getting up to open the door, but to her disappointment, "It's locked Lottie!" she knocked on the door. "Lottie!"
She tried several more attempts of knocking but gave up just to rest her hands. And several minutes later without noticing, the door opened again,
"Tiana?" Naveen said just as the door quickly shut and locked behind him. "What the?" he turned and tried the twist the handles. "They're locked."
They both knew who was behind this.
"Charlotte" "Lottie" they said.
Tiana crossed her arms, walking towards the window with thoughts of what to do now that the one man who she tried staying away from emotionally and physically was now in a locked room with her.
Naveen watched Tiana and set down his empty glass as he continued to stare. Wondering if the several glasses he stolen without anyone noticing was beginning to kick in. His honey colored eyes scanned her form and the dress that was in the way from him getting a full sight of it.
Tiana could feel his eyes burning through her and closed her eyes. If it weren't for the connection they have for one another she wouldn't have felt his eyes undressing her, but she did. And enjoyed it to her dismay.
Naveen saw a deck of cards on a coffee table and picked them up. "You know how to play spades?"
"What?" she looked back at him.
"Spades? The card game?"
"I've never heard of it," she said.
"Bid Whist?" he asked.
"I don't want to play any card games," Tiana said.
"Oh come on! Just one game of speed?" he gave her a puppy dog look.
Tiana rolled her eyes. "Naveen..."
He sat at the table and began shuffling the cards. "I'll teach yo how to play."
"What makes you think I don't know how to play?" Tiana asked with her hands on her hips.
"So you play?" Naveen raised a brow. "I didn't think your husband would allow you to do such a horrible thing" he teased.
She rolled her eyes. "Very funny. He actually taught me how to play when we were engaged"
"I'm assuming he was playing a 'gentleman' then," Naveen said.
Tiana was a little taken aback at his comment. "How do you know?"
"I'm a man," Naveen said with a cocky smirk.
Tiana couldn't resist a smile fast enough and when she did it Naveen was pleased.
"There's that beautiful smile I miss seeing," he said.
"Naveen...," Tiana began while walking over to the table. "That kiss we shared wasn't suppose to happen."
Naveen started the game by flipping his card as she continued.
"It felt good. Hell, it felt amazing but we can't keep doing this. We are both putting ourselves in grave danger. What if Jacques or one of his friends or family members had caught us?" Tiana asked as she made her move with the card.
Naveen didn't respond for the next several moves. He was well aware that the lives of Tiana and himself could be in danger but he was too selfish to even worry about that. Even if the original plan was to come to New Orleans and take care of some charity work while getting closure from Tiana before settling for an unhappy and sinful marriage with Eliza. And after all the bitterness of never getting over Tiana while trying to move on to other woman. No matter how much he tried to remain strong when facing her, his heart surrendered pathetically whenever he take one look at her.
"Speed," Naveen said looking at Tiana.
Tiana sighed, putting down her card.
"I guess he didn't teach you well enough to win," Naveen knew he sounded childish but he was also frustrated with Tiana at the moment.
Tiana didn't say another word as she plotted down on the vanity chair. "So this is about my husband."
Naveen cringed whenever she would refer to Jacques as her husband. Who was noticeably missing. "Where is he?"
"My hus-
"Jacques. Where's Jacques?" He asked with impatience in his tone.
Tiana felt embarrassed having to tell anyone, especially Naveen that Daniel's father ditched him for business. "Well you're going to learn sooner or later anyway," she began. "He's in Mississippi handling business there."
"Couldn't that have waited?" he frowned. "I would never miss my son's own birthday."
"Well he did and this isn't the first time," Tiana said. "I gave him an excuse when he missed Daniel's first birthday by a day but after the second birthday I realized that he didn't care. And if he doesn't care then I don't care if misses them all. He'll regret it someday."
"And if he doesn't?" he asked.
Tiana shrugged. "It could go either way. I don't want my son to settle with the thought that his father misses out on his birthday every year of his life," Tiana said honestly. "I hope he gives him hell when he's old enough to know how to."
"And until then you will be giving him hell?" Naveen asked.
"Yes," she nodded. "Then the excuses will come running out of his mouth and next comes the fighting then of course we end it by-
"Making a compromise," Naveen finished. "Sex in exchange for getting what you want," he almost laughed out of pity when he saw the shock expression on her face.
"How...how do you know?" she asked, remembering her conversation with Charlotte.
"Because there is no way in hell you would willing have him," he said. "And I know how men like Jacques think. Control is a hell of a power to have. Especially on another human being."
Tiana rasied a brow. "Interesting you say that, king,"
"I'm just calling it like it is," Naveen smirked.
"Well he doesn't control me," Tiana grew defensive.
"Could've fooled me," Naveen said, with the cards in his hand. "You want to play again?"
She shook her head and crossed her arms as her eyes began watering up. Shocked that Naveen could read through her the way he just did. "You have no idea how much I wanted to up and leave him or even kill him but my baby Daniel...," she stopped to wipe away the tears. "My baby is the only person on this earth who I love more than my own self that he stopped me from going on with plans of poison or stabbing my husband in his sleep," she exhaled. "I'm only trying to make Daniel grow up in a household where his father is around. Even if he doesn't see him as much as he should. But when he is with his father," she sighed. "Its like he's in heaven."
Naveen looked at her and felt bitterness. "You make up any excuse to stay with that...thing."
She shook her head desperately while walking over to him. "No I don't Naveen if you would just listen and understand—
"I was too boring for you," Naveen said. "I was too safe, predicting."
She sighed. "No, I love you for treating me like a woman. A human being."
"Do you enjoy being mistreated?" he asked and grabbed her by the wrist, roughly pulling her onto him. "Do you want me to grope you like a whore?" he grabbed her derriere and squeezed it.
"Let go of me!" she struggled.
"No, no. We're just getting started," Naveen said.
Tiana could definitely smell the alcohol in his breath and panicked. "You're drunk now let me go!" she pulled herself away. "I'm leaving," she unsuccessfully tried opening the door.
"No you're not!" Naveen rushed over and roughly pulled her back onto him. "We're here for a reason. Now tell me!" he raised his voice. Startling Tiana. "Well?"
"Tell you what?" she frowned.
"You remember the night we kissed?" he looked down at her lips and leaned forward.
"At the gala?" she asked, not moving a muscle.
"Mmhm." he answered, taking in her vanilla scent. "When you admitted your feelings." And buried his head in her neck and he began kissing her. "You don't know what that did to me..."
Tiana's eyes rolled in the back of her head as she wrapped her arms over his shoulders.
Naveen then scooped Tiana in his arms and threw her on the bed.
Tiana grew a little afraid and turned on by his roughness and yelped when he jumped into a pounce like position over her. "That dress at the gala had every man in the room wanting you. Including me." He pressed his lips onto hers. "Your taste is irresistible," he kissed the corner of her mouth before kissing down her neck.
Tiana bit her bottom lip as he nibbled and sucked harder on her neck. A moan left her lips when his long fingers brushed over her nipple through her dress.
A satisfied grin spread across his lips but he wasn't done yet. He wanted to explore ever inch and angle of her body. He felt that he deserved that right after the hell she put him through. Then the thought of her dancing with Jacques that night and asking for him to hold her came to his mind. "I refuse to share you with him."
"What?" Tiana slowly opened her eyes and saw his glare once again. "Naveen-
She was cut off by his lips crashing onto her. The kiss was rough but pleasurable.
She was suddenly caught off guard when he opened her legs. His hands worked like magic when he began rubbing his hand over her pearl through her undergarment. Naveen stopped kissing and kept rubbing just to stare at her as she quickly climaxed. "Beautiful," he whispered. "But I have to taste you." he went down to pull off her undergarment before pressing his lips on his destination. "It's been too long..."
"Yes, it has," Tiana agreed, whispering herself while pushing his head onto her. "Oh yes, right there...ooh...yes...Naveen yes..."
Suddenly the door unlocked and Charlotte popped in. "Hey you two I...jeepers creepers!"
Tiana got up quickly obviously embarrassed. "Lottie it isn't what you think."
"Looks like it to me," Charlotte grinned.
"I agree with Charlotte," Naveen smirked at Tiana who covered her face.
"Well two should...freshen up before y'all come down to sing happy birthday with the kiddies," Charlotte said, walking out of the room before turning back to the couple again. "And try not to make whoopie after I leave," she joked before closing the door.
Tiana stood up. "I can't believe that I let you seduce me..."
Naveen handed her her undergarment. "Just admit that you enjoy what I was giving to you."
She couldn't deny that it was amazing, but she wasn't going to give him the benefit of telling him. "Can you please turn away? I got to put on my—
"Alright..." he laughed, turning the other direction. Her moaning his name was enough for him.
"This day is supposed to be about my son and here I am laying in bed with my legs open to the likes of you!" she said.
Naveen turned. "The likes of me? If I remember correctly you were moaning like a cat in heat when I was with you. Oh Naveen...oh yes Naveen right there...oh...oh...oh..." he teased.
"All of you men are the same. Brag about how much you can do for a woman in bed...I'm done," Tiana said.
"No...Tiana..." he reached for her arm but missed. "Wait Tiana!"
She opened the door.
"Tiana!" he took her hand, stopping her. "I apologize for my behavior and if I hurt you."
She sighed, turning to him. "You didn't hurt me. I know that you would never do that..."
"Tiana, I love you and I know how dangerous that is for you and Daniel. So know that—
"I'm more concerned for my son. I can handle Jacques and his watchers," she said.
Naveen stepped forward to her and caressed her cheek. "I know you want to do the right thing but you deserve to be happy."
She closed her eyes at his touch. "I love you...but you—
"Shh!" he leaned forward to kiss her on the lips, pulling her back into the room. He had to taste her whether it was the last time or until they saw each other again. Pulling from the kiss he stared at her, and inhaled her vanilla scent. "I'll see you downstairs." He hesitated but finally letting her go again.
Tiana watched him walk down the hall. Her body yearned for him to touch her again, while her heart mourned for him to return.
()()()()
Tiana followed several minutes later and was greeted with Daniel bear hugging her. "Arg!"
Tiana laughed at the patch over her son's left eye and red bandana. "You're a pirate now?"
"Yep! I'm a pirate captain!" Daniel's said.
"Time to sing Happy Birthday!" Charlotte announced as her servants wheeled out a huge chocolate birthday cake.
"Wow mama look! It's blue! My favourite colour!" Daniel licked his lips.
Naveen watched Tiana and her son together and wondered what life would've been like if they wee all together in Maldonia celebrating Daniel's birthday. He would make sure to have the grandest celebration the kingdom ever had, and of course he would be present for his son.
His son.
The connection was there whenever he was around the boy, but he was also an emotional person. Sort of.
He looked over at Daniel smiling and saw all Tiana. Not one sign of Jacques minus his very light skin complexion. And as for his blue eyes, his own mother's blue eye genes skips a generation...
"Alright everyone!" Charlotte stood beside Tiana as they held up their fingers to count. "And a one, and a two..."
"Happy birthday to you..."
()()()()