13.

I wouldn't exactly describe Tutu as mean, but she's got this magical ability to turn a flip-flop into a sedative.

Text from Tama'i to Amethyst

A METHYST

Tama'i's broad shoulders and thick biceps fit him perfectly. He did have muscles, an abundance of them, but he wasn't thin and muscular. No, he was thick with an astoundingly solid frame. His stomach was firm with a hint of the abs that were so prominent on romance novel covers and advertisements. He wasn't overweight by any means, but instead, the very definition of thick. He had a massive neck, broad shoulders, huge biceps, a strong chest, and thighs like tree trunks. And that wonderfully thick cock that was now content and happy, hung there like it was just waiting to thicken again.

"You keep looking at me like I'm dinner," Tama'i warned.

"I was just admiring your body, and let me reiterate that there is nothing tiny about you. I don't know where you got that nickname, but I'm not ever going to use it because I have personal experience that proves you aren't any kind of tiny."

"You're good for my ego, but I have to tell you that you've been calling me Tiny since we first met."

"Not even once," I argued.

"My name is Tama'i Koa Fuamuatu. I was so premature that the doctors warned my parents that I would most likely be a sickly child and adult if I survived. Since they weren't sure how long I'd live and because I'd already beaten so many odds just by staying alive my first few days, they gave me the name ‘tiny warrior' - Tama'i Koa."

"Malarky!"

"I know that's a word, but I've actually never heard it used in real life," Tama'i remarked as he crawled into bed. He slipped his arm under my pillow and then threw his other over my waist. "You never cuss, do you?"

"Never."

"I don't think that's a bad thing, but I am curious about it."

"Everyone in my family cusses. My youngest brother's first word was the f-bomb and his first complete sentence was instructions on exactly where to kiss him. Most people think I don't cuss because I work with children, and while that's a good reason, that's not really why."

"Tell me why."

"I'm the only member of my entire family, most of the children included, that doesn't curse."

"So the fact that you don't makes you unique."

"Exactly, and in a family as large as mine, it's hard to find something that can do that. We're all more alike than we'd probably care to admit, so each of us has found a thing that makes us special."

"There are many things besides your vocabulary that make you special."

"Name five."

"Brains, sense of humor, the way the left side of your lip lifts just a little higher when you smile . . ." Tama'i's voice trailed off when my phone started ringing.

"That's Squid," I said, recognizing the ringtone. Before I could move, Tama'i rolled to his back and picked my pants up from the floor. As soon as he handed them to me, I pulled my phone out and hit the button to answer the video call. The second I saw Cydney's face, I asked, "What's wrong?"

"I knew you'd think something terrible happened, but I really needed to talk to you, so I called anyway."

"You're okay?"

"I'm fine."

"How's Bella?"

Cydney laughed wickedly and said, "Last time I saw her, she was on her way to being better than fine."

"What does that mean?"

"Are you naked?"

"Where is Bella?"

"Oh! I guess the date went better than I imagined it would."

"Have you been drinking?"

"I'm in Vegas, Amy. Of course I've been drinking. Is he still there?"

"Yes."

"Is he naked? Is he asleep? Show me if he lives up to his name. Okay, I guess that wouldn't . . ."

"He's not asleep, Squid. He can hear everything you're saying."

"Hi!" Cydney said cheerfully. "You probably don't remember me, but I met you at the wedding."

Tama'i got closer so Cydney could see him on the screen and said, "I remember. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I won't keep Amy long, I just need to get some information to her."

"Do you need me to get out of here so you can talk?" Tama'i asked.

"Just don't hold anything you hear against me, okay?"

"I won't."

"Okay, here's the scoop, Amy. I'm going to do something I've never done before and probably never will again. I didn't call so you'd talk me out of it, just so that you wouldn't kill me later when you found out I did a ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas thing.'"

"Don't you dare get married, Cydney Mason!"

"Girl, really?"

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to spend the night with a man I just met. Don't judge me."

"Not judging, just concerned."

"I'm going to send you a picture of his ID and then share my location with you so you know where I end up, okay?"

"Are you serious right now?"

"He's smart, funny, tattooed, and sexy. He doesn't know anything about me, and that's kind of refreshing, so, yes. I'm completely serious right now."

"You're gonna do this even if I give you ten reasons why this is a bad idea, aren't you?"

"Can I make a suggestion?" Tama'i asked.

"Sure," Cydney agreed.

"Where are you?"

"I'm at Caesars."

"Don't leave the hotel," Tama'i said simply. "If you want to bump uglies with a stranger, make him pay for a room and don't leave the property. Send Amethyst the picture of his ID, walk with him to the front desk to get the room key, and tell the desk clerk that you're going up to his room with him."

"Just throw my business right out there, huh?"

"They have facial recognition software all over that place. If something happens, you'll be on their radar from that point on, so make sure you have your hair out of your face so it can pick up your features. They'll also have him on record too."

"Good idea."

"I don't know that it will help in the event you're in danger, but it will at least give us some idea of where to start looking if something happens," Tama'i admitted grudgingly. "I've got some good friends there, so if you need anything, call Amethyst and I'll get you their contact information. If Amethyst hasn't heard from you by ten tomorrow morning, I'll call and have them track you down."

"I like him," Cydney said cheerfully.

"Girl, you're crazy. Send me a pic of his license."

"It's on its way. Love your face, hag! I hope I have as much fun as you obviously have with that whole afterglow vibe you've got going on. High five, big guy! You're doing something right!" Tama'i was still laughing when Cydney waved and then ended the call.

A few seconds later, I got the text with the picture of a man's driver's license. I saved it to my phone just in case something happened to the message and then put my phone down as I considered what was going on, not just in Vegas, but here in Rojo too.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm worried about Squid. This isn't like her at all."

"People do crazy things in Vegas. One night stands and hook-ups aren't uncommon. People are wild and free for a limited time, away from their home, and for some reason, want to do things they'd never do otherwise. I lived there for years, and believe me, I've seen some things."

"When you lived in Vegas, did you . . ."

"Did I what?"

"Were you the local hot guy that tourists tried to hook up with?"

"I wasn't a monk, if that's what you're asking."

"I've never had a one-night stand before."

Tama'i looked pensive before he asked, "Is that what you think this is?"

"Do you?"

"I'll tell you what I'd like to think this is," Tama'i said as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close again. "This is that time between wake and sleep where your mind starts to wander and think of all the good things about your day and the good things that are going to happen tomorrow."

"I guess I never really thought of it that way," I admitted.

"So, right now, I am thinking about how much I loved holding you close in the sunshine, how your smiles and laughter somehow made dinner taste better, and how much aggression you had stored inside you before you finally let it all out tonight."

"I'm sorry I cried."

"Never apologize for showing true emotion, Lalelei," Tama'i said sternly. "I think you believe that you should hide your pain behind laughter and smiles, and while that may be true when you're working, that shouldn't be the case when you're with your family or me."

"I love my patients, and it hurts my heart to see them neglected or abused," I admitted. "Parents know that me and the other staff at the clinic are mandatory reporters. It's crazy how many parents come in with a running list of how their child got each bump, bruise, and scrape, but others come in with a child who is in obvious pain and don't seem to have any idea why or see the problem with that."

"Is that what happened today?"

"I can't give you exact details, but no, that's not what happened. A mom brought her son in because he wasn't acting like himself. It's obvious that she sincerely loves him and wants what's best for him, but I still had to make the call to take him away until they can find the root of the problem and make sure he's safe."

"Did they find out what's going on?"

"From the reaction of the boy's father, I'd say that they've narrowed it down."

"And he came in yelling at you about it?"

"His girlfriend watches his son while he's working, and from what I gather, the police believe she's been giving him alcohol to make him sleep while he's alone with her."

"What did the mother say?"

"She was beside herself, worried about long-term damage to his little body and furious that someone would do such a thing."

"And the father?"

"He insisted that his girlfriend would never do such a thing and it's just his ex making a play for full custody."

"And what do you think?"

"All I know is that when I opened that sippy cup, I smelled alcohol, and it's my job to make sure he's okay. Unfortunately, I'll probably never see him again to make sure of that because even though his mother hopefully didn't have anything to do with it, she'll never trust me again because I'm the person that set the wheels in motion to take her child away, at least temporarily."

"I'm sure she'll thank you for that one day, or at least be able to admit that it was the right thing for you to do."

"I hope so."

"Now, back to what we were talking about," Tama'i redirected. "I listed a few of the good things that happened today, and I'm now focusing on tomorrow."

"What are your plans?"

"I'm wondering if I'll be able to sneak into the kitchen and cook breakfast in bed for you before I explore your smooth skin with my tongue."

"Oh." I swallowed hard at that image and felt my entire body wake up at the thought of what that would entail. I finally said, "That sounds pleasant."

"Pleasant?" Tama'i asked. "Obviously, I've got some work to do because pleasant is not anything like I'd describe it."

"How would you describe it?"

"Hot.Wild.Loud.Fantastic."

"Those words work too."

"Tell me what you think this is between us, Lalelei."

"Does that mean Amethyst in . . . what language? Samoan?"

"It means beauty in Samoan."

"Thank you," I whispered shyly.

"Talk to me."

"I do want breakfast in the morning, but I'd rather cook it together after we wake up and have more of that excellence we just experienced."

"Excellence?"

"I've been trying to find another word to explain it, but for the first time in my life, I'm speechless."

"We're very different, you and I."

"You're never speechless? I guess that gives me a goal."

"I think what I'm trying to say is that you and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as backgrounds and careers."

"I haven't ever been to prison."

"And you still haven't asked me why I was there."

I snuggled closer to him and rested my hand on his chest before I yawned. I asked, "Are you ever going back?"

Tama'i thought about it longer than I expected him to before he finally answered, "I can't say never because I'd go back again for the exact same reason if it came down to it."

I drifted off to sleep wondering what reason he could possibly think of that would validate him committing another crime that cost him months or even years of his life but didn't have a chance to ask about it before sleep pulled me under.