His Father
She bites her lip and arousal swims in her eyes as I lower my head and kiss the soft skin of her throat. Her body shivers in my arms so I press deeper, suckling her skin and tasting her with my tongue. Tiny moans leave her parted lips and her body relaxes against me. How badly I want to be inside of her right now.
I grind as my hands grip, and kiss as her head moves, baring her throat to me.
Though when I reach for the hem of her white shirt she grabs my wrist and douses the embers of the fire I’m attempting to stoke.
“Can you give me a ride back to Cassius’?” she whispers, pushing me back gently with both hands.
Fuck. This is it. I’ve lost her.
I’m not allowed to kiss her anymore, to touch her, to just hold her.
“Say it,” I demand, watching her avoid my eyes. “Tell me it’s over and I’ll take you home.”
“What other options are there? I’m leaving soon anyway.”
“Say it, Tempest.”
“Fine.” She looks me dead in the eye. “We’re done. No more… shag partners or whatever we were.”
The words slice through me but I pretend they don’t affect me. “I’ll take you home.”
“We can be friends? We can email?”
“Maybe.” I don’t want that. Not at all. I can’t even possibly entertain being around her, even digitally.
FUCK.
“Let’s go.” I lead her out of my apartment, to the elevator and then to my car.
“Oh, your umm… unfinished birthday gift is at the Barbie house.”
“Barbie house?”
“Yeah.” She smiles, looking at me with eyes twinkling with amusement. “First time I saw your house I thought Barbie should live there.”
I roll my eyes but her amusement is contagious. She’s fucking adorable. “Where is it?”
“On the easel in the garden if it hasn’t been destroyed. It’s nearly done. I can finish it before I go if you can pick it up?”
She’s referring to the painting I have in storage until I find the perfect place for it.
“I’ve seen it. It’s divine. I’m unworthy of it.”
“Divine? You think so?”
“It’s the only thing I kept, I’ll cherish it. Maybe one day you can come back and finish it?” We share a smile and I put the car in drive. “So, Africa?”
“I’ll be leaving as soon as Cassius allows it.”
Which means she’s been waiting for my response. Why can’t I care about her a little less? Then I could lie to her and tell her I love her and want her to stay. She would. I know she would.
“You could come too?” she suggests, placing her hand on mine, I lace our fingers and rub my thumb over the back of hers.
“Not my thing.” Saying that aloud just further proves how perfect for Cassius she is and not me. He’s ready for kids, he’s ready for a marriage that isn’t shit. “Just stay in touch, send me pictures, keep Maddox safe.”
“Maddox isn’t going. He wants to settle for a while longer.”
This makes me feel even worse. “So who’s going to look after you?”
“I’ll be fine, I was alone for years before Maddox, Sargent. Don’t worry.”
“I’ll always worry about you.” I kiss her wrist and fall into silence. “Can we eat before I take you back?”
Tempest
Should I? It feels like torture already. Any longer in his presence and I’ll cave. This is best, to end things now while we’re amicable and friendly. Not nine months down the line when he’s bored and I’m heartbroken. This way won’t cause issues with Maddox. I can still be a part of their lives.
“I think it’s best this day just end.”
“I’m not ready to let you go just yet.”
I blink away my heartache at his words and admit, “me neither.”
Tempest
I haven’t seen him for weeks but I’ve heard his voice when Maddox has spoken to me on the phone. It’s hard saying goodbye, wondering if he’s moved on already, wondering if I’ll bump into him while he’s with another woman.
He texted me this morning asking me how I am but I ignored it. I need space and time to get over him.
Thank heavens I’m leaving Friday, with Cassius. We’re heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s in no way safe but we’re hoping to bring food, water, and land to at least some of the children there. There’s already a setup to the east in a village surrounded by barren lands that hopefully, with the help of orange peels and the changing climate, will perk up in the next decade. It’s not as though the area isn’t full of resources, it’s that the locals aren’t safe enough to settle down anywhere so they lack the knowhow to get these things safely.
It’s something Cassius is truly invested in. His hazelnut eyes light up whenever we talk about it. His vision for the future there is one I want to be a part of. We could be making history as we know it.