That has been playing on my mind. It seems it has on hers too. Realising I don’t want to hear the wrong answer, but knowing I have to ask, “Do you?”
“God, no!” she exclaims.
I can’t resist. I go over, lean down and breathe in the scent of her hair. “You smell nice.” Out of the corner of my eye I notice a mirror, and notice too, what a good couple we make. Both with similar colouring. Placing my arm around her shoulder, I half turn her. “We look good together, darlin’.”
Her reflection is still nibbling her lip. “Looks can be deceiving.”
“Not in this case,” I murmur, encouraging her around once again. “I want to kiss you, you going to let me?” I give her fair warning.
Her brow creases, her eyes widen, then her head dips up and down in a tentative yes.
I lower my head. My lips move across hers. A chaste kiss.I want more.“Open for me.”
Her mouth opens fractionally. Gently, hesitantly, I increase the pressure, my tongue meeting hers, slowly sliding together. She tastes of peppermint from toothpaste. I keep my touch light, gentle, non-invasive. My cock jerks to life and I move my hips back so she’s unaware of it.
Her hands grasp my arms; she’s not pulling away. I hold myself back, aware I mustn’t pressure her. When I end the kiss, it’s too soon for me, and I hope, her.
There’s a dazed look on her face. Wonderingly she places her fingertips to her mouth. Then she says something I didn’t expect. “I’ve never been kissed before, Tse.”
“Never?”
She shrugs. “I was too busy looking after Drew. Too worried about doing something that would expose us. I couldn’t risk someone reporting me, so I never got close. Never dated.”
“You’re a virgin?” I hadn’t expected it. Nor the burst of primeval pride which swells inside me, along with the knowledge I’ve got to take this slow. Butfuck me,I’m going to be the first man who’ll have her. Again her teeth worry her lip, and she looks down. “Hey,” I place my finger under her chin. When she looks up, I softly brush my lips against hers again. “You’re mine,” I tell her, knowing I’m repeating myself, and will continue until she gets that into her head. “But we’re going totake this as slowly as you want. Just understand, we’ll be together. Facing whatever life brings, side by side.”
Her shoulders tense, and I’m worried she’s traumatised by the women she saw being taken forcibly. Fuck, if she’s no experience, and that was her first exposure… I’ve got to slow this to a crawl. But when she speaks, it’s to name another worry. “What if I’m deported again?”
“What if a fuck load of things, darlin’. Don’t borrow any more trouble until we get out of the spot we’re currently in.”
Her eyes darken, and I hate that I reminded her we’re not home and dry yet.
“Yo, Mouse?” Blade’s loud voice comes up the stairs.
“Come on,” I hold out my hand, pleased when she takes it. “Let’s go down, see what’s going on.” Then I shout, “We’re coming!”
Blade’s halfway up the stairs. His eyes flare appreciatively when he sees the woman by my side, his stare lingering a little too long for my liking.
“Blade,” I growl, warningly.
“What?” Acting innocent, he holds out his hands. “Just thinking how well she scrubs up.”
“She’s mine.”
There’s a startled laugh at my side. “You going to piss on me next?”
Leaning down, I speak into her ear, loud enough for Blade to hear. “Might have to with these assholes around.”
We reach the bottom of the grand stairway, to find Devil holding court. He motions for us to join the throng standing around him.
“Right. Now we’re all here. Mariana, are you feeling alright?”
She shrinks into my side as though unsure of being the centre of attention, but speaks up for herself. “My stomach feels a bit sore, but I’m fine. Just glad it’s over.”
It won’t be over until we’re out of Colombia and on our way home, I think to myself.
“We going to burn this bitch down?” Viper calls out.
“The house,” I reassure her quickly. “He’s talking about the house.”
