He took a section of her hair in his fingers and stroked them down it. Once at the ends, he tucked the hair gently behind her ear. He paused, his thumb just grazing her cheekbone. She leaned her head, just slightly, and pressed her cheek into the cup of his hand.
She closed her eyes and breathed in, relishing the way his hand supported her head, making it feel weightless.
She didn’t feel him move at all, but then his lips were on her mouth, and a tremor waved through her whole body. The scent of him filled her up as her mouth opened to let him in closer—mango and beer, spice and a sweet perspiration.
She pressed her body against him, wanting to feel his form tight to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him nearer.
*
She was so beautiful and so fragile. She’d been ruined by the life she led. Given everything and nothing, all at the same time, and now, someone was trying to kidnap her. He’d wanted to just hold her, try and make things better, for her and for him, but every time they got close, something took over. He couldn’t stop himself. There was a burning in his chest, a desire he hadn’t felt for such a long time. She wasn’t just the stuck-up bitch she’d just called herself. She was special.
She tasted of champagne and chocolate, and her hair smelled of something fresh, something natural. Her lips were so soft, but she used them in such a way that he had trouble keeping his need for her in control.
He grazed her lower lip with his teeth then pulled back to look at her. Her hair sat tousled on her shoulders, her eyes bright and glazed with excitement, and her lips plump and reddened from their kiss. She’d never looked more exquisite.
*
‘I can’t do this,’ he said, standing up and putting his hands to his head.
Autumn’s eyes followed him. ‘Do what? Kiss me? Earlier we told a room full of people we’re dating,’ Autumn said.
‘That was for show.’
‘And this is—’
‘Nothing. This is nothing. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
His final words spoken, he strode from the room.
Nineteen
‘You cannot tell me that you have no idea how to operate a washing machine, child.’
Autumn felt completely washed out, like she’d already done a cycle in the machine. She hadn’t slept at all. Visions of Blu-Daddy and the gunmen, plus concern about what the press were going to be saying about the party had all mixed together with Nathan and their kiss, and she had tossed and turned, counted the circles on the patterned curtains and opened and closed her purse.
‘Clothes go into the machine, add a funny-looking pouch of liquid, close the door. Open up the little panel on the front and add some brightly colored fabric conditioner, close the panel up. Set the dial to forty degrees, or thirty if we’re trying to save the environment, and press go!’ Tawanda performed all the actions as she went along.
‘I had a cleaner who did all that. I never needed to. You didn’t have to do it though, you should have shown me. It might be nice to learn,’ Autumn admitted, pulling apart a croissant.
‘Don’t be fooled by my domestic capabilities. Mr Nathan doesn’t want me here for the clothes washing. Later, I will teach you how to fire an automatic weapon.’
Autumn looked up from her plate. ‘What?’ she exclaimed.
‘I think last night scared Mr Nathan more than he let on. He wants you to be prepared for anything.’
‘I am prepared. I told him I would be, I just… he doesn’t seem to know what to do now, after last night.’
‘Plans change all the time. He made some phone calls this morning before he went out,’ Tawanda told her.
‘He isn’t here?’
Suddenly, her entire body was engulfed by a cloud of fear. Nathan wasn’t in the house. What if something happened? What if the men came back and he wasn’t here and they took her? He’d promised last night he would make sure she was protected.
She grabbed the coffee pot and went to pour herself a cup, but it fell from her hand and upended on the table.
‘Oh, Tawanda, I’m so sorry. I’m so clumsy. Let me clean it up,’ Autumn said, scraping back her chair and rising from her seat.
‘No, child, you sit down and finish breakfast. You must eat.’
‘But where’s Nathan? I mean—.’
‘Mr Nathan will be back, and while he’s not here, I am looking after you. Remember what I say about automatic weapons? I taught Mr Nathan everything he knows. Don’t judge everyone you meet by how they look or what wonderful Jamaican chicken they make.’ Tawanda indicated the casserole dish she was in the middle of filling. ‘I hope you like things a little spicy.’
‘Sorry. I just… after last night…’
‘It is only normal to feel a little out of sorts after something like that, but you have to be strong. When all this is over, things will go back to how they were for you.’
She doubted that. Her best friend was a cow, her boyfriend was a cheating shit, and she was still concerned by her mother. What had she been doing at her party? The only parties her mother enjoyed were filled with politicians like her. She had no interest in members of Autumn’s celebrity circle unless she had a political campaign going on that she needed faces on posters for.
As Tawanda fussed around the table, picking up the coffee pot and mopping up the residue, Nathan entered the room.
He was dressed in black running shorts and sneakers, but nothing else. The sight of his brawny body made Autumn’s insides contract, just as they had the night before. His hair was damp. He ran his hands through it before he took an apple from the fruit bowl and sunk his teeth into it.
His teeth split into the skin, and she couldn’t help but
