‘What are you doing the rest of the week?’ he asks, stilling me with a hand on my hip.
‘Work. And more work. There’s a big open evening coming up next week.’
‘Ah, thelook at how wonderful our school isevening and Faris’ dazzling speech.’
I up scrunch my nose. ‘There’s an awkward encounter I hadn’t foreseen, meeting your dad, I mean. Isn’t that going to cause—’
‘No. It’ll be fine,’ he answers, reinforcing his words with a firm squeeze of my hip. ‘My mother usually gives the opening address but she’s off to Bangladesh for a few days.’ Trailing the tips of his fingers up my body, he raises them further, linking them above his head. As he stretches out, muscles and tendons flex beneath his lickable caramel skin.
‘Is this for her charity?’ I ask, filling the sudden silence left by my stare-fest.I don’t think I’ll ever tire of the sight of him.
‘Yes, the orphanage. She’s very hands-on with it all.’
‘Wish you could be there,’ I mumble.
‘In Bangladesh?’
‘Lol, really,’ I answer, deadpan. ‘At the school.’
‘I won’t be in the country, unfortunately. Please don’t worry,’ he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. ‘It will be—’
‘Fine. Yes, you’ve said that already. It’llbe fine.Awkward, but fine.’
‘Trust me, Kate,’ he says smiling. ‘That’s all you need to do. I’ll take care of the rest.’
‘What about you? What’s the week got in store for you?’
‘I have to be in Berlin tomorrow for a meeting, then onto Nice for a couple of days.’
‘Get you, Mr International Jet-Setter. I suppose it’ll be first class all the way?’
‘Sort of. Private jet,’ he replies with one raised brow.
‘Oh, of course...’
‘Come if you’d like.’ His offer is spoken so matter-of-factly, my head rises quickly but his expression is mild. I suppose when you’ve pockets as deep as his, maybe the offer is a bit like me shouting Niamh to a muffin with her Starbucks. Before I’ve spoken, he holds up a forestalling hand.
‘I know, you have work. I was just thinking aloud. Trying to tempt you. Maybe.’
I insinuate myself between his arm and chest as his finger begins to stroke my ear. ‘You do that well anyway. It does sound pretty awesome. I’ve never been to Europe.’
Pulling his head back, he peers down at me. ‘Then let’s do it. Meet me in Nice after work on Thursday. We’ll fly back in time for class on Sunday.’ His finger begins to move again, the shell suddenly as sensitive as I’ve ever known. ‘I know the perfect little hotel, secluded gardens... private pool,’ he murmurs. ‘We can hit the nightlife. Get you a little drunk, head back, and fuck the rest of the weekend.’
‘You sweet-talker, you. And you so don’t need to get me drunk.’ My voice sounds oddly dreamy, my body boneless against his.
‘Maybe I need those inhibitions of yours to be floating for what I have in mind.’
‘I’m intrigued.’
‘Oh, you definitely should be.’
‘Should I also be worried?’ I ask, knowing right now I’d give in to lots of things. Slightly tipsy, my body warmed by a holiday sun, wrapped in his arms and under him, I’d probably give into anything. I wonder if those thoughts are written on my forehead as he smiles like the cat that just succeeded in humping the canary.
‘I suppose you’ll have to wait and see.’
‘Is that so?’ I sigh, coming back to the earth with an uncomfortable bump. ‘Sounds heavenly.’
‘Then you’ll come.’
