Pearlie.
“Um…yes, ma’am,” I managed even as my skin grew warm, becoming so unbearable, I wanted to strip down naked and plunge into an ice bath to try to slake the heat ravaging my body.
“Hmm…” Pearlie mused. “You don’t look fine, baby. I think maybe you’ve had too much of Junior’s wine. It can be a bit strong for first-timers.”
“Which all of you knew,” Whit pointed out, his tone harsh, accusing. I thought I saw him peg the others with a furious glare. “I’m taking Zellie back to her apartment.”
“She shouldn’t be alone,” June warned. “Not in this state.”
“Don’t worry,” Whit snapped. “I’ll look after her.”
“Henry,” I called, my voice sounding like I was talking in slow motion. “It’s time to go, baby.”
“Why don’t you let him stay with me tonight?” June offered with a comforting smile.
“No, no,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s okay. I don’t want to impose. I just need to…sit down for a…for a few minutes.”
“Nonsense,” June said. “Henry? Do you want to spend the night with Mamaw June, honey?”
Henry came running over, Addie on his heels. “Yes, ma’am! Can I, Mama?”
I was about to protest, but the world tilted, and I grabbed Whit’s arm to steady myself. “Sure,” I told Henry, nodding carefully, the simple movement disorienting. “Yeah, that’s okay.”
Henry gave me a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek before scampering off to play. My heart ached a little at how quickly he’d taken June up on her offer. But before I could call him back to me and tell him I’d changed my mind, Pearlie took my hand in both of hers.
“You’ll be just fine,” she said with a comforting smile. “All just part of the process.”
I frowned. “Process? What do you mean?”
“Take good care of her,” Pearlie ordered, giving Whit a significant look that I found puzzling even in my current state.
Whit pulled me tighter against him, keeping his arm around my waist to support me as he led me into the house.
“I’m sorry about this,” he said as we made our way to the elevator. “I should’ve paid closer attention. I didn’t realize they’d given you so much.”
I let out a small, giddy laugh. “You tried to warn me,” I said, searching for the button for the fourth floor among the multiple, blurry buttons that swam before my eyes. “It’s not your fault.”
“The effects should wear off in an hour or so,” he assured me, pressing the correct button for me. “I’ll sit with you until they do.”
Sitting with me was thelastthing I wanted him to be doing with me. The fire in my body raged, making me want to peel off my skin for relief. But in my mind, I pictured us tearing at each other’s clothes in a frenzy, reckless, impatient to join our bodies together, to feel skin upon skin.
I shook my head to banish the dangerous images and stepped away from him to give myself some space. “Is it hot in here?” I panted. “I can’t breathe. It’s so hot…”
The doors opened to my floor and not a moment too soon.
“So freaking hot…” I muttered, tugging at the collar of my shirt as we made our way down the hall. But finding that insufficient to relieve me, I pulled it over my head and tossed it onto the floor.
“No, no, no,” Whit said in a rush, grabbing up my shirt and hurrying me to my door. “Not out here. We’ll cool you down inside.”
As soon as we entered the apartment, I kicked off my shoes and started unbuttoning my shorts. “What the hell is wrong with me?”
He stilled my hands with his, firm but careful. “Easy,” he said, his voice tight. “Let’s get you in the shower.”
I lifted my eyes to him and grinned. “Sounds fun. Want to join me?”
Somehow, I could hear his breathing become shallower, his heartbeat quickening. He swallowed hard and squeezed his eyes for a beat as if the sight of me tormented him. “No,” he finally managed. “Not like this.”
I stepped closer and popped open one of the buttons on his shirt, my grin growing. “Are you sure…?”
