0 comments/ 1611 views/ 1 favorites A Kiss is a Promise Ch. 02 By: JerryJonesAfrique This is the second installment of a previous story of the same title. I'd upload a third part soon enough. There is a bit of foreplay but no sex, so wankers sorry to disappoint. Please I could do with more constructive criticism, because with your approval I hope to publish the full story as a giveaway. As usual, thanks for dropping by. ***** "You're a coward." I looked up from my laptop which was on the coffee table where I was editing a manuscript for a client. Clara had just entered the living room with a tray containing brunch and had a scowl on her face. It was Thursday morning. I didn't have lectures today. Apparently, neither did Clara. I'd settled on working on a new client's story draft while she took care of a few house chores. I'd told her all about the date with Diane when I got back, and when she asked when I planned on seeing her again. I'd told her Thursday. She had a seminar presentation by midday. Well, it was past ten and I hadn't even had my bathe. I didn't even look like I planned to anytime soon. But leave it to Clara to badger me about my decision to stay away from her. She'd been at it since she overhead me calling Diane to announce that I wouldn't be coming to see her presentation. I shook my head at Clara. "Don't be silly Clara. Do you know how much it cost me to get four new tires? Those guys flogged me with your cutlass! Just because of..." "Say it! Just because of a girl whose company you enjoyed." "It's not worth it, trust me." I went to the dining table to get a food mat and return to set it on the coffee table in front of me. (I like eating in the sitting room; maybe because I like watching TV while eating so much it has become a habit. If you wrinkle your nose at that, dear reader, then go ahead. I hope it doesn't shrivel while you're at it. The house is mine to do as I please). I took one of the two plates containing yam porridge from the tray. Clara left for the kitchen to get two sachets of cold water from the refrigerator there and put them on the tray when she returned. She sat down on the couch to my right. "You've seen her, what...twice? The first time, you told me there was something about her that pushed you out of your normal aloofness, enough to make conversation and get her phone number." "Leave it alone, Clara!" I growled as I set my laptop aside to eat. She went on like I hadn't spoken. "The second time, you came home that evening so pumped up and excited after hanging with another human being - a female for that matter. It is a side of you I haven't seen in a long time and I have sorely missed. She was worth seeing again that day, was she not?" I sighed, struggling to keep my voice on the right side of its edginess. "Her boyfriend threatened you! Did you not hear them? I love my peace and quiet." Diane had gotten quiet as well when I told her I wouldn't come to her presentation after all. "So, a bunch of guys bully you once and you turn your back on your chance of being with someone that makes you happy? You're a coward, cousin! A spineless..." "Enough!" I shouted, banging the table while getting to my feet. The table was in no danger of breaking. "I may deserve all the happiness in the world, but it's also my job to protect you." Clara paused but her eyes gave no hint she was backing out of the argument. Instead she got to her feet, her shoulders high. She wasn't as tall as I, but she put what little height she had to use. "I won't say I know her. But if you wouldn't give her the benefit of doubt, and yourself the chance to know if she is worth it in the long run... then maybe, she deserves better. You want to protect me? Then be happy while at it." She removed one of the sachets of water and placed it on my table mat. She carried her tray and walked back into the kitchen. I sat down and stared at my food and my laptop beside it. So much for putting in some work this morning... Akwa Ibom State University wasn't a turf I usually prowled. Still, finding Microbiology Laboratory III was as easy as asking directions of the right person, in this case, a cheerful security man at the main gate. Diane and her group had just climbed a little podium at the front of the large laboratory. She, like the rest of her crew was dressed formally. Her black suit and knee-length skirt were snug, enough to be modest while accentuating her hour glass figure. She wore reading glasses today. A couple guys in her group were setting up a projector screen, a third was connecting a laptop to the slide projector. Someone passed Diane a microphone. A secret thrill went down my spine when I realized that she was the speaker. The rest of the lab was half filled with students - colleagues in other groups, juniors, friends, etc. The seminar supervisors were at the front row going through their papers and waiting for the group to begin. She began, introducing her topic - Forensic Mycology; the use of fungi in criminal investigations - as a hitherto un-researched area of study in this part of the world. I would've agreed with that, except I know Nigerian undergraduates to be too lazy to find themselves a fresh, untouched topic. Remember I'm not a betting guy, but I'll wager she began the exact way whatever research work she and her group copied introduced their presentation. Nonetheless, our law enforcers are too busy negotiating bail money and collecting rogers on the highway to bother about forensic mycology. What is the use of research if all observations, results and recommendations would do is adorn the resource centers of their various respective departments in the institution? (Don't get me started. I'm not a fan of the Nigerian formal education even though I'm going through one). I can tell the point she noticed me. Even though I was no longer paying attention to the presentation, I noticed her pause. I looked at her and found her looking at me. I smiled and waved at her. Her serious demeanor softened a bit but she continued. I paid more attention now, and caught her gaze come my way every now and then. I noticed something else. Or someone... He looked away as soon as I met his gaze, just like he'd done at the cinema almost a week ago. When he looked back at me, I was still watching him. He got surprised when I suddenly started making my way through the crowd to the place he stood. I don't know why I did it, I just did it. He started to back away but changed his mind. He stood his ground. However, I was now sure...he had to be one of the guys that had come to my house to slash my tires. I could tell Diane was distracted by my movement, I'm sure she had cause. She needed a quick cue from one of her group to continue and ignored me for the rest of the presentation. "You've got nerves, coming here." He whispered in my ears. It wasn't the voice of Diane's boyfriend. Neither was it the voice of the one that had flogged me with my machete. "What would you do? Report to her boyfriend, like you did at the cinema? Or come to my place tonight and slash my tires?" His eyes widened at that. I knew him now. My slasher-man. Perfect. "I'm just here to cheer a friend. I don't want any trouble." I said innocently. "We'll see." He said and moved away. The seminar ended soon after and the rest of the students in the laboratory started trooping outside. Diane and her group were being congratulated by some of their peers. Our eyes met and she nodded. I joined the ones going out and walked back to my VW PASSAT parked outside the block of microbiology laboratories. I unlocked the car and was about to get in when... "Obaino!" I turned around and searched among the throng of students milling about the u-shaped block of laboratories. I felt my eyeballs pop out of their sockets. The guy walking up to me with hubris written all over his face was...No, my vision had to be deceiving me... "Autch! No freaking way!" I whispered in disbelief at the tall, lanky guy hurrying across from one of the other laboratories on the block. He had a laptop bag in one hand and was wearing a white laboratory coat that came down to his knees on top of his ash t-shirt and blue denim trousers. "My God! Is this really you?" He was bounding the rest of the way now. I shut the half open car door and opened my arms. There were too many emotions to express, but all we did was hug. It was quite a long hug, as bitter memories we shared in a previous life washed up to the surface. I swallowed mine back down like regurgitating meat coming up a thirsty throat. We were smiling when we released each other. "Long time, brother," Autchman said. "I'm no longer a brother," I replied. It was only right to put the status quo up straight up. "I quit the night I graduated." "I know. Eddie told me." "Eddie! Eddie and Aniekan! Who knows where those guys are now?" Autch shrugged. "We all school here now. I flopped my medical exams and had to change schools. I'm managing microbiology now... year two. They were caught cheating in their exams and expelled. They are here now...political science, year two as well" I was surprised at that bit of information. "Oh boy! A whole lot has happened since I quit! Last time I saw you all, you were cuffed in police trucks waiting to be taken to jail." Autch laughed. "I remember. We were caught selling marijuana. The last time I saw you, you were dying in the back of an ambulance with bullets inside of you." My lips tightened in a grim smile at the memory. "Good thing you didn't have the smack on you, else you might have been prosecuted... but let's not talk about that. I'm back on my feet. The past is behind me." My roving eyes fell on Diane searching the now dwindling crowd for me. I whistled at her. She turned in a different direction. Autch chuckled when he caught on... "I won't say I'm surprised...Nothing but a woman would bring you down to State." "Any one listening to you will think I'm a player." "Are we all not? What kind of girl will fall for a guy with no game?" "Abi?" I laughed at his rhetoric. I've always known Autch to be bright upstairs, but he always let extracurricular activities derail him. Diane looked in my direction finally, I waved her. She smiled and walked in my direction. Autch gave me a quick surprised glance, now he'd seen her face. I caught his eye briefly before he looked away. Something was up, but there was no time to ask him what it was. Diane arrived. I introduced her to Autch who went out of his way to act like he didn't know her. Hey! I'm not as dumb as I act. He and I exchanged phone numbers though, and Autch continued on his way. I turned my attention to Diane. She'd taken off her lab coat and was just on her formal clothes. "You came after all..." She had that smile that makes my heart melt. I nodded. She took my hands in hers and interlocked her fingers through them. "What made you change your mind?" she asked. I shrugged. "I wanted to see you again. Seeing you in action was... you could have made some bucks selling door passes to your lecture." Diane made a face at me even though she was amused. "Even though you didn't understand a word I was saying." I laughed. "You could tell!" She nodded. "Well, you can explain it to me some more while I treat you to lunch. How about that?" She shook her head apologetically. "You told me yesterday you weren't coming, so I already arranged to have my celebratory lunch with my group members. We are going to Kilimanjaro." "Oh! That's good! Of course, you all need that." I brushed my disappointment aside. "Maybe we can hang out later in the evening...or tomorrow Friday." She watched me for a few moments. "You're not angry I turned you down?" "Why should I be?" Indeed, why should she be baffled that I seemed okay with her turn down? Her excuse wasn't flimsy. I didn't have any claim on either her or her time. The rest of her group had exited the lab by now. They signaled her to hurry up. "Tomorrow will be good," she said releasing my hands. "Meanwhile, I want to ask you something before it skips my mind. That guy you went to stand with inside the lab...how do you know him?" She looked like the answer would mean a whole lot to her. Still, I didn't know her angle. I put my hands in my trouser pockets and thought fast. She didn't ask if I knew him, but how I knew him. Which meant it was obvious he and I had met before. "He was at the cinema. He was watching us...or rather you." She looked away. Guilt. "How do you know him?" I asked. She narrowed her eyes at me, like she could peep through my skull if she tried. Her group members called for her again. She took a couple steps back. "Don't believe everything you hear about me...especially from him or anyone. I'll call you later this evening." I watched her go join her group. Saved by the bell, I thought. I got into my car and drove home. My building was a rented two bedroom bungalow building at the dead end of a single asphalt lane. This lane ran through a sparsely populated residential area and ended at the plastered, unpainted walls surrounding my house. I recognized the red salon car parked ahead as the Camaro. I frowned. I slowed as I drew level in order to get a clear glimpse of the driver's face. He had a baseball cap that was pulled low over his brows and was faced down so I couldn't see his eyes. He had a diamond stud on his visible ear. I drove past the red Camaro at a snail's pace and continued towards the gate into my compound. I could see the big YETI padlock in place - sign that Clara wasn't home. I didn't recognize him, however my instincts screamed trouble. He alighted from his car just as I pulled up in front of my gate. I reached under my seat to slip a knife into my hands. It was an old seven inch switchblade with a bent tip which I hid under my car seat this morning. I've had it since my final degree program year - when the cult wars had shut the school down for a full academic year. It felt too familiar in my hands even though I hadn't used it in a long while. I alighted too, hiding the knife behind my wrist. I shut the door after myself and turned to face him as he approached. First thing I noticed about him was his Adam's apple. It was a little bigger normal size...like a receding goitre lump. If I swung at his neck, I won't miss cutting his throat. The rest of him was fit. He easily stood thirty centimeters above me, and I was 6"3. He had gorilla arms, but the rest of him was lanky. I had more muscles beneath my starched shirt. I faced him with something akin to anger on my face. Fear and submission must've been what he expected because when he didn't get the appropriate response, he slowed down and a cautious light lit his eyes. "No more masks? Thank God! I'm not good with guess work." My tones were mild. He glared at me with knit eyebrows. "This is your last warning Mr. Obinna Osondu...stay away from Diane." "Give me a reason? Slashing my tires was a childish prank to keep your girlfriend. I've got new ones as you can see." His fair-skinned face shone even more in his astonishment. The next moment it darkened to a scowl. He was one ugly hell of a dude now. He made to move in on me, but stopped when he saw me expose the blade I'd kept hidden behind my wrist. I took a few steps forward, waving the knife at him. He stepped back. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Now, I'll forgive you for slashing my tires. But the next I find you or your friends close to me, my sister or this house, I'll call the police on you! Capisce?" I imagined the pink pus that would spurt from his goitre if i stuck him. That would've been ideal in a former life. I wasn't a twenty-two year old undergraduate anymore. "This isn't the last of this. You're going to regret pulling a weapon on me. I'll make sure of that." His icy stare told me he meant it. I wasn't afraid of him, but I knew my cousin was in danger. Damn her, I thought as I watched Diane's giant 'boyfriend' walk back to his Camaro. He entered the car and drove away, wagging a finger at me. I returned to fetch my key bunch from the ignition. I called Autch right after I got settled in enough to get myself a beer. "How convenient that I ran into you today," I began. "How do you mean?" He asked. I heard him exhale smoke... the weed man in him was still there... I narrated the tire-slashing episode and this afternoon's scene, I described my affronter and his car. "I know the guy," Autch confirmed. I was relieved. "I suspected as much." He paused. I could hear him drag in his smoke. I anticipated his next question. He was a born skeptic. Skepticism saves your life, he once told me. "Why would you think that?" Autch asked. "You knew Diane more than you let on..." Autch laughed, "Still noticing everything, huh? I'm glad none of those bullets fucked up your observatory." "No, it didn't..." Autch sighed. "I'm not saying there is something wrong with the girl... but her boyfriend is..." Autch sighed. "...the guy in the Camaro... are they still together?" "Does it matter? That's Bishop Junior's cousin - the new TUTU capone." I swore as I scratched my side at that, at the point the bullets had missed my ribs. Violent memories itch badly, they say. Bishop Junior. I chuckled at the irony and got off my chair to pace. I heard his joint crackle as he dragged on it and wished I could relapse for a day. "Yeah, funny right?" Autch sounded somber. My eyes fell on my forgotten Heinekeen. I took it for a couple swigs. "Tutu bastards!" "That beef is over... M.J is dead and you don't want to be starting something," "This is none of Bishop's concern," I said. "Not that I won't like to shoot lead in between his eyes." "I was afraid you'd say that. I'm enjoying this peace, even if it's shaky at its best. You're out, Obinna my friend...Stay out..." "FUCK YOU! FUCK HIM TOO! HE KILLED REGINA! IT COULD'VE BEEN ME IN THAT CAR!" I felt hot rage sear through my face and I threw my beer bottle on the wall with the last of the beer in it. Great! Now the carpet was going to smell. "True... but don't forget that you gave Ubong and the rest of us your word you won't pursue it any further! That was part of the truce we all agreed. You got bedridden for three whole months for crying out loud!" I had no reply for that. Of course it was entirely my fault. My parents died while I was in my sophomore year. I ran into Ubong, who was head of the Maccabees, a street gang that dealt drugs. He took a liking to me and paid me to run certain errands, which when I did so well, he started allotting drug quotas to me to dispose of. I brought in Autch who brought in Aniekan and Eddie (we were the only students in the gang). I needed the money more than they did though because unlike them, I had to sponsor myself through my remaining years in school. In my bid to expand, I crossed boundaries into Bishop Junior's Tutu turf and that pretty much started the gang war. Bishop wanted my head. He got my then girlfriend's instead. I blew up his meth lab and cleaned out his warehouse drug storage. He set my friends up and put me in a hospital. "I admit," Autch was saying, "Diane's a nice piece of ass, but her relationship with Bishop's cousin is always off and on. So, even if they are off right now, sooner or later, they'll get back together." "What's Bishop's cousin's name?" "Back the fuck off, Obinna!" Autch barked. "That's not his name, Uchenna." Autch sighed and told me all I needed to know about Marshall Junior as Bishop's brother was called. The more I thought about it, I formed myself the beginning of a plan. First, i had to make sure she was worth the hassle. I had to make sure it wasn't just because she was a hot piece of ass. Clara had texted me that she preferred spending the rest of the week with her girlfriends at the school hostel. I couldn't agree more. It was an unspoken fact that she'd be safer on campus. It was past dusk when I fired up my laptop and found an online flower shop with a local address. I ordered for pink lilies to be sent to Diane Ekong's address and paid with my Naira Master Card. I drove there and arrived just in time to see the delivery van leaving. I parked by the fence and stared at my wrist watch as I waited. My cell phone rang seven minutes later. I took it out of my pocket and answered. A Kiss is a Promise Ch. 02 Someone must've slipped her an ecstasy pill, because she was laughing too much to make sensible conversation. Too many exclaimations... I told her I was camped outside her apartment and that gave her a pause. She invited me in, to which I respectfully declined. I just wanted to talk. I took her to Ibesih Lake, an artificial lake that had been constructed recently off the bypass that went on to Ibesikpo. It was part of a garden resort called Little Stream Farms. It was quite the long drive - Twenty minutes on the smooth Nwaniba road at seventy-five per hour. However, we filled the time with stories about her lunch with her group and a bit about my pursuits. I stopped at a supermarket to buy two bottles of red wine and one Royal Challenge. I killed my engine outside the gate into the resort. Two men manned the security booth. One was Charles, my neighbor, a retired soldier who worked night security at the place. I'd alerted him ahead so he was glad to see me; his colleague was too. "Oga Charlie!" I greeted. Charles had long gone bald and there were patches of gray on his rough beard. He was fifty-ish and wore security uniforms and his soldier boots. "Oh boy! Finally! E don tey o!" "My Oga, school never give me chance since! As I get this small break, na im I say make I come your side relax with my friend. You know say I dey like am for quiet well well." He agreed readily. His colleague chipped in, "Bros, this opeke wey you carry fine over!" Diane cringed but kept her lips smiling. Charles cleared his throat at his colleague who relaxed at that. "Thank you," I said to him. I half twisted in my seat to reach for the bottles at the back seat. I picked the ROYAL CHALLENGE and turned to hand it to him. "Make una manage this one this night. You sabi say weather cold well well." Charlie was always pleased at the quality of drink I brought him whenever I visited. His colleague however, could barely contain his excitement. He must be a fish-head used to swimming in a water-logged area, who just found himself in an aquarium tonight. They thanked me and raised the security bar for me to drive past. "I'm sorry about that," I said. Diane shrugged. She was amused. "Fish heads...you don't expect them to be gentlemen." I frowned at her. "What?" She asked. "Nothing..." I turned to the road ahead. "I bet you've been here before..." "During day time...with friends and onlookers milling about...yes... Somehow I guess this is the scene you prefer." I turned the car off the road towards the grassy banks. She was looking out across the vacant space of circular water, lit up by security lights, with a few blind spots here and there on the lush, carpet-like embankment. "I don't know what you see when you look out there," I said, "but I see beautiful peace and contentment..." "I see...loneliness." We exchanged glances. I realized we were no longer talking about the place. I returned my eyes to my driving and shrugged when she won't look away. "Sometimes, alone is heaven...hell could be other people." I don't know where that came from. "I keep forgetting creative writers are supposed to be melancholic? It's cool." I pulled up a short distance from the start of the water. We sat in silence for a couple seconds. "So this is you MO," she resumed jokingly, "bring a girl here after hours, with just a bribed fish head or two to protect the girl's honor." I laughed. "I assumed I was trusted. And yet you followed me here like a lamb to the slaughter. Charles lives a compound away from me. He's ex-military, and it'll probably take more than a bottle of whiskey to make him an accessory to rape." Diane made a face. "Plus, that other security man would want dibs." I laughed. "Yes, he definitely would! He thinks you're one fine okpeke." I laughed. "What about you? What do you think? "I think you're a bit more sophisticated than that." I alighted. She followed suit. I opened the back seat to rummage a bit while she took a few steps towards the lake. "It's really different out here at night...peaceful like you earlier pointed out." She breathed the place in like I knew she would, admiring the serenity the quiet lake gave the place. "What are you doing back there?" She turned to the car to frown at me when I hadn't joined her. "Looking for my weapons," I said teasingly. Her eyes widened at what I reappeared with, then softened into a smile that made my nostrils flare. She looked sexy in her hooded top and denim shorts that showed off her black, unending ivory legs and the calm lake behind her made her look even perfect. "I was sure the car smelled of food when I first got in!" I had one of Clara's wrappers under my right arm, and held a food flask and a bottle of wine in both hands. "Never fear, dear... you didn't come off as starved as the last day of lent." Diane smirked. "I'd surely remember that one." I went to hand her the bottle of wine. "Do you have a wine screw? And cups?" she asked as I set the flask on the floor to spread the cloth over the grass. "There's a picnic bag in the back seat," I replied. The breeze from the lake made it a bit difficult to keep the cloth blowing over. I found pebbles and placed them at the four ends of the cloth. "They won't hold for long," she observed. I looked up at her. I took off my leather slippers and stepped onto the cloth. "We'll manage it...So, how about a picnic with me?" Diane rolled her eyes and laughed. "As if I could say no now..." She slipped off her wedges and joined me on the wrapper. "Moreover, I think this would be more fun, after-seminar celebration...something I haven't done before." "Ah! Another first for you from me! Hope we're making a list." We sat down on the cloth. Diane admired her surrounding some more while I reached for the bag and rummaged through the rest of its contents to retrieve two ceramic plates, a fork, two bottles of table water, a cork screw and red plastic cups... "It's beautiful out here, Obinna...calm...serene...something..." She turned to look at what I was doing. I spread everything on the space in between. "Wow! This...this was all thought through, huh?" She had a goofy grin on her face, her dimples pooled in. It was enough to make me smile; like a secret, selfish wish just granted. I reached for the flask to open it. Diane took the screw and went to work on the wine bottle. I removed the sauce bowl on top which contained thick vegetable and chopped tomato grub and set it aside. Diane closed her eyes and inhaled the air around us. I bent the flask to drag the warm fried potatoes I'd prepared into one plate. I put some vegetable grub from the sauce bowl into the second plate. She opened the wine and poured it into the two glasses. She handed me one of the glasses while I handed her the fork. "What are you going to use?" she asked. I showed her my hands, and reached for a bottle of table water. I scooted to the edge of our spread, opened the bottle and washed my feeding hand. I returned to find that she had begun. A fork-stabbed potato dipped in sauce was on its way to her lovely mouth. She squealed in delight and I cheeks dipped in again. "How much would make you accept to be my personal chef?" I laughed. "You won't be able to afford me." I sipped my wine. "Moreover, this is a once in a while thing...so don't get used to it." We ate in silence for a while. As usual, she broke it... "Are you going to tell me who the last girl you brought here was?" I choked on my food, grabbed my throat and started spluttered badly. She got startled and quickly reached to hand me my wine cup which I promptly drained. My eyes had gotten watery. "Are you okay?" I nodded and smiled. "The pepper went the wrong way." "Sorry." "It wasn't your fault." "It wasn't the question?" I hesitated. "It's not important, really" Diane said, "let's just enjoy this." I was silent for a while wondering why I'd brought Diane here. But one look at her oh so lovely face and I knew I wouldn't have helped myself. I was falling head over heels for a pretty face...sucker...one that was linked to Bishop Junior even if remotely. "She's dead." I sounded grave to my chagrin. Too late, the concern was back. "Oh God! I'm so sorry...I was insensitive..." I shook my head. "You weren't... I was... she's been dead three years now... We dated for four..." I looked up at her. It was like I saw my old pain resurfaced on her face. She was as attentive as she was a talkative. She got on her knees and knee-walked over to my side of the spread to sit right next to me. "I'm fine. I just haven't thought about it in a long time." She nodded and we resumed eating. I refilled my glass, willing my hands not to shake. She was sitting so close to me, I could feel her body warmth...and her fragrance. I could get heady just on that. We finished the meal and returned everything but our wine cups and wine back into the picnic bag. "How did she die?" I sighed. "She... my car back then was tampered with. I was... I wasn't such a gentle man back then, I should say." Diane's jaw had fallen wide open. Her horrified eyes were glued to mine like her mind was picturing a flick from HANNIBAL LECTER. "Someone was trying to kill you!" I hadn't talked to anyone about any of it since then, and I did, to her. And God bless her, but she listened with wide eyed interest... about the cult clash that killed Regina and I put myself in the thick of it till I got shot. It wasn't all of it. It was the most I could share without revealing anything. Still, it was enough to push her away and make her wary of my good-natured smiles, silly jokes, and gentlemanly ways. "Eyah! Where did you get shot?" she asked, more concerned about my welfare. I took her hand and almost smirked at the surprised bulge in her eyes, when I lifted my polo and vest and slid her shaky hand up my taut stomach to position her fingers on the indented skin a few inches below my right nipple. She gasped when she felt the old wound. "It's really there!" I nodded. She added pressure and gauged my reaction. I smiled. "It's completely healed," I said. "I just know it's there because...I know it's there..." Her palm flattened on my chest and lowered down my abs. She placed her wine glass away and leaned in closer. She pulled my shirt up to expose my abdomen and higher to expose her hand on my skin. Her fingers located the old wound... "I hope you don't mind if I do this." Her voice was a sultry whisper on my skin. The warmth of her breath made me want to shiver. And I did, when her soft lips closed over where her fingers had been. I sucked a breath in. I bent to kiss her hair. They smelled of... citrus. Her mouth went lower to my abs, trailing kisses as they did, then up, back to the old wound, and further upward, to cover my right nipple and suck on it. I gasped and pressed my chest closer to her. My hand grabbed at her braids and pulled her face off my chest. Her oval face radiated with concern... and a spark of desire. There were tiny embers glowing in her eyes. I looked down at those soft, edible lips and all I could think of was chewing them. I brought her head to mine and kissed her. She parted her lips and warm potato breath assaulted my senses. I sent my tongue in and met hers. She put her arms around me, moved up to straddle my legs and attacked my mouth with a frenzy I had not yet met... like ever. Her tongue was a warrior... darting and retreating... chasing and stabbing... like in a wrestle dance. Her hips were grinding on mine...eager...seeking... It was the most sensual thing I ever felt. My blood was fired up. I turned us both without breaking contact with her lips. I lay her under me. Her knees came up as she planted her feet flat on the spread. Her thighs squeezed mine as we continued to kiss. I grabbed for the hem of her top and lifted it. I slipped my hands underneath and rubbed her flat, velvety stomach. They crept higher and zeroed in on her bra covered breasts. She moaned when I squeezed her cups and kissed me even harder. I did it again and again. They were so soft and full, filling my hands right like I dreamed it would. It got my mind stuck on limbo. I stopped the kiss. Her breathing was ragged and the lust in her eyes was no longer embers now. A fire had been lit. it was left to me to make it a conflagration. I could feel the rate of her hear beating beneath her breasts. I wasn't faring any better myself. My bulge concealed by my jeans strained to be let out. I remembered we'd come here for a rather serious talk, but things had followed a different course. I didn't know how far she wanted to take things, but I didn't want to stop until she did. I released her and sat back on my knees. i took off my polo and my white vest. She hesitated a bit, but sat up to run a hand over my muscular chest and down to my pecs, hard from time invested at the gym. There was a heathen longing on her face for a moment and I wondered what she'd just thought of doing to me. "Take off your top! I want to see them while I touch them!" She knew what 'them' was. She smiled shyly but lifted the bunched up top over her head. She leaned backwards, one hand on the spread behind her, like a pillar propping her. She signaled me to come to her with the index finger of the other hand. My mouth had watered at the appearance of her lacy bra and the sight of her cleavage was doing more numbers in my brain than a bookie. Breast man! Breast man! "You're so beautiful Diane." She smiled. "You talk too much! Just, come here." I complied with her demand. I leaned into her. I cupped her face. "So beautiful..." I whispered before kissing her. She wrapped a hand around my neck and returned the kiss. It was less urgent this time, or so it usually began. I reached behind her, fumbled a bit with her bra clasp before releasing it. She took her hand from off my neck and leaned off her other hand to take the bra off. I broke the kiss again and leaned back to get a good view of her naked torso. They were C-cups, hanging heavily and looking juicy. I had to sample their succulence. Diane laughed and I looked up at her. "You should see your face right now," she mocked. I raised an eyebrow then suddenly wrestled her to her back. She laughed but didn't resist. I covered those naked orbs with my hands, squeezing and massaging while I leaned in to kiss the valley in between both mounds. Her body was heated despite the chilly atmosphere. My thumbs flicked over her long, pebbly nipples and they hardened even further. I could hear the deep breaths she was now taking. I trailed kisses up the slope of one breast, get to within an inch of her teat, only to go back down the slope and up the other one to tease her the same way. I felt her raise her head and looked up at her. If looks were daggers, my eyes would've been bleeding. She didn't want to be teased. I cut right to the chase, still watching her face. I covered one with my mouth and squeezed the same breast. Her face clouded with intense concentration at the pleasure she felt. Her eyes closed when I started sucking on it. I flicked the other one with my thumb and she moaned. I'd forgotten how much I loved sucking on a ripe breast. I turned to the other one and sucked. "Oh yes!" Her head fell back on the spread. Her hand grabbed the back of my head and pressed me to her, while she arched further into me. She wrapped one leg around my waist and squirmed on my crotch, riding clouds of bliss. Her mammaries must've been so sensitive. I wrapped my hands around them and squeezed them while trailing soft kisses down to her belly and all around the slightly protruding button. I felt the light tremors rippled her skin with each contact made and she made sounds like a pregnant woman in between contractions. Her hands covered mine over her breast and we both squeezed. I could smell her arousal. The fragrance was simply irresistible... like an amateur connoisseur perceiving a vintage wine he hadn't yet had the pleasure of sampling. I was a bee attracted to pollen. I released her breasts and reached to unbuckle her shorts. She stiffened. She reached down to stop me from pushing her zipper down and slid backwards. I met her gaze, a bit confused. She shook her head. I looked away to hide my disappointment. My gaze fell on her bra and top lying at the side. I reached for it and handed it to her. I got to my feet and went to pick my vest and polo. "Is that what all this was about?" I turned to her, frowning. "I don't know what you mean," I replied. She'd just put on her bra and had her top in her hands. I kept my eyes trained on her face even though her cleavage beckoned. "The flower...this wonderful picnic...was it all just to get head?" "That's a bullshit question." I answered and turned my back on her to pick my polo. "You can't even answer me." I ignored her and pulled on my polo. I heard her walk up to me and turned to face her just in time as she reached out to shove me. "You're an asshole!" She shouted in angry frustration. "You're a tease!" I replied. We glared at each other, somehow, it all suddenly felt funny and I laughed. it was her turn to be confused. i sat back down on the spread and reached for the wine bottle for a swig. I looked at her, standing hands akimbo, staring at me. I passed her the bottle. She was reluctant, but she took it and sat opposite me. "I'm not a tease," she said then raised the bottle to her lips for a gulp. She passed me the bottle. I took it. "What are you. then?" I asked before a swig, then, "Ah! Forget that! Answer me this though! What are you not telling me about you?" I looked at her. One moment she was confused, the next she narrowed her gaze, puzzled. I offered her the bottle but she turned it down. I shrugged, drained the rest of it and tossed the bottle. "What did you hear about me?" she folded her arms and looked curious. "Oh! Just this...and that. I draw a blank each time I try to read in between the lines. I was hoping you'd fill out those blanks for me." Deep furrows appeared on her forehead. "I still don't understand," she said, shaking her head. "I'm talking about Marshall! I hear he's your boyfriend." She scowled. "We broke up two months ago!" Not long enough... "Two months! That's a short time! You guys are often off and on... you've broken up with him for longer periods and still got back together." Diane sprang to her feet. "That's because he's a bully and leaves me no choice!" Her voice had risen to angry overtones. "I thought you were different but you swallow all the bullshit you hear! Take me home!" She started walking to the car. I looked in the direction of the security lodge. No movements. "In what - the new tires I bought after Mr. Bully and friends decided slashing the old ones was the perfect moonlight game?" She stopped and turned to face me, shock rooted on her face deeper than a tribal mark. "He didn't tell you?" I asked. "We don't talk anymore...I ignore his calls and when he visits the house, I refuse to see him." I got to my feet. "Well, I guess you aren't there to threaten anymore, so he threatens my sister." I picked the two empty wine glasses and put them in the bag. I stepped off the spread, picked it up and folded it into the bag. She didn't say a word still. I zipped the bag and picked up the empty bottle. "Leave no evidence is the only rule," I smiled looking up at her. Diane was still dumbfounded, staring at me like I was sitting on a jigsaw. "He knows - that we are...?" "...seeing each other? He does... and he's not happy." Diane was terrified by the thought. It was disheartening. She looked down at her feet. I followed her gaze and found her stamping one foot. She was upset. I walked to her and lifted her face with my free hand. I was surprised to find her blinking back tears. A Kiss is a Promise Ch. 02 "I'm sorry," she muttered, "I really am sorry." "Ssshhhhh!" I leaned in to her, to kiss the corner of a delectable lip. "I'm not sorry," I replied. What the hell was I doing? Her wet lashes fluttered wider as her eyes focused on mine. I kissed the other corner of her lips, and smiled reassuringly. "You shouldn't be either," I added. We stared at each other for a while. My assuring smile never wavered. I took her hand in mine. "Come, there is a second wine bottle for your room mates in the car. I'll take you home now...picnic is over." Diane followed me meekly. We walked back to my VW. I released her to open the front passenger door for her to enter. I put the bag in the back and walked around to climb in behind the steering wheels. We sat quietly in my car for a short while. "What now?" She asked. I shrugged. "Fuck Solomon. I'll be yours instead, if you'd take me." Her eyes doubled in size, huge pools of magnetic beauty. I could fall in and stay contentedly drowned. "Yeah? But what about him?" She asked. "Minor details, baby..." But she was too mature to take a bluff. I sighed. "I won't lie, Diane. I am smitten by you. I want to be with you, and I'd love to explore this budding...friendship irrespective of whatever shadows are casting their nets about. Would you do me the honors of being my girlfriend?" The smile was slow in creeping out...tentative at first, but it sure did. "You're either a gentleman - or you're a class act." "I could be both of them and more, but there is only one way to find out," I said, as sure of myself as I never remembered being. She placed a hand on my knee and slid it up to my thighs. "Is your place far from here? I've got better ideas for that second bottle of wine." Realization dawned like the eastern sun, heating up dewy chills on my face. Shaky hands shot forward to start the ignition and I raced us back home.