You're Mine ~ A Sweet & Steamy Romance

by Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku

  Gradually, she stroked his palm with her thumb. It was more of a reassuring caress than a sensual one. “Thank you,” she muttered, her tone weak and barely audible.

  “Don’t thank me. Let me help you sit up. You need to get some food inside you. Five hours of sleep should give you a strong appetite.”

  “I’m more tired than hungry,” she mumbled in his ear as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “I’ll feed you.”

  Waving her hand in front of him, Rachael shook her head. “Not yet. I’m too weak to eat.”

  Worry turned into dread as he assisted her to sit up. She slouched instead, unable to keep her body upright. When he saw her sliding down the bed, he braced her back with his arms and slid behind her. Banjo spread out his legs on either side of her hips and she flopped against his chest. He cradled her head on his chest and just listened to her heartbeat.

  A myriad of thoughts mugged his head. None explained what could possibly be responsible for the extreme weakness Rachael presented. On his way to the bank earlier, he’d searched for negative symptoms that could affect pregnant women. Preeclampsia was one disorder that gave him concern. But how can he discuss anything with a woman who was so close-mouthed?

  Five minutes later, Banjo peeled back the seal on a packet of tropical fruit juice and filled up a glass. He held the glass of juice to Rachael’s lips. At first, her lips struggled to latch on to the rim of the glass. Then she tried to hold on to the base of the glass, but her fingers shook slightly.

  “Just sip from it, Rachael. I’ll hold on to the glass for you.”

  Nodding, she sipped very slowly.

  “Take as long as you want. My hands are pretty strong.” Jesting was a way to divert his fears. He had never seen a mature woman unable to drink from a glass. Little things he took for granted now appeared like an uphill task for Rachael. His heart softened as he watched her struggle.

  Rachael grinned and nodded. It was a small indication she was okay. Respite spread through him as he drew her body closer to his chest. Again, she sipped out of the glass until half the content was gone.

  Then she shook her head. “I’m done.”

  “For now,” he chuckled, grazing her cheek with his jaw.

  “Your mum said you went to the bank.”

  “Don’t bother about that,” he dismissed with a broad smile.

  Again, she nodded. Rachael gripped his left arm, only her touch had no strength as she tilted her head to stare up at him. “Thank you.”

  “Stop thanking me. Lean on me instead.”

  And Rachael pressed her back against his body and relaxed. “What’s the time?” she asked after a long while.

  Flicking his wrist to check, Banjo muttered, “Past five. There’s no way you’re going to the event you have in mind today.”

  Breathing in and out, Rachael tried to sit up. Banjo towed her back with his hands around her hips. “Relax, Rachael.”

  “Banjo, I have to attend the event. It’s the annual summer party for volunteers. There’s no way I want to miss it.”

  Shaking his head as if he had been hit by a falling rock, Banjo snorted. “I beg your pardon? You can’t even sit up in bed and you want to attend a party?”

  Grinning at him as if that should solve the problem, Rachael pressed her lips against his arm. “I’ll feel better in another hour and then I can get ready just in time. I promise not to exert too much energy when I get there.”

  “You’re not going anywhere, Rachael. I was scared to death when you nearly passed out in my arms. I don’t want to see you like that again.”

  Eyes wide with rebellion, she mumbled. “Welcome to my world, Banjo. I live with it. But it isn’t going to stop me getting on with the things that I feel are important and give me joy. Besides, you’re my bodyguard. Part of your job tonight is to make sure I don’t fall apart.”

  Then she gasped for air, opening and closing her mouth to take it deep breaths which emerged as shallow pants. Panic powered his spine, so he grabbed the nearest soft cushion and fanned her until her breathing returned to normal.

  With slow movements, Banjo turned Rachael around to face him. “You scared me. What are you talking about when you say, I live with it?”

  “Okay. Just not now. Give me time to recover. Someday, maybe. Not today.”

  His chest heaved a little. “Secrets!” he babbled, fighting to keep his voice even. “Why can’t you tell me now to keep me from dying of anxiety?”

  “Because it’s my life and it has nothing to do with you.” Her words were sluggish, but she got it out all the same.

  Wagging his finger, Banjo clarified. “Oh, it has everything to do with me. I was shitting in my briefs with fear. How do you think I feel knowing I can’t help you?”

  “You’ve helped me,” she contradicted, stroking his jaw. “By now, I’m sure you’ve paid up the mortgage for the house. I’ve got a roof over my head. And you’re here. That’s enough.”

  “Stubborn Rachael,” he decried, kissing the smooth curve of her neck. “Talk to me. You know what I’m talking about.”

  “I’m hungry,” she whined, ruffling his hair.

  Without delay, he slipped down from the bed and lifted her to sit up comfortably. With several pillows supporting her back and arms, she sat up straight. But her eyes were still drowsy as if she had not slept a wink.

  Lord! What kind of condition made a woman sleep for five hours and still look as if she’d stayed up all night partying?

  “I’m happy you want to eat now,” Banjo commended as he took out the meal from the bag and ripped the packaging. Joining her on the bed, he offered her a spoonful of spicy coconut rice mixed with tilapia fish stew.

  Instead of opening her mouth to eat, Rachael inhaled sharply. Grinning with her eyes closed, she whispered, “Yummy!”

  “Taste it first,” he encouraged.

  Reluctantly, Rachael opened her mouth and he fed her. She chewed bit by bit, he worried she would never finish the meal. Although she said she was hungry, he could tell she had no energy to eat the food.

  Reaching for a canned malt drink, Banjo asked. “Do you want water to drink or malt?” He had to anticipate her needs because she could hardly get words out of her fatigued mouth.

  Nodding, she gave him a thumb up.

  After he filled another glass with the nourishing black liquid, Banjo offered her the glass. “Can you hold on to it?”

  “Yes.” She collected the glass and wrapped both hands around it before she took a small sip. Again, he fed her with rice, fish and mixed peppers until she shook her head a while later.

  Stretching out her limbs, Rachael grumbled. “I’m tired of eating.” Then she slipped down on the bed and cuddled the pillow.

  Dumping the meal on the dresser, he covered her with the quilt. “Are you not worried you would choke?”

  “I’m used to lying down after eating. I get really exhausted sometimes.”

  Nodding as if he understood, he asked. “Do you want to sleep again?”

  “No. But I want to lie down for half an hour. Eating takes so much energy.”

  Banjo almost reminded her, he had fed her. Instead he chuckled asking, “Chewing is very exhausting?”

  Wearing a pretty grin on her lips despite the weariness on her face, she bobbed her head. “Didn’t you know? I found out the hard way.”

  “That’s news to me. But if you say so, I believe you, mio amico.”

  Rachael giggled. Every tense nerve in his body relaxed and he laughed.

  When she stopped giggling, he gazed into her eyes. “Would you like to be alone?”

  “Not until I need to get ready for the party.”

  This woman needed her head examined. A Volunteers Party could not be more important than maintaining full recovery from whatever caused her fatigue.

  “Even though I’ve no legal right to tell you how to run your life, I think you should at least listen to your body. Stay at home and I’ll be by your side. Whatever you
want, I’ll do it.”

  “Banjo, you make me sound pathetic. That’s the exact reason I’m not going to lock myself in here feeling sorry for myself.” She paused and swallowed as if she ran out of gas. “I want go to out and have fun. Life is for the living. I’m still breathing, am I not?”

  Only just, he would have liked to say to her. “I see your point. And I don’t want to fight with you about anything. If it’ll make you happy, then, by all means have it your way,” he said, giving in.

  “Thank you. Are you coming with me?” Gone was her stern expression. She grinned and a light flickered in her eyes, reaching inside him to bend his will.

  Ditching the worry gnawing him to shreds, Banjo knelt beside her bed and cupped her face in his hands. “Not sure. Maybe if you ask me nicely, I might change my mind.”

  The grin on her face ballooned into a smile. And her eyes twinkled with merry lights. “Kiss me gently,” she murmured, staring at his lips.

  A hammer hit his chest at her sweet command.

  Rachael did not have to ask twice. He leaned on his arms and stroked her lips with his tongue. Buttons of current singed his lips. Banjo drew back and stared hard into her eyes.

  “I think I’m falling for you, Rachael.”

  Tightening her fingers around his arm, she warned. “Well, don’t fall for me. Let’s just flow with the tide. There’s something about me you don’t know yet.”

  No woman had ever told him to keep his emotions in check. Maybe this was the reason he was gradually losing his mind. The fact she was unavailable and made it clear she was not interested drew him to her side. “Then why do you let me kiss you?”

  “Because I’ve thought about kissing you a thousand times since you arrived here, Banjo.”

  Brutal honesty was great. But it landed a hard punch to his gut. Banjo groaned, cupped her face and stormed her lips with his, demanding her submission. Rachael revelled in the kiss and showered his lips with the heat from her tongue.

  “Are you going to the party?” Tinu asked from the opened doorway.

  “No one seems to remember to knock today,” Banjo mumbled before he pulled back, but his eyes rested on Rachael’s. She peeled her gaze away from his and turned her head to face Tinu.

  “I intend to and Banjo says he’ll be my bodyguard.” The glow in Rachael’s eyes lingered.

  “Have you had something to eat? And I don’t mean the kiss I just witnessed.” Tinu’s tone was patient, but probing.

  Rachael giggled. And Banjo laughed. Tinu stared at them as if they were wayward teenagers.

  “Banjo fed me with some food and I drank half a glass of juice and a can of malt. I feel a lot better,” Rachael assured his mum.

  Arms clasped together in front of her, Tinu chuckled. “Good to know your appetite has improved so quickly. If you need my help to get dressed, tell Banjo to get me. I’m in my bedroom. Have the plastic seat handy while you get in the bath or shower.”

  “Yes Auntie. I’ll need your help with my hair.”

  Tinu nodded. “Banjo, why don’t you go and get ready?”

  It was Tinu’s subtle way of telling him to stop messing about with Rachael. But he ignored his mum’s implicit message. “Rachael needs me now. In another fifteen minutes or so, I’ll be done here. Stop worrying about us.”

  With a final kids-behave-yourself glare at both of them, Tinu shut the door.

  Laughing harder, Rachael jested. “Looks like your mom doesn’t approve of our kisses. Maybe you should go and get ready.”

  “Come on, we’re consenting adults. But I think mum’s worried about your health. Why do you need a plastic seat in the bathroom?”

  Shaking her head, Rachael murmured. “No, she isn’t. Your mom’s the reason I’m so strong now. I used to be a worry wart. Tinu Ricci rekindled my faith in prayer. She often says, why worry when you can pray? Now, I do the same.”

  Mentally recalling past situations that buttressed Rachael’s claim, Banjo agreed. “I should remember that too. God knows she said it often enough when I was a kid.”

  “Tonight, you can tell me all about how you grew up. Your mom’s such a wonderful woman. I’ve learnt so much from her in the last two years.”

  “And you have a lot to say to me. Where do you plan for us to have our chat? At the party?”

  “After the party,” she whispered as if they were playing hide and seek.

  Rubbing his knuckles across her cheeks, he insisted. “Now, it’s time for you to get out of bed. Back to my question. Why do you need a seat?”

  Lifting her right hand to him, Banjo understood she wanted his help. With a grin, he grasped her arm and gently pulled her up to her feet. He scanned her face with his hungry gaze and she looked away. “Because I might get a bit dizzy in the shower. I can sit down if I need to recover during my shower.”

  Tender feelings gripped his chest and he cuddled her in his arms, careful not to press too hard. Then he dropped a kiss on her nose. “Don’t take anything for granted. Take the seat with you.”

  “Sure. Thanks.”

  “See you later. Do you want me to call mum?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Holding on to her waist, Banjo kissed her chin and made his way up to her lips. Rachael caressed the tattoo along his neck and chest. Every line she scribbled on his skin cleared the doubts in his head and dragged him into her web.

  “See you in a bit, Banjo.” She stood on her toes. He lowered his head and merged his mouth with hers. It was only a brief kiss, but it was so intimate his lips tingled. And when his hand fell away from her face, it brushed past her cleavage and over her bump. Wicked sensations seared his flesh and she gasped.

  “Can I touch your bump?” he asked in awe.

  Rachael flinched before she answered. “Okay.”

  Banjo rubbed his fingers around her belly, and his limbs froze. Even through her dress, Rachael’s skin was soft beneath his fingers. For some reason, he had expected a tougher skin. But what did he know? One more time, Banjo brushed his lips across hers. When he raised his head, she held his face and deepened the kiss as if she never wanted to let him go. He trembled as quakes floored him. Rachael also quivered in his arms, so he tightened his arms around her body.

  Lifting his head moments later, he mouthed, “See you shortly,” before he walked out of her room.

  FREE GIFT

  Nine

  After an hour at the Volunteers Party held at Avignon Grand Hotel, Banjo leaned sideways and whispered in Rachael’s ear. “When the heck are we getting out of here?”

  Twisting slightly in her chair, Rachael put up her right hand in front of her to screen her mouth. “In just a short while,” she murmured, “and stop looking so bored.”

  Around their table for six, two other couples chatted excitedly. Ten tables–covered with white cotton cloth and gold satin trimmings–in the hall also sat three couples each.

  Within the last twenty minutes, she’d coerced Banjo into dancing with her. Not once. But twice. To be honest, he made an effort not to step on her toes. Throughout their dance, every part of her body wanted his arms around her for longer.

  The tender way Banjo cared for her after she slumped today still amazed her. Every negative attitude she’d accused him of now seemed trivial in the face of his sensitivity.

  “Are you cool?” Rachael asked Banjo, before popping candies from the sweet jar into her mouth.

  Lowering his head, he said dryly. “The speech is boring. Time to roll out of here.”

  Rachael giggled, then pretended to clear her throat. “Be gracious, Banjo.”

  “As your temporary bodyguard or as your sexy date?” he scoffed, without trying to disguise the fact he would rather be elsewhere.

  Working hard to stifle a giggle, she kicked his shin. Banjo gave her a, you-are-in-trouble stare. Laughter almost spilled out of Rachael’s mouth, but she quickly sipped water from the glass in front of her as a distraction.

  Sabrina Edwards, Rachael’s friend, who she’d e
arlier introduced to Banjo winked at Rachael from across the table and Janet, her fellow volunteer, also seated on their table stared at her. Janet, with whom Rachael shared pastries and tea every time she showed up for work, mouthed, “Is everything okay?”

  Pretending to have a snap cold, Rachael hid her face behind a serviette paper and wiped her nose, nodding at Janet across the table. Meanwhile, she exchanged a secret wink with Sabrina.

  “Considering I only found out I was your date twenty minutes ago during the dance, you have some explaining to do when we get out of here.” Banjo continued chattering beside her, nudging her elbow as well.

  Rachael swallowed the protest nearly pushing out of her lips as she grimaced at Banjo. “I ditched my first bodyguard of choice for you. Be grateful!” she mumbled.

  Banjo’s eyes almost popped out of his face. “You sacked him so you could have the pleasure of my company as your date,” he griped as if he was unhappy about her sneaky manipulation, “and there I was thinking you were a saint!”

  Curving her body so she could whisper in his ear, she shielded her mouth with her napkin. “Don’t lie, you also wanted the position badly, I had to find a way to make it up to you.”

  The dramatic arch on Banjo’s brows was so comical, Rachael had to wipe her mouth with her serviette to prevent the giggle welling up inside her from erupting.

  Over the microphone, the speaker rambled on. “We want to say thank you to all thirty volunteers who have given up their time to help the community throughout the year.”

  Beneath the table, Banjo jabbed Rachael’s thigh. All through the dinner, he had made it clear they had wasted their time attending the event. Keeping a straight face, she kicked his leg.

  “Finally, in recognition of all the work our volunteers do, can we all stand while the volunteers remain seated as we give them a round of applause,” the speaker told the gathering.

  “Keep your pretty ass down,” Banjo murmured into Rachael’s ear, as if she was deaf.

  Tiny sparks rolled around Rachael’s neck, warming her shoulders. Their public foreplay left her yearning for his touch.