by Iris Bolling
When he returned, she had cleaned the cave out and had started a fire in the corner, so it could not be seen from outside the cave. A few of the fern leaves were placed around the fire, which had small rocks around it, keeping it contained. The scene would have been a little romantic, if men weren’t trying to kill them and she didn’t have the damn welts on her back. He shook the thought from his mind.
“We are going to have to improvise on the cooking utensils, my lady.” He almost got a smile from that one.
“If you will give me your knife, I will clean the fish and have them ready shortly.” The statement was made with no emotion, just a matter-of-fact tone.
True to her word, she took the knife and fish, walked to the edge of the ledge and began cutting the heads off. Less than ten minutes later, she had taken his spear, shoved four fish on it, then placed it on the two ‘Y’ shaped sticks on both sides of the fire.
Twenty minutes later, they sat around the fire. The sun had set making the cave more sensual than it already was. They had cooked and were now eating in silence. It was time for some answers.
“Are you in pain?” Akande looked up at him. “Your back, does it still hurt?”
“It dulls after awhile.”
Her attitude about this irritated him. “It dulls.” He shook his head as he leaned against the wall of the cave. “What could you have done to cause your aunt to do something of this nature to you?”
“You do not have to do anything to earn strikes from Queen Sermyera. You receive them because she is. It’s that simple.”
“Because she is? What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”
She huffed. “Leave this alone. It does not concern you.”
She was right and he knew it. What happens to her is not his concern. The fact angered him, because he was concerned for her, but there was nothing he could do about that. However, her plot to kill a United States Senator was another thing all together. “Why do you have to go to America?”
Akande sat on the opposite wall, with her feet under her. She had long ago stopped eating her fish. “I wish to meet a man there.”
This was rich, Joshua thought. “There are many men in America. Can you narrow it down?”
“Not at this time.”
Her evasive answers were beginning to irk him. “You want to go to America?”
“I have said so, yes.”
“Then you better make the time.”
She stood, and began picking up the bones left over from the fish. When she did this, her thighs flashed before him. He stifled down a moan. Joshua closed his eyes, exhaled then waited for her to finish her busy work.
When she sat back down, he poked at the fire. “The man in America?” he asked again.
“It is dark. Is it not time for us to rest?”
While she was cooking the fish, Joshua had gathered more leaves to make two pallets for them to sleep on and had placed them near the fire. This is where she was now sitting.
“I’m a patient man. Truly I am. I have six sisters and five brothers. Waiting for the bathroom took patience. I swear you are wearing my patience thin.” He moved to sit next to her. “You asked me to take you to my country. What are you going to do when you get there?”
“I’m going to Washington and you are going home.”
“Un huh. What are you going to do once you get there? You have no money. You don’t know anyone there. So how will you live?”
“I will find my father,” she replied defiantly.
“Your father?”
“Yes, I told you. My father is an American. I will go to this Washington place and find my father.”
“Washington is a big place. How do you plan to find him?”
“My father is an important man. I will find him.”
“What’s your father’s name?”
She hesitated. “I do not wish to say.”
That pissed him off. Yet he had another piece to the puzzle. Her father must be a Senator. It’s not far-fetched. Many legislators visit countries, have a fling and leave offspring behind. Could this be what occurred twenty years ago? No, according to the records he read on her, she would have been four years old twenty years ago. Besides, the U.S. would not have put sanctions in place because of a Senator having an illegitimate child. Hell, if that were the case, sanctions would be in place against every country in the world. There was something else going on here. The sealed file in the folder on Asmere probably had the answer.
“What position does your father hold?”
“I do not wish to discuss this.”
“You’re going to discuss this and more. See, I don’t believe you are going to find your father. No. I think you are going there to meet a man. Your aunt is desperate for money. Did she sell you to this American because she caught you with her husband or something?”
She raised her hand and hit him. “I am no man’s whore!” The anger flared quickly at his words. “You have no right to say such things. You do not know me.” She slid away from him, he was sitting too close.
Joshua rubbed his cheek where she’d slapped him. Well, he knew how to get a response out of her. “You are right. I don’t know you, but I know a lie when I hear it.” He bent over to her. “And sweetheart, you are lying.” His nostrils flared and he didn’t have time to play this game with her any longer. Joshua needed answers. “I don’t know what your reasons are. What I do know is those marks on your back are from your aunt. A person who cares for you would never do that. Yet, she is sending you to America for her own purpose. What exactly are you supposed to do to get this Senator? You claim this man is your father and can lift sanctions from your country? Are you supposed to seduce him? Hell, you are beautiful.”
“I am no man’s whore.” She raised her hand to slap him again.
He grabbed her wrist to stop her and he could feel that damn heat again. Every time he touched her the heat consumed him. What in the hell is wrong with me. The anger in her eyes turned quickly to something different, something primitive as he stared into them. The soft light from the fire, made her skin glow. The way her lips parted at his touch. All of it was drawing him to her.
With all he knew, he still wanted her in the worst kind of way. She is the enemy. His body wanted his mind to shut the hell up. It did not care that the woman was an enemy of the United States, or that she would probably try to kill him once her mission was complete.
Controlling his sexual urges was something he never worked at doing. His job had taught him to live life to its fullest, never denying himself of anything. This woman, an angelic beauty, consumed him with desire so strong it caused his body to ache. That he would not allow. He pulled her forward, and willed his mind to close down, as his lips descended on hers.
Full soft lips touched his in the most innocent way. His tongue glided across her bottom lip. “Hmmm,” he groaned, enjoying the soft feel of them as they parted. His tongue eased into the small opening and moaned at the taste of her. He cupped her head, tilting it back to give him deeper access to the sweetness of her mouth. Touching every inch of her mouth, Joshua savored Akande. The feel of her inner cheeks, the roof, oh and that inexperienced tongue of hers. The deeper he dove, the more he wanted. The heat intensified, as did his arousal. He pulled her onto his lap and immediately felt the heat of her naked behind on his thighs. His hands roamed up the softness of her thighs as he relished the intoxicating kiss. Her body jerked the moment his thumb rubbed against her untouched nub. She moaned. Her uninhibited reaction made him as hard as steel. His finger moved to her opening then slipped inside causing her juice to flow onto his hand. She arched her body and his finger went deeper. Her breath hitched at the invasion. He placed another inside her then softly tickled her nub. Her body squirmed with the motion of his fingers. As they increased in rhythm, so did her body. She was tight, and wet, as she bucked wildly against his slick fingers. He almost lost control. He slid the kiss from her lips to her neck, right below her earlobe, and sucked as she screamed out
her first orgasm.
He abruptly stopped and looked down at her. That was the worst thing he could have done. Her eyes were filled with passion, her lips, swollen from his kisses. Akande’s nipples were hard, pointing at him, knowing he was the culprit who made them that way, commanding his mouth to cover them. “Oh hell.” Joshua pulled the leaf from her breast, taking one into his mouth in the same motion. He cupped, then suckled the brown tip until it was as hard as he was, then switched to the next giving it the same pleasure. It was as if he was in a candy store, tasting one sweet treat after the next. The buds were so damn tasty; he could suck on them for an eternity, rolling them over his tongue. Her moans and body squirming required him to pay attention to all of her. His tongue traveled down the valley between her breasts, down to her navel loving the scent of her heat calling out to him. He wasn’t one to linger when it came to women. He never left them wanting, but he never intentionally slowed his pace. With her, he wanted to take his time, savoring the feel of her as his hand slowly followed the trail of his tongue. Lingering at her navel, with his long fingers spreading around her small waist, her scent swelled his manhood. He moved her from his lap, easing her onto the leaf pallet.
Joshua sat back on his haunches, pulled the leaf away and gazed down her body. Graceful, even in her naked state he felt honored to be gazing upon her. “You are beautiful,” he said as he lowered his mouth into her warmth then kissed her there. Her body bucked from the touch of his lips. Reaching under her, he placed her legs over his shoulders. He smiled, then lifted her to his mouth and began sucking as if he was trying to get all the meat from between a wishbone. My God, she is so sweet. Holding her in his hands, his tongue glided slowly between her inner lips. The nectar of her was so addicting, he stayed, partaking with his lips sucking and his tongue dipping as if he was at a dinner table. Her body convulsed, sending more juice to quench some of his thirst. It wasn’t enough. He was hard as steel.
He needed to see her. Lowering her back to the ground, he swiped his hand down his face and sat back on his haunches. He marveled at her skin, glowing from the passion as her body jerked from his touch. Nothing filled him with more pride than to see her reach another orgasm. Now he had to be inside her.
Pleasure so powerful, she could not, did not want to move. Her body was pulsating all over from his kisses, his touch, his tongue. She felt the moment; his body was not touching hers. Her eyes slowly opened to see him sitting back looking down at her. He was a magnificent man. Everything about him screamed, secure, masculine, all male and dangerous. She wished she saw a little love in him, for she knew at that moment, with all the fighting, anger and distrust, there was one simple fact. She could fall in love with the man known as Joshua Lassiter. Tears came to her eyes as the realization began to settle in. She was falling for a man she was using and would have to leave. Maybe it was because he was the only person to have shown her kindness, she didn’t know. Whatever it was, she didn’t want it to stop. All thoughts left her mind when she reached out and touched his chest which glistened from the glow of the fire. The heat of him caused her to pull her hand back. She watched as he tore his leaf away. She drew in a sharp breath at the fully uncovered sight of him.
There was a stark difference between thinking and seeing. His strength showed through his clothes, but never had she imagined a mesmerizing body like his. The muscles rippled in his thighs. This was not the body of a weight lifter, who at times looked unnatural and awkward. No, this man’s entire body was smooth, with the natural ridges of an athlete who trained regularly. More enticing than all of that was his male member extended out from his body, long, thick, and ready. Her mouth was watering at the sight, causing her to unconsciously lick her lips. She watched as he lowered his body to hers. His eyes focused on her so intently; she could not look away. Then she felt him, his thickness, the heat of him, at her opening. God help her, she knew she shouldn’t, but without caring, she spread her legs, wrapping them around his waist, willing him to come inside, to fill her with all his glory.
The moment he touched the junction of her thighs, he knew this was going to be like no other. He lowered his body, covering hers, and then rubbed her forehead with his thumb as he looked into her eyes. He saw desire, anticipation, questions and fear.
“No more fighting.” He brushed his lips against hers, as he slowly began to enter her. The sensation was so sweet, he had to stop the gentle caress of his fingers. He dipped his tongue inside her mouth, as he pushed himself further into her. His tongue and body cherished every taste as he continued to slowly enter her. He could feel the moist heat of her muscles adjusting to him, pulling him in faster than he wanted to go. Slow down, his mind warned again, but her body wasn’t allowing him to. It was all consuming, inflaming him, inviting him…to go deeper. He pulled out and entered her again, this time going a little deeper. His kiss, mirroring his body movements, froze, as did his body. He knew it was there, the blockage verifying her virginity.
Closing his eyes and placing his forehead on hers, he knew he was in too deep to stop. The innocent kiss, the uncertainty, the fear and the tightness and if that wasn’t enough, his mind was warning him. With his heart beating to the same rapid tempo of his penis, he wrapped one arm around her body and held her as he pushed through. Willing his body to stop, his tongue dove deeper, as he devoured her mouth until he felt the tension in her body begin to dissipate and the whimper of pain turned to moans of pleasure.
His body took over at that point and did what it knew to do. With her nails digging into his back, he rose up above her, moving his body that was now fully embedded in her, in and out, savoring every inch of her slick muscles surrounding him. The sheer strength of him, evident with each stroke, pounding with a purpose, bringing her to the brink, then pulling back only to bring her there again, and again, until he felt her body explode around him, and then, only then did he allow, the profound torment of unabashed pleasure to rage out of him.
“Joshua!” Akande passionately screamed out.
He tried to close his eyes and heart to the emotions she was pulling out of him. He couldn’t allow this woman, not this woman, to invade the one place he had always held back from any other. The battle raging within, to release all to her, was killing him inside. Doing what he always did when faced with enemy forces, he prayed, asking God to guide his actions. He released all, but did not call out her name, as every fiber in him wanted to do. He gathered her in his arms, holding her tightly, for he knew the significance of what had taken place. What he did not know, was if her innocence was a trap for him or her target in Washington. That was the reason he could not, would not surrender all to her as she had done with him.
The fire burned down, as he held her. His arm rubbed her back, but stopped when it connected with the first welt. He closed his eyes to the possible pain he may have caused her. “Are you all right?”
She nodded her head against his chest. “She will kill me now.”
Joshua held her tight. He was so torn. Should he simply console her or encourage her to talk? Country, or this woman, who had slipped under his skin? The answer, as difficult as it was, came quickly. “Why will she kill you?”
“I have disgraced my family the same way my mother did.”
“Tell me about your mother.”
Akande spoke quietly as if she were reciting a verse of the Bible at a wake. “My mother was the daughter of the head servant of King Tochi. A soldier from America was here on a peace keeping mission and became friends with our King. While at court working, my mother met the American and it was said that she fell in love with him. Against her father’s wishes, she gave herself to this man. When she found she was with child, the man abandoned her leaving her to deal with the disgrace of her actions. While her father was forgiving, he never forgot. From what I was told, when I was three, this man returned to visit with King Tochi. At my grandfather’s request, the King addressed the issue of my parentage with his friend. The American became outraged at the insult. That n
ight the King’s palace was attacked. The royal family was killed leaving Tarik as our new King. My grandfather was banished from his lands by King Tarik. He was so angry he killed my mother and was about to kill me when my aunt stepped in to stop him. Soon after, sanctions were placed on our country. Life as it once was, existed no more. Our lands which were once aplenty and rich with produce are now poor, all because of my mother’s actions.”
He could feel the tears on his chest and knew she believed the story as it was told to her. In Joshua’s mind, it was filled with holes. “What do you hope to gain once you find your father?”
“My only wish is to have him remove the sanctions and restore Asmere to its original status in the region.”
“And if you fail in doing this?”
“Then I will die.”
“You are not the bearer of your mother’s sins, if there was indeed a sin.”
“Of course there was,” she sat up and looked down on him. “My mother was not the wife of the American, yet she gave herself to him. That is a sin.”
Joshua sat up on his elbow. He pushed her hair from her face. “Do you believe that what we just did was a sin?”
Confusion played across her face. “No.” A small smile appeared as she gazed into his eyes. “This has been the only moment in my life where I did not think about my mother’s disgrace. To be honest, I think I understand it better now. She could no more resist the American, than I could resist you.”
Joshua kissed her gently on the lips. “And just as I cannot resist you.” The kiss that followed was not gentle. It was greedy, devouring, downright sinful, just as he intended it to be.