‘Hey, come back to the party. I said if. And you’re not going to.’
‘I won’t,’ said Ax, drug clean left him. ‘I’m a fool. I will not do smack again. Never.’
He was looking up at Sage’s natural face, and somehow kept on looking, seeing as if never before the blue eyes and golden brows, the wide cheekbones and blunt, wedge shaped, almost animal muzzle, all centred on that overblown mouth… Verging on grotesque, yeah. But in some lights, and if you’re in the mood, the guy can look like several billion dollars.
Sage looking back at him, with a little smile—
Someone thumped on the door. Fiorinda came in, and stepped over Ax’s legs.
‘Ah, the lovebirds. I knew I’d find you two tucked away together somewhere romantic.’
Sage clambered precariously to the floor, lost his footing, sat down by Ax and held out his arms. Fiorinda settled herself against his chest, sighed contentedly, and gave her boyfriend a dirty look. She knew what he’d been up to.
‘I’m not speaking to you.’
‘Ah, don’t be hard on him Fee,’ said Sage, kissing her hair. ‘Not tonight.’
‘He’s already given me a bollocking—’
‘Oh all right. Come here.’ She tugged at him until he was arranged to her liking, and they settled together, Ax with his head on her lap, Sage’s arms around them both.
Wrong again, Ax thought. I was not perfectly happy, but now I am, and if I had the power this is where I would make time stop, this is where I’d stay forever.
This is it, this moment. This, now.
END OF PART ONE
The story continues in
Castles Made of Sand
Table of Contents
Copyright
Epigraph
Contents
PROLOGUE
ONE The Salt Box
TWO Innocence and Experience
THREE Cigarettes and Alcohol
FOUR The Straight Path
FIVE Who Knocks?
SIX Sweetbriar
SEVEN Big In Brazil
EIGHT Rock The Boat
NINE Rivermead
Bold as Love Page 39