Page 38 of Fever

“Your past life?”

“Yeah, I’m a changed man now, Santana. I’ve been cuffed by an investigative journalist.”

I giggled. “You’re stupid.”

“Nah, but I can be funny sometimes.”

“You know what I meant.”

“Sure,” he said. Josiah grabbed my hand and pulled me down as I plopped practically in his lap. “I want you to stay.”

I turned my face to him, my lips seconds from his jaw. “Why?”

He met my gaze head on. “Because this is where you belong.”

The heat from his mouth tickled my lips, and again I was being pulled into him with a force that was out of my control. We were kissing again. This time not so ravishing but more intimately delicate. Soft and slow. Invigorating and pronounced. Our tongues sliding past each other than mating in a heated exchange. Why are you kissing when there’s not an audience? I had nothing to blame for our passionate enrapture. It was all us. Me and him.

“Damn, son, let her breathe,” came a voice in front of us.

I snapped back, quickly pulling myself out of the stronghold that paralyzed me. I turned to his friend who held a goofy grin on his face. Unhurriedly, Josiah regarded his friend.

“Mind your business… son,” he threw back.

His friend opened his wide gap mouth and wailed. “Do you plan to save any of that for later?”

Josiah smirked. “Like I said, mind your business.”

“Shidddd, your business is my business when you put it on front street. So, who’s your friend?”

“Santana, this is Desmond. Desmond, Santana. The guy walking up behind him is Kevin. We grew up in high school together before I went off to Harvard. When I came back, these two were around to pick up where we left off. I haven’t been able to get rid of them since.”

Desmond twisted his lips. “Like you want to get rid of us. We yo’ boys, stop playing!”

Desmond held his hand out for a shake, which I ignored.

“Desmond,” I said, “how are the twins?”

Desmond arched a brow. “Man, you told her about that?”

Josiah chuckled. “You told her about it. When I tried relentlessly to tell you I’d call you back, but you wouldn’t listen. She heard the whole thing.”

Desmond placed a hand over his heart. “Aww man, I’m sorry, I apologize. I had no idea Josiah had company. He could’ve done better at warning me though.”

“Whatever,” Josiah growled.

“I know that wasn’t the most pleasant conversation for you to hear. What can I do to make it up to you?”

“I’ll tell you what you can do for me,” Josiah interrupted.

“Naw, man, I’m talking to the lady.”

“Go get her friends. The girls at the table she sat with. Tell them we need their company back here in the VIP room.”

“I’m on it, Boss.”

Josiah chuckled. “I thought you didn’t want to do me a favor?”

“I changed my mind,” Desmond said, “besides, doing you this favor is doing Santana one.”

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