Page 5 of Tag
His hand lifted, not touching me—but close.
“You think those cheekbones of yours are a flaw?” he said softly. “You don’t even see it, do you?”
“See what?”
“That you walk into a room and people feel it. That kind of presence doesn’t come from a bottle, Aponi. It comes from surviving.”
My throat tightened.
“Next time you compare yourself to a woman like that,” he said, voice like gravel and warmth, “make sure you’re not selling yourself short.”
I didn’t move.
Couldn’t.
But somewhere deep in my chest… the wall cracked.
Just a little.
5
Tag
All I wanted to do was send Camille on her way. But she was going to donate a big chunk of money, so we walked through all the rooms.
Blue gave this building to Aponi to renovate into a recreation center for the children on this side of the city.
There were plenty of gangs on this side of town, and it worried me because Aponi was a detective on this side of the city, also.
I’m afraid that she would piss someone off, and they would go after her if they knew she spent most of her time here.
Before I knew what was happening, we were in the room Aponi said I could use to sleep in, and Camille started undressing.
“Hey, are you planning to take your clothes off, or do you just want me to be naked while you're screwing me with your pants down? I’m good either way—that’s how hot I am right now.”
I picked up her top from the floor just as she was removing her bra, which accidentally landed on my head as I bent down. I heard her giggle as she slipped out of her tight skirt. Damn, she undresses so quickly! “Umm, Camille, I think you might have the wrong idea.”
“Tag, I don’t care if I have the wrong idea; I need you right now, and I won’t tell anyone—not even the detective.”
She stood in front of me, wearing a thong and nothing else. I handed her bra and top to her as I turned and walked out the door. “I’ll be waiting out front for you.”
I was pissed that she would think I would just stick my dick into anyone just so they could have a damn orgasm.
I could hear her muttering as I left the room. “I wouldn’t give a penny to that fucking Indian.”
I walked back into the room and peeked inside. “That’s fine. Aponi has many more benefactors who care about the children in this part of the city.” This time, when I walked away, it was her face that turned red.
I regretted letting her follow me here. But no matter how angry I was, I was determined to see her home safely. I followed her to her house, then turned around and headed back to the rec room.
6
Aponi
Istared at the rec center through my windshield.
I drove around for a while, looking at the neighborhood. Three blocks…
That’s how far I’d gotten before turning around.
