If Only

If Only - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Mombasa, Kenya

Cora

I couldn't stop staring at his lips. He was talking animatedly with Jabali about...I actually had no idea what they were discussing because I was lost in my daydream about last night's kiss. It was the second day of our week. We'd packed overnight bags since we were driving farther into the country to visit more schools. The more remote locations were easier to reach if we didn't have to return to Mombasa every evening.

When we planned the week, we had decided to be gone from Tuesday to Thursday and then evaluate on Friday. Since last night's development, it had become just a tiny bit more exciting being on the road with Julian. However, we were chaperoned by our friendly driver, Jabali, which was probably for the best if we were to get any work done.

"Cora, how do you want me today?" Julian was riding shotgun again, pointing his camera out the window and shooting the scenery we were passing. Every so often he would ask Jabali to pull over to get the perfect shot.

"Darlin', are you sure you want to go down that road right this moment?" I drawled in my most pronounced Southern accent.

"Princess, that's exactly the trip I want to take with you." He flirted back using my most hated nickname, but I'd walked right into that one. Jabali minded his own business, but I could see a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Endearments aside, anything different you want me to focus on today now that you know what we saw yesterday?"

I flipped through my notes from the day before as well as the photos he'd uploaded to our shared drive. “Hmm. I think it could be interesting to get as close as we can to the textbooks they use. It has to be the first place you start when you invest money in education, right?"

"After clean water, toilets and meals. If you're unhealthy you can't learn,” Julian contemplated.

"Yes I agree, so please take photos as you did yesterday of the facilities, the washrooms, kitchen and their access to water. It's important and a great parameter for comparison,” I answered and continued, "Good call, darlin'."

***

"The night stop is only ten minutes from here." Jabali turned the car off the main road and entered a gate to one of the national parks.

"It's a lodge," Julian explained. He was the one who had booked our rooms for the trip. The sun was setting and I'd zoned out thinking about the day's findings. It wasn't straightforward to get to see the accounts. I was confident that the key was in the numbers. The last school's headmistress had been very cooperative and showed us their accounting books, but that was only one out of the eight schools we'd visited so far.

"Sounds amazing," I finally answered. "It's been a while since I've been back here."

"Ma'am, if you would like we can do an early game drive tomorrow morning,” Jabali offered.

"That would be wonderful. Can you do that?" I knew that the drivers had to know the terrain and roads, which wasn't something anyone could do.

"Jabali knows the parks inside out,” Julian praised.

"Let's do it, but we need to be at our first school when classes start a little after eight."

"Asante sana,” he thanked me.

"Don't thank me. I'm thrilled to go out into our beautiful nature."

It cost money to enter the national parks, but it went to a good cause: the preservation of nature. Jabali drove up in front of the lodge's main building. Small huts were scattered to the left and the right of the building. Low rays of sun wound through the trees and low bushes, casting a magical spell over the landscape. The darkness of the savannah would soon lure the nocturnal animals out for the night, but for now all was calm.

"I'll get us checked in. It's been a long day." Jabali was first out of the car and went in the direction of the reception area. Julian opened the trunk and began unloading our bags.

I breathed the fresh air deep into my lungs and stretched. The motion didn't go unnoticed by Julian, who put my small carry-on on the ground next to his equipment.

"Thinking about cashing in that pass tonight, princess?" he whispered, close enough for me to hear. My traitorous body responded by leaning in. Oh dear gawd I wanted more of him - all of him - and I didn't know how much longer I could wait. A small tremor shot through me and went straight to my core. Julian had to steady me with his hands on my hips. I wanted his hands and lips all over my heated body for hours and hours. "You okay there?" His voice, a low timbre, brought me back to reality.

"If I cash in, how much do I get from this one voucher, darlin'?" I dragged a red-tipped fingernail down his chin and rested it on his chest. After he'd left me in a puddle last night, I took a long shower, pampering and preparing myself. I'd freshened up my nail polish and was soft and smooth all over.

"If we're breaking the rules, Cora, it’s no fun, is it now?" Julian took my hand and kissed it.

"Such a cavalier today and a naughty boy by night. I will wait to cash in until nightfall, but I will use my pass tonight. Don't you worry for one minute." I held my body flush against his and nibbled lightly at the sensitive skin under his ear. "Do I turn you on, Julian? Do you want me as much as I want you?" Even though we'd made a pact, I wanted to hear it from his lips. I didn't play fair and snuck my hand between our bodies and rested it right below his waist.

"Cora, goddammit. Yes, I want you baby, badly, but now I can't move anywhere. Stay put, but please remove your hand."

Teasingly slowly, I moved my hand up and rested it above the belt.

"One, two, three, four, five..." He started counting and I took a small step away from him, knowing I was the reason for his distress.

"Cora, Julian, here are your keys. You're next to each other down that path. I'm on the other side. When would you like to have dinner?" Jabali interrupted our moment and I smiled wickedly at Julian.

"It's six now. How about seven?" I answered for Julian, who was looking up into the dark blue sky.

"Are you okay, Bwana?" Jabali asked with empathy in his voice.

"Will be in second — just a dizzy spell. I need food and something to drink,” Julian lied through gritted teeth.

"And me," I mouthed for his eyes only.

"Tease," he answered in a growl.

"See you soon." Jabali got in the car and parked in the designated lot behind the building.

"But you like it and you think it's fun." I grabbed my bags. "Come on. The sooner we find our rooms, the sooner you get to know how I'm going to use my pass."

I had to tease him, make him lust for me even more, but I couldn't go all the way. Then I would lose our bet and I wasn't ready for that.

"On you," I added, so he could speculate about what was coming his way tonight.

"f**k, Cora, you are slowly killing me."

"But oh so softly."