CHAPTER NINETEEN
We watched the dust from the trucks settle as the jeeps bumbled through the dusty field and toward Masego. My heart leapt in my chest instantly knowing Ian and I were alone for, really, the first time. There would be no children ready to jump out from corners or Masego adults with their watchful eyes, memorizing our every move.
“We’re alone,” Ian whispered, startling me.
I turned toward him, my lids feeling a bit too heavy from the heat of the sun. Or was it the heat of his stare?
“Very,” was all I could muster.
Ian’s eyes traveled from my face down my neck and over my shoulder, the searing fiery gaze branded as it trickled over my skin and soon his hand found that very neck, shoulder and arm until it wrapped itself around my own hand. He brought me closer to him and whispered in my ear.
“Run,” he said quietly before a slow-burning grin split him from ear to ear.
My heart leapt into my throat when I took in the sparkle in his eyes. He winked once, as if in slow motion, and that was my cue. I took off running toward the water, my lungs pumping air in and out of my chest as I hurdled plant life and rock. The only sounds I could hear were the rhythmic pounding of blood in my eardrums on beat with each drop of Ian’s boots behind me. Adrenaline raced through me knowing he was so near. He seemed to be getting closer and I couldn’t fight the grin spreading slowly across my face in anticipation.
A slight giggle escaped my lips imagining the prospect of what was to come. I caught the sound of Ian’s breath hitching before I felt him move even faster, his heat giving away just how nearby he was.
A burst of laughter fell from me when his hands scooped me up around the waist, dragging me to him. His arms enveloped my entire body when he knew he had me, his hands wrapped my shoulders and we tumbled to the ground just short of the water. We were both laughing hysterically despite the fact we were sides deep in mud.
“You almost made it,” he teased in my neck.
“I slowed on purpose,” I lied.
He laughed loudly.
“Liar.”
My wide smile met his.
He stood and dragged me up with him. “Care to join me?” he asked, toeing his shoes off.
I gulped.
“Turn around.”
He stopped mid-bend to remove his shoe and studied me. “Whatever for?”
“I-I only had this bikini thing I’d brought from home and I-uh-I’m not exactly decent, but I don’t want to get this t-shirt wet.”
“You can’t be serious, Soph.”
“Deadly,” I teased.
“You do know this water is fairly clear, right?”
“Not that clear, Ian.”
He did that thing boys do where they pull their shirts over their heads with one swoop. I felt drunk with too much eye consumption. My stare roamed his incredibly chest and stomach and my mouth gaped. I tucked my tongue back into my mouth and bit my lip to keep it from falling back out. He winked and I laughed out loud.
“You’re ridiculous,” I told him, setting up my little iPod station and turning up the volume to American Daydream by Electric Guest.
“Your turn,” he teased.
“No, no, no, Ian. Go ahead and put your fine self in that water.”
He leaned in and kissed my cheek before diving in quickly. His head bobbed up, water sluicing down his neck and shoulders, his wet hair dark as night. Butterflies swarmed.
“Stay facing that way, “ I told him.
He visibly sighed but kept his back toward me. I bent to remove my shoes and shimmied from my shorts and t-shirt. My arms instinctively covered my stomach knowing what Karina would say if she saw me in that moment.
“Hurry up!” Ian yelled.
“I am! I am!” I smiled.
I toed the water and hissed at how cold it was. I hated that part. I edged my way in, cringing with every step until my body became accustomed to the temperature just as Agnes Obel’s Avenue began to play.
When I was shoulder deep, I called out to him. “Okay, you can turn now.”
He turned and smiled. “It was a futile effort, you know?” he said, stalking me slowly.
“What was?” I asked, backing up as he edged my direction.
“Making me turn. It was a pointless effort,” he said, closing in.
“How’s that?” I asked, gulping down a giddy giggle.
“Because,” he said, rushing me playfully and wrapping his hands around my waist. My hands rested on his wet shoulders. “Tsk, tsk, Miss Price, skin to skin. What would Karina say?”
I pushed at his chest. “Ian.”
“I’m only playing.” He ran his hands up my back and settled them on my neck. “There. Comfortable?”
I jokingly pushed him a little in answer.
It got quiet for a moment. He reached both hands up and ran them over the top of my head and gathered the rest of my hair, twisting it in a fist at the back of my neck. “I’m going home,” he told my brow.
My heart dropped.
“What?” I asked, suddenly confused, my stomach mixing space with my heart.
“My brother Simon wrote me last week asking if I’d come home for a two-day visit. It seems he has something to tell me and he’d prefer to do it in person.”
“Oh, I-I-I mean, that’s-that’s great, Ian. When do you leave?” I asked, swallowing back my uneasiness.
I didn’t want him to go. I realized in that moment that I equated Ian with security. The idea of him gone made my chest press and feel tight.
“Day after tomorrow,” he told me, running his thumbs across my forehead and down my cheeks.
“So-so soon?” I gulped.
“I realize it’s short notice and all...”
“It’s okay.”
“But I was wondering if, maybe, you might be interested in going with?”
My eyes shot open. “Seriously?”
He smiled. “Seriously. It’s only two days. Karina already said yes. She’ll keep that out of the report she is sending back with you for court,” he winked.
My heart started pounding but this time in excitement. “Oh my word, yes.”
He picked me up and swung me around in the water. “Good,” he simply stated.
“What do you think Simon wants?” I asked when he set me back down.
He shrugged his shoulders. “No earthly idea, but I’m glad you’ll be meeting my family.”
“You-you are?” I asked, stunned. No one had ever willingly wanted me to meet their parents before.
“Of course,” Ian explained, looking at me like I was making no sense. “Simon especially will adore you.”
“Is Simon older or younger?” I asked, curious.
“He’s older, twenty-five, the charming one. My parents adore him. He’s also the one who always gets the girls.”
I balked at that. “My God, he’s the one who gets the girls? What? Is he made of chocolate or something? I can’t imagine anyone would be interested in anyone else but you, no matter who you’re pitted against.”
Ian tugged me closer and kissed my neck. “No need to flatter me, Miss Price. I believe your bait worked. I’m hooked. Line and sinker.”
I eyed him, one brow raised. “I keep reeling you in, Ian Aberdeen, but you’re proving a difficult catch.”
“Nonsense. Utter crap. You snap your finger and I jump from water to boat.”
“Is that so?”
He nodded. “I’m still flopping at your feet, like a pathetic fool, awaiting your next move and severely out of breath.”
I inched closer, resting my forehead against his. “How about I put you out of your misery then, hmm?”
Ian narrowed his eyes at me. “It’s such a delicious agony though.”