Chapter 46 9

When you know he loves you, don't play hard to get --- bask in his love!

EVE

The first thing I see when I open my eyes, is a young man staring at me.

He has a self - satisfied smirk on his face. The look that says --- I'm fine and you know it.

I sit up in fear, only to notice he's staring down at me from a picture. Okay, but who puts a life-sized picture of himself in a room. A narcissist, probably.

Tearing my eyes away from his face, I encounter an unfamiliar bedroom.

Where am I?

Snatches of conversation filter into my consiousness.

You're in Abeokuta. I need you to trust me, princess. I will never do anything to hurt you.

But what am I doing in Abeokuta?

Batman!

I sigh as I throw the covers off me. I'm sweating buckets.

Flash backs so raw and clear begin to assail my mind.

The 'almost' wedding. My reluctance. Batman's timely grand entry. Chioma's sordid confession. Femi's grave indescrections.

They knock around in my head and refuse to let go.

One thing is sure. Batman saved me from a hell hole life with Femi, and I will be forever grateful to him.

I fish around for my phone on the bed but I'm not able to find it.

Once I come down from the bed, I decide to take a good look around and notice the room is large and spacious. It's twice the size of my own bedroom.

Whoever owns this room sure likes space --- and the colour brown. The walls are painted a light brown, the furniture is dark brown, even the carpet is brown. Typical boring male colour.

This room is clearly NOT Batman's.

His bedroom is more. . . alive.

I finally set eyes on my phone on the bedside table.

I'm ready to face the world now.

So, picking it up, I click on the screen but it doesn't light up. I tap on it a second time just to be sure, but no such luck. The battery is dead.

I look around once more, only to spy a bag on a chair in a corner of the room -- a brown leather chair if I might add. I rummage through it and I'm startled to see my clothes neatly folded inside, including my lingerie bag that's packed with a few of my underwear. I don't remember packing any of my clothes, talk more of my underwear.

And then it clicks. Batman, yet again. He had to have had some help from Taye. I remember him saying something to that effect.

Was I really that spaced out?

What's today's date anyway? And what time is it? How long have I been cooped up in a strange person's house? But most importantly, where is Batman?

This time, a smile unknowingly graces my lips.

I pad back to the bed and slip my feet into the flip-flops at the foot of the bed. They're big for me, but I manage by gripping them tightly as I walk.Once I leave the bedroom, I encounter a room I believe is supposed to be a sitting room, but is clearly so much more. It looks like the designer couldn't make up his mind on what he wanted it to be.

The bar at the extreme left boasts of high technology. Even at the distance I'm at, I can see the 3 - D television set on a pillar. Quite ingenious if you ask me, because from any corner of the room you can keep up with any show that's being aired.

Different sets of alcoholic drinks line the bar stand, winking away at their next victims. Well don't look at me, 'cause you'll be sorely disappointed.

A snooka table sits in the middle of the room and at the extreme right is a floor to ceiling cinema - styled television. Plush leather chairs are scattered everywhere in colourful neon colours. The floor is covered with (I think it's Persian) a rug so soft it sinks into my feet, right up to my ankles.

If Ebere could see this place she'd say this is some fly shit. Remembering her brings back memories of Femi's devilish machinations.

I need to find Batman. I need to know if Femi has been put behind bars.

I take one more look around but don't catch a glimpse of Batman.

Where could he be, then?

He might be in the compound, so I quicken my steps towards the door, but when I get outside, he's nowhere to be seen.

The only thing I encounter is a lone flower that is already wilting under the scorching sun. The poor hydrangea is practically calling out for help. My hands itch to work some magic on it. I've always loved tending to plants and watching them bloom, but I'll have to pass on this one, at least for now.

I've got to find Batman.

On a hunch, I decide to take a walk to the back. At first I see nothing, because of the glare of the sun, but once l shade my eyes and they adjust to the surroundings, I see a shape hulking down on the ground, not far off.

Batman! He seems to be working up a sweat.

His body drips sweat like water as he does some push up's.

The muscles on his arms ripple and bunch up as they tone under the pressure he's putting them.

So that's how he gets his toned frame?

I decide to not make my presence felt yet. I want to watch him do his thing, completely unnoticed by me, so I duck behind a pillar and watch him whip his body into shape.

I'm not disappointed. It seems like he's putting on a show for me as he goes onto his back and expertly begins to do some press ups. His body is fluid as he moves. He's counted thirty push ups already, yet he's not showing signs of exertion.

I continue drinking in the sight of him, unnoticed from my hiding place. . . until my hands slip and . . .

I fall . . . flat on my face.

"Princess! Are you okay?" He's by my side in a jiffy. I can hear the urgency in his voice as he helps me up.

"I'm fine." I touch my nose to check, but luckily it doesn't feel sore. I dust myself off and smile somewhat sheepishly at him.

I honestly can't keep the smile off my face. From the looks of things, neither can he. So we stand staring at each other and smiling like idiots as we eye each other greedily, wondering when the other will make the first move. Then I notice my phone lying on the floor and I remember why I came out to look for him in the first place.

"I . . . "

"Yes, princess?" I notice his hand is gripping me a little too tightly, not wanting to let go.

"I. . ." But I can't go any further. I don't know if he knows this, but he's very distracting, especially without a shirt on. Those toned muscles are begging for my hands on them.

But I can't!

So I clamp my mouth shut, and lurch back from him and his tempting body.

He looks upset as his hands drop to his sides. Actually, he looks defeated.

I don't want to clue him into my reason for moving away from him, so I blurt out. "Exercising?"

Duh! Obviously, Miss. Obvious.

Luckily he doesn't catch on to my stupidity. Instead, he smiles goofily. "Yeah! Just need to stay in shape."

"An exercise freak, then?" I continue, a smile slipping onto my lips, once again. I can't help it. He makes me smile.

"Care to join me?"

That goofy smile again.

With a shake of my head and a shy smile, I mouth a no.

"I'm so glad to see you looking fit and healthy, and . . . happy." His face turns serious. So does mine, as the smile gets wiped off from my face.

His phone rings but just as he's about to pick the call, the screen goes blank. He frowns in consternation at it.

I decide it's time to speak. "Do you have a charger?"

We turn to each other and ask at the exact same time.

Call it good or bad timing, but it is quite odd when we find out we asked the same thing at the exact time, mirroring our in-synch thoughts.

We stare at each other until the corners of his lips twitch in a smile. Before long, mirth sets in and we laugh long and hard until we become winded and the laughter dies down.

Suddenly we're not laughing anymore. Sometime during our laughing spree, we gravitated towards each other.

His hand is on mine, once again.

I know what he's about to do,  wants he wants to do.

Instead he shakes his head, drops his hand and opens his mouth to speak.

-@-

SEGUN

I'd checked on Eve three times this morning. Each of those times, she hadn't budge. She was out cold, sleeping peacefully. I just hope her fears wouldn't chase her into dream world.

I'd stared at her for a bit before going outside to do some workout. My mind becomes blank as I go through the motions.

Working out is extremely soothing to my nerves. It helps to take the edge off, apart from when I'm drinking Hennessy.

How long I exercise, I don't know, but when I check the time, it's afternoon already, and my body is begging for some rest. Still, I push through.

Something catches my eyes just then. I see a flash of clothing, and a figure hunched behind a pillar.

I try to keep the smile off my face because I know Eve is watching me. So I decide to give her a show.

I strain myself to the max, doing some one hand press up's. This goes on for some time until I hear a thud. She slips and falls from her hiding place.

I stifle the laughter bubbling up because I don't want my princess to feel bad, neither do I want her to know I knew she was peeping on me.

After helping her up, I can't take my hands off her. They've suddenly turned into super glue. She notices this and moves back, like I'm a pesky fly. I struggle, but fail to keep the disappointment off from my face.

She notices and decides to help me out of my misery by asking an obvious question. "Excercising?"

This makes me smile, because she's trying to make up for her earlier indescrection to her boyfriend.

Yup! Her boyfriend --- that's me.

She doesn't know it yet, but I'm going to ask her to be my girlfriend soon. I get a call just then but when I'm about answering it, my battery goes flat.

I turn to her, and voice out if she has a charger. Weird of all weird acts, we ask the same question at the exact same time.

If this isn't fate telling me something, I don't know what else it is.

We laugh our hearts out and then turn serious, shortly after.

I decide the time is right for me, but what do I say when my tongue is suddenly stuck to the roof of my mouth.

So I shake my head and blurt out in a whisper. "Be mine!"

Her mouth parts ever so slightly as a complete look of shock takes over her face.

"Please, be mine!" I repeat louder and more fervently.

Say yes, princess, please just say yes. I silently plead.

I decide to keep speaking, to try to convince her that we would definitely make a good couple.

But damn if I'm not nervous.

I begin to gesticulate as I speak, words that have remained stuck in my throat for awhile now.

"Princess, I want you in my life." I wait, expecting a reaction from her, but she remains quiet, shock still evident on her face. I know she's waiting for me to continue, so I push on. "I know a relationship with me won't be peaches and cream, because I'm a jealous lover and I've got mood swings. I can't promise I won't beat up a guy that so much as comes close to you, but what I can promise is there'll never be a dull moment with me. I'll fill your life with colour. I'll romance you. I'll love you. Matter of fact, I'll love you so damn much you might feel Segun-phobia." I air quote it to buttress my point. "Still, I won't let you go, because damn, baby, we've already wasted too much time. Don't wanna waste any more. So please put me out of my misery and be my girlfriend."

There!

I said it.

No going back now.

At last I've gotten out everything I've been meaning to say for almost three months now.

She says nothing. Not one word.

Instead, she turns round and makes to leave, but as if struck with an afterthought, she turns back and walks close to me, whispering something I don't quite catch, and then moves away. "Sorry, princess, what did you just say?"

She smiles sweetly and comes close to me, yet again. "Yes, I'll be your girlfriend."

The relief I feel is unexplainable. "Oh, fuck, thank God. I was so afraid you'd say no." I take her hands in mine. "Thank you, princess."

She smiles, but says nothing. I move close and kiss her chastely on the forehead and she leans towards me. I don't want to push it, plus I'm all sweaty, so I move back reluctantly.

"Hungry?!" She nods, still with a smile on her face. "Let's take a bath and go get something to eat." She nods again, and laces her fingers in mine.

I look at our linked fingers. The feeling is foreign, but it leaves a tingly feeling in my palm, so I tighten my hold as we walk inside.

I can't believe we're an item now,  I feel like shouting it out to the whole world, but I stem the feeling so as not to spook her, and tighten my grip further on her hand.

Not letting go now.

As we walk into the house, I can't keep the smile off my face. I feel like a kid who just discovered toys for the first time in his life.

Yeah baby, I'll be your personal teddy bear.

*

The food in front of me holds no interest to me, whatsoever.

I brave a glance at Eve, and sure enough, it's the same with her. She mindlessly stirs her food and I watch as her lips open and close, yet no food passes through them.

Earlier on after taking a shower, we'd walked to a nearby supermarket to get some food items to cook. I rustled up pasta with some sauce, and I know it tastes damn good, but my appetite seems to have fled.

I'm hungry for something else.

I push my plate away and stand up.

"You're not hungry?" She asks, as I grab the plate and make to walk to the kitchen.

"Naah! I'll just put it in the microwave for later."

"I'm not hungry either, I. . ." But she doesn't finish her statement. Instead, she gets up and takes the plate from my hand and bustles to the kitchen.

I follow her. I just want to be near her. I want to keep looking at her.

She's standing in front of the microwave but makes no move to open it. Sensing my presence, she turns round.

Something has changed. I can see it in her eyes.

I move closer to find out. Her lips part as I stand in front of her. She licks her lips involuntarily and my eyes hone in on them.

Then it clicks.

She wants me to kiss her.

She wants me.

This time, we're on the same page and I'm going to give her what she needs. What we both need.

This time I don't ask. I don't take permission.

I close the little gap left between us and waste no time as I sink my lips into her soft, pliant one's.

I wrap my hands around her waist and pull her soft body close so there's no inch of space left between us. I feel her hands snake up around my shoulders and I silently cheer.

Our lips and tongues clash for supremacy as we lick and nip, tasting and discovering each other's recesses.

She clings to me and I know it's time, so I stop the kiss from deepening as I take her hand in mine and lead her to the bedroom.

This time I'll take things slow. I'll discover her Achilles heel and make her want me. Make her beg me to take her, that is, if I don't beg her to let me take her first.

But when we get to the room, she's the one who takes charge as she deftly removes my T-shirt and throws it onto the floor. Her fingers make quick work of my drawstrings and I remove the trackdowns from around my waist ,and watch as it slips onto the floor.

I watch the awed expression on her face when she see's my arousal.

Yes, princess. All yours.

I wish to say something --- to tell her how much she means to me, how much I love her, but there's no time for flowery speeches.

How can I think about love at this moment when lust claws at me with such persistence?

There's no time for soft songs either, I don't even remember where the stereo is, the drumming in my heart is enough beat to drown out any music.

There's no need for words. Time for that is past. It's time for business. Time for action. Action I do show her as I expertly take her into my arms.

I divest her of her clothes and stand back to look at her. The sight of her stokes embers deep within me, lighting me up and setting me ablaze like a wild bonfire.

There's little or nothing that can stop me now - stop us. Her body is meant to be worshipped and I do so as my hands trace a pathway down her curves, telling a story meant for just the two of us.

The sound of her moans is music to my ears. Her smell fills my nostrils and tickles my senses.

I'm running purely on sight, sound and smell now.

We loose ourselves, tasting, carressing and experiencing each other.

At a point, I go wonderfully blank.

It's just us in the whole wide world.

We're coasting!