Chapter 5 GETTING SOMEWHERE

EVE

A Toyota Camry?

2001 model?

How come?

When I followed him to the car park and he stopped in front of an old dead-beat car, I'd almost continued walking on. He seems more of a sports car kinda guy.

I lift my brows enquiringly at it. He just smiles and opens the door for me and watches as I enter. Bending, he pulls the seat belt across me, flashing me a smile in the process. When he pulls back, we stare at each other and I watch as his head descends towards mine slowly. I know he's giving me time to stop him, but once again, I don't. And just as our lips are about to touch, my phone rings out shrilly, breaking the silence around us.

The spell is broken!

He sighs in frustration and I silently curse whoever is calling me. We stare at each other for some seconds, yet I don't make a move to pick my call. and he smiles. "Pick it up princess." And whispers into my ears. "We've got the whole night." This sends pleasurable thrills down my spine.

So he retreats and closes the door gently and goes to his side of the car, while I check my phone which has stopped ringing. I see it's Ebere but I don't try calling her back.

My senses seep back into me immediately as the smell of new leather instantly hits my nostrils. I take in the beautiful black leather seats - they are obviously new. The dashboard is a myriad of lights, buttons and dials. Everything looks new, shiny and automated.

He's silent and I notice he's watching me intently as I look around. "You like?"

"An overhaul?" I ask instead.

"Yup! Pimped my ride just recently." He flashes me a grin and I notice his eyes look red.

"Did you drink any alcohol?" I'm worried that if he did, he wouldn't be able to drive.

"Yup! I also took some hits too." He replies, gesticulating with his thumb and forefinger.

I put my head in my hands and groan. "Are you for real? Don't you know you can't drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs?"

"Drugs?" He echoes dully. "I didn't take any drugs, I took some toats of Mary - j, that's all."

He looks at me quizzically and begins to laugh. "Don't tell me you've never taken it before?" He looks at me disbelievingly.

I huff, suddenly upset at the direction the conversation is going. "Am I supposed to be proud to take 'this Mary - j' you're talking about?"

He bursts out laughing again. "You dont even have the foggiest of what I'm talking about, right?"

Instead of answering, I look straight ahead and don't say a word.

"Can I educate you a bit princess?" He doesn't even wait for me to reply, he just fires on.

"Mary - j is weed. Weed is marijuana. Some people call it igbo, wee - wee or gbana. Take your pick," he finishes, waving his hand expansively.

I sigh frustratingly, understanding flooding into my mind. "Well, marijuana is a drug, it makes people do crazy, unholy things."

There's silence from his end and I turn to look at him, wondering why. He's staring at me with an obvious hunger. His eyes land on my lips and stay there. "I honestly don't need some toats to do something unholy to your body, princess."

Delicious tendrils of pleasure flood my body and once again, we stare at each other, desire palpable in the air. If he makes a move to kiss me again, I won't stop him this time.

Instead, he says; "Can you please just trust me?" His deep voice resonates everywhere.

His face scrunches up a bit and a lazy smile flits across his lips. "So, my place?" He looks at my raised brows. "No? Well I had to try," he sighs. "Okay, I know this quaint little bar in GRA, Ikeja, they make lovely coffee."

"Coffee?" I ask incredulously.

"Yeah! I need to take some coffee to be clear - eyed, I'd like to experience every moment with you." Once again, he's disarmed me. I feel like melting all over his new black leather seats.

He winks at me and starts the car. The silent engine purrs to life and immediately, a song fills the space of the car. 2pac bellows from the speakers - Picture me rolling. A very fitting song for the ride. The car eats up the roads silently and I watch as he deftly speeds past the few cars we come across.

Not once does he make a mistake, he seems to be an extension of the car. When we get to a red light, he turns his attention from the road and looks at me. "You okay?" I just nod, not looking at him. I feel his stare until the red light changes to green and the car moves once again.

Minutes later, he drives into the parking lot of a bungalow. Not much cars are packed outside and I wonder what kind of place he's brought me to.

He maneovers the car deftly, parking it neatly in between two cars, and collects a card from the security man as I come down from the car. He locks up and comes to me, hand outstretched to take my hand. I smile shyly at him as we walk inside the small, dimly lit building.

I'm pleasantly surprised when we get inside. It's like a different world; slow music spills from a small juke box on the side of the room, while a middle aged woman bustles around a couple taking their order. Apart from them there is only one other person sitting at a corner table, drinking a cup of steaming brew that looks suspiciously like coffee.

Tables and chairs are neatly lined up in no particular order in the small room for customers to seat on. Batman is already leading me to a table at the back of the room. He catches the eye of the woman who gives him a big grin and rushes over.

He gets up to hug her and even bows. "Good even ma," and my eyes widen in shock.

"Hello my boy, how are you?" She sees me and stops talking. "Would you look at this. She's a stunner." And turning to Batman man, she asks. "I've never seen her here, you never bring anyone to me, you naughty boy."

He seems a bit embarrassed and mumbles something, so I stand up and genuflect to greet her and she gives me a big crushing hug. She must obviously know him very well for her to act quite familiar towards him. She introduces herself as Tina.

She asks what we need and he orders two cups of coffee for both of us; a cappuccino for me and a flat white for himself. When I look at him enquiringly, he grins at me. "Don't worry you'll love it, I promise."

I lapse into silence, looking around me. It really is a quaint looking bar. The chairs and tables are slightly worn from age, but they are clean. There's the smell of dough in the air and I sense this is a family business, but I don't ask any question. I'm usually more inquisitive, but I don't want to pry this time.

Tina comes back, bustling with energy, a tray in her hand. She puts a steaming cup of coffee in front of me and I peep inside. A foamy heart shape gazes back at me, cushioned by slightly creamy liquid beneath it. There are dark granules that look like they have been sprinkled on top of the heart shape. I sniff at it - smells heavenly.

"Taste it," he urges. I look up and they're both staring at me avidly. His own cup sits in front of him, with thin wisps of smoke emanating from it.

I lift the cup tentatively to my lips and hear Tina telling me to go slow because it's very hot. I listen to her advice and blow on it and wait a bit as steam fills my vision. I decide I've waited enough, so I take a sip, and wow --- A delicious, tasty aroma fills my buds. It's indescribably satisfying, so I quickly lift the cup up to my lips, once more to experience the taste again. My eyes close and I savour it.

"I told you she'd like it," I hear Batman telling Tina and I quickly open my eyes. I'd forgotten they were waiting for a verdict.

"It's . . . amazing," I say breathily.

"Thank you," I turn to Tina. She seems satisfied and she smiles at me and walks off quietly, leaving us alone.

Batman is staring at me wonderingly. "Okay, what's wrong? You're making me nervous."

He suddenly grins and takes out a white handkerchief from his pocket, gets up and comes round to me and bends down on one knee to my eye level. "May I?" He's staring at me, waiting for an answer and my lips part in confusion.

"Um . . . what is it?" Have I suddenly developed a mole that he wants to remove? My hands fly to my face, but he captures it and swiftly uses his handkerchief to clean my upper lip. I close my eyes as I revel in his touch.

His whole smell suddenly fills my nostrils. It's a mixture of musk and a hint of another fragrance I'm still trying to decipher when the smell begins to fade, but I cling to it, trying valiantly to hold onto it. But just like forgotten memories, it filters away and I open my eyes to encounter him still kneeling in front of me, his hand entangled with mine.

"There was foam all over yor upper lip but it's gone now." He doesn't make any move to get up. He stares at me and I know he wants to kiss me. It's a good moment, let's just hope my phone doesn't interrupt it by ringing.

Without warning, his mouth suddenly envelops mine hungrily, voraciously and I reciprocate in kind. One hand goes round my neck and tangles into my hair. Sharp bursts of electricity race across my entire skin - it's so sweet and electrifying.

My hands snake round his neck and I feel myself being lifted up from my seat. I'm suddenly in mid - air as he carries me, moving backwards in the process, yet not once do we break apart. If anything, the kiss deepens as we cling to each other for dear life, not coming up for air, until my back strikes something sharp, sending searing pain through me.

"Ouuuch!" My back is on fire.

And I'm promptly let down unto my feet. "Are you okay?" He turns me round, his hand gently checking my back for a bump. I'm face to face with the offending object now --- it's a wall with an long jagged nail protruding from it. I flinch as his hand touches the sore spot and he pulls back.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I told Tina a million times now to have this removed, yet she hasn't seen to it. I'm so sorry, it was my fault." I just nod, because it was as much his fault as it was mine. He apologises over and over again, as we walk back to our seats.

That's when I notice something odd.

We're all alone in the room - empty chairs and tables stare at us.

How did everyone leave so quickly?

- @ -

SEGUN

It's a good thing she cried out when she did, because I would have taken her there and then against the wall. I was so out of it I don't think I'd have stopped. She makes me so damn crazy with passion!

I try to bring myself under control, so I crack a couple of jokes to take the edge off. She laughs and laughs, and I'm very happy her pain has been forgotten; at least temporarily. I'm sure there will be one ugly bruise on her back in a couple of hours.

An idea comes to mind as I stand up. She looks askance at me, obviously wondering where I am going, but I don't say anything to her, instead, I stride purposely towards the juke box that has been silent for some time now.

I had told Tina to tell the other guests she was closing soon so that we could have the place to ourselves. Because we go way back, she had done exactly that, not even questioning my reasons. She had happily given me the keys to lock up, stating she was going to sleep early tonight. She had also dismissed the security as well, so we were left all alone in the whole building.

When the juke box is turned on, I insert some coins into it and click on the music selection. Soft country music filters out of it and I turn back to see Eve with a smile on her beautiful face.

I saunter back to my seat. "Don't worry, I'm not expecting you to dance, just trying to set up a light mood for you." She smiles at my statement, relaxing visibly.

The hours pass by as we talk, although I do most of the talking while she listens avidly, punctuated only by her cute laughter. Her dimples are guest stars because they regularly pop out like two indentations on either side of her face.

It's a sight to watch!

She catches me staring and I quickly crack a joke to derail her attention. This is a first for me - talking to a female so extensively and even trying to make her laugh. I never talk to a girl; they do all the chattering while I just nod and smile, not hearing a word of what they say. Now it seems the roles have been reversed here. I'm trying to put a smile on her face and I must say I'm enjoying every minute of it.

The time slips by and an hour turns into several. I see her eyes drooping and I know she is tired. Why didn't I take the cue since? I had caught her trying to stifle a yawn, but I didn't understand because she kept trying to hide it behind laughter.

"Alright, let's get you home now." I get up, pulling her up as well. She smiles sheepishly at me.

"Um.... Never mind, I'll just call an uber." She says this, already tapping on her phone.

"No need for that, I'll get you home, just give me the directions." And taking her hand in mine, I lead her outside, but not before putting off all the appliances and lights.

I open the door for her and walk back to lock up. She gives me a look when I get back into the car.

"So, which area are we heading?" I'm already starting the car and getting comfortable, ready to move.

"We already are in the area, a street or two away." She replies, smiling sleepily. She's already getting cozy in the seat and her dress rides up, exposing creamy thighs.

Calm down boy, calm down! Centre your mind on getting her home safely. Act like a gentleman for the first time in your life.

She directs me to her crib and I make sure she goes in before I head home. It's only when I'm driving home that it shocks me that I didn't hit that.

Damn!!!