Black Girls and Bad Boys: Changing his Tune by Neneh J. Gordon Page B

shared.
    Knowing that she was out there watching was the main thing that had
got him through his first gig in so many months. She was who he wanted to see
when he got off stage. She was the one whose opinion he wanted to hear.
    It wasn’t just a friendship any more.
    So he’d made some arrangements and asked her to come on this walk.
Now they were strolling along a hillside path in the failing sunshine and he
was racking his brains for something intelligent to say. Why the hell was he so
tongue-tied?
    “Did you have somewhere in mind, or are we looking for somewhere?”
    “Hmm?”
    Angie held up her bag from the fast food place. “I don’t want a cold
burger.”
    “No. It’s up here.” The path got steeper and he offered her his
hand. He had a sudden panic that the clearing he remembered wasn’t there any
more – it was years since he’d visited that part of the country – but the way
through the trees widened out and the ground levelled off. The wooden barrier
at the edge of the hill looked new. He led her over to look at the view.
    “I think the club’s over that way.” He pointed off to the far right,
but she was too busy looking at the sea stretching out directly in front of
them.
    “It’s lovely here. I’ve never been before.”
    “Mum and Dad used to bring us here every summer.”
    She turned to him, a smile lighting her eyes. When she was happy, it
transformed her. It was as if you could see the contentment shining out from
inside.
    “What?”
    “That’s the first time you’ve mentioned your family.”
    “No it isn’t.”
    She nodded. “I didn’t even know you had brothers and sisters.”
    “Just a brother.” Surely he’d mentioned him?
    “Younger or older?”
    “Younger.” He moved closer to her, worrying all the time that he’d
spook her and she’d move away.
    She stood her ground. “What’s his—”
    He silenced her with a kiss, pressing his lips to hers the way he’d
wanted to pretty much ever since he’d clapped eyes on her. She stiffened in his
arms. Had he misjudged the signals?
    A couple of heartbeats passed and she melted into him. She kissed
him back and the hope he’d been guarding came to full bloom. She wanted him
too.
    He kissed her harder, wrapping her in his arms. Her perfume was
everywhere – an intoxicating note that floated over the top of the sea breeze.
Her lips were even softer than he’d imagined. They kissed and kissed, her ripe
body pressing urgently against his lean frame.
    All his worries had been for nothing. She kissed him eagerly, groans
of pleasure sounding in her throat as she opened her lips to him.
    Her hand came up between them, pushing against his chest. He
stopped. His fast-beating heart laboured even faster. “Are you okay? I didn’t
mean to—”
    She put a finger to his lips. “I’m fine.”
    He’d been afraid she’d never reach a place where she could let him
hold her. Now it was happening, the fear still wouldn’t leave him. The moment
was so fragile. He had to move at her pace, or risk chasing her away.
    But he needed her. He bent to kiss her again, barely brushing his
lips over hers. Cupping her cheek in his hand, he looked into her eyes. There
was fear there to match his own. “I want to make love to you.”
    It seemed that she blinked in slow motion. He held his breath,
waiting for her to crush him with rejection. He couldn’t have left it unsaid.
    “I want that too,” she whispered.

CHAPTER 10
    ––––––––
    A ngelique followed him in a daze, not thinking to ask where they
were going. He knew the way. That was all that mattered. They went higher along
the path where the greenery grew denser, holding hands like teenagers. Their
food dangled from their free hands, growing rapidly colder.
    The way ahead opened out onto a road and they crossed over.
    “I hope you don’t mind, but I booked us a room.” He led her along
the pavement and through a gate.
    She was supposed to mind. She knew she should complain