Tropical Storm by Stefanie Graham

ecstasyrocked and moved him. The intensity of the feeling made him pull away, but Storm wouldn’t let him go.
    “You won’t escape me again Cairo, you’re mine.” She declared firmly.
    Cairo didn’t deny it, how could he? It was true.
    He took her mouth in a fierce movement. Their tongues dueled in passionate battle. Storm held on to him and taught him how it felt to be devoured. She taught him how it felt to be caught in a tempest. Before he knew it, Storm’s thighs straddled his and held him captive. She didn’t give him a chance to think, she consumed him and by doing so she left him no escape.
    He didn’t want to go anywhere.
    Where it all would have ended, Cairo couldn’t say. Had she not spoken, maybe he would have made love to her, maybe he would have undressed her and made her his again under the soft moonlight. Storm had her head thrown back and Cairo was nibbling her neck when she spoke.
    “Cairo?”
    “Mmm?”
    “Cairo, this is so right. It feels so right.” Storm said breathlessly.
    Cairo silently agreed.
    “On the summit you said you hated me. If you hated me do you think you could be here with me now like this? Do you think it would feel as if six years had not come and gone?”
    The cool absence of his lips made Storm stare into his eyes. They smoldered.
    Cairo abruptly pulled away from her. “You’re right,” he said freeinghimself from her embrace. “I shouldn’t be here. All I can say in my defense,” he said pulling away from her. “Is that you’re a desirable woman and I’m only human.”
    Storm couldn’t hide the hurt in her eyes.
    “I don’t mean to be cruel, Jessica, but I can’t go down this road again. We’ve done this before and failed. Once was enough, I’m sorry.”
    “I’m sorry too.” Storm said her voice thick with unshed tears. “I’ll get my son.”
    When Cairo stopped her, she turned to him with hope in her eyes.
    “He’s asleep.” He reminded her softly. “He’s had a rough night. Stay here with him tonight, there’s enough room. I’ll sleep here on the couch.”
    WhenStorm hesitated Cairo took it the wrong way.
    “I know my house is not what you’re used to, but one night won’t kill you.” He said his mouth curling bitterly.
    “I didn’t mean . . . ” Storm stopped herself. “Thank you for your hospitality, Cairo.” She said instead. “Good night.” Storm then went into the bedroom and slid into the bed next to her son, tears glistening in her eyes.

Chapter Five
    There are certain events that Cairo will never forget: the day Storm walked down the aisle and into his life was one. The day Storm prepared to walk out of his life with her suitcase in hand was another.
    “The easy way would have been to leave without telling you, but that would have been cowardly. I’m no coward. I came to say goodbye, Cairo. My son and I are leaving Jamaica for good.” Her eyes were full of sadness.
    He told himself it was what he wanted. He should have been elated. But the looks of despair that Storm and Shanewore made him feel something very close to desolation. Was it just last night that their heads had rested on his pillow? Had it been just last night that he’d watched them sleeping and wished fleetingly that they belonged to him? Why did it now seem so long ago?
    Cairo looked down at the Louis Vuitton luggage at her feet.
    “Why now? You don’t have to leave right away.” He said his emotions in turmoil.
    Storm sighed wearily.
    “Cairo, Shane and I came to Jamaica for a reason. We were both searching for something we’d lost and wanted back. We thought that Jamaica had what we needed but we were wrong.”
    What could he say? She had been wrong. If she had come to Jamaica to find him and rekindle a long deadlove, then she had made a mistake. He was not, and would never be, willing to make himself vulnerable again. Loving her hurt too much and had caused himtoo much pain. No matter how much he had once loved her, he could not and would not