Page 35 of Worlds Apart
She blinked and watched him set a tray down with what looked like a glass of juice, a cup of tea, and some fruit. “Yes.”
“Alice didn’t tell me.”
“I told her not to.”
That got rid of the smile. Martin turned and sat at the foot of the bed. “I don’t blame you for that. I was… not at my best the last time we spoke.”
Sunny didn’t say anything.
He reached over and put a hand on her foot. “I would never assume anything about our relationship simply because you are here. I wouldn’t assume your motives or your—”
“I came for you.” Sunny said the words quietly. “And for me.”
His hand closed around her foot. “Truly?”
“Maybe I’m naive or dumb or… I don’t know. Maybe I misunderstood you the last time we spoke.”
“I am so sor—”
“Let me finish.”
Martin nodded, but kept this hand on her foot.
“I don’t think the problem was ever the way we felt about each other. At least, I don’t think so. The problem was imaging a future.” She kept her eyes on his hand; the graceful long fingers rubbed the arch of her foot. “We had so little time together, and then we were talking every day, but it was only for a few months. Everything still felt new. So when you asked me if I could see myself living here full time, it felt sudden. It was hard for me to imagine it.”
Martin nodded, but he stayed silent.
“And then I did think about it, and I realized that I’ve been making the expected choice all my life. I’m twenty-nine and I work at the same bank I interned at in college. I live in the same apartment. I let other peoples’ expectations dictate what I thought my life should look like. And I don’t need to.” She smiled. “I can imagine something bigger now.”
“Are your parents upset with you for moving? I don’t want to cause a rift in your family. That is the last thing I want.”
Sunny narrowed her eyes. “I don’t think anyone expected me to stay in DC forever. Maybe I just thought they did.” She looked into his eyes. “I came here for me, Martin, but I also came for you. I don’t know if I want to live in Kenya forever, but I can try. Why not try?”
“My Sunny.” He leaned forward. “Can I kiss you?”
“I would be really disappointed if you didn’t.”
He bent forward, gripping her foot, sliding his hand up her ankle, and trailing his fingers up her thigh until he was leaning over her. He slowly lowered his lips to hers and it was everything Sunny remembered and more.
More because there was more between them. More understanding, more intimacy, more emotion.
I am not flying to America for work, I am flying there because I love you.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
“Oh Sunny.” He wrapped her in his arms, hiked her leg over his hips, and held her, nearly crushing her to his chest. “I was flying to Washington and I had no idea if you would even speak to me, but I had to try.” His hands were moving over her back, cupping her bottom and gripping it as he pulled her closer. “I missed you so much.”
“I probably really need a shower.”
“I don’t care.” He kissed her over and over, running his hands over her back, her bottom. Another hand slid into her hair, tracing her temple, her ear, the line of her jaw. “I feel like you’re going to disappear if I let go of you.”
“I’m here.” She felt her body wake up, the scent of his skin bringing her back to stolen moments and nights in the Mara. She slid her hands down his flat stomach and cupped his erection through his linen pants.
Martin surrounded her. He stretched his leg out and nudged the French doors to the patio closed. “I’ll show you everything… later.”
“I missed you so much.” Desire was starting to feel frantic. She wanted him. She needed him. She’d spent months imagining his arms around her, his body moving with hers.
Martin reached down and stripped off her shirt, unhooked her bra, and set about exploring her breasts with just as much curiosity as the first time.
