Page 37 of The Sun Sister
‘Here, you go first. It is very good stuff. From a friend I know in Rio.’
And as that oh-so-welcome sensation began to fill my senses, I laughed out loud.
‘Itisgood. Maybe you could give me your friend’s number just in case I need some more.’
‘Do not worry, Electra, I have enough for both of us.’
Joaquim found the sound system and cranked it up, then we went to sit on the terrace overlooking Ipanema Beach. Suddenly, life was wonderful and my new friend was becoming more attractive by the moment.
‘Are you going to the dinner tonight?’ he asked me.
‘I’m meant to be, yes, but it doesn’t appeal.’
‘Neither to me. I am in my home city and I want to party. I can take you to some places no one but a local knows.’
‘I’d love that, I really would. I rarely get a chance to see anything much in the cities I visit.’
I stood up, intending to call Mariam, but he was behind me and grabbed me by the waist.
‘Or we could party here together – alone.’
His supple hips swayed behind me to the rhythm of the music. He turned me around to face him then lost no time in kissing me.
Forty-five minutes later, the doorbell rang. I ignored it, then heard my cell ring too.
‘Wait there,’ I said, kissing Joaquim before I slipped out of bed, donned my robe, then padded into the living room to answer my cell.
‘Electra, it is Mariam. I am at the door.’
‘Jesus!’ I murmured as I went to open it, picking up an envelope that had been slid underneath it.
‘Hi,’ I said, trying to look sleepy, though I was totally pumped.
‘You are not dressed, Electra, and we must leave for the dinner in fifteen minutes.’
‘Sorry, but I’m not feeling too good. Can you make my excuses for me? Say I’m having an early night.’
‘Okay...’
I could feel her eyes boring into me. I handed her the envelope.
‘Deal with this, will you, whatever it is? I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early.’
‘Okay, but don’t forget to book an alarm call for six thirty.’
‘I won’t.’
‘Feel better,’ she said.
‘Thanks. Night.’
I closed the door, then put the security chain on as well. Sauntering over to the coffee table, I took another line then went back into the bedroom and Joaquim’s eager arms.
Maybe because we’d gotten to know each other so well the night before, the shoot went like a dream and we wrapped by four o’clock.
‘Remember I said earlier that the note the concierge put under your door was from your sister Maia?’ Mariam asked as I changed in the wardrobe tent.
‘Yeah, I don’t have foam for a brain, you know,’ I said as I fastened my shorts.
