A Man's Black Heart. Nuria Farai

wanted to be with you.“ He pressed his forehead against hers and sighed. „Whatever. Jade, are you having your ovulation soon? You usually get like this when you have it. I think it’s around this time …“ „Give me a break! It’s not that at all! And it is spooky how you know my cycle so well.“ „Your courses are my worst enemy. Remember how you threw a plant at me?“ „That was years ago, and I did apologise. You are such a tit.“ He laughed. The tension between them relaxed. He let her go and shifted her gently towards the door. „Bye, sweetheart. See you in a while. Go into meditation, or something.“ „I shall throw myself under the next male I see.“ „The next male you’ll see is probably my 80-year-old neighbor, who just went out for a smoke. Feel free. Let me know if I have to finish the job after that. He’ll probably collapse when he sees you naked.“ „You are difficult.“ „Get lost. Jade …“ he pulled her back into his arms. „I love you …“. „I know. I love you, too. So next time, sex.“ „Whatever you say.“ She closed the door, struggling to refrain from jumping up and down with glee like a crazy dwarf. There! They would do it, and she would love it. And perhaps, the odiously friendly „I love you“ would turn into a passionate one.

      Chapter 2

      But after that promising start, everything went wrong. Terribly wrong. When Jade met Tariq the next time, it was at a house party. He was glued to a pretty, dark-haired chick and almost ignored her. Apart from a thin-lipped greeting, he did not speak to her at all. She was not sure what it meant at first. Never before had he been so distant. It was always her, never him, who had occasionally been reserved. She had more than once tried to gain distance, to recover from her infatuation. But he had always reached out for her, giving her the distinct feeling he wanted her in his life above all things. But here he was, avoiding her obviously. Jade realized suddenly he was trying to get away from the promise of sex. She was hurt and angry, disappointed and aggrieved, all at once. When he made it to the toilets, she grabbed his arm. „You bastard! You are trying to avoid having sex!“ she hissed. It was unlike her to use swear words. He looked at her and quickly lowered his lashes. „Jade, it’s not right. I can’t do it. I don’t want to. You are like a sister to me.“ „I hope you do not get hard over your sister! Do not act the innocent, Tariq. You look like you’re about to fuck that chick. I’ll not let you get away with it. You shameless, fork-tongued, arrogant … rogue!“ „Jade! Let me go!“ he pulled his arm out of her grip. She boxed him. He shoved her aside and got away. It almost made her scream when he grabbed the girl after a second of hesitation. She giggled, and they left together. Together! That was it. From then on, Jade ended their friendship. It was just as Tariq had always feared. He was at first so angry with her for trying to force him to sleep with her, that he did not call her, either. But after a week, he missed her so much he could not sleep any more. He remembered kissing and touching her, bathing in her intoxicating scent, his hand sore from rubbing himself to despair. It would not do. She had to return! Back into his life, where she belonged. How could he win her back without sleeping with her? Would anyone even believe that she was forcing him? That she wanted him, at all?