As Tsehay sang the first verse, the entire place lost it. This song was an old favorite and so damn sexy, I almost turned around and wrapped my arms around Elias’s neck. I was feeling him, this place, this music, this night with an intensity that had me on the verge of recklessness. Somewhere in the middle of the song we both turned to look at each other at the same time, and it was pretty obvious we had to get out of there, or commit a dangerous indiscretion. As the final notes of the song died out, Elias and I turned around in unison and headed for the entrance.

The ride in the elevator was pure torture.

We stood on opposite sides and stared intensely at the numbers indicating which floor we were on. I felt like my body was on fire for him. Elias didn’t look like he was dealing any better; he kept pushing his fisted hands in his jacket, as if trying to keep himself from grabbing me.

Once outside, we power walked back to the car in silence. When we were finally inside, I turned to him and said in a breathless voice I barely recognized, “Would you come up to my place for a drink, or do you have to head home?”

He smiled at me and quickly ran his finger the side of my face. “Eshi, konjo, a drink sounds nice.”

Never mind I had literally no liquids in my room other than water bottles, shampoo, and lube, but I nodded and pressed my face against the cool glass of the window as he pulled out on to the road. It was almost eleven and the streets were mostly empty except for the occasional person on the sidewalks, or a slumped figure wrapped in long white fabric, trying to keep warm.

Elias parked his car right outside the gate of the guesthouse. I used my keys to get us inside the compound, and soon we were climbing the stairs to my room. When I went to open the door, my hands were shaking. We’d both been quiet on the way over here, and now were about to do something that would change everything between us. I should’ve probably given that more thought.

I should’ve paused to consider my choices.

But as my trembling hands pushed open the door to my room, all I could think about was locking the door behind us so I could finally feel what I’d been dreaming about for weeks.

Chapter 11

As soon as we walked in, Elias turned to lock the door. We stood there for a few seconds, just looking at each other. It was like we were both trying to decide just how bad an idea this could potentially be.

In the end, I was the one who caved.