Just Business

Chapter Fourteen: David

David knew being angry wouldn't solve anything, but his hormones weren't listening to his logic. It was probably selfish to steal Marcia away, but he needed to know she was okay. Plus, her mascara had run, and his Ma hadn't raised a boy who would let a girl walk around without giving her the opportunity to fix it, even if he thought she looked beautiful.

"Bathroom is that one," he said, pointing. She thanked him, going inside and shutting the door with a click. He stared at the door for a beat, then went to fetch a beer. He took two from the fridge before returning to his bedroom. He left one on his bedside table for Marcia, opening the other and taking a sip. It was cool, dampening the fire in the pit of his stomach.

It made him realise how hot his skin was, how warm the room had gotten atop of so many bodies. He undid the top button of his shirt, then another. He rolled up his sleeves, fixing them against his upper forearm. Then he reclined on the bed, looking up at the stained ceiling. He took another sip, then rested the cold butt of his bottle on his forehead.

"Hey," came a small voice. David looked up and saw Marcia, her face slightly shiny. She had cleaned up her makeup, smudging the mascara into an artful smoky eye. He scrambled into a sitting position.

"Hey! Want a beer?" he asked. "I texted Amanda. She'll let us know when Nana Matilda finishes her story and we're needed again."

"Sure. As long as you stop calling her Nana Matilda."

Marcia sat next to him, the soft mattress giving way so they slipped temptingly closer. Their elbows rubbed together with every sip David took, which just made him want to drink more.

"Why can't I call her Nana, everybody else seems to."

"Because if she's your Nana and my Nana that makes us cousins or something."

"Hey, I'm a great cousin. I babysit their kids, I give great gifts and I'm not the cousin your mum will compare you to in a way that makes you feel bad."

"No," Marcia laughed. "I'm sure my Mum would find a way to be jealous of your Mum."

"Never," David insisted. Marcia shook her head.

"Why am I going along with this? I don't want to be your cousin. That would be some Alabama shit."

"Alabama?" David prompted. Marcia looked at him, giggling mischievously.

"You know. Alabama and cousins."

She trailed off, realising what she had said. She blushed, staring intently at David's lips. His breath slowed, and he licked his lips deliberately.

"No," he lied, "I don't understand. Explain it to me. Please."

Her eyes snapped back to his, and he held her gaze. He watched her mind work, how to explain away what she had said. He knew what she had meant, of course he knew. But he wanted to hear her say it. He needed it, to know he wasn't going crazy, to know she felt it as well. This thing between them was too big for only him to see.

She swallowed, but he refused to relent. They continued to just stare, daring each other to do the unthinkable.

"David," Marcia breathed.

"Marcia," he returned, his voice hoarse.

She stood up, but he grasped her wrist, spinning her into him. She gulped, steadying herself by placing her hands on his shoulder. David parted his knees, and she fell into the gap.

He looked up at her.

"Marica," he begged. "Please."

She kissed him. Finally she kissed him. She tasted of his favourite beer and something sweet underneath. He opened his legs a little more, and she came closer to him, their bodies pressed up against one another. He wrapped his arms around her to hold her steady, to hold her to him.

He pushed his hand into her hair, and it was just as soft as he had imagined, her lips as perfect as he had dreamed. He pulled her hair gently, breaking their kiss so he could access her neck. She moaned when his lips met her skin, and he felt her arch into him. As he kissed her neck she pushed him down onto the bed, and he let her, his lips exploring down to her collarbone. When they were fully lying down, he kissed her again, more forcefully this time, his tongue demanding access to every part of her mouth. Her hands began to roam, dipping underneath his shirt and skitting across his lower stomach. Wherever her fingertips made contact began to burn sweetly, his whole self coming alight.

There was a bang on the door and Marcia was gone from his arms. With her she took the air from his lungs, the blood from his veins. She left him, hollow and gasping for more.

"Hello? The party's back on and people are wondering where you are?" Amanda called through the door.

"Coming!" Marcia called back, smoothing out her dress.

"Marcia?" David asked, the word pathetic to his own ears. She looked at him with an unreadable expression, full of pain and confusion. No, that wasn't right. He wanted to make her happy, he didn't want her to feel like that.

"We're needed at our party," she said, opening the door. She rushed past Amanda, disappearing down the stairs. Amanda watched her leave, then turned to David with crossed arms.

"What did you do?"