The Aftermath Of You

Chapter Thirty Five

Athol Russ arrived for a cup of coffee at a very inappropriate time.

Ten thirty at night.

"Just got out of work," he said by way of an apology. He looked so nice in his stone washed denims that she forgave him instantly for waking her.

"I'm pleased you did," Toni said. "I wanted to say sorry for how I behaved last night." A slight flush crept into her cheeks.

"It was nothing!" he told her. "I've certainly learnt quite a few new dance moves."

Her cheeks burnt scarlet as her mind flashed back to the packed night club where she - the mad bag lady - was grooving sexily beside Athol's inert body. 'What are you doing?' he'd shouted over the music.

'Crimping,' she'd hollered back. 'It's quite the rage, I believe. Beyoncé does it, and Rihanna, and ... and you know!'

"It looks like you've got a problem in your back suspension."

Now Toni gazed up at Athol's serious face. "Mojitos and Karaoke are not a good mix."

"I agree," he said with a smile. "Anyway, I never got to do this." He stepped close, gently pulled her body against his, and kissed her, softly at first, biting her bottom lip and tracing his tongue around her mouth.

Toni was pleased that he'd sprung it on her because then she didn't have time to get worried sick about having bad breath. But she was shocked by such obvious porno kissing.

When he finally drew away she quickly asked, "So what would you like to drink? Coffee or tea?"

"Well, as you can imagine," he said lifting his hand to trace his fingers along her jaw, "coffee will keep me up all night long ..."

"Right, so tea. Milk, sugar?"

"Uhh, just milk," Athol said in confusion.

"Good, I can never understand how people can put sugar in their tea." Toni bustled off to put her old kettle on the stove.

Athol followed her. "Why don't you have one of those electric kettles? You're the only person I know that heats their water up this old fashioned way."

Toni glanced down at the kettle. "I had one, it's just my mother took it off me."

"Your mother sounds crazy."

"She is."

As they waited for the pot to boil they watched each other awkwardly, Toni wondering how a male of his quality could still be single.

Seeing the touch of lust in her face Athol moved forward quickly, back to where they were before, his mouth moving down towards hers, their lips locked. In the background she could hear the door being unlocked. She tried to move away from Athol to find out who was there but his grip tightened as he kissed her harder and deeper than before. She could hear the visitor moving closer. Who on earth was that at nearly eleven o'clock at night? She tried to turn around but Athol wouldn't release her.

"Toni?" a male voice asked.

"Wha ..." She dragged herself from Athol's grasp and over his shoulder she could see Danny standing, staring. "Danny, are you ok?"

"Sure. I – um - I don't remember what I came to get ..." He gazed around hopefully. "Sorry, I should leave you both. I didn't realise you had a visitor ..."Quickly grabbing a bottle top opener he waved it aloft, laughing in a slightly manic way. "Oh, here it is. I was just going to have a drink before bed ... drink a beer in bed ... Goodnight." And off he rushed.