Of Wolves and Oranges

Chapter 20: Jaco

I look down at Golf, asleep at my side in the front of the truck. She drifted off as we drove out of Zini. Our early morning skinny dip in the ocean has washed off most of her make-up, showing an angry purple and red bruise down the side of her face. She shifts in her sleep, and her caramel hair falls over her face hiding the bruise, just the little mou of her pink mouth visible.

Max glances across at me. I had tossed him the keys as we were leaving, I didnt want to let go of my girl on the way home.

We had camped on the beach around the bonfire. Even with my warm blood I was glad to have bought a blanket for Golf. We had sat around the fire chatting with some other shifters as the party raged on into the night. We must have fallen asleep around three and woken with the first rays of the sun rising over the sea. The others were still asleep so we stripped off and ran into the waves. Golf was beautiful, her skin glowing golden in the dawn light, her nipples hardened by the icy water, her little squeaks as the waves washed over us. Golf has a tattoo. I would not have expected on my sweet pure girl but its perfect, just like her. I rub my finger up her back over her shoulder, thinking of the flower below. Petal upon petal upon petal. Twenty four in total, spiralling round. She was a bit defensive about it, not saying how she got it and dismissing it, saying that since its on her back, she can't see it.

After waking Max we had hit the road early. We stopped at a gas station for coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Max had caught me in the act of buying a pack of condoms and raised his eyebrows whilst grinning like a jackass, then tossed me a second box.

Golf stirred awake as we turned onto the dirt road to our farm. Bleary-eyed she glanced around, then snuggled into me. When we reached my place Max hopped out and with a wave headed home down the hill, leaving me and Golf to make our way inside.

"You Ok, Golf? You've been quiet all morning."

"Yeah. I just keep running through last night. So much happened. And I made a huge fool of myself. Your friends will never be able to look at me the same again."

My heart sinks and I turn to her, "Regrets?"

She turns to me, her big brown eyes, honest. "No. I meant every word. I just would never have done any of that sober. It's just suddenly, this all seems so big. It was supposed to just be a weekend romance, just sex to get over all the awfulness of yesterday, and then back to my boring little life. But now it feels so much more, it feels bigger. You feel important, Ford. And I dont know how we move on with this."

I lead her through the kitchen door, dropping all our bags on the counter then pull her close, "This is big, Golfie. But we're in this together, we'll figure it out. Just take things as they come. For now, have a shower and a sleep. Then, if you want to take this further, you know where my bedroom is. I'll be waiting."