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  “I call it a bite.”

  Standing on her tiptoes, she reached for me, pulling my mouth to hers, kissing me in a way I was not ready for, but enjoyed just the same. Her teeth bit at my lower lip, pulling it with her. As she released me from her hold I smiled.

  “I’ll remember that.”

  “Please do.”

  These fucking Deumos were going to kill me. I leveled my head and walked across the cul-de-sac. Opening the door, I bellowed for the demon.

  “Gregor.”

  “Yes,” a deep Hispanic accent greeted me. His eyes were a light shade of brown against his dark tan skin. His hair had been allowed to grow, so he must have been a reincarnation. He had a second chance to finish whatever he might have started. He probably looked better than he had in real life. The Prince liked his lackeys to be fit and suave. Con men, every one.

  “You are to go on tonight’s shipment of fireplaces. According to our intel, the truck is going to stop in three cities, the final being Tempe. From there you are to travel south however you can until you reach the pueblo of Tetillas, Mexico.”

  “Sí.”

  “Yeah, work on the real language.”

  I passed him a thick envelope filled with pesos and a bag with enough food to get him past the border.

  “Ropa?”

  “Needy little bitch, aren’t you?”

  I looked to see what his scam was to be. I smiled.

  “You’re good. The poor beggar that speaks to God. The cult will be easy to form if you pull the women in first.”

  He looked at me as if I was supposed to give him more.

  “What?”

  “Nemesio. Can I see her once more? Now that I am a man.”

  I laughed out loud at the request. Like I could share a Deumos.

  “Find a human. You’ll have to wait until you reach Mexico. Unless you find a strung-out whore that can’t tell the difference between a dollar or a peso.”

  Turning, he reached, wrenching my shoulder and pulling me back.

  “I need a woman now.”

  Fucking rapists; they were so damn needy.

  Quickly, I grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm around until I heard a snap. A howl came from him and a smile came to my face.

  “That should heal by the time you arrive. Now be gone from this town.”

  “How am I to heal?”

  “How we all heal. You just do. Do try to keep that arm straight so it doesn’t look strange”

  * * * *

  Nye

  Crap! How the hell did this happen? It felt wonderful, but nothing good could come of this. At my feet was the bowl precariously resting. That was not the problem. My problem was that right now my arm was holding onto Kiri. Her body was so warm and soft against mine. I didn’t even remember when we fell asleep.

  Her back was against me and my face was buried in her hair. I breathed in deep, but the magnolias were almost gone. Now she smelled like roses. The closer I got to her scalp, I found the magnolias again. This lingering smell had me snuggling tight with her. My nose was now touching her head. The scent had my body relaxing. I didn’t know why. There was so much pain on the plantation. Maybe I was returning to a time when I was human. When I was a man.

  My arm instinctively curled, securing her body to mine, and a light moan escaped from her. I could feel I was hard again. This was becoming an epidemic, but what did I expect. She was still in my shirt and shorts. I was not sure why she hadn’t changed, but part of me wanted to believe she was not changing because they were my clothes.

  I could feel the smoothness of her feet rubbing my legs. My flesh chilled, but not from shame. To her it probably felt warm, but to me I knew I had gooseflesh. Just as my arm had tingled, now a surge of electricity ran inside my left leg from my ankle up to the middle of my thigh.

  My arm around her was held tight by hers and my hand was between her breasts. I had to move. I didn’t even know what time it was, but whatever the time was I needed to move. Shifting, I tried to escape her sweet smell only to have my lips hit the smooth skin on her collarbone.

  I tugged on my arm and it started to slip free, only to have her clasp down harder.

  “Don’t even think about it,” she said.

  Her eyes were still closed. I tried again.

  “No. It’s mine.”

  Okay she was asleep and my arm obviously was reminding her of a doll or bear she once had. I leaned in to whisper in her ear.

  “Kiri…Kiri…I need my arm.”

  “No.”

  This time she tugged so hard she pulled me on top of her.

  “Hi,” she smiled, her eyes batting away the sleep. “Oh…wait…is this because of what I said last night? Or morning…What time is it? ’Cuz I told you that’s in the past. I haven’t done that for over six months. I’m flattered, but no.”

  “You pulled me.”

  “Oh,” her face blushed red. I rolled to my back.

  “Sorry,” she said. “When I sleep…well, I’ve been known to say and do things.” Her bottom lip became caught by her top teeth. They held tight, causing her lip to have a white stripe that slid as her lip released slowly and then blushed red once again. I turned my head to the side and focused on the picture of a lily on the wall, anything to get my mind off the fullness of Kiri’s lips.

  “I’d say you have superhuman strength. I never met someone who could manhandle me like that.”

  “It sucks to be you,” she said, turning to her side, propping herself up and touching a finger to my bicep. “It’s fun being manhandled sometimes. As long as you don’t have an arrow in your leg. Personally, I’ve never had so much fun getting out of the tub before.”

  She smiled shyly, turning her eyes down for a moment.

  The gooseflesh returned and I let my mind wander to the thought of waking up to find her looking at me. Her eyes were sparkling. Her touch was silken. Her lips were turned up at the corners and I could see her white teeth behind the soft, pink lips. Her finger wandered to my face and I let it trace down my jaw. The light touch stopped at my chin then went to my bottom lip. Kiri’s face came closer to mine and a part of me was hoping she was going to kiss me again. Her lips came ever closer to mine. I could hear my heart beating in my ears. She moistened her lips and I felt as if my wish was about to come true.

  I smiled, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

  “Nye, you fucking asshole, get up!”

  Kiri’s finger dropped and it took everything in me to not reach for it.

  “Is that your normal alarm?”

  “Funny. No, she’s not happy about you being here.”

  Damn it! Why did I say that? Now Kiri was going to feel bad.

  “I’m sorry I never asked. What is she to you?”

  “My partner. Dilana is sealed to another.”

  “Nye!”

  Three more loud pounds.

  “I’m comin’.”

  “TMI. I don’t care if your pet is licking your goddamn taint, you still need to get your ass up.”

  Now I was pissed. I jumped off the bed and threw open the door.

  “D. My patience is wearing thin.”

  “The feeling’s mutual.”

  “Have I ever been late?”

  “Not the point,” she growled.

  “Yes, it is! You’re not even dressed for fighting.”

  “If you are one second late…”

  I slammed the door in her face.

  “I apologize. I don’t even know what she meant but I’m sure it was defamatory. Was it?”

  “Yes. TMI. Too much information. The taint is an area of the body. How is it you don’t know these things?”

  “Dilana only knows things because Kiyoshi goes out. I don’t want to know what part, do I?”

  “Probably not.”

  “I do need to go out again. You can stay in here or feel free to roam the house. I’d avoid the upstairs. Those are our private chambers.”

  “What is this?”

&n
bsp; “The arrivals chamber. It gives the new people a place to unwind until we can get their room correct.”

  “Could I see your room?”

  * * * *

  Kiriana

  The look on Nye’s face was enough to send me back to seventh grade. I had never seen a guy more disgusted from a single question. Last time it was Lewis Stamp. But even he didn’t narrow his eyes like Nye had. Just moments ago his face had been inviting. I’d stroked his cheek without him freezing me.

  “Stay on the main floor. Kiyoshi will be around if you need anything.”

  “I…I…I…your room…it was just because…I-I just don’t want you to think I was trying to dig or something.”

  “I only offer because I’m sure this room is starting to drive you crazy. I saw how your face brightened on our walk.”

  “It’s fine. I’ll stay on this level,” I said, rolling over on my side and looking at the wall.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “Don’t rush. Nothing good comes from a rushed execution.”

  He left and I wiped away a tear from my eye. Stupid girl. That was what I was. A girl. A stupid. Stupid. Daydreaming girl.

  I stayed in the room trying to fight a headache. Tossing and turning in the bed, I finally fell asleep again.

  I woke to a delicious smell. Opening my eyes, I saw a plate with freshly baked orange rolls with cream cheese icing. My finger swiped at it and I brought the warm, white sweetness to my lips. Rolling on my back, I realized the headache was still there.

  “How are you?” Nye’s voice startled me.

  “Headache.”

  “Do you not want the rolls? I know it is dinner time, but you had flautas for breakfast.”

  “No, I’d love to eat them, but my neck is just stiff. Do you have some Advil or Aleve?”

  Oh shit, my meds, I thought. How many doses had I missed? What did Dr. Franklin say last time I missed? Shit. Part of me thought I should screw it. Nye may still kill me, so why deal with the side effects of my cocktail, but I knew better. He would release me sometime, but I couldn’t chance it being long enough for my HIV to turn into AIDS.

  “You said you could send someone if I needed something from my apartment?”

  “Yes but we have anti-inflammatories here.”

  “It’s not that. I have to take certain medications each day. I don’t even know what to do for missed doses.” I ran my fingers through my hair trying to straighten out the tangles.

  “Do you know the names? We may have them.”

  “No. They’re specialized. Please. I left my keys in my mailbox.”

  “How important are they?”

  “Life and death important.”

  “Okay. Write down the information and Kiyoshi will go. I promise he will not dilly-dally.”

  “Dilly-dally?” I had to laugh at that. “Sorry. Eighteen hundreds, right?”

  Nye smiled, “Yes. What would be a better saying?”

  “Dilly-dally is a great phrase. Um, but now I guess it’d just be he won’t hang out or squat. I think dilly-dally is appropriate.” This big guy was using such dainty language. I loved every minute of it. Then the headache increased. I pressed my palm against my forehead and tried to find a point to relieve the pressure.

  Nye flew to the bed and massaged my shoulders, rubbing a knot out that was right by my left shoulder blade. I let my head fall back and I think that was when he realized he was touching me.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll go get you the Advil. Um…I think there’s a paper and pen in the nightstand. Write down your desires…um…needs. A…yeah…”

  Once again I had scared him out of the room. Writing down my information, I tried to remember where I had left my pills. On the counter, I think, but then again they could be anywhere. Shit.

  Nye brought back the ibuprofen. I ate a roll and drank the cold milk while he seemed to smile when I let out a satisfied mmm from the delicious pastry.

  “You should sleep some more. It’s important. Kiyoshi should have your medication soon.”

  I yawned and knew he was right. I needed sleep, I just hated missing my time with him. It seemed like all I did was sleep here.

  “Nye, could you do me a favor?” I asked, as my eyes started to droop and I wondered if the pills he’d given me were stronger than ibuprofen.

  “I’ll try.”

  “Could I rest my head on your lap and you brush my hair with your fingers? It always relaxes my muscles. I’ll understand if you don’t want to, but my head is really hurting.”

  He slid on the bed and placed a pillow on his legs. I curled up into him and held tight to his thigh, while my head rested on the soft satin pillow. Lightly at first, his fingers swept through my hair, almost like a breeze would cross a field of wheat, the stalks being tickled by it. The more he stroked my hair, the heavier my eyes got until the world was black and I drifted away.

  * * * *

  Nye

  Gazing at her, I couldn’t help following her lead. I laid my head back and closed my eyes. The dreams came to me for the first time in years.

  “Ya shouldn’t be lookin’, Big George,” Buck warned, keepin’ his eyes down at the dirt.

  “I ain’t lookin’.”

  “If I can see it, he can see it.”

  I turned my head slightly to look at Leroy. Boss man was lookin’ at the womenfolk hangin’ clothes on the line. I always hated working this field. I preferred the one at the edge of the plantation. I didn’t like being ‘round those white folks.

  “That’s masser’s niece. Ya know that.”

  “I don’t take no never mind to the masser and his folks. I don’t know nothin’,” I grumbled as I broke up the clumps of dirt so we could turn over the field.

  The sun kept beating down on me until I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood up and my back creaked and cracked while I walked over to the water pail. Reaching for the ladle, I felt the warm water go down my throat. At least they had placed it under the tree, so it wasn’t boiling.

  “Big George, I don’t remember ya askin’ me for some water.”

  Leroy was standing over me. His face had black stubble. The few teeth he had left in his head were brown and black as he spit his chaw at my feet. His greasy hair stuck to the side of his head from the sweat of the day and his tan shirt was faring just as well.

  “Ah geez, Mister Leroy, I thinks the sun done cooked ‘did my brain. I’s sorry.”

  “Big George, you ain’t foolin’ me, boy. I can see in your eyes you ain’t as dumb as they say you’s is.”

  Leroy and I had gone back and forth for years. If ever I had a true enemy, it was him.

  “Well Leroy, I thought you knew how to keep these boys workin’.”

  Masser had arrived. He was dressed in the latest fashion of the day, his coat buttoned tightly around his rotund stomach while his freshly pressed shirt with its big collar held firmly to his ascot.

  “Hey, Big George, what’s ya doin’ here?”

  “I’s just gettin’ a little water.”

  I kept my eyes down because his wife and niece were with him. His youngest daughter always thought of me as a toy she could play with.

  “Hey, Georgie Porgie, can you give me a ride?”

  “Not now, Miss Sidda, I’s got to work.”

  “Please, Daddy. Please make Georgie gives me a ride,” her deep southern accent was drawing out all the words.

  “Go on, Big George. Give Sidda a ride. The field can wait five minutes.”

  Gritting my teeth I held my tongue as hard as I could. Looking up, my eyes caught the wrong person. Masser’s niece was standing there with her beautiful blue eyes and blond hair that was so fair it was almost white. She wore a baby blue hat with feathers and cornflowers in it, and long satin bow hugged snugly to her right cheek. Her lips had a deep red paint on them, and I caught my breath looking at her.

  But that wasn’t the problem. The problem came when I smiled at her and she smiled back, arching her eyebrow whe
n she did.

  Leroy’s fist made contact with my face and sent my upper body twisting like one of the sheets in the wind. My spine snapped and crackled like a bug in the fire. The fight I tried to suppress emerged as my fist returned the favor.

  Before I knew it, four men were holding me down, and masser was apologizing about the wild animal he had on his plantation.

  “Yous like lookin’ at my kinfolk? At my womenfolk? You ain’t so slow you don’t know better. Yous don’t even know what to do with a woman, so why’s you lookin’ at her in such a way?”

  For the first time I didn’t apologize. I didn’t humble myself to him. I kept my mouth shut as I got strung up. My arms pulled tight to the thick pole in the front yard. The leather straps cut into my wrists as my shoulders were pulled so hard I swore they were gonna come right out of the sockets.

  The masser’s niece placed herself so she could see my face. A snarl like smile appeared and I knew this was what she wanted. I played so well into her hand.

  “Uncle Jefferson, do you use the rule of thumb?”

  “No, Charlotte. That’s only used on my chillren. You can’t use such a small measure on a nigger. They wouldn’t understand. Especially this one,” the masser’s hand grasped the back of my neck. “See, he’s slow. Ya know, the biggin’s always are. Plus, he’s dark as the devil hisself, so you’s gotta be careful around him. Bein’ dumb and evil-hearted is a vicious combination. Why, he mighta jumped you, takin’ your innocence in front of us all.”

  “I thought you said this one was impotent, Pa?”

  The genius son had to join in, emasculating me more.

  “Yeah, but nigga men can’t control themselves around white women. It’s in their nature to try to violate them at every turn. That’s why you’s gotta protect the womenfolk.”

  I bit at the pole to stop myself from saying that masser’s wife proved that theory wrong. He got this plantation from his wife’s family. Prolly the only way they could marry off that feist.

  “Why you even keepin’ him around, Uncle?” Charlotte asked with a snarl. “If he ain’t no good for breedin’.”

  Her look was more of disappointment. She licked her lips then moved her eyes to my crotch. I’d heard about girls like her. It wasn’t just the menfolk that wandered down to the slave quarters at night.