SO COLD (18+) currently editing

Chapter 78

SO COLD

The apartment was quiet aside from the quiet thrum of the fridge and the sounds of the TV. Windows were closed against the fierce lashes of rain, and the city view from behind the locked balcony doors revealed a sodden and grey capital. The air was toasty warm, bridging on sweltering heat that would rest uncomfortably on foreheads and flushed cheeks. The thermostat beeped, light blue lights flashing as it kicked down to a cooler temperature. There was a lingering smell of rice and beans which been reheated over the hob by brown hands that moved in familiarity over a serving spoon and an array of spices, adding diced chicken to the mix. Cole loved his meat, a vegan he was not.

Bellies were full, wine glasses were set on the coffee table, half drunk; legs were spread across the sofa, my back against his chest; and eyes were fixed on the plasma TV screen on the wall. The ambiance was peaceful.

My phone vibrated. I unlocked it, reading the text message from Uncle Isiah.

                        Set off yet?

I shifted. "I have to go."

Cole groaned to himself, arm tightening around my waist and cheek resting against mine. His voice was rough as he said. "Stay for another night. I'll take you there myself tomorrow."

"Too late. I've already told him I'm leaving now." I pressed send on the message.

He took the phone from me, tossing it towards the end of the sofa, it bumped and landed on the grey shaggy rug. "Set it on aeroplane mode. Or tell your uncle you're too busy screaming for God as I fuck you roughly." He moved on top, my head hit the cushion, and his mouth curled up into a slow smile. "Just the way you fantasise about. What do you say?"

"I would never be able to look him in the eye again if I so much as hinted I wasn't chaste."

"Then I'll tell him," he pressed a kiss against my jawline, hips moving slowly against mine.

"I'll hit you across the face twice. Once for suggesting it and twice because you're shameless enough to do it."

He grabbed my wrists, holding them above my head in one hand. "How are you going to hit me?" his sultry gaze fell to my mouth and he raised his gaze, flashing a wicked grin. "He'll understand if I tell him how much of a secret slut you are with a tongue that'll make God come to his knees."

"You're going to hell,"

"I'll drag you with me,"

"I'm a saint. I've got a one-way ticket to the Pearly Gates."

"Computer malfunctioned. You're headed the wrong way, sweetheart."

"I think I'm pregnant."

He paused, eyebrows furrowing.

"With food." I laughed at his disappointment. He was annoyed.

"Don't play with me like that," he murmured lowly, head dipping to my throat, teeth grazing against my skin. "I'll have you pregnant in a week if you want to make any more jokes."

"A week? You have too much faith in yourself."

"Want to test my faith?" he raised his head and challenged, eyes locked, entirely serious.

"No. And I'm getting late. I don't want to drive on the motorway when it's pitch-black. So get the hell up," I straightened up to sit when he raised himself off me and stood up, stretching his arms above his head and reaching for the remote to pause on the programme. "If you finish Hand of God without me whilst I'm gone, we're getting a divorce."

He side-eyed me. "You better catch up on your iPad because I'm not waiting till next week for you to come back."

I reached for my trainers, pushing my right foot in and pulling out the back from under my heel. I glanced up as I untied the laces and re-tied them. "This is why I started watching The Path without you. You're a selfish whore and you're ruining this relationship." I stomped my feet.

He threw me a look. "Are you okay?"

I stood. "I was getting comfortable." I paused, glancing at the windows. "I'm really dumb as shit. It's wet and muddy. My whites are going to get dirty. They're pristine white, by the way. Not just white. And yes, I am bragging on how clean they are."

"I'll call Svetlana whilst you go change,"

"Excuse me," I said as I picked up my phone, reading the response from Isiah. "You have too much faith in me. I'm lazy. But creative. I'll just tie carrier bags over them. Damn. I really am the inspiration for my generation. Ground-breaking and gifted. I know my dad would be proud of me if he was alive."

"You're going to slip on your ass," he said, phone raised to his ear. "And he is alive."

"We'll see about that," I said.

Fifteen minutes later: I set my overnight duffle bag down in the hallway and trudged to the living room as the plastic bags shuffled on my feet noisily. Cole looked down at my feet, judging hard. "Sometimes I don't know if I made the right decision in loving you," he said, "you do realise you're going to have to walk past the gym, the reception area and the other residents in this building, right?"

"It's like, eight thirty. It's past everyone's bedtime." I looked down at my feet, wondering if public embarrassment was worth being lazy. I shrugged. "I've decided I don't care enough to change and if you were the supportive and loving husband you claim you are, you'd come with me and hold my hand as we walk outside."

"We're divorced. You can go by yourself," his phone beeped. "Svetlana's outside. It's time to go. Where's your gun?"

I checked to see if the semiautomatic was strapped securely to my side under my coat. "Got it." I followed him out into the hallway as he picked up the duffle bag and unlocked the front door. Continuing out, he turned left for the elevators and hit the button. The display showed '0' for Ground Floor. It soon flipped to 1 and continued its ascend to the eleventh floor.

"You're really not coming down with me?"

"No," the duffle bag dropped to his feet with a thump. He cupped my face, kissing me deeply until I was slightly breathless and the elevators dinged on its arrival, doors sliding apart. He picked up the duffle bag once more, handing it over and holding a hand out to stop the doors closing on us. "Follow the route Svetlana takes. She's going to stay outside all night and then she'll leave in the afternoon. I'll send someone out after her."

I kissed him once. Twice. Stepped on the elevator. "You worry too much."

"I have to," he said. "Call me when you get there."

"Will do," I said and hit the button for the ground floor.

***