Free The Paler Shade of Autumn by Jacquie Underdown

instantly shared an indescribable connection, at the most inopportune time and location.
    Their situation is almost like a personal challenge to test if she has the ability to selflessly give up her own needs and wants for the sake of those in a less fortunate position. Though she doesn’t doubt how this will end, with her going home tomorrow, it still hurts, nonetheless.
    Jet kisses her forehead. “You’re my personal Mara, the demon of my desire.”
    “How have we gone from mesmerising to demon?” she says, grinning, blinking to banish the tears wanting to form.
    He kisses her again, leaving his lips to linger a little longer at her forehead.
    “In my current situation, those two words are interchangeable.”
    “Are you saying the old fortune teller, she of mere pot-luck, was right?”
    Jet doesn’t say anything immediately; instead she feels a long lungful of air escape from his chest. “I am wondering how I am going to say goodbye tomorrow.”
    Autumn whispers, “Me too. I don’t want to. I want to stay with you, even if for only a day longer.”
    He gently shifts her head from his shoulder and sits up in the bed, eyes wide. “You can. We can work it out.”
    She shakes her head, pulling the sheets up over her bare breasts as she sits. “It’s best if I don’t.” The words feel solid and catch painfully in her throat. “More time will only make it harder.”
    “What if you come back and visit me, or I can see if I can get back to Australia for a couple of weeks, or a month. We need to at least try and see if this will work between you and me.”
    “Jet, when I go tomorrow, I won’t leave you my contact details and I don’t want yours. I will not be responsible for you leaving here.”
    Jet sighs, but nods his head.

Chapter 6
    The glorious Indian sun brings morning too quickly to the sleeping orphanage of Bodh Gaya. Lying with Jet in the small, single bed with his arms wrapped cosily over her body, Autumn does not wish to open her eyes. So she doesn’t. Not yet, even as Jet stirs behind her.
    Jet’s arousal is immediate. He presses that prompt stiffening between his thighs against the supple, round cheeks of her bottom. Autumn’s blood rushes to the areas it splendours most fabulously.
    Like a languid caterpillar, she rolls on her side to face him, and when she knows her first image upon waking will be of Jet, she opens her eyelids. Jet’s eyes captivate her, as though she is seeing them anew, the colour of honey and just as sweet. Jet is like a hug after a long time apart, or a dizzying first kiss, or dirty sex after a fight. He makes her feel good and she doesn’t know how she will be able to say goodbye.
    She kisses his succulent lips and body until she lies breathless, heart pounding against his broad chest, his seed wetting her thighs and during that time, prohibits any more thoughts of going home.
    Jet joins her for a shower, providing a clean toothbrush, toothpaste, along with much appreciated soap. Autumn begrudgingly dresses into the clothes she wore the entire day before and checks in on David on the way back to her room, hoping he is feeling better and not having a clue what to do if he isn’t.
    When she opens the door and pokes her head in, David is sound asleep. She calls his name softly and he stirs; eyes bloodshot, but his face has lost yesterday’s pallor and gained much of his original rosy colouring.
    “I think I’ve stabilised,” he says, voice hoarse. “I haven’t purged since yesterday afternoon.” He slowly sits upright; places his feet on the floor. “I even think I’m able to eat something.”
    Autumn was not completely aware of how worried she had been about his condition until she sighs so strongly with relief it dizzies her.
    Jet pokes his head into the room. “Looking good, mate.”
    David nods. “I’m not doing too bad. Thank you for everything, the electrolytes, the use of your room.”
    Autumn and Jet exchange glances with each other.
    “It’s not a