Free All I've Ever Needed (After the Storm) by Jewel Moore Page A

serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to make it profitable and Shirley looked after me for her.   People used to call Eva and me the ‘the black and white twins’ when she took us to the shops or to play in the park.”   Stephano laughed at the memory as he released the car’s central locking mechanism.   It hadn’t been as easy when he and Eva were teenagers—their friendship had incited racial comments and abuse from both races.
    ***
    Within a few minutes of arrival they were shown to their table.   The restaurant had a cool elegance that wasn’t typical of the Thai restaurants at which Natalie had previously dined, but the dark wood tables were quite close together.
    Natalie had looked forward to having a green curry all day, but changed her mind at the last minute when she thought of the creamy coconut milk.   She and Stephano both ordered Pla Tod Sam Rod , whole de-boned sea bass with a chili, tamarind and lemongrass sauce.   She wasn’t particularly hungry, but when his Thot Man Kung, deep-fried crab cakes flavored with red curry paste and finely-chopped lime leaves, arrived it smelled heavenly.   When he offered her a bite, she shook her head.
    “Try it,” he encouraged.   “It’s very tasty.”
    She leaned in, took the morsel and found it as scrumptious as it looked.
    When he offered another piece, she took it, trying not to appear too eager.
    And the proximity of the tables lent intimacy, she discovered as they spent the next forty-five minutes chatting pleasantly and enjoying the beautifully presented food.   Leaning in to whisper, so as not to be overheard by the occupants of the next table, created a coziness that wouldn’t have been likely in a larger restaurant.
    They were mostly silent on the short journey to her house.   She   watched him covertly as he drove the racing red Jaguar XKR Convertible—she had a thing about cars and knew how expensive the model was—expertly, letting the power steering work for him.   The car with its big-cat sleekness suited Stephano perfectly.
    “Would you like to come in for coffee?”   He’d had a glass of wine with the meal and they had both refused coffee and dessert.   She needed to ensure that he was sober enough for the drive home.
    Oh come on, Natalie!   You may as well have said, would you like to come in and have me! she chided herself.
    “Yes, please,” Stephano responded readily, coming around to open the car door for her.
    He kept her hand in his as he remotely locked the car, opened the gate and hurried up her walkway.   Thrumming with excitement, she fumbled to open her front door.   And as soon as she did, Stephano wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hungrily even before the door closed behind them.
    At the touch of his lips she was right where she had been two Fridays ago—aroused, needy…and desired.   His arms were a welcome cage of muscle that made her feel secure and safe from the world.
    “This dress is driving me out of my mind, cara .”   Stephano’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he broke the kiss.   “I want to take it off you.”
    He was asking her permission and all she had to say was “no”, but she couldn’t.
    Instead of answering, she turned and led the way up to her bedroom.
    She expected them to undress hurriedly when they got there.   Instead Stephano slowly unwrapped the black Pashmina shawl and looked at her.
    “I was worried that you would pop out of this dress all evening.”   He slid his fingers on the delicate straps and pinged them softly.   They looked delicate but were quite secure.   “I was worried, but at the same time hopeful that it would happen.”
    Natalie chuckled at his honesty as he slid the strap off her shoulder and bent to kiss the exposed flesh.   He trailed his lips to the slender column of her neck and she shivered in reaction as he stirred the erogenous zones there.   He seemed intent on taking it slowly, but she was already on fire.
    Reaching up blindly, she