David on the other hand seemed entirely unfazed by the extreme temperature change. The sunglasses he wore added to his air of mystery by concealing his eyes from me. It made him even harder than usual to read. He guided me across the asphalt of the runway to a black car that sat idling. The second I slipped inside I let out a sigh of relief. I was immediately basked in the cool air of the air conditioning. It coated my balmy skin, cooling the heat that had practically suffocated me.
David moved in alongside me and shut the door. The car moved away from the runway smoothly and barely made a sound. Reaching the road it picked up speed and I tried to drink in as much of the scenery as I could.
"What do you think?" David asked. The insecurity seemed to have returned to his voice. I turned to him with a smile, one that lit up my whole face.
"Apart from the heat, this place is magical. In fact I'm sure I could handle the heat just so I could remain at a place like this."
David started to laugh at my enthusiasm. He leaned in closer to me and gripped my chin with his thumb and forefinger. I stared up into his dark lust-filled eyes and sighed.
He brought his lips closer to mine and left just the ghost of a kiss on my mouth. I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck but it was far too difficult. The angle in the car was all wrong and I couldn't quite turn enough to get what I wanted.
David drew away from me with a chuckle. The type that only men seem to be capable of making. The sort of sound that a man who is very sure of himself makes. But I didn't care. The feminist within me wanted to be insulted but even she couldn't quite find the conviction to truly mean it. David was entitled to it. I had given myself to him and there was no turning back from that. Becoming indignant now would only be hypocritical. Besides, part of me liked it. I liked him knowing that he could be sure of me. It was, in an odd way, comforting to me.
The car pulled to a stop outside a large white building. There were windows dotted all over it and lavish balconies accompanied most. I could only assume it was a hotel judging by the size of it. A young man ran down the front steps and immediately began unpacking the bags from the car.
David helped me back out into the intense heat. I sucked in a deep breath and felt stifled. My head swam in dizzying circles and my stomach lurched. Before I knew what was happening, the world had turned black.
Opening my eyes I felt a strong pair of arms cradling me. The intense over powering heat was gone, replaced with cool air and lots of oxygen. I gazed up into David's concerned face. He held me tightly as though afraid to let me go. As though if he did, I might break into a thousand fragile pieces.
"What happened?" I asked. My throat felt dry and my head throbbed.
"You passed out. Have you ever done that before?" His voice was filled with worry.
"No... Not that I know of... I was fine in the car." I struggled to sit up and David helped me. He kept his arm locked around my shoulders as he helped me to take a seat. Just beyond him I could see several other people hovering nearby. As though awaiting instructions.
"What have you drank today?"
I paused, my mind trailing back over the day’s events. I remembered drinking my coffee but after that there was nothing. Sheepishly I looked up at David through my eyelashes.
"Coffee..."
"And?" he prompted, but I shook my head.
"Oh for god’s sake, Carrie. You need to drink more..."
I cut him off by lifting my hands to my head. "Don't tell me off, I feel stupid enough for passing out."
He softened a little and squeezed my shoulders. "I'm sorry, it's just you frightened me. But you need to drink more."
I nodded my head. "I could do with some water, actually. My throat feels as though I haven't drank anything in years. It's so dry."
He turned away from me and barked orders at the small group standing behind us. "Water, iced."
His look when he returned to staring at me was filled with concern and something else that lurked just beneath the surface.
"What is it?" I asked him, my curiosity finally getting the better of me. I wanted to understand him. He was so hot and cold. One minute all concern and the next brusque and business-like. The water arrived and I gulped down several mouthfuls.
"Nothing. It's not important," he answered me as I drank.
I opened my mouth to insist on a complete answer when something caught my eye that made the words dry up on my tongue. A man walked in through the doors of the hotel. The woman draped across his arm was one of the most stunning women I had ever set eyes on.
Her blonde hair fell down her back in a perfect shimmering curtain. Her skin was the perfect combination of sun kissed bronze. It complemented her hair and eye colour perfectly. She was tall and graceful, her curves hinting at a body that was not all hard muscle and perfect toning. The one thing that repeated over and over in my mind as I watched her was, perfection. She was the epitome of it.
I looked down at my own frumpy body and let out a longing sigh. If only... However, that wasn't the most interesting part. Although she was incredibly stunning, what had drawn my attention in the first place was the man.
"Robert. Lovely to see you here." David's voice was filled with false warmth as he stood and approached the other man.
I watched with interest as Robert's eyes opened just a little too wide as David surprised him. But that was the only sign he let slip through his cold exterior.
"David... You're here..." Robert smiled and extended his hand. They shook and I could see the tension running through David's shoulders. It made me wonder if I was the only one who could read him in that way.
The blonde turned a hundred-watt smile on David, her entire face lighting up with joy at the sight of him. Something tightened in the pit of my stomach in a very uncomfortable way. She had the look of a woman in love, or at the very least infatuated, with David. Although David had said he wanted me, how could I compete in the face of such complete beauty?
David released Robert's hand and took her hand. He bent his head low over her hand and kissed it. A spike of pure jealousy ripped through me. It seemed petty and stupid to have that feeling. David didn't owe me anything. If he wanted a woman like that he could have her and what could I do about it? I would never look like that. I would never attain that level of perfection.
"Angelica, you look delightful, as always." He stood up and attempted to release her hand. It was then I saw it. Her fingers tightened on his ever so slightly and the look in her eyes turned to one of pure panic. It was gone in an instant but it niggled at me. I had seen it. I hadn't imagined it. But what it meant exactly, I had no idea.