I took a couple of steps towards her. “I said I had nothing”, i replied.She came up to me now and stood right in my face. “Fucking fattie cow ...eeping yer money to yerself”!! She poked me right in the tit and that point I flushed red in rage so I pushed her hard. She fell back on her arse as I yelled at her to get lost. She sprung to her feet and grabbed the back of my coat. I wriggled out of it and she sort of fell back. I went to slap her but she grabbed my arm. With her other hand she. My mouth has gone dry. My brain is struggling to focus beyond the proximity of you. You’re consuming me and you haven’t even touched me. Part of me wishes you would just reach over and end my torturous wait; yet another wants this moment to last forever. It happens that quickly that I don’t register the first contact of your lips with mine. It isn’t the pressure of them, or the slight scratch of your stubble against my face; it’s when your tongue pushes against mine that my head catches up to. ." We are. They aren't."It had gone back and forth for several hours that morning. Anna had been so sure of herself, her speech so calm, that Jaide had more and more trouble finding flaws in her argument. In the end, they agreed to stay. The princess had made arrangements to address the city that afternoon, and word had been sent to several neighboring cities as well. So with nothing else to do until then, the former slaves were treated to hot baths and as much food as they desired. Residents. Tess came up to stand between Mbuto and me. Suddenly, a cacophony of noise erupted from one side of the trail – shouts, screams, drum beats, hand claps, even, dare I say it, a cowbell rang out. I heard a commotion behind us, and turned to see many of our bearers throw down their loads and run shrieking back up the trail. The bloody bastards had deserted us!Before Mbuto or I could do anything to halt their exodus, the four of us were surrounded by the tallest, darkest tribesmen I'd ever seen..