Page 91 of Bastard

Mustafa’s eyes light up.

“Should we plan a celebration?”

“Yes. I will let the villagers know you and your husband are going to prepare a feast for us. I will make a batch of banana maheu.”

I wink at her. “My husband loves bananas.” It’s a lie, both the husband and banana parts. Though the idea of Hayden drunk on maheu is laughable.

Does Hayden even cook? It’s a reminder that, despite our history, there’s a lot I don’t know about him.

Mustafa looks past me, then up at the sun, and then at me. “Whoop! Five minutes, yes sir,” she bursts out, excitedly. “And here he comes.”

My eyes widen.

“Charging across the field like a man possessed.”

I swing around, then gape. Hayden is almost on us, his expression somber.

I’m suddenly nervous and pleased.

He nods politely at Mustafa, offering me his hand. “Come on.”

Mustafa coughs like something’s stuck in her throat.

His eyes narrow on her.

Mustafa falls silent, in complete obedience. I roll my eyes. I’ve seen him give this look many times, always with the same response.

“Is there a fire somewhere?” I ask, allowing him to tug me up from the ditch.

“Not yet,” is his response before he practically hauls me off.

Mustafa cackles with pleasure.

“Am I the only person not completely loco?”

“She’s perceptive, not crazy,” he softly defends her.

I arch an eyebrow. “And you?”

“Me?” He stops in his tracks and swings around to face me. “I’ve lost my goddamn mind over you.”

My mouth falls open.

“Come on.” He takes my hand and tugs me along.

Everyone grins as we pass by. He leads me down the road, then into the brush and out into the tundra. Hand in hand, we climb a gently sloped knoll to the top then take shelter from the sun beneath the low canopy of a baobab tree.

I draw in a breath as I take in the vast landscape below us.

He drops my hand and points to a cluster of trees off in the distance. “My men are just over there.”

“You brought me out here to show me where your men are located?”

I stare at him, wondering what this is about.

His lips curl into a naughty smile. It’s all the warning I get, before he’s on me. Lunging forward, his lips claiming mine. It’s a wild, unexpected kiss, and I yield into it, kissing him back, licking the inside of his mouth as I come up onto my toes.

I moan.