AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah. Mum and Dad taught all three of us. They used to win competitions when they were younger.”
“I’m afraid I’ve never danced.”
“You mean ballroom dancing?”
“Any type. I’ve never been to a club.”
He tips his head to the side, clearly puzzled. “Seriously?”
“Only danced to songs in my bedroom.”
“But you must have had times when your aunt looked after your mum. Didn’t you go out then?”
“I was supposed to stay at school until I was sixteen, but as Mum’s health deteriorated, I took more and more time off. Friends drifted away, went to university, got jobs and boyfriends.”
“There must have been help and support available through the system?”
I give a sad smile, because it’s not his fault that he has no idea of the reality. “There are at least forty thousand young carers below the age of twenty-five in New Zealand and that figure is probably vastly underestimated. I’ve seen a global table that ranks a country based on its awareness and response to young carers, and we’re well behind the UK and Australia. There’s not enough funding or staff, and those who do exist are overworked and underpaid. There are Facebook groups and so-called support networks, but to be honest I never found them much help.”
He studies my face, then pulls me closer to him, sliding his arm around me. I rest my cheek on his shoulder, enjoying his scent, and being close to him. The thought of unbuttoning his waistcoat and shirt later, and sliding my hands beneath the cotton onto his warm skin, sends a tingle down my spine. I don’t care that this is undoubtedly going to end in heartache. Right now, I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else but in his arms.
The pianist slides smoothly into another song, and we dance for a few more minutes before I say, somewhat reluctantly, “Our dessert has arrived.”
“Come on, then.” He leads me back to our table, the two of us smiling as a ripple of polite applause sounds around the room.
“Another first,” I say, taking my seat.
“For me, too.” He picks up his spoon and scoops up a little of the dessert.
“You haven’t danced with another girl here?”
He laughs, shakes his head, and closes his lips around the spoon. “Mmm.”
I have a spoonful. It’s rich, smoky, and creamy. Oh my God, it’s amazing. I close my eyes in ecstasy, savoring every second until I swallow, then brush the tip of my tongue across my lip so I don’t waste any.
“Jesus,” he says. “You’re killing me here.”
I laugh and open my eyes. “We should order a portion in a doggy bag. I could smear it all over you and lick it off.”
He turns his spoon over and sucks it. “I’ve already got that sorted.”
“You’ve ordered a portion?”
“No. But I bought some edible massage oil.” He grins as my eyes nearly fall out of my head.
“What’s it made from?”
“Coconut oil. With vanilla. I’m going to make you smell like custard, then lick it all off.”
I give him a helpless look. “Oh my God.”
He laughs and has another spoonful of the dessert, his eyes dancing as he watches me. He points at the dish with his spoon. “Eat up. You need to keep your strength up.”
“I do. I feel a bit faint. Whereabouts is your house, is it far?”
“About ten minutes away. But we’re going somewhere else first.”
“Oh?” I’m disappointed.
