TILL INFINTY

The baggage carousel circled back twice and there was still no sign of Diana's luggage. This was ridiculous she thought. Waiting forty-five minutes to claim her luggage when she was already running late amped up her impatience. She refrained from sneaking another peek at her watch because that wasn't going to make time go any slower.

"Bloody hell." She muttered under her breath.

This weekend was already off to a bad start the first sign was when her sister called, informing her that Moses would be attending her wedding. The call left her so agitated she almost missed her flight to Johannesburg, thinking about what she'd say to him if she got the chance. Against her better judgement she still loved Moses and being apart for a year hadn't diminished her feelings for him. It sounded pitiful to still be fixated on a man who left her to marry someone else, but she couldn't get over the fear she now harboured because of a broken heart.

Her shoulders sagged in relief when her cerise-coloured suitcase surfaced on the fourth round. It was part of a gift set from her sister, which she insisted on buying because black luggage was ordinarily boring. Diana held back from complaining when she saw the price tag because she had scored herself a Celine collection without spending a single cent. She didn't wait for it to get to her, as she rushed to grab her suitcase from the maddening machine. A brief stop for coffee halted Diana's mad dash to the exit, the dainty pastries on display were tempting but she could already hear her mother's voice in the back of her mind.

'A moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips.' Her words haunted Diana, reminding her she was fat compared to Jada her sister.

She turned away from the pastries with a heavy heart and paid for her coffee, she didn't even have time to sit and enjoy the brew like she normally would. Rushing out of the coffee shop, a towering frame suddenly blocked her path and in her frenzy, Diana couldn't avoid colliding into the man's rock-solid torso.

"Oh, no! Look what you've done!" she yelled frustration evident in her usually composed tone. This diet Pam suggested made her grumpy, but there was no time to think about that because she had to deal with the idiot standing before her. "I was really looking forward to drinking that." She stared longingly at his coffee-soaked white shirt.

"You bumped into me, lady and ruined a quality piece of clothing." He bent his tall body and picked up his phone. "Great. You broke my phone too."

She snapped her head up, ready to give him a piece of her mind but instantly wished she hadn't when their eyes met. His eyes and skin were the colour of coffee beans and his big nose protruded from his face, enhancing his full lips and the neatly trimmed stubble, framing his strong jawline. She loved that he had a clean shaven head, already imagining it between her thighs. Colour stained her rounded cheeks as she banished the thought from her head.

Whoa, Diana! Get a grip!

He truly was beautiful, like a work of art meant to be admired for a lifetime. He oozed sex appeal, effortlessly, and for the first time since Moses, Diana was mesmerized by a man and this was most interesting because Moses never aroused her like this stranger. Yes, stranger, she needed to remember that because her thoughts were already going off course.

She slowly shook her head, gathering her thoughts and returned her gaze on him. She hoped he was oblivious to the effect he had on her treacherous body.

"If you weren't so busy on that thing, you would've noticed me, and none of this would've happened," she said, poking at his taut chest.

Her fierceness stirred something in him, something he'd long thought was dead and would never resurrect. He found it sexy that she didn't back down even though it was obvious she found him attractive. He noticed the deep yearning, which glistened in her warm-toned eyes when she blushed. He could almost imagine what she was thinking and that stirred his erection to life. He wanted her, to feel her soft skin against his, kiss the furrow between her brows and make love to her.

Love? No. You're getting way ahead of yourself, buddy.

The thought shook him so bad he almost jumped out of his skin.

"Prancing around the airport like a Tasmanian devil didn't help either." He sounded annoyed, like he was reprimanding a misbehaving child.

"You've wasted enough of my time." She grabbed her suitcase and turned to leave but his firm hold on her wrist stopped her. His touch was like branding iron on her delicate skin, she wanted to pull away because it made her feel delirious and she needed to keep her wits about her around him.

"Wait. Let me buy you another cup of coffee." Touching her proved to be a mistake on his part. A jarring sensation raced through him, electrifying his senses leaving him wanting more than just the feel of her skin.

Diana was taken aback by his 'peace offering', he was ready to rip her head off a minute ago. "That won't be necessary. I'm already late as it is." Her tone was firm and steady, which wasn't even close to how she felt. The overwhelming potency lingered in her unsettled stomach before seeping to her core.

"It will only take a minute."

What the devil had gotten into him? This was preposterous even for him, he needed to be on his way and not standing here trying to convince this fiery temptress to accept his offer for coffee. The urge to run his fingers through her luscious body plagued his scattered mind.

His insistence slightly annoyed Diana, because the longer she was in his presence the harder it became to deny the attraction she felt for him.

"Let go of my hand," she demanded, through gritted teeth.

His sultry stare hovered over the rapid rise and fall of her D sized bosoms. Urgent hunger flashed in his eyes, leaving Diana both excited and shaken. For a silly moment she felt desired by this absolute... stranger. She had to remind herself of that part again.

He slowly released her hand and stepped back. "As you wish."

A small crowd of intrigued bystanders had gathered around them. She whizzed past him, ignoring the smirk on his handsome face. What a jerk! He seriously thought that buying her a cup of coffee would somehow put him in her good graces. Fortunately she'd dealt with her fair share of chancers who thought flaunting a charming smile and wallet guaranteed them a roll in the sack.

Once outside she was greeted by the sea breeze, gently ruffling the hem of her summer dress. She put on her sunglasses and followed the Uber driver who wasted no time accosting her. It was a wonderful day the sky was clear and blue, and the sun smiled down in all its glory. The absence of hovering clouds allowed unobstructed views of Table Mountain, truly was paradise and she was ready to relax and enjoy herself.

Driving through the city centre to the wedding venue, she couldn't stop the pang of jealousy burning a hole in her chest because Jada was getting married before her. It didn't get any better knowing she'd be questioned about her relationship status by nosy relatives, who believed that marriage was the highest order of achievement. Despite her dire love life she already had a candidate in mind, a hopeful smile shaped her lips as her thoughts drifted back to the Jerk at the airport. His firm yet gentle touch thrilled her, leaving her nipples tingling with anticipation. The memory of his baritone sent an involuntary shiver down her spine and she beckoned her common sense to quieten the throb between her thighs. For one unforgettable moment he made her feel desired and the surge of unfamiliar emotions drowned her in confusion, as she tried to comprehend her body's reaction towards that man.

Oh, that man was something else! A mournful sigh escaped her lips at the thought of not seeing him again. She didn't know whether to dissolve into tears or succumb to hysterical laughter at this crazy thought. Why did she even care if she saw him again? It was better to stay as far away from him as possible.

She roughly wiped away the memory of his touch from her hand, but it was just as stubborn as the thoughts of him in her head.

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