Chapter 20

A week later

Carmen threw a glance to Shane and chuckled.

“Shane… I’m looking at you and I know what you’re doing…”, she murmured, amused, slowly turning the steering wheel.

On the passenger seat, Shane put her hands back in her lap and hid a smile.

“I am not doing anything…”.

Carmen rolled her eyes and chuckled.

“Yeah, sure. That will be right! Are you keeping your eyes shut, now?”.

Shane nodded, squeezing her eyes.

“Yes ma’am. Are we there, yet?”.

“Almost. But please, stop cheating. Don’t pretend to scratch your temple as you try to peep”.

Shane giggled and crossed her arms over her chest.

“You’re a good observer…”.

“You too…”, Carmen laughed and grabbed her hand, “…Give me your hand. Alright, put it right here. There you go”.

She placed Shane’s hand on the dark fabric of her skirt and pressed it against the soft warmth of her lap.

Shane sighed, brushing Carmen’s thigh delicately.

“You’re such a tease”.

Carmen smirked and ignored the languid sensation of having Shane’s hand between her legs. She kept driving in silence, her eyes focused on the street, catching glimpses of an orange sun spreading all over the warm afternoon.

Shane was gently stroking her leg, her slender fingers moving like she was playing a piano, and then like they were tracing an invisible path on Carmen’s body. In the silence of the cabin, Carmen heard Shane letting go a silent growl that came from the depths of her throat and gave her a look.

It was a rapid look, but long enough to interiorize every detail. She observed Shane’s pale skin, her tousled, dark hair. Her eyes captured Shane’s pearl gray suit half-hiding a black t-shirt. She watched her relaxed posture, her slumped shoulders, her pink lips, the curve of her chin, that brooding attitude that came so natural, so normal to her.

“You are so bewitching…”, she murmured, and Shane pressed her whole palm on Carmen’s thigh, instinctively.

“…You know, Carm…”, Shane sighed, resting the back of her head against the seat, “…I feel like I’m changing, inside and outside…”.

Carmen didn’t answer. She just smiled the sweetest of smiles and kept staring at the road.