Mabasa's Fire

MABASA'S FIRE

By

Lorraine Kennedy

© copyright by Lorraine Kennedy, April 2008

Cover Art by Alex DeShanks, April 2008

New Concepts Publishing

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Chapter One

It had been so long ago that he’d let his heart believe that a woman could share his life with him. He’d been sure that love would overcome all. That was until Annette.

He’d been mystified by her reaction when he’d told her he planned to leave the states and return to Africa to help his people. She’d had it in her head that they would remain in California and live the good life.

Annette had laughed at him when he’d asked her to share his life with him in Africa. Her love had been superficial but it had taught Mabasa that the life he’d chosen must be a solitary life. He could offer no woman a life of luxury, only himself and his little house on the savanna.

He’d grown accustomed to a solitary life, so why all the sudden, was this woman tearing at his mind and sending longing into his loins?

Those startling blue eyes watched him with such faith in them that he could feel her burrowing into his mind.

He stood up abruptly. “Let us walk,” he told her, holding out his hand to help her to her feet.

April was surprised by his sudden shift in mood, but let him pull her up. They slowly made there way out into the night. They walked until the village was out of sight, but the drums could still be heard over the sounds of the night.

The moon was bright and lit their way. Like the touch of a lover, the warm breeze slid across her skin, bringing to mind things better left alone.

“Do you believe that I can heal your leg?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why do you believe this? Is it faith in a stranger . . . someone you have never met before tonight, or is it desperations?” Mabasa had stopped and was now looking down into her eyes.

“It is both things I think,” she answered truthfully.

Her answer seemed to satisfy him and he smiled.

“I suspect that your ailments go far beyond your leg. Are you willing to let me help you put to rest your pain?”

April nodded, uncertain that this man would have the ability to ease the pain in her soul.

“You must trust me, and this will not be easy since you do not know me. Can you do this?” he asked.

“Yes,” she told him. The fact was that she had never felt so safe and secure as she did in Mabasa’s presence. April had no idea why she felt this way, only that she did. Impulsively, she put her arms around his neck and placed her lips on his in a light kiss.

It was meant to be a friendly kiss of thanks, but when she felt him put his strong arms around her waist and pull her closer, April was sure that she would melt right there and then. His bare flesh sent shivers through her body and she realized that it wasn’t just a passing fancy. She wanted this man in a sexual way.

His tongue entered her mouth and their innocent kiss very suddenly heated up. Without warning he stopped, gently pulling away.

“Please forgive me, Miss Lawson. I had no right,” he told her as he began leading her back to the village.

“I kissed you first, remember?”

Mabasa smiled but said nothing and April wondered if his regrets were because he felt it improper or did they come from someplace else?

“We will start tomorrow. Iniko will show you the way,” he told her before leaving her in the company of the little boy who had come looking for her.