Obsession (Year of Fire) Read Online Free PDF Page B

gold lettering, the blonde girl’s outfit was simple and demure: light-blue denim overalls over a barely visible emerald-green tank top; her feet were clad in flat, white sandals made from two leather strips that crossed in the middle. He noticed the bag she had slung across her back, a rustic weave in different shades of brown; she wore it across her shoulder as if it was weighing her down. Though it was difficult to see her body under the large, baggy overalls, Eliah thought to himself that she was very petite; he guessed that she wouldn’t be taller than five foot three.
    “Mmmm,” Juana purred, “someone’s using A*Men by Thierry Mugler. I love that scent.”
    Matilde was always surprised by her friend’s ability to detect scents in the air or on the skin. She couldn’t see how Juana could possible smellthat someone was wearing A*Men when she had just smothered herself in Organza by Givenchy in the duty-free shop. Juana loved perfumes and knew each of their scents well, but since she couldn’t afford them, she had to make do with the imitations produced by Sercet, which, in her opinion, improved upon the originals.
    They passed by Eliah, who was still standing in the aisle. Although Juana bent her head down, he could still hear her whisper, “That’s the stud wearing A*Men. How fuckable is he?”
    He was intrigued by “Mat’s” reaction; she never once looked at him, not even to sneak a glance, as though her friend hadn’t said anything. A flight attendant approached him, and they exchanged a few words in French.
    “Ooh! Even better, he’s French,” Juana noted, glancing sideways.
    “Juani, strangers are the last resort of the desperate.”
    Al-Saud raised his eyebrows at the girl’s response, surprised by her sobriety, aplomb and maturity. How old was she?
    “These are our seats, Juani. Mine is seven-B and yours is six-B.”
    Al-Saud didn’t let his excitement show. He was sitting in 7A. But he was disappointed to hear her say, “If six-A or seven-A are free, we can sit together.”
    “ Excusez-moi .” He slid in front of her and took his seat.
    Juana, turning so Al-Saud couldn’t see her, mouthed the word lucky .
    “Mat, this is the best!” she exclaimed as she discovered all the benefits of a business-class ticket.
    Matilde stretched up to put her bag in the overhead compartment, lifting her tank top slightly. Through the little gap in the side of the overalls, Al-Saud could make out the thinnest part of her waist and the translucent skin dotted with little freckles. Why did the image of his lips on that curve and his tongue running across her skin come into his head? He shifted in his seat as a sudden current pulsed in his groin. He looked down, annoyed at himself, and heard her settle in next to him. A sweet smell that reminded him of his nephew wafted over to him. She smelled of baby powder.
    He turned, unable to resist looking at her. Pretending to look for his seat belt, he leaned toward her. For some reason he couldn’t put his finger on, “Mat’s” scent stirred up intense emotions within him and he realized that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. A book, which she had taken outof the rustic bag before putting it in the overhead compartment, rested on her lap. She bunched her hair to the left so she could braid it, which she did slowly and skillfully. He liked her hands and long, thin fingers, even the shape of her clean, short, unpolished nails. She wasn’t wearing any rings or bracelets, just a cheap gray plastic watch, too big for such a slender wrist. Her forearms were completely smooth and he counted five moles, a constellation of small brown sequins. His gaze continued upward. I could fit my hand around her bicep with room to spare.
    “Monsieur?” It was Esther. “Your seat in first class is ready, monsieur. Please come with me.”
    Eliah thought for a moment: in first class he would be able to sleep the whole night through; the seats lay flat. His reply caught Esther