What had begun as chance visits were slowly becoming routine.Whenever Becky felt lonely, she would seek company at Koech's place.
That afternoon, Koech tilted his face toward the sky and frowned. Dark clouds were gathering and darkening in the distance as the afternoon sun brewed a storm.
"A heavy rain is coming. And it is coming fast," he said.
Becky had already noticed the change. With every passing minute, the clouds thickened, swallowing the light. She had already spent most of the day there, and the thought of being trapped made her uneasy.
"I've got to go!" she declared.
"You are not serious. You won't even get to the road before it begins to pour."
At that moment, fierce lightning split the sky. It was immediately followed by a deafening crack of thunder.
Rain erupted in torrents. Within minutes, puddles formed across Koech's compound, merging into wide sheets of water until the open field looked like a flooded plain.
"From the look of things, you won't be going anywhere," Koech observed.
Becky said nothing, her attention focused on the rain lashing against the windows in a rhythm that grew louder by the second.
"I'd better start preparing dinner," Koech said.
"I will go back," Becky responded, though she didn't believe it herself. "It is going to stop."
"With thunderstorm like this, I doubt it is safe to go in this rain. You can stay for the night" Koech advised leaving to the kitchen.
Resignedly, Becky settled deeper on the couch.
It didn't take long before the steaming dishes landed on the table. Becky's taste buds were immediately tantalized by the aroma of Koech's cuisine floating in the air. It was ugali, sukuma wiki and fried beef.
A couple of hours later, the table had been cleared. The house had settled into its night silence Koech noticed Becky stifled a yawn and her eyes briefly glazed.
"It's getting late," he said gently. "Come let me show you to your room."
She rose and followed him down the narrow corridor, their footsteps soft against the floor. They passed the washroom, then reached a small bedroom at the far end of the house. He ushered her in, wished her goodnight and left.
Becky lay on the bed, hands folded over her stomach, eyes fixed on the ceiling. Sleep, however, refused to come. Her memories took her back to that day at the restaurant. They arrived, uninvited and lingered. She felt that warm embrace and his passionate kiss.
With a sigh she sat up.
Maybe a shower would help.
She opened the closet. Inside were neatly folded bedsheets and towels, stacked with care. She took one of the towels, draped it over her shoulder and stepped out, headed to the bathroom. Slowly, she slipped out of her clothes and hung them on the hook by the wall. She also hung the towel.
She turned the tap. The water hissed to life, cold at first but steady. She stepped beneath the spray, closing her eyes as it spilled over her shoulder and traced its way down her back. The tension in her body began to loosen.
***
Koech found no sleep too. He was occupied with the thoughts of Becky. The awareness that she lodged in his house, only a few room away, ignited a raging heat within him.
He felt good that she enjoyed his company. This was the sixth time she had visited his house. But today, fate made sure that she stayed here for the night.
He recalled that spectacle at Kararan Academy; how she fought to be allowed to see her son. And he could not help but acknowledge that she possessed a quality that surpassed physical beauty: passion, strength and resilience. Yet beneath these, was a layer of vulnerability.
He needed to rest. For he had to travel the next day to Siongiroi. Duty called at Kararan Academy. He felt like a shower would help him relax. And so he got out of bed, tied a towel around his waist and left for the bathroom and looked around. The door to Becky's room stood slightly ajar.
"Becky," he called softly. There was no reply.
He stepped inside. Her bed was empty. The bedding lay disorganized across the mattress. He sat on the edge of it, waiting for her return.
When several minutes passed and she still had not come back, unease settled more heavily in his chest. He decided to look around the house to make sure all was well.
Then he heard a faint hissing sound. He moved cautiously in its direction — it was coming from the bathroom. She must be in there, he thought.
Koech knew he should turn back to give her privacy. He knew he should return to his room and let her finish washing. Yet he could not make himself do so. It felt as though he had momentarily lost control of his actions.
Instead, he moved forward and stretched his towards the door knob. He twisted it and pushed in.
"Becky," he said quietly.
At the sound of his voice so close to her, her heart jolted. Instinctively she pulled the towel up to cover her breasts. They stood facing each other, and as she looked at him, a shiver of sensual awareness ran through her.
Koech was a strong man, and she felt drawn to him. Memories of the kiss they had shared at the club replayed in her mind.
"When I woke up, I heard some strange movements," he explained, stepping closer to her. "I went to your room and you were not there. I got worried. Then I heard the shower and wanted to confirm that it was you."
His gaze lingered on the slender slope of her bare shoulders and drifted down to the soft curves of her breasts.
He knew he ought to walk away now that he had confirmed she was safe. Yet some powerful force held him rooted to the spot.
"I couldn't sleep," she said softly, suddenly timid at being partially unclothed before him. "I thought a shower might help."
His stare burned against her skin. She stretched out her hand to reach for her blouse, hoping to cover herself, but Koech stopped her. He gently took her by the arm and drew her close to him. She did not resist; instead, she willingly stepped into his embrace.
They began to kiss. His mouth pressed against hers in a fierce, demanding kiss, and she responded without restraint. The towel that had covered her slipped slowly to the floor as she wrapped her arms around his waist. They clung to each other, carried away by their longing.
His lips then moved from hers to her throat, sending a wave of desire through Becky — a sensation she had never felt before.
There was no denying it: Koech wanted her, and at that moment Becky was more than willing to surrender to him. Yet a fragile thread of self-control held him back. This is not the time, he told himself.
Breaking the kiss was agonizing. He struggled fiercely against his own passion, determined to regain control.