That night after dinner Katlego doesn’t take me home; instead we go back to his place. “Thanks for coming over,” says Katlego.

I am looking around with great curiosity. Katlego’s place is a bachelor apartment, small and cosy – I find it very cute. It is also very neat, not just neat by guys standards, just neat and tidy in general.

Katlego takes me by the hand and sets me on the couch, then slips off my wedges and begins massaging her feet. “Ooh heaven has come to earth, I tell you”.

After the massage Katlego picks me up and carries me to his bed. “Thank you for coming,” he whispers.

“Thanks for having me,” I whisper back and we kiss as he lays me down. When the kissing becomes intense he stops, and, staring deep in my eyes he says, “I just want to hold you.” He sits up and opens the bed covers, then pulls out a T-shirt from a drawer. “You can sleep in this,” he says.

“Thank you,” I say as I take the shirt, undress and put it on, then slip into the bed.

Katlego steps out onto the balcony to smoke. I lie in bed, waiting for him, wanting him.

I think about how being with Katlego feels like there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. He is kind and caring, humble, and a gentleman. He has an amazing body and a smile that lights the room. But what I like the most is how he treats me and how he makes me feel.

The sliding door slowly and softly closes, my heart skips a beat, and I draw in a breath as if to calm myself.

Katlego gets into bed. “Are you warm?” he asks.

“Yes, I’m okay,” I answer. Nevertheless he moves closer and cuddles me, my back to his chest. He holds me and I feel the heat of his body pressed against mine.

“Hmmm Katli,” I moan.

“Shhhh. Sleep my Lady. Besides, I don’t have any condoms.”

He runs his hand into my thin twist braids, moving them out of my face and behind my ear, then takes my hand into his own and whispers, “Goodnight. I love you.”

“Goodnight Katlego, I love you too,” I whisper back.

I want to yell, ‘Katlego take me, take me now, I’m yours forever!’ It takes every bit of discipline not to. His resistance to having sex with me makes me desire him even more. His self-control emotionally pulls me deeper in to wanting him; I am crazy about him. But when my mind stops racing with thoughts of what I envision Katlego would do to my body, I finally sleep. He too falls asleep.

The night is silent and dark – peaceful – until a sudden explosion shatters the silence. It comes from the apartment below, and instantly alters the fates of everyone, next door, and above. Glass splinters as windows give in to the pressure, bricks fall like stacks of paper and dust rises like evil spirits.

I wake to the screams, the cries, the blood … the fire … the burning.

***

Tell us: Do you admire Katlego as a man, with his unusual attitude to sex?