Somewhere in His Arms (7 page)

             
He was wearing a robe over his pajamas, and his right leg was stretched out encased in a cast to the thigh. He looked none too pleased to see her. He glanced up and mumbled something. For a moment, she thought he told her to go to hell.

             
“E-Excuse me?”

             
Rudy poked him in the back, and he swore but offered her a brilliant smile. His teeth flashed white as his deep voice answered in an English accent. “I said ’hello’,” he repeated and she felt his eyes slowly moving over her. She crossed her arms over her chest hoping he wouldn’t guess she was scared to death.

             
“H-Hello,” she replied, wondering if Rudy had gone insane. Anyone could tell this guy was unhinged. What the hell was he thinking? An awkward silence ensued as they each tried to think of something to say. Finally Rudy cleared his throat.

             
“Lucy, I’d like you to meet Alec Barrington. Alec, this is Lucy Havilland. She’ll be your nurse.”

             
“I haven’t said yes.”

             
“You will.”

             
Then to Lucy’s horror Rudy opened the door and began to leave. She left her new patient and chased after him.

             
“Rudy! Wait!”

             
He got into the car and turned the key. “Well, I’ll leave you two to get acquainted.”

             
Rudy!” she gasped in horror. “You can’t leave me here with this psycho! What if he carves me up into little pieces and flushes me out to sea? Do you want that on your conscience?”

             
“Hmm, let me think...” he replied, as he actually appeared to ponder the possibility.

             
“Rudy!”

             
He reached for her hand. “He’s many things, but he’s not a psycho. He needs someone to look after him. And you need a friend. You’ll be just fine Lulu. I wouldn’t trust you to anyone else.”

             
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before he stepped on the gas and drove off, leaving her standing in the driveway feeling oddly bereft. She stood for a moment to gather her scattered wits before she headed back inside.                            

             
Alec was waiting for her.

             
He didn’t speak as she went into the kitchen. She looked at the imposing stacks of dishes in the sink, wet a sponge, and began scrubbing furiously. She felt him behind her.

             
“Y-You don’t have to do that…” he began awkwardly.

             
She blinked away tears. “Yes, I do.”

Chapter Five

By late afternoon, Lucy had managed to put some order to the chaos. She cleaned the small kitchen, tidied the living room, dusted and swept till she thought she’d drop all the while under the watchful eye of her new employer.

              He observed her for a few minutes before wheeling off to his study and leaving her alone. Lucy was relieved. She didn’t know how Rudy could abandon her like this. Pausing to wipe her face, she glanced around at the small room. Under the dusty sheets were some very nice pieces of furniture. An old velvet stuffed chair, a small loveseat in addition to a drop leaf table, and a few chairs. A fireplace in one corner looked as if it had seen better days. Braided rugs covered the wooden floor, and red gingham curtains hung in the windows. It looked like it had never left the 50s.

             
Lucy glanced at the clock and grimaced. It was lunchtime. So far she’d been able to avoid him but she took a deep breath, went to his study, and knocked timidly.

             
“Come in,” he answered. He was facing the window looking into a telescope. “What is it?” he asked, without turning around.

              “I-I was wondering what you’d like for lunch,” she managed through a dry throat.

             
“Whatever,” he mumbled, peering out into the open sea. “I think I see a yacht.”

             
“Um, are you on a special diet or anything? Rudy didn’t tell me.”

             
“That figures,” he grunted and wheeled himself around so he was facing her. “We’ll have to get to know each other won’t we?”

             
Lucy now got a good look at him. He was more than handsome. He was so damn good looking she felt disgusted. Just what she needed
another
Dean. His hair was indeed black and a little long. It waved back from a chiseled face partially obscured by a beard. His eyes were a brilliant shade of light blue that sparkled with amusement. She supposed his nose was as perfect as one could get without a little help. It was straight and perfect: without flaw. His mouth was full and sensual and curved upward slightly with suppressed laughter. Even from this distance she could see a small scar just above his right eye.

             
Suddenly annoyed with him she asked sharply, “So, how do you know Rudy?”

             
“My father went to Oxford with him,” he answered, arching a finely sculpted brow.  “Anything else you’d like to know?”

             
Lucy didn’t care to reply but replied stiffly, “Will sandwiches be all right?”

             
Alec frowned. He was going to kill Rudy. This girl wasn’t what he had in mind. She was too pretty. Damned beautiful in fact. Even with a scarf tied around her head and a smudge of dirt on her cheek, she was a sight to behold. His eyes took in every detail. She was petite and slender with long delicate limbs. He wondered how those fragile arms would feel wrapped around him. Her skin was a flawless shade of cream. And her exquisite face was softly oval with large brown eyes fringed with thick lashes, a small dainty nose, and fully kissable lips. His heart beat a little faster at her presence.

             
Alec swore silently. He was hoping to get some old hag to tend to him while he sorted out things. He didn’t need distractions. But here she was looking at him like he was some axe murderer and probably planning on having him committed.

             
“Are you all right, Mr. Barrington?” she asked, a concerned frown wrinkling her lovely brow. “Can I get you anything?”

             
“W-What?” he laughed nervously hoping she hadn’t guessed his lecherous thoughts. “Alec, please. I’m fine and sandwiches will be perfect.”

             
Lucy nodded and went to fix lunch. Alec turned to the telescope and tried to concentrate on the endless sea, but all he saw was a doe-eyed temptress. Damn! He didn’t know how he was going to get through the remaining weeks the cast needed to stay on. Why did this have to happen now? She probably thought he was nuts the way she kept looking at him. But then considering the way he behaved earlier didn’t help. Maybe he should tell her what he did for a living. He squashed the thought. There would be time enough for that later. But she was so pretty. Rudy would skin him and hang his bones out to dry if he knew what he was thinking. He would have to be on his best behavior.

             
With that settled he turned again to his observations and waited until she came back with a tray of sandwiches and lemonade. “Will there be anything else?”

             
He looked up at her in surprise. “You’re not a maid.”

             
“But it’s part of the job description isn’t it?”

             
“Yeah,” he replied quietly, rubbing the flesh between his eyes. “Yeah, I guess so.”

             
Lucy turned and started to leave when his voice stopped her. “Aren’t you going to eat?”             

             
“I’m not hungry,” she said and went back to her cleaning.

             
Dinner went off without a hitch. He ate the chicken salad she prepared, but she could barely get anything down. Alec tried to get her to talk, but she didn’t feel like it so he retired early. Lucy helped him out of his chair and into bed. His medication consisted of a painkiller and a sedative. She gave him the sedative and wished him goodnight and left, leaving the door cracked should he need her.

             
Lucy cleaned up and went to bed. Her room was small but surprisingly cozy. There was a cast iron bed with a colorful quilt and a chest of drawers. Lacy white curtains hung from a window overlooking the beach and a small lamp sat on the bedside table. She flicked it on and took out her overnight bag.  As she unpacked, her thoughts turned to Dean and Vivian. She wasn’t angry anymore, it was too exhausting, but she did feel hurt. She blamed herself for making him wait. If she’d only given in to him maybe he wouldn’t have turned to a woman who didn’t know the meaning of the word “no”.

             
Dean hadn’t exactly been the most understanding fiancé about it. More than once he had pressured her to give it up before the wedding. But something had held her back. She wondered at that. Why
hadn’t
she given it to him but had gladly turned it over to a complete stranger?

             
Lucy often thought about the man who had taken her virginity. He had been extremely patient with her, almost tender. Sometimes she could hear his voice. Sometimes she could feel his lips on her cheek, but only in her dreams did she know the full extent of his passion. He came to her with his whole heart and held nothing back. Once he even told her he loved her. Her! She remembered the last time Dean had said those words. That day didn’t he?

             
Lies!

             
She undressed and put on a cool nightgown and slipped between the sheets. Lucy hoped her dream lover wouldn’t visit her tonight. She needed sleep. Reaching up to turn off the lamp, she was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

“My wife,” he rasped as he thrust in and out. “I love you so.”

Gasping, her arms tightened around him. It felt so good. She arched her hips against his, wanting more. His tongue toyed with hers
, matching the rhythm of his shaft. He took her slowly then increased his pace. She moaned into his mouth. Her nails dug into his flexing back and slid lower. He groaned and lifted her thighs to encircle his hips. Lucy cried out in shock as he penetrated deeper and gave him thrust for thrust, savoring the lustful sensations that raced through her body.

             
“That’s it love,” he urged. “Move with me. Move with me.”

             
His mouth was bruising as his lips massaged hers. Their tongues slid in and out of each other’s mouths with increasing passion as his thrusts grew impatient.

             
“Come, love,” he gasped. “Come with me!”

             
“Oh, please,” she moaned, arching her back and his mouth devoured her throat as she was consumed by fire. He cried out shuddering and thrusting frantically into her. Lucy gasped and clung to him as she came. The orgasm left her breathless, vibrating through her entire body, and leaving her limp in his arms. His body pressed her into the mattress, but she reveled in his weight.             

             
She felt his lips touching her cheek, her hair, her ear.

             
“I love you,” he whispered.

             
“I love you, too,” she whispered back and closed her eyes.

              Lucy awoke with a start, still feeling the heat of him between her thighs. The sheets were damp, and she turned on her side and began to cry. She wished the dreams would go away. They only reminded her of what she'd lost and what she could never have. She cried herself to sleep and this time he didn’t come.

             
She got up feeling drained and sick to her stomach. Tossing on an old robe, she padded down the hall to Alec’s room where he still slept. Lucy went over to him. He lay on his back with an arm flung above his head. She reached and felt his brow. He looked peaceful, almost angelic in sleep. Shaking her head, she went to make breakfast.

             
The next few weeks were mostly the same. She’d awaken early to fix breakfast, help him out of bed, eat in silence, then while he went off to his study, she would clean up, and pretty much have the house to herself till lunchtime. Dinner wasn’t much either. Lucy was grateful for the work. Rudy had been right. Out here in the boonies, she wasn’t able to focus on Dean and Vivian.  She was also grateful that Alec didn’t own a television.

             
He was an undemanding patient. Lucy had been curious as to why he had gone through so many nurses. His needs were simple. Aside from assisting him in and out of the chair, he was actually pretty self- sufficient. She wondered what he did all day in that study. Look at the sea?  He had a small laptop, which she saw him lug around from time to time and he spoke frequently on the phone. Rudy hadn’t told her what he did for a living, but she hoped it had nothing to do with the medical profession.