Arthur Read online

  “It can be.”

  “How do you stand it?”

  “It was peace I was after when I came here. The army is never peaceful. And believe me, you are never lonely.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true,” she said softly.

  “Well, never alone at any rate.” He shifted. “What are you doing at this moment?”

  “I’m trying to get comfortable in bed.”

  “Ah.” He looked at the formal publicity photo and smiled to himself imagining her in bed. In what? Flannel nightie? A sexy scrap of lace and silk?

  “What are you wearing?”

  There was a pause. He heard her uncertain intake of breath. “You’re not planning on having phone sex with me, are you?”

  It wasn’t easy to keep his laugh inside his chest. She was adorable. “I hadn’t thought about it. Would you like to have phone sex?”

  A longer pause. He could tell she was thinking about it as clearly as he knew what her answer would be. “No. I don’t think so.”

  “Of course not. That won’t keep the monsters under the bed.”

  “No,” she said softly, “it won’t.”

  He let the silence lengthen just long enough. “Do you want me to come over then?”

  “I thought you were scared, too.”

  “Terrified. I’ll run all the way.”

  She laughed. He loved the sound of her laugh. It was so unexpected. For all her ladylike ways, the laugh was low and sexy.

  “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”

  “I’m not sure I am, either.” And he found it was true.

  “I could make you some coffee if you came over,” she said.

  “But that would keep us awake.”

  “Warm milk?”

  “That’s a long way to run in the dark for a bit of milk.”

  “Maybe there will be something to go with it.”

  “Like what?”

  “A chocolate cookie. I mean biscuit.”

  He laughed aloud at that. Well, there were biscuits and there were cookies. “I’m on my way.”

  He didn’t run. He savored the night air and the quiet sounds of the countryside asleep. The big house slept. The flats and houses of the village slept. He looked about him and saw no light but hers. And it drew him the way a fire draws a cold man.

  When he got to the door she was waiting for him. With her face scrubbed free of makeup and her hair down around her shoulders she looked young. She wore a pale blue terry cloth robe and a pair of sheepskin slippers. All very practical, not a bit sexy. And he found himself growing frantic for the taste of her skin, anxious to ease her out of the robe and toss the slippers across the room.

  However, he wasn’t the sort of man to begin ravishing a woman in the wee hours when she was alone in her house, unless he was certain she wanted him to ravish.

  Her breath shuddered slightly as she drew it in. Her eyes were wide and alluring. Her lips were slightly parted.

  “Lead the way, then,” he said, his voice a husky whisper of sound.

  She took his hand, turned and led him, not to the kitchen, but up the stairs. Her palm was so warm it was almost feverish and he felt the fine trembling within her. As she walked up ahead of him, he knew her body was unfettered by underwear, he was as aroused as though she wore nothing at all.

  Soon, he thought, she would.

  He would tease her about her warm milk later, for now the atmosphere was serious.

  He knew the room well, of course, had helped the delivery men bring in the new bed at the end of the summer season. But with her things scattered about, it seemed mysterious, very feminine and all hers. He smelled the subtle scent of her skin and her powders and women’s lotions and things. There were some bottles neatly lined up on top of the bookcase. Her clothes hanging regimented in the wardrobe where the door was ajar.

  “I’m glad you rang,” he said.

  “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

  So he held her. First he simply held her, feeling the shape of her press against him, the smell of her hair as he buried his face in it. “You smell so good,” he murmured.

  She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him even closer. “Thank you for coming.”

  Then he took her mouth, because he couldn’t help himself.

  She clung to him, kissing him the way she had earlier, like a drowning woman. She made tiny purring sounds in her throat. He doubted she was even aware of them but they drove him half mad. He wanted to rip away her clothing and throw himself onto her, into her, and the effort at civilized control had sweat breaking out on his forehead.

  He skimmed his hands over her breasts, smiling against her lips when she quivered with reaction. Over her belly and then he found the cord of her robe. It came undone with one pull but, instead of pushing it off her shoulders and letting it fall, he traced the opening, followed the lines of the open robe, so he touched silk, warmed by her skin, and felt the resilience of her flesh beneath. He cupped her breasts through the sheer fabric and felt them jump to life under his palms, the nipples teasing him. He continued up, over her shoulders, this time knocking the robe free, so it fell in defeat to the floor.

  There was a lamp burning in the corner of the room, giving a soft, golden light to the proceedings. When he eased back from kissing her, he saw that her face was softly tinged with the pink of arousal, her lips swollen, her breathing ragged.

  Need and want warred with care and consideration so he was strung tight with conflicting desires as she began undoing the buttons of his shirt with fingers that quivered. Damn, he wished he’d sprinted over here in nothing but a robe. Would have saved him an eternity told out in button holes.

  After an eon, she got the last one undone and smoothed the shirt over his shoulders and down his arms, as though she were afraid of wrinkling it. But her touch was soft and sure. And she did the maximum touching of his bare skin.

  He reached for the hem of her nightgown – silk and lace, and not flannel -- and lifted it slowly up, unwrapping her like a gift. Her skin was post-summer golden. She was long, a little curvier than her clothes had led him to believe. Her breasts small and high. “Beautiful,” he murmured as he kissed her again.

  She undid his belt, opened his fly, and then surprised the hell out of him when she reached inside and cupped him with her long-fingered, capable writer’s hands.

  He heard his breath draw in on a sharp hiss, felt the curve of her lips beneath his own. She was pleased with herself for shocking him, he could tell. He nudged against her hand a little, letting her explore to her heart’s content until he felt things getting a little too warm, then he backed away, toed off his trainers, stripped off his jeans and socks, and came back against her, rubbing her naked body with his.

  She was so soft, her skin fine and paler, even with her light tan, than his darker, hairier body. He probably looked like some great hairy beast to her. He must take extra care to go slowly, gently.

  Oh, she liked them hairy. Loved the rasp of his hair-roughened chest against her sensitive breasts. Loved his darkness against her paler skin.

  His mouth was everywhere it seemed, nipping at her, eating her up.

  The bed was a mess from where she’d tossed and turned in it for hours, trying fruitlessly to convince herself she wasn’t scared. That the villain she’d so brilliantly created was, in fact, a product of her feverish and far too fertile imagination. That he wasn’t at this moment creeping up the stairs to stab her in the heart as he had his last victim. But it was no good. As she’d written the victim, she’d become her. Of course, only through feeling terror could she portray it for the reader. But imagining herself murdered took its toll. Why couldn’t she have found her niche writing fairy tales for toddlers?

  When Arthur wrapped his arms around her she felt comforted, not confined, when he pushed her to her back on the rumpled bed her skin trembled with excitement, not fear.

  He spread her legs and she felt herself burn with need. Oh, God. He was so big and go
rgeous and it had been so long. He played with her, kissing her all over, touching her with hands that were as tough and leathery as she’d guessed, but that were surprisingly gently and sure.

  He’d brought condoms, thank God, since she hadn’t packed any.

  When he fitted himself to her, she felt that moment, that eternal moment, when he hovered on the brink. Not yet lovers, soon to be, and then, impatient of waiting, she grabbed his hips and pulled him into her.

  He spread her, filled her. And when their passion grew, he stabbed into her, her gorgeous, sexy villain, thrusting again and again. Even though she cried out, it wasn’t a dreadful end she experienced, but something new and very exciting.

  When at last they slept, the night was at its thickest and darkest, but she felt warm, comforted and very, very safe.

  Chapter 7

  The sound of rain drumming softly on the roof woke her. Meg’s eyes opened slowly and her whole body reveled in the luxury of a good, deep sleep. And she was warm, so warm.

  Gradually, she came to full consciousness and became aware of the naked body pressed against hers, of the soft puff of Arthur’s breath against her hair and that his big, working-man’s hand was curled possessively round her breast.

  She needed coffee, she wondered what time it was. But still she didn’t move. She remembered the way they’d made love last night, learning each other, exploring, touching, tasting.

  The wind kicked up and the rain drumming on the roof was joined in chorus by the drops slashing against the window pane. What a great day to stay in bed and be lazy. They could make love all day, eat the food she’d bought – thank heavens – only two days ago. He could build them a fire. They’d be as cozy as alpine skiers nestled up at the lodge after a hard day on the slopes. With their roaring fire and mugs of hot chocolate. Did Arthur ski? She knew so little about him. Except that he was the most exciting lover she’d ever known.

  She turned to look at him, his dangerous face softened by sleep. The coarse black beard already shadowing his jaw.

  She’d make him breakfast, she decided. And she’d give herself a whole day off. Sliding out carefully, she padded to the bathroom. She’d shower, get the coffee on and make her new lover breakfast. How long had it been since she’d been this excited about a man? She pondered the question as she stepped into the shower and decided that she’d never in her life been this excited about a man.

  Arthur woke to the sound of water. At first he thought it was rain, then realized it was the shower. He glanced over at Meg’s spot, but of course it was empty.

  He blinked at the clock. Ten. They’d had a good lie in, then. But after the night they’d spent, their bodies had needed the rest. He stretched, enjoying the pull in all his muscles, and the slight scent of her that hung to the bedclothes.

  He didn’t really need to be at the pub until evening. Joe was covering the lunch shift. Maybe he’d take Meg out for a good old English fry up. Bangers and beans, eggs, fried tomato and fried bread, with lashings of hot tea. Then he’d bring her back here or take her to his place…

  Except that she’d been very frank about her need to work. Sure, she’d been the one to ring him up in the wee hours, but still, if he wanted to see her more than when she was shit-scared in the middle of the night, he’d have to show her he was sensitive to her need to work.

  Reluctantly, he rolled out of bed, yawning, and shoved himself back into his clothes.

  He was dying for a pee, but he’d wait until he got home, not sure how she’d feel about him barging into her bathroom to relieve himself on such short acquaintance. Of course, he’d been inside her body and knew the taste of her intimate juices, but women were incomprehensible about the bathroom.

  She seemed like a closed-door type. The shower had stopped, so he banged on the door in passing.

  “I’ll be off then, love,” he said. He wished he could join her in the shower, or take her back to bed all damp and smelling of soap, but she’d likely have his hide if he distracted her from her precious book.

  Her voice sounded odd. “You’re going?”

  “Yeah. Hope the work goes well today.”

  “Thank you.” She didn’t open the door, so he’d likely been right.

  “Well, cheerio.”

  “Yes. Bye.”

  He whistled as he ran down the stairs. He ought to do some tidying up at home, and maybe some shopping. And he’d definitely change his sheets. After all, nobody could work all day and night every day. Not even Meg.

  Because he was preoccupied he did a very stupid thing. He walked right out of Meg’s front door without having the bloody sense to have a doss out the window first, which is how he all but bashed straight into Maxine.

  He recoiled at the sight of her. Feeling as stupid as though he’d been caught by his nanny doing something naughty. Her knowing smile didn’t help.

  “Well, hello, Arthur,” she purred. She wore wellies, a yellow mac and a striped umbrella and managed to look like a runway model.

  “Hi, Max. I was just … um … changing a light bulb for Meg. Bloody things keep burning out. I’ll have to have a look at the electrical when I get a minute.”

  “Good idea.” Her amusement circled him like smoke. “And next time you come to change a light bulb, lover, make sure you fasten the buttons on your shirt in the right order.”

  He didn’t say another word, simply barged past her and plunged into the rain.

  When Meg heard the knocking on her door she thought Arthur must be back. Hopefully for breakfast. But then why didn’t he let himself in? Had he locked the door behind him? But when she ran lightly down the stairs, in jeans and her favorite blue cotton sweater, it wasn’t Arthur standing there, but Maxine.

  “Oh,” she said, wondering why on earth she should feel embarrassed and whether Maxine could tell she was blushing.

  “Hey, neighbor. I just passed Arthur coming out of your place.”

  “Did you?”

  “Yes. I wonder what he was doing here so early.”

  “He was looking at the faucet in the upstairs bathroom. It sticks.” Luckily, the faucet did stick and she’d been thinking of mentioning it or she never would have invented such a smooth lie. Not that she even wanted to lie to Maxine, but the relationship was too new. Anyway, she wasn’t even sure it was a relationship, especially not the way Arthur had sprinted out the door this morning without so much as a cup of coffee or a kiss goodbye.

  “Would you like some coffee?” she asked Max, who was still standing, dripping on her doorstep.

  “No. I’m not staying. You left one of your earrings last night. It must have fallen off at dinner.” She dug into her pocket and emerged with a dangle of amber.

  “Thanks. I didn’t even notice. The catch must be loose.” She took the earring and played with it like worry beads. “I haven’t started work yet. I’m going to make some coffee for myself. I wish you’d stay.” Maxine did not strike Meg as a woman who would slog through mud to return an earring. Something was on her mind and even if it was no more than nosiness about Arthur and her, she wouldn’t mind the distraction of another woman’s company.

  “Well, okay.” Maxine stepped inside, removing her damp outer clothes and stepping out of her boots.

  She wore thick woolen socks that someone had knit by hand. Meg had a feeling the socks were a new part of her wardrobe since she’d moved here.

  “What?” Maxine said, following her gaze. “Did I put two different socks on? I do sometimes.”

  “No. I was thinking you probably didn’t bring those socks from L.A.”

  A snort of laughter greeted her. “You’re right. I pretty much had to abandon my L.A. wardrobe.” She sighed softly. “There are days I really miss Rodeo Drive.”

  “So? What’s the deal with you and George?”

  She shook her head and looked helpless. “Bliss. Pure bliss. I cannot help myself. I’m crazy about that man.”

  “You know, it doesn’t take a genius to see that he’s crazy about y
ou, too.”

  “All I wanted was documentary footage of the earl. Who’d have thought I’d end up with the earl himself?”

  “Will you stay?”

  “I think so. I’m in negotiation for a series that would be a joint production of the company I work for and BBC. But,” she shrugged, “if it doesn’t work out, I can keep myself busy on the estate.”

  “Wow. Isn’t it hard to leave your home?”

  “It’s hard to leave the people you love. I have a sister who needs me right now. She just got divorced and her job is probably going to end. I feel a long way away. But,” she looked out of the window in the direction of the manor house, “you make your home, too. I think mine is here.”

  Meg couldn’t imagine moving across an ocean for a man, but she’d seen the way George and Maxine were together. For love like that? Maybe.

  She poured coffee and served it.

  “I’m glad Arthur fixed the faucet for you.”

  “It was really no big deal,” she said, wishing Maxine would shut up already about the faucet.

  “It’s funny. When I bumped into him, he told me he was here replacing a light bulb.”

  Their gazes met. Maxine raised one eyebrow. “And his shirt was buttoned all wrong.”

  Meg put her coffee down, the ceramic mug making a sharp click against the table. She slumped back and looked at the ceiling feeling like her mom had caught her sneaking in past curfew and she was about to be grounded. “Okay, so I slept with him. And I’m not apologizing for lying to you about it. It’s so new. Last night was our first time and it was—oh, God, I’m babbling.”

  “You’re cute when you babble. Hey, I think it’s great, and don’t think I’m trying to pry into your private life. But it’s hard. You know? I’ve been a journalist and researcher for a long time. And this is my first stint as a matchmaker. I got curious. Can’t help it.”

  Meg sat forward, thinking that journalists were also pretty good at spreading news. “You tell anybody anything and I’ll make you the murder victim in my next book. Got it?”