Stilling her hand as it travelled south, he moaned pulled her up to him and kissed her. Their hands were everywhere, and she held tight. It would be so easy to make love to her right then, and she fit into him perfectly. He imagined what it would be like to be inside her. He sighed and let her go.
“Right. I need to go.” He didn’t move, eyes on her lips. She pulled down the duvet and looked. He watched her take his body in, and the hard-on he was sporting under his boxer briefs.
“Okay?”
She swallowed when he spoke, her face flushing.
Arthur sat up, cupping her face. “Hey, we do this at your pace. Do you want to do things like last night? I’m okay with that. When you’re ready and comfortable, we go further. You set the pace. This is the start. But so you know, this is it, we will do whatever you need and want, I don’t care, as long as it’s us. I’ll not lose you again.” He emphasised the words, forehead against hers.
She leant into his hand and nodded.
He managed to get up and went to the bathroom, and he willed away his erection as he washed his face, so he could piss. He still couldn’t believe it was real. After everything that happened, she still cared for him, and she had been loving the previous night. There was sensual passion in her, and she didn’t even know it. He came out of the bathroom still only in his underwear, to see Stella speaking with Rebecca in her doorway.
“Excuse me.” He sidled past, feeling her eyes on him. He winked at Rebecca and began dressing, ignoring Stella.
Their conversation quietened, and she left.
“All right?” He raised his brows as he buttoned his shirt.
Even in the awkwardness, he felt less weighted with worry and knew it would be fine.
“Yes.” She frowned though.
He reached out for her, picking her up in his arms, and squeezed.
“Can’t. Breathe.”
He eased off, and she drew a dramatic breath in.
“Good. I really have to go birthday girl. Today I'm going to really treat you, haven’t decided how yet, but treat you I will. We can talk and figure out what’s next.”
He kissed her again, walked them back to the bed, and they fell on it. Her legs wrapped around him. Grinding against her for a moment, he shook his desire off and pulled away.
“Shit.”
“Sorry.”
“No, sweetheart, it’s not you. I’m…” She was laid out for him, innocence and passion. Closing his eyes, he drank his coffee. “I’ll be back.”
Arthur made himself walk out of the flat reluctantly. Not far from Downly high street, he picked up a taxi and texted her.
See you soon.
She replied with a heart and kiss emoji. He took that as a good sign.
A very good sign.
Eighteen
STRAIGHT ON
As Arthur left Rebecca’s, his warm contentment slid off him. The early summer morning was warm, already gaining that stickiness of early summer. He climbed into the cab and texted Victoria. He kept the text neutral, asking to meet in an hour at hers.
She was keen, which annoyed him immediately. Once home he showered, threw on a light, short sleeved shirt, and casual trousers. He decided to take Rebecca for lunch and some shopping. There was a nice row of boutiques that he’d overheard her talking to his mum about once. They were nestled in with the trendy restaurants and bars near where he used to have his office.
He drove over to Victoria’s, keenly aware of the time – already after eleven – and he wanted this over with as soon as possible.
She opened the door to her modern brick townhouse, and he barged past her without a hello or fuck you.
She followed him into the kitchen at the back. He stood staring at her small neat patio garden, the wide sliding doors open. She was having brunch; all her things and the Saturday paper were laid out. Things they used to do together. He took a deep breath and turned. She shrank at the fierce hardness in his face.
“Tell me everything.” Arthur managed calm.
Her eyes flickered, and she sagged.
“Now,” he barked.
“I don’t know…”
He sneered as his calm evaporated and stepped to her, making her step back. “Don’t test my fucking patience. I will end your career, I will ruin you, but for one chance. Tell. Me. Everything.”
She swallowed and shifted to the little glass dining table, sat and gestured for him to do the same. Arthur narrowed his eyes as she poured him a coffee.
In that other life, they might still be lovers, sharing brunch, but she’d ruined that, and it had all fallen apart. He was glad of it.
Her voice was quiet as she spoke, stirring her coffee. “Maddie was livid. She wanted the earrings, and she was upset for me about you. She thought we should be together. I tried to tell her that it was no good. She wouldn’t listen. She wanted those earrings and wanted shot of the girl.”
“Rebecca.”
“Rebecca,” Vicky repeated her name and folded a napkin. She always did that when she was nervous or upset. Fold things up over and over again. “I told her everything that had happened between you before we went to the house. She only wanted to talk you around initially, and I tried to tell her that wasn’t going to happen. When you threw us out, it made her so angry. She came up with the plan. She said we had to make Rebecca leave. Get the police involved. I asked how we would do that. She’s still friends with Jim Brown, from school, you remember him?”
Arthur nodded, and he considered all the ways he might destroy the man.
“Maddie said he’d always wanted in her knickers, and that she’d persuade him to help. He’s a police officer.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Vicky went wide-eyed and continued to fold before she went on. “She asked me to wait up the road watching the house while they were looking for the earrings. She took Rebecca’s phone while Jim was rooting through her stuff. The riskiest part would be convincing her. She knew that she wasn’t… brash or… I don’t know, but she cares what people think and takes things to heart. She’s sensitive. She left once before. It was a gamble, but Maddie is good at reading people. She was right. Rebecca caved.
“I watched the house and followed Rebecca when she left. I took the letter she dropped at yours from the post box at the front gate in the morning. I couldn’t do it in the dark. It was a near thing.”
He replayed that conversation. She’d been weird, though he thought that was about the previous evening with the wine incident. “Do you have it?”
“Yes, and her phone, I turned it off.”
“Why did you keep them?”
“Maddie told me to throw them away, but it didn’t seem right. I think I hoped one day that I’d have the courage to tell you. I went along with it all, and at the time, I was unsure, but it got harder, seeing what it did to you. I thought you’d come back to me. I was wrong. Maddie couldn’t believe that you wouldn’t give her the earrings. She’s still angry.”
“You tried to ruin Rebecca’s life, my life, and neither of you got what you want. I found her.”
Victoria looked up. “I’m glad for you. You look better.”
“I will be, but you sent me… I can’t even put into words what I’ve been through. I haven’t slept in months. I saw her face everywhere.” He shook his head, his body tense from anger. “What you’ve done to her, making her think that everyone thought she was a criminal was evil.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“You hate her.”
“Hate? No, I wanted you. I’d do anything to have you back. I never thought about the consequences. I am sorry.”
For the first time in years, since they were kids, she looked genuine. There was no avarice or greed. Her carefully curated persona slipped, and he felt sorry for her. “I want the letter and the phone.”
She got up, and he stood, stretching out the tension. She came back and handed them over. He took them and left
without another word.
He drove home and read the letter as he sat in the driveway. His heart broke at her words, pleading for him to believe that she didn’t steal from him. He thought about the watch all those months ago. She’d left it behind when she left.
He fetched it from the wooden box on his chest of drawers, nestled in with his own watches. He ran his thumb over the dome of glass and smiled. Then he went to the safe and took out the earrings. Antique, beautiful diamonds. The best quality, of an impeccable maker. They were the most valuable thing in the house. They glittered in the sunlight, and he pictured them on Rebecca for the millionth time. He grinned at the reality that he could give them to her. He put them back.
He checked his phone and seeing a text message asking what to wear, he replied telling her comfortable but nice, and to pack an overnight bag, if she wanted to.
Rebecca’s heart was in her throat. She looked at her underwear and picked out her nicest set, trying not to panic.
She wore a linen sundress, hair on top of her head, and only a little makeup, it was going to be too hot for anything else. She jiggled her knee, tapping her wedge sandal against her heel as she leant against the kitchen work surface facing the window looking for his car.
She didn’t even buzz him up but hurried down to him when he pulled up outside.
He kissed her before she said anything.
“Everything all right?”
“Yes, birthday girl.” He eyed the bag she threw on the back seat.
“Where are we going?”
“Shopping and lunch?”
“Shopping?”
“I want to treat you.”
“Arthur, you don’t have to spend your money on me.”
He only raised a brow, and she sat back, a little annoyed.
He pulled into the car park of Berkley House. “You said once you’d love to be able to have free rein at the boutiques in the square.”
“You’re not serious?”
His smile said he was. “I’m wealthy. You know that. I have no one to spend my money on. I want to treat you. If it’s only this once, then so be it. But I really want to treat you.”
“It’s too much.”
He unbuckled his seatbelt and leant over to her, he held the back of her head, kissed her, and she relaxed into him. He was needy and demanding, her hands went over his shoulders, and she shifted to get closer. All she wanted was to go back to his. She moaned when he pulled back.
“Let me do this to indulge me, please.”
“I’ll do anything you ask me to.” She was breathless.
He muttered something and kissed her again. “I need a minute before I get out the car.” He fixed his eyes upward, and she tried not to smile.
They walked hand in hand through the Saturday crowd. He pulled off his sunglasses and hooked them into his shirt and led her into the fashionable shop. Rebecca noticed how he demanded the attention of others.
The sales assistants came over, all three of them, and she may as well not have been there.
He smiled and oozed confidence, while she spent ages being handed various outfits trying them on. Arthur looked her over and approved of every one of them, even if they were awful. She stood in the changing room trying to decide between a couple of dresses.
“Rebecca?” he called.
“Yes?”
“What are you doing, you’ve been ages?”
“Choosing which ones I want.” He opened the curtain of the changing room, and closed it behind him, seeing she was only in her underwear, and he made a noise.
She put her hands on her hips.
“Which ones do you like?”
“These four.”
“These four it is.” He took them from her, picking a few other items up. “Don’t hold back. Free rein.”
“Fine.” She huffed, grabbed a couple of the other outfits, and handed them to him.
“Good.” He pressed her into the wall and kissed her and held the clothes to one side with his body against hers. Intense but brief.
When they were paying, her eyes went wide when she saw the total and was about to protest when he turned and held her with a pointed glare.
She sighed.
Arthur held her hand as they walked along the shop fronts, laden down with bags. He stopped in front of the lingerie shop and stared at the window display.
“Well, if you’re paying, you can pick me out what you like.” Her words were teasing, but he frowned.
“Don’t think that you’re obliged to choose things I like. They’re for you.”
“Underwear like that is for both of us, don’t you think?” She nodded her head at the window.
She reached up and lightly pecked his lips, and he licked his mouth and stared at hers. He followed her in. The shop was quiet, he asked for a seat while the sales assistant picked out her sizes in virtually everything.
Rebecca only hesitated for a moment. The beautiful, sexy, designer items were expensive and unnecessary, but it would please him. At the till she admired a silk robe, and Arthur asked for it to be added. Rebecca set her mouth in a line.
She felt guilty and chewed her lip when he paid. He only shrugged.
“Shall we have lunch?”
“I’d love to.”
“One last stop.”
She sighed but smiled when they went into a shoe shop.
He picked out a few pairs for her to try and thinking of the look he gave her last night when she took off her shoes, she bit the inside of her cheek. He liked shoes.
She turned her ankles this way and that, strutting to and from the mirror. He flexed his jaw. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows. Her eyes sparkled with knowing humour.
“We’ll take all of them.” His face didn’t waver, and he looked almost dangerous.
Eight hundred pounds’ worth of shoes.
“No Arthur, it’s too much.”
He whispered in her ear. “These are for me.”
They were laden down with bag upon bag when they sat down to lunch. She was knackered already.
“We should talk.” He was looking at the menu when he said it.
“I guess so.”
“Right then.” They ordered, and when alone he got right to it. “I sold the business for a lot of money. If I’m honest with myself, I hadn’t been happy for a while. I realised it when I bought some little company, and it was a nightmare.”
“I remember, you were so stressed.”
“The offer I got made me realise I can live any way I wanted, and the idea sat with me for some time. When mum died, it fell into place.”
“It makes sense. Sometimes loss sparks change.”
“I wish I had a better understanding of myself at that moment. I was like a fist.” Arthur scowled down at the table. “I wish I’d done so many things differently.”
Rebecca reached out and held his hand.
“Do you know what I did when I wasn’t looking for you? I trawled social media and crowdfunding sites, and I paid for people to... I don’t know, get medical treatment. Buy kids wheelchairs. Community projects, anything. I thought I was losing it. All I wanted was to know you were safe.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t say that. I spoke to Victoria. I went this morning. It was Maddie’s idea. The police officer was at school with us and would do anything for Maddie.”
“Shit.”
“She told me everything. They stole your phone and the letter. She gave them to me. I read it.”
“I see.”
They were quiet, and their food came. She ate half her sandwich and began.
“I cried all the time once I got over the shock. Slept for days. I bought a new phone. That’s it really. I felt terrible and ashamed. I was angry with you, then just sad, and no matter how much I wanted to, I can’t change how I feel. I came to accept that I’m the kind of person that people think is scum. I’ve been ashamed all my
life, you’d think I’d get used to it, but all it does it underscore everything I do.”
“I wish I could take it back.”
She thought he might cry, and emotion burnt in her throat. “You were so distant after the funeral, and I thought you were annoyed with me, and it was easy for you to believe I’d steal from you. I’m not comfortable with money, and all I wanted was enough to be secure, have a job and a roof and be safe. Wealth holds no allure for me. It took a long time for me to see that. Perhaps it was part of why I was so reluctant. It’s intimidating.”
He sat back with a thoughtful little frown. “What does that mean, for us?”
“Money is not what I want, but you mean more to me than money. I choose us.”
“I don’t know how to make any of it up to you. When we talked about what we were going to do, I had all these plans, I wanted to start ‘us’, but you put the brakes on, and I didn’t see that you were right. You were right. Escape and relief. That’s what I wanted, and I should have held onto you and been there, but by the time I realised, it was too late. I thought I pushed you too far, and that last conversation.” Arthur closed his eyes and swallowed.
“And I should have dived in but was afraid. Everything your family said and did spoke to my own insecurities. But we’re here now.”
His eyes flickered, and he nodded. They were both quiet while they finished their lunch. The shift of reality had been a shock, and the truth, a relief.
“Would you like to come back to mine?”
“I’d love to.”
They pulled into his driveway, and Rebecca slid backwards in the best way. She’d been on hold for months, and it was the beginning she’d longed for.
The hall was painted white, and the floor was stone tiled, all the fixtures looked oak, all beautiful, but felt like a show home in a magazine. Everything was blank and unloved.
Arthur led her past the stairs to the large kitchen, and she noticed how immaculate and bare it was. He made them coffee.
“I forgot how beautiful your house is.”
“Thanks.” He gave her a look. “But it’s not you, is it?”
“No.”
“I’m not one for decoration. I bought it newly built, what I needed and that’s about it. Not a home. I wanted to ask you something, and it’s okay whatever the answer is.”
Getting a Life (New City Series Book 4) Page 19
