Endless Love

by Zaydee Rain

'Are you going to answer my questions with one word for the rest of the drive?'

  She growled when I said, 'Maybe.'

  Then we were both silent after that. I knew she was furious with me for being such as jerk-she told me that before she got off the car.

  After half an hour of snubbing each other, I felt a little guilty and tried to start a conversation with her.

  'How old are you? You sound like you're young.'

  'I'm sixty-seven years old and you don't have to talk to me, you know.' She answered icily.

  I suppressed an oath. 'But I want to,' I countered.

  'Like hell,' she muttered.

  'Okay...' I trailed off because I didn't know what to call her. I didn't know her name. 'Look, girl, I'm trying to be nice here.'

  'I'm not a girl,' she argued. 'Oh, and is that what you call it? "Being nice"? Ha! It's pretty obvious you don't have much practice.'

  'Only because it isn't worth it to be nice to immature people like you!' I snapped the same time the driver stepped on the brakes real hard.

  I heard a thud on the plush floor of my car.

  'Hey, girl, are you alright?'

  'I said I'm not a girl!'

  'Well, I don't know what to call you!' I said and stretched my hand to the now empty seat where she was supposed to be sitting. 'Where are you, LITTLE GIRL?' I emphasized the last two words.

  'Oh, my God! You're impossible!'

  She wailed and then I heard some shuffling. 'I'm Lorraine, okay? My name's Lorraine not Little Girl!' A hand came down on my left knee and I stiffened. I didn't like people touching me when I can't see them. 'Can you help me up, Mr. Jerk-Face?'

  I reluctantly grabbed her hand and pulled her up. 'Are you hurt?'

  She groaned a little and settled down beside me again-only she was nearer this time. My left thigh was brushing her right ones. 'Uhh, I think I broke my arm.'

  'You what?' I reached for her but because I was blind and all that, my hand landed on the wrong place.

  'That's my breast, you perv!' She batted my hand away and maybe would've wrestled me back to the floor of the car if I didn't hold up a hand.

  'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to touch you.' Though after that, that's the only thing I ever want to do again. Even for three short seconds, I felt her fullness. 'I'm blind, remember?' I said sarcastically.

  'You're rich, why don't you go buy a new pair of eyes so you don't "accidentally" touch women's breast?' She responded. I was almost too shocked to speak. Nobody was ever that frank to me. I was rich, powerful and respected. Almost all of my employees and business associates were too scared to speak their mind to me.

  But Lorraine wasn't. Which was kind of amusing and annoying at first. But as we got to know each other better, I learned to appreciate her honesty.

  We were both silent the rest of the journey. We made one quick stop and I order Tripp to buy another cake to replace the one that was ruined.

  And then we were on our destination already. Thank God, I thought to myself.

  'Thanks for the ride,' Lorraine murmured. I was surprised that she would even thank me so I answered with an offhanded, 'You're welcome.'

  I heard her open the door. 'And thanks for bumping into me and ruining my brother and sister's cake. That nose job you gave Mickey Mouse was epic. Also, thanks for trying to be "nice."' She was outside of the car already but the sarcasm in her voice was loud and clear. 'And THANK YOU for touching my breast.' She tsked as if she was regretting that we didn't have more time to spend together. 'All in all, Mr. Stranger, thank you for being a total jerk. I hope we never meet again!' Then she slammed the door close.

  I've never felt more alone in my life.

  Chapter 3

  I chose to ignore Luc's strange behavior today. What matters the most is that he's here in Aunt Nicole's homey dining room and that he's laughing. I've never seen a more gorgeous sight.

  During the first few months I've known him, he was barely smiling. He was this distant, uninterested man. His attitude totally changed, Tripp said.

  But I like to think that with my help he is slowly getting back some of the vitality he lost.

  I studied his face intently. This is one of the "perks" of him being blind. I can ogle him for as long as I want.

  His eyes were the color of the most sinful chocolate. His nose was sharp, his cheekbones high and aristocratic. His lips were... oh, I don't know how to describe his lips! Except that it looks so kissable!

  My breathing was getting heavier so I forced myself to breath slowly in and out. I don't know why I get so excited just thinking about Luc's lips. Or maybe I do.

  Luc was the epitome of manliness.

  My eyes wandered down to the broad expanse of his chest. I imagined it without the black shirt he was wearing right now. I know his skin was naturally tanned because of his Spanish heritage. The muscles were toned and hard. It would ripple at my touch. Then there was his flat belly. I bet there would be a line of dark hair from his belly button running to his...

  I gulped and looked up.

  Luc was staring straight at me. A perfect winged brow lifted as if he knew what I was doing. But of course, he can't know. R-right?

  Of course, you silly, I said to myself. Luc had just become more and more sensitive to his surroundings. Maybe he felt that someone was staring at him and you know.

  I brushed the back of my right hand against my forehead. Gosh, even just daydreaming about Luc's body is getting me hot.

  The girl is a tease.

  I don't even think she knows what she's doing to my body with her delicious exploration.

  Many women have checked me out before. I am Lucas De la Vega, for heaven's sake. But never have I been more aroused by a woman's eyes.

  Lorraine's were bottle green which suits her carroty hair so much. I always go for blondes with blue eyes before. I never thought I would find red hair and green eyes so damn attractive.

  I watch Lorraine. She still doesn't know that I can see again. I originally planned to tell her as soon as I got here but then Jenny and James came in and we were never alone since then.

  I know Tripp can't wait to blurt it out. There was a glint in his eyes that had me glaring at him. Nicole must have noticed the look in her husband's eyes because she suddenly asked, 'Honey, do you have something to tell us?' She looked around the table, smiling.

  She was a very striking brunette. I was told that she looks like Lorraine's mother so much. Lorraine and the twins took after their Irish father.

  But despite of that, I can see the resemblance between aunt and niece. They both have cute button nose and soft jaw. They lips were both generous-though Lorraine's were more plump and irresistible.

  I glanced back at her then at Tripp who started talking.

  'I think it would be better if Luc here tell it,' the traitor said. 'It's his news to tell.'

  Five pair of eyes swung back to me and I suddenly felt a little bit conscious. Tripp, Nicole and Lorraine were looking at me expectantly while Jenny and James were looking at me as if I was God.

  I cleared my throat. 'Uh, well...' I don't know what to say.

  I don't want Lorraine to know this way. I want it to be just the two of us but Tripp, who is no longer my best friend as of this moment, could just keep his mouth shut.

  'Luc?' Lorraine whispered. 'Are you okay?'

  I stared straight ahead and didn't look at her. I didn't want to give away my secret. 'Yes, yes.' I smiled at the wall. 'Now, where was I?'

  'Nowhere,' Tripp said, unhelpfully.

  I gritted my teeth. Damn the man! First he got me into this rut and now he's making mocking remarks. If he wasn't my...

  And then I came up with the greatest idea.

  'Well, you see, I just closed a deal. One of my hotels in Madrid needs to be fully redecorated.' I said. 'I've contracted the best interior designer in Spain but I'm one man short.'

  Tripp looked confused while Nicole and Lorraine listened attentively. The twins turned back to their food up
on deciding I wasn't talking about a trip to the Disney resort.

  'I need someone I can trust to overlook the project.'

  Nicole nodded. 'So you want Lorraine to go to Spain?'

  'No!' The twins jumped from their seats and hugged their sister tight.

  'You can't go, Rainie!' Jenny wailed. 'That'sh toofar.'

  Lorraine touched her hair. 'You don't know where Spain is,' she pointed out.

  'But you have to ride a airplanes to get there.' James said. 'Not like a trains to New Yorks.'

  'An airplane, not a airplanes. A train, not a trains.' His sister corrected. 'And it's New York, James, not New Yorks. You don't put "s" after each word-especially if it's singular.'

  'Then my names should be Jame, not James.' The little boy argued.

  Lorraine rolled her eyes and laughed. She kissed both her siblings and turned to me. 'I'm sorry, Luc, I can't go. I can't leave Jenny and JAME...SSS.' The kids giggled at that.

  The picture of her arms around those two kids was forever etched in my mind now. There was a little tightness in my chest when I said, 'Who said about you leaving?'

  'Then if it's not Lorraine, then who do you want for the job?' Nicole asked.

  'Your husband, Tripp. Who else?'

  A week later...

  'Are you sure you're going to be fine?' Nicole asked Lorraine like a worried hen.

  The younger woman nodded. 'Of course, Aunt Nic. We're going to stay with Luc until you come back from Madrid.'

  'But the twins-'

  'Are going to be fine,' Lorraine inserted. 'They adore Luc. And he them.'

  'Fine, fine.' Nicole grasped one of her hands and gripped tight. 'But you promise to call me when anything happens, okay? I'll catch the first flight out.'

  'I doubt anything would happen, Aunt Nicole. Luc got all these bodyguards watching after him and I'm sure they'll be watching after us now too. They were trained by the best,' She added and pointed over her shoulder to where Tripp stood.

  'I know but it won't make me worry any less.'

  'Aunt Nicole, let me remind you, I'm almost twenty. I can take care of myself and the twins. You'd be back in no time. Just think of it like a second honeymoon.' Lorraine wiggled her brows and made Nicole laugh.

  They hugged each other in the middle of the airport while the guys watched on.

  'I can't believe you would do this to me,' Tripp hissed.

  'It's the price of not keeping your mouth shut, amigo.' Luc drawled.

  Tripp turned with a deathly glare in his eyes but Luc still appeared unconcerned.

  'España Es Un País Maravelloso,' Spain is a wonderful country. 'Don't you want to start a family already? Spain is the best place to make babies.'

  'I don't think so,' Tripp replied doubtfully. 'Your parents made you there and look at how you turned out to be.'

  Luc growled the same time the women returned to their sides.

  'Is everything alright?' Nicole, ever the peacemaker, asked. Her eyes were darting between her husband and his friend.

  Luc forced a smile on his face and looked away. 'Sí, Nicole. I wish you a safe trip.' She moved to him and kissed his cheek. He gripped her arms lightly but her a moment too long just to annoy her husband.

  Tripp didn't disappoint him. He walked over to where the two of them were standing and dragged his wife away from Luc.

  'What the-' Nicole started but Tripp cut him off.

  'Oh, sweetheart, if I'm not mistaken that's the final call for our flight.' He said and then he swung around to look at Lorraine. He opened his arms and said, 'Rainie, come here and hug your Uncle Tripp goodbye.'

  She laughed but went to his arms for a warm hug. 'I'm never going to call you Uncle Tripp, okay?'

  'Fine by me.' Tripp looked up, met Luc's gaze over Lorraine's shoulder and made a face.

  Luc took a menacing step towards them and Tripp quickly let go. But he didn't stop at that. He puckered his lips and stole a kiss from Lorraine. 'Bye, little girl. We'll call you when we land.'

  Luc and Lorraine were too shock to say anything else. That's why he wasn't able to do anything when look walked past him and whispered. 'Now, that's the price of trying to make me jealous with my wife.'

  Chapter 4

  It was like being there all over again.

  The rain, the car... the fight, it was all too clear and Luc knew what would happen next.

  The driver of the car he was riding would suddenly swerve left and they would crash to the incoming car on the other side of the road.

  The heavy rain prevented them to see much clearer. That's why it was too late to do anything else. And the last thing Luc saw was the dark sky, illuminated by a lightning.

  He woke up, with cold sweat running down all over his body. He hadn't dreamt about that night in months. It's been too long since he'd had that dream that Luc thought it already went away.

  I guess I was wrong, he thought to himself as he passed a weary hand to his face.

  Luc sat up and threw away the covers. Lorraine and the twins were sleeping on the next room. He could probably sneak in to wake her up and maybe just talk. Until dawn. Until he's old. Until the feeling of fear resurrected by the dreams is gone.

  Who was he kidding? Lorraine was tired after settling in and bringing her aunt and Tripp to the airport. The kids weren't that easy to handle too and with Christmas coming up in just two weeks, she was bound to be dead tired. He would not wake her up.

  He straightened up and walked over to pull back the curtains. He surveyed the December lights of New York from his penthouse suit.

  Five years ago-hell, a couple of years ago-Luc would have balked at the thought of taking a wife, making a home, starting a family. It just wasn't his thing.

  Lucas De la Vega don't do domestic-his past bed partners weren't even allowed to stay the night with him.

  The ironic thing is, right now he couldn't wait to get started.

  Lorraine was already in the kitchen when I walked in. The kids were sitting on two high seats on the breakfast counter while they watched their older sister cook.

  'Good morning,' she smiled.

  I felt a warm stirring on my chest seeing her puttering around the stove. I know it's stupid because Lorraine has been here before. She has cooked for me before but this was actually different. Now I can see her.

  The first few months she was in my employ-all I can do was sit down, wait for her to serve me food. And all I did was hear her.

  But now... now, I can finally look at her. Her long red hair was tied in some kind of French braid. I could see her creamy neck from where I was standing. She was wearing a plain white tank top and pink pajama pants. She couldn't be more beautiful.

  'Come on, Luc, walk over the counter and take a seat. I'm almost done,' she said while expertly flipping eggs. 'Oh, but you have to sit on another chair. James is sitting on your usual spot.' Her brow furrowed over this. 'You know what? Forget it. Come on, James, please move to-'

  'No need.' I interrupted. 'I can manage to move to another one.'