by T L Swan
Like animals, we feed from each other’s bodies . . . and I love every fucking second of it.
KATE
I walk down the street on the way to meet Elanor for lunch. She’s in London for a rare week, and I’m trying to patch things up between us. I don’t know what’s going on with her lately, but I do know she needs my compassion, not my anger.
My phone rings and I dig it out of my bag; the name Elliot lights up the screen.
“Hi.”
“How’s my girl?”
I smile at the sound of his deep, sexy voice. “Good.”
“I have to go to New York next week.”
I frown. “Oh . . . Okay.”
“I want you to come with me.”
I stop on the spot. “Why?”
“Because I can’t go seven days without seeing you.”
I smile goofily down the phone, and I know it’s true. We’ve spent almost every night together for weeks. We’re so besotted that it’s just assumed we will spend each night together, it’s not even a question. I can’t go seven days without seeing him either.
“I can show you my New York home and take you to my gallery. And besides, I want to have you to myself for a week,” he says as he tries to talk me into it.
Excitement fills me, I don’t need convincing. It sounds like heaven.
“I’ll have to work through the days of course, but I can arrange a meeting so that you have an excuse to be there—”
“No,” I cut him off. “I’ll take leave, I have lots owing. I don’t want anyone from work knowing about us.”
“Okay.”
“I mean—” That came out wrong. “You know what I mean.”
“I do. Where are you?” he asks.
“On my way to meet my sister for lunch.”
“I keep forgetting that you have a sister, what’s her name again?”
“Elanor.” I pause for a moment. “Actually, do you know her? Elanor Landon.”
“I don’t think so, how would I know her?”
“She goes out with the kind of men you mix with, perhaps you’ve seen her around?”
“Hmm, the name isn’t familiar, who knows? Maybe I’ve seen her before, I’ll know when I meet her, I guess.”
I smile as hope blooms in my chest. He’s planning on meeting my family . . . Oh, this is going too good to be true, and not at all as I expected.
“So, you’ll come to New York?” he asks.
“If I can get time off work.”
“I’m pretty sure that your boss would insist on it.” I can tell that he’s smiling.
“Well, my boss is a sex maniac.” I smirk.
“Happily so,” he says in his deep, swoony voice.
Well, that makes two of us.
“Goodbye, Kathryn.”
I smile; not that long ago I hated it when he called me Kathryn, but now it’s a term of endearment.
“Bye, El.” I hang up and practically float to the restaurant. I’m going out with God’s gift to women and he’s taking me to New York and he thinks I’m fucking fantastic.
Life is good.
I walk into the restaurant and look around. Elanor is sitting at the back and she smiles and waves as she sees me. I smile and wave and make my way to her.
“Hi.” She stands and kisses me on the cheek, holds me by the arms and looks me up and down. “You look fantastic.”
“Thanks.” I smile proudly—that would be all the orgasms. “So do you.”
I’m not lying, she really does. She’s wearing a fitted, cream woolen dress and knee-high boots. Elanor is a lot of things, but her beauty is unmatched.
“Sit down, sit down,” she says as she ushers me into my seat. “I ordered some wine.”
“I’m at work today.”
“One glass won’t hurt, darling.” She rolls her eyes as if I’m an idiot.
I fake a smile, ugh . . . here we go, Elanor and her condescending eye rolls.
She pours us both a glass of wine. “So . . .” She looks me up and down. “Why do you look so amazing, are you seeing someone?”
I beam with happiness. “I am, actually.”
“Hmm.” She sips her wine. “Well, happiness suits you. Anyone I know?”
I open my mouth to tell her who it is and then I shut it again. What if she blurts it out to the world? I’m sure she would know the same people that Elliot knows. But he did say he was my boyfriend?
Hmm, but he hasn’t announced anything yet. I’ll guess I’ll wait to tell her until I’ve spoken to him first. “Nobody you would know, just a guy from work,” I reply. Technically that is true. “What about you, are you seeing anyone?”
“No, I broke up with Frederick.”
I frown. “What happened to Alexander?”
“Oh.” She screws up her face. “I broke up with him months ago, he got so boring. When we had sex he would come in two minutes flat. I have needs that I’m not compromising on.”
Poor Alexander. I wonder if he knows she’s telling the world about his performance. Seriously . . . what a cold bitch. I take a big gulp of wine. Jeez. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Don’t say it.
“Tell me, how’s that boss of yours doing. Elliot Miles, the gorgeous specimen.”
I cough as I choke. “What?” I wince.
“I’m in London for a few days, I might look him up.”
Horror runs through me. “Do you know him?”
“We’ve seen each other before, but no formal introduction. Although I’m making sure that changes.”
“He’s getting married,” I lie.
“And?”
“Well, he’s taken,” I scoff.
“Darling.” She smiles as if I’m stupid. “If I want Elliot Miles, I will take him from whoever I have to.”
I clench my jaw as fury runs through me. “You would actually stoop so low as to break up a happy relationship?”
“Of course, why not? I’ve done it before and I can do it again.” She casually sips her wine. “Where does he go out to? What clubs? What do you know?”
My angry heartbeat echoes through my ears. “I’m not sure.” I tip my head back and drain my glass.
She stares into space as she thinks. “Maybe I can come and see you at work, accidently knock on his office door.”
My eyes widen in horror. “No. You won’t do that,” I snap. “I forbid you to try and see him, Elanor. This is my job, don’t ruin it for me.”
“Oh hush.” She rolls her eyes again. “Always so dramatic. You’re acting like you have a crush on him or something.”
“Maybe I do,” I blurt out.
She gives me a smile and raises her glass in the air as a silent salute. “Well then.”
“Well then, what?”
“Nothing.” She shrugs casually as if she has a secret.
“What, Elanor?” I snap.
“You’ve worked for him for years and you haven’t snagged him, it’s obviously not going to happen. Is it?” She sips her wine. “And besides, you’re seeing someone else.”
Damn it, why did I lie?
“What makes you think he would fall at your feet anyway?” I snap.
She flicks her hair over her shoulders. “Because he will.”
I sit at the table and push my food around my plate with my fork.
“What’s wrong?” Elliot asks as he watches me. “You’ve been quiet all night.”
I exhale heavily. I know this is going to make me sound insecure and pathetic but I can’t help it, I have to say it.
“My sister told me today that she is making a play for you.”
He frowns.
“And she’s beautiful, Elliot, and she gets whatever man she wants.”
His tongue swipes over his bottom lip as he tries to hide his smile. “And there she is. My beautiful, vulnerable Kate.” He takes my hand over the table.
I roll my eyes, knowing how pathetic I sound. “Don’t.”
“Well, did you tell her that I’m taken?”
&n
bsp; “Yes.”
“And what did she say?”
“She told me she could get you to leave any woman.”
He picks up my hand and kisses my fingertips, clearly amused by my insecurity. “I’m with you. Your sister . . . or any other woman for that matter, doesn’t stand a chance.”
My eyes search his.
“You have my word,” he promises.
I give him a stifled smile. “I just know—”
“She’s not you, Kate,” he cuts me off, leans over, and takes my face into his hands and kisses me tenderly. “There is only one Landon sister that I want, and she’s right here.” He puts the palm of my hand over his chest.
I smile against his lips, feeling a little better.
“And just so you know, if one of my brothers made a play for you? They wouldn’t survive it.”
My heart swells, and just when I think I can’t care for this man more than I already do . . .
He proves me wrong again.
I wake alone and stretch in the dawn light as it streams through the window. Where is my man? I make my way downstairs; the house is empty. Where is he?
I look out the back and catch sight of him in the gardens.
Elliot has his back to me and is looking out over the lake, fully dressed in his suit with his coffee in his hand, the steam from his cup rising in the cold air. The ducks are around his feet, happily pecking at the ground. He walks along, totally entranced by his surroundings as they all follow him like long-lost friends. Every now and then a duck gets too close and he kicks his leg out to clear himself some space.
I lift my phone and take a few photos of him. He really does love this place and I can’t say I blame him. I love seeing him so happy here.
A loud sound comes up the drive and I look out of the window to see a utility truck pull up.
I watch through the window as Elliot walks over and talks to the man in the truck. They shake hands as they introduce themselves.
Who’s that?
I go out to the front just in time to see the man unload Billy the goat from the back of his truck.
“My apologies,” Elliot says as he takes the rope tied around Billy’s neck. “I don’t know how he got out?”
“This is the fourth time in two weeks,” the man says.
Elliot notices me. “Alan, meet Kathryn, Kathryn, this is Alan. He owns the property next door.”
“Hello.” I smile. “What’s happened?”
“Your goat keeps getting out. I found him on the road.”
“Oh.”
“I’m worried he’s going to cause a car accident and someone will be killed.”
“Yes.” Elliot frowns as if imagining the scenario. “Thank you for bringing him back. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get out again,” he says.
“Nice to meet you.” Alan smiles as he gets back into his truck. We give him a wave and he drives away.
“What did you do?” Elliot snaps at his goat.
The goat looks up at him, totally clueless.
“Bahahaha,” Billy bleats loudly.
“You want to run away? That’s fine with me.” He pulls the rope and the goat follows him on the leash. “Just don’t do it on the fucking road.” He keeps walking over toward the paddock.
“Bahahaha.”
“Go inland, fuck off to bumfuck nowhere and don’t come back. But don’t do it on the fucking road.”
“Bahahaha.”
I roll my lips as I follow them to stop myself from laughing out loud.
Elliot opens the gate to the top paddock and leads him in. “You are now grounded to the top paddock.”
“Bahahaha,” Billy bleats.
“Seeing that you can’t be trusted.”
Oh my lord, this is priceless.
Tough guy Elliot Miles grounding his goat.
He undoes the rope around Billy’s neck. “I’m watching you, fucker. One wrong move and it’s off to . . .” He pauses as he thinks of the right wording. “The knackers.”
“Bahahaha.”
“Do you know what they do to naughty goats there?” he asks.
I burst out laughing.
“Go inside,” Elliot snaps.
I turn and walk inside as I continue to laugh.
“Bahahaha,” Billy bleats.
“Stop making that noise, too,” Elliot barks.
I giggle as I walk up the stairs. My life is officially complete.
I’ve heard it all.
“Bahahaha.” The loud noise echoes through the silence.
I glance at the clock: 1 a.m.
“Bahahaha.”
“Fuck this,” Elliot whispers as he throws the blankets back.
I scrunch up my face to stop myself laughing; this is comical. Billy hasn’t stopped crying all night.
Elliot opens the window in a rush. “Shut. The. Fuck. Up,” he yells, the sound of his voice echoing around the valley. He slams the window shut so hard it nearly breaks.
He gets back into bed and rustles around.
“Bahahaha.”
I smile into my pillow.
“Dumb fucking goat,” Elliot whispers under his breath.
“Bahahaha,” the loud bleat echoes.
This really is bad.
How the hell are we supposed to sleep at all?
“Bahahaha.”
“That’s it,” Elliot explodes, and he jumps up and storms downstairs like the Hulk.
I hear the front door open in a rush and I run to the window and open it to watch what he does.
He marches out to the paddock. “What?” Elliot cries with his arms wide. “What the fuck do you want?”
Billy looks at him blankly.
“You have food, you have water. You have the whole fucking paddock to yourself. Is that not good enough for you, you spoilt fucking goat?”
“Bahahaha,” Billy bleats.
Elliot turns and kicks a bucket as hard as he can; it goes flying into the air and crashes spectacularly to the ground. “See that?” he yells at Billy. “There’s more of that coming your way if you don’t shut up.”
I laugh out loud.
Elliot marches back inside and I hear the front door slam. He stomps up the stairs and picks up his phone and sits on the window seat.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Googling how to kill a goat, what do you fucking think?”
I laugh.
“This isn’t funny, Kathryn,” he growls.
“It is.” I get up and walk over to him and sit on his lap. Oh my God, he really is googling how to kill a goat. I take his phone from him and throw it on the floor, kiss him softly. “Maybe there’s something wrong with him,” I whisper.
“There is—impending death.”
“No, I mean maybe he’s sick.”
He stares at me.
“Put some earplugs in, take a sleeping pill or something, and tomorrow we’ll call the vet. He will know what to do.”
Elliot lets out a shaky breath as he tries to calm down.
I smile up at my man and push the hair back from his forehead. “He’s just a little goat.”
“Who’s ruining my fucking life.”
I stare up at him in the darkness. I always knew he was a hothead, but I thought it was only me who annoyed him to boiling point. Every day a little more of the Elliot Miles puzzle falls into place. And every day, he becomes a little more endearing.
“Come on. Bed.” I pull him by the hand.
“How?” he snaps. “This is intolerable.”
“Oh . . . boohoo.” I roll my eyes as I climb into bed.
He cuddles my back and pumps me with his hips. “I’ll give you fucking boohoo.”
I wake alone, and exhausted.
The last time I looked at the clock it was 4:38 a.m.—we’ve hardly slept at all. I throw on some clothes, go to the bathroom, and make my way downstairs. “Elliot,” I call. No answer. I walk to the sliding glass door and look out to see a car as it comes up the driveway. Who is it now
?
Elliot meets the car and a man gets out; they fall into a deep discussion and head toward the paddock.
Oh no, who’s that?
I quickly walk out of the house. “Hello.”
The man turns to me. “Hello. I’m Mathew, the vet.”
“Oh.” Relief fills me.
A trace of a smile crosses Elliot’s face; he knows who I thought it was, a hired goat hitman. “This is Kathryn.”
“Hello.”
“He’s this way.” Elliot gestures to Billy’s paddock.
For fifteen minutes we both watch in silence as the vet checks Billy all over.
“Well,” Mathew says. “You have nothing to worry about, he’s perfectly healthy.”
Elliot sighs. “What’s wrong with him then? He keeps running away, he’s crying all the time.”
“He’s looking for a mate,” Mathew says. “It’s normal for a goat of around this age to want . . .”
“He’s horny?” Elliot fumes.
“Figuratively speaking. Yes.”
Elliot glares at Billy and gives a subtle shake of his head. “How old is he?”
“Around three years, at a guess.”
“And how long do goats live?”
“Approximately fifteen years.”
Elliot exhales heavily. “I’m sorry to have wasted your time, please send me the bill.”
“No problem at all.” They shake hands. “Goodbye, Kathryn.”
I smile. “Thank you.”
He drives off and Elliot marches back down to Billy. “Are you fucking kidding me? You kept me up all night because you’re horny?” he whispers angrily. “Just what I need, a sex maniac goat.” He storms back up to the house.
“What do you expect?” I call as I pat Billy’s head. “He is your son . . . after all.”
“Shut up,” Elliot calls as he walks. “I’m not in the mood for your shit today, either.”
I walk down the street with Daniel, who’s come to have lunch with me; it feels like forever since I’ve seen him. “Can we have Thai?”
“No.” I sigh.
“Why not?”
“Because then I’ll have to eat an entire kilogram of rice and I’ll be tired as fuck all afternoon.”
“Hmm, the dreaded carbohydrate coma.” He exhales as if exasperated and I feel guilty.
“Fine.” I sigh. “Thai. I’ll have you know I’m tired as fuck today. Elliot’s goat kept us up all night.”
“What?” He screws up his face. “Elliot Miles has a goat?”