“Now, now,” Amanda clucked. “Don’t fret. You’re here. That’s all that matters. Ummm... Arnaud?”
“Oui?”
“Why are you here?”
“My god. Isn’t it obvious!?”
“But you’re married.”
His shoulders slumped as he looked away. “My marriage, it’s... it’s complicated. My wife, she... look, Amanda. It’s a very long story. None of that matters. What matters now is that you have to get better, all right?”
Amanda shook her head. “I don’t like cheaters. Did you know I was supposed to get married?”
“Supposed to? I thought... you said you were married. At the party, you said...”
“I said I don’t go for married men. I was about to get married. Richie. He’s an accountant. We had the date all set up and the caterers and everything. And at the last minute,” she sighed. “Well, he got cold feet.”
“I’m sorry, Amanda.”
“Ran off with Jada, he did. I still don’t get it. Even his parents were furious.”
“Amanda, I’d never run off on you. I promise, I’ll tell you more when you get better. But I really think we can make it work out, if you’ll give us a chance. Just think about it, will you? Amanda?”
But she was asleep. He bent down tenderly to give her a tentative kiss on the only part of her that wasn’t too badly bruised – her forehead. As he walked out of her room, however, the expression on his face left no doubt that he was of the old aristocratic stock. Nurses and orderlies scuttled out of his way as he made his way to the lobby.
“Anything yet?” he asked Guillaume as he got into the back seat of his limo.
“No, monsieur. The police cordoned the area off last night and searched the grounds, but...” he shrugged. “I believe they’re still at it this morning, hoping to catch anything they might have missed in the dark.”
Arnaud decided that it was time to call a personal friend of his – a man who was currently serving as the director-general of the National Police. By the time the call ended, he had a slight grin on his face. At least till he got a call.
It was Camille. “You’d better come home, dear. It’s Sophie.”
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s up and about. And she’s talking about traveling.”
Arnaud groaned. “The 16th, Guillaume.”
“The patio,” was all his aunt said when Arnaud finally made it.
Heart pounding, he called out to her, “Sophie?” She was sitting on a lounge chair looking out at the garden through the glass doors. Dressed in a long-sleeved woolen sweater and white slacks, she looked beautiful and serene with her long, ash-blond hair coifed into a bun above her head.
He wondered if she’d lapsed back into a vegetative state and was about to look for her nurse when she turned to him. Arnaud walked up to her slowly, cautiously, not knowing what to expect. She was so unpredictable.
“I’d like to travel for a while,” she said in a raspy voice.
Arnaud slowly crouched before her, careful to maintain some space between them. The last time he’d tried to touch her, she went hysterical. “Ok. Where would you like to go, Sophie?”
She shrugged. “Australia, for a start. After that, who knows? As I recall, Australia is wonderful this time of the year.”
“It’s summer there now, I believe.”
“Yes that’s it. I’d also love to see their strange animals. Like wallabies. Do you know what a wallaby is?”
“A small kangaroo.”
She clapped her hands in delight. “Very good! Why don’t you come with me? It’s been a while since we’ve been anywhere together, non?”
He took a deep breath. “I can’t just up and leave, Sophie. Things at work, they...”
Her smile vanished as her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “Typical,” she sneered. “Always the excuses. Non! I don’t want to hear it. But I’d like to take the plane.” She was referring to their Boeing Super 27.
“We sold that, Sophie.”
“Oh?” Her anger dissolved as she pondered that. “Why would we do something like that?”
“Too expensive. We still have the Falcon, but it won’t get as far as Australia.”
Sophie shook her head. “There has to be a way for me to get to Australia!” she sobbed. “Now! Now! Now!”
He took put his hand out, then withdrew it. “You can take a commercial flight, Sophie. I’ll see to it that...”
“Non! I want to go to Australia now!”
Sophie’s nurse came in and put her arms around her charge. Arnaud stood there helplessly as Sophie calmed down instantly. The nurse made discreet shooing noises at him so he made his way to the kitchen. He needed a drink.
Camille was already there pouring a Scotch for him. He took it gratefully. “So when did she get ideas about traveling, all of a sudden?”
She shrugged. “She came in last night, babbling about it.”
“She came in last night?”
“Those two went out driving. The nurse thought it would help Sophie, a change of scenery instead of just staying here. She’s been getting more and more lucid, lately. Though with Sophie...”
He nodded.
“Bit of a panic, though. Nothing serious, or so the nurse says. But reading between the lines, I take it that she lost Sophie for a while. Did you notice her hands? They have cuts and welts on them. Probably went wandering off. So where were you last night? I tried calling your apartment, but no one was answering.” She grinned. “Out with someone, eh?”
“I spent the night at the hospital. Amanda was attacked.”
“Bon dieu! Attacked how?”
“She went out jogging and someone...” he cringed. “She’s alright, now.”
“When was this?”
“The police blotter said about half past six, thereabouts. No leads, yet. But I made sure they prioritize it.”
“You must really like this woman.”
He took a deep breath and let it out in a long, drawn out sigh as he stared into his empty glass.
“I see. In that case, perhaps like isn’t the word?”
“Don’t know if it’s mutual, though.”
“Sophie can’t possibly travel on a commercial flight. She’s far too unpredictable. But I’ll do what I can to get her to Australia.” At his amazed look, she smiled. “You leave it to me. It’s about time you learned to be happy again.” She chuckled as he hugged her tightly. “If I can’t get her that far, I’ll get her out of the country for a while. I doubt she’d know the difference between Australia and Africa at this point.”
Chapter 10
Amanda woke up to see several bouquets. She groaned then startled when Savitri’s face popped up over her.
“Oi, you’re awake! About time, too. And no, most of these flowers are from everyone in the office. That one’s from Mme. Dimanche. And that one,” she pointed, “is from his lordship.” Amanda craned her neck to see a spectacular array of flowers towering over her head. “Impressive, isn’t it?
Wow,” was all she managed to croak out.
Savitri’s fake cheer broke into a sob, “Didn’t I tell you that jogging is unhealthy for you!? Didn’t I!? Why the heck do you do that, huh!?” Amanda reached out a shaky hand to comfort her friend as she sobbed over her. “You’re my best friend, you idiot! How’d you think I’d feel if I lost you! From now on, you can only go out to work and shop, do you hear me!?”
“Yes, mummy,” she replied meekly.
“I mean it, too! Do you remember how everyone back in school used to bully me? You’re the only one who ever stood up for me. So like it or not, you’re under house arrest! Don’t worry, I’ll feed you. In fact, I’ll fatten you up so much you’ll never be able to fit out the door. We’ll grow old together, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
“Sav, it hurts to laugh,” she wheezed.
“Oh, you think I’m joking?” Savitri backed off as she wiped her tears. “Seriously, though. How you feelin’, luv?”
“Bloody useless police. All the employees were accounted for, so it can’t have been one of us. Look, don’t worry about that now, hey? You just have to focus on getting better. That way, we can get you out of here and I can start stuffing your face.”
They were still laughing uproariously when Arnaud walked in. “Ooh, just remembered something. I’ll be back in an hour. Maybe two,” Savitri added as she walked out the door and gave Arnaud a wink.
“That’s a good friend you have there,” he said as the door clicked shut.
“Yes, she is. Thank you for the flowers. They’re... wow, they’re bigger than me!”
He shrugged and walked up to her. He reached out a hand, but pulled back.
“You can touch me. I’m not fragile. No broken bones, just bruises and a few cracked ribs that’ll heal in no time. These,” she raised her bandaged hands, “are healing nicely.”
He stared at her for what seemed like long minutes. “Do you want me to touch you?” His eyes were pleading.
“I’m not mad at you, if that’s what you mean. Well, not anymore.” She took a deep breath and let it out loudly. “Ok. Woo-hoo! How do I put this? Ermm... yes. Yes, Arnaud. I want you to touch me. In fact, I’d love you to touch me.”
“Even though I’m a married man?”
“That still bothers me, but you said you’d explain everything. As for me, I’m willing to listen.”
He smiled as he walked up to her. “So you weren’t as drugged as you thought you were.” He pulled up a chair and sat next to her. “I don’t know where to begin. Or if it’ll make a difference to how you feel about...”
Amanda waved at him to move closer, so he did. Still, he hesitated again as he reached out for her. She cocked her head encouragingly, giving him the courage to rest his hand on her bed.
A small, bandaged hand patted his massive one reassuringly before settling on it to rest. “Let’s cross that bridge when we get there, huh? Right now, I’m all ears. So talk. Sav said she’ll be gone for an hour or two. And she keeps her word.”
The exhausted-looking man heaved a sigh as he leaned back in his chair. He looked out the window at the dark gray skies, yet felt warm and comfortable. It had been a while since he’d felt comfortable and he liked the feeling. Despite the room’s starkness and sterility, he realized that he felt strangely at home.
He could feel her warmth through the fabric of the bandages, and though he wasn’t looking at her, he felt conscious of her presence in a way he’d never felt with another. Not even with Sophie before she started to change. Not with any of the other women he’d sought out to help dull his pain and loneliness.
He didn’t know if she would understand his story, only that he had to tell it and hope for the best. So he took a long, shaky breath and began to speak. And as he spoke, the tears finally came, as did the anguish he’d felt for so many years and kept bottled up inside.
Savitri walked in an hour later, but neither Amanda nor Arnaud noticed. Remembering yet another important thing she had to do, she closed the door behind her and made her way home with a hopeful smile on her face.
And still the exhausted man spoke, feeling a growing sense of relief at his unburdening. And with it, a peace he hadn’t felt in many years.
Chapter 11
Amanda looked out the windows at the light snowfall, delighting in the way it carpeted the city in a thin layer of white. She couldn’t imagine winter without snow, and here it was – albeit in January, as everyone had said.
“Just like British weather, eh?” Arnaud said as he walked up behind her.
She chuckled. “Exactly what I was thinking,” she said as she continued gazing at the weather. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, still afraid of hurting her. “I’m not fragile, you know.”
“I’m just glad you’re here.”
She snorted. “Did you give me a choice?”
He’d taken her to his apartment when the hospital finally discharged her. He insisted she was better off there than in her tiny studio. He’d even gotten her a nurse named Nadia, a Czech woman who looked like a bouncer but had a heart of gold.
“It’s all for the best,” Savitri insisted, siding with Arnaud on this one.
She was too tired to argue. Still sore all over, she had indeed wondered how she was going to manage on her own with bandages all over her. A personal nurse was just what she needed. And she had to admit – Arnaud’s place was absolutely fabulous.
A three-bedroom affair, they’d all slept in separate bedrooms till Nadia was no longer needed. Savitri often stopped by to cook her spicy dishes, though Arnaud turned out to be quite a good cook – impressing them both with amazing gastronomic delights.
Amanda’s contribution came in the form of pizzas or Chinese take-outs. On further thought, she realized that she might not have recovered as quickly had she been left to her own devices.
She turned and Arnaud backed off a little, dropping his hand from her shoulder. He’d been doing that ever since she moved in – keeping his distance. He’d been terrified of her bruises and bandages, leaving Nadia to take care of everything. Yet even when Nadia left, when the bruises and welts had mostly vanished, he rarely touched her. And when he did, it was always very tentatively.
“I said I’m not fragile,” she repeated, stepping closer to him. Instead of backing away, however, he stood rooted to the spot for a change.
Amanda put her hands on his chest and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. He hesitated only briefly before his arms gently enfolded her. He was shaking a little, but his mouth was firm as it met hers. She moaned at his response, enjoying the feel of his rough stubble on her face and the growing hardness she felt pressing against her stomach.
Still joined at the lips, they somehow stumbled into Nadia’s former bedroom, which was when Amanda spluttered. “Bad omen taking me into another woman’s bedroom!” Chuckling, Arnaud picked her up and strode into his room like a groom carrying his bride into their home.
He slowly removed her blouse, letting it slide gently over her shoulders as her lacy bra came into view. Her skirt pooled on the floor at her feet as he kissed her. He broke the kiss to make quick work of his own clothing, holding her green gaze as his fit physique came into view. She backed her way onto the bed while ogling the perfect view.
He was very gentle as he lay beside her, lazily kissing her as his hand explored the mounds of her breasts. He broke the kiss off and watched his hand trace a slow, sensuous line between them, down to her belly, all the way to her pubes – already shiny with her arousal. He gently probed her engorged clitoris and she gasped at just how good it felt.
She grabbed his hand, guiding it to where she needed it most, showing him the rhythm she wanted. He was a great student. Arching her head back, she moaned again as his mouth explored the curve of her neck before moving down to take a nipple in his mouth. He was hot and hungry as he took more of her breast in. She ran her hand through his hair, urging him to devour the other one, and he obliged.
But she needed more of him than just his fingers. She needed him now. “Please, Arnaud,” she said as she grabbed his massive prick.
He looked down at her so tenderly, she almost came. Kissing her once more, he pulled his hand away, getting up on his hands and knees to straddle her.
She thrilled at the sight of his huge, body looming over her with his pulsing huge cock. Spreading her legs, she guided him to her opening, and grabbed his ass to pull him in.
But he insisted on taking his time, smiling at her teasingly and letting her know that this time, it was going to be his way. She arched her back as she felt his tip tease her opening, doing exactly what his fingers had done mere seconds ago.
Arnaud entered her with an excruciating slowness that set her teeth on edge. Only when she felt the hard planes of his pelvis grind against her own was she able to look up at him. His eyes were half-closed in ec
stasy as he gazed back at her. He grinned as he ground his groin against hers, making her arch her back, once more.
He pulled out just as slowly, but not all the way, giving her time to adjust to the massive stretching he was giving her. When she had the entire length of him back inside her, she wrapped her legs around his waist and squeezed with all her strength. He groaned as she tightened against his entire length.
Breathing harder, he pulled out, resisting her efforts to draw him back in with her legs. “You like it that way, huh?”
“For now,” Amanda grunted. “It’s been so long. We can do a slow version in that tub of yours later. For the last time, I’m not fragile. So will you just fuck me already!?”
He responded by entering her even more slowly with a mischievous grin. Amanda reached out to give her legs a pair of helping hands, but he grabbed her wrists and pinned them to her sides as he continued entering her in a slow, lazy, agonizingly delicious rhythm.
She arched her back to meet his thrusts, feeling feverish as he stretched her to the limit. Her orgasm, when it finally came, was so explosive she vaguely wondered if they could hear her at the MNHN.
And still, he kept up the slow, lazy rhythm.
“Fine then,” she managed after catching her breath. “We do it rough in that tub of yours after!”
*****
Richard Anderson smiled at the sight of Amanda standing at the window looking out. He wished he were the one who put that smile on her face. His happiness faded when he saw Arnaud walk up to her from behind and put a filthy hand on her.
“Gaah!” he pounded the wheel of his car to stop himself from rushing into the building and storming the place. He knew he could get Amanda to see reason, if she just gave him the chance. He’d sent her flowers, didn’t he? And he had apologized. Most important of all, he had given her the space she needed to think.
He’d tried to visit her on her second night at the hospital, but Savitri saw him in the driveway. She gave him such a massive tongue lashing that the hospital’s security staff had to ask them to leave. One of the nurses recognized her, however, and what did that stupid Indian twit do? She told them to never let him in.
Unwrapped by The Billionaire Page 53