You and I (You and I #1)

by H. M. Irwing

  Chapter 13

  I was seated by the empty hearth staring into space for hours before I felt a penetrating stare burn holes at the back of my head.

  I turned to face the complete stranger who was looking straight at me as if he knew me.

  I watched him cross the room towards me. "Do I know you?" I asked him confused over his focus on me.

  "I do not believe so, no. But you may have a relative I know well. A sister maybe?" he shrugged as he said this trying hard to appear casual in his request but I could tell the intensity of his gaze hadn't lessen.

  "What about my sister?" I narrowed my eyes at him and thought hard. He was tall dark haired, dusky green eyes and oddly scruffy looking.

  "I may have met her the other night, at least someone who looks terribly like you and... well I didn't get her name," he replied seriously.

  That was when it clicked in my head. He was the one... My hand fisted out of their own accord and before I knew it, my fist flew in his direction to make contact with his nose and produce the most satisfying crunch. Thinking back I out did myself. The blood gushing out of his broken nose was gory in itself but that didn't stop me from flinging my hand back to have another go.

  If Richard hadn't grabbed hold of my arm and restrained me there was no telling what damage I would have done. No one fools around with my sister and gets away with it.

  "What the hell is going on here?" Richard demanded while shaking me like a ragged doll to get me to stop struggling.

  "This asshole is the one who...met …with Cat the other night," I bit out slowly mindful of the avid audience we have attracted.

  "Get your hands off her," this came from Jake and I was instantly released and shoved in his direction. I turned to spat venomously at Richard's direction but he had already narrowed his eyes at the man who deflowered Cat. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he hatched some shrewd plan to concoct more wealth from this information no doubt. I stepped out in front of Richard threateningly. No way was he going to use my sister as a pawn in anything.

  Richard quirked a brow disbelievingly at me but I didn't care. I was not afraid of him. So I glared back unhesitatingly.

  "We will take this in the library," he said finally nodding to Jake no doubt to have me hauled there physically if needed. But all Jake did was gesture ahead of him. I marched on to the library not bothered by the three much larger men who followed me. It must have been the adrenaline boost but I was feeling pretty much invincible after that successful jab to the stranger’s nose.

  The door to the library clicked shut behind us three. I turned to scowl at the man with the bloody nose. Sadly, it was not broken. I was to put it mildly vastly disappointed.

  "Lucy I would like you to meet Amir Al Fayad a prince from Saudi Arabia. The Amir has graciously agreed to fund our companies and sustain us through these tough times," said Richard only mildly amused at my gaping reaction before he continued," Amir Al Fayad, this is Lucy Little. I believe you have been intimately acquainted with her underaged sister, Catherine Little."

  "Lucy Little?" questioned the Amir somewhat amused. I only glared up at him as he continued to mop up the dripping blood.

  "You have a mean left hook Lucy," the Amir stated frankly.

  "Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?" Jake asked finally done with being bewildered by all that’s happened.

  "The Amir slept with Lucy's underaged sister," stated Richard matter-of-factly.

  "Emily?" questioned Jake fisting his hand in rage.

  "No Cat!" I replied feeling suddenly drained. The sound of flesh hitting flesh jolted my draining adrenaline back into action. I leaped forward without a thought to land on the two wrestling men on the floor. I managed to land an elbow to a gut. I just wasn't sure whose gut but either way I didn't really care. At the moment all I craved was blood just not my own. I yelped as a flailing hand swept me off the wrestling men to land plump on my ass. I felt my breath knocked out of me in a silent whoosh.

  "Had enough?" Richard smirked down at me before reaching down to offer a hand to haul me up. "You may have to sit out the horse riding session later in the afternoon if your backside is still sore. Want me to rub it better?"

  I almost launched myself at him just then. It was sheer luck on grinning Richard's side that spared him the agony of my attack for Jake had wrapped an arm about my waist to haul me towards him.

  "Babe? Are you alright? I saw you fall. Baby talk to me," Jake rained adoring kisses across my face while the two men looked on.

  Awkward!

  I shoved him away.

  "Why didn't you tell me about Cat?" Jake asked then looking hurt. I groaned out loud.

  "There was never the right time for it," I muttered shrugging my shoulders.

  "But you told Richard," Jake reminded me.

  "He was at the right place at the right time," I replied mutinously.

  "Can we trash this out later," Richard's voice of reason could be heard.

  "I didn't know Cat was underaged," exclaimed the Amir in the midst drawing all of our attentions back to him.

  "That's what happens when you do not even take the time to get to know the girl first before you get into her pants," I rounded on him angrily.

  "I think I love her," said the bemused Amir seemingly unperturbed by all the trashing he had gotten from us.

  The loud crack and smack was distinctively satisfying. I almost groaned out loud in pleasure only this time it was Richard doing the honours but as the Amir was still the recipient I was not too concerned.

  "I would appreciate it if you would stop hitting me," said the Amir getting up off the floor for the last time. I could see the thinly veiled anger within his dusky green eyes. I took a step back closer to Jake and Richard took a step forward to get in front of me.

  "I don't think you have any rights to make such a demand," said Jake contemptuously.

  "Do you and who are you to have any thoughts at all?" the Amir retorted snidely.

  Jake moved forward to land in a left but this time the Amir was not standing idly in the way of his fists instead he caught his jab and twisted his arm behind his back to incapacitate him.

  "I know you hold me guilty by your laws but I have diplomatic immunity here. I have also committed no crime by rights of my own tribe where I am the law. That aside you stand dangerously close to losing my generosity in financing your flailing companies. Do you really want to take this any further?" the Amir questioned both Richard and Jake but I knew without looking what their response would be.

  A quick glance at either of them proved me right. I turned away then seeing no more ally I saw no need to remain. I would pack and leave. I should never have come here to begin with. Something of what I was thinking must have been reflected on my face for Richard called out to me as I wrenched open the library door to hurry away.

  "Running away little girl?" I turned to see Celine's smug face peering down at me as I ran into her along the passageway. How she managed to remain on such high heels all day was beyond me. I got sore feet from just looking at her.

  "I only appear little because you're in heels," I muttered sarcastically.

  Celine laughed at that. "You're hilarious. I was referring to your ridiculous surname, Lucy Little."

  "Oh," I said. Not much I could say about that. It was what it was.

  I made to leave dropping her a grimace I hoped would pass off as a smile but just then a deep voice I was beginning to recognise called out to me. I saw Celine's flustered face and had my conclusion confirmed.

  "Yes your excellency. What do you wish from me," I said sarcastically.

  "Tsk tsk," he tutted at me. "I wish to only have a word with you. We can talk at the stables. My horse will be made ready for me and I will ride. My nose is not broken despite yours and your friend’s best efforts. But I do not mind this. I find that I like your defence of my Catherine Little."

  "She is not your anything," I rounded on him ready to do battle.

>   "Ah you see we have much to discuss," the Amir replied before grabbing my arm and hauling me after him.

  Diplomatic my ass!

  I was marched off towards an obscure end of the stables. There holding reign was the most glorious Arabian stallion. I was sure every mare here envied me as I reached out to run a hand down his flank.

  "His name is Amir. He is a prince among horses. Fitting no?" asked the Amir.

  "You named him after yourself?" I asked being deliberately obtuse.

  "My given name is Sadiq. My friends call me Sadist," he said matter-of-factly.

  "For real?" I asked intrigued.

  "Well yes it is but the truth," Sadiq shrugged indifferently.

  "And you call them your friends," I muttered mockingly.

  Sadiq burst out laughing at that. Great! Making him happy was not what I was intending at all.

  "Come we will ride," he said just as a beautiful mare trotted up to us.

  "What's she called?" I asked as I used the step up situated nearby to climb up and seat myself across the saddle.

  "She is called Anella," he said leaping onto his horse without hesitation. They looked as if they were a part of each other as if the horse was an extension of the man himself.

  I followed his lead. It’s been ages since I last sat on a horse. But it was like riding a bicycle you never forgot how. My body instantly relaxed in the saddle and my movements conformed to that of Anella. Together we moved in sync. Sadiq turned to view my progress. Satisfied he increased his gait and then broke into a trot. I kept up as best I could the swift change in pace a little difficult to handle at first but then my natural rhythm took over and when Sadiq shifted the pace again to a full on gallop I was able to adapt swiftly if not keep pace.

  But it didn't matter dashing across the Great Plains at my more manageable pace. I was able to take in the natural scenery and the dynamic picture the man and horse made tearing across it. They were power in motion. I felt a thrill of fear and even as I watched he slowed his pace to a trot before man and horse stopped all motion and stood stock still staring down at the valley beneath.

  I maintained my speed and caught up to them in no time. I pulled to a stop a distance away. He did not turn to acknowledge my presence. After a while I shifted uncomfortably.

  "Get down," he said without turning.

  "Why?" I asked suspicious.

  "Because I said so. Because I am a prince and you dared to hit me," he said quietly yet ominously. I shook in my boots. This was not looking good. I turned to look back behind me only just realising how alone I was out here. I thought to make a run for it. To turn my horse around and dash hell bent for leather out of here.

  "Don't even try it. Anella is docile enough but she is trained to obey me. She will stop and turn back at my whistle," Sadiq replied anticipating my head long flight. Having blown my escape plans to smithereens I was forced to do nothing but comply.

  So I got off my horse and stood there facing him.

  "I would have you know that never have I been so insulted than how you and your friends treated me. It is not my way to lift a hand on a woman therefore I cannot call you out to fight as I would a man. But I cannot allow this to simply be, either. Despite the fact that you are my Catherine's sister you must be punished. It is not your place to decide what is or isn't right for her. I have made her mine. I and only I have that right. So I will draw on a technique my ancestors have used in the desert in Arabia,” he paused ominously to consider his next words before uttering them.

  “I give you twenty minutes head start on foot and then I will hunt you. Should I catch you? I will hold you to my judgement. If you manage to get away from me then you are free."

  I stood there staring and not quite comprehending. “I don't understand, I said even as comprehension dawned. “You cannot ....do ..this," I started to stammer indignantly.

  "I can and I will," he said. "If you escape me I will grant you a wish."

  "You will leave Cat alone," I said immediately.

  "Anything but that," he replied immovable on that score.

  "You will not take retribution on Jake and Richard. They reacted only because I did. I was the instigator. There will be no physical or financial retribution taken on them," I stated my demand all the while shaking inside. There was no way I could outrun this horse no matter the twenty minutes leeway.

  He pondered it over a minute before promising, "Agreed."

  The bargain sealed I had no option but to take off on foot the way we came. I broke into a run and cursed my own unfit self.

  Chapter 14

  My breath was burning up my chest. Scalding my insides as I gasped trying to draw some air into my oxygen starved lungs.

  It was well past twenty minutes but the ranch was in sight. I was closing in. I rubbed off the hay and grass stains that coated me from my many falls and stumbles along the way. I was only thankful some of those stumbles worked in my favour tossing me down slopes in a more efficient if somewhat dangerous way.

  Seeing the ranch hands working the fields nearby I hobbled over towards them bent on asking for help. Spotting my ungainly decent down the side slope a rider rode up to me,"Are you okay?"

  I shook my head mutely and lifted my arms to indicate I wanted a lift back. Thankfully he did not hesitate. He rode up closer to me and in a rodeo like manoeuvre he seated me behind him on the horse. Then he took off in a gallop for the mansion. I clung hard to the sculpted abs before me and held on for dear life.

  He rounded the front entryway and headed out back to stop by the entrance to the kitchens. I gratefully got down the horse and with muttered thanks I hobbled my way in only to pass by the hateful library on the way to my room. The sound of conversation drew my attention. I could distinctly hear Celine and... was that…? I moved over to peek inside and saw Sadiq seated on a chaise beside Celine sipping tea.

  Was it tea time already? I was suddenly very hungry. Wait! Sadiq was here.

  I rounded the doorway angrily to storm inside," You're here!"

  "Of course," Sadiq replied mildly," I have already had my ride I did not require another trip with the rest of the guests." Sadiq shrugged indifferently and Celine tittered in laughter annoyingly. Did she know? Was she in on this too?

  "You know what I mean," I bit out smarting from being made a fool off as I was beginning to suspect I had been.

  "Do I? I had a change of heart and spared you a chase. Where is the thanks I should be getting?"

  I barely restrained myself from lunging at him again but I was still feeling the painful effects of that last effort in making him pay for his ways.

  I turned defeated to hobble out the door. Reaching it I turned back to have my last say," I do not regret what I did earlier. My only regret is that I did not hit you harder and where it hurts most but know this, I will always defend my sister from sadistic bastards such as yourself."

  I decided words would do where fists were no longer able and turned to march out proudly head held high.

  "I respect your need to defend Catherine but like I said before it is unnecessary just as your run was earlier. You waste your time and effort in trying to come up against me. But I respect all my adversaries and wish you well in the endeavour." Sadiq's parting words rang bitterly in my ears accompanying me back to my room.

  I would join a gym. The very first thing I would do when I get back. If I get back. For the moment it felt as if this god forsaken weekend from hell would never end.

  I eased my tattered body into the hot steaming bath. I missed Bluboy terribly at this point. Bluboy was bath dolphin that I've had since I was a kid. I felt a little silly packing him in. I mean what Jake would say if he found out I still had him. I recalled clearly the battle over Bluboy that I had with Jake not six years back. He had been taunting me over it threatening to throw it in the bin of all things. I had bawled my eyes out then and he had been quick to rescind. I've kept Bluboy in secret since then.

  I sank my head whole under water. I tho
ught back to all that happened today and there has been plenty that happened. I was not happy with how things ended with Sadiq the Sadist. But I could see no other way around it. I could not have done or acted any differently. I now worried over the repercussions to Jake and Richard.

  I raised my head from the water and swept my wet hair back. Lounging against the bath I surveyed the heap of clothing I would never wear again with some regret. In a way it had been just as well that I had worn my own clothes rather than the new stuff Richard got me. But those were my favourite jeans now scuffed in places no jeans should be so scuffed.

  I snorted thinking about the wild run back to the mansion. It had been crazy. I was crazy. I shook my head recalling.

  The door to the bathroom burst open. I was almost screaming in shock. Placing my hand on my thankfully still immersed torso I shouted at Jake and Richard," What the hell? Don't you know to knock first?"

  Jake fell to his knees beside me," Are you alright?" But he didn't wait for a response before he pulled my lips up into a kiss.

  "Let the girl answer dammit," barked Richard unimpressed.

  "I'm fine," I said simply feeling both emotionally and physically exhausted.

  "Tell us what happened," Richard demanded and so I did. I matter-of-factly related what happened leaving out my many precarious dips down the rocky slides but the evidence of that is littered all over me.

  "You're hurt! Stand up," Richard instructed urgently catching glimpse of my bloody knee.

  "What the hell Richard? I'll take care of it. You leave," Jake flared up angrily. I could see Richard was torn so I intervened with a question of my own.

  "How did you find out?" I asked.

  "Your horse was brought back without you. Alf who minds your horse reported this instantly. He knew better than to question the Amir but he rightfully reported the matter to me. I had the horse riding session changed into an outright search for you. One of my men radioed in that you had been found and were safe back at home so we rode in to see you," replied Richard his concerned eyes roaming over every part of me not covered in frothy bubbles. I felt really naked. Well as naked as I was.