TouchStone for ever (The Story of Us Trilogy) (7 page)

I’m
standing by the kitchen counter top waiting for the kettle to boil, regarding
him out of the corner of my eye. He’s never looked better. I can’t begin to
imagine what wickedness has been employed to transform bruises into baby soft
skin and facial scars back into flawless features. He is restored to his old
self, physically at least.

“I’m making tea.
Would you like a cup?” I ask out of politeness.

“Is it Darjeeling?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll pass.”

He stands bolt
upright, looking out of the enormous floor-to-ceiling sheet of reinforced
glass. The darkness has seen to it that the only things reflected in the glass
are lamps and furniture but it’s his reflection that takes centre stage. 

I sit quietly,
observing the self-absorbed way in which he tips his head to the left and then
the right; how he lifts his chin, discovering a chiselled profile polished to
perfection by magical powers as old as time itself.

“Enjoying the view?”
I ask, breaking his concentration.

He laughs, at
himself. “Yes, very much so.”

I want to say “me
too” but I don’t. I blow the steam from my tea and sip it slowly, savouring
precious seconds of normality before having to face more of his revelations.

“Go ahead,” he says,
picking up on my quizzical expression.

“With what?”

“Your questions. You
can ask me anything.” He’s straightening the fine denim material on his knees
and repositioning his cuffs as if preparing for a photo shoot.

I settle my cup down
in its saucer. “I don’t know where to begin.”

“Then I will explain
my expectations until such time as a question occurs to you.”

Expectations…

Before he can
continue, I interrupt. “I’ve seen what you’re capable of. How can you assume
someone like me will be able to meet your
expectations
? It’s laughable.”

“Your husband saw
something in you when you were a child. You spoke to his heart, and the memory
of you stayed with him all his life. To the very end.”

I look away, wounded
by his words. “How can you expect me to look at you when you say something like
that? It’s like a dagger piercing my soul, don’t you realise?”

“I didn’t, not until
this very moment.”

“And if I ask you a
question, will you answer me truthfully?”

“Yes. I will never
lie to you; it isn’t in my nature.”

For some inexplicable
reason I believe him. “Then tell me what it is you want from me and what I can
expect from you in return.”

“It’s very simple. I
want your love.”

I begin to chuckle.
“Oh, that’s all!”

“It is.”

“By love you mean
sex, I assume?”

“Well, that usually
goes hand in hand with a loving relationship, does it not?”

“Yes it does, but we
don’t have a loving relationship. You’re an imposter, a … a body snatcher…”

He’s laughing at me.

“What’s so funny?” I
ask, a little shocked by my indignation.

“Your turn of phrase.
I find it amusing.” He folds his arms as if settling in for the night. “You really
are quite charming, Beth.”

“I can assure you,
I’m not trying to be,” I declare, shaking my head, and sighing.

“Nevertheless … do
continue.”

We’re face to face,
but now he’s massaging his chin with his thumb the way Ayden does. Feeling the
pull of sexual attraction, I have to look away. I reach for my tea and sip it
quietly, fearing that my newly-renovated body will betray me. I feel my cheeks
flushing and hope he hasn’t noticed.

“Your husband is a
handsome man, Beth. It’s natural that you still have feelings for him of a
sexual nature.”

Shit, he knows what
I’m thinking!

I turn to face him.
“Is that another one of your party tricks? You can read people’s thoughts?”

“Yes, when I choose
to. But I don’t have to read your thoughts to know what you’re feeling. Your
arousal is detectable in your blushing cheeks, the heat radiating from your
skin and the darkness of your pupils.” He rests his hands on his thighs and I
wonder if he’s directing my gaze to his body.

My eyes make the
climb from his hands, across his thighs, skim his groin and ascend languidly
before coming to rest on his handsome face.

Ayden’s words come to
me and I smile.

So responsive but so
little self-control …

My expression
softens, cold, hard edges melted by a memory. “Did you hear that?” I ask,
facing him squarely.

He nods. “That’s a
very endearing quality. It’s refreshing to meet someone with this level of
transparency.”

“You think?” I huff.

“I know.”

“You might know about
the universe and God knows what else, but don’t presume to know me. And don’t
think you can step into Ayden’s shoes so easily. People will be able to tell
you’re not him; one conversation with Jake and your cover will be blown. And
what then? What of Ayden? Will you leave, move on? Find another handsome body
to inhabit and admire through mirrors and sheets of glass?”

He considers my words
but does not venture to speak.

“You say you want to
be loved by me, yet offer me nothing in return. If I’m as transparent as you
say I am, then you should know I’ll need some kind of reassurance from you.”

He arches a brow.
“What kind of reassurance do you want?”

I place my overheated
right hand on his arm. “That you’ll bring Ayden back to me.”

He pats my hand. “You
are in no position to negotiate, Beth. It is indicative of my good will that
I’m here at all.”

“You might see it
that way, but try to look at it from my point of view, please. For years I had
nothing but my dreams of Ayden finding me to keep me warm at night. It was the
promise of him that helped me survive my encounter with a demon. He woke me
from a great sleep, and we discovered each other. So profound was our love, it
brought you here.” Out of the blue, a line from Sense and Sensibility comes to
mind.

To Love is to Burn,
to Be on Fire!

 “Ms. Austen’s words
do seem to be quite apt at this juncture.”

What!

He strokes his chin
again, contemplating a resolution. I look on, wide-eyed.

“I will make no
promises. What I will offer you is an arrangement of sorts. I will consider
returning your husband to this somewhat fragile body on one condition.” I
attempt to speak but he holds up a single finger and I desist. “That condition
being, we live as man and wife for a period of six months, or until such time
as I decide to terminate this arrangement. It is non-negotiable and absolute.”

“Six months! You’re
offering me nothing? No compromise?”

“Why would I? For me
to truly immerse myself in the Stone experience, I will need your help,
naturally. But it’s in your interest to make my replication utterly
convincing.”

“You’re holding all the
cards …”

“I am indeed.” He
pauses to smile assuredly. “But I am hopeful that we’ll be able to play them
together.”

“That could be
problematic for me…”

“How so?”

“I can’t conceal my
feelings. ’So responsive, no self-control,’ remember? I’ll find it hard to lie,
especially to those I care about.”

He shrugs his
shoulder dismissively. “Then you must learn, Beth, and quickly. You are
forbidden to tell anyone.”

I finish off my tea
and stand. “Who would believe me anyway?”

“Precisely.”

I check my watch.
“It’s 10 p.m. I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.” I take a
lingering look at my “husband” sitting self-assuredly on the sofa, his right
leg across his left knee and his hands resting on his lap. This ‘arrangement’
seems so unfair. I spin around, determined to make it as painless as possible,
but dying a little inside with each step.  “Okay. I agree.”

“Good.” He stands and
approaches me, seeming larger than life, statuesque in his majestic beauty.
“Take my hand.”

I raise my right hand
and he lifts it to his lips. A perfectly plump V shape presses against my skin,
making every muscle in my stomach clench and tighten.

“You are my wife,
Beth, and I will try to be the perfect husband; but, rest assured, I will not
be toyed with, taken advantage of or played for a fool. Do you understand?”

Realising the
implications of those three special words, I instinctively suck air into my
lungs; recollections of soft cord, blindfolds and Ayden’s hands move through me
like the aftershock of an atomic bomb, causing an involuntary moan to leave my
mouth. Embarrassed, I look away.

“Beth, look at me,”
he urges softly. “You cannot conceal anything from me. What I cannot hear I can
feel and what I cannot feel I can see. I can read you as one might a child, and
your innocence is a powerful aphrodisiac to me.”

In Ayden’s eyes I see
the colour of the night sky, minus starlight or clouds; the tell-tale indicator
of his arousal. Any other time I would succumb to my desire for intimacy, but
not now.

“You can’t expect me
to fall at your feet. I didn’t do that for Ayden and I sure as hell won’t do it
for you.” I look away. “I’m a human being, not a robot. I can’t turn my
emotions on and off at the flick of a switch.”

“I realise that.
Nevertheless, we have an arrangement, do we not?”

“And that involves
you fucking me whenever the mood suits you, I suppose?”

He tips his head and
thinks through his words before speaking. “I will not put any pressure on you
to … perform. If that were my intention I would be elsewhere. It is my desire
to experience love, not sex. You may be surprised to know that I do, in fact,
know the difference.” He releases my hand. “Go to bed and rest. You’ve a lot to
consider. Then tomorrow, we will begin our adventure.”

“Adventure! You think
this will be an adventure?” I’m shaking my head in disbelief.

“How would
you
describe it, Beth?”

I lift my head
confidently, considering my response. The last thing I want to do is to offend
him; he holds all the cards. “It’ll be an ordeal, but nothing I can’t handle.”

A smile graces his
lips. “That’s what I thought.”

“Where will you be
sleeping?” I ask.

He sniggers,
anticipating his response. “In the master bedroom - where else?”

“I should have
guessed.”

He smirks, finding my
response amusing no doubt. “Although I will not be sleeping, as such. Life goes
on for me …”

“That’s a rather
insensitive turn of phrase isn’t it, taking into account your job.”

His smirk widens as
he laughs gleefully. “My job? Yes, of course. Forgive my insensitivity. I see
your point.”

Shaking my head I
turn to leave. “By the way, what will you do with Ayden while you’re off doing
your job?”

“I will simply leave
his body…”

Taken aback, I swivel
around. “Where?”

“In bed.”

“Will he be alright?”

“Yes”

This I have to hear.
“So you never sleep?”

He raises a brow and
shakes his head. “You find that surprising?”

“Not really, just
another thing to add to my list of surprises. I think I may be getting to the
point that I’m totally un-shockable.”

He huffs away that
idea. “I very much doubt that. The universe holds many secrets, the least of
which is my requirement for actual sleep.”

“How do you function,
then?”

“I exist. That is
enough.”

I begin to laugh
nervously. “Is it? I’ll take your word for it.”

“That would be wise,”
he states with a glint in his eye. “Ask me no questions and I will tell you no
lies.”

“I thought you said
you never lie?” I ask mischievously.

“I did, and I don’t.
I was merely being playful.”

I tip my head over
and hit him with a wide stare. “Being playful … and who taught you that?” He
smirks in such a sexy way I swear I can feel my pupils dilating.

“Why you, Beth,” he
declares. “Every minute I spend with you is an education.”

I turn on my heels
and walk away. “Oh please ... goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Beth.”

***

An exhausted Golden
Retriever waits to be released from her leash, then trundles into the kitchen
in search of refreshment. She had only been on a fifteen minute walk but, from
her gait, anyone would think she had doggy-paddled across the channel.

Mack refills her bowl
with fresh water and hangs up his coat under the stairs, eager to continue
examining the documents. “Don’t drink too fast, Judy, or you’ll make yourself
sick,” he calls out, slipping off his shoes before entering the lounge.