Absolute Zero (33 page)

She smiled in the dark before one hand rose up and clamped her forehead as yet another thought crossed her mind.

“I said ‘harder’,” she groaned out in mortification before turning and burying her face on her pillow.

*****

He was definitely gone.

She stood on her front porch early the next morning, stretching, trying to pretend that the evidence of last night’s activities was not present, yet every movement reminded her that she hadn’t really exercised
that
part of her body in a while.

Even her past experience, limited as it was, never resulted in this. He was big. Definitely larger than…
helloooo, stop thinking about it
, she chastised herself before slipping her earbuds in her ears. She turned up the volume, trying to drown out her thoughts and jumped from the porch before taking off in a brisk run.

*****

Her fingers looped around the chain link of the fence as she leaned against it, watching the sunrise reflected in the bright blue water. She had to walk most of the incline to get to the spot. Her body just wasn’t cooperating this morning. In fact, she would be walking the rest of the way back to the house, but not quite yet. This spot was beautiful, no doubt, but there was also an air of mystery to it.

Shay had said that Shelby had driven into a quarry and she had to wonder if this was the spot. It made sense. Sharp curve, only a few miles from the house… Her eyes wandered to both sides of where she stood, looking for who knew? Maybe a small white cross or something, but even through the brush, she didn’t see anything.  Her eyes returned to the water glistening beyond the trees as her mind attempted to recall all that was said during that conversation.

Shelby and Ian had some sort of blow up before he left for Scotland. What could have been so bad that he would leave his wife, a woman with an inoperable brain tumor, alone? What kind of person would do that?
The same type of person that could have sex with another woman in a bed they probably shared…

She shook her head slowly. She didn’t know the whole story. She certainly would
not
ask him. It wasn’t any of her business. Besides, she wouldn’t appreciate anyone asking about
her
past. She couldn’t blame him for trying to bury his.

She was so lost in thought that she completely missed the sound of the approaching car behind her until it was too late. Gravel crunched behind her, rousing her slightly before the sound of a car door slamming gave her a jolt. Slowly, her head turned, her eyes almost immediately catching the burst of color from the top of the white vehicle from a stray beam of sunlight that filtered through the trees and reflected off the blue of the light bar. Her pulse began to pound as the rest of her body turned and watched as a large, uniformed man alighted from the vehicle and slowly approached her.

Her throat gave an audible swallow as he neared, his eyes never wavering from her. The closer he walked, the bigger he got as her head followed up and up until he was only a few feet from her.

“Everything all right?” he asked in a somewhat gruff voice.

“Ahh…yes?” she responded as her eyes slid down, away from his intense scrutiny. A gold tag proclaimed ‘Sgt. Merkel’ on his chest.

“Can I ask what you’re doing here? This area is posted, you know,” he added. His thumb gave a little jab toward one of the ‘No Trespassing’ signs on one of the trees behind him.

“Umm. Right. I thought that was just beyond the fence, to be honest. It’s really beautiful,” she added, then mentally kicked herself. That sounded so stupid after she said it.

“It
is
beautiful, but it’s no place to visit. It can be dangerous,” he stated.

“I was on the right side of the fence,” she blurted.

“Really? By the way you had your hands on the chain link, it looked like you were getting ready to climb it,” one of his brows shot up, but his mouth curved up slightly. “Where’s your vehicle?” he added as his head swiveled from one side to the other.

“I live down the road. I ran here.”

“Oh, well then, you should probably keep going. Do me a favor and stay away from this quarry. The owner is very concerned about keeping people away from this place and he’s right.”

“No problem,” she replied before taking a step and wincing. She had almost forgotten…

“Are you all right?” he asked. Obviously he noted her grimace of pain.

“Oh! Yeah! Just…a cramp…maybe…” she took a few more steps before his hand looped around her upper arm.

“I’ll give you a ride back. You look like you’re in pain. You sure it’s just a cramp?” he asked as he looked down at her.

“Yes? It’ll work itself out. I’ll just…”

“No. If you could see your face right now…Come on,” he gave her a slight tug causing her body to follow obediently. She was already caught trespassing this morning; she wasn’t going to add to her list of transgressions by resisting him.

“I appreciate that…Sgt…”
What was his name again?

“Frank. Frank Merkel. And you are?”

“Anne Bennett,” she piped up.

“Would you like to ride in the back or the front?” he asked with a smirk when they neared the vehicle.

“Front, please,” she almost laughed out.

The car was already running, she noticed as she seated herself in the vehicle. A disembodied voice was speaking from the radio on his dash as he put the car in gear and looked toward her. “Which way?”

Anne pointed in the direction she had come. He turned and followed the road back down the hill, through the trees until they hit level ground.

“How far?” he asked as another voice joined the first on the radio in the background.

“Actually, right up here,” she pointed to the driveway.

“Really? Isn’t that something? You’re just trespassing all over this guy’s properties, aren’t you?” he joked as he turned into the paved entrance.

“What do you mean?” she asked as her eyes sought his profile.

“Ian McClellan. He owns this house
and
the quarry.” He stated simply.

“He owns a quarry?” she asked, her apprehension beginning to rise.

“Sure. Bought the land a couple of years ago. Didn’t think the owners did a good enough job of protecting people from it,” he said as he stopped the vehicle behind her Porsche.

“That yours?” he asked, nodding his head toward her car.

She was too dumbfounded to respond.

“Anne?”

“Yeah?” she asked absently.

“That your car?” he asked again.

“Yeah?”

“Very nice,” he nodded his head before turning his body toward hers. “Now, you behave. No more trespassing, Ok?”

*****

Later that morning, she crept up to the counter and peered at the lit screen as the sound filled the house. It was him. He was calling her. Crazy fluttering burst from her core to every outlying part of her body as she contemplated answering. She turned and glanced at the digital clock on the stove noting the time before her features scrunched up. It was too early. He should only be a few hours into his flight. Her fingers immediately gripped the phone.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, love. How…”

“Where are you?” she interrupted him.

“Well now, there’s a greeting,” his soft laugh filled her ears and warmed her body.

“You shouldn’t be…are you on the plane?”  Her hand gripped the phone tighter as her pulse began to pound.

“Diverted,” was his only answer. A knock on her front door caused her body to jump. She pressed her backside against the counter and her eyes focused toward the source of the sound.

“Anne?” she could hear his breathy voice in her ear.

Maybe it was Shay at the door
…

She gulped loudly.

“Anne? Listen love, I just wanted to talk to you. I left you alone last night so you could do your thinking and I did a bit of that too,” he started. The doorbell rang out causing her to press even further into the counter.

Her throat was parched and she couldn’t seem to croak a word out.

“I know you’re not…” he started but the doorbell rang again as her eyes widened. “Anne, go answer your door,” he finished.

“Wha… how did you…?”

“I can hear it in the background,” he stated with an amused tone to his voice.

“Oh. Right, right…” she breathed out before she finally willed her body to move. She slowly walked through the kitchen, her apprehension growing with each step. She was a fluttering bundle of nerves by the time she reached the door and raised up on tiptoes to look through the peep hole.

A shock of color appeared; the familiar yellow, orange and red filled her vision, as well as a strange man holding them. A delivery man, at least by the logo on his baseball cap. A huge sigh of relief escaped her as she opened the door. Ian was silent on his end.

“Ms. Bennett?” the younger man asked before extending the huge arrangement toward her.

“Yes,” she placed the phone on her shoulder and held it with her tilted head as she reached out and grabbed the vase with somewhat shaking fingers. She hugged it to her for fear of losing her grip.

“Have a good day,” he stated before turning and jumping down the few steps to the walkway.

“What was that?” she could hear through the phone.

She quickly placed the vase with dozens of the brightly colored tulips spewing out from every direction on the table behind the couch.

“As if you don’t know,” she answered as she gripped the phone with her hand again.

“Yeah, well…”

“I’m not used to that. I don’t usually…you shouldn’t…” she couldn’t seem to get the words out.

“You should always have flowers. I’ll have to work on that. The proper response is, ‘Thank you, Ian’, and we’ll leave it at that. So tell me, what are your plans for today?”

Another knock sounded at the door causing her to jump and almost drop the phone before she gripped it tighter.

She stood frozen as her eyes stared at the door. She was being ridiculous.

“Am I supposed to tip him?” she whispered as she walked the few steps toward the door and gripped the handle.

She swung the door open and immediately dropped the phone as well as her jaw.

Ian McClellan was leaning against her doorjamb with his phone to his ear.

“Not him. Maybe you could tip
me
?”

“What are you…? You can’t be here, you’re supposed to…”

“Right and no one can postpone a flight, eh?” He smiled as he pushed from the frame and grabbed the handle of the screen door, opening it smoothly.

She took a step back as she watched him enter, her mouth still opened in shock.

“Close your mouth, love,” he stated as his fingers pressed up from the bottom of her chin. “On second thought, keep it open,” he quickly grabbed the back of her head with one hand and tilted her chin up with the other before his mouth was on hers, coaxing her tongue to meet his. Her body melted instantly and the shock that seized her muscles only a moment before was replaced by reluctant pleasure at his touch.

“Mmm, that’s better”, he whispered against her lips when he finally pulled his mouth from hers. He kept her body held closely to his as his hand swept up and down her back lazily.

“So…why?” she asked as her eyes searched his.

“That’s a good question,” he answered before his own gaze swept downward, searching for something as he gently grasped her arms and set her away from him.

His body stooped down as she watched the top of his head in confusion. “Here,” he stated as he straightened back up handing her phone to her.

She immediately swiped the screen and the display showed immediately, to her immense relief.

“Your reactions are priceless,” he said with a smile. “You’re so jumpy, love. How is your eye by the way?” he asked before his fingers touched her right eye beneath the brow.

“What do you mean?”

“You hit it on the microscope the other day, when I visited the lab?”

“You saw that?” she asked in complete confusion. He didn’t even speak to her or come near her for that matter.

“I watched you the whole time,” he admitted quietly.

“But you didn’t talk to us. You talked to everyone else, though,” her eyes began to narrow at him.

“Maybe I was afraid you might have one of your famous outbursts or maybe bother me about your list.”

“My
fookin
’ list?” she shot him a sly smile.

“Your faaaaahhhhking list, aye,” he stated before grabbing her hand and walking toward the kitchen. “Do you have any coffee?” he asked as she followed her body and mind still somewhat stunned.

“In the pot, it’s fresh. So what
are
you doing here?” she asked as he released her and wandered directly to the exact cabinet where the mugs resided.

“Well, I couldn’t exactly leave after...” he seemed to trail off as he grabbed a cup and poured the steaming liquid into it. “Would you like a cup?” he held the carafe in front of him.

“Ah…sure?”

“Cream, sugar?” he asked as he opened the cabinet door again.

“Black. So, you were saying…?” she leaned against the counter, waiting for him to finish his explanation.

“What?” he asked almost innocently as he poured the coffee and set the carafe back in the machine.

“Why couldn’t you leave?” she prompted in frustration as she grabbed the offered cup.

“Oh, right,” he seemed to consider his words for a moment. “It didn’t seem quite right leaving and not…I mean, I let you go because that’s what you wanted, but
I
didn’t want that. When I said I didn’t know when I’d be back, I was serious, Anne. There’s so much going on at home…I can only switch so many face to face meetings with conference calls. I did it this week, but…” he seemed to stop mid-thought before his eyes brightened considerably.

“Why don’t you come back with me?” he asked.

“What!?” her face registered the shock to her system.

“Scotland. You could meet some of the people in the lab…”

“Oh! Sure. Let me go pack a bag,” she stated casually before taking a sip from her mug.

“Do you have a passport?”

Was he serious?
He certainly looked serious.

“Nope. Oh well…” she gave him a shrug. “Guess you’ll have to go without me,” she added lightly.

“I was being serious, Anne,” his eyes settled on hers in that intense stare that both unnerved and aroused her at the same time.

“I don’t doubt that, Ian. I just can’t up and leave. I’ve got things to work on here and besides, how the hell would I explain that trip? People think we
hate
each other. I certainly wouldn’t want them speculating on any type of…relations between the two of us. I think it’s best if you stay on your side of the pond and I stay on mine,” she said with finality although the last sentence seemed a bit harsh. It was true, but still…

“That’s the problem. I don’t want to stay away from you,” he placed his mug on the counter before walking the two steps separating them and gently removing her mug from her hands.

“Last night was incredible,” he breathed against her forehead as he pulled her to him.

“Yeah, well, that didn’t go quite the way I had planned it in my head,” she murmured against his neck as he tightened his hold.

“It did for me,” he whispered causing her body to stiffen slightly before she pushed away to look at this face.

“What about the brunette?”

One of his brows rose in confusion.

“The woman you took to lunch and dinner, remember her?”

A small smile played on his lips. “Actually she took
me
to lunch and dinner,” he stated as he watched for any sign of emotion from her. “She’s an account rep for a marketing firm I was thinking of hiring,” he finally elaborated. “Why? Were you jealous?” he asked with a grin.

“
NO!
” she stated emphatically.

“Right,” he tipped her chin up to his and molded his lips to hers.

She kissed him back, slightly relieved. Her stomach fluttered as his hands skimmed down her torso and firmly gripped her hips as his tongue tested then eased into her mouth. He tasted like coffee, or maybe that was her…

“I have two hours before the car picks me up,” he whispered as his lips trailed to her neck. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out what he meant by that as his erection was evident against her stomach.

“I…can’t,” she breathed out before quickly continuing, “I mean, there’s no way. I’m so…”
sore
, she completed in her head.

“So
what
, love?” He continued to explore the soft skin below her ear before his lips gave a small tug on her ear lobe. Hot fire seemed to shot from that spot to between her legs.

“I’m…I couldn’t even run this morning,” she admitted, thoroughly embarrassed. He pulled away from her, his thumbs brushing the skin on her flushed cheeks.

“I get it. And I apologize. I told you I usually have a bit more finesse, but to have you on my bed with your legs spread for
me
…” the intensity of his eyes probably matched the degree of color on her cheeks.

“You’re blushing, love,” he whispered. “That’s charming. Do you have any ice?” he asked, pushing away and turning toward the freezer as her confused eyes stared at his back. He opened the freezer door. “Aye, you do,” he said more to himself as he stepped to the side and opened a cabinet filled with glasses.

“What are you doing?” she asked as she watched him grab a handful from the bucket and plop the cubes into the glass before closing the door.

“You’ll see,” he stated before closing the distance between them and grabbing her hand.

“Come with me, Ms. Bennett,” he gave a firm tug as he attempted to lead her from the kitchen.

Her stocking-clad feet held no grip on the hardwood floor as she attempted to stop. Instead, she slid along in a ridiculous fashion as he continued to walk through the living room with her hand firmly grasped by his.

“Wait!” she protested.

“Sorry, love. Two hours. I’m not wasting a minute of it,” he interrupted her. He released her hand and just as quickly turned toward her before she could utter another word. Suddenly, his shoulder was at her waist and her body was hefted up and over as his arm held her tight. He began to climb the stairs with her body draped over him like a sack of potatoes.

“Ian!” she managed to utter as her breath rushed out.

“Anne, you’ll thank me for this later, love. Now be a good girl and shut yer geggy, eh?”

*****

“Mmm…Oh! Geez, I…” she gasped out as her legs clamped on either side of his head.

“Easy, I need this thing,” he laughed out as he pried them apart once again. “Just relax, love,” he looked up at her as a distinct crunching sound could be heard.

The next sweep of his tongue caused her hips to shoot off the mattress.

The sensation was completely foreign but intoxicatingly arousing. Hot and cold, teasing and soothing… and to think, she was protesting only a short while ago. Her hands fisted the sheets tightly before moving to his hair.

“Anne, darlin’. Let go, eh? I’m gonna be bald in about five years anyway, you don’t need to help speed up that process,” he murmured against her before another lick and a soft blow of breath.

“Sorry..ahhh…” she moved her hands back to the sheets before another sensation racked her body. Pressure was building accompanied by tingles causing her hands to clench the fabric like a vice.

“Do you like that?”

“Mmm, you’re very good at this,” she let out on a breath before it caught.

“I have to be. It’s a well-known fact that ugly men are better lovers, we have nothing else to recommend us,” he stated lightly before concentrating his efforts once again.

“You’re
not
ugly. You’re kidding, right?” Her head rose from the pillow to meet his gaze.

He didn’t look up.

“Are you fishing for compliments?” she added, mesmerized by the look of focus on his face.

“I’m fishing for an orgasm,” he muttered before his eyes shot to hers. “Give us one, eh?” His tongue darted inside and caused an almost instant shattering throughout her body. She yelled out something unintelligible, she was sure. Maybe he would tell her what it was later, but at the moment, she couldn’t have cared less.

*****

“Please, shut up.”

“Was that Swahili for ‘you’re a god’ or something like that?” he asked with a grin. Her hand immediately hid her face in her absolute mortification.

“It’s all right, love, let me see your face. Oh, you’re blushing again. I like that.” He kissed both cheeks before settling his head on his hand as he propped up on the pillow next to her. His other hand swept the hair from her forehead before he settled his palm on her cheek. Even in her embarrassment, she found it impossible to look anywhere else except at the eyes staring intently into hers. His fingers trailed down her neck and looped the neckline of her t-shirt.

“Can we please remove this?” he gave the material a flick before it fell back to her body.

“No,” she answered resolutely.

He let out a frustrated sigh and fixed her with a glare. “Fine,” he uttered before kissing the side of her mouth. “Some day?”

Her only answer was a shrug. He rolled his eyes before settling them on her once again.

“Tell me something about you,” he finally asked in a quiet voice.

Her gaze widened but she quickly masked the alarm that shook her.

“Wha…what do you want to know?”

“That depends. What do you want to tell me?”

Nothing.

“Ah…I like to cook?” she stated the first safe thing that came to mind.

“Noooo,” he breathed out sarcastically, “Right, like I didn’t know that. What else?”

She thought for a moment. “I skipped two grades in school?”

“That doesn’t surprise me; you seem like a rather smart person. Were your parents incredibly proud?” he asked so very casually and yet her body wanted to freeze up at the mention.

“Ah…sure? So why do you think you’re ugly?” she asked quickly.

“Maybe ugly is too harsh a word. Let’s just say I won’t be winning any awards for this mug and leave it at that,” he stated before settling a soft kiss on her lips.

“You’re not ugly,” her hand lifted and involuntarily traced his jaw over his mouth and settled on the scar that marred his upper lip.

He immediately grabbed her hand, something flashing in his eyes before they were very expertly masked. He kissed her fingertips and settled her hand on her stomach.

“Thank you, but I think that was the orgasm talking. Anyway, back to you. Where did you grow up?” he asked intentionally. Her reactions were interesting to say the least.

“California,” she answered.
That seemed safe enough
.

“Big family, small family?”

That didn’t.

Her mouth opened before she quickly bit her bottom lip. “Average,” she answered cryptically and continued without giving him a chance to comment. “What about you? Brothers? Sisters? What was
your
childhood like?” she asked in an almost perturbed tone.