Twelve Days - The Beginning (26 page)

Clear blue eyes connected with dark brown and Elise mouthed, “Thank you” in the silence of the car. She didn’t trust herself to speak, so raw were her emotions right now.

Vaughn nodded as if in understanding and mouthed back, “You’re very welcome” before pulling her to him and crushing her against his solid chest. She clung to him, taking strength and acknowledging what this man had done for her; not just in upgrading her room but in standing up for her with Edwin Dunn. For coming out and for fighting her corner. She was used to being on her own and having to deal with whatever came her way but this warmth that she was feeling now – that was something else entirely and she wondered whether she would ever be able to stand on her own two feet again.

Vaughn rested his cheek on her head and ran his fingers through the length of her hair. Presently, he lifted her chin up and their eyes met before he claimed her mouth in a beautiful sensual kiss; neither of them needing words to express their emotions. It didn’t take long for the tension to build however and the kiss soon deepened becoming more passionate and more demanding.

Their mouths opened in perfect synchronisation and Elise heard Vaughn groan as their tongues collided and meshed. He started running his hands down her back and she clung to him, moving her hands across his shoulders and then down his front and across his chest, feeling his pecs and abs ripple as she moved. He mirrored her actions, bringing his hands underneath her jacket at the front, caressing her breasts lightly, tweaking her nipples before he reluctantly pulled away, releasing her with a final gentle kiss.

“We’re in a public lay-by and as much as I want to take this further, I think I’m already in enough trouble. I don’t need two run-ins with the cops on the same day.” He smiled apologetically. “I think you just made me a promise though, Elise Grayson.” And he swatted her thigh playfully as he re-started the car and pulled back onto the road.

Elise looked out of the window and tried to gather her thoughts. If Vaughn hadn’t stopped then, she wasn’t sure that she would have. She was well aware that they were in a public place but ever since last night in the ballroom, she had found herself thinking more and more about the thrill of being caught and she was scared to realise just how much that turned her on. She had never considered herself to be an exhibitionist and certainly wasn’t in that league now but this extra dimension to sex was something that she had never experienced and she wanted more of it. It was like she had been kept under lock and key, set in her ways and now she was free; let out, able to experience everything new and fresh and she wanted to make the most of this opportunity.

“You ok, Elise?” Vaughn asked as she continued to remain silent.

She turned to him and smiled. “I’m fine...” She paused, “It’s been a hell of a couple of days.”

.

They finally arrived back at the office just after 4.30pm having hit some traffic on the motorway. Elise was hoping that they could just slip in unnoticed so that she could collect her car and head home. She was shattered and needed some time to process everything that had happened. Had it really been only yesterday that she had left the office?

As Vaughn pulled into his parking space and killed the engine, he put his hand on her arm to stop her when she went to get out of his car.

“This isn’t the end, Elise. Promise me that you won’t give up on us now. I know that we have a lot to work through and that this is not ideal timing - perhaps for either of us - but this needs to happen. I need this to happen.” He released a breath and ran his hand through his hair, leaving it to flop adorably over his face. She loved it when he did that.

“We’ve got Christmas coming up,” he continued, “so I’ll be heading over to my sister’s for a few days. We’ll be apart by necessity but you have to remember what I’ve said and trust that I mean this. After Christmas we’ll talk, I promise. This will happen.”

Elise looked across at Vaughn and nodded. “I don’t have any answers,” she said “but last night changed a lot of things for me too and I know that I’m not done here either. Maybe the time apart will be good for us – less intense. Perhaps with clearer heads we’ll be able to sort through what this all means to us individually.”

Her words sounded convincing but her heart was beyond believing them. The thought of not seeing him for a few days was already tearing her apart and it terrified her how far he had insinuated himself into her life in such a short space of time. She had no idea how she was going to go home and pretend like everything was exactly as it always had been. She was no actress but she was going to have to find some skills from somewhere, somehow.

Vaughn leaned across and grabbed her face in-between his hands, making sure that she looked directly into his eyes.

“I have no right to ask this, but I am going to anyway.” He hesitated, almost as if searching for the right words. “Can you promise me that you won’t sleep with Dale? I can’t bear to
think of him touching you. I know that he is your husband and that you both have every right to in a way, but I just need to hold onto the fact that you are being faithful to me while we are apart – however twisted that might sound.”

Totally twisted but utterly beautiful. Elise turned her head and kissed his palm, lingering there for a moment.

“I can’t promise you that I won’t have sex with Dale. If he’s had a drink then...well, you know. But I can promise you that I won’t sleep with Dale voluntarily. It’s been a long time since it’s been consensual anyway.....” she stopped as painful memories crowded in and she mentally pushed them away. “Since last night, there is no way that I could give him what he needs now. I need to move on from my life with him but you are going to have to let me sort it out in my own way and in my own time. That’s the best I can promise.”

Vaughn looked at her and she watched as a sudden expression of fury flitted across his face, the anger from earlier returning and he focused directly in on the first part of her statement.

“Will that bastard force you, Elise? Will he? Shit! How the hell can I leave you now?”

“Hey...” she said placatingly, cupping his hands that were still holding her face. “I don’t know whether he will or not; chances are that he won’t – sometimes he overdoes the alcohol just a little too much if you know what I mean. Try not to worry, I’ll be fine.” She hoped rather than believed that that would be the case. Christmas always meant sex but she wasn’t about to tell Vaughn that. She had coped with it every year up until now and she would cope with it again. This year would be different though because maybe this year, she would be coping with it in the knowledge that this would be her last year, and in the madness that was her life, what better Christmas present could she ask for than that?

Vaughn looked at her with disbelief and worry in his eyes but he obviously realised that there was little he could do and that he would just have to trust that she would be ok.

“I hate the thought of leaving you now.” He said, “You have no idea how much I wish things were different.”

She smiled at him. “Me too, but it is what it is and I promise it’ll all be fine. One day, this will sort itself out – it has to.”

Vaughn moved his thumbs and began gently caressing her cheeks as he continued to gaze into her eyes and she dropped her hands to her lap. For long moments words were unnecessary until eventually he broke the silence.

“Elise, why don’t you wear a wedding ring?” he asked and she could tell that he placed a lot of importance on the symbolism of this gesture.

She shrugged - the answer wasn’t anywhere near as mysterious as the effect it clearly had on him.

“A few years back I got an allergy and had really bad eczema on my hands. My fingers were sore and swollen so I had to remove all my rings. They thought it was something to do with
the stress and medication.....” she stopped, realising that she had inadvertently revealed something that she wasn’t ready to go into and desperately hoped that he wouldn’t pursue it. “Anyway, by the time my hands had healed, things weren’t great between Dale and I and it just never seemed the right time to put it back on. I kept expecting him to mention it but he never did. I guess it’s because I kept my maiden name as well – perhaps he just didn’t think it was that important. We’ve never talked about it since.”

Vaughn moved his hands to cover hers and deliberately ran his finger up and down the third finger on her left hand all the while watching his actions, totally entranced.

“I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t want their ring on your finger.” He said. “If you were mine, there would be no question of anyone thinking you were anything
but
married to me.”

His last words were spoken forcefully and Elise was surprised at the emotion behind them. Although she understood the symbolism of the ring, the fact that she didn’t wear it didn’t make her any less married than if she did. Clearly Vaughn didn’t share that view and in some ways she could see what he meant. The ring was visual and gave out an instant message and for the first time she could understand how her not wearing a ring could be a cause for confusion and misunderstanding.

Suddenly there was a loud knocking on the car window which made them both jump, and they instantly broke apart.

Elise recovered first and wound down her window. “Shit, Cole! You really need to stop sneaking up on me – I swear you are going to give me a heart attack one day!”

Cole just smiled at her with infuriating innocence. “Hey, beautiful! Good conference?” He leaned in further to address Vaughn, “They’re waiting for you upstairs. Apparently Annabel had to let them know the second you entered the building so she has been watching the security camera like a hawk. They know you’re back, mate, and they’re not too pleased.”

“Shit.” Vaughn said and reached over to give Elise’s hand one last squeeze before exiting the car. Cole opened Elise’s door and helped her out before enveloping her in a big hug.

“So, what happened? Can’t I leave you on your own for five minutes?” She could feel Cole’s chest rumbling against hers as he spoke and she allowed herself a brief moment to inhale his comforting scent.

“Ha ha, very funny.” She pushed away from him and went around to the boot to collect her bag. Vaughn already had his and was about to walk into the building when Cole stopped him.

“Vaughn, Elise – there’s something you need to know. That’s why I came down here. I wanted to give you the heads up.” He stopped and took Elise’s hand, rubbing it absently with his thumb. Vaughn’s eyes drifted and noted the gesture but he didn’t comment.

“Everyone knows what happened at the conference; it’s all round the office. It seems that Tilly called Annabel to let her know you would be coming back early and – well, you can imagine the rest. The rumour mill is in overdrive and although no one knows the full story people are speculating about why you would get into a fight over Elise, Vaughn. Everyone
knows she is married and the reactions are ranging from shock to morbid excitement, depending on which side of the fence you are sitting on. Stephen and I have been fire-fighting for the last couple of hours but there is only so much we can do. Oh and Elise, Olivia is seriously pissed.” Cole finished talking and glanced across at Elise. So too did Vaughn.

“Shit! Christ, Elise, I am so sorry – I just didn’t think. Fuck – what a mess.” Vaughn rubbed his hand across his eyes. “I better go in and talk to them and see what I can do. It’s no one’s business but ours. Christ, I really didn’t want your name dragged through the mud over this.”

Elise reached across and put a hand on his arm. “It’s OK, Vaughn,” she said resigned, “This was bound to come out sooner or later. Later would have been better but we’ll have to deal with it, I guess. I’ll be the scarlet woman for a while but the people that matter to me know the truth and that’s all I care about.” As she finished speaking, a sudden thought crossed her mind.

“Christ – Dale! Does he know any of this?” As far as she was aware, Dale was not on speaking terms with any of her colleagues but he had met some of them a few times at various functions. If he had happened to phone in for her, maybe to see what time she was getting back, then someone may have let it slip. Technically, all that had happened was that Vaughn had defended her against some over amorous delegate. Unfortunately his behaviour was so over the top, that she doubted anyone would believe that that was all there was to it. All it took was a vivid imagination and the very efficient rumour mill and, hey presto, something very close to the truth could easily be circulating.

“Not as far as I know, babe.” answered Cole, “but I wouldn’t know if he’s called your direct line and spoken to anyone. Hopefully, if he did, he spoke to Stephen. Annabel said that no one had called for you when I asked her on the way down. I’ve been telling everyone to mind their own business and that you would never cheat on your husband but I don’t know how much good it’s done. The evidence is fairly overwhelming and from the look on your faces I know that I’ve been lying to them. Everyone else will see it in a heartbeat. We can keep lying, babe, and you know I would do that for you but maybe it’s time to face up to all of this. When people know the whole truth about your life, they won’t judge you because they won’t be able to. Besides which, I really am a crap liar.”