Jean opened her eyes and stretched. The room was familiar, yet not so. She smiled, remembering the previous night.
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Lucien had been surprised when she had lightly kissed him, but he had liked it and he had taken her in his arms to deepen the moment. Her arms had wound round his neck and she opened her mouth to let his tongue in and she had allowed him to kiss her like she had never been kissed before. Breathless, she had pulled away and pressed her forehead against his chest.
'Jean...' he breathed.
'Shh..'
The music changed to 'Embraceable you.' and he could only follow the instructions, 'Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you, embrace me, you irreplaceable you.' They kissed again, deeply, passionately and his hands wandered down her slight form. She pulled away and he thought he had gone too far.
'Not here.' she murmured and made to stand up.
'Of course,' he coughed, 'I'm sorry, Jean.'
She smiled at him, poor Lucien, he really didn't understand her. She held out her hand to him and he stood. The music still played and she let him take her in his arms again, moving, swaying to the lazy rhythm. He pulled her closer and she felt his desire against her. His desire was her desire, and even if it was just for this one night...
She slipped her hands over his shoulders and under his jacket, pushing it until it fell to the floor. The song ended but their kiss continued and his hands slipped down her back and over her bottom pulling the zip of her dress down at the same time.
'Bedroom,' she gasped, as she felt him expertly unclip her bra.
Lucien swept her up into his strong, muscular arms and carried her into his bedroom, then set her down, gently on the bed. He sat next to her and she started to unbutton his shirt, he undid the cuffs and she slipped it off his shoulders then carelessly dropped it on the floor by the bed. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, Jean Beazley being so untidy! They continued to take turns removing each other's clothing bit by bit, kissing in between items and starting to explore what, up until now, had always been hidden. Jean lay back on the pillows and pulled him into her arms and let his hands caress her breasts. He moved down her, kissing and sucking at her, her soft, warm skin, the fragrance of her, clean and slightly floral, assaulted his senses. She moaned and moved under him, her breath hitched as he kissed her belly button and he looked up and smiled wickedly. He moved back up to her sweet lips and she felt his hand slip between her legs which she parted enough to let him explore her. His gentle foreplay was new to her, her memory was of being taken roughly and quickly, but Lucien wanted her to enjoy the experience as much as he did.
She felt his hardness against her and she decided she would like to explore a little more. Sliding her had down his side then over his stomach she found what she was searching for; hot, hard length. Surprised by her boldness she found she couldn't wait much longer to have him inside her, and raised her knees either side of him, inviting him to complete the act. He moved into her, slowly and gently at first then further in, he felt her move with him and their rhythm became gradually faster as he thrust into her to a final climax that left both of them breathless and more than satisfied.
They slept, wrapped in each other's arms, until the sun crept through the curtains.
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She looked at his handsome face, relaxed in sleep. Three months ago this would have been unthinkable, eight hours ago she was wondering if there was anything for her in Ballarat, now she knew she would never go back to Adelaide, except for visits. There would be gossip, of course, but there had always been gossip, now it just happened to be true. The only people that would know the truth would be those in the house, and they wouldn't say; at least she hoped they wouldn't.
She sat up, slowly so she wouldn't disturb her sleeping man. Now what to do? Her suitcase was still in the hall, so if Mattie and Charlie had come home, and she was sure they had, they would know she wasn't in her room. Ok, she could navigate that, she felt emboldened by the previous night, well at the moment she did, she hadn't faced them yet. Still she'd better move it before Mrs Toohey came to carry out her duties. In one of her letters, Mattie had said they had discouraged her from doing breakfasts so she arrived at seven on the dot. Jean turned and looked at Lucien's alarm clock; five to. Right better get that case now. She reached down to the floor and retrieved her lover's shirt. Slipping it on; it was far too big; and fastening enough buttons for it to be half way decent she smiled. It smelt of him, his unique masculine scent of soap and sweat. Getting off the bed she heard him sigh. She turned, he hadn't woken, good.
The house was still quiet and dark as she padded to the hall. Just as she reached down to pick her case up she heard the click of the front door lock. She froze momentarily then grabbed the case and ran. Heaven forbid Evelyn should find her in the hall wearing her employer's shirt, and nothing else!
Back in Lucien's room she closed the door quietly, this was going to be the most difficult part. Getting to the bathroom without being seen by the pious stand-in housekeeper. Looking over at the bed Lucien was awake and grinning. She put her finger to her lips, indicating he should keep quiet.
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Lucien had woken when he felt her leave the bed, one eye discreetly opened he thought she looked incredibly sexy in his shirt. He lay there waiting for her to return, wondering if she would be as eager for his body at seven in the morning as she had been just after midnight. When he heard Mrs Toohey come through the door he knew that was unlikely to happen, the blasted woman was far to nosy and had the ears of a cat. Damn!
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He lifted the covers for her to get back in beside him. She shook her head. He pouted.
'I need to get to the bathroom.' She whispered, taking her robe out of the case. Lucien was relieved to see it was not that awful pink thing he remembered, but an elegant, grey satin one, the satin finish giving it a silvered effect, most becoming. Tying the belt of the robe round herself she then proceeded to find the clothes she would need for the day and her toiletries. Somehow she had to get from his bedroom to the stairs, carrying everything, without being seen. She opened the bedroom door, just enough to hear what was going on in the kitchen. She waited until she heard the old kettle being put, not too gently, on the stove. Good, Evelyn's back would be to the hatch and door. Jean turned to Lucien blew him a kiss and ran, barefoot and silent to the stairs. Moments later he heard water running and knew she had made it.
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In the kitchen Mrs Toohey heard the bath being run and assumed that either Sergeant Davies or Nurse O'Brien were up. The doctor would be in his study as usual, recovering from the retirement party the night before, she was sure. He'd have got supremely drunk, as he always did. She had decided to ignore his behaviour and did as Jean had asked. Cooked and cleaned. His surgery seemed to run itself. In fact after the first week, when she had unnerved some patients, Mattie had taken over Jean's duties as receptionist and made all the appointments. They had told her that some nursing training was required for the post. She hadn't realised that Jean had those skills, but they had assured her she had.
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Jean lay in the bath and noticed Lucien had marked her. She was grateful her clothes would cover the marks. She had to work out what to say to Evelyn. She would not be needed now, so perhaps a week's pay in lieu of notice would be a good idea. The job had been open ended anyway, and she had been told it could finish at any time. She had agreed to the terms, but Jean didn't want her to feel she was being sacked. She would write her a reference, trying not to mention her cooking. She would talk to Lucien about it.
She finished in the bathroom and went to her room to dress and make herself ready for the day. While she was brushing her hair she heard Lucien go into the bathroom. He was still in there when she was ready to go downstairs. She tapped on the door and then poked her nose in. He was in the bath,
'Lucien,' she whispered, 'meet me in the study.' She closed the door before he could answer and, smoothing down her skirt and patting her curls, she headed down to the study, carefully avoiding being seen by Evelyn.
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'Jean?' Lucien closed the study door behind him.
She smiled at him and went over to kiss his cheek. 'Morning.' She greeted him. 'It's about Evelyn.'
'What about her?' As far as Lucien was concerned the woman was surplus to requirements, but he didn't want Jean to think she was a housekeeper with 'benefits', or his mistress, come to that.
'I can't spend nights in your bed if she is still coming in.' Jean looked at him, what did he want from her?
'I don't want you to be my housekeeper.' He stated, rather bluntly, 'sorry, that doesn't sound right, does it?' He sighed and sat down, pulling her onto his knee, 'I want you, but I know you don't want to be my mistress, and that would be wrong, because we can't be seen together if you are. I love you Jean, I have done for ages, just too stupid to see it.' Jean opened her mouth to speak, but he put his finger over her lips, 'I want you to be able to go about Ballarat with your head held high, as Mrs Blake. I should have said something months ago. Before you left for Adelaide, then you went and I hoped you'd come back, but I never gave you cause to, and I found I couldn't cope without you.'
Finally he stopped and looked at her. She was smiling.
'I'd love to be Mrs Blake.' She kissed him, on the lips. 'I just wish you'd written.'
'I did, I just didn't post the letters.' He looked down, like a naughty boy caught with his hands in the biscuit jar. 'I'm sorry, Jean. Sorry if I've hurt you, and I'm sure I have; sorry for taking you for granted, sorry for everything.'
'Lucien,' She stroked his cheek, 'you are such an idiot. I love you too, probably for as long. I was disappointed you didn't come and at least see me off, but I never stopped thinking about you. I suppose that's why I haven't made much of a life for myself in Adelaide, not found work, although Christopher thinks I should, now. I'm still sleeping in Amelia's room, but this is my home, and you showed me that last night. So, if it's alright with you, I'll sleep where I slept last night, and run the gauntlet of the gossip, because whatever we do, that won't change. I'll be your housekeeper until I become Mrs Blake, then I'll be your wife and nothing will change. I'll run the house as I do now, tell you when you get it wrong, as I do now, and tell you when you get it right, as I do now.'
She smiled, 'Now, Dr Blake, what about Mrs Toohey?'
'Er...' He was at a loss with that one.
'How about a reference, not mentioning her cooking, which I believe everybody has issues with, and a week's pay in lieu of notice?'
'You're in charge.' He kissed her, 'what about Charlie and Mattie?'
'Oh, I'm sure that as my suitcase was still in the hall they've worked that one out.' She laughed and took herself off his knee. 'Now I could do with some breakfast and tea.'
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Hope you've enjoyed this story, and that the ending is as it should be. Thank you for all the reviews and messages and comments.