CHAPTER ONE: ALONE AT LAST
It was past 10pm on a Thursday evening by the time Lucien and Matthew finished the interrogation, booked the suspect, and signed off on the final paperwork. It had been an especially troubling case. A senseless killing of a young couple had meant long days examining evidence without a break. Until finally their work led them to Bendigo where they spent the night at the last minute. Now, back in Ballarat at the end of another dreadfully long day they were putting the final pieces together. Lucien turned to Matthew, "Ride home? Expect there is a spot of food waiting for us." Just as Matthew hesitated in answering, Alice purposefully strode into the squad room and stood by Matthew's side. Ever so subtly, their hands sought each other's as Matthew cleared his throat and said, "Thanks, but I am going to be away until Monday evening. Please let Jean know."
At the mention of his beloved's name, Lucien could hear her voice in his head telling him to not to tease the couple. The Blakes had many times discussed the relationship blooming between Matthew and Alice. Ballarat's sometimes curmudgeonly but beloved police chief and the quirky but highly intelligent coroner had been growing closer ever since Lucien and Jean's wedding. Lucien smiled, leaned to Alice, and delivered a kiss to her cheek, saying, "Well that is just terrific. We could not be more pleased." Nodding, he put his hat on and walked out the door. He had been appropriately reserved in congratulating them and was sure what he said had not been too much.
Everyone knew Matthew and Alice were a couple, but this was the first time they had together proclaimed it. Well, admitted to spending the weekend together at any rate. Winding through the quiet streets, although fatigued, he was elated about returning to his wife. They hated having to ever spend a night apart and had only done so twice since they were married less than a year ago. Lucien had made his mind up they would not do so again. He thought there was a possibility Jean would be awake but more than likely she would have drifted off waiting for him.
It was nearly 10:30 pm but he stepped in his office, looked at the surgery calendar and saw that Agnes Clasby was his only appointment the next day. Glancing at this watch, he found her phone number easily in her file and dialed it. Agnes answered as though it were 10:30 am not 10:30 pm. Lucien noted how strong she sounded, if not a little alarmed. "Agnes, it is Lucien Blake," he said in a voice he hoped indicated he was a bit under the weather. I am so sorry to be ringing you so late, but it seems I have caught some kind of a bug. Been working on a case that took me away and I am afraid I am a bit run down. I was so hoping I would feel better, but I need to make sure I do not expose any of my patients. Can we visit next week? It looks like I can see you Wednesday at 2pm."
"Are you sure?" she asked, "I do not want you double-booking. Shouldn't we wait for Jean?" He assured her that his wife kept detailed and clear records and indeed he could see her next Wednesday. They hung up with Agnes telling him to get some rest. Lucien smirked sheepishly. He had never lied to Agnes before, and he suspected that his wife might not be pleased but he was also sure he could convince her he really did need to stay in bed this weekend!
He crept through the dark hall toward the always inviting kitchen. He was a bit famished but could not muster any energy to eat a full meal. As he walked into the room and turned on the light, he saw two small, covered plates on the table. Peaking underneath he saw that his adoring wife had left ham sandwiches. It was exactly the amount of food he needed. She always knew what he needed and always had. Putting Matthew's in the icebox, he ate his sandwich with a feeling of being well loved and cared for by the most wonderful woman on the planet.
Lucien at last made his way to the bedroom. No matter how tired he was, when he arrived and knew he was minutes from seeing Jean, his energy always got a boost. He truly did not want to wake her though, especially knowing they had three days ahead with no one else in the house. He took a breath and opened the door. He could not stop grinning as he crept in, removed his shoes, and undressed as stealthily as possible, down to his shorts. He felt grimy and did not think Jean would appreciate him climbing in next to her before he had showered.
Jean sensed his presence soon after he came into their room. Although she had fallen asleep, it was never deep unless she was in his arms. Her eyes fluttered open, and her focus found Lucien, working awfully hard at being quiet as he took off his shoes and emptied his pockets onto the dresser top. She propped herself up with his pillow so she could get a better look and she loved the view. Her husband's physique was on full display as he took off his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt and carefully hung them over the wooden valet newly purchased for the room that was their sanctuary. He quietly but masterfully slid his belt out and soon his pants were draped as well, giving her a look at his gorgeously toned muscles. He bent over to take off his socks and then stood and lifted his vest off and her stomach flipped, her heart beating faster. He was so beautiful, scars and all, and he and this view of him was hers alone.
On his way to their en-suite, he could not resist leaning over to plant a sweet peck. As his eyes adjusted in the dark, he found her watching him, smiling. "Oh, my darling, he whispered as he leaned into her. I am so sorry I woke you." "You didn't. I am a bit of a light sleeper without you," she said softly. Their eyes were locked and neither wanted to start the physical touch quite yet as they spoke with just their eyes; their love language that needed no words. Lucien spoke softly as he stood, "I smell awful and am afraid I need a shower." Her eyes shouted no, and he laughed as he kissed her forehead, murmuring that he truly did need to use the loo but promised he would be right back. Their need for each other was palpable and she pulled her nightgown off, tossing it on the floor while waiting for him, knowing he would not have put his shorts back on.
Lucien slid under the covers, the two finally skin to skin, lying on their sides as they kissed gently but passionately. Their bodies sought each other with touches, kisses, strokes, and caresses, reverently and silently but oh, so heatedly. They fell into a rhythm now familiar to them for tonight was sweet, slow, silent lovemaking. They remained entwined as he gently slipped out of her, and they fell blissfully asleep. Lucien had not even told her about their glorious three days and the very long lie-in ahead.
CHAPTER TWO: TORRENTIAL
The bold dark summer storm came out of nowhere across all of Victoria and Ballarat took a beating that weekend. The wind was howling throughout the sturdy but older house on Mycroft Avenue even though all the windows and doors were shut and locked. Sunday morning the storm that had caused the downpour the evening before, was not showing signs of letting up.
After their weekly Saturday supper and free flowing nightcaps at the Colonists Club, the two couples were caught in a cloudburst heading to their cars. Jean and Lucien Blake laughing the entire way while Matthew Lawson less happy about getting soaked due to his inability to run. Alice Harvey, always patient and in good humor when it came to her Matthew, walked with him at his pace. Everyone looked like drowned rats as they waved goodbye. Scrambling into the car, the Blakes caught Alice giving Matthew a quick kiss on his lips to quiet his grumbling. Feeling inspired, Lucien pulled Jean closer, giving her a kiss that was not quick.
Lucien's kisses to his wife were rarely quick. Before they were married, he was careful to consider who might be watching but once they had rings on their fingers and vows had been spoken, he felt perfectly respectable in soundly kissing his wife whenever and wherever he pleased. And the woman who had lived as a widow for so long, taking particular care to be respectable in every situation, never minded those always delightful kisses in public. The way Lucien loved her and did not care who knew it, made her brave and secretly so pleased. She knew she was loved in a way few women were and wore her new armor proudly. They had taken a hot bath together and made love in front of the fire before crawling into bed for a much-needed deep slumber.
Jean's eyes opened to a loud clap of thunder, but she was not ready to start the day. She moved closer to her husband who was sleeping peacefully and snoring quietly. After many years of marriage, she listened with joy to the sound of Lucien sleeping, without any interruption due to haunting memories. She was warmed with the knowledge that this was because of her and their love. They had made each other whole somehow and found greater delight in each other every day.
Lucien opened one eye and grinned at his wife who was watching him intently but with a smile on her face. "Good morning, my love," she whispered as she kissed him. He pulled her on top of him kissing her back, mirroring her smile as their lips met. As they often did when their day started, they simply held each other's gaze and did not speak. It was their language that needed no words. It was a greeting, a shield against whatever was to be faced that day, it was a promise to meet right back there on the altar that was their bed just as quickly as possible.
As he rubbed her back, relishing the warmth and smoothness of her skin, he suggested they not get dressed at all. "It looks to be a wretched storm, Jean. No appointments, no chores or errands, no meeting up with friends. It is a day entirely without obligations and the weather means no outdoor activities – we can pretend it was that day on our honeymoon when we did not put proper clothes on," he said, eyes afire.
"Oh, I do delight in just how far down the path of delinquency you have taken me, Dr. Blake" she said, gleefully, kissing him again.
It was a torrential downpour that May morning in Paris. They had planned to spend the day at the Musee d'Orsay. Jean had revealed it was one of her "must see" places in the great city. She had always loved French impressionist painters and of all the museums she knew they would visit this was at the top of her list and not the more famous Louvre. It was only their first full day in the City of Light. Having arrived late in the evening and exhausted from travel, they had immediately fallen asleep. But they woke at the sound of thunder and an ominously dark sky heavy with rain and fleeting patches of lightning. Already entwined they clung tighter as the storm raged outside far too harshly to consider taking it on.
Lucien could sense her disappointment as she pouted a bit and cuddled closer. He knew how much she was looking forward to being near enough to touch a Monet, a Van Gogh a Degas, and the other artists she had studied before their trip. Jean had poured over the large art books at the Ballarat library to make sure she would see the work with as much knowledge as possible. "I love these works. And there is another reason. Your mother was a French painter, Lucien, and I want to honor her memory by making sure I am taking in every bit I can," she said emphatically. This only made him love her more.
No expense had been spared when it came to that part of their trip and Hotel Le Bristol was not the worst place in which to be trapped. They spent that day making love, soaking in a luxuriously large hot bath, giving each other wonderfully sensuous massages and Lucien making sure their room was supplied with delicious food and plenty of drink at the appropriate times. It had been a day of joyful uninterrupted play and deep conversation for them – as best friends, partners, spouses, and lovers. They were both a bit tipsy but wonderfully satiated in every way by the time the downpour finally eased around midnight and from their bed, they could at last see the lights of Paris. They slept as soundly and peacefully as either ever had and awoke holding each other, blissfully happy.
Although the sun was not shining, the bustling metropolis nonetheless beckoned. As they walked down the Champs-Elysees toward the museum, arms locked, they took in the sights, sounds and smells that were Paris. It felt like they were floating. The next few the hours spent viewing the French masterpieces were as wonderful as Jean had imagined. Seeing them with Lucien, holding his hand all the while, made the viewings even more perfect. For Lucien, seeing her touched so deeply by the paintings made his heart swell. He thought his mother would be most pleased to see how happy and in love her son was, standing in Paris taking in the masterworks. It was one of the loveliest memories from their honeymoon and had been seared in both their hearts and minds forever.
"And how would you like to spend the day, my love?" You do realize we do not have room service?" she giggled. He pinched her bottom and laughed, but then was quiet for a minute. She wondered what he might be thinking and offered that while they could most definitely have a lie-in, she did not think she wanted to spend the entire day in bed. But his stillness was not due to any lascivious plans for the hours ahead. He was simply feeling a little sheepish about saying what he wanted aloud. They had learned, though, to read each other quite well. "What is it?" she asked, knowing there was some sort of plan her dear husband was formulating.
"I love watching you in all rooms but most especially the kitchen," he said quietly, looking deeply into her eyes with that besotted expression that still made her physically respond every single time. "But I have been wanting to do something with you. Learn to bake something. Something we could do together. I want to crawl under your skin and be as close to you as possible," he said as he kissed her deeply. Jean never ceased to be amazed at just how absurdly yet wonderfully romantic her husband was and she was sorely tempted to tease him about already being in her and under her quite often and did not he already know how to make scones?
But she knew he truly meant that he wanted to keep getting closer. Truth be told, she had the same feelings. Every time they made love, they renewed their oneness. Yet both wanted more if that were even possible. The road to being together had been a long and difficult one and they never took one second of their life for granted. It was as if they were in a heated love affair that only grew in intensity instead of acting the older married couple they were.
Grinning just thinking about how playful they could be as she taught him to make proper biscuits or a pie and so very thankful for the ways he had shown her deep joy in approaching life this way, she whispered, "Alright. But I have something I would like to do to get under your skin, too," she proposed.
"Name it, my darling and your wish is my command!" Jean gazed down at him, smoothed his beard, and shared that she wanted to read the latest medical journal with him. "When we read last month's Lancet, I was fascinated with all the latest discoveries and the way you explained things to me."
Lucien pulled her tighter and gushed about how wonderful it was for him to have a wife who was so smart and clever and who understood so much. He readily agreed he would love to spend time keeping up with the latest research with her. "But let us have that lie-in first, she mumbled, kissing him while the torrents drowned out the increasingly loud moans and sighs coming from beneath their covers.
