Something, an annoying buzz, was attempting to wake me. I tossed and turned, facing Lincoln, who was sleeping soundly despite the incessant noise. It came in clusters. At one point, I put a pillow over my face. Why in the hell wasn’t anyone else hearing it and making it stop? I opened my eyes with the realization that I’d given Anai and the rest of the staff the weekend off.
I glanced at the clock. Just past ten. I yawned several times, grumbling as I donned my robe. It buzzed again. Now that I was fully awake, I recognized the sound as the main gate call box. Who in the hell? It was Sunday. In reality, even though I figured out the sound, the staff always took care of deliveries and any other personnel at the gate.
I’d wanted a normal life. Well, I assumed this was part of it.
“Yes, can I help you?” Go the fuck away. Using the entrance intercom felt foreign as hell.
“Jensyn, it’s Lucas. I need to talk to you. Is Lincoln with you?”
My body went stiff. Dr. Bass? What the hell was he doing here, and why did he sound distressed? His tone was always calm and soothing. What I was interpreting was completely different. And he knew his brother was here. This was an embarrassing situation. I shook my head. Not really. He knew we were sleeping together.
“Yes, he’s here. I guess you can come on up,” I said, reluctantly opening the gate. I tightened the belt on my robe. I didn’t have time to dress properly or cover my scars. I pulled a clip out of the pocket and twisted my hair up on my head.
His knock jarred me. I opened the door, and he stepped inside. His eyes became wide as he took in the surroundings. “I’m really sorry to intrude, coming to your house and all, but this was too important, and I did go by Lincoln’s first. I just assumed…” he commented, fidgeting, twisting a rolled-up newspaper. “Can you go get him? It’s urgent.”
Feeling trepidation, I quickly walked up the stairs. I hated to wake him. He looked so peaceful. I grasped him on the shoulder, rewarded with a groan and him kicking off the blanket. His naked body stretched before his eyes opened.
“Your brother is downstairs,” I anxiously announced.
His face filled with confusion, as if he’d misheard. “What? Lucas is here, in your house?”
“Yes. Now get dressed,” I hissed. “He has to talk to you. He says it’s urgent. And I don’t mind telling you he looks agitated.”
Lincoln grudgingly swung his legs out of bed. He ran his hand over his chin, then his hair. “Can I at least piss and brush my teeth before I’m forced to endure a Sunday meeting with my brother? Guy really knows how to throw a wrench into a nice private weekend for two. Do I have to get dressed?”
“Of course. What are you planning, to stroll down naked to greet him? I’ll get you something to throw on.” I spoke quietly, leading him to the bathroom. “I put a toothbrush and paste on the counter.”
I went down the hall to one of the guest bathrooms and grabbed a charcoal-colored robe from the hook. As I passed the stairs, I yelled down, “Make yourself comfortable. We’ll be down in a minute. He’s getting dressed.” Jesus, Jensyn, TMI.
I knocked on my bathroom door. Lincoln answered, toothbrush in hand. He didn’t have time to shave, but had combed his hair with water. I handed him the robe. He shrugged it on as he finished rinsing his mouth.
“Do I look presentable, or do I have that I got laid several times yesterday glow?” He smirked.
“This isn’t funny. This is very weird. Don’t you think so?” I asked, holding his hand.
“Yeah, it is strange. Now that he’s married, he doesn’t visit as often, and for him to track me down here… I’d say that constitutes bizarre behavior. Let’s go find out why my brother stopped by to fuck up my mojo with my woman.” He squeezed my hand.
For some reason, even at my age, this felt like a walk of shame. Both of us in robes, strolling hand in hand down the stairs to meet with his older brother, my doctor.
“What is so damn important, Lucas, that you dragged us out of bed at the crack of dawn?”
I whispered to him. “It’s after ten.”
“Whatever. This better be life or death, because it’s kind of freaky having my older brother track me down at my girlfriend’s house.”
Girlfriend. I gave Lucas a shrug. His body language implied deep concern. This was not a social call.
“I need both of you to sit down,” he requested, handing me the paper. It was an entertainment newspaper, the largest of its kind in Hawaii.
I dropped Lincoln’s hand and began to shake, wrapping my arm around myself, my eyes scanning the front page. Side by side was a photograph of me before and after my accident and a solitary shot of Lincoln. It rambled on about who I used to be and how my car accident took away my career by ruining my appearance. It also blasted me for taking advantage of a younger man who had been blinded at the height of his writing career. Tears began to fall as I read it all. I closed my eyes, hugging my knees as I sat next to Lincoln. A sob reverberated in my strangled cry.
“What the fuck is going on? Baby, what is it?” His anger turned toward his brother. “What did you do?”
“I am so sorry,” Lucas said, kneeling in front of me. “I needed you both to know so you could get ahead of this. This article has direct lines to other major media outlets. It’s only a matter of time.”
Lincoln was furious. I’d never seen his expression so twisted with rage. “Read it. Read it all,” he demanded.
His brother cautiously read each word and described the photos to him. He became distraught, then livid.
“I don’t care that they know I’m blind. Fuck them! But to blatantly display your face post-accident… I’ll sue those motherfuckers. That’s it. We’re going to the justice of the peace. Today. They think you’re using me, fine.”
I wiped my eyes, then smiled dryly. “Always looking for the excuse for us to wed. Anything we do now will become a mockery. We knew this would happen eventually. I just thought maybe they wouldn’t be so hurtful.”
“You’re kidding. I think you forgot how cruel the media could be. Time changes shit. They’ll always be assholes. This was a blatant attack on you.” A muscle flicked in his jaw. “It was Kami. She did this.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but I agreed. Women hadn’t changed much since I’d modeled. Some could be vindictive as hell. “But why? You two still work together,” I exclaimed, sniffing.
“Go upstairs and get my phone on the nightstand,” he requested.
I padded to my bedroom with quivering legs and retrieved it.
“Now put the voicemail on speaker.”
“Hey, Lincoln, it’s Robert. Good news, your publisher wants to keep you. In fact, they offered a larger salary to compensate for your complaints about Kami. They have more invested in you than her, so they terminated Kami’s contract due to client misconduct. It’s up to you. I’ll do whatever you want. But the money they’re offering and your already successful reader base is too favorable to make a move. This is a generous offer. Let me know by Monday. Have a good weekend.”
“Okay, we have our answer. Shit, Lincoln, next time, keep your dick in your pants. You know a woman scorned, yada, yada.” Lucas’s eyes went immediately to mine. “Sorry.”
Lincoln butted in. “She knows everything. I told her about Kami before they had their altercation. I should have realized she would do this. Now there’s no way to get ahead of this. I wish I’d just been honest with those fucking vultures before. Like I said, I don’t care about me. It’s you. Don’t run from me, Jensyn, please,” he begged, searching for my hands.
My instinct was to bolt. Even now, I was itching to hide. If Kami wanted to hurt me, she'd chosen the right move. Everyone would know who I used to be, where I lived, and the man I was involved with. I was grateful he couldn’t see the newspaper. It was hard enough for me.
“Son of a bitch. Oh damn, God,” he said, falling forward on his knees, dropping my hand, and grabbing his head with both hands. His face paled and contorted in pain. I fell to the floor and held him. The episode only lasted moments, but his breathing was erratic.
“What the hell was that?” Lucas demanded.
“He gets these flashes of light that cause a migraine-type of headache.”
He shook his head. “How long has this been going on, and why didn’t you tell me, brother?”
“You worry too damn much. A few months. They only last a minute or two. I can handle it.”
“Bullshit. It’s as if a stressful event brings these on.”
I nodded in agreement. I’d never put the two together, but thinking about the last few, he was right.
“Well, thanks for the cheerful news. I’ll take it from here. I’ll make that bitch wish she were never born,” Lincoln spit out, disgusted.
“Can we talk about this later? I want you to eat something, then relax a little. I think Lucas is right. It may be stress bringing on your headaches.”
He turned to me. “But what about you? I’m worried you’ll leave me now. That stresses me out more than anything.”
My face warmed because of our intimacy in front of my psychiatrist. “I won’t. I promise. I’ll always be here.” Even if I’m gone.
Lucas stood. I followed him as he walked to the door. “Please take him to see the eye surgeon. I’m worried,” I whispered as we stood at the entryway.
“First thing tomorrow, I’ll make the appointment. I’m hoping to get him in Tuesday, so I’ll be canceling all my appointments, including yours.” He patted my arm. “I am really sorry, Jensyn. I almost didn’t show up because I knew this would terrify you, but I’m glad you two have each other. I can see now how much my brother loves you and this is real for him.” He paused awkwardly. “Don’t hurt him.”
“I don’t plan to.” I’ll try my best. “Please call as soon as you’ve reached the doctor. It will take some coaxing, but I’ll have him ready to go. We’ll be staying here one more night, then returning to his place.”
“Are the feelings mutual? Do you love him, Jensyn?”
“More than humanly possible.”
We said our good-byes as he got into his car. I pushed the button to open the gates after I walked back in the house.
Lincoln had stood and was pacing back and forth, frown lines etched his forehead.
“You were out there for a while. I’ll assume the conversation was about me when it should be all about you. I could strangle her. I mean, really physically beat the shit out of Kami.” He glowered angrily. I’m so sorry. What can I do?”
“About an envious woman? Nothing. But if you truly want to do something to make this up to me, please let Lucas take you in for a checkup. Please, I’m begging you.”
He frowned, looking displeased. “If it will make you happy, I suppose. But I will expect this to be a barter situation. I need a blowjob.”
The last comment took me by utter surprise. He could switch from mad as hell to oral sex in an instance. “You want me on my knees right now?”
“No, I was thinking after breakfast.” I picked up a decorative pillow and threw it at him, smacking his crotch. “See, your aim is perfect. Good with your hands and mouth. I clearly have gotten the best of both worlds.”
“How can you go from being infuriated to collected? I don’t get it. If you didn’t have balls, I’d swear you were a woman. So many mood swings. And we never have to barter for anything. You’ve already given me everything I want. But if you want to make me happy, go to the eye doctor for me. And just so we’re clear, sucking your dick is my pleasure.”
I chuckled as his robe lifted. He was an easy mark. It didn’t take much on my part to ready him. I supposed it was a perk of being a young male.
He padded toward me, carefully moving, arms outstretched to clear any obstacles. “Did I ever tell you that hearing you say filthy things makes me hard as a rock? And the blowjob, it’s for medicinal purposes. It’s my stress reliever.”
Rolling my eyes with a laugh, I captured his arm and put mine through it. “Come on, pervert. Let me make you breakfast. Then we’ll work on de-stressing you.” I escorted him into the kitchen and made omelets with fruit.
We continued our conversation outside while eating. He promised to go to the doctor as well as see his attorney. He was hell bent on retaliation against Kami. I wanted to let this go because I knew she might do worse. The article didn’t mention their affair, but future articles might. Right now, he was too angry to think about what could happen down the road. This was just the beginning. Once word got out to all the news outlets that he was truly blind, there would be a flurry of gossip. It would be brutal. I was already being accused of using a man as self-gratification because he couldn’t see my disfigurement.
After we finished breakfast, we spent the rest of the day lazy and sans clothes. He even talked me into skinny-dipping in the pool. We made love under the sun, in the water, and again in the bathtub. Tomorrow, we would go back to his place, and the reality of the press would become tangible. We couldn’t stop the onslaught of the media frenzy, but I prayed we would be able to weather the storm. I had come a long way because I no longer worried about myself, but now was concerned about the man I loved and the career he could lose.