Child of Beauty

Chapter 5

Twenty two year old Lucian Alexander’s smile grew appreciative as he watched the raven haired beauty walk down the stone steps leading to Bernard Hall. It was the beginning of his last year of law school before he had to return to New York to finish his studies.

He dated a lot through the years but none of them struck him like his first sight of this girl. He wanted to get to know her. Usually the girls chased after him, he never needed to do the chasing before, this would be a first. If all of the girls at Boulder CU were as beautiful as this one, he’d rather stay here.

She lifted her eyes to see a dark haired boy staring at her with a smile on his lips.

Embarrassed, Arabella Brennan covered her head. She had to watch her step so she didn’t fall down the stone stairs and make a fool of herself. She peered out of the corner of her eye to see he was still staring. Oh no, now he was approaching her.

Arabella looked around her to see if there was someone he was meeting here. There wasn’t anyone but Arabella coming down the steps. She reached the last step, ready to turn away. Studies were done for the day and she wanted to eat her apple, sit under a tree and read her physiology book.

“Are you lost?” He called out to her, “I know every corner of the University if you need help.”

Arabella started at his deep mellow voice and looked around at him. Their eyes met and held for the space of two heart beats.

She smiled gently at him and replied, “No, I’m fine thank you.” Lucian fell in beside Arabella as she started to turn away. His smile was bright and happy. Arabella felt a strange stirring in her belly. Butterflies took flight. So this was what was mean’t when people said butterflies. She never felt this before and was not sure she wanted to feel it now. It felt terribly disruptive to her studies.

“My names Lucian Alexander, do you mind if I walk with you?”

Arabella didn’t know if she minded or not so she just nodded as she kept walking.

They walked in silence across the campus before Lucian spoke again. “Do you have a name mystery woman?”

Arabella laughed as she looked up at Lucian. Lucian fell into her deep green eyes. For a moment, all thought left his head. His heart rate could have run a race.

“Arabella Brennan.” It took Lucian considerable effort to draw back from her eyes and get his reeling brain back. Then he got caught up in her sweet lips. They were full, sweet and luscious. For the first time, Lucian could not find his voice. A Goddess had just walked into his life.

“Cat got your tongue, Lucian Alexander?” The laughter in Arabella’s eyes brought him down to earth. Lucian shook his head and laughed with her as they continued to walk. He felt as though he had been struck by a truck. Arabella Brennan had taken his breath away. He wondered to himself if there was truth behind the saying of ‘love at first sight.’

“What are you studying Lucian Alexander?”

“Lucian, just Lucian or Luc if you like.” He answered absently. How could he talk about mundane things when all he wanted to do was gaze into her eyes, maybe kiss those sweet lips. “I … ummm …. would you like to go for a cup of coffee or something? I mean, that is if your classes are over for the day.”

Arabella stopped walking and looked at Lucian seriously. “I don’t know you Lucian Alexander. For all I know you could an axe murderer.

Lucian’s mouth fell open. He was at a loss for words again. How did she do that to him? He looked down at her and saw a twinkle in her eye. He grinned when he realized she was joking.

“No, ma’am, I am just a poor boy from New York.”

Arabella looked Lucian up and down. “No, I think not. New York, yes, poor boy? No.”

He laughed, “You got me there Bella, I am not a poor boy. Does that make any difference to the coffee offer?”

Arabella liked the way her named rolled off of Lucian’s tongue. She hadn’t been called Bella by anyone but her mother. A pang hit her heart at the thought of Maeve. Quickly she pushed the thought away. She did not want sadness to taint this moment.

Arabella looked at her watch. She was not due home for another hour. Nancy tended to worry if Arabella was late. She nodded her head.

Lucian watched the different emotions that crossed her face and wondered at the sudden sadness that appeared. It came and went so quick that probably it had never been there. Lucian laughed with delight.

Lucian blinked his eyes and looked around his bedroom. It was early morning, the sun shining through the open balcony doors. Arabella was gone. Of course she was, she seemed to come and go pretty quickly in his life leaving behind violently mixed feelings. He rubbed his eyes and thanked the Lord that it was Saturday. There was no way he could have functioned in the office today.

“God, she is one wicked woman. I don’t remember that. How did she make me see that? Did it really happen? HIs head hurt viciously. He smelled her perfume and wondered how long ago had she left.

Arabella laid Lucian’s head back on the pillow as the seeing became too much for him. She never shared that part of herself, the seeing, with other adults, Jack’s words always ringing in her ears, “Remeberr Ari, be careful with your gifts. People have a hard time understanding things like that.”

Arabella smiled. She was lucky to live in Colorado where tolerance of all kinds of weirdness was acceptable. Still, it was something that was very private to her. It wasn’t the first time she shared with Lucian. It was just the first time in many years.

She frowned as she watched Lucian sleep. She knew the short seeing he did would not be enough to make him remember. Something happened to Lucian’s mind and she was determined to get it back.

Exhausted, she slumped down on Lucian’s shoulder and fell asleep. Morning was coming when Arabella came to herself again. She jumped up, dizziness almost made her fall on Lucian. She steadied herself quickly. The seeing took a lot out of her and made her weak.

The memory of sharing with Lucian long ago, flashed through her mind. It didn’t tire her then. All she could figure was that she was trying to make him remember and that was the difference.

Arabella looked down on Lucian’s sleeping form. He seemed so calm when he slept. She stepped to the early morning shadows and went home.

That night, Arabella returned to Lucian’s apartment. This time she slipped into the living room, still slightly weary from the night before. Lucian was sitting by the balcony. He twitched slightly but remained sitting.

“You scare the hell out of me when you do that. By the way, how do you do that?”

Arabella was pale and drawn, not in the mood to explain herself even if she could. The seeing had more consequences besides exhaustion. She relived that time along with Lucian and it left her hurt. She waved her hand in the air.

“That does not matter right now, Lucian. Are you ready to continue?”

Lucian grimaced, So he could quit wondering if it was real. Maybe he had lost his mind after all.

“Will it be as painful as it was last night? It took all day to rid myself of that headache..”

“I’m sorry. I should have warned you that there would be side effects. The more you do it the less the pain will be.”

Lucian did not feel reassured. He frowned at her short answers and looked closely at her. He rose from his chair and grabbed her by the shoulders. Electric shock tickled his hands. His stomach clinched. He dropped his hands and stepped back.

“What the hell! Are you okay Bella? You are too pale. It’s your seeing isn’t it. I complain about a petty headache. It’s nothing compared to what is happening to you, is it?” He spoke as he shook the shock from his hands.

Arabella’s eyes widened, “Why did you call me that?”

“What?”

“Why did you call me Bella?”

Confused, Lucian answered, “I don’t know. I guess it just slipped out.”

Arabella felt impatience flare as hoped died. For a second there she thought he had a memory.

“Come Lucian, you need to lie down for this. Your so heavy I almost dropped you on your head last night.”

Lucian laughed at he thought of the tiny slight woman holding him up. He laughed again because she was the first woman to enter his bedroom and here she had done it several times.

“Whats so funny?” Arabella stood with hands on hips, slightly annoyed. She hoped his private joke was not aimed at her.

“Oh nothing, sorry. I am glad I did not end up hitting the floor.”

Arabella didn’t buy it but didn’t pursue it either. She was just flat too tired.

Lay down Lucian and close your eyes. You won’t feel dizzy this time.”

They leaned against the railing of the pedestrian bridge as Arabella tossed dried bread to the geese. Lucian laughed when one of the geese grabbed the toe of her shoe making her jump back. He felt like he was the luckiest man in the world.

From that first day, he and Bella spent most of their free time together. Three months had flown by. He hadn’t met her parents yet, there was always one reason or another as to why he couldn’t. It didn’t matter, he was happy to be with Bella.

“It’s getting too cold to stand out here much longer, Bella. Your cheeks are turning red and I’ll bet your hands are freezing.”

Arabella grinned up at him as she tossed the last of the bread to the geese. “There are fireworks at the University tonight Lucian. If you can’t handle this, how are you going to handle that?”

Lucian grimaced then grinned. “For you Bella, I would wade through the icebergs of Finland.”

“Are there icebergs in Finland Lucian?”

Lucian laughed as he gazed down at his girl. “There is if you want there to be.”

“Oh Lucian, you are so crazy sometimes.”

Lucian’s face turned serious. He grabbed Arabella’s hands in his. He did not intend what came out of his mouth. “I love you Bella.”

“What, what did you way?”

“I said I love you Arabella.” Lucian’s voice became stronger as he continued, “I love you. I have loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you standing on the university steps.”

Arabella stepped away from Lucian pulling her hands back from his. “I … Lucian, you do not know me well enough to love me.”

Lucian hid his disappointment. What did he expect? Did he think she would swoon at his feet declaring he undying love for him?

“What is there to know? You are smart, beautiful. You love the world and the world loves you. I love you.”

Tears slipped down Arabella’s cheeks. She had a secret. Lucian would feel different if he knew. People feel different about you if they knew; is what Jack said. She sighed as she looked at him. He never asked and she never offered anything about her past. She wanted only to live in the present with him.

“Lucian, there are things I need to tell you. You may change your mind after you hear me out.”

Lucian was shaking his head before Arabella could finish talking. Lucian grabbed Arabella’s hands again. “Bella, there is nothing in this world you could tell me that would change my mind. I love you and I will not let you say anything. Nothing could be so bad with someone as amazing as you.”

“But …” Lucian put his fingers to her lips.

“No, Bella, say nothing. Think about what I have said. If you don’t love me, that’s okay. I have enough love in me for two. Given time, you may come to love me too.”

Arabella gasped out a breath. “I did not say I didn’t love you. Oh Lucian, I adore you, I worship you. Lucian, I love you.”

Lucian’s joy knew no bounds as he laughed and lifted Arabella off her feet. Geese hissed and honked; fluttered their wings and moved away from all the noise Lucian was making. His laughter echoed off the buildings that surrounded them.

Arabella held her tongue. There was plenty of time to tell him. Right now she just wanted to be happy and be a part of Lucian’s joy. Yes, time enough later.