melody_knight-of-dyson

THE KNIGHT OF THE DYSON COMES TO THE RESCUE by Melody

One thing I’m not very good at is being ill. Right now I’m off work from Hall or Nothing following a series of bad asthma attacks. My doctor has had me undergoing various tests to see what was going wrong. Prior to these latest attacks my asthma had been stabilised, oh I had the odd bad attack but I had always known the cause. This time it was very different.

My allergy tests came back the same as my previous ones so a new allergen wasn’t to blame. Nothing had changed at work so we were all at a loss. I was now back to taking my peak flow four times a day, logging the results, which irritatingly hovered around a pathetic 350 when I had regularly been 580 – 600.

If I had my way I would be at work but my doctor has insisted that I take time off. Because I was weak (the cheek of him) my immune system was low making me susceptible to all kinds of nasty germs and bugs. Now I’m getting irritable doing nothing. I practically begged Terri to allow me to work from home (as I often did) but she refused citing doctor’s orders as her excuse.

Thanks to the mind numbing rot they call afternoon television I was beginning to fall asleep. You know that horrible sensation that you get when you can’t keep your eyes open and your head keeps bobbing? Yes, that’s the one. Having decided that I had fought it for long enough I fluffed up some cushions and curled up to surrender to slumber.

Doorbell Rings.

If I ignore it they will go away.

Only they don’t. They get more insistent.

In a foul temper I hurl the throw that had been covering me over the back of the couch, then march to the door, chunttering each step of the way.
“I don’t want any…” I begin.
“Nice to see you too!”

There in front of me was 6ft 4inches of Nicholas Jones, ably accompanied by a brand new boxed Dyson. To say I was gobsmacked is an understatement.
“What the…”

Nicky didn’t wait to hear me finish. He carried the boxed machine straight into my lounge, plonking it on the floor with a heavy thud. He then proceeded to unpack it whilst extolling it’s many virtues.

“I’ve been reading up,” he announced smugly, annoying covering my carpet with those little polystyrene balls. “Asthma is often exacerbated by dust, hence this beautiful object. There really is nothing quite like a Dyson for picking up all the dust,” he enthused. “Oh I nearly forgot, I got you one of those duster things with the disposable heads. Best not to take chances eh love?”

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh, cry, scream or hit him.

“Nicky, as sweet as this is you didn’t have to…”
“I know,” he interrupted. “But the thought of you suffering…I couldn’t leave it any longer.”
“You should have called first.”
“Why? I knew you weren’t going anywhere.”

Boys and their toys! Nicky was in his element with the damned vacuum cleaner, definitely gaining more from his little adventure than I was.

“I was trying to get some sleep.” I said firmly, pointing to the makeshift bed on the couch.
“Oh there’s plenty of time for that! You can have a nap when I’ve finished doing your cleaning for you.”
“WHAT?”
“You heard. Go get tucked under that throw and carrying on watching whatever it is.” He flayed his long arms about as if hoping for divine intervention for a suitable descriptive.
“THAT is what was sending me to sleep,” I explained, pointing at the screen.

“Well you relax love. It won’t take me long to whiz through the housework for you.”
“Have you considered that I don’t need you to do it for me?”
“Stop being silly. You know that you need to rest so let me do it, it’ll be a pleasure.”
“I noticed,” I murmured quietly.
“Sorry love I didn’t catch that.”
“I never said anything,” I lied, hoping he would accept my explanation without question. He did.

So I was banished to the sofa whilst Nicky danced around my home with his new purchase, and what a handsome couple they made. Having a sick sense of humour I couldn’t resist putting ‘I want to break free’ by Queen in the dvd player, repeating it constantly.

“You ungrateful woman!”

I had to laugh; Nicky was stood very camply in the doorjamb, both hands on hips. “Sorry Nick,” I giggled. “I couldn’t resist, it was too much of a temptation.”
“Don’t compare me to Freddie Mercury. I do not mince around like he does in that video.”
“Oh I don’t know…” I mused, enjoying goading him.
“Right. You are so going to pay for that!”

He purposefully strode over to the couch, standing right in front of me. Quickly he pulled the throw back, tickling me until I was crying with laughter, begging him to stop.

“Enough,” I gasped breathlessly, reaching for my inhaler, quickly taking two puffs. They didn’t help.
“Oh love I’m sorry,” Nicky said apologetically, pain etched over his features.
Poor Nicky, he was so concerned but all I could manage to do was pat his leg to let him know that I didn’t blame him.

“Scoot up. Perhaps if I cuddle you you’ll start to calm down and a relax a little.”
Without hesitation I moved to make room for him. Being close to him, having his arms around me, his body next to mine gave me something wonderful to focus on, helping my breathing to steadily recover, the wheezing noticeably decreasing.

“Honey, wake up.”
I sighed, reaching out my free arm, touching warm skin: Nicky. I forced my eyes open. I was using the curve of his neck to test my head, from the way my lips tingled I guessed that they had been resting on his stubble.
“Nicky.”
“I’m still here. I need you to move a bit, I’m aching in a few places.”
“Sorry,” I smiled at him, stroking his face. I don’t know why I did it; it just seemed like the natural thing to do.

“Why don’t I go make us something to eat?”
“I think it should be me doing that,” I yawned, stretching my arms, blushing profusely. “I am still allowed to cook.”
“I know that,” he smiled, gazing at me as he propped his head on his elbow. “I would like to spoil you.”
“We could do it together,” I suggested.
Nicky blushed then hurriedly moved. “Let me go see what there is. You stay right here ok? I’ll make you a nice mug of tea.”
I hugged the throw against my face when he had gone.

Darn but he smelled good!

When he returned with my mug of tea I wasn’t sure that I could keep my hands or lips off him.

Where had this come from? Oh sure we’d always had a hell of a lot of fun but never, never had I thought of it as being anything more than friendship. This was taking me by surprise. It was scary yet exhilarating.

He sat down against my thighs. “Sit up honey or you’ll burn yourself with the tea.”
“Umm,” I muttered uselessly, taking his advice and sitting up.

I gazed into his eyes and saw something…

“What did you find in the kitchen that we can have to eat then?”
“All sorts. How hungry are you?”
“Moderately.”
“Why don’t I play safe then and stick one of those frozen pizzas in the oven? I’ll do some chips or salad with it.”
“Chips AND salad,” I grinned at him, resting my head on his shoulder again. A girl could get used to this.

“So,” I blurted out when we sat back on the sofa after finishing clearing away in the kitchen. “What made you come round like that Nicky? I didn’t expect to see anyone.”
“I remembered how terrifying it had been when you had that attack at the hotel a couple of years back. I just thought of how frightened and scared you must be by it. Sorry for coming unannounced though, that was rude.”

I leaned across, kissing his stubbly jawbone, then hugged him warmly. “I forgive you,” I smiled. “Truth be told I think I’m going insane with boredom. My levels are getting better but very slowly. Even exercise is hard and that usually helps. What makes things worse is Terri not letting me work from home.”
“Because the doctor has warned you about stress from what I gather. Oh yes, she told us that you were not in a good mood.”
I gazed up at him, his swimming pool blue eyes filled with concern. “I know, it’s just frustrating. Why he thinks its stress I have no idea. There is no more stress in my life now than there was a few months ago.”

Those strong arms of his held me closely. “That’s not true is it love? You have taken on extra responsibilities because of your promotion and you have been doing extra work because your assistant is off following that nasty car accident. You’ve been working 16 – 18 hour days regularly so something was bound to give.”
“Umm.”
“No more talk of work allowed.”
“Ok. What do you want to do?”

He looked at me with a strange expression, his eyes darting over my features, searching for some kind of clue I suspected, but a clue of what?

“Nicky?”
“Sorry,” he said hurriedly, blushing beet red. “I was miles away then.”
“You were thinking something, what was is Nicky?” I rested a hand on his jaw and stroked it gently, then applied a little pressure so that he turned to face me.

We stared for an age. Needing answers but not daring to ask the question.

“I erm, I was thinking that I ought to go home and let you rest.”
“Please don’t. I’m enjoying the company,” I said happily.
“Really I should go,” he blustered. “You stay here, I’ll let myself out.”
“Nicky,” I called after him. I couldn’t recall the last time he had moved so fast.
“Yes?” he asked poking his head around the lounge door.
“Come and see me again…soon.”
He smiled coyly, nodded, then left.

Three days I waited - nothing.

By day four I had resigned myself to the notion that I had frightened Nicky off somehow. How, I didn’t know, things had been going so well before he suddenly got all jittery and left.

On returning from my doctors’ appointment I went and had a shower, then sat in front of my computer ready to play the new CSI – Crime Scene Investigation game I had purchased. Well, I needed something to keep my brain entertained and active.

The doorbell rang. Reluctantly I left the loading game and went to see whom it was.

“Nicky!” I beamed brightly. “Come on in, it’s really good to see you again.”
“Thanks. Wasn’t sure if you’d be annoyed because I didn’t call first.”
“It’s nice to see a friendly face,” I said walking through with him to the lounge. “Sit down and make yourself at home. I’ll go and make us a brew.”
“That’ll be lovely Kat thanks.” Then he chuckled.
“What’s tickled you?”
“I bet you’re only pleased to see me ‘cos you want me to do your housework.”
The glint in his eyes made my stomach turn somersaults. “Busted!” I laughed.

We had a couple of mugs of tea, some homemade chocolate biscuits and sat chatting; my new game forgotten as I sat enthralled by the tall handsome man sat with me. Why had it taken me so long to realise how gorgeous he was?

He agreed to stay for something to eat. After much discussion we decided on getting a Chinese meal delivered, leaving enough food for another meal.
“Damn that was nice,” he smiled drying the last of the pots. “They do big portions at that place.”
“One of the reasons I like it,” I smiled, patting his back tenderly. “I get two days meals for the price of one.”
“And no cooking.”
“Exactly. Just bung it in the microwave and away you go. Instead of a cup of tea, how do you fancy some wine? I’ve got a lovely bottle of white in the fridge that keeps begging me to open it”

He shuffled nervously. “Only if you’re sure, I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”
“If I wanted rid of you I would not have offered.”
Those blue eyes lit up as he smiled broadly. “In that case then, I’d love one.”
“One glass or one bottle?” I teased.
“Are you trying to get me drunk?”
“Why would I want to do that? I’d never be able to move you, you’re much too tall for me to lug around.”
Giggling like two crazy school kids, we sauntered into the lounge and flopped on the sofa.

“I’ll go refill our glasses,” I said, picking his up.
“Not just yet,” he said softly resting a hand on my arm. “I think I owe you an explanation.”
“For what?”
“Running off the other day. I erm, I got a bit flustered, didn’t want to make a fool of myself.”
I was intrigued. “How could you have done that?”

Nicky blushed, looked down at his shoes then back at me, taking a deep breath before finding the courage to continue. “I wanted to kiss you.”
“Oh,” I muttered, holding his gaze.
“Then I realised that it would complicate things, oh, and of course that you didn’t feel the same and would probably think I was taking advantage of your vulnerability.”
“Sometimes,” I whispered, “you think too much.”
“Huh?” he frowned in bewilderment.

Smiling I shuffled closer to him, stroking his face gently. “I would like it very much Nick.”

With Nicky still looking confused I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his, after a few brief seconds he responded by wrapping his arms around me, hugging me into his warm body, returning my kiss with enthusiasm.

Reluctantly we broke the kiss, panting from excitement and anticipation.
“Fancy that second glass of wine now?” I beamed at him, resting my head in the curve of his neck.
“I’d much rather have another kiss.”

How could I refuse?

End.

<<< Melody's stories