Sweet Punishment

Ella Fairburn hadn’t sleepwalked in over two years. It usually occurred when she was upset about something. She frowned as she stared at the empty milk-stained glass on the kitchen counter, proof of her nighttime activity. Nothing had upset her this time around, although she suspected the cause. Her new neighbor. She’d been watching him almost the entire week of his move into the villa next door. Most men didn’t impress her by looks alone, but he did. He wasn’t a pretty boy like many guys in Los Angeles. He had a down to earth, manly appeal—rugged features, softened only by a wide mouth and blue eyes. She noticed the color of his eyes during her morning jog a few days ago. She’d slowed down as she approached her home and glanced at him while he was talking to one of the movers. He’d noticed her and caught her gaze briefly with a smile and a nod—the smile reaching her instantly, stirring her senses. And his dark brown hair was thick and just long enough so she could bury her fingers in it.

Apparently, her sudden attraction to the man had roused certain dormant emotions, namely sexual. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had sex—even worse, the last time she’d had great sex. She sighed and went about preparing some breakfast, her thoughts straying to her neighbor. Gazing out the window, she noted that the movers’ truck had gone. Her gaze slid up to the white stucco building, hidden for the most part within a copse of palm trees. All seemed quiet. It looked like he’d settled in. The second she began wondering what he was doing she scolded herself. It wouldn’t do to lust after her neighbor, would it? Neighbors were for times when you ran out of sugar or needed them to watch over your place when you were on vacation.

Actually, the proper thing to do was introduce herself. She chewed on her bottom lip. Something held her back from doing so right away. She allowed herself a self-conscious smile and shook her head. Good thing she was having dinner at her sister’s tonight, as it would occupy her mind with other things.

Ella had a lovely time and was in good spirits when she got home. She settled into bed a little earlier than usual with the intention of getting up at dawn to work on her column. The magazine she worked for was running a series of special topics in a future issue and everyone had a tight deadline. Reading a couple of chapters from a novel helped lull her into a pleasant, deep sleep.

The last thing she remembered when she woke up the following morning was a vividly explicit dream involving her handsome neighbor. As always, she had no recollection of walking around the night before. She knew she had because she’d rummaged around the kitchen, leaving cupboards open. The fact that the sleepwalking had returned was unsettling. It was one of the reasons her family insisted she find a roommate or marry. But Ella enjoyed the tranquility of her home. It allowed her to focus on her writing. A roommate was not an option. Marriage...well, that was another thing entirely. She wasn’t against it—just hadn’t found the right man.

Handsome though he was, she was surprised that a stranger affected her this way. She’d seen him no more than four times, hadn’t even talked to him. He had to be the reason, for lack of any other rationalization. It occurred to her then that the lack of sex and the general longing for male companionship was getting to her in a serious way. Perhaps he’d triggered it. She let out a long sigh. At least her sleepwalking was restricted to her house.