Dark Encounter Page 14

  She wriggled frantically to escape the passionate kisses which he pressed on her and lashed out in an attempt to discourage the hands that were roving over her bodice, attempting to pull the dress from her shoulders. The heavy weight of his body pinned her down so that she could hardly move and she was aware that his strength was too much for her. She would have screamed, but something at the back of her mind prevented her. What would Felicity think? What would her parents think if they found her with Jeremy like this? And what would Nicholas' reaction be?

  She found out sooner than she could imagine for, just as Jeremy's lips left her throat to utter hoarsely, 'Come on, Kate, relax, we're O.K.,' she heard a masculine oath and felt the sudden release from pressure as Jeremy's body was flung from her by a strong, firm hand round the scruff of his neck.

  Nicholas stood there breathing heavily, his face dark with fury. 'Just what the hell do you think you're doing?' he demanded.

  The question was directed at Jeremy who lay sprawled on the floor where the other man's thrust had pitched him, but Kate had the distinct feeling it was aimed just as much at her. She got up, painfully aware that her dress was wildly disarranged, one shoulder strap slipping off to reveal the signs of Jeremy's passionate lovemaking imprinted on her pale skin.

  'Damn you, Blake, why did you have to interrupt?' Jeremy had found his voice.

  'Your wife was wondering where you'd got to,' Nicholas had told him contemptuously. 'I thought you might be up to something like this, so I volunteered to find out.'

  'I'd have thought you'd have been too taken up with her to worry about us,' Jeremy sneered. He got to his feet, clearly at a disadvantage with the six foot odd frame of his host standing over him. 'Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, particular with a willing partner available.'

  Kate gave a strangled cry, but both men ignored her.

  'Oh, she'll tell you a different story, but she was mine a long time before you set eyes on her.'

  'Indeed,' Nicholas' voice was level, but a taut nerve moved by his mouth betraying that the gibe had struck home. 'Perhaps you'd like to rejoin your wife and parents-in-law. I don't want them coming looking for you.'

  Jeremy shrugged and made for the door. Then he turned and looked back at Kate. 'He's a lot to put up with for the money. I was much more easy-going. But perhaps you've chosen to forget that.'

  'Out!' Nicholas ordered, and he went, closing the door behind him.

  Shivering with reaction, Kate struggled off the bed and got weakly to her feet. God knows what kind of mess she looked, but, if Nicholas' expression was anything to go by, she was in a bad way.

  'Thank you. I thought that he—that he—'

  'That he was going to make love to you. That was what you wanted, wasn't it? I suppose the fact that his wife was practically next door added spice to everything. And if I hadn't interrupted your cosy little love scene I expect you'd have rejoined the party as if nothing had happened. You little tramp!' The contempt in his voice shook her.

  She staggered back and tried to find the words to defend herself. 'You surely can't believe that I engineered that?'

  'Didn't you?' he asked coldly. 'I hardly think Edwards would force himself on a girl he barely knew before tonight without a pretty good come-on from her.'

  She bit her lip. The truth would have to come out now. But would he believe her? 'I did know Jeremy before. We were—close. In fact—'

  'Spare me the details,' he said irritably. He looked suddenly weary of the conversation. 'So you were Jeremy Edwards' mistress before you were my secretary. He admitted as much.'

  'He was lying,' she said desperately. 'Don't you see, he was just trying to get back at you—at both of us. I was never his mistress. And tonight—'

  'Yes?'

  'He followed me in here and attacked me.'

  'You can do better than that, surely?' He gave a curt laugh.

  'It's the truth, I tell you!'

  'The way I saw it you were enjoying the experience. I didn't exactly hear any screams of protest.'

  'And let his wife discover just what kind of a man Jeremy is? That would have made a fine end to the dinner party,' she told him scathingly.

  'And being, as ever, devoted to my interests you were prepared to sacrifice your virtue in the interests of harmony in my business relationships. Very praiseworthy, I'm sure.' The cold sarcasm in his voice told her exactly what he thought of her defence. His ice-grey glance flickered over her, taking in with obvious distaste the state her dress was in. 'Still, as peaceful co-existence with the Markham tribe is so important to both of us, I suggest we salvage the pieces and continue as before. I'd better return to the sitting room or they'll begin to wonder what's going on. Tidy yourself up and join me in a few minutes.'

  He was gone before Kate had a chance to say anything more. She sat for a few seconds in numbed silence, willing herself not to shed the hot tears of reaction which pricked behind the back of her eyes. Then, automatically, she straightened her dress and did her best to cover up the fact that just ten short minutes ago she had been fighting as desperate a fight for her virtue as any Victorian maiden might have done. Restored to something like her normal self externally, she took a few deep breaths and tried to control her churning stomach.

  How could she possibly go back into the sitting room and face the Markhams as if nothing had happened? But if she did not make the effort they would soon suspect something was wrong. Kate dragged her reluctant limbs to the door and opened it. As she approached the sitting room door and paused hesitantly outside it opened and Nicholas appeared. All trace of the coldly furious man who had confronted her seconds ago had been erased, the polite mask of the good host was on his face. Had it not been for the distant iciness of his hard, grey gaze as it rested upon her she could almost have fooled herself into thinking that the angry words he had thrown at her had never been spoken.

  'Ah, there you are, Kate. Sir Geoffrey was all for sending out a search party,' he said with a light laugh. 'I told him you were only prettying yourself for him.'

  'I think you're the lucky man,' Sir Geoffrey laughed. 'No girl in her right mind would spare me a second glance with you around. But I'd narrow the odds considerably if I were ten years younger.'

  'I'm sure you would have done, Sir Geoffrey.' It was an effort, but somehow she smiled and flirted demurely with him as if completely unaware of Jeremy's figure just to her right, sitting unnaturally upright in one of the deep armchairs.

  He leaned forward to contribute to the conversation. Thank goodness he was civilised enough to carry on as if nothing had happened between them. But his words sent a chill through her. 'If the money is right, surely the man himself hardly matters, does he?'

  Sir Geoffrey looked slightly taken aback, but Nicholas jumped quickly into the fray. 'Your son-in-law's a cynic—or trying to pretend he's one.' He laughed and Kate marvelled how natural he sounded. 'But I'll not accept that argument from a newly-married man. Particularly not the man who succeeded in carrying off a girl like Felicity.'

  Felicity laughed prettily at the compliment and the difficult moment passed. But although Kate talked and laughed as if her life depended upon it, it was hard work and she was relieved when, towards eleven o'clock. Sir Geoffrey announced that they must be going.

  'It's been one of the best evenings I've spent in a long while,' he boomed enthusiastically as he wrung Kate's hand at the doorway to the flat. His wife, although less boisterous, was equally lavish with her thanks, compensating for her daughter, who ignored Kate's outstretched hand and her son-in-law who brushed it with his fingers and sprang away quickly as if her touch was red-hot.

  Then they were gone and she was left alone with Nicholas. He said nothing after he had slammed the door shut behind their departing guests, but went back into the sitting room. She heard the clink of a glass and, when she followed him slowly to join him there, he was standing by the drinks cabinet pouring himself a generous helping of whisky. He added a squirt of soda and then down
ed half the contents at a swallow as if he needed it badly. Perhaps he did. It had been quite an evening.

  He had shrugged off his jacket and it lay discarded on the floor. Now he put his hand to his neck and wrenched at his tie as if he found it suddenly constricting. She thought he had not registered her presence as she stood nervously by the door, tense and prepared to spring away if he made a sudden movement. Then he glanced briefly in her direction and said with some irritation, 'For God's sake, come in and sit down. I've told you before not to hover in front of me as if you're apologising for your presence.'

  She still hesitated, unsure of his mood. Then he drank some more of the whisky and continued, 'Come in, Kate. There's no need to worry. It all went off very well, didn't it? And I can't fault you as a hostess. Possibly you erred a little too far on the side of keeping the guests happy, but I'm splitting hairs, aren't I? After all, the success of the operation depended on giving them what they wanted. Forgive me for not realising that Jeremy Edwards wanted you.' He drained the glass and set it down with a bang.

  'I've given you my version of what happened. If you choose not to believe me, that's your fault,' she challenged him, temper getting the better of her nerves as she stepped forward.

  'Perhaps you'll be good enough to let me know in future before I invite any of your former lovers to dinner. I'd like to be suitably prepared for anything I may find in the bedroom.'

  She rushed at him, her hand raised to slap that cruel, dark face. How dared he insult her like that! 'You—'

  He fended her off easily, pinioning her arms behind her back and holding her away from him without apparent effort. 'You little wildcat, you'll play that trick once too often! You can't take the truth, can you, Kate?' he said harshly. 'You're quick enough to make comments about my private life with no proof at all to back them up, but when I actually catch you in bed with a married man I'm supposed not only to disbelieve the evidence of my own eyes, but also to accept the lame explanation you offer me.'

  'I was not in bed with Jeremy.'

  'In bed or on the bed, you certainly seemed as if you were enjoying yourself, and Edwards didn't appear to have any complaints.'

  'That's what you think.' Kate writhed impotently in the steel grip. 'I loathe Jeremy Edwards!'

  He released her with a look of sudden disgust on his face. 'You expect me to believe that? A fine way you had of showing it. But then you claim to hate me and you come into my arms willingly enough.'

  'It's no use trying to convince you,' she said despairingly. 'You won't believe me. You've already judged me, haven't you?'

  'Try me.' He crossed to the cabinet again. 'Do you want a drink?'

  'No.' It was better to keep her head completely clear.

  'Well, I certainly do.' He poured himself another large whisky and sank down on to the sofa, his long legs sprawled out before him. 'Right. I'm eager, ready and willing to be convinced. Start talking.'

  She paused, uncertain where to begin, then started baldly, 'I was his secretary. We—I—fell in love. We were going to be married. At least I thought so. No one else was surprised when he took off for his honeymoon with Felicity. I was shattered. Do you blame me for getting out and trying to forget?'

  He studied the golden liquid in the glass. She could tell nothing of what he was thinking from the blank, shuttered look on his face. 'So you took off for the country?'

  'I wanted to sort myself out. Maybe I did get over him then, I don't know. When I got the job with you you didn't ask for references, didn't even seem too interested in what I'd done before I came to you and I was glad to leave it at that. I didn't want to rake up the past.'

  'What the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't grieve over?'

  'You could say that. Perhaps I should have told you when you asked me to help with this evening. I thought I'd got over him and I naturally assumed that as he'd preferred Felicity to me it wouldn't matter to him whether he met me or not.'

  'And when you did see him again your feelings got the better of you?' he suggested drily. 'You found it impossible to pack your emotions away.'

  'No!' How could she make him understand? 'The moment I saw him again I knew that he meant nothing to me. When he followed me to my room I told him as much—or would have done if he'd let me. Instead he leapt on me. I tried to get away, but couldn't. You know the rest.'

  'Yes,' he said, musing.

  It was desperately important to make him believe her. She sank to the floor at his feet, gazing imploringly up at him as she pleaded with him to understand. 'I know it looked bad to you, but you were mistaken.'

  He leant forward suddenly and cupped her head in his hands, forcing her chin up as he looked deep into her eyes. She met the piercing grey gaze unflinchingly. Then he asked abruptly, 'Were you very much in love with him?'

  She answered him steadily. 'I was, yes.' There was no need to add that someone else had totally replaced Jeremy in her affections. That was a secret that she must keep at all costs.

  'There's a remedy for it, you know.'

  'Is there?' she asked shakily. The long, firm fingers had moved from beneath her chin and were caressing the soft skin of her neck. She supposed she should get away now while she still could. Every sense of danger suggested it, but she was rooted to the spot, gazing as if hypnotised into the eyes which held her in total thrall.

  When he kissed her it was still a shock, although she knew it would happen. The touch of his mouth on hers was warm and infinitely reassuring and she relaxed against him, making no protest when he gathered her up to share the sofa with him. Her arms went round him, her hands sliding over the fine material of his shirt to caress his broad back, glorying in the movement of the strong-muscled body as he pushed her deep into the yielding softness of the cushions and moved to cover her with his body.

  'Kate, Kate,' he muttered feverishly as his lips caressed her. She felt the sudden easing of tension as his fingers found and undid the zip of her dress, pulling it away from her shoulders to stroke the creamy flesh of her breasts, revealed above the filmy lace of her bra. He was arousing her to an almost unbearable state of excitement. Her fingers moved to undo the buttons of his shirt, thrusting it aside to explore with sensuous pleasure the contours of the broad chest with its sprinkling of dark hair. What did it matter that tomorrow he would have forgotten the episode? Tonight she was the woman in his life and she knew, as if by instinct, how to please and fulfil him.

  But what he thought of her did matter despite the ache in her body which told her to ignore other considerations and abandon herself to the ultimate pleasure. When he lifted his lips from hers and told her in a voice thick with desire, 'You're a witch, Kate, did you know that? I'll believe any tale you spin me when you're like this,' a feeling of revulsion at her actions swept over her and her whole body stiffened.

  'No, Nicholas, no!' Fighting him, she tried to push him away, her hands clawing desperately at him, raking the flesh of his arms in an effort to make him release her. For a few seconds she thought she had lost the battle, for his grip on her tightened unbearably. Then, with what appeared to be an almost superhuman effort, he tore himself from her and stood, his back turned to her, his shoulders heaving as he took deep breaths to restore his control of himself.

  Then he looked back at her where she lay on the sofa, momentarily too shattered to make any effort to get to her feet. His eyes raked her body insolently and then he asked, 'What's the matter? Don't tell me that two men in an evening are too much for you?'

  The crudeness of his words was like a dash of cold water in her face. She struggled to an upright position, lifting her feet to the ground, although she knew they would not support her if she tried to use them. She could find no words to answer him.

  'I shouldn't try that little trick too often. Most men wouldn't be able to cope with your sudden switches of mood.'

  'But you're a superman, of course,' Kate threw at him. 'What a wonder you are, to be sure.'

  His lip curled. 'At least I've a few more ma
nners than your friend Jeremy. He sulked all evening after he failed to get what he wanted. It's a wonder no one noticed.'

  'Whereas you take that sort of thing in your stride, I suppose?'

  'Let's say I don't often lose control of myself even when a woman offers herself to me as blatantly as you did tonight and then changes her mind.'

  'It must be a new experience for you to find someone who doesn't find you completely irresistible,' she said, fighting to recover from the hurt he had inflicted on her. Her mind would register the cutting insult of his words long after her body had forgotten the pleasure his hands had given her.

  His look registered his disbelief of her words. 'Don't fool yourself, Kate. You wanted me all right. I don't pretend to know why you switched off when you did, but I think you'll regret your part in it long before I do.'

  He was right, she would regret her actions.

  Tonight had been probably her only chance to know what it was to find physical fulfilment with the man she loved. But, knowing that she meant nothing to him, there was no way she could have gone through with it. 'You're wrong,' she lied bravely.

  'I doubt it,' he said.

  She got up and walked unsteadily to the corner of the room where she had left her handbag. There was no more to be said and she felt tired to death. 'I'll get my things. Perhaps you'd get me a taxi home?'

  'I'll drive you.'

  Her eyes were on the tumbler of whisky that he had taken up again. 'No, thank you.'

  He dashed the glass down angrily on the mantelshelf so that a few drops of the liquid splashed against the wall. 'I'm perfectly capable of taking you home.'

  'I'm sure you are, but I think we could both use a break from each other's company right now.'

  He shrugged. 'You may be right.' He moved to the telephone. 'I'll get you a cab.'

  She went to the bedroom to collect her case, deliberately taking her time to avoid having to sit with him while she waited for the taxi to arrive. When she heard the ring at the door bell a few minutes later she breathed a sigh of relief. On her way to leave she pushed briefly at the sitting room door.