Читать книгу The Complete Red-Hot And Historical Collection - Ким Лоренс, Kelly Hunter - Страница 88

CHAPTER FIVE

BRINGING A BOTTLE of Scotch whisky over to the coffee table, Gene poured some into the two waiting glass tumblers. His reluctant house guest was sitting with her shapely legs tucked beneath her on the couch, a satin cushion clutched to her belly, her transfixed gaze focused on the scene that played outside the windows as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

He’d witnessed a few wild storms since he’d built his sanctuary but never one quite like this. The thunder was akin to an earth-shattering sonic boom, whose power shook the walls of the futuristic dwelling he was so proud of. And the rain... The rain was like an enraged wild river that had burst its banks and was ruthlessly deluging everything in its wake. It was impossible to see where the sky ended and the ocean began.

And, like the most magnificent firework display ever conceived, the lightning had come.

They’d been expecting it for hours now, and had sensed the atmosphere growing thicker and thicker. It had grown so thick that something had to cut through it to lessen the tension.

Having arrived at last, the electrifying bolts that ripped through the atmosphere with their eerily bright light did exactly that. But the deafening noise and fury even made Eugene’s heart jolt. Sensing a muscle tighten in the side of his jaw, he glanced at his companion. It was plain to see that she was more than a little jumpy.

‘Rose?’ Feeling an uncharacteristic sense of concern, he leant towards her and pressed a glass into her hand. ‘I’d advise you to drink some of this. Not just because it’s the best malt whisky in the world, and I only ever drink the best, but it might help calm your nerves.’

Although her hand shook a little, Rose tipped the glass back and gulped down some of the contents. Almost instantly her incandescent violet eyes flooded with tears. Then she started to cough.

Gene reached round to pat her on the back, his lips shaping an amused smile. ‘You drank that down a bit too quickly, sweetheart. Make the next sip a little slower, hmm...?’

Returning his wry look, she commented, ‘I’ll bear that in mind. It’s pretty powerful stuff, isn’t it?’

‘This particular blend is smoky, sweet and smooth. But I don’t doubt to a novice it can still pack a punch.’

Even as he was speaking a fierce display of dazzling lightning lit up the room, highlighting everything in full cinematic glory.

‘Oh my God!’ Visibly shocked, Rose all but threw herself against him.

Even though he knew it was purely a reflex reaction, instigated by fear, Gene was inordinately pleased that in that instant she genuinely seemed to need him. He’d never experienced anything remotely like the feeling before, and it made his heart race a little.

As the gentle scent of her summery perfume made provocative inroads into his senses he draped his hard-muscled arm round her slender shoulders and pulled her a little closer to him.

His beard-roughened jaw glanced against the silkily soft strands of her ebony hair and he murmured, ‘It’s all right, Rose. Nothing’s going to hurt you...I promise...’

At first she stiffened at the assurance, and then she relaxed.

Relieved, Gene was glad she didn’t pull away. Despite the storm raging outside, he felt strangely peaceful as he sat there with Rose. He had a distinct sense of being introduced to an aspect of his character that he’d never before suspected. The only woman he’d ever felt remotely protective towards before was his mother. His more intimate female relationships all centred round money and sex. His desire for sex and their desire for money... Genuine intimacy didn’t feature. How could it when he’d allowed himself to become more and more distant from his feelings? Since his little sister had died the spectre of loss and heartbreak was ever-present, and in truth he feared it...

The soft weight against his arm grew a little heavier and Rose’s quiet, steady breathing made Gene realise that she’d fallen asleep.

It seemed to be a day of shocks and surprises, he thought wryly. Not only had the ferocity of the storm taken him aback, but the realisation that he wasn’t just enduring his visitor’s company but was actively enjoying it really rattled him. His pleasure at being able to purchase the lovely old shop building hadn’t dominated his thoughts half as much as he’d expected it to.

He frowned. Why was that?

Settling back more comfortably against the cushions, hardly aware that he was doing so, he drowsily let his eyelids drift closed...

The first thing that alerted him to the realisation that he’d fallen asleep was Rose trying to disengage his arm from her shoulders. Eugene cursed...loudly. The limb had cramped painfully, and in the throes of sleep he thought someone was attacking him. His primal masculine instinct was automatic.

When he sat up and grabbed his imagined attacker Rose yelped, and the shocked look on her face woke him up to the reality of what he was doing. His hands were tightly gripping her arms through her soft woollen sweater and she looked absolutely terrified. Albeit indignant...

Even as he lessened the pressure of his fingers on her arm he was suddenly mesmerised by the inviting shape of her luscious mouth. Her beautiful eyes were shining like stars. Staring back into that hypnotic violet glance was like falling into another dream...one that he was in no hurry to wake up from.

‘Let go of me,’ Rose breathed huskily.

Gene heard the words, but even as he registered them he was helplessly bending his head towards her. His body was heavy with desire, and only the taste of those lush tender lips would alleviate some of the insatiable erotic need he was suddenly inflamed by.

‘Not yet...’ he whispered, and claimed the mouth that unknowingly taunted him as if it were a choice between breathing to live and not breathing.

If he’d had any expectations that first time he’d kissed her, then the touch of Rose’s lips beneath his had exceeded them all. Now, for the second time, the sensation was beyond wonderful. And the most pleasurable surprise came when she gasped softly, didn’t resist his urgently seeking tongue as he thought she might, but instead welcomed the heated exploration as if she needed it as much as he did.

The hot satin interior of her mouth sent his temperature skyrocketing, and Gene’s fingers moved through her silky hair to anchor her head and explore her flavours more deeply. Again, Rose showed no sign of protesting. His heart was galloping hard and the strangest feeling washed over him. It was an inexplicable sense that he was diving too deep ever to surface again without some serious damage having been caused...

Rose could hardly believe she was passionately kissing Gene Bonnaire. Had she unknowingly suffered some kind of bump to the head and been transported to an uncanny parallel universe where everything she’d known to be real had vanished? Who could blame her for that conclusion when the violent storm outside was growing ever more ferocious, adding to the sense that she was in some kind of twilight world? Being marooned in this isolated dwelling with a man she’d undoubtedly give a wide berth to if she met him under any other circumstances just didn’t make sense. Yet perhaps it wasn’t as unbelievable as it seemed. How could she have known that this avaricious businessman could seduce her with his unexpected displays of care and concern?

First he’d dispensed advice on dealing with her fears. Then he’d cooked a sublime French dish that had been nothing less than exquisite. And finally...finally he’d put his arm around her and held her against him when the lightning had looked to be heralding the end of the world and she’d been terrified.

Was that why she’d found herself willingly kissing him...? Because she was grateful for his protection? Had the feeling awakened some latent desire she’d been burying?

Her father had always sought to protect her from harm and keep her safe, and she’d trusted him more than any other man. Was she hoping to find someone similar in her romantic life? But Gene Bonnaire was nothing like her father had been. The billionaire was known to be utterly ruthless in pursuing his desires, and he had a reputation for letting nothing stand in his way. Yet when he’d held her against his powerful chest as they’d watched the storm Rose had trusted him enough to fall asleep.

How to explain it? All she knew was that she hadn’t been able to resist him. Everything about the man seemed to dazzle her...the way he looked, the way he smelled, his sheer indomitable maleness... The realisation confused her. It also made her wary about the danger she might be inviting. She only had to remember her ex and the way he’d blatantly lied to her to get what he wanted... Gene was another man who liked the sense of power money could give him...

When Gene carefully separated his lips from hers, his long fingers stroking her hair back, he smiled down at her with a knowing glint in his piercing blue eyes and she knew it was time to end this craziness and return to some kind of normality.

When she explained to him why she’d succumbed to that kiss—she’d been stressed and worried about her boss, and scared of the lightning—hopefully he would understand and not use the minor aberration against her.

Flattening her hand against his chest, she started to move away.

Frowning, Gene reached out to pull her back. ‘Where are you going?’

For a moment Rose couldn’t think what to say, because his glittering blue eyes were holding her to him as securely as if they’d been bound together.

‘I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.’

‘Why? Didn’t you enjoy it?’

‘That’s not the point. The point is I’m here solely on business. And you’re not responsible for comforting me just because I’m scared of lightning.’

‘Would your boyfriend have comforted you if he’d been here?’

‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

His eyes narrowed. ‘Would he?’

‘I don’t have one.’ Rose lifted a shoulder in a shrug, her gaze unflinching. ‘I’m not interested in having a relationship at the moment.’

‘Presumably that’s because you’re concerned about your boss?’

‘It’s not just that. I want to concentrate on my career. When Philip leaves the antiques shop, so will I. I’ll have to find another position.’

‘Presumably that won’t be difficult? You’re a qualified dealer, you said.’

She lifted her chin, as if to challenge him to doubt her. ‘I am. And if I can’t find anything suitable back home I might go abroad for a while and work.’

It was definitely an option, but somehow she didn’t feel quite ready to take such a bold leap. She’d like to think she could make things work at home first. Anyway, the thought reminded her of what was most pertinent now.

Meeting the diamond-bright glance that had barely left her since they’d kissed, she said, ‘Getting back to the reason I’m here... Don’t you think we’d better deal with the signing of the documents tonight rather than leave it until the morning? It’s just that I want to make sure I’m ready in plenty of time to meet the boat. The sooner I get back to the hospital and see how Philip is doing, the better.’

‘I won’t be signing anything until I’m satisfied that everything is in order. Give me the papers and I’ll look over them tonight. Then we’ll see what the morning brings.’

Dry-mouthed, Rose stood up. Gene’s enigmatic comment had left her feeling as though she’d just plunged down a flight of hard-edged stone steps. ‘Are you suggesting that there might be a possibility you won’t sign?’

As he got to his feet his expression was tight-lipped and serious. ‘Make no mistake. I want the property. That desire hasn’t changed. But it’s a policy of mine never to sign anything until I’m sure.’

‘You mean you got me to come all the way out here in the belief that you were going to buy, but now you’re not sure? Is this some kind of warped game you’re playing?’ She shook her head in despair. ‘I should have known as soon as I saw you that you weren’t to be trusted, but it seems I never learn...’

He moved closer. So close that Rose could see the gentle indentations in his otherwise smooth skin where the dark stubble of his beard had started to grow. His warm breath drifted over her face and made her teeth clench.

‘What do you mean by that? Has someone let you down, Rose? Was it an ex-boyfriend, perhaps? If that’s true, then I’m sorry. But this isn’t a game I’m playing...it’s the way I do business. I set out my intentions, believe without a doubt that what I want is going to be mine, and then I take some time to enjoy the realisation before I finally take the prize.’

She swallowed hard as he reached out and laid his palm against her cheek. It was clear that he wasn’t just referring to his purchase of the antiques shop building.

Rose felt alternately hot and cold. Did he think that she’d fall into bed with him because she’d so willingly returned his kiss? He’d caught her off guard—that was all.

It was her cue to firmly lift his hand away and engineer some distance between them. Folding her arms over her sweater, she glanced out at the scene before her. Although the storm was still evident, somehow it seemed less ferocious. Sounding more like a subdued grizzly bear now, rather than a rampaging tiger, the thunder continued to rumble but the lightning was definitely lessening. Electrical flashes of cobalt pierced the sky here and there, but they were starting to suggest a once rampaging force now spent and retreating, and she was more than a little relieved.

However, Rose was still anxious that she might not be going home with the business sold and the funds deposited into Philip’s bank account after all. A sleepless night was definitely on the horizon, because it wasn’t going to be easy to wait until the morning for Gene’s decision.

She was quickly learning that the man was a bit of a wild card...a law unto himself. That was a challenge. If for any reason he should change his mind about buying, what could she do but walk away in defeat? The situation might grieve her, but she hardly had the power to make him reconsider, did she? And he didn’t look to be the type of man who would be swayed by any sense of compassion.

Rose was dreading taking such demoralising news back to Philip. What if it caused his health to deteriorate even more? The only thing she could do now was stay as calm as possible and not let her host see how perturbed she was.

‘Well, there’s not much more to say, then, is there? I’ll go and get the purchase documents and give them to you to look over.’ Glancing down at the pretty platinum wristwatch her father had given her for her twenty-first birthday, she added, ‘After that I think I’ll say goodnight.’

Turning towards the door, she was stopped in her tracks by Gene’s intimate gravel-voiced reply.

‘If we have any more lightning during the night and you’re feeling scared my room is just down the hall from yours. I’m a very light sleeper, so don’t hesitate to knock and come in, will you?’

Clenching her fists down by her sides, Rose prayed for the strength not to succumb to the pure unadulterated temptation the hard-chiselled specimen of masculinity before her exuded with a mere glance...let alone the sexy bass voice that reeled her in like a fish on a hook...

‘I’m sure I’ll be fine,’ she said airily. ‘I’ll simply use that technique you told me about and remember that my fears are just illusions.’

She swore she heard Gene chuckle in amusement as she walked to the door and went out...

* * *

He had another restless night. It wasn’t so easy to fall asleep when he knew that Rose slept just a short walk away from him, down the corridor in one of his guestrooms. Somehow Gene couldn’t shake the memory of that inflammatory kiss he’d stolen from her. All night it tempted and mocked him, until the fervent hope of a repeat performance finally lured him into sleep with its promise. But then he dreamt of holding Rose in his arms and making passionate love to her, and he woke at sunrise with his body coated in perspiration and heavy with desire.

Why hadn’t she come to him in the night as he’d hoped? The storm had returned round three a.m. and the lightning had once again been spectacular. Surely she couldn’t have slept through such a display? Had stubborn pride stopped her from seeking his reassurance?

Even though he admired her tenacity, he had to find out for himself how she’d fared. Quickly showering and dressing, he glanced at the property sale documents he’d examined minutely into the early hours and took them with him into the living room. There was no sign that his guest had been there.

His stomach clenching with nervous excitement at the thought of seeing her, he left the papers he’d been studying on the coffee table then returned to the room he’d allocated to Rose. He rapped sharply on the door. She didn’t answer straight away and Gene was immediately concerned.

He was about to knock again when the door opened.

‘Morning...’ she murmured. Paler than usual, and distinctly bleary-eyed, her appearance suggested that she too had had trouble sleeping. Her black hair was prettily tousled but her skin looked as smooth and delicious as a peach. She was still in her nightwear—a short white satin affair, with spaghetti straps—and one of the straps had drifted down over a slim shoulder.

Gene took a moment to assemble his emotions. Once again he felt concerned and protective. It was so unlike his usual response at seeing a woman he desired that it honestly perturbed him.

‘Good morning,’ he greeted her. ‘Don’t tell me you didn’t see and hear the lightning last night because I won’t believe you.’

Groaning, she was already shaking her head and tunnelling her fingers through her hair. ‘I’m not going to lie. I didn’t sleep a wink. I wouldn’t say no to some coffee if you’re making it?’

‘Never mind the coffee—why didn’t you knock on my door like I told you to?’

Even as he asked the question Gene stepped over the door’s threshold and, with no intention other than to reassure her, wound his arms round her impossibly slim waist. The act was his undoing. The combination of the silky satin nightdress and the warm, shapely body beneath his hands aroused him more than he’d ever been aroused before...to the point where he couldn’t help but act on sheer primal instinct.

‘I would have held you close all night...protected you...’ he murmured.

In between each word of the huskily voiced affirmation he touched his lips to Rose’s hair then, hearing her gasp softly, he tipped up her chin and touched them to her mouth. The irresistible fusion was hot, sultry...and almost beyond controllable...

Rose glanced up into his eyes, the flat of her hand resting lightly against his chest. But this time there was no suggestion that she wanted him to leave.

‘I—I can’t seem to think straight when I’m around you,’ she confessed. ‘I didn’t come to you last night because I was afraid of what might happen.’

‘What did you think might happen?’

‘I feel like—like I’m under some kind of spell when I’m near you and that makes you dangerous.’

‘You think I’m the one who’s dangerous? You’re the one that’s cast a spell, you little witch...’

‘You should go,’ she breathed, but her fingers were curling into his shirtfront and her eyes were full of longing.

Gene needed no further invitation. ‘Sweetheart, I don’t think so...’ he murmured.

Sweeping her up into his arms, without further ado he carried her across to the lavish double bed. As he laid her down against the rumpled silk sheets his heart beat so fast he was dizzy. Rose wasn’t looking sleepy any more. She looked wide awake, her flawless complexion no longer pale, but softly rouged pink with desire...

As he started to lower the spaghetti straps of her nightgown down over her shoulders, so that the satin mounds of her breasts were more evident, he couldn’t resist a grin. ‘If I’d known you wore such sexy nightwear I would have battered down your door and come to you last night. Honest to God, I would have,’ he swore.

For answer, she made a helpless little sound of hunger and pulled his head down to hers. As they kissed Gene reached down to his back pocket and drew out the foil packet he kept there. There were no more words after that. There was no need. His whole world had narrowed down to these few heatedly charged moments, to the beautiful woman beneath him and their hungry, insatiable need for each other.

When he finally took her, with Rose’s strong, slender thighs wrapped round his middle, he honestly thought he’d died and gone to heaven. It wasn’t just her kisses and her body that were heavenly—everything about her was divine. Already he knew there was no way on earth he would be satisfied with just taking his pleasure and then setting her aside, as he usually did with the women in his life. A strong desire to really get to know her was building inside him.

As she quickly came to her fulfilment her thighs clamped him even tighter and she rode the wild waves that took her. Staring back into her superlative violet gaze, Gene soon followed, issuing a harsh-sounding cry that seemed to emanate from deep inside him. In the aftermath of his climax he was rendered both breathless and speechless for a while before he came back to himself. Then he lay down next to Rose and gently pulled her into his arms.

‘Tu es incroyable...’ he whispered into her ear.

Her pretty cheeks dimpled. ‘I like it when you speak French. You can whisper some more to me, if you like?’

‘Right now I’d willingly do anything you wanted, ma chère.’

‘I might hold you to that...’ With a teasing but knowing smile, Rose held her hand softly against his cheek...