Читать книгу Greek Affairs - Кейт Хьюит - Страница 25

WHEN Katie opened her eyes and glanced out of the aircraft window she could see the lights of Manhattan shimmering against the darkness of the sky.

‘We’ll be touching down in twenty minutes,’ Alexi told her as he packed away the papers he’d been working on.

She must have fallen asleep, she realised with a start. How had she managed that when he’d been sitting opposite her working all night? She’d been determined not to give in to the overwhelming waves of tiredness—even when Alexi had told her to put her work away and make the seat into a bed she had resolutely refused. She hadn’t wanted to let her guard down around him for even one minute, had wanted to remain confident and poised. Now look at her! She self-consciously put a hand up to her hair, trying to smooth back the long, silky strands that had escaped to curl around her face. She felt a complete wreck.

Her eyes connected with Alexi’s across the narrow divide, and she felt the tension that had twisted between them all night flare instantly into life again.

‘Gosh, I didn’t mean to fall asleep,’ she murmured. ‘Did you finish the timetable?’

‘Yes, it’s all in order. You probably should have got your head down properly. I hope you can function at our meeting.’

The cool words irritated her. Typical that he should only be worried about the business that lay ahead and not about her welfare!

‘If you can function, then I’m damn sure I can,’ she murmured.

Her sparkly determination made him smile, and for a moment he allowed his eyes to slip over her. She’d been curled up like a kitten within stroking distance, and she had been driving him out of his mind—so much so that he’d had to ban himself from looking at her, because no work had been done whilst he’d been drinking her in like a mind-altering drug.

The smooth perfection of her skin had fascinated him, as had the long, thick darkness of her lashes, the soft curve of her lips. He even liked the messed-up way her hair was curling around her face. It was saucy and sexy, and that was before his eyes had travelled downwards to her sumptuous curves.

With difficulty he concentrated his gaze upwards and noticed suddenly that she seemed very pale.

Katie looked away from him and tried to concentrate on something other than the wave of nausea that had unexpectedly swept over her. What on earth was the matter with her? She couldn’t be ill, not here. Not in front of him! How embarrassing would that be? Panic-stricken, she took a few deep breaths, and to her relief the feeling started to subside. She was just tired, she told herself soothingly. Apart from the hour’s sleep, she’d been almost permanently on the go for the last twenty-four. A new job, a high-pressured meeting followed by piles of paperwork and then a flight to New York—all that plus Alexi. No wonder she didn’t feel well!

And the time spent working with Alexi had been difficult, to say the least. After the initial conversation, they’d hardly exchanged a word that wasn’t connected with what they were doing. The ease with which they had once worked together had definitely gone.

Katie tried to tell herself that the worst was behind her now. A long, refreshing shower and a sleep in a comfortable bed for a few hours would probably sort her out.

She looked at her wristwatch and adjusted the time back five hours to New York time. It was like that film Groundhog Day, she thought; just when you thought the long hours of darkness were nearly over, it was back to the small hours of the morning.

She glanced over and found Alexi still watching her. ‘What time is our meeting?’ she asked awkwardly.

‘Nine-thirty. So we’ll have time to get to my apartment and catch some sleep.’

‘Your apartment?’ She tried to make her voice light. ‘I assumed we would be staying at a hotel!’ Preferably with rooms on different floors, she thought frantically.

‘No, I have an apartment by Central Park. It’s very convenient.’

The jet was making its final descent, the engine noises screaming a bit like her nerves. But at least it covered the tense silence that now lay between them. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend she was somewhere else—anywhere else but here with him.

But instead of thinking relaxing, comforting thoughts her mind was now racing over the fact that they were going to be alone in an apartment.

The plane touched down on the runway with a heavy thud and a screech of brakes. As it taxied to a halt, they started to gather their belongings, ready to disembark.

‘You know, Alexi, I really think I should stay at a hotel,’ she said suddenly.

He looked amused. ‘Why?’

‘Because … I feel this is an awkward situation, that’s why.’

‘My apartment has more than one bedroom, Katie.’

‘It’s not that,’ she said heatedly.

‘No?’ He looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. ‘Then what is it? Are you frightened you can’t be alone with me without wanting to return to my bed?’ The teasingly arrogant question created a tidal wave of anger and consternation inside of her.

‘Of course I’m not worried about that!’ Her voice rose slightly. ‘I haven’t even given such a thing a second thought!’

‘Well, I can’t see your problem, then.’ Alexi put on his jacket. ‘Did you make a note about the new environmental data, by the way?’

The swift return to their earlier discussion threw her. ‘Yes, of course.’

‘Good. When we get to the meeting this morning, we can go over the ideas. I think they will be well received.’ Alexi passed her the briefcase that she had placed in the overhead locker.

‘I’m sure they will.’ Desperately she tried to refocus her mind. She didn’t want to make too much of an issue about the apartment now, didn’t want him to think she was in any way frightened that she might weaken and go back into his arms. The conceited audacity of the question was still burning inside her. Or was it the fact that deep down she knew he was right? And she wasn’t just frightened, she was terrified!

When it came to Alexi she had a weakness—she acted first and thought later. It was a highly unusual mode of behaviour for her, but she had to be honest with herself: it was what had happened before, and she couldn’t let it happen again!

What she needed was to get out of this situation as soon as possible. ‘When are we flying back to London?’ she asked abruptly.

He flicked her an impatient look. ‘Possibly tomorrow; it depends on how these two meetings go.’

The door of the plane opened and he led the way out.

‘I thought there was just one meeting?’ Katie asked as she struggled to keep up with his long strides down towards immigration control.

‘No, there are two. The first and most important is at my main office in town. But there is a second one down at the docks later this afternoon. My ship, the Octavia, is moored here and the accountants will be on board. We’re in conference at three.’

‘I see. Well, that should be straightforward enough. We could fly back tonight.’

‘Except that I have to attend a champagne party tonight, which is also on board the Octavia.’ He glanced over at her. ‘I want you to tag along to that,’ he added casually. ‘It will be a chance for you to get to know a few people socially.’

‘You didn’t tell me there would be a party!’ The last thing she wanted was to attend a social function with him! ‘I haven’t brought anything to wear!’

‘Don’t worry, you can pick something up at one of the boutiques on board this afternoon. It’s no big deal.’

He made it sound all very logical, very relaxed. But to her this was a nostalgic tug of remembrance. She’d attended one of these parties in the past on one of his cruise liners docked at Southampton. It had been a very enjoyable occasion; she’d loved indulging in a glass of champagne and socialising with Alexi. Although she had been there in a work capacity, and she’d had to write up a report afterwards, it hadn’t felt like work. Later when everyone had left she’d danced with Alexi under the stars, and he had held her close in his arms.

‘You better not put this in your report,’ he’d murmured as he slid the zip of her dress down.

The memory made her body tense.

She needed to avoid anything remotely approaching a social occasion with him, because it felt like perilous territory. In fact the whole damn trip now felt like a minefield.

Before she could say anything, however, they were next in line for the formalities of Immigration, and then they were outside and getting into Alexi’s waiting limousine.

‘That didn’t take too long.’ Alexi glanced at his watch. ‘We should have time to get a few hours in bed.’

Katie looked away from him, out at the sparkling skyline of Manhattan.

Just over a month ago she would have enjoyed a few hours in bed with Alexi. And she would have been excited about being here; she’d never visited New York before. She’d have been hoping they could get away from work to see the sights—she would have been looking forward to spending time alone with him, going into his arms, cuddling in next to his powerful body …

But that was when she had foolishly thought she could handle a no-strings affair, she reminded herself quickly. And she knew differently now.

Alexi’s mobile rang and he spent the remainder of the journey talking to someone in London about a staffing solution he was putting together for Tellesta’s international chain of shops.

This was the reality of being with Alexi, she reminded herself. All his time was utilised; even when they’d been having an affair their love-making had been slotted in around the important deals.

They were gliding down through a mid-town tunnel now, and then a little while later Katie was craning her head, looking up at the skyscrapers towering over them.

Suddenly they were on Fifth Avenue. Katie recognised shops and names that she had only ever seen on the pages of glossy magazines and in the films. The limousine rounded a corner and pulled up outside an impressive building that was glass-fronted.

‘I’ll phone you back later today, Harry, when the offices are open.’ Alexi ended his call as the driver got out to open the door for them.

Instantly the sounds of the city spilled in. Despite the fact that it was the early hours, still the traffic was constant. There was a smell of tar and road fumes.

For a moment it made Katie feel distinctly queasy again.

She followed Alexi along the strip of red carpet that ran up the steps into the building. A doorman tipped his hat at them and swung the heavy glass doors open.

Then they stepped into a waiting lift in the marble foyer and were swept upwards.

Neither spoke, but Katie was aware of Alexi’s eyes on her. She wondered what he was thinking.

She wondered if he had a new girlfriend in his life now. As soon as the question occurred to her, she berated herself severely. It was a month since their affair had ended, and Alexi probably wouldn’t even have waited a day before replacing her in his bed.

No doubt he was dating some stunning model or debutante now.

Katie, on the other hand, hadn’t even looked at another man. But she would soon, she reassured herself firmly. And in the meantime whoever Alexi was dating was welcome to him, because like all the others she wouldn’t last.

‘You look a little pale, Katie.’

The sudden remark took her by surprise. ‘Do I? It’s probably these overhead lights.’

Alexi nodded.

For a second their eyes connected, and immediately she wished that they hadn’t. He had the sexiest eyes on the planet: dark, bold come-to-bed eyes that seemed to sear her to the very bone.

The lift jolted to a stop and the doors slid open. Alexi led the way towards a doorway opposite.

A turn of a key, and Katie stepped into a luxurious apartment with wide windows facing out towards Central Park.

‘Make a coffee, will you, whilst I check my emails?’ Alexi ordered casually as he tossed his keys down on a table and turned on some lights.

So much for his caring, ‘you look a little pale’ moment, she thought sardonically. This was more like it. She put her overnight bag down on a chair and walked over towards the open-plan kitchen to fill the kettle.

The place was very stylish, solid-oak floors and minimalist furniture. ‘Did you get the same person to design this as your London apartment?’ she asked casually as she found some cups.

Alexi didn’t answer her, and she glanced over to find that she was on her own; he’d disappeared through the doorway at the end of the corridor.

She followed him a few moments later with a steaming cup of freshly ground coffee, and found him in a small office adjoining one of the bedrooms.

‘One black coffee, no sugar.’ She put it down next to him, and then stood watching whilst he sorted through some papers he’d taken from his briefcase.

‘Thanks, Katie, did we get the codes for the files we need today?’ he asked without looking up.

‘Yes, I put them with the forms I filled out earlier.’

‘Great. You can turn in now if you want.’

‘Thanks,’ she murmured dryly. ‘Which room can I have?’

‘Which room do you want?’ He looked up at her suddenly, a flare of teasing light in the darkness of his eyes. ‘Mine is the one at the end of the corridor. You can take your pick.’

The memory of his earlier, arrogant comment trickled through her.

‘Well, any room but that, then.’ She tried to sound flippant.

He smiled as if he found her the most amusing woman he’d ever met. ‘If that’s what you want.’

‘Of course it’s what I want.’ Her heart missed a beat as he started to get up from behind the desk. Suddenly she could feel alarm bells ringing with piercing intensity.

‘Katie, I think we’ve known each other long enough for you to be able to drop this pretence … don’t you?’

‘I don’t know what you are talking about! I’m not pretending about anything!’ She swallowed hard.

‘No?’ He looked relaxed as he leaned back against the desk and fixed her with a probing look. ‘I think you are. I think the fact that there is still a chemistry buzzing between us is driving you out of your mind.’

He was so damn sure of himself that it was galling! ‘I honestly don’t know what you are talking about!’ She did the only thing she could; she lied vehemently. It was either that or she would lose her self-respect along with her defences.

‘Don’t you?’ His lips curved in a sardonic smile. ‘So, why the panicky look?’

‘I’m not panicky …’ The lie was so great it was almost laughable, and he obviously wasn’t in the slightest bit fooled because he smiled.

‘Honey, we are going to have to address this.’

‘I’m not your honey, and there is nothing to address!’ She was suddenly furious, but more with herself than with him, because he was so right. How was she going to work with him when she felt like this? She made to move past him, but he reached out and caught hold of her arm, stopping her.

‘Katie, let’s not lie to each other, hmm?’ He said the words softly. ‘We’ve never lied to each other, have we?’

‘You’re right, the one thing we had was honesty.’ She looked up at him, her eyes flashing fire. ‘We both knew from day one that what we had together wasn’t going to last beyond the end of my contract with Demetri Shipping.’ Her voice trembled slightly as she strove to pull herself together.

‘But it has lasted.’ He said the words huskily and turned her towards him forcefully. ‘Against the odds, I’ll grant you. The chemistry is alive and well …’

She shook her head, but he reached out and tipped her chin upwards, forcing her to look up at him.

The touch of his fingers against her skin was intensely disturbing, and for all the wrong reasons. She wanted him to deepen the touch … wanted him to stroke his hand through her hair, lower his head, claim her mouth and take possession of her. The need was like a palpable ache inside her. And she hated herself for it.

‘In fact, the chemistry is even stronger than it once was,’ he told her softly. ‘And the memory of how good sex was between us is there every time our eyes meet. It was there in the office yesterday, on the journey last night, even in the lift just now …’

‘That’s an outrageous thing to say!’ To her distress, her voice shook.

‘Probably, but it’s still the truth.’ He smiled. ‘It’s the elephant in the room. It’s with us now. And trying to pretend otherwise isn’t working.’

She wanted to contest that, but the touch of his hand against her skin was throwing her senses into chaos. How could she deny it when the need for him was eating away at her, when she longed to feel his body closer, his lips on hers?

‘So, the question is, what should we do about it?’ he continued huskily.

The question punched through her. ‘We’re not going to do anything about it, Alexi.’ Her voice trembled alarmingly now. ‘We both know that the kind of relationship we had is transitory—you move on and you don’t go back.’

His eyes were on her lips. ‘But you don’t move on until the music has stopped. It’s a dance, Katie …’ He paused. ‘Unless you have met someone else. Is that what this is about?’ He forced himself to ask the question, his eyes watchful, his manner still.

‘No!’ Her eyes locked with his. She couldn’t lie to him. ‘That’s not what this is about.’

He smiled.

‘I just don’t want you to call the tune any more!’ she murmured huskily.

‘But you still want me, Katie. I can see it now in the way you look at me.’

She felt a shudder of ecstasy race straight through her body as his hand softly stroked along the column of her neck.

‘In fact you want me to just take you right now.’ He leaned forward and whispered the words against her ear.

His close proximity was so sweet it was tormenting. He was right. She did want that. No one could make her feel the way he could. The memory of how good things had been between them played enticingly through her.

He watched as she moistened her lips, saw the way her eyes deepened to an almost sultry, smoky violet. ‘Don’t do this, Alexi,’ she whispered breathlessly.

‘Do what … tell the truth?’ He smiled.

‘Hell, but you are so very conceited.’ She murmured the words, totally flustered. ‘Conceited and arrogant, and—’

‘So if I were to kiss you now for old times’ sake you wouldn’t enjoy it in the slightest?’

He was rewarded by the flush of heat across her cheekbones and the flare of light in her blue eyes. ‘You see? You are a long way from being indifferent towards me, Katie.’ His eyes flicked down over the curves of her body, noting the rapid rise and fall of her chest. ‘And the chemistry is a long, long way from finished.’

As if to demonstrate his power over her, his hands moved possessively to her waist, drawing her closer. His hand cupped her slender body, his fingers splayed over her ribcage, and immediately her body tingled with pleasure. She wanted to feel the touch of his hands moving higher, her breasts felt taut with the desire for his caress …

His gaze raked over her with an almost ruthless intent, and he smiled as he saw the stark hunger in the deep violet-blue of her eyes. ‘We both know that this is inevitable.’

‘Alexi, please …’ She whispered the words rawly.

‘Please what …?’ He smiled and his hands brushed upwards, stroking over the curve of her breast with a possessive touch that made her gasp with need.

‘Please what …?’ He taunted again softly, but his voice wasn’t entirely free from desire. It grated unevenly with the force of need.

And somehow the fact that momentarily he was as much lost in desire as she was made her defences start to crumble.

‘Alexi …’ Her voice broke slightly as she turned her lips instinctively towards his and kissed him.

He felt a powerful surge of triumph, and for a moment allowed her the first tentative moments of the kiss, tasting her submission, her need. She did want him—he knew it! And then he took control, plundering her mouth with hard, possessive lips. How he’d held back even for a moment he didn’t know because now he’d taken over he didn’t want to stop kissing her. He wanted her with a driving, forceful need he didn’t think he had ever experienced before. It shook him senseless. It also angered him. He was a man who needed no one—who could take a woman or leave a woman without a care. What was it about Katie that made him feel like this? He didn’t want to feel like this. However, that rage just seemed to fuel his desire even more.

She reached up and allowed her arms to wind around his neck, allowed her senses to capitulate and breathe him in, to respond wildly. Would it be so wrong to go to bed with him one last time? The words sizzled through her consciousness.

She’d missed him so much … she needed him so much.

The papers on the desk behind them were swept to the floor as he pressed her back against the desk. Then he dragged his lips away from hers and started to unbutton her blouse.

She wanted him so much that she couldn’t stop him, but deep inside there was another emotion swirling with desire, and that was fear: fear because she wanted him too much. She didn’t want to need any man, let alone someone as unsuitable as Alexi. She didn’t want to be just used for sex and discarded!

‘We shouldn’t do this,’ she whispered as he unfastened her jeans.

‘Why not?’ His hands slid over the narrow curve of her waist, then stroked down lower over the flat plane of her stomach.

‘Because it’s just sex.’ She forced herself to say the words. ‘It means nothing,’ she whispered fiercely. ‘Nothing.’

His dark eyes blazed into hers for a second. ‘It doesn’t have to mean something to be addictive. We both know that.’

The words shouldn’t have hurt her … but they did. ‘We should stop!’ she whispered softly. ‘Before this goes too far!’

The tremulous words made him pull back from her slightly, made him try to contain his need. But it was like trying to pull back from the force of gravity. It took all his control.

What kind of game was she playing? he wondered suddenly. Was she just a teasing little witch who knew how she affected him and played it for all it was worth? Well, no woman would ever have control over him like that again! The furious fire of need glimmered white-hot inside him now. He was taking control; he would decide when this was finished … not her.

‘But that’s not really what you want, is it, Katie?’ he grated. ‘You’d hate me to stop, because you want this …’ As he spoke his hand moved lower, pushing the flimsy pants she wore to one side and finding the core of her with an unerring accuracy that made her body tingle with pleasure.

He was right; she didn’t want him to stop. She closed her eyes as a wave of ecstasy shot through her. How did he know how to do that? How could he pleasure her with just the lightest touch …?

Then he stopped and her eyes flicked open. Her need for him was hungry and clear.

‘But perhaps you’re right; now is not the moment.’ He pulled back completely.

Her heart was hammering wildly against her chest. She wanted to beg him to continue now; the ache inside her was unbearable.

For a moment they just stared at each other. Alexi smiled as he watched how she was battling with herself now. He badly wanted to have sex with her, and he knew he could just take her now …

But he wasn’t going to. Because only her total acquiescence would satisfy him. He wanted her completely, not just now but for as long as it took for him to satisfy himself of her.

And hunger was a wonderful driving force, he told himself vehemently. He was going to starve her now—and later they would feast. On his terms.

He watched how her hands trembled as she started to fasten her jeans, button up her blouse. ‘We’ve tested the theory,’ he said smoothly. ‘We still want each other, and later we’ll decide how we are going to let the chemistry play out between us. Maybe on board the Octavia.’

His sheer, confident gall lashed through her. ‘It’s not going to happen. Alexi! I want you to keep away from me!’

He laughed at that, and the sound tormented her senses. Because, although she tried to tell herself that she was glad he had stopped, deep down she still couldn’t get rid of this awful yearning. And he was obviously well aware of the fact.

‘I mean it, Alexi,’ she continued fiercely. ‘I want more from a relationship than you will ever be able to give!’

She saw the sudden wariness in the darkness of his eyes, and it would have amused her if it hadn’t hurt so much. ‘And don’t worry,’ she assured him fervently. ‘You’d be the last person I would choose for a committed relationship. I have no designs on you whatsoever. So just keep away from me! We’ve had our fling—it’s over.’

‘Well, you better tell that to your body,’ he said with a wry twist of his lips. ‘Tell that to your lips when they kiss me, and to your eyes when they look at me with open invitation.’

‘I’m telling it to you now!’

She pushed past him, and with her head held high left the room. But for all her outward composure she was shaking inside. Because the truth was she still wanted him.

How could she be so weak? After all the sensible thoughts, after everything she’d been through, how could she allow herself to feel like this?