Читать книгу Seduction: The Billionaire's Bride of Vengeance - Miranda Lee - Страница 20

RUSSELL stood at the side of the bed and stared down at Nicole’s naked body.

She was still dead to the world—little wonder after what he’d subjected her to. It wasn’t unusual for Russell to make love to a woman several times in succession. His mainly celibate existence tended to make him needy and greedy.

But she hadn’t objected. Hell, no. She’d been more than happy to accommodate him every which way. By this stage, Russell hadn’t questioned if she’d been faking it. He’d been way too enamoured of her charms to question anything.

In the cold light of day, however, he rather hoped she’d been pretending. He wanted her to continue being his willing little love slave for a while longer, wanted an excuse to have more vengeful sex with her.

Because let’s face it, Russell, one night simply wasn’t enough to cure what’s driven you all these years. You want more: more revenge, more sex. More of the very beautiful Nicole Power.

He might have joined her back in bed if he hadn’t been so damned hungry. With no food in the house, there was no option but to go out and get some. The continuing blackout had put paid to a local café. Russell would have to go further afield. He knew exactly where to take her. To a place where there was electricity, plenty of food and an extremely comfy bed.

His unit at McMahon’s Point.

Without hesitation, he leant down to shake her shoulder.

‘There’s still no electricity,’ were the first words Russell said when she opened her eyes.

Nicole groaned, then closed her eyes again.

It wasn’t the continuing blackout which had evoked the sound of dismay, however. More the kaleidoscope of memories which suddenly filled her mind.

She’d heard about morning-after regrets. But had never suffered from them before.

How could I have done the things I did last night? Nicole agonised. How could I have let him do the things he did?

‘The water’s still hot in the shower,’ he continued. ‘A miracle considering the time we spent in there last night.’

Nicole wished he hadn’t mentioned that. What was it about this man which made her such a willing victim to his wicked demands?

She wasn’t in love with him. She wasn’t even sure that she liked him. But oh, how he could turn her on!

‘Come on, sleepyhead, get up,’ he ordered. ‘It’s after nine. I’ve rung the powers that be. The electricity’s not expected to be on in this part of town for another couple of hours.’

Steeling herself, Nicole opened her eyes, adopted what she hoped was a woman-of-the-world expression, after which she rolled over to face her nemesis.

He wasn’t naked, thank God. He was fully dressed in grey chinos and a royal-blue polo top, his darkly damp hair suggesting a recent shower. His face was freshly shaven, his chin no longer sporting the stubble which he’d used to erotic effect on her in the early hours of the morning.

He glanced up from where he’d been putting his wallet and mobile phone into various pockets.

‘I don’t know about you,’ he said, ‘but I’m famished. I can’t wait till the power comes back on. Once you’re dressed, we’ll drive over to my apartment at McMahon’s Point and I’ll cook us both some breakfast.’

Nicole was totally taken aback by his offer.

His smile was wry. ‘You should see the look on your face. Yes, I can cook, and no, last night was not just a one-night stand. Did you think it was?’

‘It did cross my mind,’ she said truthfully.

‘Do you want it to be?’

Did she?

Common sense advised that it would be wise to cut and run. He was everything that she’d vowed to avoid.

The right answer was obvious. Yes, yes, let’s leave it at that, shall we?

Instead, she heard herself say no. Lord, what a fool she was where he was concerned!

No…

Not a word any man usually liked hearing on a woman’s lips.

But it was the right reply this time.

Russell walked round the bed and picked up her clothes from the floor. ‘Try not to be too long in the bathroom,’ he said as he offered them to her.

She took the clothes but didn’t make a move to get out of the bed. She just clutched them to her chest.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.

‘I … I’d like some privacy.’

He had to laugh. ‘Might I remind you that you swanned around this house naked for most of last night?’

‘Yes, and look what happened.’ she countered, green eyes flashing. ‘I really would like to make it out of here this morning without being ravaged again.’

‘Might I also remind you that you liked being ravaged?’

Her blush startled him, as did the pained expression which filled her eyes.

‘Look, I … I’m not usually like that,’ she said. ‘Not that you’ll believe me after the way I acted. You probably think I’m a total slut.’ Her shoulders drooped, her eyes dropping away from his.

Russell just stood there for a few seconds, utterly speechless. If this was an act, it was Oscar-winning material. What he was seeing had to be sincere.

Which meant what?

Damned if he knew.

In the end, he sat down on the side of the bed and tried to find the right thing to say.

‘So what are you usually like?’ came his careful question.

When her head lifted, her eyes were shimmering with tears.

‘A bore!’ she blurted out.

His head jerked back. ‘Come now, you can’t expect me to believe that.’

‘Then I suggest you talk to my ex-fiancé,’ she said quite bitterly whilst dashing the tears away with furious hands. ‘He informed me at length that I was the biggest bore in bed he’d ever met.’

Russell frowned. ‘Is that why he broke off your engagement?’

‘Lord, no! I broke off our engagement after I walked in on him screwing his PA on his desk. He’d have married me, bore or no. Or he would have back then, when Power Mortgages was powering along like there was no tomorrow. David wouldn’t marry me now, even if I was the best lay in the world.’

‘I see. You do realise he probably only said those things in retaliation. He was trying to hurt you.’

‘Yes, I do see that. But he was still right. I was a bore in bed. I was,’ she added, ‘till I met you.’

Russell just sat there for a long moment, drinking in this quite astonishing confession. As much as his first reaction was to shake his head in disbelief, he gradually accepted that it would explain the bewilderment he’d glimpsed when they’d first made love.

When she’d said she was amazed afterwards, she might have meant it.

‘I’ve never done half of the things I did with you last night,’ she insisted, her expression containing some of that wonder again. ‘Actually, I’ve never done most of those things.’

Russell stared into her eyes, then down at her mouth, which he’d imagined servicing many men before him.

How could he believe her? She’d been way too good at that. Way too uninhibited as well.

This had to be a line. A clever line to suck him in, the way she’d sucked him in last night. Quite literally.

When he reached out to place two fingertips against her lips, her head jerked back, her nostrils flaring wide.

‘And what about that?’ he asked her, watching closely for signs of lying. ‘Have you done that before?’

Her eyes didn’t even flicker as they held his. ‘No, never.’

‘Not even with your ex-fiancé?’ he persisted.

‘He wanted me to. But I … I wouldn’t. Just the thought of it used to repulse me. That’s why I was so shocked when I woke up this morning. Oh, I know you don’t believe me,’ she went on, distress zooming into her eyes. ‘I wouldn’t, either, if I were in your place.’

Russell didn’t know what to make of this tack. Another clever ruse, or the truth?

Damn, but it was difficult to put aside his preconceptions about her. Extremely difficult to trust anyone who had anything to do with Alistair Power, especially his enemy’s flesh and blood daughter.

A less emotional logic finally kicked in, reasoning that the Nicole Power he believed her to be would not be making excuses for her sexual behaviour last night. She wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with it at all!

Which meant she had to be telling him the truth.

It also meant she hadn’t been faking.

Russell’s male pride swelled, his ego triumphant at the thought she’d been genuinely swept away by true passion. Of course, none of this meant she wasn’t on the make as well. But it did mean that her desire for him was real, the same way his was for her.

This gave an added edge to Russell’s sudden plan to continue their affair, not just for today but longer. Much longer. He’d fantasised about her falling in love with him. What if she did? How brilliant a revenge would that be?

‘You’re wrong, Nicole,’ he said, cupping her face and giving her a softly seductive kiss. ‘I do believe you.’

The surprised pleasure which filled her eyes produced an unexpected smidgen of guilt. But Russell quickly put it aside. None of the Powers had felt guilty about his father’s suicide, he reminded himself. Not for a moment.

‘I’m not saying I haven’t had plenty of boyfriends,’ she went on hurriedly.

‘I wouldn’t expect anything different,’ he returned. ‘A girl as lovely as you. But maybe it’s time you had a boyfriend who thinks you’re great in bed,’ he added with a smile.

‘You … you want to be my boyfriend?’

‘You’re not keen on the idea?’

‘I was planning on going back overseas soon,’ she said.

He was truly taken aback. She’d mentioned some plan to her mother over the phone. He’d thought that plan might be him. It had sounded as if she was short of money. Clearly, not so, on both counts. Daddy must still be supporting her, he realised bitterly.

The thought of her escaping overseas the way Power had, produced a rush of anger which Russell had difficulty controlling, and hiding.

But he managed. Somehow.

‘Where are you going?’ he asked a bit abruptly.

‘Thailand. That’s where I was when Mum told me to come home and collect my things.’

‘Why on earth would you want to go back to Thailand at this time of the year? It’s stinking hot over there.’

‘You get used to it.’

‘You have friends there, is that it?’

‘Yes. Good friends.’

‘Not a boyfriend, though.’

‘No.’

‘Why are you being so secretive?’

She sighed. ‘I’m not deliberately being secretive. It’s a rather long story.’

‘One which you’re going to tell me over breakfast,’ he said firmly.

Their eyes clashed, hers flashing with that stubbornness he’d glimpsed the first day they’d met. ‘You won’t change my mind, you know.’

Whilst Russell rather admired her spirit, he wasn’t about to lose her without a fight. He could be a right ruthless bastard when he wanted something. And he wanted her here, with him. He didn’t want her flying off to Thailand!

‘We’ll see, madam,’ he said determinedly as he stood up. ‘We’ll see. Now, in deference to your morning attack of shyness, I’ll wait for you downstairs. But do try to be quick. Forget the make-up and the hair. Just put it up the way you did the first day we met. Now hop to it,’ he said as he walked briskly towards the door. ‘If you don’t make an appearance in ten minutes, I’ll be coming into that bathroom and eating you for breakfast!’