Читать книгу The Mistresses Collection - Оливия Гейтс - Страница 50
ОглавлениеJames leapt on the phone to stop it screeching. Damn thing. He should have pulled the plug from the wall. ‘Yeah?’ he whispered, glancing at Caitlin’s motionless form.
‘You’re still in town?’
James winced as he heard the reproach in his father’s voice. Hell. Here he was having the time of his life in a no-holds-barred sexual marathon with a virtual stranger instead of going to see his family. How did he explain that? ‘Ah...things got delayed.’
‘Delayed for how long?’
‘I’m not sure. I could be called away any day.’
Caitlin’s head lifted, her blue eyes sardonically skewered him. He put a finger over her lips.
‘Come home, James,’ his father growled. ‘You should see your mother.’
James swallowed. He hated the disappointment he heard. But he deserved to feel bad. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’
Caitlin didn’t take her eyes off him the entire rest of the stilted phone call.
‘I don’t want to go,’ he said belligerently the second he replaced the receiver on the cradle.
‘Why not?’
‘You know, I haven’t asked you for the exact specifics of what happened in London,’ he snapped. ‘We’re allowed some privacy.’
Caitlin immediately withdrew, slipping out of the bed. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said quietly, making a dash for the bathroom. ‘I guess I was concerned. I apologise for overstepping the boundaries.’ But only a pace away the anger hit and she wheeled back to face him. ‘But I’ll just say this, James. I’d love to have a family who cared about me the way yours obviously cares about you,’ she spat. ‘Be grateful for what you have.’
He stared at her, a stunned look on his face—followed by anger, followed by...what?
She didn’t know, but rigidly she stared him out. He looked so stunned—did no one pull him up on his bad behaviour?
He sighed and closed his eyes. A groaning growl emerged from somewhere deep in his gut. ‘You’re right.’
She was.
‘I know you’re right.’ He kept his eyes shut. ‘I’m sorry I snapped. I was feeling guilty. I’ll go see them.’
Would that make him feel less guilty? About what? ‘Great.’
He peeled one eye open and looked at her. ‘You have to come with me.’
‘What?’
The other eye snapped open and he sat up, the vital energy sizzling from him again. ‘It’s the only way I’ll go. You promised me unlimited sex for the time I was back in the country.’
‘Back in New York,’ she clarified.
‘This is still New York,’ he said carelessly. ‘The cottage is in the Hamptons. You don’t come with me, I don’t go.’
She stared at him as if he was loco. Which clearly he was. ‘I can’t just turn up to your family home uninvited.’
‘I’m inviting you.’ He flopped back onto the pillows.
No, that still wasn’t okay. ‘Your family will get the wrong idea.’
He looked amused at her concern. ‘What—would it be so dreadful if they thought you were my girlfriend?’
She clamped her mouth shut for a second. Then breathed. ‘It wouldn’t be honest.’
‘We’re having sex round the clock. It’s not entirely dishonest.’
‘We’re having sexual relations, not a relationship,’ she said crisply, ignoring his laughter. ‘And it’s precisely because of that, that it’s not a good idea if I come.’
‘Your coming is a very good idea. There’s nothing I like more.’
‘Juvenile innuendo aside,’ she said loftily, ‘I don’t believe this is sensible.’
‘You didn’t want sensible. You wanted fun. And I can promise you fun.’
She was diverted by that tone in his voice. The thread of promise. ‘Wicked fun?’
‘So wicked you might not be able to walk.’
She stared at him. The extent to which he turned her on with just a look and a laughing tease was appalling. She didn’t want to have any nights without him. Not when she was having so few as it was. She didn’t want to miss a minute. And besides all that, she was curious. She wanted to know more about him. Wanted to understand why it was he didn’t want to go there without dragging a distraction with him.
He smiled. He knew he’d won. ‘I’ll tell them you’re a friend of George’s staying here—which is true—and that you’re coming to see some more of the US of A. I’ll even get you a separate bedroom. They won’t suspect a thing. I’m very good at sneaking around the house.’
‘I’ll bet,’ she said acidly.
He laughed. ‘We’ll go for a night. Maybe two.’
‘How are we going to get there?’ She frowned, all the practical problems hitting her at once.
He sat up and reached out for her wrist, drawing her back to sit on the bed beside him. ‘Well, I was planning on taking a car. If you can’t cope with coming in a car I’ve paid for, you could try to hitch a ride. Or you could go by train and we’ll pretend we don’t know each other at all...’
She elbowed his ribs. ‘Smarty pants.’
‘If you want to be with me, you’re going to have to put up with my making the travel arrangements. I’m very good at travel arrangements. It’s a family thing.’
‘I still don’t—’
‘Look,’ he growled and pulled her closer, his hands shaping her curves. ‘I want you with me. That’s the only way I’ll go. If you want to see me make happy family time with my parents then you just have to suck it up. I’m not paying you for sex. You are under no obligation to do whatever with me even if I pay for your travel arrangements.’
She chuckled and clutched at his shoulders as he rolled above her. ‘You really can’t forgive yourself for that mistake, can you?’
* * *
Three—lazy tourist fun but PDA banned—days later Caitlin put on the seat belt in the front passenger seat of a sleek Porsche convertible. The drive wasn’t nearly long enough for her to master her stupid nerves. And why on earth hadn’t he visited them sooner when it was less than a couple of hours’ drive?
‘I thought you said this was a cottage?’ Caitlin wheezed as they turned the corner and the house came into view. It wasn’t like the kind of cottages they had back in England. This was a three-storeyed wooden mansion with separate accommodation wings, a car-turning bay, expansive lawns and formal gardens. And that was only what she could see from the roadside entrance. Heaven only knew what incredible features she’d find round the back—beach side.
‘I shouldn’t be with you.’ She twisted towards him as he slowed down on the gravel drive. ‘This is your family...your mother.’ And a place that looked as if it would be featured in an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. This was so out of her league.
‘Don’t worry about it. She doesn’t bite. I, on the other hand, just might have to.’
‘Stop it.’ She elbowed his upper arm.
‘Only if you stop worrying. As I said, I’m telling them you’re George’s special friend.’
But George was there, next to his parents, waiting at the top step to meet them. Along with another guy she didn’t recognise. Both younger men lifted their eyebrows, then their eyes narrowed and swift, sly smiles appeared.
‘Huh,’ James grunted as he killed the engine. ‘It’s a whole damn family reunion.’ He sent Caitlin an apologetic grin. ‘We might have to improvise.’
Caitlin hung back but her awkward feeling was momentarily swamped by curiosity as she watched James walk quickly up to his mother and envelop her in a huge hug. In a second he’d turned back to her to introduce her to his parents and to his other brother, Jack.
Irene, James’ mother, was petite, immaculately presented and had a beautiful, genuine smile.
‘It’s so nice of you to welcome me here. I know it was unexpected,’ Caitlin said, wishing she weren’t blushing.
Or that James was so obviously amused by her blush.
‘It’s a pleasure to have a friend of the boys,’ said Irene.
Caitlin bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself laughing at the woman’s reference to James, George and Jack as ‘the boys’. They were giants next to her.
George winked at her. ‘How’re you finding New York?’
‘Amazing. Thank you so much.’ She smiled at him.
He nodded easily. ‘When I left London Hannah had disappeared off the scene—buried in her manuscript research. I’ve never met a more “method” actress.’
Yeah, Hannah preferred to live her characters’ lives. ‘She gets very absorbed in her work,’ Caitlin said, refusing to let anything other than pride and enthusiasm sound in her answer. She was aware of James’ eyes on her as she answered. The disapproval she sensed from him about her lack of relationship with her sister was nothing short of ironic.
‘Your sister’s an actress?’ Irene asked with a bright smile. ‘You didn’t want to act too?’
‘I did do some acting work for a while,’ Caitlin fudged. ‘But I really don’t have the talent or the drive. I’m happier backstage.’
‘Oh? What do you do?’
Caitlin fixed a smile to her face and answered the kindly meant questions, all the while thinking of the dynamics. The polite welcome mat was fully unrolled for her, but there was no hiding the absolute joy in Irene’s eyes as she’d watched James walk up to her. No hiding the way she’d hugged him as if it had been forever since she’d been able to.
Just how long had it been? And why? Was it really only work that kept James from coming home more often?
‘I didn’t know you were still here,’ James said quietly to his twin as he watched Caitlin walk into the house with his mother. Jack had already gone ahead with his father, talking business no doubt.
‘I didn’t know you were bringing Caitlin,’ George replied.
‘She seemed lonely,’ James said blandly. ‘I thought she might enjoy a change of scene.’
‘Nice to see you being social.’ George’s brows knitted together. ‘How are the two of you rubbing along in the condo if most of the rooms are out of action?’
‘We figured it out.’ At George’s sly smile, James rolled his eyes. ‘You know how capable we are of bunking down when necessary.’
‘When necessary.’
There was no fooling his twin. Not in many things.
‘You haven’t been here in a while,’ George added.
‘Mmm,’ James mumbled a non-answer. ‘How’re you getting on in London?’
‘Nearly done. I’ll be glad to get home.’
‘You’re not enjoying that party lifestyle you appear to be living?’
George chuckled. ‘I’m jaded, brother. All the pretty women blur together after a while.’ He sent him a glance. ‘Whereas I assume you’re still doing the celibate monk thing?’
‘Hard to find playmates the places I go to.’
‘But you’re in New York for a few nights now, right? Easy pickings.’ George’s gaze wandered to Caitlin again. ‘Hard when you’ve got a roommate cramping your style though I guess.’
‘Guess so.’
‘But then she’s a very pretty roommate.’
James wasn’t biting. He refused to bite.
‘I’ve always thought she was the prettier of the two,’ George added.
‘You of all people should know it’s not nice to compare. Especially siblings.’
George laughed. ‘Good deflection, but don’t think I don’t have eyes.’
James tensed. ‘Look all you want.’
‘But don’t touch?’
James turned to face his brother head on. George wasn’t the right guy for Caitlin. Then again, nor was James. ‘Don’t,’ he said softly. ‘Don’t say anything, don’t do anything...just leave her.’ Leave her to me.
George mock-punched his shoulder. ‘I’m your brother. Sometimes it seems like you forget that.’
James looked into the eyes almost as dark as his own. ‘I never forget.’
‘Then don’t be such a stranger.’
* * *
Caitlin luxuriated in the shower, washing off the travel in the massive en suite. In fact the whole house was massive. The beachfront mansion had a small movie theatre, a bar, a spa and pool that overlooked their own private stretch of beach. It was unbelievably beautiful. But it wasn’t all perfect show home. It was warm, with pictures of the family all around, and as she’d been given the tour by his mother Caitlin couldn’t help but wonder why on earth James didn’t want to be here.
She’d requested some time to take a shower before dinner, deliberately giving James some space to have time alone with his family. At the knock on her door, she wondered if she’d taken too long. But it was him—telling her that dinner would be in another half-hour.
‘What have you been doing?’ She stared at him. He was covered with a sheen of sweat and had that edgy gleam in his eye.
‘Playing tennis,’ he answered briefly, pacing away from her already. ‘Half an hour ’til dinner, okay?’
She watched him walk down the hall, all popping muscles and curled-up fingers. What was with the hard-out tennis tournament within ten minutes of arriving? Wasn’t this a place to relax and catch up with his family? But he seemed to be as restless as he’d been in those first couple of days in New York—until he’d calmed down a touch and managed to actually sit still for a few minutes at a time. Then again, maybe that was how he and his brothers bonded? With their own mini-Olympics.
But if that was the case, why did he still look bothered?
‘We eat outside in summer, Caitlin.’ James’ mum smiled at her when she arrived in the lounge. ‘You don’t mind?’
James knew Caitlin wasn’t going to mind. The wooden deck overlooked the pool and the beach—an unlimited view to the horizon. And Caitlin did like a nice view.
At dinner James focused on his food, but his appetite had taken a hike hours ago—the second he’d pulled into the driveway. He regretted coming here already. He felt Caitlin glance at him, knew she noticed his silence. But he wasn’t the only quiet one: Jack was abnormally preoccupied tonight. James had seen him sneaking way too many looks at his mobile phone even for a workaholic like Jack. Something was on—the business, most likely.
‘This is your first time to New York?’ James’ dad asked Caitlin.
James glanced at her as she admitted it was.
‘What’s been your favourite thing so far?’
‘Oh, now that’s impossible, I’ve seen so many amazing things,’ she answered diplomatically. ‘James has been an amazing tour guide.’
‘James has?’ his mum asked.
Inwardly he winced as he saw the stunned expressions in his parents’ eyes. Even Jack looked up from his phone and sent him a sideways glance.
‘Um...yeah.’ Caitlin picked up on the prickle in the atmosphere and sent him a beseeching look. An apology? Uh huh. Too late she’d remembered he hadn’t wanted to come home. That he’d told his family he was busy. She didn’t yet know why he was so reluctant to be here, yet she was still sorry she’d dropped him in it.
He forced a grin, wanting to let her know it didn’t matter. He didn’t want her to feel awkward. ‘I couldn’t leave her alone to face the streets of New York,’ he explained with a lazy shrug. ‘Had to lead her through it. Wolves make the best guides, right?’
‘That they do.’ George chuckled.
‘How nice.’
With a sinking heart James saw the interest and amazement in his mother’s widened eyes. Oh, hell—what was she thinking now? That he was about to settle?
Never gonna happen, Mum. Sorry.
Damn. He listened as his mother pumped Caitlin for details on where he’d taken her in Manhattan. He knew he shouldn’t have come back for this visit. And he should never have brought Caitlin. He was only ever going to disappoint them.
All of them.
He glanced over the table, willing the meal to be over so he could escape. Part of him just wanted to haul Caitlin off to his room. He ached to be near to her again. Touch her. Hear her laughter. It made him feel good when he made her laugh.
But it wasn’t fair of him to use her as his distraction. It wasn’t fair of him to avoid talking about anything other than work or safe travel topics with his family.
He knew he needed to try harder, but all he really wanted to do was run. He didn’t know that he was ever going to be able to stare down the ghosts and memories that haunted him here, when he was with his family. When he was at work, it was easy. He loved to work.
Caitlin smiled her way through the amazing food and wine in the relaxed, stunning setting. His parents kept conversation flowing and were polite enough to explain and include her in on the little family jokes that peppered the conversation. The topic turned to adventures further abroad. She figured it was inevitable given they published travel guides. Jack was the current head of the family company—and a serious globetrotter. George, a venture capitalist, travelled widely looking at different projects to pump his money into. And then James travelled a different kind of route—to disaster-hit cities and remote villages. Two out of the three brothers, and their parents, entertained her by regaling her with their worst travel exploits.
She was conscious of James’ silence, of him watching her too closely. His gaze wandered a little too far south of her face every so often. He really shouldn’t send her those smouldering looks when she was talking to his parents. She glared pointedly back at him but only got a wicked smile in return.
And she couldn’t help feeling that they were all playing it ‘safe’ somehow. Especially James. She had the feeling she was his shield. That her presence kept the conversation perfectly light. More than ever she wondered what the leashed undercurrent within him was all about.
‘I can’t wait to get you alone,’ he muttered as she helped him carry dishes inside after the meal. ‘You owe me, you know.’
Yeah but she had to be polite first. And so did he.
Back on the deck, as the setting sun splashed the sky in red and gold, she studied him and his brothers. Jack was wholly different from the twins—not quite as tall, but more solidly built and with blue eyes that pierced in a slightly unnerving way. She wasn’t sorry he was apparently welded to his mobile phone. Now she knew James so well she saw the scar was nothing on the real differences between him and George. James’ lips curved as he saw her looking from him to George and back again. His eyebrow flickered.
‘Did you use to trick people when you were younger?’ she asked.
‘The people closest to us always knew. But we liked to try it on with new teachers.’
‘Girls?’
‘Never. We’ve always had different tastes when it comes to women. Well,’ he corrected as George wandered closer, ‘George just has gluttonous tastes, while I’m more discerning.’
George lifted his shoulders negligently. ‘I see no reason to put limitations on myself. I love to love women. Lots of women.’
Caitlin chuckled.
‘Don’t encourage him,’ James said drily. ‘He’ll only start to flirt.’
‘What do you mean start?’ George asked. ‘I’ve been working on it all evening.’
‘Flirt away,’ Caitlin laughed. ‘You’ll get nowhere.’
‘You’ve not decided to become a nun?’ George asked, appalled.
‘Hard as this may be to believe, I’m simply not interested.’
George blinked. ‘Impossible.’
‘Give it up, brother,’ James roasted him. ‘You have to face the fact that your usual technique has failed.’
‘What’s his usual technique?’ Caitlin asked.
‘Superficial.’ James smiled, basically baring his teeth.
‘Cruel, James,’ George jibed.
‘But accurate.’
‘Come out with me, Caitlin,’ Jack interrupted. ‘There’s no contest as to who’s the most fun...’
‘You guys have always been this competitive?’ Caitlin asked.
‘Ignore them, Caitlin,’ Irene said calmly. ‘They’re fools. And no, Jack, you’re not going out. This is the first night you’ve both been home in ages. You’re to stay right where I can see you.’
‘All right.’ George winked at his mother, then turned back to eye Caitlin. ‘I’ll have to prove my superiority with the Scrabble board.’
‘Scrabble?’ Caitlin choked. Wow, they really were into the happy family scene here.
‘Hell no,’ James groaned. ‘Not Scrabble.’
‘You don’t think you can handle it?’ George teased.
‘I’m actually quite good at Scrabble,’ Caitlin said smugly. ‘I’m pretty tough to beat.’
‘You’re up for Scrabble?’ James stared at her.
‘Absolutely.’ She could see what he wanted but she was not diving away for an early night. It would be obvious to everyone what was going on.
She caught the glint in his eye as he replied, ‘All right then, Scrabble it is. Jack, you in?’
‘No.’ Jack shook his head. ‘I’m in the pool.’
Caitlin glanced at Jack for a moment as he cast off his shirt, dived into the pool in his boardshorts and proceeded to swim length after length. Yeah, they were a bunch of competitive sports types. Well, she couldn’t compete with either the tennis or the swimming, but with Scrabble? She had half a chance. She pulled her chair closer to the table as James and George set out the board and pieces.
She’d endured hours of Scrabble as a young teen, it had been the on-set tutor’s way of trying to beat the boredom of waiting for scenes. Caitlin hadn’t exactly loved it, but now she took the game on fiercely. She planned on beating these boys. And twenty minutes later she was doing exactly that—just. She and James had leapt ahead of George who, it was fair to say, didn’t seem to have his heart in it.
‘There was me thinking you were all about sequins.’ James frowned as she put down an eighty-seven point word by using a triple points square.
‘I’m all about designing patterns,’ she said primly. ‘Oh, look at that,’ Caitlin murmured, putting down another set of winning point letters.
George threw his hands in the air. ‘I retire. You’re too good for me. Couple of geeks,’ he muttered under his breath.
James laughed. ‘Jealous brother. You never could cope with me winning.’
‘You haven’t won yet,’ Caitlin pointed out calmly, putting her last piece, an ‘a’, above another ‘a’ already on the board.
He stared at it. ‘There’s no such word as “aa”. Acronyms aren’t allowed in our version of the game.’ He grinned gleefully.
‘Actually “aa” is a form of solidified lava,’ she said. ‘Feel free to look it up if you need to, but I think you’ll find I’m right. And that I’ve just won by a point.’
‘Solidified lava, huh?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’
‘That’s right.’ She tilted her chin. ‘If you’re up for it, you can always challenge me to a rematch.’
James’ eyes narrowed. ‘All right. But it has to be speed Scrabble.’
Thirty minutes later she chuckled. ‘Did you want to try for best of three?’
‘No, thanks. I concede the Scrabble crown to you.’
‘And now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I might retire.’ Caitlin smiled, somewhat embarrassed.
She looked over at James’ parents happily relaxing with all their sons home. Even if one of their sons hadn’t been remotely relaxed.
She really shouldn’t be intruding on this. Yet they’d made her welcome. She’d just been Caitlin again—with no cloud of doom hanging about her. Fitting in had been fun.
‘Thanks so much for having me to stay,’ she said. And meant it.
Ten minutes later there was a knock on her door and he slipped straight inside.
‘What was with the delay?’ he growled, pulling her close and spinning her to push her against the door. ‘We could be on our third round by now.’
‘I needed to flash my Scrabble skills.’
‘Flash me some other things,’ he muttered, his hands sliding over her dress. ‘Fast.’
She laughed. ‘But I won.’
‘And I’m your prize.’ He bent his head. ‘I need to be in you. Now.’
His impatience was an incredible turn on. But there was something more that drew her to please him—that hint of raw.
‘I never knew Scrabble could be foreplay,’ she mused, teasing him as she began to unbutton his shirt.
‘I’ve been waiting so long.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘I need this.’
Why? When they’d just had a perfectly pleasant night. But he kissed her before she could ask.
Sex. She reminded herself as she leaned into his kiss. It was just sex for him. It wasn’t her he’d been waiting for. But the ecstasy, the physical release.
‘You’ve been laughing all night,’ he said, pressing kisses across her jaw line. ‘Your laugh turns me on. I want to capture it. Capture you.’
‘You have me,’ she breathed, confessing the truth in a tease. ‘Any way you want me.’
‘Every way.’
Passion filled her. She needed to kiss him, touch him everywhere. Feel him. The thrill of being near him had never lessened. Chemistry was an incredible thing. She laughed now with the delight of it. Quickly he cupped his palm over her mouth. Hard.
Oh. Wicked excitement flamed inside her.
He smiled at her widened eyes. ‘Can’t have your sexy screams keeping everyone awake,’ he whispered.
She twisted her head, lifting her mouth free of his muzzle. ‘I don’t scream.’
‘Yeah, you do,’ he taunted with a wicked smile. ‘But first you sigh, then you pant. The panting gets quicker and louder. Then you scream.’
‘I’m that predictable?’ she asked, already breathless.
‘Pretty much.’
‘Keep your hands off my mouth,’ she ordered in defiance. ‘Your lips off mine. I can be quiet.’
‘Can you now?’ he dared.
Oh, hell, she wanted him so badly. ‘You won’t hear a peep. Promise.’
‘But what if I were to do this to you?’
She jumped. Just slamming her lips together in time to stifle the yelp as he cupped her sex with an invasive hand, his thumb working in circles around her already swollen, pulsing clitoris.
His smile widened and he stepped in closer, bracing his other hand on the wall beside her head. ‘You’re really going to stay silent?’
Slowly she nodded, knowing they were in a game now. The thing about James was that he liked a challenge. Well, so did she.
‘You think you’re so tough,’ he said softly. ‘A tough nut to crack.’ His mouth curved again and he leaned close to nip her lips. ‘Like a macadamia. Delicious. But so hard to break into.’
‘I’m not a nut,’ she whispered furiously.
He chuckled loudly.
‘If you don’t want people to hear us, then you need to whisper,’ she hissed.
Suddenly he moved, bending to pick her up. In three strides he deposited her on the bed. Coming down hard on top of her. She gritted her teeth to hold back her groan of delight. She loved taking his weight.
But then he lifted away and started to torment her. His hands feathered over her skin in horrendously slow, delicious strokes. He carefully lifted her dress, exposing her to him inch by inch. Touching, tasting every part of her as he revealed it. He slipped the dress from her shoulders. Pressed kisses along the edge of her bra as he worked to unclasp it. Then he went to work on removing her knickers.
Slowly, teasing. Sending her insane.
She reached for the pillow, bit down on the corner of it, clenching down on the torture. So close to coming. But she couldn’t squeal.
‘That’s cheating,’ he reproved, pulling the pillow out from her teeth.
Her jaw snapped. She breathed hard. ‘Bastard.’
‘Insulting my mother when you’re in her home?’ he chuckled. ‘Bad girl.’
‘And you’re the bad boy for sneaking around to have sex with one of the guests on the sly?’
‘You were the one who wanted this to be clandestine.’ He gazed down her body as he slid his fingers along her slick sex. ‘So let’s have a silent orgasm then.’
He bent and added his mouth, his tongue to where his fingers already played. His mouth was hot and wet and wicked. His tongue skilled, his fingers fast.
Her lips parted, her head thrust back. He licked her again and again. He reached one hand up to her breast, strumming her nipple. The other hand working between her legs moved faster. One finger, two, three. He filled her while sucking and licking and kissing. Until she was rocking her hips like an animal, wildly running her hands through his hair.
She drew a deep, burning breath. Held it. Releasing it harshly as the sensations tumbled through her. Roughened breathing was not screaming. She’d done it.
‘Not bad,’ he said matter of factly, as if he were judging a cake contest. ‘But I like it most when you’ve completely lost control.’
He stood from the bed, roughly removing his clothes as quickly as possible, rolling on a condom he’d pulled from his trouser pocket. And then he pinned her.
His hands gripped hers, pushing them to the mattress, his full weight on her body. His legs pushed hers wider apart as he plunged to the hilt.
She clamped her mouth shut, barely able to hold back the moan. He kissed down her neck, across the vulnerable skin over her throat.
‘I can feel the vibrations of your silent sighs,’ he teased.
He shifted position so his pelvic bone ground harder against hers, creating intense friction. Sensations hammered her as he made use of her. She was his to do with as he wished. Whatever he wished so long as it was like this. He was so strong, his sensuality so powerful. Her head thrashed side to side as she tried to hold back. But he escalated his onslaught, surging forward, thrusting fierce and fast.
‘You like it when I’m inside you,’ he commented hoarsely.
She’d never felt anything so good in her life.
‘James,’ she panted desperately. ‘I’m going to scream.’
He slammed his mouth over hers, muffling the high, keening noise as she came. And in return, she thirstily swallowed his uncontrolled, animal growls.
* * *
James was late to breakfast. He’d peeled himself away from Caitlin’s side early in the morning and gone for a long run. Now they were all there at the table—Caitlin as well, looking like butter wouldn’t melt. He couldn’t help but give her a quick grin. But then he glanced at the food laid out on the table. His post-run warmth chilled instantly. He picked up one of the small, golden breads and glanced at the other pastries. He knew them so well. Could even taste them already.
‘These are Aimee’s?’ he forced himself to ask, hoping his voice didn’t sound as husky to everyone else as it did to him.
The conversation stopped. Even Jack tore his gaze from his phone.
‘Yes,’ his mother answered quietly.
‘How is she?’ James carefully put down the brioche.
‘She’s well. The bakery is doing brilliantly. Your father picked these up from there first thing. She’s away at the moment though—Malibu.’
So he wouldn’t have to see her—face her this trip. But that didn’t change anything. And he didn’t want this conversation. He didn’t take a seat. ‘I just need to go and—’
He didn’t bother trying to think of a reason. He was out of the room already. He’d be able to breathe again in a bit.
* * *
Caitlin sat at the table, unsure of what to do or say.
‘I knew that was a bad way to go about it.’ James’ mother sighed and left the room through another door—his father following closely.
Caitlin chewed on her one bit of brioche for a really long time. Go about what? Who was Aimee? Why had the mention of her name sent James into such an obvious lockdown—and spiked the tension in the family? Jack was back staring at his phone, only George was apparently still in ‘good host’ role—giving her a quick smile and offering her the plate of pastries and starting up a conversation on a completely unrelated topic. He was so damn determinedly cheerful and polite and easy-going that Caitlin knew it was all defence. She’d get nothing out of George. He was loyal.
‘I’m going for a run.’ George finally wrapped up his chat effort five minutes later. ‘Why don’t you check out the pool?’
‘That sounds a great idea. Thanks.’ She smiled at him gratefully.
She walked out onto the deck, thinking she’d check the pool temperature before committing herself. She paused. James was in there, furiously pulling through length after length after length as if he had Jaws on his tail. She walked over to dip in a toe, then bent to sit on the edge, letting her feet dangle in the cool water.
She knew he’d seen her. But he did another three lengths before coming over. Caitlin reached into her pocket and pulled out the small block she had in there. ‘You want some?’ She waved it in front of him.
‘My chocolate?’ He wiped the streaming water from his face. ‘Give.’
Caitlin shook her head and tried not to ogle his gleaming body. ‘Mine. I always keep some on me. It’s a great travel tip I learned from this guy once.’
He grinned appreciatively and opened his mouth for her to put the piece in, keeping his wet hands away.
‘You haven’t had breakfast,’ she said. ‘And you’ve almost done like a triathlon or something this morning.’
He said nothing, just opened his mouth for another piece. She fed an extra large chunk to him.
‘You can’t relax here?’ she asked. How the hell could he not relax?
‘I like to stay fit.’ He chomped and swallowed.
That wasn’t all it was and she wasn’t afraid to ask. Much. ‘So who’s Aimee?’ She tried to ask as nonchalantly as possible. ‘An ex-girlfriend or something?’
‘What?’ He looked utterly startled. ‘No.’ He shook his head, a slight grin appearing for an even slighter second. ‘She was our housekeeper for years.’
‘Oh.’ Caitlin frowned. She was so missing something huge. Why would James get so awkward at the mention of their old housekeeper?
He stood waist deep in the water, watching her. A low, reluctant chuckle left his lips. ‘I can see you clamping down on all those questions.’
She shrugged, making light of it. ‘You don’t want to talk? I’m not going to make you.’
He reached out and took the last of the chocolate from her fingers. He devoured the last bit in a gulp; she could see the small sustenance having an effect already. His smile was almost back. ‘Thanks,’ he said.
Thanks for the chocolate, or for not pushing him? She guessed both.
Of course now her curiosity burned brighter still.
* * *
James spent most of the morning deflecting conversation by engaging both Jack and George in another tennis round. Caitlin hadn’t asked more about Aimee or what the connection was with him and his family, but it felt as if she’d withdrawn. She hardly looked at him. Logically he knew it was because she was too busy smiling and charming his family, not because she was bothered about him shutting her out. But even so, prickles pushed under his skin.
He whacked the ball hard and aced Jack. Was he shutting her out? He knew he was shutting his family out. He always had over this. There was nothing anyone could say to make it better or ease his guilt. Not even Aimee could say anything. And she’d tried to in the past—told him it wasn’t his fault. That accidents happened. That people made their own choices. None of that made him feel any better. But he damn well refused to dwell and mope and stew. He stayed busy for very good reasons.
He didn’t have to tell Caitlin. Didn’t have to tell anyone. He’d acknowledged his actions, accepted the ramifications. The responsibility. And he’d moved forward with his life—on a far better course than he’d been before. He couldn’t change the past, couldn’t forget it, but it was better to make a difference and move forward.
But ironically, Caitlin not asking made him want to tell her. He wanted her to understand. He knew that she, of all people, wouldn’t tell, certainly wouldn’t judge. His lips twisted. Because she already knew he wasn’t perfect, right? From the moment she’d met him, she’d had his number.
He was a fake.
