“I saw you earlier,” he said. “In the restaurant.”
“I saw you, too,” she admitted. “You're a pilot, aren't you?”
He nodded. “I never thought I'd see you again.”
It was an odd thing to say. She studied him as he gripped the armrest of his chair. His body vibrated with tension, as if he were a large predatory cat about to spring at any moment. He possessed the beauty of a masterpiece carved in marble, perfect in every way. Even in casual clothes, he carried himself with the authority of a man accustomed to wearing a uniform. A man accustomed to being in command.
What would he be like in the bedroom? She imagined he might be a little rough with women. Perhaps more than a little rough. Her nipples hardened, not only with the cold, but with the fantasy which teased her thoughts.
She crossed her arms over her chest as she fought the urge to run her hands across the soft fabric which covered his well-muscled chest. She squirmed in her chair with the intensity of her arousal.
“It's really cold out here.” Larissa felt as awkward and clumsy as a teenage girl suffering through her first crush. Suffering was the perfect word to describe it.
Was this what love at first sight felt like? Or was this simply a case of infatuation so intense it was almost toxic? Whatever it was, she could barely stand the sensations which flooded her body. Lust rolled over her in waves so powerful they threatened to sweep her away.
Across the street, Hyde Park slumbered under a layer of snow, its trees weighed down with icicles which hung from branches like early Christmas decorations.
“I came back to the restaurant to find you.” His gaze held hers. “But you'd already gone.”
Her eyes widened. “Why would you do that?”
“I had to see you again.” His eyes glittered under the faint light from stars and street lamps. “I wanted to know who you were.”
She remembered the sight of him kissing the three redheads. “Do you often meet women in restaurants?”
“No,” he said. “I don't often meet women period.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
He smiled. “It's the truth.”
Her eyes scanned his face for any hint of subterfuge, but his words rang true. Yet, there had been those women.
“Are you here on a layover?” She already knew more about him than she wanted to reveal.
“Our Flight 75 to New York was canceled because of the weather.”
“I'm on that flight tomorrow.”
“I know.”
She laughed. “Are you stalking me or something?”
Sean lowered his gaze and seemed embarrassed by her question. “I guess I am.”
“I like that.”
“What? Me stalking you?”
She smiled. “No, your honesty.”
“In that case, let me be even more honest with you.” His startling emerald eyes held hers. “I think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I'm sure you hear that all the time, and I wish I had something more original to say.”
She remained silent as she tried to think of a response.
“I'd like to get to know you.” He looked away from her as he ran his hands though his hair. “This is really hard. No matter how I say it, I sound like some sort of lovesick fan, don't I?”
He probably had women falling over themselves to date him, and Larissa knew she was the one who felt like a lovesick groupie.
“I'd like to get to know you as well,” she said simply.
His smile was so heartbreakingly gorgeous, she couldn't help but smile back as her heart somersaulted in her chest.
“Well then, in the interest of getting to know you, I should probably ask the big question. Are you married?”
“Not anymore. My husband passed away two years ago.”
“I'm sorry,” he said quietly. “My wife died a year ago.”
They sat in silence, a companionable meeting of the minds as each of them carried the burden of their own thoughts.
“Does it ever get any easier?” he said suddenly.
“You never forget them.” Larissa wondered how long it had been since she had spoken of Claude to anyone. “They live in your heart and always will, but time dulls the pain, except on anniversaries.”
“What did your husband die of?”
“Leukemia.”
He nodded. “Amanda was killed by a drunk driver. I was over the Atlantic when it happened, flying back from New York. You know, it's funny, but at the moment she died I think I sensed it. I felt a deep sadness as I looked out at the black night sky with no stars to guide the way. I wondered why the night suddenly felt cold and barren. When I arrived in London, I learned she was dead.”
“I'm so sorry.” Larissa felt tears gather at the back of her eyes. “I was there with Claude when he died. That was the only blessing I had. Afterwards, I longed for someone to blame for taking him away from me, but it's impossible to hate a disease because it isn't real. Do you know what I mean?”
“Yes.”
She sensed he wasn't just agreeing with her, but understood what she was struggling to put into words.
“Did you hate the person who killed your wife?” Larissa wondered why she was prying into his personal affairs. Her only excuse was she wanted and needed to learn everything about him.
“I wanted to hate the man who destroyed her, but he died instantly from his injuries.” He shook his head. “Like you, I had no one to hate.”
“It's been so long since I've talked to anyone who understands the way I feel.” She rubbed her hands together as she struggled to keep warm.
Despite the cold, she didn't want to go back inside the hotel. A superstitious dread gripped her. If they left the secluded balcony and joined the real world again, would circumstances conspire to tear them apart?
How could they be torn apart when they barely knew each other?
Even though they had just met, Larissa experienced a strong connection to Sean Merrick which went far deeper than physical attraction. He might end up becoming her lover; but more importantly, he might become a true friend.
“What does it feel like to fly a plane?” She wanted to know more about his work.
“What does it feel like to act in a movie?” he countered.
“I asked you first.”
He smiled. “Flying is something I've always wanted to do. When you love something that much, it never disappoints you even when you're under pressure or having problems with the equipment.”
She nodded. “It's a gift when you're allowed to work at the thing you love.”
“That's how I've always felt, but I've never heard anyone else describe it the same way.” He held her gaze. “How about you? Is acting the thing that fires you and gives you purpose?”
“After my husband died, acting was all I had left.” She remembered those dark days when she had thrown herself into her work. “It's what I've wanted to do since I was a little girl. I've struggled for years to get to the point where I can actually earn a living doing something I love.”
“I've seen you act. You're very good.”
She shook her head. “I'm no Meryl Streep, but I do the best I can with the parts I'm offered. They keep hiring me, so I guess I'm doing something right.”
Her teeth chattered, and she hoped he didn't notice.
“You're cold,” he said, “I guess we should go in.”
“I guess we should.”
Yet neither of them made a move to leave the balcony.
He finally said, “I know it's late, but would you take a walk with me? Maybe over to Hyde Park.”
She nodded. “I'd love to.”
As they walked into the hotel, Larissa glanced back at the balcony. She couldn't shake the feeling they'd left a magical, protected sanctuary and returned to a harsh landscape fraught with dangers.
What would happen if she simply skipped the trip to New York and stayed here with Sean? They could stay secluded in her hotel room and make love all day. Mayb
e in a month or two, she'd finally let him out of her bed.
She smiled at the impossible fantasy. There was no way she could avoid her commitments. She had signed a contract and must honor it. Sean had his own commitments because he was scheduled to fly the plane tomorrow.
She stood in the doorway to his room while he collected jacket and gloves. The room was small and cozy and she preferred it to her own spacious suite.
When they walked into her suite, Sean looked around the sitting room. “So this is how the other half lives.”
“The production company has money to burn.” She walked into the bedroom and found coat and gloves in the huge walk-in closet.
“I think my room is almost as big as this closet,” he said.
Larissa jumped at the sound of his voice, and turned to find him standing in the doorway. They stared at each other for a long moment before she dropped the coat on the floor. Sean closed the distance between them and then she was in his arms and he was kissing her with a fierce passion she had never experienced from any other man. He pushed her against the wall as his erection pressed against her body. He lifted her arms above her head and pinned them against the wall as he rained kisses down the length of her throat.
Sean was finally in her embrace where she'd wanted him all along. She had longed for this moment as Ian made love to her. Had that only been a few hours ago?
Ian.
Larissa stiffened in his arms. “No, I can't do this.”
She averted her gaze because she couldn't bear to see the disappointment in his eyes, which she knew matched her own.
When she finally looked at him, he stared at her in confusion.
“I'm sorry,” he said, “I didn't mean to pressure you.”
“It's not you.” She tried to explain, tried to put her conflicted feelings into words. “I just can't do this because it's not appropriate. I don't feel right.”
She took a deep breath and tried again. “I just came from another man's bed. I've got to explain to him how things are now.”
“Who is this guy?” Sean's voice was rough with frustration.
“He's a friend. He's been a good friend to me and I won't feel right about seeing someone else until I've had a chance to talk to him and explain.”
“Fair enough,” he growled. “But I've got to tell you, I think I already hate the guy.”
She laughed. “Actually, I think you'd like him.”
He shook his head. “Don't count on that.”
Chapter 12
Ian motioned to the bartender. “I'll have another pint.”
The bartender shook his head. “Sir, I can't serve you anymore.”
“What do you mean?” Ian waved some money at him. Was it a twenty or a fifty? He couldn't seem to bring the bill into focus.
The bartender frowned. “I'm afraid the bar is closed as far as you're concerned.”
Ian stood up from his chair and gripped the table to keep from falling. Leaving the pub, he stumbled into the lobby. The desk clerk watched him with a wary eye.
Perhaps he should go back to bed. He had a beautiful woman waiting for him, didn't he? For the first time in his life, he felt unsure about what to do next. Not just about whether he should go back to his room or not, but what he should do about these new and overwhelming feelings which had taken possession of him.
He had come downstairs for some fresh air, but hadn't made it any farther than the hotel pub. Now he decided to take the walk he had postponed earlier.
As he weaved his way across the street to Hyde Park, Ian thought about the women in his past. He'd never let any woman get close enough to hurt him. Not since the cute little heartbreaker he'd met in acting school. He'd loved her with everything he had to offer, and she'd repaid him by trouncing on his heart for her own amusement.
He let out a cynical laugh, realizing he should be grateful to her because she taught him a valuable lesson. Now he bailed out before things got too serious with any woman.
For some reason, it hadn't worked this time. There was something about Larissa which kept him from letting her go.
The fact she was such a sweet person in a business filled with sharks was a refreshing change. The fact it had taken him so long to catch her interest made her unique among the women he had bedded. He never chased a woman for more than a few weeks before moving on to the next one. There was always another luscious female on the horizon. The celebrity world he inhabited was full of beautiful women, and he'd never lacked female companionship.
Ian braced himself as he breathed in the frigid, sobering air. Where was his coat? Had he even brought one from his room? Then he remembered he'd left it sitting on a chair in the pub.
His brain hurt as he tried to sort through his feelings. Caring about someone was a recipe for disaster. There was the possibility of getting your heart shattered into a million pieces. There was also loss of freedom, boredom, and monotony to consider. Is that what he really wanted?
After walking some distance into the park, Ian sat on a bench and stared at a pond whose surface was frozen solid with ice. It reminded him of childhood when he had skated across the pond at his grandparents' farm. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander to a simpler time. It was easier than sorting through his tangled emotions.
* * * *
Sean held her hand as they walked through the park, and Larissa imagined they were the last two people left on earth. Or perhaps they were no longer on earth at all, but transported to another galaxy where there was no automobile traffic or human voices to intrude on the silence of nature.
She picked up a handful of snow and tasted it with the tip of her tongue. Then she began to mold it into the shape of a ball.
“Don't even think about it,” he warned.
A moment later she threw the snowball at him. He ducked and it flew past his head.
“You asked for it!” He packed snow in his fist and then threw it at her. It landed squarely on the bridge of her nose.
“Ow!” she cried.
He rushed to her side. “I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hit you; I was trying to throw wide.” He flashed her a grin. “So much for my aim.”
“Yes, so much for your aim.” She took a handful of snow and rubbed it all over his face. Then she took off running.
Sean laughed. “Just wait till I catch you, young lady!”
Larissa giggled as she heard him closing the gap between them.
Within seconds, he caught her and swept her into his arms. Then they both fell backwards in the snow. He kissed her passionately and she was suddenly warm again, when only a moment before she had felt half frozen.
“Now that you've caught me, what are you going to do with me?” she teased.
His eyes darkened with desire. “You don't know what I'd like to do to you.”
“Maybe I have some idea.”
He nibbled on her earlobe. “If I told you, it would shock your ladylike ears.”
Her entire body shivered at his touch. “You're giving me goosebumps on top of goosebumps, and it's too cold for that.”
“Then let me warm you up.”
“You need to catch me first.” She was on her feet running down the path which led toward a clearing in the trees.
She came to a stop when she saw the pristine frozen pond in the distance. The ice on its surface appeared almost blue under the rays of a dull moon. It looked enchanted. That was the only word she could think of to describe it.
Sean stood next to her. “It's beautiful, isn't it?”
Almost as beautiful as you are. She voiced the thought in her mind, but didn't speak it.
What was she doing? An icy finger stroked her spine and she was suddenly terrified, as if she were about to walk off a cliff and plunge into a deep abyss. Her heart could be broken so easily, so why was she placing it in harm's way? She was rushing headlong into this relationship, and everything was happening too fast.
“What's wrong?” His voice sounded agitated as his gaze held hers.
> “I don't—”
Then she saw the man asleep on the bench in front of the pond.
“Look at that poor man,” she said. “He's going to freeze to death.”
She dug around in her pocket for some money so the vagrant could buy himself a warm drink. He looked so pathetic as he lay there passed out on that hard, wooden bench. He rolled onto his side and the moonlight caught his face.
“Oh no!” she cried.
“Larissa, wait!” Sean called to her, but she was already running down the hill toward the pond.
“Ian, wake up!” Larissa touched his shoulder, but he didn't stir. She shook him until he finally opened one eye and looked at her.
“Hello beautiful, what are you doing here?” His words were slurred as if he'd had a good deal to drink.
“What am I doing here? What are you doing here?” she demanded. “Don't you know you could freeze to death? You don't even have a coat!”
He struggled to a sitting position and looked around in confusion.
She turned to Sean. “We need to get him back to the hotel.”
“A friend of yours?” His words were casual, but there was an unmistakable core of steel in his voice.
“I left you in my bed,” Ian said softly. “Did you come looking for me?”
The air around her suddenly vibrated with tension.
Sean narrowed his gaze. Ian, for his part, finally noticed she wasn't alone.
“And who might this be?” He gave a mocking laugh. “Oh, let me guess.”
Ian tried to stand, but his legs were unsteady. She rushed to support him so he wouldn't fall backwards. After a moment she allowed him to stand on his own. His body swayed, but he managed to keep his balance.
Sean's frown deepened. Finally, he held out a hand. “The name is Sean Merrick.”
Ian ignored his extended hand. “I don't believe that's your name. Prince Charming is what we call you. Isn't that right, Larissa?”
Anger flashed in Sean's eyes, and she knew the effort it was costing him to control his temper.
“Ian.” Her voice held a warning.
He ignored her. “I'm Ian Renard, by the way. Not that my name matters since Larissa forgot it the moment she saw you in that restaurant.”
Hostages of Love (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 6
