An All-Consuming Passion

by Anne Mather

  ‘It’s true.’

  ‘It’s not true,’ he retorted savagely, moving closer, so that Holly was able to feel him against her hip. Capturing her hand, he pulled it down between them, letting her experience the stirring length of him against her palm. ‘That,’ he said, somewhat thickly, ‘that is what you do to me. I never intended to compound my sins, but this is something I’ve got to do. You’re not frigid, my love, you’re quite the opposite. And now, just to set the record straight, I’m going to prove it.’

  ‘But, didn’t you——?’

  ‘A few minutes ago? Yes, I did,’ said Morgan, his voice a mixture of humour, compassion, and self-derision. ‘But I want you again. That’s how unresponsive you are! Only this time, it will be different. I promise you that.’

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  AND it was different. With infinite tenderness and innate skill, Morgan used his mouth and tongue to bring her confused senses back to vibrant life, and this time, when he penetrated the tightly knit muscles that opened for him, there was no pain, only intense satisfaction.

  But even that was nothing compared to what came after. With her head flung back and her legs curled tightly about him, she felt her breathing quicken as Morgan thrust urgently against her. He plunged his body into hers in an ever-increasing rhythm, and she found herself meeting his demands with an urgency of her own.

  It couldn’t go on, she thought incoherently, as he drove her towards an unimagined culmination, but the incredible happened, and it did. And then, just when she felt as if her body could not absorb any more pleasure, she was swung out into space, detached, suspended, caught in a hectic swirl of ecstasy that seemed the nearest thing to spiritual—and physical—gratification she could imagine. Her breath escaped in little gasps, as she gulped frantically for air, and only as she floated back to earth did she realise her nails were digging into Morgan’s shoulders. Morgan himself had reached a similar peak only seconds behind her. She had felt his shuddering climax as he spilled himself inside her, and she had known an overwhelming sense of tenderness for the beauty he had shown her.

  Holly moved now, but it was only to nestle closer to him, and her whispered, ‘I never knew,’ was breathed against his damp skin.

  It was when her fingers slid possessively over his shoulders that they came away smeared with blood, and she caught her breath. ‘I’ve hurt you,’ she exclaimed, half afraid of what she had done, and Morgan’s eyes flickered as he gave her a half ironic smile.

  ‘I’ll survive,’ he told her flatly, but then, as if realising how closely she was still coiled against his body, he shifted abruptly and pushed himself up, threading long fingers through the tumbled darkness of his hair.

  Her involuntary protest fell on deaf ears as he got off the couch, and his words when he spoke were cold and dispassionate. ‘I believe we’ve exploded the myth of your frigidity anyway,’ he remarked, pulling on the trousers he had discarded earlier. ‘Only I need a drink. It’s not every day I can be accused of seducing a virgin!’

  Holly made a sound of denial and scrambled up, too. ‘You didn’t seduce me,’ she protested, drawing up her knees and encircling them with her arms. ‘I—I seduced you. Or at least—I tried to.’

  Morgan grimaced. ‘Who would believe that?’ he demanded, zipping up his trousers. ‘Not your father, that’s for sure.’ His face darkened ominously. ‘Okay, Holly, you’ve got me over a barrel. What is it you want from me? Revenge—or an affair?’

  Holly quivered. ‘Don’t talk like that!’

  ‘Why not?’ Morgan was bitter. ‘There’s not much I can do to stop you, is there?’

  Holly gasped. ‘You could say you loved me,’ she declared tremulously. ‘I love you. I think I always have.’

  Morgan uttered an oath. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about!’

  ‘I do!’ Realising the limitations of her present situation, Holly hurried awkwardly into her shirt and the tight leather skirt that matched her jacket. She didn’t bother with the bra. Her idea was to simply cover herself in the shortest time possible. Then she, too, got to her feet and faced him bravely. ‘I love you, Morgan,’ she repeated huskily. ‘And—and if you meant what you said about—about leaving Forsyth’s because of me, you don’t have to. Oh—I know with my father being interested in Alison——’

  ‘You know about that?’

  ‘… it’s difficult for you,’ she continued, ignoring his interruption. ‘But does it have to be a problem?’

  ‘Holly——’

  ‘No, listen to me! I—I don’t expect anything of you. I realise, after one unsuccessful marriage, you might not want to commit yourself again——’

  ‘Holly, stop this!’ Morgan’s face was contorted, and he thrust one hand through his hair before it came to rest at the nape of his neck. ‘My relationship with Alison has nothing to do with how I feel about—about us!’

  ‘No?’

  ‘No!’

  Holly moistened her lips. ‘You’re really not leaving Forsyth’s because of her?’

  Morgan’s eyes narrowed. ‘Who gave you that idea? Your father?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Who then?’

  ‘Maybe I thought of it for myself.’

  ‘Did you?’

  Holly bent her head. ‘Alison said so,’ she muttered unwillingly, and then winced when Morgan’s fingers fastened round her arm.

  ‘When?’

  ‘Last night.’

  ‘When—last night?’

  ‘In the library. After dinner.’ His grip was bruising, but Holly made no protest. ‘While—while you and my father were still at the table.’

  ‘My God!’ Morgan’s mouth compressed. ‘So that’s why you disappeared immediately after.’ He gave an impatient grunt. ‘You surely didn’t believe her?’

  ‘I thought I didn’t.’ Holly moistened her dry lips. ‘Now I’m not so sure.’

  Morgan groaned. ‘Holly, you know as well as I do that if I stay in England—this—will go on.’

  Holly trembled. ‘Will it?’

  The look of wide-eyed anticipation in her eyes was unmistakable and, with an oath, Morgan released her. ‘Holly, you’re twenty years of age——’

  ‘Almost twenty-one!’

  ‘… and you should be looking around for someone of your own——’

  ‘If you say age again, I’ll scream!’ she interposed fiercely, and he shook his head.

  ‘It’s true, Holly.’

  ‘I’m not interested in anyone of my own age,’ she retorted huskily. And then, with great daring, she added, ‘Are you?’

  ‘What I want doesn’t come into it.’

  ‘Why not?’ Gaining in confidence, she covered the space between them, only stopping when his hands fastened on her shoulders, keeping her at arm’s length. ‘You can’t make my father an excuse any longer.’

  ‘No?’

  ‘No.’ Holly hesitated. ‘I mean—if you were prepared to take another job to get away from me, why not take another job to get away from him?’

  Morgan grimaced. ‘You make it sound so easy, don’t you?’

  ‘It is easy.’

  ‘And what if your father had you made a ward of court, or something like that?’

  ‘He couldn’t do that. Could he?’ Holly was confused, but then, glimpsing his wry expression, she exclaimed, ‘Don’t tease me! Morgan, please! You do care about me a little, don’t you?’

  ‘A little,’ he conceded roughly. ‘But there’s something else.’

  ‘What else?’

  Morgan paused. ‘Your father. We had a talk this morning. About you, among other things.’

  ‘And?’ She was anxious.

  ‘And—he’s offered to allow you to go back to the island, if you want to. No strings attached.’

  Holly absorbed this in silence, and then she said quietly, ‘Because of Alison, I suppose. Is he going to marry her?’

  ‘Marry, no.’ Morgan released her and she swayed a little unsteadily. ‘Associate with
, yes.’

  ‘You mean—you mean——’

  ‘I doubt if your father knows exactly what he means right now,’ said Morgan drily. ‘And knowing Alison, I daresay she’ll have some say in the matter.’ He took a breath. ‘Do you mind?’

  Holly hunched her shoulders. ‘Did he tell you to tell me this?’

  Her perception was acute and Morgan sighed. ‘He thought it might come better from me. As I brought you to England.’

  ‘You know that’s not true.’ Holly shook her head. ‘He just hadn’t the guts to tell me himself.’ She looked up at him warily. ‘I suppose it would solve both your problems, wouldn’t it? My father’s with Alison, and yours with me!’

  Morgan was silent for so long, she thought he didn’t intend to answer her at all, and her spirits plummeted. Of course, she thought bitterly, that would suit his purposes very well. Not only would she not be around to prove a distraction, but there would be no reason for him to leave Forsyth’s.

  Her breath catching in her throat, she turned away, looking about her blindly, searching for her shoes and jacket so that she could leave. Her tights she stuffed into the pocket of her jacket, but as she was rummaging about beside the sofa for her right shoe, Morgan came behind her, and jerked her up into his arms.

  ‘All right,’ he groaned harshly, pressing her back against him, burying his face in the scented hollow between her neck and her shoulder. ‘Whatever I decide to do, we’ll do together. I can’t let you go. It may be madness, but I love you!’

  Holly gasped. ‘Do you mean it?’ she breathed, covering the hands that spanned her stomach with her own, and allowing his fingers to take possession of hers.

  ‘I mean it,’ he averred, his tongue making sensuous little circles against her quivering flesh, and, turning her in his arms, he brought her mouth to his.

  The sound of the doorbell was an infuriating distraction, and for a few moments Morgan ignored it. But then, putting Holly reluctantly away from him, he made an effort to stuff his shirt into his trousers. ‘Mrs Latimer,’ he told her softly. ‘She’s probably come for the casserole dish. I’ll tell her I haven’t had time to eat it yet.’ He deposited a lingering kiss on her mouth, and then touched her cheek with a caressing finger. ‘Don’t go away.’

  ‘I won’t.’

  Holly returned his kiss eagerly, and then, wrapping her arms about herself, she waited impatiently while he went to the door.

  It wasn’t Mrs Latimer. The familiar tones of her father came unmistakably to her ears and, with a feeling of apprehension and determination, she left the comparative safety of the living room and walked bravely into the hall beyond.

  ‘… and, well, I was in the neighbourhood, and I thought, what better chance for us to have a few private words——’ Andrew was saying cajolingly, when he saw his daughter. Belatedly, Holly realised that her bare feet were a blatant indication of what had been going on, but she didn’t care. As she had no intention of hiding anything from her father, there was no point in pretending.

  Morgan, hearing his employer’s sudden intake of breath, and sensing something was amiss, turned too, and Holly met his guarded gaze with tentative eyes. ‘I heard voices,’ she explained, going to him and looking up into his dark face. ‘Shall I go?’

  It was the moment of truth, and Morgan’s mouth twisted into a smile that was for her alone. ‘No,’ he said softly, and anyone watching them could not be unaware of their complete rapport. ‘I was just about to ask your father in for a drink. You don’t have any objections, do you?’

  Before she could answer, Andrew himself stepped into the flat, closing the door behind him with a heavy thud. ‘We don’t want to attract undue attention, do we?’ he demanded, his voice harsh with shock and anger. ‘My God! And I thought you were worried about Alison! How long has this little arrangement been going on?’

  ‘Because you’re Holly’s father, I’ll overlook that remark,’ said Morgan flatly, his eyes cold with fury as he faced the older man. ‘And this isn’t an—arrangement, as you put it.’ He slipped his arm around Holly’s waist and pulled her against his hip. ‘Your daughter and I are going to be married. With or without your permission. It’s all the same to me.’

  Some minutes later, Andrew was seated on the sofa in Morgan’s flat swallowing his second brandy. It was one of the few occasions in his life when he was not in control of the situation, and it was evidently not a circumstance he relished.

  However, time, and the brandy—and the knowledge that here was an opportunity to get his own way regarding Morgan’s future—had served to make the news more palatable, and he was actually beginning to consider ways where it could be put to his advantage.

  ‘You have to understand,’ he was saying persuasively to the two people seated on the sofa opposite, ‘the idea of you and Holly actually getting together hadn’t even occurred to me, particularly as you were planning on leaving, Morgan.’

  ‘Were?’ The ice had gone out of Morgan’s tone, but he was still wary. ‘Don’t you mean—are?’

  ‘Are?’ Andrew swallowed the remainder of his drink and put the glass aside. ‘You can’t still be thinking of leaving the company, Morgan! Not now you’re going to be my son-in-law! Good heavens, the idea’s quite absurd! This changes our relationship entirely.’

  ‘That’s what I’m afraid of,’ said Morgan bleakly. ‘Look, Andrew, you probably mean well, but Holly and I are not going to live in your pocket. Nor, might I add, is anyone going to accuse me of marrying her for your money!’

  ‘As if anyone would!’

  ‘Oh, they would,’ said Morgan grimly, and as he looked again at Holly she thought how amazing it was that his expression could change so utterly in that split second. The coldness and the aggression he was showing towards her father was not there when he met her anxious gaze. Instead, his eyes softened and gentled, resting with sensual insistence on her nervously parted mouth, making her intolerably aware that already he was eager to make love to her again. For her part she had still not got over the delight of hearing Morgan say they were to be married. It was all like a dream, and one she had no wish to wake from.

  ‘It doesn’t matter what people say,’ retorted Andrew now, impatient that anyone could distract Morgan’s attention from himself. ‘Look, boy, it would be madness to walk out, just when I’m on the point of retiring.’

  Morgan gave a disbelieving laugh. ‘You? Retiring? Come off it.’

  ‘I mean it.’ Andrew shifted a little restlessly in his seat. ‘I’m sixty, Morgan. Old enough to know I haven’t that many years of active life ahead of me. I want to enjoy those years, not spend them locked up in some stuffy boardroom.’ He spread his hands. ‘Do you realise what I’m offering you? The most marvellous opportunity of your career. You’d be a fool to turn it down.’

  Morgan sighed. ‘I need time to think about it.’ He glanced once more at Holly. ‘And to—talk it over with my fiancée. I’ll let you know my decision later.’

  Andrew clicked his tongue. ‘How much later?’

  ‘When we get back from our honeymoon,’ declared Morgan steadily. ‘You wouldn’t deny me a honeymoon, would you, Andrew? Not after you’ve had so many …’

  Exactly eight weeks later, Holly awoke to find her husband putting on his clothes. Shifting on to her back, her movements attracted his attention and, abandoning his attempt to knot his tie, he came swiftly over to the bed.

  ‘Did I disturb you?’ he murmured, looking down at her with lazily possessive eyes, and Holly moved invitingly across the bed, making room for him to sit next to her.

  ‘What time is it?’ she protested, capturing his wrist and holding his watch close to her eyes. It was light beyond the windows, but the illumination in the bedroom was muted by heavy damask curtains, and it was difficult to see the watch face.

  ‘It’s only eight o’clock,’ Morgan told her gently, his eyes darkening as they rested in the creamy curve of her bare shoulder. ‘Go back to sleep. There’s no need for you to get up.’
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  Holly grimaced. ‘Do you have to go back to work this morning? We’ve only been home a couple of days!’

  ‘We’ve been home over a week,’ Morgan corrected her ruefully. ‘And while I have no intention of spending all my time in the office, I’ve got to make sure Parsons knows what he’s doing.’

  Holly dimpled. ‘Your assistant?’ she prompted teasingly, and he grimaced.

  ‘My assistant,’ he agreed, and then shook his head. ‘Your father was certainly determined to get his own way, wasn’t he?’

  Holly’s laughter was attractive. ‘Well, at least it shows he has confidence in you,’ she conceded, stroking featherlight fingers along his sleeve. ‘And we did have a marvellous honeymoon, didn’t we? In our own house?’

  Morgan looked at her for a long disturbing minute, and then he nodded. ‘At least it means the Fletchers don’t have to worry any more,’ he murmured. ‘And whenever we feel the need to get away …’

  ‘We can go to the island,’ said Holly dreamily. ‘It was a novel wedding present, wasn’t it?’

  Morgan pulled a wry face. ‘I suppose so.’

  ‘Well, at least the boys can use it whenever they want to,’ said Holly practically. ‘And this house, too, is better for them than the flat, isn’t it?’

  ‘Temporarily,’ agreed Morgan, glancing round the green and gold luxury of their suite. ‘But by the time your father and Alison get back, I want us to have a home of our own.’

  ‘That won’t be for months yet,’ exclaimed Holly contentedly, her eyes dancing. ‘Money does have its uses, don’t you think?’

  Morgan’s mouth tilted. ‘Can you honestly see your father spending six months on a world cruise?’ he demanded sceptically. ‘If I know Andrew, he’ll be back within the next six weeks. Oh, I admit, it was good of him to take Alison with him, so that we could spend some time with the twins, alone, but he won’t be able to stay away from Forsyth’s for that length of time. Even if he has nominally handed over the reins to me, he’ll want to be sure I don’t make any mistakes.’

  ‘Still, it is nice to be in charge, isn’t it?’ murmured Holly, finger-walking up his chest to curl her hands around his nape. ‘You are happy, aren’t you?’