What kind of love was it, though, she asked herself, if she didn't dare admit it? She had been quite prepared to swallow her pride for Mike, her stepbrother. Surely she could do at least as much for the man she loved. Dex had once said he liked her honesty. Tomorrow she would be honest and tell Dex how she felt. After all, what was the worst that could happen? He could laugh in her face and tell her to get lost. But after tomorrow she was unlikely to see him again anyway. She had nothing to lose. . .
A banging on the door woke Beth. She groaned and rolled over.
'Beth, open the door.'
She scrambled out of bed and shot across the room to turn the key in the lock. The door swung open and she had to jump back as Dex marched in carrying a tray in one hand bearing a coffee pot and cup plus fresh bread rolls and various jams.
Mindful of her decision last night, Beth looked up at him, a tentative smile curving the corners of her wide mouth. This morning he was casually dressed, in well- worn blue jeans and a white sweater that contrasted starkly with his dark good looks. Tearing her eyes away from his powerful body, she looked at the tray he carried. 'For me? Thank you,' she said softly. 'But you needn't have bothered. I. . .' She'd been going to say she could have eaten downstairs, but didn't get the chance.
'Yes, I did. My housekeeper has already called you once and she is far too old to be running up and down stairs for the likes of you.' His grey eyes scrutinised her slender form with a contempt that made her feel she was naked, lingering on the thrust of her breasts and then down to where her nightie ended mid-thigh before he strolled over to the bedside table and slammed the tray down.
'I'm sorry. I didn't realise.' Beth was trying to stay calm, but his obvious black mood was not helping.
'So you should be.' Dex swung back and walked towards the door. 'You certainly have a penchant for oversleeping. Obviously you're not bothered by a conscience.'
'Now wait a minute!' Beth exclaimed, her small chin jutting belligerently. She might have been prepared to swallow her pride last night, but she was fast going off the idea as she stared at Dex's frowning face.
'You don't have a minute. It is ten o'clock.'
Beth's eyes widened in horror. 'Oh, my God!' Her plane departed from Naples at twelve forty-five.
'Exactly. I want you out of here in twenty minutes.' And he slammed out of the room.
Beth paused for a moment, her head bowed and her long auburn hair falling like a curtain on either side of her face. So much for Bob's idea that Dex might care for her. He couldn't wait to get her out of his house and out of his country.
Her lips tightened in disgust with herself. What a fool she was. Brushing the hair from her face, she stalked over to the bed, poured herself a cup of coffee and drank it, and then determinedly set about getting ready. She would show the arrogant pig just how fast she could be!
In a matter of minutes she was washed and dressed in jeans, sweater and jacket, thanking the foresight that had made her pack her case last night. She scraped her hair back and tied it with a scarf, flung her shoulder bag over her shoulder picked up her case and walked downstairs. All in the space of ten minutes.
Dex appeared from the drawing room door. His steely eyes swept over her and his lips curved in a grimace. 'You're ready. Good. I'll go and collect your luggage. Wait here.'
'This is my luggage,' she said curtly, indicating her one small weekend case.
His dark brows rose in astonishment. 'Amazing—a woman who travels light.' Striding over to her, he took the case from her nerveless fingers and headed for the door. 'Come on, we have no time to waste.'
She followed him out of the house and stopped, looking along the drive. 'Where is the car?' Beth demanded.
The sunshine of the past two days had given way to grey, overcast skies, with black clouds rumbling along the horizon. She shivered as a cold wind whistled along the headland, and she fastened her jacket.
Dex was halfway across the broad expanse of grass, heading towards the terrace. He gave her a backward glance over his shoulder. 'No car. We are going in my launch.'
'But I came on the ferry.'
Dex stopped and turned around to face her. 'I know. But if Anna had seen fit to inform me you were coming I would have arranged for the launch to collect you.'
'Big deal,' Beth muttered under her breath.
'Hurry up.'
Still muttering, Beth followed Dex down the row upon row of terraces until they reached the jetty. Then she stared. It was not the yacht of yesterday but a twenty- foot speed boat, with a small cabin and wheelhouse, tied up against the dock. The blue sea was almost black, the waves lashing the boat against the side of the wooden structure.
Dex had already jumped on board, but Beth eyed the boat and the sea with dismay. 'Are you sure you know what you're doing?' she demanded flatly.
Dex turned back and, reaching a long arm over the side of the boat, caught her hand in his. 'For heaven's sake, woman, get on the boat and let's go.' He was almost dragging her up the short gangplank.
'The sea looks a bit rough,' she ventured.
'It wasn't an hour ago,' Dex snapped.
Even the weather was her fault now, Beth thought, thoroughly fed up. Stepping into the bottom of the boat, she pulled her hand free from his. 'Well, it is now,' she snapped back, glaring up at him.
His dark brows drew together in a frown of irritation. 'For once in your life will you stop arguing and do as I tell you? I am going to go up and start the engine—' he gestured with his hand to the wheelhouse '—and when I cry "cast off' all you have to do is slip that rope off that cleat. Understand?' He pointed to where a rope from a capstan on the jetty stretched out to an iron thing on the boat.
'Yes, of course. I'm not a simpleton.' Beth gave him a nasty glance, then looked from Dex to the back of the boat and took a deep breath. What she knew about boats would not cover a postage stamp, but she wasn't going to tell him that. She glanced back and saw he was already at the wheel. Slipping her shoulder bag off her arm, she laid it on a box-like thing and staggered to the back of the boat.
She bent down and tried to get her fingers round the rope. She moved around slightly, to get a better grip.
Dex started the engine and yelled, 'Ready, Beth?'
At the sound of his voice she jerked up, taking the rope with her. The next thing she knew she was flying through the air. She screamed! The rope slipped from her grasp and she hit the water flat on her back.
I'll kill the bastard, was the first thought in her head, and then she swallowed what felt like half the Mediterranean and sank like a stone. Her next thought was survival, as the cold black water closed over her, pressing her down. Kicking out with her feet, she pushed for the surface, but her heavy clothes hampered her. Struggling to hold her breath, she tore at the buttons of her jacket and wriggled out of it. Her lungs felt as if they were bursting as she kicked out again. Finally her head broke the surface of the water, and she took a great gulp of air before a wave smashed down on her, pushing her under once more.
Fighting again for the surface, she managed to gasp a few more breaths of air. She could see the jetty some ten yards away, and a metal ladder which disappeared under the water. She might not know much about boats but she was a good swimmer, and, mentally gritting her teeth, she struck out for the ladder.
Suddenly an arm shot around her neck, knocking what little breath she had straight out of her body. Panicking, she struggled wildly, and then she felt a sharp blow, and nothing more.
Beth's eyelids fluttered, and then she coughed, and coughed again, water streaming from her mouth. She groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Her head was pressed against a broad shoulder and two strong arms supported her and carried her along. But she was soaked, and frozen to the bone.
'Grazie a Dio! You are alive. . .' Dex's deep voice echoed in her head. 'Don't try to speak, my love. I have you safe.'
Her eyes fluttered closed again. She was shaking so much she couldn't speak, her teeth would not stop chatteri
ng and great shudders racked her small frame. She was vaguely aware of being lowered to her feet, that gentle hands were stripping off her sweater. She opened her eyes again. Somehow she was back in her bathroom, and it was Dex who was supporting her, with one arm around her waist, while with his other hand he was peeling her sodden jeans off her legs.
She tried to lift her hands to resist, but another wave of shivers convulsed her. Then once more she was lifted from the floor and suddenly she was being held under a cascade of water. She flinched, bowing her head as the hot water stung her numb flesh, then gradually some of the numbness faded and the warmth of the water began to sink through to her frozen bones.
Also it began to sink into her shocked brain that she was being supported by two strong bare arms. 'What. . .?' was as much as she got out.
'Shh, shh, Beth.' And she was wrapped in a huge fluffy towel, and strong hands began to rub her all over. 'I will take care of you.'
Take care of her! Suddenly it all came back to Beth: the boat, the sea—everything. Somehow finding the strength, she slapped his hands away.
'What the hell do you think you're doing?' she cried hoarsely, her throat raw from the sea water. And, staggering back, she grabbed the towel, wrapped it toga-style under her arms and knotted it.
'You need to get warm. You've had a severe shock.'
She whipped the tangled mass of her wet hair out of her eyes and lifted her head, and got an even bigger shock. Dex was standing in front of her, water droplets dripping off his black hair onto his broad shoulders, trickling down his muscular chest, his flat belly. She gulped. Her eyes flew wide open and trailed down to the brush of black curls, protecting the beginning of his masculine sex, and lower, to his long, muscular legs. He was stark naked.
'You. . .you. . .get out,' she squeaked, still shivering with cold but intensely aware of his magnificent all-male body.
'This is no time for modesty, Beth. I have to get you warm. You might have hypothermia.'
She was more likely to hyperventilate if he didn't put something on—and quickly, she thought distractedly, glancing wildly around the bathroom, anywhere but at the naked man towering over her. Her eye caught a towel on the rail. 'So might you,' Beth choked, and, reaching out, snagged the towel and shoved it at Dex. 'Here.'
His large hand covered hers and pulled her towards him. Taking the towel from her nerveless fingers, he casually slung it around his hips. 'Your concern is touching, Beth.' He chuckled deep in his throat. 'But seriously, you were in the water a lot longer than L' Reaching out, he pulled her into the circle of his arms and held her pressed tightly against him. 'Humour, me, h mm?' he murmured when she tried to pull free, and he gently stroked her back and buttocks through the towel.
For a long moment Beth gave herself up to the unaccustomed comfort of being held in Dex's arms. Gradually her shivering stopped and a slow warmth spread through her body. Her jaw ached and she cushioned it gently against the hairs on his chest. There was nothing sexual about it. Maybe she just needed the sense of care and protection Dex was offering.
'Better now, sweetheart?' Dex asked, rubbing his chin on the top of her head. 'Come on, let me get you into bed.'
The mention of 'bed' broke through her dazed brain. My God! What was she doing? She was supposed to be on a plane to England. Instead she was standing almost naked in a bathroom. . .and it was all Dex's fault.
Beth looked up at him. 'You've got to be joking.' She couldn't control her anger. He was smiling down at her. Clad in only a towel, he looked wickedly attractive, and a swift stab of regret pierced her heart, but she quickly vanquished her wayward feelings. 'You bastard.'
The smile left his eyes and his hard face tautened arrogantly. 'Bastard, yes. But I only mentioned bed for you—for warmth. Not for me. I can't help it if you have a one-track mind,' he drawled mockingly, his arms falling away from her.
Free and furious, Beth registered his mocking insult and it was too much for her fragile emotions. 'Why. . . you. . . you. . . supercilious swine. You're crazy. . .stark, staring mad. . . First you punch out my godfather, and then you try to drown me. Not content with that, you almost strangle me, and then you knock me out.' The pain in her jaw, she realised, was from when Dex had grabbed her in the water. Rubbing her hand over the bruise, she glared defiantly at Dex. 'What happens next. . .a knife in the gut?'
She had no idea how incredibly lovely she looked, her green eyes flashing fire, nor how heartbreakingly young and vulnerable, with one of her hands clasping the precarious knot in the towel around her slender body.
Beth was not aware of the fierce tension tautening Dex's large frame, her eyes were suddenly filling with moisture. The after-effects of the traumatic shock she had suffered were catching up with her.
'No knife. But I will love you to death,' Dex said hoarsely. And, catching her by the shoulders, his fingers digging into her flesh, he added urgently, 'If you will only let me, Beth.'
She gazed up at him and saw such anguish, such need in the depths of his silver eyes her heart stopped. She blinked, unable to believe what she was seeing.
'I love you so much, Beth. Please say something, anything,' he demanded, his voice raw with emotion. 'I thought I could let you walk away, but I can't.'
She stared at him. The cold, remote mask he showed the world was gone, and she saw his heart in his eyes. 'You love me,' she murmured. 'You love me!' she exclaimed, her own eyes overflowing with tears of emotion. The impossible had happened.
'Please don't cry, Beth. Please, I never meant to make you cry,' he pleaded. 'As God is my witness, I didn't tip you out of the boat. I asked if you were ready, and you cast off instead. When I saw you in the water I jumped in to save you because I couldn't bear the thought of my life without you. If I was too clumsy, I'm sorry. But carrying you back to the house was the most horrendous walk of my life. I wouldn't hurt you for the world. You must believe that. I love you.'
She lifted her small hand to his face and stroked from his temple down to his jaw. 'I'm not crying because you hurt me.' A wide smile of pure joy ht her lovely face. 'I'm overwhelmed because you love me—as I love you.'
Dex looked deep into her huge green eyes. 'You love me? Since when?' he asked roughly.
'From the first moment I saw you.' Beth stared up at him, and what he saw in her eyes told him she was telling the truth.
He groaned and swept her into his arms, kissing her with a hard, hungry passion. Beth clung to him, her arms around his neck, returning his kiss with equal passion, as though between them they could erase the heartache of the past few weeks. The towels fell away, they were naked together, and Dex's hard, aroused body ground against hers. His hands slid down to cup her buttocks and lift her bodily off her feet.
Involuntarily Beth locked her legs around him, afraid to fall, then gasped as the hard length of him nudged against the delta of her thighs. His head bent to her breasts and he took one into his mouth and suckled fiercely. Beth whimpered, her arms tightening around his neck as he did the same to the other one.
He lifted his head and his fierce silver eyes caught and held hers. 'I have loved you from the first time I saw you, too,' he growled, deep in his throat, and thrust up into her. She cried out, her eyes widening the second he took possession of her.
It was a wild, savagely quick coupling. Dex's taut face became a dark blur, and Beth gave herself up to the wild ride until with a hoarse cry Dex shuddered violently, spilling his seed inside her, and she convulsed around him.
Dex held her for a long moment as shudder after shudder racked his great body. Beth felt the lingering spasms in every nerve-ending of her body. Finally Dex lowered her slowly to the floor, and if he had not been holding her she would have collapsed at his feet. Her legs were shaking, her whole body shook. . .
'Hell! What am I thinking of?' Dex swore hoarsely, staring down into her flushed face. 'I am an insensitive jerk.' And, swinging her up in his arms, he carried her through to the bedroom and placed her gently on the bed.
> When he would have stood up, Beth curled her hand around the back of his neck. 'So long as you are my jerk,' she prompted, a questioning light in her green eyes. The last few minutes had left her dazed and awed by the wonder and power of her lover. But did it mean the miracle had happened and Dex really loved her?
'Always and for ever,' Dex vowed, lowering his long body over her. His hands palmed either side of her head and he kissed her slowly, gently, with aching tenderness. 'But now, my love. . .' He rolled to one side and curved his arm firmly around her, so they were lying side by side, and with his other hand pulled the coverlet over them. He leaned over her. 'Now you need to rest.' He gently pushed back a strand of damp hair from her brow and stared down at her, the banked-down passion in his silver eyes firmly controlled. 'You could catch cold, pneumonia, and now I have you I am taking no chances on losing you again.'
She wanted to believe him, but still a nagging doubt haunted her. 'You're not just saying that because you feel guilty about. . .about everything?' she asked, stammering over the words.
'Making love to you so desperately you mean?' He favoured her with an ironic look.
'I. . .' She blushed. 'I didn't know you could make love like that. Standing, I mean, and so hot and fast. . .'
'There is a lot you don't know about love, and I am going to spend my life teaching you,' he said, gently outlining her lips with his finger. 'Before, in the bathroom, I could not have stopped myself, and neither could you. No matter what the differences between us, there was never any doubt from the first time I kissed you that the chemistry between us was electric.'
'In the casino,' Beth said softly, remembering. 'You were angry because Paul was there and I spoke to him.'
Dex sighed. 'For that I do feel guilty.'
'You only took me out because of Paul and Anna,' Beth said reflectively. 'So when. . .?' She hesitated. 'When did you fall in love with me?' It was the one question she desperately wanted the answer to.
Giorganni's Proposal Page 15
