Charade of the Heart

by Cathy Williams

  She nodded and he whistled under his breath. ‘I only know that on hearsay. From what I gather, the great man never discusses anything personal, with anyone. How on earth did you manage to get on his list of confidantes?’

  ‘I’m not!’ Beth protested, her face pink. But throughout the meal she knew that her admission had given him food for speculation. She had connived to sit as far away from Marcos as she feasibly could, in between Roger and a charming St Lucian gentleman, the father of the teenage girls. Nevertheless, it was impossible to miss the strains of his deep voice. Whatever was being discussed at that end of the table, it was obvious that he controlled it. As he seemed to do with everything else.

  As the dessert dishes were being cleared away, she glanced across at him and for a minute their eyes locked. He looked quickly at Roger and then back to her, and this time there was a shade of mockery in his expression.

  Beth hurriedly diverted her attention to the St Lucian gentleman and drowned her confusion in another gulp of her peach daiquiri.

  She decided that if she kept her eyes focused away from Marcos, then the evening really was quite enjoyable. Despite Marcos’s predictions, there wasn’t any dancing—and for that she heaved a sigh of relief. That might have brought her in dangerous proximity to him. There was very little shop talk, and what there was was interesting.

  As the first of the guests began drifting away, she had a smug feeling of having done quite well, thank you very much.

  Roger was among the last to leave, and he drew her aside surreptitiously.

  ‘Can I look you up back in London?’ he whispered.

  ‘Sure,’ Beth agreed whole-heartedly.

  ‘Just so long as I don’t mind sticking to the rules of the game.’

  She blushed and her face grew even redder when he placed a discreet kiss on her lips before leaving. A kiss that expressed affection rather than passion.

  Even so, Marcos’s voice behind her made her jump,

  ‘Not a painful farewell, I hope?’

  Beth turned towards him, too relaxed from her small share of daiquiris to work up the enthusiasm for an argument.

  ‘Farewells are always painful when they’re with someone you like,’ she said lightly.

  Wrong figure of speech. His eyes darkened. ‘I wouldn’t know,’ he said silkily. Jane was lurking in the background, and he bade her goodnight in a voice that immediately hastened her departure.

  She threw Beth a venomous glance and left.

  ‘Perhaps,’ Beth said, edging away, ‘you don’t like anyone.’

  ‘On the contrary. I like a lot of people.’

  ‘But not enough?’

  He lounged against the door-frame and surveyed her thoroughly through half-closed eyes.

  ‘Depends on your definition of enough, doesn’t it?’

  ‘I think,’ she said hastily, before she found herself treading deep waters once again, ‘it’s my bedtime.’

  Marcos took her by her elbow, his touch sending shivers along her spine.

  ‘I’ll see you up.’

  Oh, God, Beth thought desperately, this is playing with fire; please don’t let me get burnt.

  If only her damned body would listen to her.

  CHAPTER SIX

  THEY WALKED BACK to Beth’s room in silence. She felt as though she were a piece of elastic, her nerves being stretched further and further with each step she took. At least they got her there in one piece, for which she was immeasurably grateful, although by the time she stood outside the door they were feeling distinctly wobbly.

  She had already fished out her key from her bag, ready to make a quick getaway.

  ‘Well,’ she said, in a high, nervous voice which she tried to conceal with a little laugh, ‘thanks for the lift—walk.’ She fumbled with the key and felt him remove it from her fingers.

  ‘Allow me,’ he murmured, opening the door in one swift movement.

  Beth stepped inside and then turned to face him, blocking his entry. If it was one place she did not want Marcos Adrino, it was within the confines of her bedroom.

  She reached out for the key, mumbling a polite, Goodbye and wasn’t it a pleasant evening? but instead of handing it to her he side-stepped her into the room and carelessly tossed them on to the small table by the bed.

  Beth watched in dismay as he proceeded to prowl through the room, before finally stopping by the window and perching indolently against it, his arms folded across his chest.

  This was not going to plan at all. She had not expected him to walk with her to her room, and she had even less expected him to barge in and install himself by the window.

  She remained uncertainly by the door, not daring to take a step further, unsure what she should do now.

  ‘You can close the door behind you,’ he drawled, taking the decision out of her hands. There was a small smile on his lips, as though he could read exactly what she was thinking.

  Indecision turned to anger and she slammed the door behind her, moving across to the sanctuary of one of the wicker chairs.

  She had not bothered to draw the curtains before she had left earlier on, and outside the black sky was studded with stars. The silence between them was broken only by the background noise of the air-conditioning.

  Beth looked at him, his dark eyes hypnotising her, blotting out her thought processes, making her mouth go suddenly dry.

  ‘I’m awfully tired,’ she ventured. ‘It’s been a long day. I really would like to get to bed now.’

  ‘Feel free.’

  ‘Without unwelcome spectators in the room!’

  Her brief flirtation with anger was immediately quelled as he walked towards her, to be replaced by something that felt strangely like vertigo.

  ‘This dress,’ he murmured, standing in front of her, ‘becomes you.’ His finger slowly traced the outline of her exposed shoulders and her hair stood on end.

  ‘Thank you,’ Beth whispered hoarsely, edging away slightly.

  ‘They say that you can tell a woman’s personality by her wardrobe.’

  ‘Do they?’ She tried a nonchalant smile that immediately died on her lips.

  ‘Mm. This dress, your bikini yesterday—they speak of quite an extrovert, daring personality. Are you?’

  His hooded eyes bored into her. Something about his voice was like a low, seductive caress, and Beth fought it as hard as she could. She wasn’t born yesterday. He was bored and, even though her morals left him cold, she attracted him.

  Like a lot of men, she suspected that he had two standards. While it was all right for him to explore womankind, it was not nearly so acceptable for a woman to do likewise.

  No, she was not his sort at all, but still he fancied her.

  It was a purely physical thing. He specialised in that, didn’t he? He used his sheer animal magnetism ruthlessly to get what he wanted, and who he wanted, and no doubt he saw her as easy game. After all, hadn’t she, as far as he was concerned, slept with David Ryan and who knew how many others?

  ‘It really is very late,’ she said in a firmer voice, slipping away from him to stand pointedly by the door. ‘Tomorrow we fly back, and I know I won’t get a minute’s sleep on the plane. I didn’t on the way across. Maybe I’m allergic to travel. When I was young, I would always get car sick.’ She was babbling. They both knew it.

  He gave her a slow, predatory smile.

  ‘You don’t look terribly sleepy to me.’

  ‘Don’t I?’ Of course I don’t. With my cheeks all flushed, I know what I look. I look excited.

  And she was. Her heart was beating quickly and she knew that if he laid another finger on her she would explode.

  Had Laura felt like this with David? For the first time she could understand what had prompted her sister to sleep with him, disobeying company etiquette.

  But wasn’t that different? She was in love with him. Her mind suddenly shifted into overdrive and a wave of panic gripped her as she realised that what she felt for Marcos wasn’t simply lust
. It ran deeper than that. She was in love with him. She had flouted all her principles, all her well-meaning intentions, and fallen in love with him!

  When did this happen? she thought desperately, staring at him with wide eyes. He had found cracks in her, insinuated himself, and now the realisation made her feel like a piece of driftwood being carried along by a torrent of water from which all escape was barred.

  That was why, when he had touched her on the beach, her body had been set alight with desire. That was why she followed him with her eyes, and, when he wasn’t around, with her mind.

  ‘Please,’ she whispered, ‘please go.’

  ‘Or else what?’ he asked, moving towards her.

  He rested his hand on the nape of her neck, caressing it in slow movements.

  ‘Haven’t you forgotten your company policy about relationships?’ Beth asked weakly.

  Her reminder had no effect on him at all. He didn’t smack his forehead with his hand and smile apologetically, he didn’t turn away from her brusquely. In fact he didn’t do anything at all.

  ‘I own the company,’ he said huskily. ‘I have my own set of rules.’

  He raised his other hand to her head, tilting it upwards, then he kissed her eyes, his lips barely touching her skin, but nevertheless sending sweet electrical charges through her body.

  ‘No,’ Beth moaned, already regretting what had not yet taken place between them. ‘You must go. Now.’

  ‘Because you’re attracted to me?’

  She didn’t answer.

  ‘Don’t try and kid me that you’re not,’ he murmured, taking her silence for denial. ‘I know you are. I can feel it, but I want to hear you say it. Tell me that you want me.’

  ‘You’re very attractive, Marcos…’

  ‘Tell me!’

  ‘Yes!’ she bit out. ‘I want you. Now are you satisfied?’

  ‘I will be.’

  He brought his lips to hers, his mouth moving unhurriedly over hers, his tongue exploring the moistness of her mouth.

  Beth shuddered, and then, in a gesture of defeat, brought her arms around him, curling her fingers in his hair.

  Marcos gave a stifled moan and began to kiss her harder, until she heard herself whimpering against him, unable to stem the tide of passion welling inside.

  She was hardly aware of him lifting her off her feet and carrying her towards the bed.

  He lay her down, staring at her while he undressed, tugging off his shirt with impatient hands. Beth followed each movement hungrily.

  ‘Now you,’ he said, the bed sinking slightly as he lowered his body on to it. ‘I want to undress you slowly. I want to touch every bit of you until I can’t stand the agony of wanting any longer.’

  He ran his hands along her thighs, gently pulling down her lacy briefs. Beth’s legs parted. Her eyes were half closed now, her breath coming in quick little spurts.

  She was moist and ready when his fingers began to explore the secret depths of her womanhood. The pleasure was intense.

  Then he freed her of her dress, kissing the flat planes of her stomach, moving lower until she squirmed against him.

  He was taking his time, inching her along bit by bit, so that the ecstasy was almost painful.

  He trailed kisses along her stomach and then carefully unhooked her bra, exposing one full breast, the nipple hard with arousal.

  His tongue flicked against it, and then, as though he couldn’t himself stand the agony, sucked harder.

  Beth felt as though she was burning up. She stroked his back roughly, arching as he kissed her neck.

  ‘It’s still a woman’s prerogative to change her mind,’ he murmured into her ear.

  If only, Beth thought. In fact, if only this woman had had a shred of common sense in the first place.

  ‘I would if I could,’ she replied honestly, her eyes drowsy with passion.

  ‘Good, because I don’t think I would have been able to let you.’

  He cupped her breast with his hand, massaging it, rolling the nipple between his fingers.

  ‘Touch me, too,’ he ordered roughly, guiding her hand, and she felt a surge of power as she heard him moan.

  She had never been touched by a man before, had never touched one, but her responses were not unsure. She was too feverish with desire, too caught up with the emotions coursing through her body, to feel anything but a desperate need for him.

  She tensed slightly as he slid into her, and he stopped, frowning.

  ‘I’m not hurting you, am I?’

  ‘Of course not,’ Beth replied. Not, anyway, in the way that you think.

  He moved against her, fierce and assured, bringing her to a shuddering climax.

  I had to lose my virginity one day, she thought sadly. What better way to lose it than to the man I’m in love with?

  She tentatively stroked his stomach and he smiled.

  ‘Don’t. You might find that I have far more stamina than you think.’

  ‘How modest of you.’

  He chuckled and turned to face her.

  ‘That’s one thing I like about you,’ he said, ‘your sense of humour.’

  ‘That and my body.’

  ‘You’re right, two things.’

  Beth felt a surge of tears and blinked them away furiously. Hadn’t she known that she would regret it? His lovemaking had demolished the last vestiges of her defences, leaving her vulnerable and exposed.

  She had walked into it with her eyes wide open. Deep down, she must have known that he would have left if she had only said so. He was not the sort of man to force himself on a woman. He had no need. The world, she considered bitterly, could provide an endless supply for his taking.

  He touched her cheek and she sighed.

  ‘What was that for?’ he asked curiously.

  ‘What happened between us—’ she hesitated ‘—what happened between us shouldn’t have happened.’

  ‘Didn’t you enjoy it?’ He kissed her ear, holding her hair in his fingers, and then blew gently into it.

  ‘That’s not the point,’ she said, but already her arguments were weakening. He kissed the nape of her neck, his hand straying to her breast, and she relaxed against him.

  ‘Then what is?’ he asked huskily.

  ‘There are things,’ Beth said faltering, ‘things that you don’t know about me.’

  ‘And there are things that you don’t know about me,’ he pointed out. ‘Why don’t we just let nature take its course?’ He caressed her thighs, parting her legs with his hands until she felt a feverish limpness invade her.

  ‘It’s not as simple as that,’ she said. Half of her wanted badly to tell him the truth, but the other half informed her coldly that to reveal the truth would put paid to Laura’s job and she would never again feel the sensuous delight that he aroused. He would turn his back on her in rage, she knew that, and now that he had opened this world to her, how on earth was she going to survive without it?

  Sooner or later the truth would come out—that was as sure as the sun rose and set—but at least she could enjoy their temporary relationship and then, when the time came, she could make the inevitable departure.

  Because inevitable it would be, whether or not this masquerade was happening. He was a man born to move on; why not take what she could, while she could? She would have a lifetime to recuperate, wouldn’t she?

  ‘I can’t remember the last time a woman turned me on the way you do,’ he murmured. ‘I feel as though I can’t have enough of you. Isn’t that strange, all this time you’ve been working for me, and only now this is happening?’

  ‘Strange,’ Beth repeated faintly.

  He was as aroused as she was, and this time their lovemaking was fiercer and harder.

  Even in the air-conditioned room she could feel his body perspiring next to hers, and as he lay down beside her she traced her fingers along his stomach, feeling its dampness.

  ‘Tell me,’ he said, ‘about Ryan. What do you feel for him now?’
/>   He turned on his side to face her.

  ‘I’d rather not talk about him,’ Beth said quickly.

  ‘Why not?’ Marcos’s eyes narrowed on her face. ‘Does he still mean something to you?’

  ‘Honestly,’ she pleaded, ‘can we drop the subject?’

  ‘You’re my woman now,’ he said grimly. ‘I want your thoughts to be on me and me alone.’

  Fat chance, Beth thought despairingly, of their being anywhere else.

  But the possessive arrogance in his voice stirred something in her, made her feel warm and heady.

  ‘If we carry on this…this affair, could we still work together?’

  ‘I could always fire you.’

  ‘No! Don’t do that!’

  ‘You mean you value your job more than you do me?’ he teased.

  ‘Jobs are hard to come by these days.’

  ‘And men aren’t?’

  ‘You’re playing with words now.’

  ‘So I am,’ Marcos agreed silkily. ‘I studied law at university. The habit of exploiting the English language has never quite deserted me.’

  ‘That’s terrible!’ Beth joked, kissing him lightly, relishing her ability to arouse him. ‘It means that you’re never sincere.’

  ‘I sincerely want to bed you over and over again,’ he mocked, a lazy smile on his lips.

  ‘You did mention your stamina…’ She lay back on the bed, tempting him with her nudity, watching desire flare in his dark eyes.

  ‘You wanton,’ he moaned, bending his head to take her nipple into his mouth. Beth wriggled against him, urging his hands to explore other parts of her body that were also aching to be touched.

  He was right, she was a wanton with him, totally lacking in inhibitions. She should be ashamed, but somehow when he touched her there was no room left for anything like that. He filled her horizons with his presence, he made a laughing-stock of all her moral guidelines. Most of all, he made her helpless.

  If she weren’t so damned helpless, then, she thought, she could tell him what needed to be told, she could find the strength to take the consequences.

  Love more than hurt, it was agony—but it was irresistible.

  As they boarded the plane the following day, Beth took one last lingering look at the timeless beauty around her and thought that St Lucia would always have a special place in her heart. It was there that she was found and lost.