Cayman Desires

by Simmons, Sabel

  A heart she thought had lost all feelings long ago, a heart frozen and protected. Now, six years since her break-up with Raymond she came to the realization that she still loved him. That even though she had not seen or had any contact with him in all that time, except that once five and a half years ago, the feelings and emotions were all still there, And all it took to unlock them, was the look of someone that closely resembled him!

  It took another hour before she managed to get away from the office. She walked wearily down the path leading to her cottage, for once not even taking in the beautiful purple haze of the sunset. She walked with slumped shoulders and rubbed her neck as she followed a curve in the path and ran straight into a brick wall: rather, a rock hard chest that felt like a brick wall. Due to her state of mind and her tired disposition, she did not look up, just mumbled “sorry” and tried to side step the man in front of her.

  His harsh intake of breath caught her attention and she glanced up. Her eyes froze, her breath trapped in her throat and it felt like a steel fist squeezed her heart. Squeezed so hard she could not breathe. His name escaped her startled lips as she sank to the ground in a dead faint.

  “Raymond”!

  Raymond St Claire’s lips pressed in a thin line, his arms strained to hold the woman in his arms with a gentleness he did not feel at all at this point. She hardly weighed anything and he strode with long strides towards his uncle’s presidential cottage. He glanced down at her pale face and his hungry eyes took in her fragile beauty.

  She was even more beautiful now than six years ago. Six years ago when she walked out on him; walked away from his love, walked away with his heart in her hands; leaving him empty and turned him into a bitter, unforgiving shell of a man!

  Retha exclaimed in horror when he walked into the lounge with his precious cargo. “Oh, no! Ray, what have you done to the poor girl?”

  He shot her a killing glance. “I have done nothing to her! She bumped into me and promptly fainted when she recognized me.”

  Miguel stood looking down at the pale woman lying on the couch. “Can’t say I blame her. Anyone bumping into such a grump as you would faint.”

  Raymond straightened to his full height, and looked down his aristocratic nose at his uncle. Which was a difficult task, with them both nearly the same height. Miguel looked back at him with one eyebrow lifted high.

  “Don’t look so innocent, dear uncle. You are not going to claim that you didn’t know who she was!”

  “Of course not! She is the manager of this hotel!”

  “That is not what I meant and you know it! Why didn’t you tell me?” Raymond nearly shouted and had to restrain himself not to shake his uncle.

  Miguel looked at Raymond for a long moment, and then he sighed and put his hand on his nephews’ shoulder.

  “Things between us only became bearable a few years ago, my dear boy. I didn’t think you would appreciate me interfering in your life.”

  “You were damn right about that! Then why did you now!” He shook with anger. He was not angry with his uncle, but angry at the emotions boiling through him at the sight of the woman who walked out on him.

  “Raymond, calm down. We need to attend to this dear girl. She should have awakened by know, don’t you think?” Retha’s concern was eminent in her voice whilst she wiped Clarissa’s brow with a cloth.

  “Ray, my boy, it is time you set things right. You cannot continue living the life you have for the past six years. It is time for you to….”

  Raymond stood glaring down at his uncle, disbelief in his eyes. “Time I set things right? I do not believe what I am hearing. You know the full story, Uncle Miguel! Mom made sure to tell you every juicy detail! She basked in the fact that she was right about Clarissa all along! That she was only after me for what I could offer her in the hotel business! I am not the one who walked out on her! So tell me, uncle dear, what I am supposed to set right!”

  Miguel turned away and went to stand before the window, staring out to the sea. His voice gave away his age. “Maybe it’s time we all set things right. Me, for starters.” He rubbed his eyes and turned back to Raymond. “My boy, I have done many things in my life I am not too proud off…”

  A soft groan from the couch drew everyone’s attention at the same time as Robby came hobbling into the room, cheerfully singing a nursery rhyme. He noticed Clarissa on the couch, struggling to sit upright.

  “Cl…..Cla…Rissa! Rissa, have you come to visit us?” His chirpy voice and the name only Raymond used to call her, made Clarissa groan. Her gaze searched the room and clashed with Raymond’s fiery gaze. His face was set in an inscrutable mask and his lips tightly pressed in a thin line. It was as if he were looking right through her. Nearly six years and he still could not forgive her … in fact; he looked at her as if he hated her!

  “Look, Dad! It’s my merm … mermaid!”

  He rushed over to Clarissa and sat down next to her on the couch, his hand clutching hers in his. Raymond stared at the pair on the couch, his heart contracting in his chest.

  Clarissa could not breathe; it felt as if she was drowning. Floating and drowning at the same time. Her voice croaked when she managed to ask, “How … how old is he?” Her agonizing gaze fastened on Raymond’s shuttered features. His lips pressed together even harder.

  “HOW OLD IS HE!” Robert startled at her raised voice and looked at his dad in confusion.

  Retha’s quiet voice answered her. “He’ll be five in January.”

  Clarissa’s breath was stuck somewhere between her lungs and her throat and she gasped to get some air into her lungs.

  Five in January! That meant he was conceived directly after I left! Oh, my God, how could he!

  She struggled upright and pushed up from the couch, swaying slightly, but when Raymond’s hand came out to assist her, she slapped it away. Slanting him a fierce glare, she rushed past him.

  “Clarissa, dear, where are you going? You cannot run off like that, you just fainted. Sit down and have a cup of tea.”

  “NO … I have to … I have … I’m fine, thank you Miguel. Please excuse me, I have to go.”

  With her head held high, she walked past Raymond and kept her gaze straight ahead, even though she could feel his fierce eyes piercing over her.

  “Well then, Ray, you’ll have to walk her home. We cannot let the poor girl out alone. What if she faints again?”

  “NO! That won’t be nece…”

  “Of course, Uncle. Shall we, Miss Langston?”

  Not waiting for her response, Raymond took her arm in a punishing grip and half pushed, half pulled her through the door. Once outside, she started struggling, desperate to pull her arm from his grip.

  “Let me go! I do not want you to touch me! Let me go, I said!”

  Her demands fell on death ears. Raymond continued down the path with her in tow, her arm still in his strong grip.

  “Where to?” He barked in a barely controlled voice.

  “I said LET ME GO!”

  Ignoring her, he kept going and neared the bend where they bumped into each other. “Unless you tell me where to go, I will haul you into the hotel in front of everyone!”

  “Take the left turn ahead. I stay in the cottage down the beach path. Let me go Raymond! I can walk by myself!”

  “Yes, I’m sure you can, but at least this way I am not tempted to strangle you!”

  That shut her up immediately, but the anger at his manhandling of her and what she just learned simmered inside her all the way to her cottage.

  He threw the door open, pushed her through and followed her in. She swung around and her long hair stung his face in the process. His eyes followed the swaying strands of hair, shimmering in the light and his breath got wedged in his throat.

  “How dare you!”

  The anger and hurt in her eyes hit him straight in the gut. Then he remembered the pain and despair that he felt when he realized that the management of a prestige Princeton hotel meant more to her, than hi
s love.

  His gaze turned molten silver and he stepped close to her, gripped her upper arms and pulled her up against him, his warm breath whispered against her face.

  “How dare I? How dare I what? Continue with my life? Have more in my life than a shallow backstabber who desired nothing more than the glory of a Princeton hotel on her portfolio! Someone, who fed on my connections and expertise to get ahead!”

  By now he was shouting at her, clutching her so hard it felt as if her arms would snap.

  “Raymond … you’re hurting me!” Immediately he flung her away from him, fisting his hands by his side. His eyes still flashed fire at her.

  “How dare you, Clarissa? How dare you stand in judgment off me! You … the one who made the choice, the one who walked away!”

  “You didn’t give me a choice! You were the one that did not want to give it a change! I begged ….”

  “Don’t be a hypocrite, Clarissa. You made your choice before you even bothered to tell me. It seems your memory of what really happened is a bit blurry. So do not even try to justify what you did! No relationship would have withstood a separation like this! You knew that! Now that I know where you were send to I realize it even more. You knew it would not work, that is why you only told me after you already accepted the job! Don’t even try to deny it!”

  Clarissa stared at him. Hurt flashed in her eyes. Her heart contracted in despair. He would never forgive her. The fact that he married someone else within months of her leaving was testimony to that. But he was right; she knew it would not work. A man as virile and strong as Raymond needed his woman with him. Not just for physical satisfaction, but for emotional satisfaction as well.

  “And let’s not forget how you managed to get this job on top of everything. When I found that out …!” His expression turned viscous and he swung away from her.

  “What do you mean? I got this job on my own, I …”

  His low growl silenced her and noticing that his restrain hung on a thin thread, she choked back the rest of her sentence.

  She bit her lip and turned away, tears blurring her vision. In her deepest heart, she had hoped that one day they would meet again and they would pick up where they had left off … that the years of separation would not have killed their love. Now … she knew better. He did not love her anymore.

  ‘Where … where is your wife?” Behind her, he cursed.

  “Damn you! Is that all you can say! After all these years, that is all you are interested in!”

  He spun her around and her breath woofed out of her as she slammed into his hard chest. Their eyes met and she read the loathing in his blazing gaze. His eyes moved over her face and came to rest on her rosy mouth. Her pink tongue nervously came out to wet her lips and he cursed again.

  “Damn you!”

  His face moved into hers and his mouth closed over hers in a possessive, passionate kiss. A hard kiss, a kiss meant to punish. A kiss similar to the last one he gave her six years ago! Yet she could not stop herself from responding. Her arms moved over his shoulders, clasped his neck and pulled him closer. His arms closed around her and he held her so tight she could hardly breathe.

  His tongue circled her mouth, and as she gasped, his tongue surged inside to spar with hers in an age-old dance of passion. A passion so strong she felt the molten fire running through her veins to pool between her thighs.

  He groaned, pushed her away from him and glared at her in the dim light.

  “Funny isn’t it … how much lust we have for each other … even though we hate each other so strongly!”

  He slammed out the cottage, leaving Clarissa with a bruised mouth and once again with a bruised heart.

  Chapter Four

  Trying to avoid Raymond and the St Claire’s over the next few days proved futile. It seemed everywhere she turned, there they were. Eventually she resorted to nearly locking herself in her office. At least there, she knew she would be safe.

  Safe from Raymond’s’ blazing eyes … filled with … honestly, she was not sure with what! Some days he glared at her with hatred and loathing, other days with spiteful amusement, but always … oh yes … always lustful! It was as though he challenged her to deny what his presence did to her. Challenged her to disregard the fact that he was a married man, with a son … and take him up on his unspoken offer …

  It did not make her safe against Bette however. Since meeting Raymond, she totally forgot about the love of her life and was totally besotted with Ray. She could not stop marveling at all his qualities … as she was at this very moment!

  “Come on Clarissa, you cannot deny that he is an absolute dish! Who would have thought that Mr. St Claire has such a sexy nephew! Those eyes … they look right through you … a shiver run down my spine every time he looks at me! Imagine looking into those eyes hovering above you in the heat of the moment … ooohh, I get quivers just thinking about it!” She hugged herself and Clarissa glared at her in disgust.

  “For goodness sake, Bette, I thought you were hooked up for life. Your own words if my memory serves me right?”

  “Well yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fantasize about the sexiest guy I have ever come across! Be honest … don’t those tight buns of his make your hands itch to … hmmm…”

  Clarissa groaned and turned to her office.

  “No Miss Langston, don’t run off now, I would love to hear your opinion on my …em … buns…”

  Raymond’s amused voice filled her senses and she felt the shiver Bette just described, run down her spine. Oh, God, just his voice turned her legs to jelly, never mind his eyes and his tight … buns!

  She gripped the door handle and turned around to face him, noticing Bette’s burning face in the process. Served her right!

  “Oh, Mr. St Claire … uhm … how long have you been standing there?” Bette’s voice was thin and trembling slightly.

  “Long enough to know how much my … em … physique is being appreciated…” He laughed in genuine amusement. “Relax, Bette is it?” She nodded. “With the total indifference from certain other females, yours are truly appreciated!”

  She giggled, blushed and turned to Clarissa. “Would you excuse me, please … Kevin is waiting for me … oh and before I forget, Trace phoned earlier and asked me to remind you to be ready for your date at eight tonight,” she said leaving the office.

  That wiped the sardonic smile off his mouth immediately. He glared at her. “Another poor soul already hooked up, Miss Langston?”

  She looked at him in disbelief. “Who are you to make a comment like that? You who went off, got married, and had a son before my heels were even cold from leaving! You are such a hypocrite!”

  She walked closer to him all the while she was talking and were nose to nose with him by the time her tirade came to an end. Close enough to notice regret, loss and sadness in his eyes. Or did she? The expressions were so fleeting she might have imagined them; for once again, his eyes turned a molten black and filled with rage and loathing.

  “And you believe it was as easy as all that! You have no one but yourself to blame!”

  With that accusation ringing in her ears, he once again dragged her against his hard chest and his lips were on hers. She felt as though he devoured her – as he did every time he kissed her. His emotions were so strong in the kiss that it astounded her. Once again, she could not help herself. She gave as good as she got. She kissed him back with all the pent-up emotion and longing that lay dormant for so long.

  She could feel his body react to her passion and she cherished in it. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her fingers tangled in the hair at his nape. Her mouth opened like a ripe blossom under his and their tongues tangled in a match of pure passion.

  Raymond groaned and pulled her tighter against his hard body. She could feel the hard ridge of his arousal against her stomach and she sighed into his mouth, her body sighed into his. She felt his body solidifying and he pulled away from her abruptly.

  “No … not again �
� never again!” He spun away and started towards the door.

  “Ray wait! What did you mean … when you said I only had myself to blame? And why did you never tell me that Miguel St Claire is you uncle!”

  He swung his head around and pinned her with a contemptuous stare.

  “You have to ask? Your memory really is short, is it not! Try to figure it out for yourself, my darling. You were always good at it. Believing you always knew what others felt or needed! As far as Uncle Miguel is concerned …” He threw his arms wide. “Your … continued employment in this hotel group is the reason for that! But then again … you always knew whom he was all along, didn’t you?”

  With that sardonic remark, he stomped out of the office and slammed the door behind him. Clarissa covered her mouth with her hand, smothering the sobs that shook her body.

  He believed she knew his connection with the St Claire’s! How could he! They were together for two years in an intimate relationship. Two years, in which he never had any connection with or even spoke about Miguel. How could he believe she knew he was his uncle?

  She did not even know who Miguel St Claire was, or that he owned the Princeton Group, until she met him five years ago on their first holiday trip down here!

  Raymond listened with half an ear to his son chattering away next to him. They were walking down to the beach for a swim. Something his small son insisted on doing every single morning. Not that he minded. He thoroughly enjoyed spending so much time with the little one. Back in Manchester, he was too busy to spend any quality time with him.

  He sighed. It was a good thing he allowed his uncle to talk him into joining them for a holiday. He desperately needed a break. He had been working at a neck break pace for the past six years.

  Ever since Clarissa left, work was all he had. He put all his energy into work. Long hours, day in and day out, week after week … even weekends. It was no wonder Robert were so clingy since they came to the island; he had neglected him horribly.

  He looked down at the bubbling boy walking next to him. Taking long steps, with wide swinging arms, in what he imagined, must be an imitation of him. He smiled and stroked the near black hair. He looked closer at the little face, trying to find something of Linda in him. However, as everyone always said, he was a splitting image of his father and there was no sign of the petite blond woman that mothered him.