“Twenty.”
So very young, he thought, with a hint of bitterness flowing through his mind. Yet surely she is still old enough to have had some experience with a man. “You are twenty, very beautiful and there has never been anyone else?” He laughed briefly in a forced way. Why me? he wondered, but thought he knew the answer. Wasn't it the same reason why all women chased after him?
She was a gorgeous young woman – but her beauty had not yet been enough to lift her out of her humdrum existence and into the kind of lifestyle such beauty could find. Was her sweet cheerful attitude a cultivated persona? Did she realise just how much her God given beauty could propel her forwards in life? Was she aware of just how easy it is to exchange her beauty for riches? Is this why she gave herself away to him? And had Carlos walked straight into her snare?
Carlos felt dryness in his throat. He had a sixth sense when it came to gold-diggers and yet he had been like putty in her hands. His whole life had been shaped by a gold-digger and he wasn't about to get himself trapped again. Those big blue eyes, her bright sensual lips and that personality which was so naïve and yet worldly had pulled him in like a lamb.
Sarah could sense the contempt within him and sat upright with a feeling that she wanted to run. She thought she might cry or do something equally as stupid. Leaving seemed the safest course of action. How had she been so gullible to get herself into this position with a man who so clearly held her in contempt?
“There has never been anybody else. I apologise if I have been such a disappointment to you but I can promise I will not be bothering you again.” She flung the quilt to one side and wriggled down the bed a little as she swung her legs over the side. Carlos reached his hand over and held her at the waist.
“Where are you going?”
“I am going to go home. I didn't realise just how bad it was to make love with a man. You should have shown me your questionnaire and rule book. The one which says no virgins need apply. Now take your hand off, I am going.”
“No.” He kept a grip of her and his voice stayed firm. “You are staying here.”
“You plan on holding me hostage?”
Carlos laughed at her protestations. “Your innocent virgin routine is going a little too far now. I don't intend to keep you here against your will. Just come back here and stop fighting me. There is little reason to fight me and we both know you don't want to.” He pulled her gently towards him and her warm body fell back into his arms.
He was right. She didn't want to fight him. She wanted to lay in his arms and she wanted him to start kissing her again, just like he had kissed her earlier. Her body was wanting him anyway. Her mind was being a little more proud. Her mind was trying to be strong and to take her away so this dark and dangerous man couldn't lead her into any more trouble.
“Leave me alone!” She spoke the words but her heart wasn't in what she had said.
“No.” Carlos kissed her and could feel a momentary resistance before her lips parted and began responding to his demands with demands of her own. Kissing her now they had made love felt different. He could feel her arousal and the warm intimacy. His tongue sought hers and they flicked together in a sensual dual until he pulled his head away and looked down at her face. “I do find it strange. A woman, as gorgeous as you, and still a virgin? How does that happen? Millions of men would travel thousands of miles to meet a beauty like you.”
She didn't feel that she owed him any kind of explanation. She didn't owe it to him nor to anyone else. But her pride made her want to tell him, even if it was just to prove she wasn't some kind of tramp. She was a woman who had taken a decision and wouldn't have regretted it for a second if only he stopped reacting in this way.
“I don't know about a million men, but some men for sure.” His eyes were looking deep into her eyes as if seeking out the answers. “Most of them I had grown up with, and they were just like brothers to me. It would have seemed strange to sleep with any one of them.”
“Is that it?” His questioning was cold. “That’s all of your experience?”
“Well a few others.” She could see his eyes piercing into hers as though she were under a spotlight, undergoing interrogation. “Mainly married men who tried hitting on me.”
He could understand that. She was full of sin and temptation and would be a perfect mistress for one who was locked inside a dying relationship and needed a sexual diversion. But who would have imagined that such a curvaceous sexual being would prove to be a virgin? Then his mind reminded him, former virgin. “But you had no interest in married men?”
Sarah felt her mouth tighten at his comment. “As it happens, no. I have never thought it to be acceptable to get off with another woman's husband.”
“How do you know I don't have a wife?” He stared at her in a challenging way, locking her eyes to his.
She hesitated a moment. “No.”
“How can you be sure? Are you sure about that, Sarah?”
“I am. You are not a dishonourable type and I don't believe you would do such a thing.”
Carlos shuddered at the thought. How trusting this woman was – surely it is ridiculously naïve to place that amount of trust in a person whom you have known for just a day or two. Did she still think him a honourable man after what they had just done? His entire plan for the evening had been to get her into his bed. He had no thoughts or designs on her for the future. She was a temporary partner for him, nothing more. And yet the way she spoke to him made him think that Sarah was not like the ordinary gold-diggers he was accustomed too. She had a pride in the way she spoke and acted, he knew she wasn't there because her net had been cast to ensnare a rich lover.
But she had offered up her virginity to him and he was no more than a stranger to her. Why would she do that?
Using the back of his hand he stroked the long blond hair lying along the pillow, then leaned in towards her face where he was hit with the gentle aroma of her perfume. That smell at once sent a surge of lust through his veins. “Let me kiss you again. Making love a second time is always much better than the first time.”
“I don't think so, Carlos. You have already been clear. This evening has been a big mistake and I really should get dressed and leave.”
“You don't mean that.”
“I – I do.”
He slid his hand down her shoulder across the top of her breast before cupping it in his hand, gently squeezing and stroking her breast so her nipple hardened. “Are you sure you want to leave?”
Her eyes had a close up of his rugged jawline, his heated body was pressed against hers and as he caressed her she could feel her resolve weakening. Her mind was issuing warnings but her body had been hypnotised to react in a different way. There was a helplessness to do anything other than let her body blend into his as he continued playing with her nipple. “I should go,” she whispered. The quiet tone of her voice and the lack of conviction was apparent to her immediately after she had spoken the words. She was enjoying this new experience and, as she noted the contradiction of what she was saying compared to the way her body was feeling, she smiled inwardly to herself.
“You should stay. It is much too late to analyse what we should or should not have done. We are where we are now and it is better to make the most of what we have. Shouldn't we explore each other some more and improve our situation rather than regret this evening?”
“Yes.” She had barely managed the one word response before her mouth was covered by kisses as Carlos pressed over his desire to have her again. As his body rolled over, her hand naturally moved to his firm silky buttock which she held tightly to help pull him in towards her.
“Yes, Sarah. Yes.”
Their second time was very different to the first. This time Carlos showed her that love-making didn't have to be urgent and frantic; instead it was slow and deep. He wanted to please her and as he felt her trembling body underneath him he pulled her close to him as he waited for her to grow still.
Afterwards she r
ested her head on his chest and listened to the beating of his heart and the sound of his breath as it slowed. She wanted reassurance from him. She wanted him to tell her that what they had done this night was not a sin, that it wasn't wrong to want each other.
“Carlos?” She asked.
“Hush Sarah, my dear. Don't spoil anything by talking. Let's sleep.”
Sarah felt as if she had been brushed away in a most undiplomatic fashion, but was too tired to protest. Her body had been through new experiences and she was emotionally drained too. Expecting to talk to him shortly she allowed her eyelids to close and soon fell into a deep sleep.
She awoke to a brief moment of uncertainty as she glanced at her surroundings not knowing where she was. A giant crumpled bed in a well lit room with two tall, wide windows. Her memory restored she could hear the sound of water flowing in a shower. Her head hit the pillow once more and she must have slept again because when she next looked up there was Carlos stood by the window, fully dressed. He had on a dark suit and a shirt, the same as the day before. As she sat up a little resting backwards on her elbows under the duvet, she noticed he was tying a knot in his tie. Carlos turned to look at her as she moved and their eyes met.
Sarah's first emotion was one of shyness. She then realised a disorientation as she began coming to terms with this new set of circumstances. She felt alone, she was unsure what she should do next. He had been quick to leap out of the bed that morning, to leave the woman who had given herself to him so readily.
On seeing her awake, Carlos walked over to her and planted a kiss on her lips. “Good morning, Sarah.” The kiss was formal, nothing like the passionate kisses of the night before. This was a cool man who seemed to bear no resemblance to the naked, passionate man she had been to heaven with the night before. The man she had made love with was no longer there. What was she to do next?
“Help yourself to a shower. It is just through there.” He waved his hand towards a door. He brought his hand to her head and ran his fingers through her hair. “You look disappointed. Please don't be. You looked so peaceful as you slept that I wanted to leave you in peace. I have an early training session and some meetings later so I must get going.”
Carlos knew in his heart he was not speaking to her with the full truth. He had awoken and immediately felt uncomfortable. He had regrets on his mind, even though his body had instantly renewed its desire for her as he watched her sleeping. Though he had made her initiation into the pleasures of sex as satisfactory as he could, he also knew that the situation could become very complex for him. He didn't want her to form any kind of attachment to him and he didn't want her to think he could reciprocate. So it would be best for both of them to make a clean break. Draw a line under a most pleasurable and memorable evening and move on. Release her now before she got in too deep and was hurt.
“You could have a bath if you prefer. It's up to you.”
Sarah smiled at him for his concern but she was forcing the smile. If a man wanted you for more than a few moments of passion he wouldn't be talking about arrangements in the bathroom. This was the morning after, she thought. He wants me gone. He is polite but this is a very definite goodbye. She wasn't going to object to his morning coldness. She had her dignity and her pride and being tossed aside would not dent either. Just keep smiling she reasoned.
“Thanks, I will be fine. I am due in at nine so I shall just have a shower and get straight into work.”
“Great. Elaine will serve you breakfast. Just tell her what you want and she will sort it.”
The thought of seeing Elaine at the breakfast table filled Sarah with dread. Sitting there in the same clothes she had had on the night before and feeling like the latest in a long line of conquests? No thanks, I can always grab something in Manchester later. I would rather go hungry than suffer the humiliation of being served breakfast alone, she thought.
“You can take the driver too. He will take you where you want to go.”
This chatter coming out of his mouth had no relation to what they had done the night before. It didn't seem that the man who she had been writhing under as he explored her body could possibly be the same person. Where had he gone?
Their eyes met again and this time there was a silence which seemed to hang in the air as it continued, becoming more awkward as each moment passed. She so desperately wanted to break the silence, but what could she say? She could only think about how she had surrendered her virginity to a man who now appeared to be desperately embarrassed about having taken it.
“I will ring you, Sarah.”
She smiled another fake smile and nodded her head. She knew with an aching in her stomach that she did not believe he would ever ring her. He had got what he wanted and now he was easing himself away with a few false platitudes and a polite demeanour. She would be history by that afternoon. Feeling trapped, Sarah sat there hugging the quilt for protection. She may have been happy pressing her naked body against his the night before but she was not going to leap out of bed and walk naked across the bedroom in front of him.
He could sense her discomfort and rather than carry on, he just turned and left. Sarah heard the door go downstairs and knowing he had left made her way to the bathroom for a shower.
The freshness of the shower was great, but having to put on the same clothes from last night just cancelled out the cleansing luxury of the water.
Making her way downstairs hoping to avoid the breakfast table she ran into Elaine who seemed to be lurking around, waiting for her. Making her excuses, she avoided a prolonged talk and Elaine ensured the car and driver would be ready for her. What seemed like a short drive later, Sarah soon found herself back in familiar territory as she stood on the pavement outside the door to work.
Her imagination seemed to be playing tricks with her as she made her way into Puxley's staff entrance. The doorman gave her an unusual look – but he couldn't possibly know anything or read her mind, could he? No, it is just a case of paranoia, no one knows, just get changed and carry on.
She took the lift down to the staff room located in the basement and headed towards the changing rooms. As she pushed the swing doors open to enter she noticed two uniform wearing figures look at her, standing up as they did so. It was a man and a woman in Puxley's security uniforms. They were clearly interested in Sarah, she could tell, and for a moment her heart surged as she wondered why they had their focus on her.
“Sarah Daykin?” said the man.
“Yes, that's me.” She smiled innocently to mask the growing fear in her stomach. The woman took out a notepad and released the pencil from its spine.
“Sarah Daykin, can you come with us please?”
“Why? What is it?” she enquired.
“We have been informed that you may have been engaged in fraudulent activity and we need to ask you a few questions prior to getting the police involved.”
“What!” Sarah's word was an instant denial in tone. So ludicrous was the accusation that she felt it must be some kind of joke and half expected them to burst into laughter. But the expressions on their faces remained stern and serious. As she gazed into their faces for signs of this being one of her colleagues practical jokes she began to tremble uncontrollably. She soon realised this was no joke.
“I don't believe it. You are making a terrible mistake.”
Chapter 4
A wry smile flashed across Carlos's face when he saw Sarah's name flash on the screen of his mobile phone. His smile quickly turned to a frown as he thought it was only an hour since he had last seen her. He did say he would call her, not that he really intended to. But then his mind drifted to the thought of pressing himself against her luscious curvy body causing the blood to search through his veins.
Carlos had spent the morning congratulating himself for being so selfless. It really would be better for her to allow the relationship to end. Sarah was an innocent young woman and it was for her benefit that Carlos decided a heart-breaker such as himself was an inappropriat
e choice. Soon she will be back in the Lake District, then it would be Christmas and soon after that she would forget all about him. Better to let it finish now, than to start an affair which would end soon enough anyway.
But Sarah's name flashing on his screen caused images of her naked body to flicker through his memory and instinctively he clicked the answer button.
“ Sarah?” His tone was questioning and registered a degree of alarm; why else would she be ringing him if it wasn't because something was wrong? As he listened to her pour out an incoherent string of words he realised something was wrong, but what? He heard the words 'fraud' and 'arrest' but could make no sense of anything else.
“ Sarah, just calm down and tell me what is wrong. I cannot make out a word you are saying.”
“I have been detained by the security at the store. They are saying I should get some legal help.”
“Legal help? Whatever for.”
“Yes. It's all a big mistake but it's getting serious. Carlos, you know those gift sets you bought...”
He interrupted her because he knew he had to take control of the situation. Getting to the bottom of what had happened would not be possible on the phone with Sarah in her current state of mind. “Just wait right there, I am coming straight over.”
The chauffeur took Carlos straight round to Puxley's. He entered the store and demanded to see the manager who took him to the offices on the top floor. He was led into a room where he found Sarah, her face tear-stained, and two stern looking security guards.
“So this is your lawyer,” said the female security guard as she stood in a formal posture attempting to look important.
Sarah felt lifted immediately as she saw Carlos stride into the room, noticing how formidable and strong he looked. Thank goodness he was here, now all he had to do was explain why there had been so much confusion.
Billionaire's Defiant Mistress Page 5
