Carole Mortimer - A No Risk Affair

by Carole Mortimer

  Sin's arms tightened painfully about her slender waist. 'Is that why you're crying?'

  'Of course not.'

  'Then why…?'

  'He's taken the twins with him!' She began to cry again, seeming unable to stop now that she had started.

  Sin pulled back to look down at her with concerned eyes. 'Brad took the twins away from you?' he rasped angrily.

  She realised from his fury that he had misunderstood her. 'No, no,' she hastened to explain. 'He's just taken them for a visit. And you were gone too '

  'I've been up to London———'

  Even as she realised that she began to pull away, remembering that Caroline had gone there too. 'I know,' she said frostily.

  'You do?' Sin sounded puzzled.

  'Yes.' She stood away from him, regretting her moment of weakness. She may be feeling the loneliest she had ever been, but that was no reason to cry all over a man she would be better to avoid all contact with.

  Sin thrust his hands into the back pockets of his faded denims, the action pulling the bottle-green short-sleeved shirt he wore taut across his muscled chest. 'How did you know?' he frowned.

  She turned away. 'Caroline left for there early this morning, and———'

  'And you think I've been with her?' He spun her around angrily, a dark flush to his cheeks. 'You know damn well why I left here last night— and it had nothing to do with Caroline Masters!' he bit out tautly.

  'Are you saying you haven't been with her today?' she said disbelievingly.

  'I'm saying that after last night I'm not sure it's any of your business!"

  Deep colour heightened her cheeks as she knew she probably deserved the accusation, how could she act jealously when last night he had seen her, to all intents and purposes, in her ex-husband's arms? How could she act jealous at all when she kept denying, to herself as well as to him, that she wanted a relationship with him?

  'Or is it?' Sin asked slowly as he saw the confusion in her expression.

  She swallowed hard, blushing as she looked up at him. What did she want from this man, did she want anything? She hadn't thought she had, but suddenly she wanted him to know exactly what he had seen the previous evening. 'It was Brad's idea of a joke,' she told him tiredly.

  'A joke?'

  She nodded in the face of his disbelief. 'He has a Warped sense of humour.'

  'He would have to have to have found that in the least funny!' Sin growled.

  She could see that he still didn't believe her, and suddenly it was imperative that he did. 'We had been arguing most of the evening, about you mainly.' She evaded his gaze as she saw the sudden interest there. 'And when he heard you coming home he decided to cause a little mischief.' '

  'Mischief!' Sin snorted disgustedly. 'I left here last night with murder in my mind.'

  'Mine?'

  'His! I heard him leave and I wondered if it were just for appearances sake, if he would be coming back later. And if he did I didn't want to be here,' he added grimly.

  'He didn't come back, Sin,' she told him with simple honesty, her gaze frank.

  Sin's eyes were narrowed as he remained unconvinced. 'He doesn't want you?'

  'I don't know what he wants, and I don't particularly care,' she avoided his gaze, unsure any more what Brad wanted. 'But I am sure what

  .1 want,' she had no trouble looking at Sin now. 'I don't want him.'

  'And me?' he queried softly. 'Do you want me?'

  She swallowed] drawing in a steadying breath. That's something else I'm not sure of…'

  Some of the tension seemed to leave him as a wide grin lightened his features, 'Even that's an improvement.'

  'It is,' she frowned.

  'Of course,' he nodded, looking pleased with himself—and more like the Sin she had first met. T came over to see if you and the twins would like to join me for dinner tonight, but in their absence the invitation to you still stands.'

  She hesitated about accepting, aware that the presence of the twins had acted as a sort of defence against Sin's attraction to her, that the thought of being completely alone with him made her nervously aware of her own vulnerability where he was concerned.

  'I'm cooking,' he encouraged softly.

  'That will make a change,' she teasingly fell in with the game he was playing.

  'Wait until you've tried my cooking."

  'The Sunday lunch you cooked was good. What would you be having tonight?'

  'Duck with orange sauce. And——'

  'All right, you've talked me into it,' she smiled'

  'The way to a woman's heart is through her stomach,' he quipped dryly.

  'This woman's it is,' she nodded. 'I've been cooking for you all week.'

  'Would you rather go out for a meal?' he frowned as the thought occurred to him. 'The duck will keep.'

  She wasn't really in the mood to sit in a formal restaurant, would much rather spend the evening quietly with Sin, would still be able to hear her telephone if it rang, worried in case the twins should need "her.' The duck sounds wonderful,' she answered Sin. 'Although I would like to change before we eat.' She looked down ruefully at her slightly creased skirt and blouse.

  He nodded agreement of that. 'Dinner won't be ready for a while anyway. Just come over when you're ready, hmm?'

  'Fine. I—About last night…' She was aware that nothing had been settled between them about that.

  Some of the humour left Sin's face, leaving it hard and uncompromising. 'If you say nothing happened with your ex-husband then I believe you.'

  'Nothing happened. And Caroline?' It was strangely imperative that there be honesty between them.

  He shrugged broad shoulders. 'Whoever she went to London to see it wasn't me.'

  'I'll be over in half an hour,' she told him softly.

  There was an unfamiliar air of excitement about her as she changed into the black gown, knowing that the clinging style hadn't dated in the six years she had had the dress, that the snug-fitting material clearly claimed she wasn't the young girl Sin had first thought her, but a mature woman. Her hair she brushed loosely about her shoulders, her make-up heavier than usual, her eyeshadow brown, her long lashes made to look even longer with the application of mascara, her lipgloss a deep burnt orange. A quick spray of her favourite perfume and she felt more than ready for her evening with Sin, knew that her relationship with him was going to change before the night was over.

  Sin had changed too when he opened the door to her, his black shirt the finest silk, his black trousers moulded to the lean length of legs and thighs, his hair still slightly damp after a shower. He was tall and virile, and Robyn's senses lurched at the sight of him.

  'Just in time for a drink.' He handed her one of the glasses of wine he had just poured. 'Now that you're here I'll put the duck in the oven.'

  Robyn watched in amazement as he took a silver-foil manufacturer's tray out of the refrigerator and put it in the oven. 'I thought you said you were cooking?'

  'I am,' he nodded, putting a similar carton of cooked vegetables in beside the duck.

  "That's cheating,' she gasped incredulously, beginning to laugh.

  Sin gave her a look of feigned innocence. 'I can assure you it's very good. Sunday's lunch came out of similar cartons.'

  She knew the brand name on the cartons, knew the food was of good quality, but even so—!

  'Wait until you try it,' Sin told her confidently. 'It beats slaving over a hot stove any day.'

  She had to admit that the duck melted in her mouth when it was served to her, the orange sauce delicious, the whole meal—although coming from a seemingly endless stream of boxes and tins—was mouth-watering.

  'So tell me,' Sin prompted as they lingered over eating the strawberry cheesecake. 'How often does Brad take the twins off like this?'

  She wasn't really in the mood to sit in a formal restaurant, would much rather spend the evening quietly with Sin, would still be able to hear her telephone if it rang, worried in case the twins should
need "her.' The duck sounds wonderful,' she answered Sin. 'Although I would like to change before we eat.' She looked down ruefully at her slightly creased skirt and blouse.

  He nodded agreement of that. 'Dinner won't be ready for a while anyway. Just come over when you're ready, hmm?'

  'Fine. I—About last night…' She was aware that nothing had been settled between them about that.

  Some of the humour left Sin's face, leaving it hard and uncompromising. 'If you say nothing happened with your ex-husband then I believe you.'

  'Nothing happened. And Caroline?' It was strangely imperative that there be honesty between them.

  He shrugged broad shoulders. 'Whoever she went to London to see it wasn't me.'

  'I'll be over in half an hour,' she told him softly.

  There was an unfamiliar air of excitement about her as she changed into the black gown, knowing that the clinging style hadn't dated in the six years she had had the dress, that the snug-fitting material clearly claimed she wasn't the young girl Sin had first thought her, but a mature woman. Her hair she brushed loosely about her shoulders, her make-up heavier than usual, her eyeshadow brown, her long lashes made to look even longer with the application of mascara, her lipgloss a deep burnt orange. A quick spray of her favourite perfume and she felt more than ready for her evening with Sin, knew that her relationship with him was going to change before the night was over.

  Sin had changed too when he opened the door to her, his black shirt the finest silk, his black trousers moulded to the lean length of legs and thighs, his hair still slightly damp after a shower. He was tall and virile, and Robyn's senses lurched at the sight of him.

  'Just in time for a drink.' He handed her one of the glasses of wine he had just poured. 'Now that you're here I'll put the duck in the oven.'

  Robyn watched in amazement as he took a silver-foil manufacturer's tray out of the refrigerator and put it in the oven. 'I thought you said you were cooking?'

  'I am,' he nodded, putting a similar carton of cooked vegetables in beside the duck.

  "That's cheating,' she gasped incredulously, beginning to laugh.

  Sin gave her a look of feigned innocence. 'I can assure you it's very good. Sunday's lunch came out of similar cartons.'

  She knew the brand name on the cartons, knew the food was of good quality, but even so—

  'Wait until you try it,' Sin told her confidently. 'It beats slaving over a hot stove any day.'

  She had to admit that the duck melted in her mouth when it was served to her, the orange sauce delicious, the whole meal—although coming from a seemingly endless stream of boxes and tins—was mouth-watering.

  'So tell me,' Sin prompted as they lingered over eating the strawberry cheesecake. 'How often does Brad take the twins off like this?'

  Some of the enjoyment went out of the evening for her as she was reminded ,of her children's absence. 'Never before,' she told him softly.

  'Isn't it a little odd that he should do so now?' he frowned.

  'Yes.'

  'Which is why you were so preoccupied when he called last week,' Sin suddenly realised.

  'Yes,' she said again, more flatly this time.

  'I'm sure they will be all right with him, Robyn.' His hand moved to cover hers.

  'I'm sure they will too,' she nodded. 'I just——-'

  her bottom lip quivered precariously as she tried to. control her tears—-and failed. 'I'm sorry to be so silly about this,' she looked about her frantically for a handkerchief as the tears fell in earnest.

  'You're just being a mother,' Sin told her gently, standing up to come round the table and pull her up into his arms. 'Robyn——-'

  'Hold me, Sin,' she choked as she turned into him. 'Please hold me!'

  'God, yes!' His arms tightened convulsively, the gentleness replaced by burning desire. 'I promised myself I wouldn't do this,' he groaned, his face contorted with passion. 'But I need you.'

  'I need you too,' she admitted raggedly, her face raised to his as she received his bruising kiss.

  In Sin's arms, with his mouth and hands working a dizzying magic over her body, she could forget her unhappiness, could think and feel only him, groaning her need as his mouth left hers to travel the length of her throat.

  'I need you,' she repeated mere forcefully.

  He raised his head to look down at her, dark blue eyes searching the anguished desire in her face before he took her hand and led the way up the stairs to his bedroom.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  'No,' she halted his hand as he would have put on all the lights.

  Sin's gaze held hers as he gently but firmly removed her hand. 'There's going to be nothing furtive or illicit about our making love,' he ground out, the lights blazing. 'I'm not ashamed of needing to make love to you, and you shouldn't be ashamed of the way you feel either.'

  'I'm not,' she shook her head.

  'Then why——'

  'I'm shy,' she explained pleadingly. 'Just shy,' she repeated huskily. 'I've only ever been with one man———'

  'And I doubt that he appreciated you as you should be appreciated,' Sin rasped.

  'Until I became big with the twins he did,' she recalled honestly. 'Then he changed.'

  'I don't want to hear about Brad or your marriage to him,' he cut in harshly. 'You're with me now, Robyn.'

  He gave her no chance to explain further about Brad and herself, kissing her with fierceness even as his hand moved to switch out the overhead light, leaving only the glow of the bedside lamp. Robyn relaxed in his arms at his unspoken understanding, feeling the angry tension leaving his body as with a groan his mouth began to devour hers, lasting and gently biting until only their ragged breathing could be heard in the stillness of the room.

  Sin's mouth didn't leave hers as he expertly removed the clinging black dress, leaving her clothed only in peach-coloured bra and panties, his hands causing shock-waves of pleasure through her body, shivering with reaction as the fullness of her breast was suddenly bared to his questing lips.

  'I think,' he said with husky softness, 'that I might be at less of a disadvantage if we were on the bed,' he gently mocked the disparity of their heights.

  Giving him a shy smile she took his hand and led him over to the wide double bed, stopping at its side. 'Shouldn't you undress first?'

  'You undress me,' lie invited.

  Hot colour entered her cheeks. 'I'm not sure I know how,' she admitted gruffly. Brad may like to think of himself as a liberated man, but as husband and wife they had only ever made love beneath the privacy of their bedclothes.

  'Try,' Sin encouraged softly.

  Her movements were hesitant at first, then all the more knowledgeable as she sensed Sin's efforts to maintain control, his breathing shallow as she slipped his shirt from his shoulders, his jaw rigid with tension as she kissed his hardened nipples, his hands clenched at his sides as she glanced up at him with a smile of satisfaction. She was filled with confidence at his unhidden reaction to her caresses, her hands moving lower.

  'No!' he stopped her, the blaze in his eyes almost out of control.

  'Please.' Her eyes were like liquid gold as she pleaded up at him.

  Desire warred with necessity, until finally necessity won. 'I want this to last, Robyn,' he

  told her gruffly as he put her away from him. 'And if I let you touch me any more now it will all be over before it's begun.' He chuckled at the blush in her cheeks. 'It isn't easy to admit that you make me feel like an adolescent!'

  Her confidence restored she gave a throaty laugh as she sat back on the bed. 'In that case I'll just watch the floor-show!' she teased him.

  'Wanton!' he growled as he quickly divested himself of the last of his clothing.

  Robyn felt her pulse rate leap as she gazed at the golden nakedness of his body, the broad shoulders and chest tapering down to a narrow waist, his thighs taut with desire, long- legs firmly muscled. The hair that covered most of his body was slightly darker than that on his head, al
though it still gleamed golden.

  The bed dipped slightly as he joined her there, their mouths fusing in heated passion as they caressed each other with searching hands, Robyn gasping as Sin's palm warmly cupped her womanhood through the lace briefs she still wore, feeling the instant flood of emotion there.

  'Did you like what you saw?' Sin encouraged her verbal lovemaking before taking the dark, peak of one breast into his mouth, his tongue flicking sensuously over its hardness before giving its twin the same consideration.

  Her answer was to tentatively touch what she had seen, her caressing fingers telling of the pleasure she found in his male beauty, feeling him instantly harden and strengthen against her caress.

  'Tell me what else you like,' he urged raggedly. 'Show me, Robyn!'

  During the next few minutes they discovered each other's pleasure spots with unerring accuracy, Robyn at last pleading for his possession of her, as naked as he now, the moist heat between her thighs telling her she was ready for him.

  She gasped out loud as they merged together, Sin filling her completely, utterly, spasms of ecstasy claiming her body as he slowly began to move inside her, his face taut with desire as she looked up at him, clinging to his shoulders as the world seemed to sway beneath her.

  The final ecstasy, when it came, shook her to the very depths of her being, her nails digging into the flesh of his buttocks as she felt him tauten and go over the edge with her, the hoarse groan he gave one of immense and satisfying triumph.

  Robyn breathed in the intoxicating smell of him as they lay still, a part of him as they rested, Sin's chest heaving above her before he gave a shuddering sigh and buried his face in her throat.

  'I hope a night without sleep won't be too much of a strain for you?' he teased later, a satisfied curve to his mouth.

  They didn't go completely without sleep, the short naps they had between increasingly passionate lovemaking more than enough to sustain them, the magic times in Sin's arms more than enough to convince her she was no longer averse to physical love.

  The sun was shining brightly when she at last emerged from beneath the bedclothes, blinking tiredly to focus on reserved blue eyes, Sin lying at her side, the dark blond growth of beard on his chin evidence that he hadn't been up yet either, despite the obvious lateness of the hour.