Ultimatum

by Sally Wentworth

  'Oh, yes! Please.' She hurried after the nurse, hardly aware that Reid was following her.

  Mark lay in the iron-framed bed, an oxygen mask over his mouth and his legs in plaster. His face was badly bruised and there was dried blood still in his hair. He was awake, and managed a feeble smile as she bent to kiss his forehead. Lifting the oxygen mask he mumbled, 'Hell of a mess, aren't I?'

  'Oh, Mark!' Casey was too choked up to do more than hold his hand tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.

  It was Reid who said bracingly, 'Don't worry, we'll soon have you out of here and practising for next year's championships.'

  Mark grinned. 'You should have seen us go.' His eyelids fluttered tiredly and he let the mask fall over his mouth again.

  Casey stood looking down at him, her face very white, then she turned abruptly on her heel to push past Reid and leave the room. But in the corridor she swung round furiously to face him. 'How could you?' she demanded with fierce anger. 'He's lying there half-dead and you remind him about racing! You even encouraged him to go back to it! It's nearly killed him once; do you really think he's going to be fool enough to take it up again?'

  'Why not?' Reid said evenly. 'I did.'

  Casey glared at him. 'Yes,' she agreed bitterly. 'So you did. But that doesn't give you the right to encourage my brother to be as stupid as you.'

  'Casey…' Reid began, reaching out to take her arm.

  But she swung away from him, saying, 'Leave me alone! Just leave me alone,' before turning to run back to the waiting-room. 'I'm going for a walk,' she said to her parents. 'I—I need some air.'

  It was still sunny outside, the streets full of holiday- makers as Casey made her way towards the sea. The tide was out, leaving a deep stretch of wet sand scattered with seaweed and shells for the children to collect and play with. She reached a flight of stone steps leading down from the promenade to the beach and went down them, taking off her shoes at the bottom to walk in bare feet. Picking her way through the people, Casey skirted a huge sand-castle and waited for the donkey rides to pass, then walked on to the soft, wet sand, her feet leaving imprints that immediately filled with water.

  There was a pleasant breeze off the sea that lifted her hair, and she put up a hand to run her fingers through it, lifting her face to the sun as she did so. Once some children splashed her, but she hardly noticed it, and once two young men in the briefest of bathing trunks walked along beside her and tried to pick her up, but the cold, dispassionate look she gave them soon put them off and they left her alone.

  Her mind was filled by the picture of Mark lying there; the reality of the broken legs, the oxygen mask, the metal frame on his head, and all the other apparatus that was keeping him alive, so different and so much harsher than anything she had imagined. OK, so he was lucky and he was going to be all right, but what luck had there been in having had the accident in the first place? It would be months before he was completely well again, and in the meantime what would happen about the exams he had been working for two years to take? And what about the work and hardship it would mean for her parents, who would have to do everything for him until he could walk again? He should never have taken part in the race, not when there was so much to lose. And maybe he wouldn't have done if Reid hadn't encouraged him, hadn't let him practise in his own boats.

  Casey walked along until the beach thinned out and there were very few people, the noise of thousands of holidaymakers determined to enjoy themselves blown away by the breeze, until there was only the sound of the sea and the mewing of seagulls flying overhead, their underbellies pure white, their wings translucent in the sunlight. She turned and went to sit on the dry sand, looking up at the birds as they circled in the sky, riding on the thermals. She watched them for a long time, apparently absorbed in their activity, but her mind was on her brother and on Reid, her thoughts and emotions leading her to an unacknowledged decision.

  From the promenade behind her, where Reid had been following her along, he stood and watched her for a while, then swung himself over the railing and dropped lightly on to the sand. Coming to sit down beside her, he said lightly, 'Hi. Remember me?'

  Casey turned to look at him, somehow not at all surprised to see him. 'Yes, I remember,' she answered levelly.

  'Good.' Deliberately he picked up her hand and carried it to his mouth, kissing her fingers one by one. 'Are you hungry yet?'

  'Yes, I think I am,' she admitted, almost on a note of discovery. 'In fact, I think I could eat a horse.'

  Reid grinned, a look of relief in his eyes. 'OK, why don't we meet up with your parents, and go out and have a bottle of champagne to celebrate Mark's recovery?'

  Casey pursed her lips. 'I hardly think that's appropriate,' she said, getting to her feet.

  Reid stood up beside her. 'Why not? He's young and strong, in a few months he'll have forgotten this ever happened.'

  'And then he'll go back to power-boat racing?'

  'Yes, if he wants to.'

  'Just like you did?'

  'Casey, I…'

  'Reid, I don't want you to race any more. Please, say you won't. Please give it up.' Her eyes were on his face, wide and entreating, her voice so appealing that it caught at his heart.

  But Reid stuffed his hands, tightly curled into fists, into his pockets, 'I've been waiting for you to come out with this,' he said shortly. 'You've been building up to say it to me ever since you heard about Mark.'

  'And is it so unnatural?' Casey burst out. 'I love you. I don't want to see you lying there like Mark. So ill. So hurt.'

  'No, of course it's not unnatural. But you're speaking out of the emotions you're feeling now. You've been through a hell of a lot and you're punch-drunk and afraid. In a few days when you're feeling rested and when you see Mark continuing to improve, you'll realise that this isn't the disaster you think it is at the moment.'

  'No,' Casey broke in angrily. 'I'm not going to let you talk me into believing that it isn't dangerous. Mark could have been killed and so could you. It could have left Mark as a vegetable if his brain had been damaged, and…' she hesitated but then added brutally, 'and it's left you half-blind. I'm sorry, Reid, I know you love racing, but I hope that you love me more. I couldn't…' Her voice broke. 'I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you. I just couldn't.'

  'Nothing's going to happen to me,' Reid said firmly, taking a step towards her and catching her hands. 'Look, you've never even seen a race. Will you come to the next one, see for yourself?'

  'No, I don't want to watch you. I'd be terrified the whole time. Just say you'll give it up, Reid. Please.'

  His brow creasing into a frown, he said, tersely, 'I'm not going to discuss it now—you're too upset. Let's go back to the hotel and find your parents.'

  'I shan't change my mind, Reid,' she told him defiantly, but he only took hold of her hand and walked her silently back along the beach.

  Her parents readily accepted Reid's invitation to dinner in the restaurant at the hotel and each couple went up to their bedroom to change.

  There was tension between Reid and Casey, although Reid did his best to dispel it by talking matter-of-factly about other things while they unpacked. Casey went into the bathroom to shower and put on a soft pink halter- necked dress, to do her face and hair and add matching high-heeled sandals. When she came out into the lamplit bedroom Reid, waiting for her in an immaculate dark suit, caught his breath, feeling again the familiar ache for her deep in his loins. 'You look very lovely,' he told her, taking her hand.

  'Thank you.' Casey gave a small laugh. 'I'm also very hungry.'

  'Let's go down, then. I expect your parents will be waiting.' But he couldn't resist drawing her to him to kiss her, and slipping a proudly possessive arm round her waist as they went down to dinner.

  It was a quietly happy meal, all of them not a little tired with the relief that comes after a great worry has lifted. They ate their first decent meal in more than two days, and drank to Mark's speedy recovery in the champag
ne that Reid had promised.

  'Although I feel guilty sitting here eating and drinking like this when Mark's lying in hospital,' Mrs Everett confided.

  'Nonsense,' her husband chided her. 'He'd be the first to encourage you. Besides, he'll be able to eat tomorrow and you'll be able to take him lots of things in. All the things he likes.'

  Casey's mother nodded, brightening, and looked across at her and Reid. 'And you two will be able to go on a belated honeymoon now that Mark's out of danger. I

  do hope you'll be able to get another flight.'

  Casey smiled but didn't commit herself, and before long they all rose, and went up to their rooms.

  'Who's going to have the bathroom first?' Reid asked lightly, taking off his jacket.'

  'You can, if you like. You'll probably be quicker than me.'

  While he was in there Casey took out the nightdress she had chosen for her wedding-night, beautiful cream lace and silk that contrived to be both modest and seductive. Taking off her shoes and dress, she sat down at the dressing-table and brushed her hair, then picked up her nightdress to go into the bathroom as Reid came out in his bathrobe. He held out his hand as she went to go past him and she stopped, turning to look at him. 'Don't be long,' he said huskily.

  When she came out twenty minutes later, he was half lying on the bed. The curtains were drawn and only the bedside lamp lit the room. Getting quickly to his feet, Reid came towards her, his eyes smouldering with desire, his whole body taut with the strength of his need for her. 'Oh, Casey, you're so lovely.' Reaching out he gently stroked her bare arms, then moved his hands behind her to draw her towards him and kiss her with deep tenderness.

  Casey stood very still, letting him do what he wanted, feeling his passion increase as he touched her, as he kissed her throat and her eyes, murmuring endearments, telling her how much he loved her. He put a hand in her hair and kissed her unresisting mouth with ever-deepening need. His hand was hot on her skin and she could feel the tension in his fingers, feel the tremors of anticipation that ran through his taut body.

  She pulled a little away from him, her own voice unsteady as she said, 'Aren't you—going to put on your pyjamas?'

  Reid smiled, his hand caressing her throat. 'I never wear them.'

  'Oh.' She looked up into his face, having to tilt her head higher now that she wasn't wearing shoes. Her heart was thumping in her chest and her body filled with the ache of longing. But she loved him so much and love must come first. She had to tell him that. 'Reid,' she burst out. 'I love you. I love you more than anything in the world!'

  'And I you, my darling,' he said raggedly.

  He would have held her close again, but Casey put out her arms to hold him off. 'Will you promise me something? Please?'

  'Of course. Anything.' His voice was thick and impassioned, little beads of desire on his lip.

  'Then promise me that you'll give up racing. Please, Reid, if you love me, say you'll give it up.'

  He grew still, his eye closing and his teeth gritted as if he was in pain. His fingers dug into the flesh of her arms as he said, 'Now? Do you have to ask me that now?'

  'Yes. I—I have to have your promise.'

  Opening his eye Reid stared at her. 'And if I refuse— what then, Casey? What will you do?'

  She gazed at him in consternation. 'But you said you would promise me anything.'

  'But I want to know,' he insisted. 'I want to know what you would do if I refuse to give up racing.'

  Casey blinked, then took a determined step away from him. 'Then I—then I should have to say that I won't— won't go to bed with you until you do,' she answered firmly, her chin tilted in defiance.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  There was a shattering silence between them that seemed to go on for ever. Reid stared at her, his face suddenly drained of colour. 'My God,' he said at last, on a harsh, disbelieving note. 'You'd go that far?' She didn't answer and he said bitterly, 'And I thought you loved me.'

  'I do. Oh, Reid, I do. So much. Can't you understand? It's because I love you that I want you to give it up.' She put a hand on his sleeve, almost shaking him in her urgency.

  'Love!' Reid gave a harsh laugh. Suddenly he reached out and caught her arm, spun her round so that she could see herself in the full-length mirror attached to the wardrobe. 'Look at yourself,' he commanded, his hand tightening. 'Do you see how you look? But then you already know, don't you?' he added jeeringly. 'You know that you look seductive and beautiful with your hair brushed about your head and that nightdress clinging to you. And that lace…' His voice broke. 'You know how badly I want you. That I've been longing for this moment, when I'll make you truly my wife. Christ, Casey, I'd never have believed you could be so cruel,' he told her, dropping her arm, his voice full of pain and bitterness.

  'I'm not. Oh please, Reid, try to understand. All the time we were at the hospital waiting, and when I saw

  Mark lying there so badly hurt—all the time I was realising how I'd feel if it had been you who had been hurt. I—I couldn't bear it. I'm sorry if you think I'm a coward, but I love you so much that I just couldn't bear to see you hurt. And—and I couldn't live with that kind of worry.' She paused, biting her lip, realising from Reid's set face that her words were making no impression on him. Drawing herself up, she said more forcefully, 'I don't want to spend my life worrying about you every time you go away to race. Worrying about whether you're going to come home in one piece—or whether you're going to come home at all.'

  Reid looked at her with cold but intense fury. 'You knew that I raced before you agreed to marry me.'

  'But you told me that it was safe. And look what happened to Mark!'

  'Because he's inexperienced. He's only a novice.'

  Angrily Casey burst out, 'But you weren't a novice last year when you were hurt! What are you going to do— keep racing till you get killed? Or just till you're blinded in the other eye, too?'

  His control snapping, Reid took a furious stride towards her. Casey backed away from him, but he caught her and dragged her to him, bending her backwards as he kissed her with savage anger. His lips pressed against hers until she had to open her mouth. His kiss redoubled its intensity, trying to force from her the submission that he so desperately wanted, his frustration driving him to a violence that he would never otherwise have shown. His hand went to the lace at her bodice, tearing it aside to reveal her breast. He strove to arouse her to a desire to match his own, tried to make her forget everything but the sexual need for fulfilment.

  Casey gave a moaning cry and tried to push him away, but Reid bent her body back so that he could reach her breast with his mouth, one hand in her hair so that she couldn't struggle, the other pulling the soft silk away from her other breast so that he could fondle it while his mouth pulled and sucked at her burning nipple.

  Desire flooded through her veins like an erupting volcano and Casey shuddered convulsively. Her hands went to his shoulders and she writhed under his hands and mouth, beads of perspiration on her skin, her mouth opening on a long moan of pleasure. Reid's fingers lightened in an involuntary movement of triumph as he thought that he had won, but from somewhere Casey found the strength to twist suddenly out from under him and break away. She began to run towards the bathroom, but tripped and fell on to the bed.

  Reid came after her, grabbing her as she tried to roll off the other side and dragging her back. He put a leg across her, straddling her as he knelt over her, his robe hanging loose so that she could see his hard nakedness. Catching hold of her wrists, Reid held them on either side of her head, his face dark with anger and desire, his breathing ragged and panting.

  There were tears in Casey's eyes and her voice was broken and uneven as she said fiercely, 'You can do what you want now, can't you? I can't stop you. But I—I won't be a part of it. You'll have to—to take me, Reid.' She glared up at him defiantly. 'If you want me, you'll have to rape me—unless you give me that promise.'

  'You blackmailing little bitch!' For a momen
t his hands tightened on her wrists as his jaw thrust forward menacingly. 'I've a good mind to do just that.' But then his eye grew bleak and he suddenly rolled off her and stood with his back to her, desperately striving to regain control of his emotions, his knuckles showing white as he retied his robe.

  With trembling fingers, Casey pulled the torn silk and lace across her breasts and sat up. She looked at Reid's back, hunched as if he was in pain, and waited for him to speak, not having looked further forward than this moment.

  As if it was a physical effort, Reid straightened up and turned to look at her, his face so cold and withdrawn that Casey's heart felt chilled by it. 'All right,' he said acidly, 'you've stated your terms and I don't accept them. So what now?'

  'You—you mean you won't give it up?'

  'No.' It was a flat, categorical denial.

  Casey stared at him in consternation. She had been so sure that he would capitulate. That his need for her would have been too strong for him to resist. On a desolate note she said, 'You can't—you can't love me, then.'

  He didn't reply, just stood in cold silence and she felt her heart harden within her. But she lifted her head hopefully when he at last said gratingly, 'Yes, I love you. And I can understand you wanting me to give up racing. But I shall never forgive you for trying to force me into it like this. Not tonight. Especially not tonight,' he said bitterly.

  Going over to the chest of drawers, he took a bottle of whisky that they had bought on the plane from the duty- free bag and poured himself out a stiff drink. 'Do you want one?'

  She opened her mouth to refuse, but then changed her mind. 'Yes, please.'

  Sitting down on the other edge of the bed, Reid handed her the glass, his eyes lingering on her broodingly. 'We could have sat down together and worked this out. It didn't have to be a head-on confrontation like this. However deeply you felt about it, Casey, it could have waited, because nothing is as important as tonight. Or it shouldn't have been.' Her hands had relaxed a little as she held the glass and the torn lace had slipped down, revealing the upturning curve of her breast. His jaw tightening, Reid went on, 'We could still discuss it in a couple of days' time. I could promise you that if it will make you happy. We could go into it, talk it through and…'