Wife By Contract, Mistress By Demand

by Mortimer, Carole

  And he was sounding more and more like a disgruntled lover than the husband that had been foisted on her, he recognized ruefully.

  ‘Come down and have a nightcap with me, Gabriella,’ he invited huskily.

  Gabriella looked at him questioningly for several seconds, wondering at his motives for the invitation. They were hardly friends, so what possible reason could there be for them to have a cosy nightcap together?

  Her brow cleared as the answer came to her. ‘I’m not in the mood for sex this evening, Rufus,’ she dismissed scathingly.

  ‘Not in the mood for—Hell, Gabriella,’ he rasped impatiently. ‘Did I so much as mention anything about the two of us going to bed together?’ He scowled darkly.

  No, he hadn’t. But she couldn’t think of another reason why he would want to spend time with her at eleven o’clock at night.

  She gave a humourless smile. ‘We don’t usually talk about it—we just do it!’

  He winced slightly. ‘You’re still annoyed with me about last night. I thought I explained the reason I was in bed with you—’

  ‘Why on earth should I be annoyed because you invaded my bed, my dreams, without invitation?’ Her hand tensed on the stair-rail.

  This wasn’t going at all well, Rufus thought, frustrated. His offer of sharing a nightcap together had been just that, with no ulterior motive on his part.

  Although he could see why Gabriella might think there was one…

  So far in their relationship—Majorca excluded!—he had been the one to initiate all their lovemaking, Gabriella always responding—mind-blowingly so!—but never actually making the first move.

  ‘How about we make a deal that the next time we make love it will be at your invitation?’ he suggested wryly.

  Her eyes widened before narrowing suspiciously. ‘You would keep to an agreement like that?’

  What the hell sort of man did she think he was?

  A man who couldn’t keep his hands off her for longer than a few hours at a time, that was what sort of man he was!

  But that was because—

  Because what?

  He wasn’t sure…

  He had lived without love in his life for so long he wasn’t sure he would recognize it any longer!

  He did know he wanted Gabriella. All the time. He also knew that, for the most part, he enjoyed her feistiness. He enjoyed looking at her, too; she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.

  He also had every reason to distrust her.

  But did he?

  That was what he wasn’t sure about any more…

  And until he was, it might be better, for both of them, if they didn’t cloud the situation with this physical attraction that was so immediate every time they were together.

  ‘Yes, I would keep to an agreement like that,’ he agreed harshly. ‘Now will you come down and have a nightcap with me?’ he added impatiently, already starting to feel the pangs of self-denial. Just looking at Gabriella made him burn with wanting her, the denims she wore moulding to the tightness of her bottom, her breasts bare beneath a clinging black tee shirt.

  Obviously if he was going to keep his word he had better get used to taking a lot of cold showers!

  Should she go down and have a drink with him? Gabriella wondered. What would it really achieve, apart from increasing this ache she had to launch herself into his arms?

  ‘Holly spoke to me earlier about your suggestion she take riding lessons,’ Rufus told her softly.

  Ah, he wanted to discuss his daughter. That was different.

  ‘A small brandy might be nice.’ She unclenched her fingers from the stair-rail, turning to walk down the five steps to the hallway.

  She wasn’t quite so sure once the two of them were ensconced in the cosy warmth of the small family sitting-room, having become even more aware of Rufus as he sat in the armchair opposite her. Aware of the strength of his arms under the white tee shirt, of his long legs encased in black denims stretched out in front of him as he relaxed back in the chair cradling his glass of brandy with his long, sensitive hands.

  Hands that she loved to feel caressing her body as he drove her—

  Great!

  They had agreed that if there was to be any more physical contact between them, it would have to come from her, and within ten minutes of making that agreement she wanted him so badly she couldn’t think straight!

  She swirled the brandy round in her own glass before taking a swallow, filled with a different warmth now as the alcohol hit her empty stomach.

  She had met up with a couple of girlfriends for wine and nibbles, but had eaten nothing else since breakfast this morning. Too much of this brandy and Rufus could be throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her up to bed after all—unconscious!

  ‘You mentioned Holly’s riding lessons…?’ she prompted, carefully putting the glass of brandy down on the table, not intending to drink any more of it.

  ‘Yes.’ Rufus watched her through narrowed lids, his thoughts, as usual, unreadable. ‘She said that you intend driving her to the riding stable where you used to go.’

  ‘If you’re agreeable, of course.’ She nodded. ‘I’ve never bothered to get a car, living in France and then London, but I do drive, and I’m sure there are several cars here that I could borrow for the morning.’

  ‘I wasn’t questioning how you were going to get her there, Gabriella,’ he drawled ruefully.

  ‘Then what were you questioning?’ She frowned, the warmth of the brandy spreading through her whole body now.

  Rufus shrugged. ‘Whether or not you’re sure you want to be bothered with actually taking her?’

  She had finally felt as if she was making some progress with Holly earlier today, the little girl’s pleasure in the book she had bought her completely unaffected, as had been her excitement when Gabriella had mentioned the riding lessons. But if Rufus would rather take her to riding lessons himself…

  ‘Fine,’ she snapped dismissively. ‘I’ll give you the telephone number of where I used to go if you want to take her there, but I’m sure there must be lots of other riding schools around here if you prefer to go somewhere else.’

  Rufus gave a pained grimace, feeling slightly as if he were banging his head against a brick wall where she was concerned this evening. ‘Gabriella, I wasn’t suggesting that you didn’t take Holly, only giving you a let-out if you would rather not.’

  ‘And why wouldn’t I want to take her when I’ve already offered to do so?’ she challenged.

  He gave a heavy sigh. ‘Gabriella, what have I done that’s put you so much on the defensive?’

  Done?

  What had he done?

  He knew damn well what he had done!

  Or perhaps he had thought that David Brewster wouldn’t tell her about the divorce papers he’d had the lawyer draw up!

  She had been able to hear the shock in David Brewster’s voice when she’d telephoned him earlier today and asked him if he intended telling Rufus about the agreement she’d had drawn up, and he had assured her he had absolutely no intention of telling Rufus anything about it until the appropriate time.

  But he had also told her why he had been trying to contact Rufus…

  Normally, she was sure that the lawyer wouldn’t have done, but as David Brewster had been dealing with both of them on this matter he’d had no reservations about telling her that their divorce papers were all ready for submission on the appropriate date.

  As Mr Gresham had requested…

  As Rufus had requested.

  No doubt immediately after Rufus had walked in on Gabriella and Toby talking together.

  Which meant he definitely hadn’t believed a word she’d said.

  Again.

  And now he wondered what he had done to put her on the defensive!

  So much for her realizing she was still in love with him!

  Her eyes glittered with anger as she looked at him. ‘I wasn’t aware that I had ever stopped being on t
he defensive,’ she scorned, standing up abruptly. ‘Let me know what you decide to do about Holly’s riding lessons.’

  Rufus stood up restlessly, totally frustrated by this conversation. He had come back from New York, a slightly different man from when he had gone away, having witnessed Jen’s love for Rob as she’d slowly watched his life ebb, and seeing her complete devastation when he had literally faded away. He knew it was going to take her months, if not years, to come to terms with what had happened.

  In the same way his father had when Heather had died. In fact, his father’s love for Heather had been so deep that he hadn’t wanted to go on without her.

  Rufus wished now that he had got to know Heather better, wished that he hadn’t allowed his cynicism and disillusionment after his disastrous marriage to Angela to colour that relationship.

  As it had coloured his relationship with Gabriella.

  Women were only after what they could get, he had decided after his divorce from Angela, and the fact that his father had given Heather thousands of pounds before they were even married had only seemed to confirm that belief.

  But looking back he couldn’t see how his father, a shrewd as well as intelligent man, could have been so deeply in love with a woman who was equally manipulative and conniving as Angela had proved herself to be. Which seemed to imply that Heather hadn’t been like that at all, that there had been a perfectly legitimate reason for her needing that money.

  A reason Gabriella flatly refused to share with him.

  And who could blame her after the things he had said about her mother? About her, too.

  Yes, he had changed, Rufus realized, and not just because he had witnessed Jen’s loss. His burning need for Gabriella was also making him question opinions and decisions he had made based on his own cynical disillusionment.

  Unfortunately, he had changed, but the damage and hurt he had caused, especially to Gabriella, were still very much to the forefront as far as she was concerned!

  And so governed every word she said to him.

  If he ever wanted things to be any different between them then it was up to him to try to change that.

  ‘I’ve already decided what to do about Holly’s riding lessons,’ he told Gabriella huskily. ‘I would like you to take her. If you’re sure you don’t mind?’

  Gabriella looked at him inquisitively, finding no answers in the hard resolve of his face. ‘I wouldn’t have offered if I did,’ she dismissed.

  He shrugged. ‘It’s a long-term commitment.’

  ‘If she’s still interested in six months’ time, when this is all over, I’m sure you’ll be able to drive Holly to her lessons,’ she said dryly.

  Once they had separated.

  And she was safely out of both his and Holly’s lives.

  ‘You’ll still be her aunt Gabriella even then,’ Rufus pointed out.

  She gave him a frowning glance, wondering why he even wanted to point out that tenuous connection.

  ‘I think, Rufus,’ she said slowly, ‘that when the six months are up, it would be better, for everyone, if we never set eyes on each other again!’

  Rufus drew in a sharp breath at the vehemence behind her words. She really couldn’t wait to rid herself of this marriage, of him, could she?

  But then why would he expect her to feel any differently? He had scorned, mocked, and taunted her from the moment they had first met, even more so since they had been forced into this marriage by his father. Just because Gabriella responded to him physically didn’t mean she didn’t hate him, too. In fact, she probably hated him all the more because she responded to him.

  Once again, he knew it was he who had changed, but was still reaping the results of his previous actions.

  He sighed. ‘I’m sorry you feel that way…’

  ‘I somehow doubt that!’ Gabriella laughed humourlessly.

  Rufus gave her a quizzical look, not wanting her to leave with this strain between them. ‘Gabriella, I already knew you hadn’t seen Toby this evening.’

  She stiffened defensively. ‘And how can you know that?’

  He grimaced. ‘Because when I tried to contact him earlier his flatmate informed me, ironically, that Toby’s in America for a week auditioning for a film role.’

  Her smile was just as humourless as her laugh had been seconds ago. ‘Well, it’s gratifying to know you realize I wasn’t lying about that, at least!’

  ‘Gabriella—’

  ‘Why were you trying to contact him?’ she prompted shrewdly. ‘No, don’t bother to answer that, I can easily guess.’ She sighed wearily. ‘I’m tired, Rufus, and I’m going to bed,’ she added with finality.

  Rufus let her go, knowing there was nothing more he could say tonight that was going to improve things between them, only make them worse.

  If that were possible!

  Chapter 10

  ‘I need to talk to you, Gabriella.’

  Gabriella looked up from the book she had been reading, surprised to see that Rufus had quietly entered her bedroom without her even being aware of it.

  An unusual occurrence, because these last two weeks she had always made sure she knew exactly where Rufus was when he was in the house—and made a point of avoiding going anywhere near.

  Which was why, knowing Rufus was wandering about downstairs this evening, she had chosen to stay in her bedroom and read a book.

  She looked at him coldly, determined not to be drawn by his arrogant good looks. Even if her heart had started racing just at the sight of him, with other parts of her body reacting just as warmly.

  ‘What are you doing in my bedroom?’ she demanded. ‘I thought we had agreed that I would come to you in future, if at all. Which, you’ll notice, I haven’t done,’ she added hardly.

  Knowing how physical, how sensual, Rufus was, she had been surprised—disappointedly so?—that he had kept to his promise. She had been so filled with burning frustration some nights as she’d climbed into bed, knowing he was only just down the hallway, that she had almost been tempted to go to him anyway, to take what she wanted, to lose herself in that heated passion that allowed her to think of nothing but Rufus, of his pleasuring her as she pleasured him.

  But she hadn’t. Knowing that Rufus intended divorcing her at the first opportunity was enough to quench those desires.

  ‘I noticed,’ Rufus drawled as he stepped fully into the room and closed the bedroom door behind him.

  Signals of alarm swept through Gabriella, her breathing becoming slightly uneven, and her cheeks becoming flushed as her gaze followed his pantherlike walk across the carpet to where she sat. Her nipples tightened beneath the fitted white sports vest-top she wore, and the heat between her thighs made her shift uncomfortably.

  God, she was hot and ready just looking at him!

  If he should so much as touch her…

  Rufus tried not to let his hunger for Gabriella show in his gaze as he looked down at her, drinking in her sensual beauty, the proud thrust of her breasts beneath her fitted top, the long length of her legs in trousers that fitted perfectly over her hips and thighs.

  His hands clenched at his sides as he acknowledged his desire to rip the clothes from her body, to kiss every silken inch of her, to taste her naked breasts as he touched her and stroked her to shuddering climaxes that made her so wet and hungry for him.

  As he was hungry for her.

  But he had been wrong to assume that things couldn’t get any worse between them. The last two weeks of barely talking and having Gabriella avoiding him whenever possible had been a nightmare. Gabriella walked out of a room if he went in it, rarely ate at home any more—rarely ate at all if her loss of weight was anything to go by—and spent the evenings when she wasn’t out closeted in her bedroom, completely shut off from him and any attempt he might make to see or speak to her.

  Like this evening.

  And Rufus couldn’t stand it any more. He wanted this woman until he ached with it. He couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and the tho
ught of one more night without her wild and wanton in his arms was unbearable. Unacceptable.

  So he had come to her, knowing she had told him not to, but unable to stay away any longer. He wanted, needed, Gabriella, to the point where he would go insane if he didn’t have her.

  Rufus looked about as happy as she felt, Gabriella realized ruefully, the strain of living with her in the way they were obviously as awful for him as it was for her.

  She forced herself to withstand the intensity of his gaze as he continued to look at her, knowing she had lost weight the last two weeks, her appearance not improved by it, either, her face too thin, some of her clothes starting to look loose on her. There really was such a thing as being too thin, she had realized.

  ‘You’re looking tired, Gabriella.’ Rufus frowned. ‘Is running the restaurant proving too much for you?’

  Her face lit up at the mention of her pride and joy, pleased to be able to talk about such a neutral subject. Gabriella’s had been an overnight success, some of her first customers having become regulars after less than two weeks of being open, and recommending the restaurant to their friends, too. It was what she had always hoped for, and failed to achieve so miserably the first time around.

  ‘Not at all,’ she assured him with some of her old energy. ‘You should try it some time,’ she added teasingly. ‘Most of the other Gresham’s staff have!’

  ‘So I’ve heard.’ He nodded, smiling slightly. ‘The executive dining-room has been almost empty since you opened up. It was good of you to take some of the original staff back, too,’ he added approvingly.

  Once she’d learnt that Rufus had employed into other departments of Gresham’s the four women who had previously worked in the cafeteria, she had been only too happy to offer them the chance of their old jobs back. Three of them had taken up the offer, while the other one was now enjoying working in the make-up department too much to want to leave.

  But Rufus sounded surprised she had thought of those women at all.