by Paula Roe
“For dinner, huh?”
“Well, yeah.”
“With Aaaaalex?” Chelsea winked, making kissy sounds.
“You…!”
Chelsea squealed and ducked as a small sofa pillow flew harmlessly past.
With a wide smile Yelena scooped up Bella and marched off down the hall. But when she emerged half an hour later, all primed and polished, the look Chelsea gave was frankly disapproving.
“What?” Yelena did a three-sixty, tweaking the drop-shoulder of her purple knitted sweater.
“What’s with that tight hairdo?”
Yelena’s hand went up to the French roll she’d painstakingly secured. “You don’t like it?”
“No. Let your hair fall down but have the sides up. Go to the mirror and I’ll show you.”
The teenager sat her on a dining chair in front of the hallway mirror then flicked on the light.
“You’re good at this,” Yelena said as Chelsea began to deftly refix her long curls. “Ever thought of a career in fashion?”
“All the time.”
“So why don’t you?” Yelena asked.
She caught the glimmer in Chelsea’s eyes just before she refocused on Yelena’s hair. “Because it’s complicated. Alex and I had a row the other night. I am good at tennis and a lot of money’s gone into my training. And Alex and Mum—”
“Forget about what other people think for one second. What do you want to do?”
“I want…” Her voice drifted off then she added firmly, “To study fashion design. Maybe work at a magazine. There. You’re done.”
Yelena stood. “Then you should do that.”
As they both stared at Yelena’s reflection, Yelena could feel the mood take on a subtle change. And when she met Chelsea’s eyes through the mirror, she saw something flash across the girl’s face.
“I need to tell you something…something personal.”
“Okay.” Yelena turned, giving the teen her full attention.
“It was my father… I…” Chelsea’s eyes skittered away before coming back in sudden defiance. “I want to make a statement. A public statement. Can you help me write a press release?”
Yelena’s brow furrowed. “About what?”
“I’m sick and tired of everyone making out like my father was some kind of living god.”
The sudden venom in Chelsea’s voice forced Yelena back a step. After a moment, she said slowly, “What did he do, Chelsea?”
Chelsea glanced to the door. When she spoke, it all tumbled out in a tight whisper. “He was a control freak. I mean, major. All of my friends were handpicked because of their parents. I played tennis because it was fun but then he decided I needed a coach and then it was four hours a day, every day. It sucked. He went mental when I said I wanted to do designing. And…” She petered off and glanced away. “He treated Mum like an idiot, always checking what she wore, who she saw. He’d start yelling over some stupid little thing, and she’d… I’d…” She flushed and glanced away, fiddling with the hem of her frayed T-shirt. “It’ll take more than a few nasty articles to do him justice.”
“Chelsea…” As the pieces in Yelena’s head began to slowly click into place, a horrible thought occurred. “Do you have proof about his cheating?”
Here she looked uncomfortable. “No. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he was.”
“Have you talked to Alex about this?”
“No.” She shook her head. “This is my problem. I didn’t want to lump this on his plate, not with everything else that’s been going on.”
Yelena’s mind began to toss. “I think—”
The bell to the front door chimed.
“That’ll be Jasmine. Look, Chelsea,” she said softly, placing her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “I’d strongly suggest you talk to your mother about this first. Let her know how you feel and see if you can both come up with something together. Then we can talk it over with Alex, okay?”
Chelsea’s blue eyes churned with all the intensity of a storm at sea. “Okay.”
“Good. I want to help you.”
Chelsea nodded then jerked her head to the door. “You’d better go. Alex is a bear when he’s left waiting.”
Yelena rolled her eyes and gave her a smile. “I know.”
As Yelena stepped out from the swooshing glass entrance doors, the sight of Alex stopped her heart for a second.
Oh, mercy me. He was every woman’s bad-boy fantasy in hard-core black leather—from the jacket that stretched across broad shoulders, down to tight pants that cupped a perfect behind and high-topped boots encasing long legs.
She grabbed her necklace and ran her thumb over the smooth glass. Pounding blood sped to her head, sending her skin into a full body flush. And when he glanced up from checking his watch and spotted her, the will-melting smile he gave made her want to run right into his arms and kiss him.
That just would not do.
Flustered, she glanced around, her eyes coming to rest on a shiny, sleek…
“Motorbike.”
Alex’s smile broadened and her breath hooked again. “Not just any motorbike… A Shinya Kimura. The man’s a legend when it comes to customizing.” He slowly ran his hand over the mirrored metal, taking his time to savor the polished surface.
Yelena swallowed, suppressing a small shiver at his unguarded raw joy.
“And it’s the only way to see the Outback. Here.” He tossed her a helmet from the seat then grabbed his.
Obediently she pulled it over her head then fiddled with the clip.
“Let me.” With his warm fingers at her jaw she tried not to think about how eagerly her body reacted to him, how she secretly thrilled at the slightest contact.
While she stood there like a nervous teenager on a first date, he reached across the seat and produced a leather jacket. Slowly, with the deft intimacy of a familiar lover, he spread the jacket around her shoulders, waiting until she’d got it on before zipping it up.
In the cold, still night, she heard every single suggestive snick of those metal teeth snapping together, a signal for her blood to pump in earnest while she tried to control her runaway thoughts.
He slowly dragged the zipper up, the bright blue depths of his eyes sparking with humor…and something much more dangerous. Her hand jerked reflexively, seeking the comfort of her necklace before she realized what she was doing and forced it back down. His keen eyes didn’t miss that, judging by the way his mouth tweaked into a smile.
Then suddenly he withdrew. “All done. Let’s go.”
Desperate to focus on something else, she stared at the bike and drew a slow, steady breath into her lungs.
“How do I get on?”
He grinned, threw a leg over the bike then glanced expectantly over his shoulder. “Like that.”
Okay. With a nod she placed her hands on his shoulders, centered her weight then threw her leg over.
Thanks to the seat angle, she immediately slid forward and her crotch bumped firmly against his butt. She quickly wiggled back but Alex slapped her lightly on the thigh.
“Stop moving. You’ll upset the balance.”
He swiftly kick-started the engine and the bike leapt to life in one almighty roar.
“Hold on!” Alex yelled over the noise as the bike jumped forward with a gutsy growl. Yelena squealed, grabbed Alex’s waist and they slowly made their way out onto the single road leading from Diamond Bay.
It was a strange and wonderful experience, her first time on a motorbike. The speed, the air streaming over her body, the absolute vulnerability of being out in the open, forced a laugh from her throat. As they flew along the road, she was swept up by exhilaration, her lips stretching in a wide smile. It was natural, automatic that she settle farther into the seat, wedging herself firmly up against Alex’s wide back, his powerful leather-clad muscles in total control of the throbbing beast beneath them.
Yet as the minutes stretched and the road got more rugged as they sped towards Ayers Rock
, one thing was becoming increasingly obvious. She was getting turned on.
At first she thought it was the throbbing metal beneath her butt, or maybe the way Alex’s legs felt between her thighs, the heat from those hard muscles seeping through her jeans. It certainly didn’t help that there were only thin layers of worn denim between her body and his. No, all those things did affect her, but it was every tiny bump in the tarmac that sent reverberating vibrations through her skin, stimulating her senses into overdrive.
After the second little surprise, she gave an inward groan and bit down on her lip. Damn. With her crotch wedged snugly up against Alex’s backside, raw sensation shot up her body, arousal tingling at every tiny jolt.
By the time Alex slowed down, her mouth felt as if she’d indulged in a slightly rough, hour-long kissing session.
When they finally stopped, Yelena’s legs wobbled as he helped her from the bike.
“It’s a bit rough at first—you’ll get used to it.” He pulled off his helmet, a smile crinkling his eyes into wicked humor which only exacerbated her predicament further.
Get used to it? Did that mean he was planning on staying in her life? She removed her helmet and shook her hair out just before Alex grabbed her shoulders and pivoted her.
“What—?”
“Check that out.”
With the setting sun at their backs, the sky had taken on a dusky blue-grey tinge, a smattering of cloud spreading across the sky like thin cobwebs. And smack-bang in the middle sat Ayers Rock, its burnt orange body seeming to swell and glow as the sun crept farther down.
Seconds edged into minutes as they both stood there, watching the sky deepen and darken, changing the Rock’s orange into fiery red then eventually burnt amber.
Speechless, Yelena watched the light stretch farther and farther until finally, Ayers Rock became one massive, dark shadow on the horizon.
“Wow,” she finally breathed.
“Yep. As stunning and unique as Diamond Falls is, I never get sick of seeing that.” He put a hand at her back. “Shall we eat?”
He guided her towards glowing lights and they emerged from the scrub into a small, carpeted clearing surrounded by patio warmers. In surprised silence, Yelena saw a waiter put the final touches on a full dinner service, complete with white tablecloth and silver.
Oh, my. She glanced up at Alex who was wearing a satisfied smile, then back to the table, her fingers working the gold chain of her necklace.
Alex dismissed the waiter. The man nodded, stepped into a four-wheel drive—another fact she’d failed to register—and slowly drove away into the night.
The clearing gave off seductive heat and light, the air rife with warm intimacy. When he pulled out her chair she murmured her thanks.
As he sat, Yelena reached for her water glass and took a gulp.
“Carbonara?” Alex offered a dish.
“Thank you.” She took the bowl of pasta and spooned some on her plate. “So I talked with Kyle in accounts this afternoon, and I should have final costings tomorrow morning. Cathie, your press officer, has helped with the local side of things and together we’re drafting a national release.” She picked up her fork. “The sooner we announce it the better, then we can issue the invitations. Can you give me your list first thing tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
Yelena blinked, put her fork down and reached for her wineglass. “Thanks again for letting Pam and Chelsea know why I was here.”
He nodded, going back to his food. “I thought honesty was best.”
Yelena felt a tiny pang and reached for a bread roll, deftly breaking it apart. “Yes.” But after she popped the bread in her mouth, she added, “I’ve also drafted up a six-month plan to coincide with Diamond Falls’ anniversary.”
Alex slowly lifted his eyes to meet hers. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Yes?”
“Can we not spoil the view by talking about work tonight?”
“Oh.” She’d psyched herself up to ask questions: now they all just fizzled on her tongue. “But—”
“Please.”
Her skin tingled at that one small word. “Okay.”
Perturbed, she concentrated on her food. “This is amazing!” She forked another piece, shoved it in then chewed, rolling her eyes. “I think I’m in love.”
Alex chuckled. “Sorry. Franco’s already taken.”
Yelena gave a melodramatic sigh. “The good ones always are.”
Their eyes met casually across the table, both smiling. But when the moment held longer than necessary, Yelena sensed the mood shift gears. This was more than just two people eating dinner. The darkness around them was absolute: it felt as if they were the last two people left on earth. And as Alex studied her over the top of his wineglass, those clear blue eyes slowly took on a darker hue in the dim light.
She quickly stabbed at the pasta.
“Slow down.” She heard the humor in his voice. “The food’s going nowhere.”
“But it’s so delicious.”
“Speed isn’t always best.” He placed his fork slowly on the plate, giving her the full blast from his intense eyes. “It’s better to savor everything—the taste, the texture—rather than dash through to the end. It can make the rewards so much more—” He paused for deliberate effect, those darkened eyes full of delight “—pleasurable.”
She nearly choked. Dammit. She tried for a cool stare, but his roguish smile did vaguely illegal things to her body.
Smothering her panic, she dropped her eyes to her plate. Despite the hurt she’d caused him, despite their unrequited fling that had fizzled before it had even started, Alex’s intention was crystal clear.
She looked him straight in the eyes. “Did you invite me to dinner to try and seduce me, Alex?”
Her directness didn’t faze him. “Do you want me to?”
Her limbs became suddenly lethargic. “No,” she lied.
“Why not?” His mouth curled.
Because I don’t think I can get over you a second time. “Why would you want to?”
One dark eyebrow lifted. “Answering a question with a question, Yelena?”
She sighed, refolding her napkin to keep her hands occupied. “We hurt each other, Alex. Our past is complicated.”
“Yes. But we’re here. Now.”
He rose with the fluid grace of a dancer, a powerful expanse of potent male. She had to crank her neck up to meet his eyes.
“I’m your PR manager.” Nervous now, she, too, stood. But that didn’t stop him from encroaching on her personal space.
“Does Bennett & Harper have some morality clause I don’t know about?”
How the hell had he gotten so close? His familiar scent tightened her senses, sending subversive shivers over her skin. He smelt of leather, of passion and defiance and warmth. Of losing control. Of Alex.
“Morality clause…?” she choked out. “No.”
When his fingers slid slowly between hers, linking them in a shockingly intimate touch, her senses jolted into overdrive.
“See?” He lifted their entwined fingers, his gaze full of secret knowledge. “We have something here.”
“It doesn’t mean it’s right.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s wrong, either.”
“Alex…”
She heard the rumble in his throat, just as his eyes briefly closed. “Do you have any idea what my name on your lips does to me?”
And suddenly the time for talking was over.
Alex didn’t waste a second on niceties—on the contrary, he took it as if her acquiescence was a given. As if it were his right. And in many ways it was. They’d already been as close as two people could be without actual consummation. And if she were honest with herself, Yelena had missed him. Missed the way his laugh engulfed her like warm flames. Missed his off-beat humor and flirty banter. Missed the feel of his skin against hers. Missed the sensual curve of his mouth and the way it made her want to lose herself, control be damned.
When she leaned in, mouth trembling, a bolt of triumph cleaved into Alex’s brain. She wanted him—he’d made her want him. Yet in the next instant, white-hot desire saturated every sense, every muscle in his body. He growled, a sound that felt half wild, half uncontrollable, the way she’d always made him feel, and roughly pulled her up against his chest.
She made a small sound but didn’t protest, which only fired him up even more. His mouth dipped down, ready to claim hers, but in the last moment, she shoved his chest, her palms hot, knowing she could feel his heart pounding through his shirt.
He stared into her dark eyes, their long lashes heavy with arousal. His blood pounded solidly, breath catching. Did she not want—?
“Let me.”
The warm whisper skimming across his mouth did him in. All he wanted to do was rip off her clothes and take her on the ground, surrounded by this raw, primitive backdrop, yet he remained rock still, his groin throbbing with need.
She gently placed her hands at the back of his neck and slid her fingers up through his hair, murmuring appreciatively as she stroked his nape. And as his senses pitched, she pulled his head down.
Her lips brushed his for a second. Then another. She dragged in a breath, almost as if kissing him were somehow painful. But then her eyes opened and a smile spread across her entire face, a smile so full of sensual knowledge that he couldn’t help but answer it with one of his own.
Because in the sweetness of her kiss, the pureness she’d given him, he didn’t have a hope in hell of keeping his distance. Nothing short of a cyclone could stop him now.
As if sensing the thin line he teetered on, she kissed him again, this time with her eyes wide open, those chocolate-velvet depths reaching in, grabbing what was left of his control and yanking on it, hard.
Yelena felt as if every inch of her skin had completely exploded, that every touch, every smell, every taste was just too much to stand. His arms wrapped her tight up against him, his hard, throbbing maleness jamming into her belly with purposeful intent. The familiar smell of his skin engulfed her, every breath she took filling her up. And the taste…oh, his taste was something she’d always loved. She’d missed that. His mouth covered her bottom lip, gently sucking on the swell. He nibbled, he teased for long, sensual seconds. Then, finally he committed, capturing her mouth and twisting her head into a deep, heart-stopping kiss.
