by Alison Kent
‘Tomorrow is Christmas Day,’ Kemal reminded Lizzie, when she was drifting off to sleep at last in his arms. ‘Do you have any last-minute preparations to make?’
Remembering Hugo’s request for a new mobile phone, Lizzie was instantly alert. Glancing at her wristwatch, she exclaimed, ‘Oh, my goodness!’ And then she swung out of bed. ‘I’m so sorry—I feel terrible about this—but I have to make the shops before they close. I promised Hugo—’
‘I understand,’ said Kemal, lazily stretching out his length on the bed. ‘You’d better get going if you want to catch the shops.’
‘Will I see you again?’ Lizzie asked, pausing with her hand on the bathroom door.
‘I’d say there’s a very good chance,’ Kemal promised, slanting her a grin. ‘But hurry up, Lizzie, or you will be too late.’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘HUGO? Yes, I’m here. Of course I’m at the flat. You’re speaking to me, aren’t you?’ Lizzie said, breaking off to suck hard on the thumb she had just pricked with the last of the holly. ‘You are still coming here for Christmas lunch tomorrow? Bring friends, if you want.’
There had been no call from Kemal since she had returned home from the shops, and Lizzie was beginning to wonder if there ever would be. He had surely made his own plans for Christmas Day by now. She didn’t want to think about it, because each time she did the words ‘used and abused’ sprang to the forefront of her mind.
‘You don’t have to come, if you have other things to do,’ she said, remembering that Hugo had a new girlfriend.
‘Don’t be an ass, Lizzie. Look, sis, I have to go—people are waiting for me.’
‘OK, have a good time—but just be careful,’ Lizzie said, smiling down the phone. She stared thoughtfully at the receiver after the line was cut. This was a new phase in her life. Hugo didn’t need her as he’d used to. That was good. It was what she wanted for him.
And she was not going to spend Christmas feeling sorry for herself. She had a brilliant career, a fantastic brother, and was still throbbing from the attentions of her billionaire ex-lover—not bad for someone raised in a squat.
From then on Lizzie concentrated on the bare flat, making it look the best she could, with candles and a home-made holly wreath on the front door. She had kept plenty of baubles over the years, and she hung those on a small fake tree. There was no way she could get a real one up two flights of stairs, which was a pity, but it couldn’t be helped. When she was finished, she went to her small refrigerator and took out a bottle of champagne. But champagne was for sharing…
She was just about to put it away again when Hugo burst in through the front door like a tornado.
‘Where did you come from?’ Lizzie exclaimed delightedly, hugging him.
‘We have to go now. Now! Right this minute,’ Hugo said, breaking away from her.
‘Where are you talking about? Hang on—where are you taking me?’ Lizzie asked, as he started dragging her towards the door.
‘Don’t ask so many questions.’
‘I have to,’ Lizzie pointed out. ‘Do I change into a tracksuit? Are you taking me down the pub for a drink? Or is this an outing to one of your crazy parties? Just tell me if it is, so I can put something washable on—’
‘We don’t do that sort of thing now,’ Hugo informed her, adopting a pious expression. ‘I’m all grown up,’ he added ironically. ‘Or hadn’t you noticed yet?’
‘I’ve noticed,’ Lizzie said dryly. ‘So. What do I wear?’
‘Something pretty,’ Hugo said, giving it a moment’s thought. ‘Something really special.’
‘All right,’ Lizzie said. ‘I’ll see what I can do. Give me half an hour?’
‘Five minutes.’
‘Fifteen,’ Lizzie bartered, flashing him a smile; Hugo’s enthusiasm was infectious.
The Carlton Towers?’ Lizzie grimaced when she heard Hugo instructing their taxi driver. ‘Do we have to?’
‘You can’t change your mind now; it’s already booked,’ Hugo informed her grandly.
‘You shouldn’t have,’ Lizzie said, squeezing his arm. ‘A meal there costs a fortune. And look at you—you can’t go like that. You’ve got glitter dust on your jacket. How did that happen?’
‘It’s nothing,’ Hugo said, quickly brushing it off. ‘There’s glitter dust everywhere at this time of year.’
‘I’ll come with you to the Carlton Towers if you promise me we’ll go halves,’ Lizzie said, looking at her brother.
‘You should have a treat for a change,’ Hugo insisted. ‘You’ve done so much for me. I only wish—’
‘Hugo,’ Lizzie broke in. She had never seen her brother in sentimental mode before. ‘This Christmas is going to be really special,’ she promised softly. ‘Just knowing you’re safe makes it special for me.’
‘It had better be special,’ he muttered tensely.
They were both locked in their own thoughts as the taxi wove in and out of traffic on the busy streets. When it finally drew to a halt outside the brightly lit hotel Lizzie got cold feet, and hung back as Hugo leapt out.
‘Come on,’ he insisted, poking his head back into the taxi. ‘We can’t leave the doorman holding the door for ever.’
Lizzie shook her head. ‘You don’t understand,’ she said. ‘Kemal’s staying here. I know you and I never got the chance to talk properly about Istanbul—but honestly, Hugo, he’s the last person I want to see—’
‘That’s good to hear.’
‘Kemal?’ Suddenly Hugo was nowhere to be seen, and Kemal was standing in his place.
‘Shall we move inside out of the cold?’ he suggested, extending his hand to help her out.
‘This is crazy,’ Lizzie murmured with shock, sitting back in her seat.
‘Crazy is one way of describing it,’ Kemal conceded. Leaning into the taxi, he drew her out onto the pavement beside him.
‘I’m with my brother…’ she said faintly, already wondering if that was strictly true.
‘You’re with me now,’ Kemal said.
‘Basimin ustunde yereniz var.’
It was the same old gentleman who had welcomed her to The Sultan’s palace, Lizzie remembered, smiling with pleasure when she saw him again. ‘What did he say?’ she asked Kemal as they walked past him into the presidential suite.
‘You’re sure you want a literal translation?’
‘I’m prepared to risk it,’ Lizzie said, laughing with happiness.
‘OK,’ Kemal agreed, trying not to smile. ‘He said, you can even sit on my head if you want to! It means you pass the test; he really likes you. In fact, he will do pretty much anything for you.’ As I will, he wanted to add, but it was too soon for that.
His old friend Mehmet had done him better service than he knew, Kemal thought, seeing Lizzie so happy. ‘Have you eaten yet?’ he asked, pausing at the door to the main room.
‘I think Hugo has arranged dinner for me here at the hotel,’ she said uncertainly.
‘And so he has,’ Kemal assured her softly. ‘Happy Christmas, Lizzie.’
As the door swung open Lizzie gasped. The sumptuous room was lit by hundreds of candles, and there was a Yule log blazing in the modern open fireplace. There were even Christmas stockings hanging above it, bulging with gifts, Lizzie noticed, her eyes widening with amazement.
‘And look at this,’ Kemal said, drawing her attention to another part of the room.
As Lizzie turned she saw the Christmas tree. Stretching almost to the ceiling, it had the faintest tang of pine. ‘It’s real!’ she exclaimed, moving straight towards it.
Hung with dozens of baubles in red and gold, and strung with glittering bands of tinsel, it was the best tree she had ever seen in all her life. ‘You did all this for me?’ she murmured incredulously, running her fingertips lightly over the supple spines.
He could not remember the last time he had felt so much emotion, Kemal realised. He wanted to do this every day for her—make it Christmas every day for Lizzie, for t
he rest of her life.
‘And look!’ Lizzie said, hands clasped with excitement as she moved away to examine something else. ‘There’s a sleigh, and Father Christmas with all the reindeer, and presents—’ Whirling her hands around, she laughed delightedly. ‘I just can’t believe it.’
Her voice was breaking now, but her expression…her expression…
Kemal crossed the room in a couple of strides and brought her into his arms.
‘You’ve got glitter dust on your jumper,’ Lizzie accused softly, looking up into Kemal’s eyes. ‘Just like Hugo—’ She stopped as understanding dawned.
‘I wonder how that could be?’ Kemal murmured dryly, staring down into her eyes as if he could never get enough of looking at her. ‘Why don’t you go back to that sleigh and see if Santa has brought anything for you?’ he said at last.
‘For me?’
‘Go on,’ Kemal chivvied her, pushing Lizzie in the direction of the sleigh full of presents he had arranged on a side table.
‘Do you mean this?’ Lizzie said, hugging a box wrapped in silver paper.
‘Why don’t you take a look and find out?’ he said, walking over to her.
Lizzie’s eyes widened as Kemal took the velvet case from her hand and removed the aquamarine and diamond pendant she had chosen for his ‘niece’.
‘For me? It’s far too much,’ she breathed.
‘No, it isn’t,’ Kemal assured her as he fastened it around her neck. ‘And it goes perfectly with your lovely dress.’
The dress he had bought for her in Istanbul, Lizzie realised, smoothing down the soft chiffon folds. When Hugo had said to choose something special it had been the first thing she thought of when she opened her wardrobe. Had Kemal planned this all along?
‘I’m not sure what to believe any more,’ she said out loud.
‘Do you like it?’ Kemal said, turning her round to face him.
‘I love it,’ Lizzie breathed against his lips.
‘Then that’s all that matters. But there is one condition.’
‘What’s that?’
‘You have to stay with me. Always.’
She wanted to, Lizzie thought, fingering the fabulous jewel on her neck. She wanted nothing more in all the world than to be with Kemal. But she was too independent to make a very good mistress, and there were too many ghosts in her past…
‘I know, Lizzie,’ Kemal murmured, tipping up her chin. ‘I know all about the past.’
‘You know?’ Lizzie repeated softly, seeing understanding in his eyes.
‘Hugo told me—don’t be angry with him,’ Kemal said quickly, holding her a little way in front of him. ‘I asked the questions. I made him answer.’ With a sigh he brought her close when she started to pull away. ‘It’s over,’ he whispered fiercely. ‘The nightmares are over, Lizzie.’
Kemal’s heart ached for her when she looked up at him. There was so much hope in her eyes. ‘I promise you, they’re over,’ he said steadily.
When he released her, Lizzie looked around at everything Kemal had done for her…the candles, the Yule log blazing, every type of delicious food she could think of laid out on the table, champagne chilling in an ice bucket. And there were crackers, and chocolates, and candied fruit for nibbling…
‘So, you and Hugo…’
‘Hugo played a critical role in my plan,’ Kemal assured her, giving credit where it was due. ‘Without Hugo I could never have got all this done in time—What?’ he asked, seeing the expression on Lizzie’s face.
‘But where is Hugo?’ Lizzie exclaimed anxiously. ‘How will he spend Christmas if I’m here with you?’
Kemal’s lips tugged up in a wry smile.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Lizzie said, putting her hand on his chest as if that could stop his thoughts. ‘You think he’s far too old for me to be worrying about him.’
‘I think you’ll always worry about each other,’ Kemal said. ‘You are brother and sister, after all. But you can stop worrying now,’ he said, dipping his head so he could look directly into Lizzie’s eyes. ‘I’ve invited Hugo and his new girlfriend to join us for lunch tomorrow—if that suits you?’ But he could already see that it did. Lizzie’s face was radiant.
‘You’ve thought of everything,’ she said.
‘I hope so,’ Kemal agreed. ‘What about looking on the tree for something now?’
‘Another present?’ Lizzie exclaimed. ‘I can’t—’
‘Why not?’ Kemal demanded softly.
‘Because your gift is back at the flat.’ She had intended to send it to him—a small silver fruit knife to remind them both of the famous figs.
‘There will be time for you to get that later—when you return to the flat to pack up your things,’ Kemal pointed out.
‘Pack up my things?’
‘I’m sure there will be some things you want when you come to live with me.’
‘You’re very confident.’
‘Isn’t that what you like about me?’ Kemal said softly.
‘But I can’t be your mistress,’ Lizzie said, as Kemal started backing her towards a convenient sofa.
‘I realised some time ago that having Lizzie Palmer as my short-term mistress would never work,’ he admitted wryly, holding her still.
‘What do you mean?’ Lizzie said, feeling all her new-found happiness draining away.
‘I have a much longer arrangement in mind.’
‘What are you saying, Kemal?’
‘I’m saying that I love you, Lizzie,’ he murmured, dropping kisses on her lips, her eyelids and her brow. ‘More deeply and more intensely than I would ever have believed possible. We are equal partners, you and I. You’re so courageous, so tender, and I want to be the one to cherish you, to make you happy every day of your life. My life is nothing without you, Lizzie. I am nothing without you.’
Reaching up, Lizzie touched Kemal’s lips with her fingertips. ‘And I love you too,’ she said softly. ‘More than life itself.’ And it was true, she realised. Whatever the consequences might be for her future.
By the time the backs of Lizzie’s legs touched the sofa Kemal had freed the zip on her dress, and the catch on her bra, and was already pushing her tiny lace thong down over her hips.
‘You are incredible,’ she breathed, reaching for his belt.
‘I certainly hope you think so,’ Kemal agreed, dark humour flashing in his eyes.
And he was, Lizzie realised, closing her eyes as he sank deep inside her. She was hungry for him, starving, as if they had never been together in this way. And as if he was infected by her sense of urgency, Kemal went purposefully about his task—no teasing, no delays.
‘More,’ Lizzie cried out greedily, moments after he had tipped her over into fulfilment. ‘I need more,’ she exclaimed, wriggling out from under him. ‘There,’ she cried with satisfaction, straddling him and throwing her head back in ecstasy as he bucked beneath her to bring her satisfaction. ‘I can never get enough of you,’ she confessed, collapsing on him at last, only to feel that Kemal was still ready to give her more.
‘I’m pleased to hear it,’ he said. ‘I’ve a pretty healthy appetite myself.’
And with that he swung her beneath him and took her again, firmly. ‘But now we take it a little more slowly,’ he said, controlling the pace.
‘Anything you say,’ Lizzie agreed, breathless from an overload of sensation.
Kemal paused momentarily to look at her. ‘Is this the key to mastering you?’ he demanded, slanting her a look.
‘Could be,’ Lizzie agreed wickedly, urging him on.
‘Presents?’ Kemal murmured later, when they were dozing together, exhausted.
‘I’ve had my present,’ Lizzie managed, too drugged by all their lovemaking to even form the words properly.
‘More presents,’ Kemal said, easing her off him. ‘Remember the tree? Here,’ he said, ‘wrap yourself in this.’ He tossed a silk throw from the sofa over to her.
‘This is all v
ery mysterious,’ Lizzie said, as Kemal led her across to the Christmas tree.
‘Is it?’ Kemal asked, reaching for a small package.
‘Shouldn’t you get dressed first?’ Lizzie murmured, hardly able to keep her hands off him.
‘Not much point in my getting dressed, is there?’ he pointed out. ‘But I would like you to have this before we return to bed.’
‘What is it?’
‘Open it and see.’
Lizzie turned the small box over in her hand, and, flashing a glance at Kemal, responded to his nod of encouragement. Tearing off the paper, she opened the case and gasped. The aquamarine and diamond ring matching the teardrop pendant she was wearing flashed spectacularly from a nest of deep blue velvet.
‘Would you like to put it on?’ Kemal said.
‘Are you serious?’
Taking it from her, Kemal placed it on the third finger of her left hand. ‘I’m extremely serious,’ he said, staring deep into Lizzie’s eyes. ‘In fact, I’ve never been more serious in my life. I want to marry you, Lizzie Palmer. There’s no one else on earth I want to be my wife and bear my children. Will you marry me?’ he asked. There was an edge of tension in his voice as he waited for her answer. ‘Will you agree to become my wife?’
‘If you will be my husband,’ Lizzie challenged softly, holding her face up for his kiss.
‘Let battle commence,’ Kemal murmured wryly. ‘Or in this case, let it continue for ever.’
And then he kissed her.
Stroke of Midnight
Julie Kistler
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
