The Blackmail Baby

by Natalie Rivers

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHLOE sat enjoying a leisurely breakfast on their private balcony, at the exclusive hotel Lorenzo had brought them to in Mauritius. The giant suite of rooms he’d booked occupied a corner location, and in one direction she had an impressive view of the hotel’s stunning gardens and in the other direction the tropical water of the Indian Ocean glittered in the bright sunshine.

  She had forgotten to eat for the past few minutes, being completely captivated by the industrious efforts of a weaverbird that was building a nest not far from where she sat.

  First it flew up to the palm tree right next to where Chloe was sitting. It gripped the edge of the frond in its beak and flew downwards, tearing off a strip as it did so. Then, a long ribbon of palm leaf fluttering behind it, the little bird flew to its nest, which was dangling down from a branch on another nearby tree. It was a bit too far away for Chloe to see just how it went about weaving the nest, and she was wishing she had some binoculars, when a familiar voice startled her out of her observations.

  ‘Good morning, Chloe,’ Lorenzo drawled, his voice still husky from another night of lovemaking. He pulled up a chair to join her and reached for a glass of orange juice.

  ‘Good morning,’ Chloe replied, feeling her heart skip a beat and a blush rise to her cheeks. They’d spent one night in Mauritius and it was the first time they’d made love in a bed since they’d been back together, but it had been just as incredible as all the times in the pool house. ‘I’ve been watching a weaverbird.’

  ‘It’s the male that builds the nest, you know,’ Lorenzo said, not missing a beat. ‘Then he has to wait to see if the female will approve of it or destroy it.’

  ‘Really? I’ve seen them on TV, but never in real life before,’ Chloe said, thinking about all the effort the male had to make, never knowing if there would be a positive outcome for him.

  Although it was the bird’s natural instinct, she was suddenly struck by what an extraordinary act of faith that was.

  It was just like life, she thought, remembering the promise she had made to Liz. There were no guarantees that things would turn out the way she hoped, but without faith and commitment she risked never finding what she searched for.

  ‘Anyway, you’d better get ready,’ Lorenzo said, taking her by surprise and standing up briskly. ‘I’ll be back in ten minutes. I’ve got a boat to take us along the coast—there’s something I want to show you.’

  The speedboat slowed and turned into the mouth of a wide, lazy river. Chloe had enjoyed the trip along the coast. She loved the stiff sea breeze blowing her hair and the exciting bob and bounce as the boat sped along.

  The stunning beauty of the coastline had thrilled her. The pure white beaches edged with swaying palms and casuarinas, the amazing turquoise water of the lagoon and the deep blue sea out beyond the coral reef took her breath away.

  At least she told herself that was the cause of her erratic heartbeat and the difficulty she was having breathing normally. It had nothing to do with Lorenzo sitting so close, his arm along the back of the seat behind her shoulders.

  Emma had stayed at the hotel, with Mrs Guest’s daughter, Lucy, so the only thing holding her attention was Lorenzo.

  ‘It’s so quiet,’ Chloe said, pleased by how level her voice sounded. She leant forward to look over the edge of the boat. ‘The river’s very deep. Are those dark shadows down there rocks?’

  ‘Yes,’ Lorenzo said. ‘Larger boats can’t go very far upriver because of them.’

  ‘It’s incredible,’ she said, looking around at the scenery. It was startlingly different from the glittering turquoise sea and white sand she had grown accustomed to back at the hotel and on their trip along the coast.

  The water was very deep and flowed so slowly that the surface was smooth like a dark green mirror reflecting the lush green growth on either side of the river. The banks themselves were made of massive grey-brown boulders rising high above the water. ‘I feel like I’ve stepped into an adventure, going up the Amazon into uncharted territory or something.’

  ‘It is beautiful,’ Lorenzo agreed, ‘but hardly uncharted. We’ve come early to have the place to ourselves for a while.’

  Chloe glanced at the driver of the boat and at Lorenzo’s personal bodyguard, who was also with them. They weren’t really alone, and she found herself feeling disappointed.

  ‘What’s that noise?’ Chloe asked suddenly as the faint but unmistakable sound of rushing water reached her ears.

  ‘Can you guess?’ Lorenzo asked, his playful grin flashing in a way that made butterflies flutter in her stomach. It was wonderful to see him like this—it was almost as if they were back to their early days of dating, before so many horrible things had happened.

  ‘A waterfall?’ Chloe asked in delight. All her life she had loved waterfalls, being completely entranced by their beauty, power and romance.

  The boat wound its way slowly up the river, the driver expertly manoeuvring between the great boulders that hid just beneath the surface.

  ‘Wow!’ Chloe breathed as the boat moved past a particularly large rock and the waterfall came into view. ‘It’s beautiful.’

  She stared in awe at the mass of white water pouring down over a sheer drop into the river in front of them. She could feel moisture rising up from the foaming water, refreshing her warm skin.

  ‘Come on,’ Lorenzo said, holding out his hand to her as the boat pulled up to a rocky ledge. ‘We can climb up and swim at the top.’

  The mention of swimming sent a tingle of excitement thrilling through her. A vivid memory of the last time they swam played out in her mind.

  ‘Is it safe?’ Chloe found herself asking the first thing that came to her, although really she knew she could trust Lorenzo with her safety.

  ‘Of course,’ he said mildly.

  The driver had jumped out and was holding the boat steady and Lorenzo spoke in swift Italian to his bodyguard.

  ‘Follow me,’ Lorenzo instructed. ‘It’s easy.’

  For a moment Chloe paused, letting her eyes drink in the masculine beauty that was Lorenzo Valente—her husband. He was wearing casual shorts and a skin-tight black T-shirt that showed off his sculpted body to perfection.

  His vibrant blue eyes sparkled, making the intense colour of the tropical sky fade into insignificance. And his golden skin glowed with a vitality that took her breath away and suddenly made her want to run the tip of her tongue up the strong column of his throat.

  She bit her lip and ducked her head to hide her blazing cheeks. Something in his expression had made her pulse quicken—as if he was about to take her to a place where they could make love. At that moment it was exactly what she wanted him to do.

  ‘Let’s go,’ she said, amazed how level she kept her voice considering the somersaults of sensual expectation her stomach was performing.

  She followed Lorenzo across and up the rocks. It was an easy climb but it needed all her concentration. It would be too easy to slip. At the top she turned and realised that they were alone. Both the boat driver and the bodyguard had stayed with the boat.

  ‘All right?’ Lorenzo asked, letting his gaze linger longer than necessary on the quick rise and fall of Chloe’s breasts. ‘It’s quite a steep climb.’

  ‘Yes, thank you,’ Chloe replied, knowing that her rapid breathing was caused more by the realisation that she was alone with Lorenzo and the look in his eyes than by the exertion of the climb.

  He led her forward onto a large flat expanse of rock. On their left they looked down at the waterfall from above, the gushing white water truly stunning with the sunlight sparkling on it.

  ‘It’s really beautiful,’ Chloe said in a quiet voice, gazing at the fine mist of water droplets surrounding the waterfall and the colourful rainbows that arched around it.

  ‘Yes, I’m still very impressed, even though I’ve seen it before.’

  Lorenzo’s voice was loaded with sexual intensity and Chloe knew he wasn’t really talking a
bout the waterfall. She held her breath and kept her face turned firmly away from him. She felt the flutter of anticipation start to rise in her stomach again and she wanted to make the moment last.

  ‘I’ve always loved rivers,’ she said slightly breathlessly. ‘And especially waterfalls.’

  ‘I remember,’ Lorenzo said, taking her by surprise. ‘You told me about that river with giant boulder stepping stones that you loved as a child when you went on holiday in Devon.’

  ‘Oh…yes,’ Chloe stammered, feeling even more shaky. She couldn’t remember telling Lorenzo that, but then they had talked about so many things since she started working for him, and especially since they started dating.

  ‘And you told me about your walking holidays in the Lake District, where you and your sister went in search of anything labelled force—meaning waterfall—on your map.’

  ‘You’ve got a good memory,’ Chloe said uncomfortably. She could have sworn she remembered every single second of their time together, remembered every single word they’d ever said to each other. It made her uneasy to realise she was mistaken.

  ‘You don’t recall our conversation,’ Lorenzo said. His eyes narrowed as he studied her face.

  ‘Of course I do.’ Chloe startled herself by lying. She didn’t like the sudden feeling that Lorenzo had her at a disadvantage.

  ‘No, you don’t,’ Lorenzo said emphatically. A half-smile was playing at his lips but it didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Sit down and catch your breath.’

  ‘I can climb up a few rocks without needing to sit down!’ Chloe exclaimed.

  ‘It doesn’t matter that you can’t remember.’ Lorenzo’s voice was quiet now, but his eyes still burned dangerously.

  ‘Even you can’t remember every single word that was said,’ Chloe said huffily.

  ‘Yes, I can,’ said Lorenzo lightly, lowering himself down onto a large flat rock with a deep pool in front of it. ‘Every single word. Now, sit down here with me.’

  Chloe tossed her head, and looked away sideways at the rushing water of the river. She had the unnerving feeling that Lorenzo would take this as evidence that she had never paid full attention to him.

  That this was the explanation behind why she had made such a terrible mistake in her expectations of their marriage.

  But that was different, she told herself. Forgetting a few inconsequential conversations about family holidays, which had probably taken place during her hectic working day while she was juggling the duties of an exacting job and demanding boss, did not mean she would have forgotten something so important as whether he explained fully that he wanted a loveless marriage of convenience.

  She took a deep breath and sat down on the rock next to Lorenzo. She’d been alone with him for no more that a few minutes and already her emotions were all over the place again. Things might be wonderful between them when they were making love—but this proved that there were still massive cracks in their relationship.

  ‘Is that where people swim?’ she asked, carefully avoiding meeting his eye. Instead she looked at the deep, inviting pool, which was in front of them, surrounded by smooth brown rocks. ‘The water certainly looks cool. Does it come down from the mountains?’

  ‘I valued every minute I spent with you,’ Lorenzo said, ignoring her attempted change of subject. ‘Our conversations ranged over so many topics. I was impressed by your enthusiasm for life, your honesty, the way you expressed yourself so freely and openly.’

  ‘Is that why you tricked me into a loveless marriage?’

  The words were out before Chloe fully realised what she was saying. Lorenzo had just told her something wonderful—something that should have made her heart glad. And yet she’d thrown his gesture back in his face.

  A furious change came over him and he surged to his feet. Suddenly he was stripping off his T-shirt and kicking away his canvas shoes.

  ‘I’m sorry—’ she started, but the look he threw at her over his shoulder quelled her apology before she had gone any further.

  ‘Save it!’ he snapped, before turning his back on her and diving into the deep natural pool. His long, powerful strokes bore him rapidly away across the water, and Chloe knew that her unintentionally caustic comment had angered him.

  She stood and stared into the water. A couple of minutes ago it had looked inviting, but now that Lorenzo was pounding his way back in her direction she found herself trembling.

  ‘Come in with me!’ he commanded, tossing his wet hair out of his eyes with a fierce gesture.

  Chloe hesitated, reluctant to join him. He looked completely in his element, surrounded by the majestic power and grace of the river as it carved its way through the ancient volcanic rock. But he was emanating an untamed savage energy that suddenly frightened her as much as it excited her.

  ‘It doesn’t look safe,’ she said, taking a step back from the edge. ‘What stops you getting washed over the waterfall?’

  ‘There’s hardly any current this side of those big rocks,’ Lorenzo said impatiently. ‘As long as we stay this side it is safe. You know I wouldn’t have brought you anywhere dangerous.’

  Chloe drew her lower lip into her mouth, undecided. It looked like an incredible place to swim—but she was nervous both of the elemental power of the river and of Lorenzo’s intense mood.

  Then she remembered her promise to Liz. She might never get an opportunity like this again and she would be foolish to let it slip by. In her heart she knew Lorenzo would never put her at real risk.

  She stripped off her own blouse and light summer skirt to reveal her bikini, then slid off the rock into the water. She felt herself tremble slightly and released the breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding.

  ‘Follow me,’ Lorenzo said, beckoning to her as he swam away.

  Chloe followed him without speaking as he led her across the pool. The water was cool, but pleasantly energising, and her body was already starting to buzz in expectation of Lorenzo’s lovemaking—for she was certain that he was leading her to a place where he could make love to her.

  They made their way around the bend in the river by a combination of swimming across deep water and climbing over the giant boulders that rose up beneath them. Chloe loved every minute of it. The setting was absolutely beautiful, and the knowledge that she would soon be in Lorenzo’s arms heightened her pleasure.

  ‘We’re here,’ Lorenzo said at last, and Chloe stopped and stared in wonder at the sight of a whole array of shallow rocky basins fed by smaller, gentler waterfalls.

  ‘It’s amazing,’ she breathed, unbelievably grateful that she had followed Lorenzo and not given in to her anxieties.

  ‘The locals come here for a water massage,’ Lorenzo said, moving away from her towards one of the smaller waterfalls. ‘They call it natural hydrotherapy.’

  He flashed her a broad smile that showed no hint that he was still angry with her, then pushed himself backwards under the flow of a small waterfall.

  Chloe stared in horrified shock as water poured down over him, plastering his black hair to his bowed head and sheeting over his body. She knew he was strong and fit, but her heart started to pound as she looked at him standing under the water.

  Being pummelled by gallons of water rushing over a rocky outcrop was not her idea of a massage. It looked frankly terrifying.

  ‘Stop it!’ she shouted. ‘Get out of there!’ But the sound of the crashing water obliterated her cries, and Lorenzo showed no sign of moving.

  She lurched forward to grab him, but water poured down over her face and into her eyes, blinding her. She flailed wildly, reaching out to him and calling his name. Then suddenly her fists came into contact with the solid muscle of his chest and she pounded him angrily—not caring whether she hurt him, just wanting him to stop his silly, dangerous game in the torrential waterfall.

  The next second she felt his hands close like steel clamps on her arms, and he lifted her back out of the deluge of water.

  ‘What are you doing?’ he demand
ed, holding her steady as she scrubbed sodden hair out of her eyes and spat river water out of her mouth. ‘This is not a leisure centre with a lifeguard watching out for us! You can’t mess about like that—you must have respect for the power of natural forces.’

  ‘I’m not the one messing about!’ she cried, lashing out at him again. ‘Why did you have to do that? I thought you’d brought me here to make love to me—not to scare me to death!’

  Lorenzo was staring at her, clearly shocked by the vehemence of her attack on him. There was a puzzled look on his face—as if he couldn’t understand what she was frightened of.

  ‘It’s all right.’ He reached for her, but she stepped back out of his grasp.

  ‘Why would you take such a risk?’ she demanded. ‘I couldn’t bear it if—’

  She stopped abruptly—suddenly not willing to reveal her feelings to him. He’d already belittled her too many times for that.

  ‘If what?’ he asked. ‘What were you talking about?’

  ‘Nothing,’ she said, splashing away from him in the chest-deep water. ‘I’m going back to the boat.’

  ‘Wait.’ He moved quicker than her, and the next second his hands closed around her waist. ‘I thought you just said you wanted to make love.’

  ‘Let me go!’ she gasped, but he pulled her back against his body, lifting her feet off the bottom of the pool. She wriggled in his arms, but she had her back to him and there was nothing she could get hold of.

  ‘That feels good,’ he said, rocking his hips forwards so that the hard heat of his arousal nudged against the curve of her bottom. ‘I like your idea to make love.’

  An answering rush of desire stormed through Chloe, almost making her forget that she was angry with him. But she did not like the way he was manhandling her—even though it was turning her on faster that she would have thought possible.

  ‘It wasn’t my idea,’ she said, ignoring the liquid heat that was beginning to pool deep inside her as he rocked his pelvis against her once more. ‘I said that I thought that was why you’d brought me here.’

  ‘No.’ He spoke directly against her ear, his breath hot on her skin. ‘I thought you’d like to see the waterfall.’