Desert Jewels & Rising Stars

by Sharon Kendrick

  Their eyes met in the mirror. The smile left his face.

  “Not half as beautiful as you,” he said in a low voice. “No other woman can compare.”

  He was standing behind her, so close their bodies could almost touch. Sensual need suddenly poured through her, so intense and deep that it made her knees weak. She closed her eyes.

  “Why are you being nice to me?” she choked out. “Why now? When it’s the end?”

  Coming behind her, he put his hands on her bare shoulders. “Who says it’s the end?”

  She felt the weight of his hands on her skin and breathed, “The prenuptial agreement.”

  Eduardo turned her around, and she opened her eyes. She could feel the heat radiating from his body. Feel its answering, unwilling fire in her own.

  Nervously she licked her lips. His gaze fell hungrily to her mouth. “You have to know what I want,” he said softly.

  His freedom, she thought unhappily. While as for her … The time of their marriage had only taught her to crave him again. To yearn. To want.

  “Of course I know,” she said, and tried to laugh. “It must have felt like the longest three months of your life.”

  He stroked her cheek. “It has.”

  She swallowed. “Three months of waiting, and waiting …”

  “Three months of hell,” he agreed.

  She exhaled, blinking back tears as all her worst fears were proven true. “Well, tonight it will end.”

  His dark eyes tracing her face, her cheeks, her lips. “Yes,” he said softly. “It will.”

  Shaking, she turned away, picking up her satin clutch off the bed. “I’m ready.”

  “Good.” His sensual mouth curved as he held out his arm. “Mrs. Cruz.”

  Breathlessly she took his arm. He led her downstairs to the penthouse foyer, where they bid farewell to Mrs. McAuliffe, who would watch their sleeping baby. Eduardo pulled Callie’s white fur wrap from the closet and placed it gently around her. She felt the weight of his hands against her shoulders and shivered, remembering last night’s dream that had felt so real, when she’d imagined his naked body over hers. With a tremble, she glanced down at his thick fingers spread across the white faux fur. Heat flashed across her body as she remembered the sensation of his fingertips against her skin. Shuddering, she pulled away as they took the elevator downstairs and went outside.

  “Good evening, Mr. Cruz, Mrs. Cruz,” the smiling doorman said, tipping his cap. “Have a wonderful night.”

  “Thank you, Bernard.” Eduardo put his hand on the small of Callie’s back, guiding her to the black limo waiting at the curb. Sanchez held open the door as she climbed into the backseat, exhaling as she pulled away. And yet, as they drove through the sparkling, snowy city, every inch of her body was aware of her husband beside her. She didn’t relax until the car stopped, and she could escape the tight space beside him.

  The Winter Ball was being held at a glamorous old hotel on the edge of Central Park. As Callie walked through the lobby on her husband’s arm, her fingers barely touching his sleeve, she looked up at the soaring, frescoed ceilings in awe. Cruz Oil’s Christmas party last year had been huge, but it was nothing compared to this, the most lavish social event of the season. As they entered the enormous ballroom, she saw a winter wonderland. White twinkling lights sparkled from black bare trees, in front of a white background illuminated with pale lavender light. Winter was Callie’s favorite season, December her favorite month, and she gasped with wonder at the fairy forest of white.

  Then the fantasy came crashing down as she saw the guests milling around them: gorgeous, skinny socialites and powerful men, the type who’d all gone to prep schools and Ivy League colleges, who’d come from the best families and summered together in Kennebunkport and Martha’s Vineyard. And who was she? Nobody.

  Back at the penthouse, Callie had felt pretty; but here, she felt chubby and awkward. Scrawny, tall models seemed to circle them like sharks, looking hungrily at Eduardo.

  “Do you know them?” she whispered, clutching his arm as he led her past them through the crowd.

  “Who?”

  “Those women who are staring at you.”

  He glanced over at the gorgeous supermodels. “No.”

  “Oh.” She swallowed. Was he telling the truth? Or just trying to spare her feelings? She felt an ache in her throat, wondering if he’d had affairs with any of them. If he hadn’t, he was probably counting down the moments until their divorce, marking out his future sexual conquests. And who could blame him? Three months without sex would be was a long time for a man like Eduardo.

  But not for her. Callie had only had one sexual experience in her whole life. And with the only man she’d ever wanted. She’d tried not to care, told herself their marriage was just a sham. But just the thought of him jumping into bed with any one of those gorgeous, hard-eyed women made her want to throw up.

  But Eduardo wasn’t looking at the models. He was looking at Callie. “Can I get you a drink?”

  Nervously she nodded, and when Eduardo brought her a cup of punch in a crystal glass, she gulped it down.

  “Be careful with that,” he said, sounding amused as he sipped his own Hendrick’s martini, garnished with a slice of cucumber. “It’s stronger than you think.”

  But Callie was tired of being careful. The punch tasted fruity and tart and sweet, with a little bit of bite. It tasted like temptation. Finishing it off, she held out her glass. “Please get me another.”

  He shook his head, looking down at her with dark eyes. “Take care, querida.”

  “I’m tired of taking care,” she whispered. “Just for this one night, I want to be reckless.”

  Eduardo gave her a slow grin. “As you wish.”

  Turning, he went toward the bar. When he returned, the intensity of his gaze flooded her with heat.

  “Here,” he said in a low voice, holding out her drink. Their fingers brushed as she took the glass, and she shivered.

  For weeks, he’d treated her with distant civility. She might as well have been one of his staff, the nanny who cared for his child. But tonight … Tonight he was looking at her. Really looking at her. As if he wanted to rip off her dress, kiss every inch of her skin, and make her lose her mind with pleasure.

  He left me, she reminded herself fiercely. I mean nothing to him. He only slept with me in the first place because I was convenient.

  “Thanks,” she muttered, taking the glass. “What’s this drink called, anyway?”

  His lips quirked. “It’s called a Rudolph.”

  “A Rudolph? Why?”

  “It’ll make your nose red and you fly all night.”

  “Oh,” she muttered. Ask a silly question. Knocking back her head, she drank deeply, aware of his gaze upon her face, her neck, her breasts. She kept drinking until the cup was empty, and she had no choice but to meet his eyes. His dark eyes caressed her face.

  “Have you ever had a hangover before?”

  “No.”

  “Want one?”

  She’d never experienced a hangover, but the idea of waking up with one tomorrow sounded appealing. It would be a welcome distraction from their impending divorce. “Maybe.”

  Music from the orchestra swelled across the ballroom and he held out his hand. “Dance with me.”

  Shaking her head, she looked toward the gorgeous cluster of supermodel-types on the edge of the dance floor, who were still watching Eduardo with voracious eyes. “Why don’t you ask one of them?”

  He frowned at her then glanced over before setting his jaw. “Why would I?”

  “They seem to know you.”

  “Lots of people know me.”

  A lump rose in her throat. “Why don’t we just end the charade? You don’t need to be so discreet. I know perfectly well that you’ve had lovers during our marriage.”

  His eyes turned sharp. “Who told you that?”

  “No one had to tell me. We haven’t been having sex, so I assumed …”

/>   “You assumed wrong.”

  For a long moment, they stared at each other.

  “Are you really telling me the truth?” she whispered, her heart in her throat. “But it’s impossible. There must have been someone else!”

  His dark eyes burned like fire. “So that is what you think of me.” His voice was low and terse beneath the rising music. “That while insisting on your absolute fidelity, I would cheat on you and betray our marriage vows?”

  “What else do you expect me to believe? I know you, Eduardo. There’s no way you’ve been celibate for the last three months, especially when women throw themselves at you! No man could resist that. Especially not—”

  “Especially not me?” he said with dangerous quietness.

  She shook her head tearfully. “You got what you wanted. Our baby has your name. Now all your friends have seen me, they’ll know you did the right thing by our baby, and they’ll know why our marriage didn’t last.”

  “Which is?”

  “Just look at me!” Starting to feel dizzy from the alcohol and the heat of the ballroom, she looked down at her overflowing curves in the tight dress then gestured toward him. “And look at you!”

  Eduardo’s brow creased as he looked down at his tuxedo, then back at Callie in her silver gown—the gown that had made her feel so pretty at the house but that now only seemed to emphasize her overblown figure compared to the stick figures of the models. He shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

  “Oh, forget it!” she choked out. “It doesn’t matter. Not anymore!”

  But as she started to leave, she felt his larger hand enfold her own. Taking the empty glass from her, he set it on the silver tray of a passing waiter and pulled her into his arms. His dark eyes searched hers. “I never betrayed you, Callie.”

  She licked her suddenly dry lips. “Why would you be faithful to me?”

  “If you have to ask, you don’t know me at all.” His hand tightened on hers. “Dance with me.”

  Callie stared up at him, her heart in her throat. She knew she should refuse. Her mind was reeling at the thought that he’d been faithful to her. Without her anger, she was vulnerable. She had nothing to defend her. The marriage would end tomorrow. She was so close to being free. She couldn’t let him any closer now. She should run, as fast and hard as she could.

  But as he led her to the dance floor, she couldn’t resist, any more than she could resist breathing.

  “All right,” she whispered. “Just once.” To say goodbye, she told herself.

  Turning to her, Eduardo pulled her against his body. All around them, pale purple shadows moved against soft lavender lights, and the white bare trees looked like lacy latticework beneath twinkling white stars. Surrounded by couples swaying to music, they began to dance. Eduardo held her tightly, nestling her against the white shirt of his tuxedo. She felt his warmth. His heat. She felt the strength of his arms around her.

  Callie closed her eyes, pressing her face against his chest. She felt strangely safe. Protected. She felt as if she’d gone back in time, to that one perfect night when she’d felt he cared.

  For the next two hours, they never left the dance floor, and Callie was lost in the haze of a perfect, romantic dream. As Eduardo held her, as she swayed in her silver gown, she looked up into his handsome, sensual face and everything else fell away. She barely heard the music. She and Eduardo were alone, in an enchanted winter forest.

  And she realized she loved him.

  She’d never stopped loving him.

  Callie froze, staring up at him as unseen couples whirled around them in the violet shadows.

  “What is it, querida?” Eduardo said softly, looking down at her.

  Callie licked her lips, feeling dizzy and hot all over. She couldn’t let herself love him again. She couldn’t be that stupid. She couldn’t.

  “What are you trying to do to me?” she said hoarsely. “What are you doing?”

  Eduardo stood still on the dance floor, looking down at her. A tremble went through her as a current of awareness sizzled down her veins. Her mouth felt suddenly dry as he stroked her cheek.

  “What am I doing?” His dark eyes searched hers, and he whispered, “I’m kissing you.”

  Callie couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, as he lowered his mouth to hers.

  She felt the heat of his sensual lips like satin and the warmth of his breath in an embrace that swirled around her body with breathless magic. She felt his hard, hungry lips against her own. Felt the scratchy roughness of his chin, as his hands ran softly through her hair, then down the bare skin of her back.

  His kiss was exactly how she remembered. Exactly how a kiss should be. His deeply passionate embrace didn’t just promise pleasure—it whispered of eternity. And against her will, words filled her soul that were an incantation in her heart.

  I love you, Eduardo.

  I never stopped loving you.

  Oh, God. Could he feel it on her lips as he kissed her? Had her own body betrayed her?

  “I want you, Callie,” he murmured against her skin.

  She saw the blatant desire in his dark eyes and suddenly felt like crying.

  “How can you torture me like this,” she whispered, “when we both know in the morning you’ll only toss me aside? I gave you my devotion. And you treated me like trash!”

  “Callie!”

  “No!” She ripped away, not wanting him to see the anguish in her eyes. She couldn’t bear that final humiliation. Turning, she ran off the dance floor. Pushing through the crowd, she rushed through the ballroom, running past the coat check without stopping for her wrap. She ran blindly through the lobby and out of the hotel, into the street, where she was nearly run over. A taxi driver honked and yelled at her angrily, but she barely heard him. She crossed the street to Central Park.

  The park looked almost eerie in its snowy whiteness beneath the black, bare trees, just like the illusion inside the ballroom, but dangerous and cold, the real thing.

  Moonlight filled the dark sky, illuminating the small clouds around it, making them glow like pearls in black velvet. As Callie ran, she wept, and it wasn’t soft, feminine weeping, but big gulping sobs. Wiping her eyes, she glanced behind her.

  And saw Eduardo following, an ominous figure in black.

  She gasped and started to run, tripping on her shoes as she ran deeper into the park. She raced headlong down the windswept path, knowing that if he caught up with her, he would see her shameful love for him and he’d see her pathetically broken heart.

  One of the high-heeled shoes fell off her feet. Turning around, she started to go back for it, but when she saw him right behind her, she kicked off her other shoe instead and turned back to run. The frozen, snow-kissed path felt like cold knives against her bare feet, the silver dress dragged against her legs and the winter air bit against her naked shoulders.

  Then Eduardo caught up with her. His powerful arms lifted her off the frozen ground.

  “Go away.” Crying, totally humiliated, she struggled against his hard chest. “Just leave me alone!”

  “You think you’re disposable to me?” he said grimly, looking down at her. The moonlight gave his black hair a silver halo, like a sensual, dark angel come to lure her to hell. “Is that what you think?”

  “I know it!”

  “You just had my baby,” he ground out, his dark eyes glinting. “I’m not a brute. I wasn’t going to force myself on you!”

  She tried to kick her way free. “Of course not, when you have half the supermodels of this city queued up outside our door. How can I ever compete with that? You said it yourself—you can’t wait to divorce me!”

  “Oh, my God.” His jaw clenched. “Do you know how much I’ve wanted you? How long? Do you?” he thundered.

  She stared at him, shocked at his fury.

  His voice dropped. “I’ve wanted you for a year, Callie. And I’ve waited for you. For a year.”

  “No,” she whispered. “It’s not true.”<
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  What she saw in his dark eyes made her shiver all over. “My God. How can you not know? How have you not seen it?”

  Her heart nearly stopped in her chest. She licked her dry lips. “You haven’t tried to touch me, not once. You’ve barely even looked at me.”

  “You were a new mother. You were drowning.” Reaching out, he brushed long brown tendrils off her shoulders. “You didn’t need me trying to seduce you, placing more demands on you when you were only getting four hours of sleep. You didn’t need a lover. You needed a partner. You needed me to be a good father.”

  She stared at him.

  “And you were,” she choked out tearfully. “The best father Marisol could ever have had.”

  Callie heard his intake of breath, felt the way his hands tightened on her as he held her against his chest. Looking down at her, his angled face was in dark silhouette.

  “Thank you,” he said softly. All around them, the winter landscape glowed in the moonlight.

  “You really—wanted me?” she whispered.

  He gave a harsh laugh. “I tried not to. Told myself that our night together was meaningless. Reminded myself that you were a liar engaged to another man, and you’d betrayed us both when you gave me your virginity.”

  Ice flashed through her. “I—”

  “But I couldn’t forget you. No matter how I tried.” He shifted her weight against his chest. “There has been no other woman since the night you were in my bed,” he said roughly, looking down at her. “Do you understand what I am telling you? No other woman.”

  She stared at him. “But … but it’s been a year.”

  His dark eyes looked through hers. “Yes.”

  Callie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She licked her lips. “But those pictures of you with that duchess in Spain …”

  “She is beautiful,” he whispered. He shook his head. “But she left me cold.”

  Tears spilled unheeded down Callie’s cheeks, freezing against her skin as she looked up at her husband. “No. No, it can’t be true. You can’t have been celibate for a year, wanting me—”

  “You don’t believe me?” he said grimly. He released her, slowly letting her slide down his body to her feet. “Then believe this.”