by Marie Kelly
His sharp intake of breath made something shrivel up inside her as she continued, “Instantly he was all full of apologies. Told me that he loved me so much that it was tearing him apart that I didn’t feel the same way…he made me feel like it was somehow my fault” Her eyes met his, seeing the anger within them, an anger she knew not aimed at her. “I forgave him” She gave a humourless half-laugh, her expression becoming contemptuous of herself. “I never understood why women would allow themselves to stay in an abusive relationship…but there I was forgiving him” She grew silent as the memories flooded her mind, his soft voice prompting her to continue.
“Then what happened?” Swallowing once more, she shuddered slightly “a couple of weeks later I accidentally dropped one of his trophies, gave it a small dent. He was livid. I promised to take it and have it repaired but he was like an animal. He hit me…hard, and I fell against the table knocking myself out” This time she heard the loud hiss of air sucked in. “When I woke up my head was bleeding and Nigel was in a state of panic. I think he thought he had killed me. He kept telling me over and over again that he was sorry…that he hadn’t meant it. I needed a doctor, but he wouldn’t let me get to the phone. He just kept telling me I must have tripped, he was solely concerned that nobody know what he had done and only agreed to call the ambulance when I promised not to tell anybody how it happened”
Taking another long breath she finished, “After the hospital I never went back. I told him that I wanted a divorce and moved in with my friend Tara. He tried to get me to come back, but when it became obvious that I would not he told me that if I told anybody what had happened that he would drag me into court, would hold up the divorce for as long as possible. At first I didn’t care - I was going to take him all the way but life has a way of changing priorities” Darius heard the sadness creep into her tone as she gave herself a shake. “So I agreed and we divorced quietly with a no-fault settlement” She could feel the disbelief from the man at her side.
“Why the hell would you let a creep like that away with what he did…do you have any idea of the rumours he is spreading about you? He accuses you of having affairs, making it impossible for him to continue with the marriage”, his eyes narrowing even further. With a soft nod, she looked back at him, the sadness still so evident. “I know what he is saying Darius…but like I said sometimes life has a way of changing your priorities. I do not care what he says…I don’t care what any of them say. But the last thing I needed was a public show of the breakup of my marriage. I wanted out as quietly as possible”
His voice was full of anger and contempt. “What the hell could be so important that you would let a bastard like that get away with what he did to you?…He really could have killed you Sara” His eyes stared down at her as she shook her head refusing to speak. “Answer”, he bit out as for the first time he saw the shutters fall over her normally so expressive eyes.
“No. That is the one thing that I will not tell you about. My one secret” His eyes trailed over her lovely face, his frown deepening, seeing the determination in her expression before his voice became softer. “Perhaps I could help you?” his words surprising her before she gave a small snort. “Of course…you are all about helping me” Trying to move once more, his arm again tightened around her.
“Where are you going?” he asked, Sara stiffening. “Now that you have finished…I would like to go to my own room”, her eyes flicking to his, seeing as a small smile settled in the corner of his mouth. “Fine. You keep your secret…and no, I have no interest in helping you” Sara was surprised to hear the note of anger in his voice. “But understand this. Firstly THIS is your room… from now on you will share my bed till we split”, his voice becoming more sensual, “and secondly…we had not finished”, his mouth once more dropping to hers as she made to argue.
The moment he kissed her she gave up any pretense of fighting him off, her body jumping in greedy awareness and want for the man who pulled her once more against him. This time their lovemaking was slower, languorous, as he explored every inch of her body with his hands and mouth, Sara unable to believe the myriad of sensations which swept over her. She lost her inhibitions as she copied him, taking pleasure in the way her exploration of his body caused him to groan and whisper such words of encouragement, full of barely-contained need.
When he rolled onto his back, he pulled Sara over him. She sighed, straddling his body as he guided her onto the hardness of him, her gasp turning to a long moan of pleasure as she took him deep within her body. Moving, she steadied herself with fingers which enjoyed the feel of his warm chest, his hands holding her thighs, moving her as she set the pace for their lovemaking.
Sara found controlling the rate and depth a powerful aphrodisiac; watching his face as he tried to push deeper within her, she teased him before sinking over him, hearing the loud hiss of pleasure from him. Soon however, she felt the same waves rise within, not able to believe that she could experience such intensity so soon after the last time, her movements becoming faster as she climaxed, her cries filling the space as her head fell back.
Darius raised himself, one arm wrapping around her waist as he rolled her onto her back, his movement deepening his penetration of her pulsating body, making her whimper, his body stroking harder, keeping her spiralling within the intensity of her orgasm before he too joined her, panting and moaning with the relief of his release. Completely spent, Darius fell heavily over Sara, only this time she allowed herself to wrap her arms around him, holding him close.
After several seconds he lifted his head, a smile on his mouth as he dropped a kiss on her lips before rolling from her, a chuckle leaving him as he looked over at her with eyes still warm from the intensity of their reaction to each other. “Now we are finished”, he grinned, Sara giving a chuckle back. “Wimp”, she managed, collapsing in a heap, already feeling as her eyes felt so heavy as tiredness pervaded every part of her, the last sound before she fell asleep was his deep rumbling laugh.
The next morning, Sara’s eyes blinked open; she lifted her head in confusion, expecting to see the small room her mother allowed her to use while she was looking for her own place. As realisation swamped her, she groaned, her body feeling stiff from the activities of the previous night. Her hand brushed across the bed, quickly realising that she was alone as she sat up pulling the sheet around her.
“Good morning” His voice made her stiffen, pulling the sheet tighter, her eyes opening wider as they fell on the man sitting at the desk. Frowning softly she noticed that he was fully dressed, amazed that she heard nothing as she was normally such a light sleeper. Dressed more casually today in jeans and a shirt, he was reading papers. With his seat facing the bed she knew that he must have been watching her as she slept, this thought making her uncomfortable while strangely aroused.
“What time is it?”, she finally managed, his mouth quirking as he put down the papers, rising and moving back to stand over her, the tingles turning to full out electric jolts running through her now. Darius had enjoyed watching the young woman sleep, her hair falling around her face, her expression almost angelic, this thought surprising him. The night had been more wonderful than he ever expected her reaction to him mind-blowing. He felt his body’s tightening awareness just at the memory. He knew after six years of pent-up hatred for the woman before him his revenge was the reason for the intensity, satisfaction filling him.
“8:30” His smooth tone saw her physically shiver, Sara scolding herself with the way his mere presence was affecting her. Giving an unsure half-smile she nodded softly aware that it was the weekend wondering if Darius Garelli always got up so early. “Y…you must have been up early”, she finally managed, feeling the need to fill the heavy silence which fell between them, seeing as his eyes slid over her bare shoulders, embarrassed as her nipples tightened with just his eyes on her body. His knowing smile made her want the ground to open up and swallow her whole as she flushed, turning from him.
Sitting down beside her
, she felt panic rise, not at his presence but at the way her whole body started to tingle with expectation, jumping as his finger slid down her shoulder. “I wish that we had more time”, his voice sensual as his eyes slid down her a shiver running through Sara with the intensity of her desire for the man so close as he sat forward, his mouth finding hers in a soft kiss, his hand caressing her cheek before pulling back. “But…We don’t”
Sara’s eyes flicked open as she ran her tongue along her lips, tasting him once more, her eyes questioning. “Why?” Embarrassment flashed through her as she realised what she just said, how she must have sounded, her cheeks reddening. “I…I meant…what is happening?” Inwardly cringing, she saw the way he grinned. “I have a meeting in about thirty minutes and this evening we are returning to my house just outside of the city” “Y…your house?” Her voice took on a tinge of panic. “H…how far outside the city?” Darius surprised at the way she looked so wary.
With a smile he named the suburb on the outskirts, her eyes looking away as her brows furrowed in concentration before looking more relieved. “I…I guess that is fine…right side of the city…closer even”, she mused softly as he sat watching her. “Right side of the city for what?” his question asked gently as she bit her lip nervously. “I…I can’t say” Darius gave a deep sigh.
“Fine…but we are out of here at six - make sure you are ready. You will need more clothes, because as I said yesterday…I have no desire to see you wandering around dressed like a teenager, so Rachel is coming around in one hour…I have organised for a credit card to be made available for you, it should be delivered soon” Pushing her hair back nervously she felt uncomfortable. “I would rather not”, her voice more cold than she intended, more than just a little insulted by his comments though knowing that they were fair, her dress the previous day meant to put him off the thought of taking her to bed, as he gave a small chuckle.
“I like my women to look nice. Like them to feel special”, his head moved to nuzzle her neck as she froze, Sara flinching, suddenly feeling so dirty. “I am sure you do…but I am NOT one of your women. We both know that” His teeth nipped at her neck making her gasp with the jolt of desire that flashed through her before he stood giving her a smile. “Of course you are…last night proved that…even if you don’t want to accept it…maybe we can talk more about it later” Turning, she felt shame at the memory of how she had clung to him, touched him, wanted him.
“You are delusional Darius. I was there because you blackmailed me. I was making the best of a bad situation” He froze for a split second before giving a harder laugh, the sound setting her nerves on edge as he walked to the door. “Well I enjoyed your ‘best of a bad situation’ so think of the credit card as reward for services rendered” The door closing saw her fall back against the pillow, a small scream leaving her lips at his comment, the feeling of being dirty returning to her once more as she groaned with shame.
Darius moved down the corridor, his expression hardened as he stabbed at the elevator button. “Make the best of a bad situation” - who the hell did she think she was he fumed, as angry with himself as her. He had planned on humiliating her, making her believe that he intended to make her his mistress for two weeks. His real plan was for one evening only - to parade her before all those her mother and family held in such high esteem.
Stepping into the elevator, a small groan left him. What the hell happened? He wanted to see the look on her face as he forced her to dress up for him in the lingerie he picked out himself, to make her think that he intended to force her into his bed, then at the last moment to tell her to leave, to make her think that she was not good enough for him.
Cursing the memory of the way she kissed him when he took her into his arms sent a small tremor through him. She had not fought him as he believed she would but instead melted against him, his determination leaving with the need to possess her, to have her just as he had wanted her six years ago.
Looking skyward, he thought of the young Sara Balfour. She fooled him then just as she fooled him again. He thought her to be sweet, kind, the other contractors preferring to deal with Sara who was meticulous and considerate. She had always been polite but distant, the only woman who had not thrown herself at him, unlike her sister. Darius thought that she was perhaps shy, finding himself nervous to do the one thing he most wanted – ask her out-until the day she took such pleasure in firing him, his mouth setting in a thin line.
Damn that woman; even now his body tightened at just the memory of the way she reacted in bed. Taking a deep breath, he remembered the way he too had reacted, his hand clenching as his lips curled into a self-mocking smile. That morning he watched her, guilt filling him. Maybe he had not understood what happened six years ago, maybe he had been blinded by his hatred for her before her coldness and words angered him.
With another frown he knew that she had certainly suffered, her family throwing her to an animal like Nigel Lipton, this not sitting will with him. Standing straight he set his mouth firmly, pushing the feeling of unease and guilt from him. She treated him in the worst possible way and for that she was only reaping what she had sown, and maybe he was taking things too far, but he had not finished with her yet, not by a long shot. With that the decision had been made that he would hold onto her for as long as it took to get the little minx out of his head, a small smile now turning up the corners of his mouth. Payback was a bitch and so was Sara Balfour - well two could “make the best of a bad situation”.
The doors sliding open onto the foyer revealed the manager himself, a kindly man who walked with him to the bar; pointing out the tall man he had come to meet. Darius moved forward, his hand outstretched a more professional smile on his handsome face.
As promised an hour later, Sara was ready for the cheery Rachel. Once more she was dragged around boutique after boutique, Rachel meticulously working through her assigned list, Sara knowing that she was being prepared for the next two weeks, embarrassed by the amount of sexy underwear that had been bought. Rachel however waved away her protests, her eyes sparkling wickedly as she raised her eyebrows suggestively. “Oh Sara…if you’ve got it flaunt it girl…and you’ve got it” Sara unable to hold back the return chuckle as she shook her head.
Rachel informed her that all of the purchased clothes would be delivered to Darius’ house as the two drank coffee, Sara so unaware how tiring shopping could be. Passing a jewellers as they prepared to leave, Sara stopped, her eyes staring at something in the window. Asking Rachel to wait she moved inside, a huge grin on her face as she returned fifteen minutes later, chucking.
“Darius insisted that I used his credit card…and I like to do as he tells me” Rachel gave a laugh and nod. “Oh Sara sweetie…that is the kind of instructions I could live with…you hang on to him” Sara gave a nervous half-smile not prepared to say more of her situation with Darius.
At six that evening Rachel once more returned her to Darius’ suite, the man himself appearing as she moved into the main living room. A smile sat on his lips, lips which Sara found herself staring at, the memory of how they trailed over her body causing small flutters of nerves to fill her stomach. “Did you get everything?” His soft words pulled her attention back to him, her mouth tightening. “Yes. Don’t worry I will not be embarrassing you” His lips twitched as his look dropped down her pointedly, Sara still wearing the jeans of the previous day topped with a shirt which Rachel insisted they buy, a lazy drawl his only response, “Good to know”, before he became more serious.
“The car is downstairs…we are leaving now” Darius strode purposefully out of the suite, Sara nervously trailing behind him as they silently rode the elevator down to the car which waited at the hotel entrance. She was surprised as Darius himself slipped behind the wheel of the luxurious sports car having first ensured that she was placed in the passenger’s seat. Sara held back the small groan as she sank into the softest leather seats she had ever sat in. Wordlessly, he pulled the car into the busy city traffic,
Sara allowing her eyes to flick over him, so in control and comfortable behind the wheel of the powerful and sleek vehicle. “I ordered my accountants to stop their investigation into your brother-in-law’s fraud. The shortfall at the moment is being hidden with my own money…all of which I will be getting back when he is caught”
His sudden statement made her jump, unaware that she had been lost in reverie, memories of the same hand stroking her, sliding along her body, his movements sure then as they were now. Sara bit back the groan which rose to her soft mouth, knowing how much money they were talking about, her head nodding slightly.
“We have a detective hunting him down”, she offered softly; as he gave a small laugh devoid of humour. “Really…He has been gone for over a month…Is this ‘detective’ of yours any closer to finding him?” She sighed, shaking her head, “No…Not yet. But it only takes one thing…one mistake” His eyes moved to give her a considering look “Well perhaps your man needs more help”, he muttered mysteriously, Sara giving a return wry smile. “Perhaps”, she said, as both fell into silence.
Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city, the roads widened and the traffic thinned as the concrete and metal landscape gave way to green rolling countryside. The car pulled off the highway, moving along the winding road which ran parallel with the sea; Sara recognised the area, her family having long wished that they could one day afford even a small house in the much sought-after locale.
Her eyes grew wide as the car stopped at the imposing high gates - the sole way into the estate surrounded by a tall stone wall, only the sweeping driveway surrounded by trees visible from the gaps in the ornate gate. “Wow” The word left her lips before she could stop it, Darius giving a small curl of his lips. “Not bad for a thief”, he bit out, Sara feeling the anger once more swell within her, suddenly tired of having to constantly apologise for her actions so many years ago.