‘Hard as this may be to believe, I’m simply not interested.’
George blinked. ‘Impossible.’
‘Give it up, brother,’ James roasted him. ‘You have to face the fact that your usual technique has failed.’
‘What’s his usual technique?’ Caitlin asked.
‘Superficial.’ James smiled, basically baring his teeth.
‘Cruel, James,’ George jibed.
‘But accurate.’
‘Come out with me, Caitlin,’ Jack interrupted. ‘There’s no contest as to who’s the most fun...’
‘You guys have always been this competitive?’ Caitlin asked.
‘Ignore them, Caitlin,’ Irene said calmly. ‘They’re fools. And no, Jack, you’re not going out. This is the first night you’ve both been home in ages. You’re to stay right where I can see you.’
‘All right.’ George winked at his mother, then turned back to eye Caitlin. ‘I’ll have to prove my superiority with the Scrabble board.’
‘Scrabble?’ Caitlin choked. Wow, they really were into the happy family scene here.
‘Hell no,’ James groaned. ‘Not Scrabble.’
‘You don’t think you can handle it?’ George teased.
‘I’m actually quite good at Scrabble,’ Caitlin said smugly. ‘I’m pretty tough to beat.’
‘You’re up for Scrabble?’ James stared at her.
‘Absolutely.’ She could see what he wanted but she was not diving away for an early night. It would be obvious to everyone what was going on.
She caught the glint in his eye as he replied, ‘All right then, Scrabble it is. Jack, you in?’
‘No.’ Jack shook his head. ‘I’m in the pool.’
Caitlin glanced at Jack for a moment as he cast off his shirt, dived into the pool in his boardshorts and proceeded to swim length after length. Yeah, they were a bunch of competitive sports types. Well, she couldn’t compete with either the tennis or the swimming, but with Scrabble? She had half a chance. She pulled her chair closer to the table as James and George set out the board and pieces.
She’d endured hours of Scrabble as a young teen, it had been the on-set tutor’s way of trying to beat the boredom of waiting for scenes. Caitlin hadn’t exactly loved it, but now she took the game on fiercely. She planned on beating these boys. And twenty minutes later she was doing exactly that—just. She and James had leapt ahead of George who, it was fair to say, didn’t seem to have his heart in it.
‘There was me thinking you were all about sequins.’ James frowned as she put down an eighty-seven point word by using a triple points square.
‘I’m all about designing patterns,’ she said primly. ‘Oh, look at that,’ Caitlin murmured, putting down another set of winning point letters.
George threw his hands in the air. ‘I retire. You’re too good for me. Couple of geeks,’ he muttered under his breath.
James laughed. ‘Jealous brother. You never could cope with me winning.’
‘You haven’t won yet,’ Caitlin pointed out calmly, putting her last piece, an ‘a’, above another ‘a’ already on the board.
He stared at it. ‘There’s no such word as “aa”. Acronyms aren’t allowed in our version of the game.’ He grinned gleefully.
‘Actually “aa” is a form of solidified lava,’ she said. ‘Feel free to look it up if you need to, but I think you’ll find I’m right. And that I’ve just won by a point.’
‘Solidified lava, huh?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’
‘That’s right.’ She tilted her chin. ‘If you’re up for it, you can always challenge me to a rematch.’
James’ eyes narrowed. ‘All right. But it has to be speed Scrabble.’
Thirty minutes later she chuckled. ‘Did you want to try for best of three?’
‘No, thanks. I concede the Scrabble crown to you.’
‘And now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I might retire.’ Caitlin smiled, somewhat embarrassed.
She looked over at James’ parents happily relaxing with all their sons home. Even if one of their sons hadn’t been remotely relaxed.
She really shouldn’t be intruding on this. Yet they’d made her welcome. She’d just been Caitlin again—with no cloud of doom hanging about her. Fitting in had been fun.
‘Thanks so much for having me to stay,’ she said. And meant it.
Ten minutes later there was a knock on her door and he slipped straight inside.
‘What was with the delay?’ he growled, pulling her close and spinning her to push her against the door. ‘We could be on our third round by now.’
‘I needed to flash my Scrabble skills.’
‘Flash me some other things,’ he muttered, his hands sliding over her dress. ‘Fast.’
She laughed. ‘But I won.’
‘And I’m your prize.’ He bent his head. ‘I need to be in you. Now.’
His impatience was an incredible turn on. But there was something more that drew her to please him—that hint of raw.
‘I never knew Scrabble could be foreplay,’ she mused, teasing him as she began to unbutton his shirt.
‘I’ve been waiting so long.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘I need this.’
Why? When they’d just had a perfectly pleasant night. But he kissed her before she could ask.
Sex. She reminded herself as she leaned into his kiss. It was just sex for him. It wasn’t her he’d been waiting for. But the ecstasy, the physical release.
‘You’ve been laughing all night,’ he said, pressing kisses across her jaw line. ‘Your laugh turns me on. I want to capture it. Capture you.’
‘You have me,’ she breathed, confessing the truth in a tease. ‘Any way you want me.’
‘Every way.’
Passion filled her. She needed to kiss him, touch him everywhere. Feel him. The thrill of being near him had never lessened. Chemistry was an incredible thing. She laughed now with the delight of it. Quickly he cupped his palm over her mouth. Hard.
Oh. Wicked excitement flamed inside her.
He smiled at her widened eyes. ‘Can’t have your sexy screams keeping everyone awake,’ he whispered.
She twisted her head, lifting her mouth free of his muzzle. ‘I don’t scream.’
‘Yeah, you do,’ he taunted with a wicked smile. ‘But first you sigh, then you pant. The panting gets quicker and louder. Then you scream.’
‘I’m that predictable?’ she asked, already breathless.
‘Pretty much.’
‘Keep your hands off my mouth,’ she ordered in defiance. ‘Your lips off mine. I can be quiet.’
‘Can you now?’ he dared.
Oh, hell, she wanted him so badly. ‘You won’t hear a peep. Promise.’
‘But what if I were to do this to you?’
She jumped. Just slamming her lips together in time to stifle the yelp as he cupped her sex with an invasive hand, his thumb working in circles around her already swollen, pulsing clitoris.
His smile widened and he stepped in closer, bracing his other hand on the wall beside her head. ‘You’re really going to stay silent?’
Slowly she nodded, knowing they were in a game now. The thing about James was that he liked a challenge. Well, so did she.
‘You think you’re so tough,’ he said softly. ‘A tough nut to crack.’ His mouth curved again and he leaned close to nip her lips. ‘Like a macadamia. Delicious. But so hard to break into.’
‘I’m not a nut,’ she whispered furiously.
He chuckled loudly.
‘If you don’t want people to hear us, then you need to whisper,’ she hissed.
Suddenly he moved, bending to pick her up. In three strides he deposited her on the bed. Coming down hard on top of her.
She gritted her teeth to hold back her groan of delight. She loved taking his weight.
But then he lifted away and started to torment her. His hands feathered over her skin in horrendously slow, delicious strokes. He carefully lifted her dress, exposing her to him inch by inch. Touching, tasting every part of her as he revealed it. He slipped the dress from her shoulders. Pressed kisses along the edge of her bra as he worked to unclasp it. Then he went to work on removing her knickers.
Slowly, teasing. Sending her insane.
She reached for the pillow, bit down on the corner of it, clenching down on the torture. So close to coming. But she couldn’t squeal.
‘That’s cheating,’ he reproved, pulling the pillow out from her teeth.
Her jaw snapped. She breathed hard. ‘Bastard.’
‘Insulting my mother when you’re in her home?’ he chuckled. ‘Bad girl.’
‘And you’re the bad boy for sneaking around to have sex with one of the guests on the sly?’
‘You were the one who wanted this to be clandestine.’ He gazed down her body as he slid his fingers along her slick sex. ‘So let’s have a silent orgasm then.’
He bent and added his mouth, his tongue to where his fingers already played. His mouth was hot and wet and wicked. His tongue skilled, his fingers fast.
Her lips parted, her head thrust back. He licked her again and again. He reached one hand up to her breast, strumming her nipple. The other hand working between her legs moved faster. One finger, two, three. He filled her while sucking and licking and kissing. Until she was rocking her hips like an animal, wildly running her hands through his hair.
She drew a deep, burning breath. Held it. Releasing it harshly as the sensations tumbled through her. Roughened breathing was not screaming. She’d done it.
‘Not bad,’ he said matter of factly, as if he were judging a cake contest. ‘But I like it most when you’ve completely lost control.’
He stood from the bed, roughly removing his clothes as quickly as possible, rolling on a condom he’d pulled from his trouser pocket. And then he pinned her.
His hands gripped hers, pushing them to the mattress, his full weight on her body. His legs pushed hers wider apart as he plunged to the hilt.
She clamped her mouth shut, barely able to hold back the moan. He kissed down her neck, across the vulnerable skin over her throat.
‘I can feel the vibrations of your silent sighs,’ he teased.
He shifted position so his pelvic bone ground harder against hers, creating intense friction. Sensations hammered her as he made use of her. She was his to do with as he wished. Whatever he wished so long as it was like this. He was so strong, his sensuality so powerful. Her head thrashed side to side as she tried to hold back. But he escalated his onslaught, surging forward, thrusting fierce and fast.
‘You like it when I’m inside you,’ he commented hoarsely.
She’d never felt anything so good in her life.
‘James,’ she panted desperately. ‘I’m going to scream.’
He slammed his mouth over hers, muffling the high, keening noise as she came. And in return, she thirstily swallowed his uncontrolled, animal growls.
* * *
James was late to breakfast. He’d peeled himself away from Caitlin’s side early in the morning and gone for a long run. Now they were all there at the table—Caitlin as well, looking like butter wouldn’t melt. He couldn’t help but give her a quick grin. But then he glanced at the food laid out on the table. His post-run warmth chilled instantly. He picked up one of the small, golden breads and glanced at the other pastries. He knew them so well. Could even taste them already.
‘These are Aimee’s?’ he forced himself to ask, hoping his voice didn’t sound as husky to everyone else as it did to him.
The conversation stopped. Even Jack tore his gaze from his phone.
‘Yes,’ his mother answered quietly.
‘How is she?’ James carefully put down the brioche.
‘She’s well. The bakery is doing brilliantly. Your father picked these up from there first thing. She’s away at the moment though—Malibu.’
So he wouldn’t have to see her—face her this trip. But that didn’t change anything. And he didn’t want this conversation. He didn’t take a seat. ‘I just need to go and—’
He didn’t bother trying to think of a reason. He was out of the room already. He’d be able to breathe again in a bit.
* * *
Caitlin sat at the table, unsure of what to do or say.
‘I knew that was a bad way to go about it.’ James’ mother sighed and left the room through another door—his father following closely.
Caitlin chewed on her one bit of brioche for a really long time. Go about what? Who was Aimee? Why had the mention of her name sent James into such an obvious lockdown—and spiked the tension in the family? Jack was back staring at his phone, only George was apparently still in ‘good host’ role—giving her a quick smile and offering her the plate of pastries and starting up a conversation on a completely unrelated topic. He was so damn determinedly cheerful and polite and easy-going that Caitlin knew it was all defence. She’d get nothing out of George. He was loyal.
‘I’m going for a run.’ George finally wrapped up his chat effort five minutes later. ‘Why don’t you check out the pool?’
‘That sounds a great idea. Thanks.’ She smiled at him gratefully.
She walked out onto the deck, thinking she’d check the pool temperature before committing herself. She paused. James was in there, furiously pulling through length after length after length as if he had Jaws on his tail. She walked over to dip in a toe, then bent to sit on the edge, letting her feet dangle in the cool water.
She knew he’d seen her. But he did another three lengths before coming over. Caitlin reached into her pocket and pulled out the small block she had in there. ‘You want some?’ She waved it in front of him.
‘My chocolate?’ He wiped the streaming water from his face. ‘Give.’
Caitlin shook her head and tried not to ogle his gleaming body. ‘Mine. I always keep some on me. It’s a great travel tip I learned from this guy once.’
He grinned appreciatively and opened his mouth for her to put the piece in, keeping his wet hands away.
‘You haven’t had breakfast,’ she said. ‘And you’ve almost done like a triathlon or something this morning.’
He said nothing, just opened his mouth for another piece. She fed an extra large chunk to him.
‘You can’t relax here?’ she asked. How the hell could he not relax?
‘I like to stay fit.’ He chomped and swallowed.
That wasn’t all it was and she wasn’t afraid to ask. Much. ‘So who’s Aimee?’ She tried to ask as nonchalantly as possible. ‘An ex-girlfriend or something?’
‘What?’ He looked utterly startled. ‘No.’ He shook his head, a slight grin appearing for an even slighter second. ‘She was our housekeeper for years.’
‘Oh.’ Caitlin frowned. She was so missing something huge. Why would James get so awkward at the mention of their old housekeeper?
He stood waist deep in the water, watching her. A low, reluctant chuckle left his lips. ‘I can see you clamping down on all those questions.’
She shrugged, making light of it. ‘You don’t want to talk? I’m not going to make you.’
He reached out and took the last of the chocolate from her fingers. He devoured the last bit in a gulp; she could see the small sustenance having an effect already. His smile was almost back. ‘Thanks,’ he said.
Thanks for the chocolate, or for not pushing him? She guessed both.
Of course now her curiosity burned brighter still.
* * *
James spent most of the morning deflecting conversation b
y engaging both Jack and George in another tennis round. Caitlin hadn’t asked more about Aimee or what the connection was with him and his family, but it felt as if she’d withdrawn. She hardly looked at him. Logically he knew it was because she was too busy smiling and charming his family, not because she was bothered about him shutting her out. But even so, prickles pushed under his skin.
He whacked the ball hard and aced Jack. Was he shutting her out? He knew he was shutting his family out. He always had over this. There was nothing anyone could say to make it better or ease his guilt. Not even Aimee could say anything. And she’d tried to in the past—told him it wasn’t his fault. That accidents happened. That people made their own choices. None of that made him feel any better. But he damn well refused to dwell and mope and stew. He stayed busy for very good reasons.
He didn’t have to tell Caitlin. Didn’t have to tell anyone. He’d acknowledged his actions, accepted the ramifications. The responsibility. And he’d moved forward with his life—on a far better course than he’d been before. He couldn’t change the past, couldn’t forget it, but it was better to make a difference and move forward.
But ironically, Caitlin not asking made him want to tell her. He wanted her to understand. He knew that she, of all people, wouldn’t tell, certainly wouldn’t judge. His lips twisted. Because she already knew he wasn’t perfect, right? From the moment she’d met him, she’d had his number.
He was a fake.
TEN
‘Come walk along the beach with me,’ James said to Caitlin. It wasn’t really an invitation, more a command. Because suddenly, it seemed vital that she did know it all. Why he’d suddenly morphed into a hyperactive sports freak. Why he couldn’t sit still. Why he struggled to say anything particularly personal to his parents. Why he needed his life to stay the way it was.
She didn’t hesitate. Didn’t even answer. She just stood and followed him.
‘Aimee was our housekeeper. She was married to Pete, our odd-jobs man,’ he said roughly, as soon as they were out of earshot of the house. He didn’t look at her as he spoke, but he felt her eyes on him.
‘They lived with you?’ she asked.
‘They had a cottage at the other boundary. Kind of like the gate house, yeah.’ He shrugged his shoulder, wincing at the obvious wealth. ‘Louis was their only child. He was a couple years younger than us, smaller for his age. But we hung out all the time.’
Whose Bed Is It Anyway? Page 14