Dark Demands 4
Bound to Him
By
Nell Henderson
Copyright Nell Henderson – 2012
Chapter 1
“I’m huge, in fact I look more like an elephant than a woman,” Gina Deverell howled at her step mum who was watching her attempt a sexy pose in front of a full length mirror.
Grace shook her head and sighed. Gina was entirely wrong – the truth was she’d never looked more ‘womanly’ before in her life. She was positively radiant – glowing in that special way that seemed to be the preserve of mothers to be.
“There’s no way I should be going anywhere looking like this and particularly not to a party,” she added flopping onto her bed and stroking the large bump on her belly. “He’s moving again – see he doesn’t want to go either,” she pouted.
“You’re six months pregnant, Gina – what do you imagine you should look like?” Grace Deverell shook her head and began to pick up the clothes Gina had left scattered over her bedroom floor. “Are you quite happy with the emerald green you’re wearing – are you sure you don’t want to change again?” She asked holding up a silk gown in a delicate pale blue.
“I’ll have to be – it’s all I can fit into,” she moaned. “I’d love to wear that,” she said nodding at the other gown, “but given my size it’ll be some time yet before I can.”
“Pregnancy doesn’t last forever, Gina,” Grace reminded her patiently. “And once the baby is born you’ll soon get your figure back.”
“Perhaps I will but in the meantime why do I have to pile it on all over – I mean just look at the size of these,” she said lifting up her large breasts through the fabric of her dress. “They’re obscenely big so big in fact that I doubt I’ll ever be normal again.”
“Nevertheless you’re still gorgeous, Gina and a very lucky young woman,” Grace reminded her, “You’ve got yourself a wonderful man – who adores you and now the cherry on the top – you’re having his baby.” Grace smiled benignly and stroked her long, blonde hair. “Three months, that’s all you’ve got left, so stop moaning and finish getting ready – Kyle will here to pick you up any minute.”
Kyle, Gina thought with a shiver of pleasure. Her wonderful Kyle. Well he was and much, much more, wonderful, handsome and talented. So much so he was literally speeding up the corporate ladder of the vast ‘Planet Electronics’ organisation and had earned the respect and friendship of its CEO – Benito Carlotti.
Mrs Kyle Hastings, she said the words to herself and stroked her bump again. Next week that’s what she’d be. No longer plain Miss Gina Deverell instead she’d be married and to her hero – the man who’d rescued her from herself and worse, she thought with a shudder. The man who’d taught her to love again. To love properly, gently and with care – and like Kyle was often fond of telling her - to love the way men and women are meant to.
Gina felt the icy flare as it shot down her spine chilling her to the bone. It was that shadow again – the one that had a habit of creeping up behind her – the one that wouldn’t leave her be. She frowned, she hated feeling like this. On one hand she was grateful - thankful for Kyle’s intervention but on the other she wished that events had panned out differently. But if she’d ignored all the warnings and stayed what would have happened – emotionally, where would she be now?
She’d lie in her bed at night and think about him – the man she’d thought she loved, the man who now haunted her thoughts and had changed her life forever - Matthew Dark. She’d re-live her time with him – re-run in her mind the way he’d taken her, dominated her and, of course, she’d think about the frenzied, exquisite sex they’d shared – running every detail through her mind over and over again. It could never be like that with Kyle. The shadow – the memory of Matthew Dark had seeped into her very soul and from there it tormented ruthlessly.
“She far more tetchy than normal – so be gentle with her,” Grace was telling Kyle as Gina swept into the sitting room and they both turned to look at her.
Her long, blonde hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders then down her back and the gown she wore flared to the floor in soft pleats from under her ample bosom softening her baby bump. She literally glowed, her creamy coloured skin radiated both her good health and the peaceful happiness she’d found with Kyle.
“I’m grumpy ‘cos I’m so fat,” she explained. “I know I shouldn’t be but just this once I’d really like to look good,” she frowned. “And you know why – don’t you, Kyle,” she pouted? “I know it’s silly but she’s always so competitive, so superior – and she notices everything.”
“Lisa will be fine,” Kyle reassured her with a dismissive wave of his hand. “She won’t say or do anything to upset you. Come on,” he grinned. “Since Italy she hasn’t put a foot wrong – has she?”
“I know but somehow each time I see her that just makes it worse. I can’t help feeling that she’s saving herself – saving all that spite for something really big.”
Kyle shook his head. He’d only ever seen one side of Lisa Carlotti – the lovely, the kind and the eager to please her brother side. The Lisa that Gina seemed to know was very different.
“I know I should be grateful to that woman but she still riles me somehow. She’s so, so … superior with that ‘I’m stinking rich and very beautiful’ attitude I just loath,” she told him then started to giggle. “Oh Kyle, you must think I’m such a bitch,” she said throwing her arms around him.
Kyle Hastings nuzzled her cheek then kissed her mouth lightly. “I think nothing of the sort,” he reassured her. “I love you, Gina, pure and simple and I’m sure Lisa will be fine, so don’t worry.”
Kyle knew that whatever might be going on in Lisa’s head Benito Carlotti would have primed his sister well. Whenever they met there was never ever any mention of Dark. Despite having once been married to him the Italian had practically banned Lisa from speaking his name such was the pure hatred he felt towards the Scotsman.
Gina climbed into the taxi next to Kyle and snuggled close to him placing his hand on her belly.
“He’s at it again, it’s the same every night, round and round he goes. I hope he’s not this active at this time once he’s born.”
Kyle felt the movements inside her and smiled. He’d never been happier. Since the first time he set eyes on Gina he’d wanted to know her better and now he could hardly believe his luck. She was his - soon she’d be his wife and they were having a child together. He kissed her gently and stroked her hair. She was so beautiful and he could so easily have lost her.
The silence – the lack of any contact from Matthew Dark was surprising. After all that Gina had said about him Kyle had fully expected Dark to come after her but instead he just seemed to have disappeared. No one had heard anything from him since that fateful day. Not that Kyle was complaining because once out of Dark’s control Gina had been easy to love and now, he truly believed that she loved him back.
Kyle tried not to return to that time – that day when he’d snatched Gina from Dark’s clutches but it was hard not to. After hearing some of what Dark had put her through he got so angry and wanted to go after him – extract some sort of revenge. But Gina would never allow that – or forgive him if he did. But still it just wouldn’t rest - that whole Dark thing was always there - bubbling around in his consciousness. He worried that one day he’d return and somehow entice her back and he knew this unease was down to his jealousy. He looked at her – if he did return would she go with him? Gina had been obsessed with Dark and perhaps he with her so there was always that possibility. And the venue for the party tonight wasn�
�t helping. It was being held at that same hotel – the one where Dark had first forced Gina into his bed.
“You know where we’re going, don’t you,” he asked her softly rubbing her small hand lightly. “If you feel you can’t then I will understand,” he offered.
“Don’t be silly – this party is for us. Benito has very kindly organised it to celebrate our engagement so that’s that,” she told him with a firm nod of her head while twisting the huge diamond on her finger around and around nervously.
She was desperate to appear casual, easy about it but as Gina bit her lip she realised she hadn’t been inside that hotel since Dark. Dark had taken her to his penthouse there and done those things to her. She felt a surge of heat flame through her body and mentally scolded herself for feeling this way.
Stop it, she mentally scolded herself. Don’t go over and over it in your head again. He’s gone – you left him and he didn’t come after you – so you have Kyle now – be content, she told herself with a feeling of regret. But the truth was Matthew still had the power to make her feel like no other man ever could – not even Kyle – a small voice in her mind niggled. No, not even Kyle, she’d accepted that – settled for the soft, neat relationship and the safety of a man she could really trust. She’d always known that despite the obsession – despite the hot sex and excitement that she could never have any sort settled life with Matthew Dark – could she?
Getting out of the taxi and stepping through the main doors and into the hall where the party was being held was like stepping back in time. Months before she’d done exactly the same with Charlie Spence and that night her own and Matthew Dark’s fate had become intertwined. Intertwined forever, the voice teased again. She bit on her bottom lip – but that was her little secret and no one else would ever know.
Gina needed to get a grip – it was this place, being here again was playing with her head. But history would not repeat itself, she mentally reassured. It couldn’t – fate could never be so cruel.
“Kyle, Gina,” a rich Italian voice called out to them and taking Gina’s arm Kyle led her across to the centre table to join Ben and their friends.
“Congratulations to both of you,” the Italian offered and rising to take Gina in his arms he kissed her cheek affectionately. “You two look so good together – a perfect match and we couldn’t be happier for you both,” his words of praise washed over then and were joined by nods of agreement from the others at the table.
Gina smiled and clung to Kyle’s arm. She liked Ben but she never really felt relaxed in his company. There were questions he’d never asked her and information she’d never volunteered. Another shudder – she hoped he never would because she never wanted to be in a position where she felt forced to talk about Matthew’s business. So all they ever really did was exchange pleasantries – like tonight and then they always allowed the past to lie still.
“We agonised over what to buy the pair of you,” Ben explained with a grin. “But then we thought you both might like a break before the baby comes and all that brings with it,” Ben added handing a folder of documents to Kyle. “So go and enjoy yourselves – two weeks in the Seychelles – soak up some sun and get spoilt,” he laughed and winked at Gina.
Kyle thanked his colleagues and took the champagne offered to him. Gina rolled her eyes and helped herself to some orange juice. Hadn’t they been spoilt already – Benito, Ben was obviously very fond of Kyle. Two weeks in the Seychelles, she thrilled. How very generous of Ben and how like him to want them to have this time together before they became parents.
“You look good – positively blooming,” a female voice cooed in her ear as she sat on the empty chair next to Gina.
Lisa, Lisa Carlotti, Ben’s sister. Gina’s felt the rush of butterflies hit her stomach as mild panic gripped her. She smiled and mouthed a ‘thanks’. Gina didn’t want to talk to her – she was sure that underneath the veneer of pleasantness this woman disliked her with a passion. Lisa was always friendly enough but Gina knew there was something else – something she kept hidden and it wasn’t just her imagination. Lisa had once been Dark’s wife and from what she’d learned from Charlie Spence, who was still dating Lisa, she’d resented all his relationships since their divorce. Lisa was a jealous and passionate woman and obviously had issues about what had gone on between her and Matthew. But all that’s over now - you’re not in his life anymore. So relax she can’t touch you. Another pang of regret – she really had to stop this.
“I must say I was surprised to hear about your engagement to Kyle,” she purred. “After Matthew – well how can I say this and keep it delicate,” she batted her jet black lashes and smiled at Gina sweetly. “After Matthew I wouldn’t have thought Kyle could keep you happy – you know, Gina – keep you satisfied in bed.”
Gina flashed Lisa an angry look and shook her head. “Does my relationship with Matthew still bother you because if it does then I can only wonder why?” She spat at the woman.
“I only make the comment because I know from personal experience how addictive Matthew can be,” she smiled a cold, calculating smile before resuming sipping at her champagne.
“Yes – you’re right Lisa and it’s obvious to me now that you were as much a victim of it as I was.”
Addictive – that was a very good description. Addictive, handsome and so very, very exciting in bed – and doubly so in that odd little room of his. The room where he’d tied her naked with her legs spread to his bench and then ….
Gina felt herself flush. God this was awful – what had brought such memories to the surface? Lisa’s prying about her and Kyle, that’s what. She was fishing for information – but why, what did it matter now – surely she could see how happy she was with Kyle?
“Have you seen him since, by the way?” She was forced to ask at length when Gina didn’t reply.
“No and I don’t want to,” she shuddered. “In fact if I ever see Matthew Dark again it’ll be far too soon.”
“You sound so sure, so certain so why is it then that I just don’t believe you, Gina,” she purred? “Why does that sweet English voice of yours just not have the ring of truth in it?”
Gina flushed again and realised the woman was now staring at her, watching every little movement of her features. What gave her the right to speak to her like that? Granted, Lisa had once been married to Dark but that didn’t empower her with some sort extra insight into how other women felt about him.
“Get off my back, Lisa. You know what happened and so you should realise that when I say I don’t want to see Matthew again, I mean it,” she hissed.
“Shame,” she purred again while topping up her champagne. “Because I know he’d very much like to see you,” she whispered conspiratorially. Then watching the shock on Gina’s face she smiled and her black eyes sparkled with something – something Gina couldn’t for a moment quite fathom. Then she realised – Lisa was jealous! Whatever she knew – whatever she’d heard about Matthew and how he felt about her running from him was making her as jealous as hell.
Gina shivered – that heat again, that heat only Matthew was capable of arousing in her. Damn the man, she thought and damn Lisa for being such a cow and dragging him back into her present!
“Excuse me, Kyle,” Gina said standing up and pulling on his arm. “Just going to the ladies, I won’t be long.”
She needed a few moments alone. Despite being Ben’s sister, Lisa bothered her. The woman was a spiteful bitch and although she’d helped her to get away from Matthew’s villa in Portofino she’d probably only done that out of jealousy.
Chapter 2
The ground floor of the hotel was busy with people going in an out of the dining rooms or waiting in the reception hall. She passed the lifts – one of them went right up to the penthouse – Matthew’s penthouse - that was if he still had it. She’d no idea if he even continued to work from her father’s old offices in the city never mind if he still retained a home here.
She wanted to ring
Grace – tell her not to wait up and was rummaging around in her bag looking for her cell ‘phone when she heard it. She stopped for a moment caught her breathe and blinked but there was no mistake – it was his voice.
It was that deep, sexy voice that had the power to rivet her to the spot and ignite a raging furnace in her body. Her blue eyes widened, her pulse quickened and she could feel her heart thumping in her chest as if it was trying to fight its way out. He was standing right behind her.
“You look well, Gina,” the deep, Scottish voice intoned over her left shoulder. “Deliciously well in fact,” he added slow and low and moving an arm around her waist.
Matthew Dark! Every nerve end in her body suddenly tingled to life. What was this – what was fate doing to her? She couldn’t do this – she couldn’t just conjure up a casual front, turn and look at him and chat as if nothing had ever happened between them.
Gina swallowed hard and took a step forward shrugging free of his grasp. Was that voice real – had she really felt his hand? Had she really heard him or was it just that she was here again, in this hotel and she was simply haunted by the memories? Perhaps that was it – being here – the things Lisa had said about him – it was just her mind playing tricks. But there was the smell of that expensive cologne he wore, there was no mistaking it and the jolt of fiery electricity as he grabbed her arm and gently pulled her around so that she had no choice – she had to look at him.
God he’s just the same – just as gorgeous and so very, very hot. She couldn’t speak, her eyes were bolted to his as they bored back into hers – it was as if he was drinking her in, drinking in all that had happened to her these past months.
“I’ve missed you,” he said softly at last. “You’ve no idea how much I’ve missed you, Gina,” he said focusing on the perfectly arched brows above those troubled eyes and the delicate bone structure of her face.
Dark Demands 4 - Bound to Him (Dark Demands Series) Page 1