by Kalia Lewis
In her mind there was only one way to deal with a powerful black panther. It took observation skills, watching it for signs of a strike, then, just as it is about to pounce, picking up the biggest stick and whack it!
Coughing nervously, she raised her eyebrows in a questioning look. “Tristan..?”
Tristan was in no hurry to answer her. Greedily, he observed the soft lines of her form as she sat there looking unkempt, wild and delicious with her wary-filled eyes. Last night he’d done nothing but think about how he wanted to touch her, inhale her scent and fill his hands with her creamy skin. When sleep finally came it was filled with erotic dreams, and by dawn, having completely tangled himself up in his sheets, he got up only to pace the floor, debating whether to come here. Seeing her now he knew he couldn’t have stayed away. Anticipation churned in his stomach and his blood began to pulse with heat.
“Tristan…please, what do you want? I’m very busy.” She felt as though she was balancing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for destiny to make its decision.
“What I want Annabelle,” he lazily drawled out as he pushed himself off the door, “Is you.”
A trickle of shock rolled down her spine and she felt her jaw drop. What?! Oh God, she’d just fallen off the cliff! Earlier, she’d made up her mind to close the door on the past and now he comes out with this! Her heart was racing and she felt all of her emotions unravelling again! No, no, no! She could not go down this turbulent road again! Maybe she heard him wrong? Yes, that’s it, she’d misheard.
“What did you just say?”
“I said, I want you,” he replied in a deeper drawl as he took a step forward. Jesus! He’d finally voiced what he’d wanted to say since seeing her again. A surge of adrenalin pumped through him. They could keep denying this sexual and lethal tension between them, but he had every intention to explore it and see if she felt the same. From across the room he could feel her array of emotions as they passed through her, from disbelief, to realisation and then to panic.
Their eyes locked and a silent power struggle ensued. A slight smile curled at the corner of his lips and in that split-second she saw his intention as it flitted further across his face. Overwhelming alarm filled her.
“You wouldn’t?” she whispered, more to herself than to him. Quickly, she stood up and frantically glanced around for an escape, but it took Tristan just three long strides to reach around the desk and stand in front of her.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he growled.
Flustered, she moved the chair between them, but he pushed it away and took a step closer.
Something akin to excitement or dread, she couldn’t work out which one, fluttered in her stomach and she began to step backwards, but he kept on coming until she felt the hardness of the wall behind her.
He was so close she could feel his breath on her face and her heartbeat pounded in her chest. All of her senses were acutely alive and she could smell him, a mixture of pure Tristan and citrus fruits and her knees nearly buckled.
He placed both his hands on each side of her against the wall and slotted his knee between her thighs. She was trapped.
“What on earth are you doing? I told you yesterday that I didn’t want this to happen. I have nothing to say to you.” Her eyes were level with the pulse at the side of his neck and she watched him as he leant down into her ear.
“Ma Belle, but I feel we have some unfinished business to attend to,” he murmured seductively.
The use of her old pet name sent a tremor through her body. It was the reason she’d named her company ‘Wedding Belle Planners’. “I think we finished our business quite efficiently ten years ago,” she answered him tartly.
She felt him smile near her ear.
“Ah, but at the root of all success is repeat business.” He proceeded to nip her neck gently with his teeth and then blow on the forming red spot.
“Oh,” she sighed, that felt so good!
Moving one hand off the wall, he ran a finger down her cheek.
Closing her eyes, she lifted up her chin and tilted her head so that he could have more access. A ripple of bliss streamed through her body as he dropped tiny kisses up the side of her neck and across her mouth.
Their breaths mingled as he held his lips ever so lightly against hers. “Look at me,” he whispered.
Opening her eyes, she gulped at the passion and raw hunger that she saw reflected in his glittering irises, hypnotising hers. She was a goner, and about to be sucked into a wave of surrender when suddenly a vision of April flashed across her mind. The realisation of her situation and what she was about to let him do to her again was like a blow to her stomach. One night full of copious amounts of humiliation was enough for one lifetime thank you very much!
Focusing on those unusual green eyes of hers, Tristan watched as the depth of desire faded and the flecks of gold darkened into spit-fire determination.
Stiffening, she grabbed at his lapels and tried to push at him, but he didn’t budge. “Let me go you arrogant oaf!” she demanded.
“I can’t,” he said softly, brushing the words against her lips.
It would be so easy to give in, but the cold reality of the last ten years held fast in her lungs. “Well, let me help you.” Lifting her foot, she stamped her two inch silver stiletto heel into Tristan’s expensive leather shoe.
“What the..!” Startled, he let go of her and jumped back.
She took the opportunity to run around his hopping frame to the door. It was locked. “Of all the cheek!” she mumbled under her breath. Pure adrenalin raced through her heart as she fumbled clumsily with the lock until she finally threw open the door.
“Please leave,” she said breathlessly.
Limping towards her, he scowled. “This is not over Annabelle.”
She snorted and looked up at him with scorn. “You’re not listening very well are you? It ended ten years ago, so stay away! Goodbye Tristan.” He moved past her and she gave him a final shove with the door as she leaned all of her weight on it to slam it shut. This slamming of doors was rapidly becoming a habit.
Chapter 6
“You did what!” Katie was rolling around on the red floppy sofa in Annabelle’s front room howling with laughter. They were having a girlie night in drinking wine and eating Chinese take-away.
“I hope I broke his toes!” she slightly slurred before swaying from the room. Minutes later she returned with another bottle.
Sitting up, Katie held out her glass. “Oh, it’s just so unlike you! I wish I’d have been there to see his face.”
Annabelle took a sip of her wine. “It felt really good to get a bit of revenge, but I’m telling you the guy is prime beef-steak on legs!” They burst out laughing again.
“Seriously though Annabelle, are you going to tell him about April?”
Annabelle put her glass down on the table and played with the stem. “Do you know how often I’ve fantasised about seeing Tristan again?”
“No way,” Katie spluttered. “His name has been taboo for nearly ten years and now you’ve saying that you’ve had secret fantasies!”
“Yeah, but reality is not the quite the same thing is it? Look, it has taken me all this time to build a secure life for April and it would be unfair to disrupt it.” She sighed. “Some secrets are just better left in the closet.”
“Yeah but what if he finds out?”
“How can he? Besides us, there’s only one other person who knows and if nobody tells him, then how can he find out?” She took another sip. “Anyway, he will be gone next week and he’s only flying in for three days over the wedding in August, so he doesn’t need to know.”
“What about April though, doesn’t she have a right to know her own father?”
“Perhaps, but I don’t think his world will have a positive influence on her, especially…” She pointed her finger dramatically in the air, “If that God awful Cara woman is a part of his life!”
Katie laughed and threw a cushion at A
nnabelle’s head.
A thick hangover greeted her the next morning. “Urgh.” She felt her head. Nearly three bottles of red wine between them had not been the greatest idea! Staggering unladylike into the shower, she stayed there for a long time.
The appointment with Tristan and Cara was at ten, but she was meeting Daniel at eight thirty to go through the details of their wedding and several others that were booked.
Throwing on her royal blue skirt suit with matching stilettos, she tied her half dried hair in a loose chignon. Not able to face breakfast, she left with a protesting stomach.
Daniel greeted her with a hug at the steps of Blickling Hall. “Hi sweets, I wasn’t aware you were auditioning for the part of Shrek’s wife, but you’ve certainly nailed the colour!” he joked.
Hugging him back, she retorted, “Nice to see you too Daniel, now be nice and ply my hangover with loads of coffee!”
Tapping her lips with his forefinger, he smiled wickedly. “Coffee is yours after we walk the ballroom.”
“You savage beast,” she groaned.
For the next thirty minutes they walked through the splendid ballroom and then spent further time in the courtyard café drinking coffee and eating tasty pastries whilst sorting through papers that were scattered over the table.
Relaxing, Annabelle took off her jacket and sighed, “You know, at this rate we’ll have to knock through the wall under the stairs and put in a lift.”
“Or we could have loads of rippling muscular men carry all the stuff up the stairs whilst we watch.” He winked at her.
Shoving him playfully, she laughed. “My God Daniel, you are incorrigible! Anyway, you’re the only one I need to look at for fabulous window shopping!”
Putting a hand on Annabelle’s cheek, he gently rubbed off a pastry crumb with his thumb. “And you my sweets are gorgeous, wild and sexy, don’t ever forget that.”
The sound of a cough broke the moment and they both turned to find Tristan looking at them with murder in his eyes.
Tottering in, not far behind him, was Cara. “This place is just huge!” she gushed. Sensing the electric in the air she looked at Tristan innocently. “Have I missed something important?”
Narrowing his eyes at Annabelle, Tristan gritted his teeth. “I do believe we’re going to be introduced to Annabelle’s boyfriend.”
Daniel was about to protest when Annabelle pinched his thigh under the table. He looked at her questioningly before they stood up.
Glancing at Cara and Tristan, she steadied her insides, which were having a hard time obeying and she replied serenely, “This is Daniel Carter, the manager of Blickling Hall who will be organising the ballroom venue for your wedding.”
Smiling warmly, Daniel held out a hand and Cara got there first.
Tristan was furious. He’d had every intention of apologising for his actions in the shop yesterday, but here she was in an intimate interlude with another man!
The fury emanating from him was so palatable that she could feel his eyes boring into her skin. Blushing profusely, she deliberately looked away.
Leading them away from the courtyard café and into the side garden, Daniel began to charm Cara about the history of Blickling Hall and she hung onto his every word. They’d hit it off famously.
Whilst they walked, Tristan took every opportunity possible to put his hand on the small of Annabelle’s back. Heat scorched her skin through her cream blouse and her nerves began to frazzle.
What did he think he was playing at? Turmoil ate at her insides. He purposely refused to leave her side and he insisted on touching her at every opportunity, guiding her elbow, catching her when she nearly tripped up the stairs and putting his hand over hers on the doorframe. By the time they reached the ballroom she couldn’t take it anymore, her insides were like mashed potato.
The proportions of the ballroom and the artwork on the ceiling astounded Cara, and Daniel led her around explaining the history behind every museum piece and portrait.
Tristan nodded in all the right places, but he did not take his eyes off Annabelle.
Exasperated, she threw Daniel a pleading look, and totally misinterpreting her plea, he winked slyly and led Cara to a far door. “Let me show you Anne Boleyn’s bed chambers.”
Cara squealed with delight.
Annabelle rolled her eyes. Was he deliberately being dense? She was about to follow them, but Tristan shot out his hand and grabbed her arm, preventing her from moving forward. Ten seconds later she watched helplessly as Daniel and Cara left through the door. They were alone.
His gaze roamed hungrily over her, moving up from her shapely legs to her full breasts and ending at her questioning stare. “You never told me you were seeing someone,” he accused angrily.
“You never asked,” she replied sarcastically.
Purposely, he took a step forward and she, a step back.
This time she wasn’t going to end up trapped against a wall, so she put out her hands to stop him from advancing, but they hit the hard muscle of his chest. Gasping at the intense heat through his white shirt, she stammered, “Stop…stop right there.”
Catching her upper arms he pulled her in against his body, locking both of her hands against his chest.
Flushing at the contact, she looked heatedly at him. “Let me go! You have no right to –”
“I have every right,” he cut in fiercely.
Her heart was pounding and the intensity of his nearness was sending sparks through her body.
“How many men Annabelle?” His eyes pierced into hers.
“What are you talking about?” she shrieked.
“How many other men have you thrown yourself at and seduced besides me?”
“I haven’t…How dare you! My private life is none of your business!” She tried to struggle, but it caused him to shift his thighs and catch her legs between his. The shock of standing hip to hip froze her on the spot. Waves of sheer anticipation flooded her body.
“What number are we talking Annabelle, is it five or even ten?”
Looking into his seething eyes, she replied prettily, “Oh, you’ll need to add at least another zero before you even get close to the amount.”
“Wrong answer!” he growled out, before crushing his mouth against hers. The kiss was not passionate, it was punishing, as he ground his mouth against hers in an attempt to drive out any memories of other men from her mind.
She felt him bite her bottom lip hard and she opened her mouth to protest, but he drove inside and demanded with his tongue that she respond. Thrill after thrill laced up her spine and she moaned against his lips.
Tristan pushed deeper and harder.
Clinging to him for dear life, she was helpless as he possessed her and ruthlessly claimed every nerve ending in her body. Only the sound of Daniel and Cara’s approaching voices brought her back to reality and she stiffened in fear at the oncoming intrusion. He released her and she staggered back, reaching for the nearest chair. Breathless, she leaned against it and her chest rose heavily as she gulped in air.
The voices got closer until they finally emerged through the door from the corridor. Pulling herself together, she shot Daniel a fierce ‘get me out of here’ look and Daniel responded by politely winding down the consultation. Keeping close to Annabelle, he led them through the ballroom, down the main staircase and out onto the driveway where the limo was waiting.
Before getting into the car Tristan shot Annabelle a parting look. “I will call and see you at the shop before I leave tomorrow afternoon.”
She huffed in disgust. “That won’t be necessary. The next time we meet will be the day before your wedding.”
Pure steel sliced from his eyes into hers as he slammed the door and her heart fluttered in trepidation.
Slinging his arm around Annabelle’s shoulders Daniel offered to pick up her jacket and papers and walk her to her car. “I think you have a juicy story to tell me?”
Smiling primly, Annabelle got into the car and woun
d down the window. “Well, in truth,” she hesitated and then decided to keep the history of their relationship to herself. “There’s nothing much to tell.”
“What? You’re kidding me right! The way you two were slinging hot body language at each other proves that there is a succulent tale somewhere?”
“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, he’s nothing but an arrogant, conceited man.”
“Yeah and pigs fly. Anyway, come for dinner on Saturday with Philippe and me?”
“OK, but no manipulating me for information.”
“Sorry sweets, but you know it’s the perfect excuse for us to ply you with lots of good wine and try our best to tap into your mind, so that you can enchant us with all the juicy bits.” He winked.
“You’re all heart,” she laughed, as she began to drive away.
****
Sitting opposite Cara in the limo, Tristan watched her as she looked into the compact mirror and re-applied her lipstick. The quick flick of her hand across her lips ground on Tristan’s nerves, how she could manage it in a moving car was beyond him.
Catching his eye, Cara smacked her lips together, “Darling, isn’t the venue adorable and Daniel was so knowledgeable. I don’t know how Annabelle managed to reel in that hunk of a fish, but my guess is that it won’t last.”
The name ‘Daniel’ caused him to shift in his seat. “Oh, and what brings you to that conclusion?”
“Well, she’s not exactly Julia Roberts material is she? More like a plain Jane really. Holding on to a guy like Daniel will give her some sleepless nights.” She snorted at her own comparison.
He didn’t think he’d seen anything quite as ugly as the look on her face when she snorted. “I would say that it’s perhaps the other way around.” Pushing back thoughts of Daniel touching and caressing Annabelle, he gritted his teeth. “You sound as though you feel threatened by her?”