‘True, I swear, and you might even like watching.’ And he grinned.
Liza had to fight down the insane desire to laugh. ‘You are incorrigible.’ She shook her head, her pigtails swinging. While she was thinking up wild scenarios as to why he had brought her here, it was nothing more than Nick being his usual arrogant self, doing what he wanted when he wanted. It was a classic Nick moment. ‘But why drag me into it?’
‘Do you really need to ask?’ he queried with a sardonic smile.
She knew exactly what he meant and felt the tell-tale blush sweep up her face. Her throat tightened and her heart began to race.
Humorous dark eyes roamed blatantly over her shapely body. ‘You know, for a beautiful, self-confident woman, you’re incredibly unaware of your feminine power.’
‘If I had any power,’ she managed to snap back, ‘I would not be stuck in a ski-cabin, but sunning myself on a beach.’
‘I never thought.’ Nick’s dark brows drew together in a frown. ‘You can’t ski.’
‘Yes, I can. I was a member of the ski club at university,’ Liza swiftly contradicted him. But whether she could ski was not the point; then he smiled at her with that dazzling brilliance that took her breath away.
‘Great.’ He flicked his finger up under her chin. ‘I’ll go and make that hot drink.’
‘Wait, I never said…’ By the time she remembered what her point was he was gone and she was talking to herself.
Ten minutes later she was sitting at the kitchen table and Nick placed a cup of hot coffee in front of her. ‘Get that down you, and then we will go to the lodge for lunch and get in an afternoon’s skiing,’ he declared as if her acceptance was a fait accompli, taking the seat opposite.
‘But I can’t—I have nothing to wear.’ Liza cast him a fulminating glance, but was struck again by his sheer male magnificence. He looked gorgeous with his black hair ruffled, and his handsome face lit with enthusiasm for the sport ahead.
‘How like a woman,’ he drawled, a lazy smile curling his lips. ‘But don’t worry, there’s a good shop at the lodge that will provide all you need.’ Grasping her hand across the table, he stood up. ‘Come on, let’s go.’
Nick drove them the mile or so to the ski complex and as they approached Liza’s attention was caught by the swaying ski lift, and a bubble of excitement ignited inside her, for once not sexual…
‘I haven’t skied since I was at university,’ she confided, her eyes roaming over the snow-covered slope dotted with people, eager to join them. ‘I only hope I can remember how.’ She smiled, glancing at Nick.
Nick slanted a look at her from beneath thick black lashes; her eyes were sparkling with anticipation, and her wide, excited smile illuminated her whole face. His breath snagged in his throat, and he brought the Land-Rover to a less than perfect halt outside the ski lodge.
In that moment he finally admitted what he had known deep down all along: Liza was no more a thief than he was. It wasn’t in her nature. She was the same impulsive, easy to anger and easy to forgive, beautiful person she had always been from the first time he had set eyes on her at the tender age of eight, when she had cried and he had comforted her.
She was incapable of deceit. She hadn’t a dishonest bone in her body. Her expressive features revealed every emotion with a dazzling honesty she could not hide, and when they made love she gave everything of herself with a wild generosity, a freedom of spirit not even the greatest actress in the world could aspire to.
Nick expelled a long breath, and leapt out of the Land-Rover. Even while trying to protect her, he had wanted to believe the worst of her. When had he become such a cynic? He moved around the Land-Rover, and, opening the passenger door, lifted a hand to her. ‘Let me help you.’
Grinning, Liza took his outstretched hand and jumped down. ‘Ever the gentleman,’ she teased, and, glancing up, she stilled. His strong face was taut and his eyes were fixed on her with an intensity that shocked her.
‘Nick.’ His hand gripped hers so tightly it hurt. ‘Nick, are you OK?’
Shaking his head, Nick let go of her hand. ‘Fine.’ He slung a long arm around her slender shoulders and hugged her. He knew the truth now, always had, he thought wryly, and led her into the lodge.
‘No, Nick,’ Liza remonstrated as Nick asked the assistant to add an exquisite cashmere twin-set to the ski-suit and sweater she had already picked. ‘I don’t need anything else. Anyway, I have to be back in Lanzarote soon,’ she reminded him. ‘And at these prices I can’t afford any more.’
Nick surveyed her with exasperated dark eyes. ‘Don’t be difficult, Liza.’ He needed no reminding that their time together was limited, or that she wasn’t the money-hungry thief he had thought. He felt bad enough as it was. ‘I brought you here, and I am paying.’
Liza clashed with Nick’s arrogant, intent gaze, and drew in a deep, steadying breath. ‘It is not necessary.’ And for a long moment their eyes locked, something indefinable passing between them.
‘Maybe not for you, Liza, but it is for me. Let me do this for you, please,’ Nick said softly.
Nick, less than his arrogant best and saying please! But what really stopped the refusal forming in Liza’s throat was the unmistakable glimmer of vulnerability in the depths of his black eyes that she had never seen before. ‘OK,’ she agreed and was rewarded with a blinding smile, plus half an hour later enough clothes to keep her warm through a dozen winters.
Lunch was a thick meat soup with crusty bread, and Liza was surprised by the number of people who came up to speak to Nick. ‘You seem to be well-known here,’ she remarked as she ate the last mouthful of bread. ‘I had no idea there was a ski resort of this size in Spain.’ She looked out of the plate-glass window at the people dotted on the slopes. Nick had pointed out the different runs when they had sat down.
‘The whole place was upgraded when the world championships were scheduled to be held here a few years back.’ A wry smile twisted his lips. ‘Unfortunately it was the one year there was not enough snow.’
Liza laughed. ‘How terrible.’
‘For business, yes. But for the regular clientele all the new facilities are quite a godsend. There is a great viewing terrace above here with state-of-the-art telescopes if you want to watch the action close up.’
Later, covered head to toe in a red ski suit, Liza whooshed down the intermediate run at Nick’s side for the third time. Reaching the bottom, breathless, her face glowing, she pulled off her goggles and looked up at Nick. He wasn’t even breathing heavily. His black ski suit fitted him like a glove and she caught her breath at the magnificent figure he cut against the blinding white background. ‘You don’t have to stick with me, Nick; anyway, I have had enough. But I know you’re itching to take the harder run.’
Shoving his glasses to the back of his head, Nick looked down into her eyes. ‘Yes, I do, Liza.’ Until the crooks were caught he was sticking to her side like glue, but he couldn’t tell her that. And he would not put it past her to run away if the opportunity arose. ‘You might disappear if I leave you on your own.’ Liza saw he was deadly serious, and realised he thought she might just hitch a lift back to the nearest town, and his concern touched something deep inside her.
‘I won’t.’ She placed a hand on his chest, and his fingers curled around hers.
Hearing her admission, Nick desperately wanted to take her in his arms. ‘I believe you.’ But he had virtually promised to wait until she asked, and she was worth waiting for. ‘But it is time we left; you don’t want to overdo the exercise on your first day.’ Plus he needed to call Carl and find out if the two sailors had been caught yet.
Standing under the shower spray in the tiny bathroom, Liza hummed a popular tune as she rinsed the soap from her body. It had been a brilliant afternoon; she loved the skiing—it was so invigorating—and Nick had been the perfect companion…the hours had simply flown by. They had eaten an early dinner at the resort and returned to the cabin in companionable silence. Much b
etter than sitting around a beach, she concluded, and, drying herself off, she slipped her nightie over her head and pulled on the short blue silk gown she used for travelling. Walking back into the living room, she smiled at Nick reclining in the armchair, a glass of wine in his hand.
‘Have you one of those for me?’ She flopped down on the sofa and yawned wildly. ‘I think all this fresh air has made me tired. I need a pick-me-up.’ Her gaze strayed to the logs blazing in the hearth and for a long moment she was fascinated by the flickering flames; this was cosy, and she let her head fall back against the soft cushions and closed her eyes.
Nick stood in front of her, holding out a glass of cool white wine. ‘Liza.’
She opened her eyes, glanced up, smiled and took the glass. ‘The shower is all yours,’ she murmured, for once totally relaxed in his company.
‘Thank you, ma’am.’ He bowed, and she threw a cushion at his head, and watched him disappear into the bathroom with a grin on her face.
Liza finished the wine, and placed the glass on the table. She wasn’t sure what the future held but for now she was going to live for the moment, and her holiday romance might just work out after all, she thought lazily, her long lashes flickering down over her eyes.
Nick walked out of the bathroom and stilled, transfixed by the picture of Liza asleep on the sofa. His dark eyes travelled from the shining mass of her hair to the soft curve of her cheek, the lush bow of her mouth, and the outline of her body beneath the soft silk wrap she was wearing. He took a step forward, hungry to hold her, to kiss that luscious mouth, to lose himself in that exquisite body. His eyes darkened, and his body stirred. She was all his, he thought possessively, and stopped.
Not yet. He tightened the towel around his hips, and quietly moved into the kitchen. His jacket hung on the back of the chair, and, fishing his mobile phone from the pocket, he punched in the relevant number. Five minutes later he switched it off, his hard face dark with frustrated anger; the news was not good. Carl had informed him the two men were still at liberty.
Nick walked silently back into the living room, and this time he did not stop.
Liza stirred restlessly and opened her eyes. ‘Nick.’ He was leaning over her, his black hair falling over his brow, and the only illumination in the room was coming from a small table-lamp.
‘You were asleep on the sofa and I carried you into the bedroom.’
‘Thank you,’ Liza murmured, her lazy gaze wandering over him, and she realised he was naked except for a towel around his hips. She lifted her eyes and the austere lines of his face mesmerised her; she wanted to reach up and touch him. Some distant voice in her head told her no, but she lifted her hand and stroked it down the bold curve of his cheek. ‘Where will you sleep?’ she asked as her hand slipped to his broad shoulder, his dark, intent gaze colliding with hers. Her fingers flexed into the muscles of his shoulder and she heard his harsh intake of breath.
Nick groaned. ‘The sofa.’ He began to straighten.
‘You don’t have to,’ she murmured, her other hand, palm flat, spreading over his heart, and she felt his chest expand.
‘Do you know what you are saying?’ Nick demanded hoarsely, his night-black eyes burning into hers.
‘Yes, I…’ and before she could finish his dark head dipped to claim her mouth in a deeply passionate kiss. His long body stretched out beside her, with one strong hand cupping the creamy fullness of her breast as he drew his thumb against her nipple causing her to shudder as it peaked instantly at his touch.
‘You’re sure?’ Nick demanded when he finally allowed their lips to separate.
‘Oh, yes,’ she gasped, and a low moan escaped her as he trailed tiny kisses down her throat and travelled lower to tease her aching breast with his tongue before taking the rigid tip into his mouth. Liza felt as if every cell in her body was super-charged with electric tension and she looped her arms around his shoulders, straining against him.
Finally Nick lifted his head, his breathing harsh. ‘The moment I saw you, Liza, I wanted you against all reason. Believe that if you believe nothing else,’ he rasped with feeling.
She looked at him with desire-dazed eyes. ‘I do.’ Her gaze dropped to fix hungrily on his hard, sensual mouth as his head lowered and he claimed her lips with his own again.
‘Dios! You are all woman, perfection.’ Nick swept a lean, strong hand over a distended, rosy nipple, and lower to trace the line of waist and thigh. His dark head lowered, and his tongue circled her navel, sending a spasm of sensation through her, powerful enough to make her back arch from the bed.
He reared up and gave her a triumphant sensual smile full of hungry promise. ‘We have all the time in the world, Liza.’
She wished it was true, and she sighed her pleasure as his powerfully muscle-toned body moved half over her and he was kissing her once more with a new urgency, a flaring hunger that fed the hunger she felt herself. His tongue delved deep into the moist interior of her mouth with a savage, mimicking need for the ultimate possession.
Welcoming the onslaught, she curved her hands instinctively into his shoulders, stroking the smooth bronzed skin, exploring every part of him with a rising excitement she made no attempt to hide. She heard him groan and felt the tiny tremors running through his powerful frame, and exalted in her power, but not for long.
Nick’s black head moved lower against her body, his hands and mouth warm on her naked skin. Long fingers traced over her tense stomach and slid her quivering thighs apart.
A tidal wave of sensations hit her. She was all heat and tension that bordered on torture as he found the most intimate spot, and with hands and mouth tormented her. Shaking with an incredible excitement, she reached for him and begged, ‘Please.’ She could wait no longer. He was hard as steel and smooth as velvet, and she wanted him now…
Nick groaned, caught her hand and, muttering words she was too far gone to understand, he reared up and joined them with a thrusting passion, a driving determination to imprint his own indelible brand on her that swept Liza away on wave after wave of surging ecstasy. Out of control, he drove them wildly to a peak of passion that was almost pain before exploding in a mutual climax that left Liza breathless and quivering beneath him.
Nick rolled off her, and then hauled her close again in the curve of his strong arm, and for a long time the only sound was the heavy sound of their breathing. Their lovemaking had been so perfect, for once he was at a loss for the right words.
‘You OK after all the skiing today, not sore?’
His question, coming out of nowhere at such a moment, was so ludicrous. Liza couldn’t help it—she giggled… ‘Yes. But why ask that now?’ Her eyes sparkled with humour. ‘What did you have in mind, naked down a mountain as an encore?’
Nick’s firm lips parted in a broad grin that held a trace of relief. Liza never ceased to amaze him. ‘For once you’re ahead of me; the thought had never entered my head.’ Lifting a finger, he circled her swollen lips, down her chin to the hollow in her throat. ‘But, now it has, I will never be able to look at you on a ski run without envisaging you naked.’ He dropped a gentle kiss on her nose. ‘That could be very embarrassing for me.’
‘Poor you,’ Liza murmured. His strong body was relaxed against her, and she snuggled closer, throwing her arm across his broad chest. ‘But it is your own fault.’ She yawned widely. ‘I was on my way back to Lanzarote. Skiing was your idea,’ she teased because deep down, even after the most wonderful sex, she still didn’t quite trust him.
Nick went very still. ‘Are you disappointed?’ he asked softly. ‘Snow instead of sun?’ Long fingers swept up to cup her cheek, and very gently his lips brushed against her own.
‘No, no.’ Liza sighed deliciously. ‘I think I can stand a lot more of this, and the skiing, naked or otherwise,’ she teased.
‘Good, and I think you should pay for my future discomfort on the slopes,’ Nick drawled huskily and kissed her. And she did…
Dressed in smart wool tr
ousers and a soft pink cashmere sweater, Liza washed the smudge of lipstick off her finger, dried her hands and placed the towel back on the rail. She was ready except for her shoes. She cast one last glance at her reflection in the mirror. She had heard women described as glowing, but had never seen it herself until today. That’s what a good man can do for you, gal! she thought, and grinned.
The past five days had been magical. They had skied, made love and simply had fun. Nick had tried to teach her snow-boarding without much success. And for the first time she had seen him with close friends—two of the slalom racers and their wives. Nick was too controlled to reveal much emotion but last night they had all dined together and he had been totally relaxed, laughing and sharing what were obviously in-jokes, and reminiscences forged over a number of years. It was a side of him she had never seen before. She had never felt so close to another human being in her life. He enthralled and enraged her but she wouldn’t have him any other way.
Barefoot, she padded out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. Nick was standing by the window, his back to her, talking on his mobile. She allowed herself a moment to admire his behind in the tight black ski-pants.
‘Really, there is no need for you to come to Spain. I mean it, Carl, no.’ Nick switched off the phone.
‘Ah, the mysterious Mr Carl Dalk,’ Liza chuckled, walking towards him.
Nick spun around, his dark eyes narrowing intently on her face. ‘How much did you hear?’
Liza stopped, surprised by his quick question, and looked up at him. ‘Nothing much, just that there was no need for him to come here, or something like that.’
‘Good.’ Nick squared his broad shoulders but avoided meeting her eyes. He slipped the mobile in his jacket pocket.
‘Why? Don’t you want me to meet your friend?’ Liza asked lightly. ‘According to your mum, he is very handsome and very wealthy—jealous are you?’ she joked.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Nick snapped back. He should be happy; the news was good. Carl had just informed him that the panic was over. The two men had been picked up at the airport last night trying to board a flight to Malaga, and were safely under lock and key. Daidolas had passed the valuation on to a middleman in Morocco. The top investigator from Nick’s agency was keeping tabs on the Moroccan. Carl and the police had the rest covered. Now all they had to do was wait for the approach to the insurers and set up the transfer. With Liza’s information that Brown was returning to the island a week today, it was almost certain that would be the day for the hand-over.
At the Spaniard's Pleasure Page 14