Ran From Him

by Jenny Schwartz

  “Cate. Caty.”

  She felt the door at her back, bracing her weight, and brought his hands to her breasts. She sobbed as his fingers dug and massaged. Pleasure broke over her like surf on a summer day.

  “My turn.” He stripped off her trousers and his jeans, and fitted protection. Then he came up into her with a passionate intensity that had her shattering a second time. “Caty…I like all the sounds you make…but mostly…I like my name.”

  He thrust a final time, and she screamed it. “Daniel!”

  They rested against one another, recovering breath and identity.

  “I feel ravished.” Her breath sighed against his throat. She licked a glistening of sweat beading there. “It feels wonderful.”

  “It sure does.” He smoothed her hair. “You seduced me.”

  “I know.” She smiled, feeling smug.

  “I like it.” He hugged her tightly before allowing her to slide down his body.

  They re-dressed and straightened their clothes.

  “Daniel, where’s my red dress?”

  “Oh.” Unexpected colour stained his face. He’d forgotten it. He went out and retrieved it from a corner of the lift.

  She laughed. “Thank you, sir.” She accepted the shopping bag and stretched up to kiss his cheek. “You’re cute when you’re embarrassed. And thank you for buying me a beautiful dress.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  “I think I should call Amie about the bridesmaid’s dress.”

  “Okay. I’ll make some coffee while you call her.”

  Cate watched him walk into the kitchen, and tingled from their recent encounter. He was a gorgeous man.

  Sternly, she brought her mind back to business.

  Amie was delighted Cate might have found a bridesmaid’s dress, and promised to meet her tomorrow to view it.

  “I’m so excited. I’ve booked a photographer and a caterer, and tonight, Rob and I will write our vows. A garden wedding suits me so much better than a formal church affair. Have you thought where you and Daniel will marry?” Fortunately, Amie didn’t wait for a response. “He’s pretty traditional. No bungee-jumping wedding for my brother. Still, you’re tall enough to look beautiful in a traditional wedding gown.”

  Cate took advantage of Amie’s pause for breath to redirect the conversation away from a tummy-churning discussion of her mythical wedding. “Have you decided on your style of wedding dress?”

  “Al-most,” Amie drew out the word. “I can’t have anything too frilly. Being short, I’d look like a frothy meringue. I think I will wear white. It shows up against a green garden and blue sky. Do you think I could get away with a mini-skirted wedding dress?”

  “If anyone can, it’s you, Amie.”

  She giggled. “I don’t think I’ll risk it, though. Mum would have a fit. Did Daniel tell you how pleased Mum is to hear you’re marrying him?”

  Cate’s heart sank. “Did you tell her?”

  “Me?” Amie’s voice rose in astonishment. “Daniel phoned her.”

  “Oh.” Cate’s hand tightened around the phone. How could he? “I have to go, Amie. I’ll see you tomorrow about the dress.” She hung up and flexed her tense fingers.

  “Daniel.” She tracked him to the kitchen. “You told your mum we’re engaged.”

  He looked at her cautiously, probably picking up the note of strain in her voice. “I had to. It’s not the sort of secret a son keeps from his mum.”

  She collapsed onto a bar stool. “But it’s such a lie, and it just seems to be spreading and spreading. Amie asked where we’d be married.”

  “A church.”

  “We’re not getting married.” She took a deep breath. No need to shriek. “Amie said you’d be traditional.”

  “See.” He handed her a cup of coffee and slid a packet of chocolate biscuits along the counter. “We’re just doing what people expect. We can break reality to them after Amie and Rob are safely married.”

  “I guess.” She took a chocolate biscuit and ate it moodily.

  Daniel sat on the stool next to her and nudged her knee. “I was going to suggest we go out to dinner, tonight, to show off your engagement ring and the red dress, but with you worried about our engagement—”

  “Our fake engagement.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to go out and pretend to be happy.”

  He went still. “Are you unhappy, truly unhappy?”

  “I…I’m uncomfortable lying to people.” She looked at his concerned expression, his doubt. She reached out her hand and touched his arm. “I’m not unhappy about us. I like this time with you.”

  “I’m glad.” He covered her hand with his.

  “So.” She took a sip of coffee. “Dinner. What about a romantic picnic dinner here above the crowds?”

  “You and me and candlelight? You could convince me.”

  They drove down to a gourmet deli to buy the makings of their picnic dinner: salads of Thai beef, Greek and char-grilled vegetables, smoked meats and roast chicken, crusty bread rolls, cheeses and olives, and strawberry tarts for dessert.

  Used to solitary grocery shopping, Cate enjoyed the novelty of shopping with a partner. You could consult, share likes and dislikes, and simply enjoy a sense of belonging. It was seductive.

  Daniel appeared to enjoy the shopping, too, though he protested she’d only brought him along to carry the bags. “You only want me for my muscles,” he said as the penthouse lift carried them up.

  “I did offer to take a bag.” She winked. “Though you’re right. I adore your muscles.”

  “Do you, Caty?” He smiled slowly, as lazy and satisfied as a basking lion. “You’ll have to show me.”

  A shiver slid down her spine.

  The lift doors opened.

  He swung a shopping bag to keep the doors open. “After you.”

  She stepped past him, aware of his height and width. Because he was always gentle with her, tempering his strength to their pleasure, she had never considered his potential for physical dominance.

  His self-control spoke of caring. He was a gentleman, in the true, literal sense of the word.

  She used the security card he’d given her to open the door, then stretched up and kissed him while his hands were occupied holding the grocery bags.

  It was a very good kiss, even if she said so herself. Sexy, hungry and full of promise.

  He blinked when she retreated. “Well, now.”

  “Uh huh.” She shook a finger. “Groceries to the kitchen while I find us a picnic blanket.”

  She chose a hunter green blanket from the linen closet and spread it on the floor in front of the floor length windows, over-looking the river. Evening shadows were drawing in, tracing patterns across the river and parkland. Soon the streetlights would go on. Far above the world, she and Daniel could watch and dream.

  “A picnic is a great idea.” He popped a strawberry in her mouth as she entered the kitchen. “We can eat the food we want, in the way we want.”

  “Mmm.” She savoured the flavour of the strawberry, her tongue licking the juice from her lower lip.

  He bent and shared the treat, his tongue stroking slowly into her mouth.

  Desire coiled through her.

  He drew back, his eyes full of the knowledge of her response. “Champagne?”

  “Lovely”

  While he opened the bottle, she transferred their food to plates for later serving, and brought the platter of fruit to the picnic blanket.

  He detoured to the sound system and put on a sultry Blues collection, then he handed her a glass of champagne and stretched out beside her.

  Dry and smooth, the champagne sparkled on her tongue. She took a second sip, then set the glass aside. She met his smiling eyes, and slid down so her posture mirrored his, lying on one side, supported by an elbow. She took the glass from his hand, and put it safely out of the way.

  “A private picnic has certain benefits beyond food,” she murmured.

  “Such as?”r />
  She gave him a gentle push onto his back. He went willingly. Her finger traced the line of his open collar. “Such as dress standards. You’re much too over-dressed.”

  “You’ll have to do something about that.” His gaze locked with hers, challenging and demanding.

  “I intend to.” She straddled his hips and bent to the task of unbuttoning first his shirt, then hers. She felt the contrast of his crisp chest hair and her own soft skin against her fingers. Male to female. Beneath her, his body stirred, and she rocked gently in answer.

  His mouth tightened and she bent to soften it with kisses. He caught her, brushing off her shirt and unclasping her bra, dragging it from her so that the heated friction of skin against skin had no barrier. She teased him with the hard points of her nipples, before pushing upwards, breaking contact long enough to undress completely.

  He breathed out unevenly as she stretched out over him again. “I think I’m definitely over-dressed.” Still in his jeans, his desire strained against them.

  “Shall I help?” She unzipped his jeans and found him. She licked her lips.

  He groaned.

  She grinned, and fell on him, kissing his mouth in a seductive taunt, sucking his tongue in the way he wanted her to take him.

  He retaliated, cupping the naked heat of her and torturing her with pleasure.

  She broke their kiss to gasp his name.

  “Any more teasing or is it time for the main course?” he asked.

  “I’m starving.”

  Afterwards he pulled on his jeans and she wore his shirt while they ate. Then they abandoned the food to shower together before collapsing onto his bed.

  “I’m exhausted.” She was a body of satisfied jelly.

  “In a good way?” He pulled the covers over them and shifted her into the curve of his body.

  “In a brilliant way.” She cuddled his arm against her, enjoying the snuggling. She yawned, her eyes closed and she slept.

  A delicious tension in her breasts woke her. She stretched and arched, the blurriness of sleep easing into recognition of Daniel’s touch. She opened her eyes and saw his intent face as his fingers shaped and tugged and teased her breasts.

  The moonlight showed the tender line of his mouth.

  She traced it with an idle finger and felt his smile.

  He bent and his mouth replaced his hands. He licked one nipple, blew it gently as one might cool a coffee, then suckled its tension.

  “Don’t stop.” Her breathing became ragged.

  Her other breast received the same treatment.

  She wove her fingers in his hair, massaging his scalp. He sucked hard, and she shook with reaction.

  “So beautiful.” He kissed her mouth, her eyes, the tender skin of her throat, saluted her breasts again, and finally, entered her. She cried out as he tantalised them both, withdrawing only to thrust deeper. “I could lie with you forever, Caty. To see and feel your response to me.” He thrust in slowly, his expression fierce with passion.

  “Daniel.” She caught his face, brought his mouth to hers and tasted the moment when his self-discipline broke and the primitive rhythm of loving controlled them both. She surrendered to it, gloried in it, but at the moment of completion, she heard his cry.

  “Caty, I love you.”

  Her heart froze.

  He didn’t notice, but slid from her into sleep, vulnerable and unaware when she quietly left the bed.

  Chapter Ten

  Cate sat on the grass by the edge of the river. A pair of black swans glided majestically past, as silent as she. The river was glass-still, showing the swans’ reflection and the warming, golden light of dawn.

  A sulphur-crested cockatoo screeched a comment, its yellow crest flaring, and was answered by its companionable, raucous mate. They took flight, just ahead of two runners whose sneakered feet hit the pavement in familiar unison.

  Even the early morning exercise enthusiasts were out in pairs.

  Cate hunched her knees under her chin, huddling more against an emotional coldness than against the cool dawn air. It hurt to breathe and her throat was tight with unshed tears.

  Daniel would be angry she’d run.

  Would he remember his confession of love? In vino veritas. But apparently truth lurked in sex as well as wine. Its pleasure and intimacy lowered your guards and surrendered you to the other person.

  But perhaps all Daniel’s actions had shown his love? She just hadn’t wanted to see it.

  From his respect for her virginity, to his stunning introduction to making love.

  From his challenge to reconnect with her family, to his protection of her reputation with her family.

  “I didn’t ask him to love me.”

  The swans drifted out of her line of sight. She looked at the empty river. “I didn’t want commitment.” Only pleasure in today. She was too scared to reach for anything more.

  She’d thought she could have an affair, indulge her physical attraction to Daniel, and retain her independence. Other people managed to have casual affairs, but perhaps they didn’t have passionate Sicilian blood in their veins? Maybe they were smarter at drawing limits and sticking to them.

  She’d come home to Perth to save her brother from an arranged marriage, and stayed to help him to a true love wedding. So much for a flying visit.

  But I have my family back. Her reunion with her dad was a pure joy, and Olivia would keep Matt’s meddling tendencies under control.

  Still, was that sufficient reason to impulsively surrender her job and her life in Sydney? If Daniel hadn’t challenged her, would she have dared to throw away the security of an everyday job to follow her dream of writing a second book?

  With him, she forgot to be cautious, and now, the consequences of her openness haunted her. She’d agreed to hide their affair with the pretence of an engagement.

  She’d been living a lie, pretending to be engaged, pretending to be in love.

  And now he had said the words for real. “Caty, I love you.” Cried out when passion had driven him beyond his customary defences.

  Four words, and her cocoon of desire and pleasure fell apart.

  Daniel wasn’t playing games. He wanted a home and a shared future.

  She couldn’t give them to him.

  I love you. The words made her feel trapped. They asked too much.

  “Stay independent, stay safe.” She repeated her mantra of the last six years, then wiped her eyes and stood. In jeans and black jacket she felt solitary and remote. She’d braided her curling hair uncompromisingly back from her face and her mouth was compressed into a controlled line.

  She turned her back on the river and headed for the city and a payphone. She’d let her phone charge rundown, an uncharacteristic forgetfulness, in her preoccupation with Daniel. With him she’d forgotten the fundamental rules of her life.

  “Rob?” Phone against her ear, she turned her back to the early office workers striding past. “I haven’t seen much of you. I hoped we might have breakfast.”

  He assented with a note of surprise in his voice and named a cafe, offering brief directions. “I’ll see you in twenty minutes.”

  Cate replaced the phone, aware that Rob had picked up the tension in her voice. She strolled down to the cafe near her dad’s office, and waited by the florist shop on the corner for him.

  “Cate, you should have gone in and had a coffee.” He greeted her with a brotherly kiss. “You look frozen.”

  “Yeah, well.” She pushed her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “I’ve been out walking.”

  “Walking and thinking?” He held the door of the cafe open for her, his expression concerned as he studied her face.

  “Something like that.”

  The cafe was cheerfully busy with a white, blue and yellow colour scheme and pine tables and chairs. A middle-aged waitress took their order, greeting Rob by name and smiling when he introduced Cate.

  Cate forced an answering smile. “Nice to meet you.” She fidget
ed with a sugar packet as the waitress departed with their order.

  “All right. What’s wrong?”

  She hesitated, not sure what to tell him, not even sure why she had phoned him. Did she intend to tell him her engagement was a fake?

  “You know, Dad’s been gloating that he always knew Daniel was the right man for you.”

  “Has he?” The sugar packet crumpled. She dropped it onto the table.

  “So, the problem is Daniel.” Rob leaned back in his chair.

  “No…at least…” Her voice trailed off and she was grateful for the arrival of their breakfasts. “Thank you,” she said to the waitress.

  “Sis.”

  Reluctantly, she looked at him. Why had she thought phoning him would help?

  “Being engaged isn’t easy. I know that. Amie and I nearly broke up. You realise how much your life will change and no matter how much you love the other person, you’re a bit afraid.”

  “You were scared?”

  Her brother smiled wryly. “Terrified. I was scared I was too dull for Amie, that she would stop loving me—that she’d never really loved me. I resented how she ran to Daniel to fix her world. She should look to me to do that or do it herself. I was scared neither Amie nor I were brave enough for marriage. We could and did hurt each other, lashing out at one another from our own fears and insecurities. Our love meant we had the weapons of knowledge and understanding to tear each other apart.”

  Rob’s shoulders lifted as he took a deep breath. “Most of all I was scared Amie would die, like Mum. Her death destroyed Dad. I was scared to risk that hurt of Amie leaving me.”

  “Oh, Rob.” She touched his hand in sympathy. Death scarred everyone. “But you’re still engaged, you’re getting married.”

  “Yeah. Finally, I sat down and talked with Amie. You see, I realised that giving in to my fear meant living without her, and that was worse than any nightmare. You have to hold onto your courage and—”

  “I don’t love Daniel. Our engagement is a fake. We’re just having an affair.” She said it defiantly and sat back, waiting for Rob’s questions and condemnations.

  Instead, he shook his head and started eating his bacon and eggs. “You’re only kidding yourself.”