Savage Interlude

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘No,’ Kate answered dully.

  ‘Do you know who it belongs to?’ Josie looked at her interestedly.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Him.’ Kate nodded in the direction of her bedroom.

  Josie’s eyes widened. ‘Who?’ she squeaked.

  ‘Damien Savage.’ Kate picked up her coffee mug, washing and drying it before putting it away. ‘And before you jump to the wrong conclusion I think I should just explain that I didn’t invite him here. And he’s in my bed because that’s where he passed out.’

  Josie frowned. ‘But how did he get—’ she broke off in embarrassment.

  Kate sighed. ‘Now that’s something I don’t intend going into. Just except that he’s there and I intend sleeping on the sofa.’

  ‘Are you sure? We could probably both get into my bed.’

  ‘No, I’ll stay out here. I’ll have to keep an eye on our unwanted guest, he may start wandering in the night.’

  Josie giggled. ‘Well, if he does, steer him in my direction!’

  ‘Josie!’

  ‘Well,’ Josie smiled sheepishly, ‘I think he’s gorgeous. Really fantastic looking.’

  ‘Mm, maybe.’ Kate got on the sofa, pulling the blankets over her that she had collected from the linen cupboard. She yawned tiredly. ‘Put the light out, Josie, there’s a love.’

  Josie looked disappointed. ‘Oh—okay. See you in the morning.’

  As soon as Josie had left all tiredness left her too. She would certainly have a few things to say to Damien in the morning.

  Morning seemed a long time coming round; she could find little rest in her sleepless tossing and turning on a sofa that suddenly seemed to have developed numerous lumps and bumps she had never noticed before.

  By seven o’clock she had had enough, and moved quietly about as she dressed, not wanting to wake Josie. She made two mugs of coffee and carried them over to her bedroom. She closed the door firmly behind her. What she had to say to Damien was totally private.

  She looked down at him as he still slept, the dark stubble on his chin evidence of his night’s sleep. Some time during the night he had discarded his jacket and shirt, although his trousers still remained. Kate allowed herself a few minutes of just looking at him, at his strong tanned chest and the dark good looks of him. For a few minutes she looked down at him tenderly, and then the remembrance of last night came back to her and she slammed his coffee mug down right next to his ear.

  Damien stirred druggingly, opening bleary green eyes and sitting up gingerly as he tried to focus on her. That he had a king-size headache was obvious, and he drank his coffee thirstily before attempting to speak. ‘Good morning,’ he said groggily.

  ‘Good morning!’ Kate dismissed scoffingly.

  He pushed back his ruffled hair, rubbing his aching temples. ‘Okay, so there’s nothing good about it. But do you have to shout about it?’

  ‘I wasn’t shouting!’

  He tried to open his eyes to their full extent and failed, groaning as she callously pulled back the curtains, allowing the early morning light to penetrate every corner of the room. ‘You bitch!’ he swore at her.

  ‘If you can’t take your drink you shouldn’t attempt to try,’ she told him curtly. ‘Now would you mind getting out of my bed and then out of my flat?’

  ‘I’d mind a great deal.’ He winced as he swung his legs to the floor. ‘What happened here last night?’

  Kate looked at him sharply. ‘You mean you don’t remember?’

  Damien gave her an impatient look. ‘Would I be asking if I did?’

  She gave a careless shrug. ‘You burst into this flat last night hurling abuse and intending to make love to me, by force if necessary.’

  He looked pointedly at the rumpled bed. ‘Would it be asking too much to hope that I succeeded?’

  ‘You didn’t,’ she told him shortly.

  ‘Pity.’ He raised dark eyebrows at her. ‘Why didn’t I?’

  ‘Mainly because you passed out and secondly because I didn’t want you to.’

  ‘I see.’ He looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Did I ask you anything last night?’

  ‘You asked me several things. Like, where my lover was, if he was still here. You asked me that quite a lot.’

  He ran a tired hand over his aching eyes. ‘God, my head hurts! And that wasn’t the type of question I meant. Did I ask you anything—anything more personal?’

  She gave a short derisive laugh. ‘What could be more personal than that?’

  He stood up with an effort. ‘Will you pull those damned curtains! The light’s killing me,’ he snapped.

  Sighing, she did so. ‘You shouldn’t have drunk so much.’

  ‘I drank so much because you’re driving me quietly insane. I can’t take any more, Kate. I give in.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I mean exactly what I say. I give in. I’ll marry you. That was what I meant to ask you last night, but I guess I wasn’t in any fit state to do it. I’ll marry you, Kate—any time you say.’

  CHAPTER NINE

  SHE stared at him aghast. Had Damien really said he would marry her? Yes, he had said that, exactly that. Not that he wanted to marry her, but that he would. It wasn’t her idea of a proposal.

  ‘You have to be joking,’ she said scathingly.

  Damien arched his neck, running a hand round the back of his head to his tired nape. God, how he ached everywhere. ‘Did I sound as if I were joking?’ he asked disgustedly, feeling as if he could drink a gallon of coffee and still feel lousy.

  ‘Well, no. But you—’

  ‘Then don’t be so damned stupid!’ he snapped impatiently. ‘I’m hardly in the mood to indulge in that sort of humour at the moment.’ He flexed his shoulders, his muscles rippling under his tanned skin. ‘God, your bed’s uncomfortable! How on earth do you sleep in it?’

  ‘You seemed to consider it very comfortable last night, comfortable enough for two in fact. And you don’t appear to have had any trouble sleeping in it. Uncomfortable though it may appear to you, I would have preferred to be sleeping in it rather than trying to sleep on the sofa.’

  He focused on her with an effort. ‘You could have shared the bed with me—the offer was there, and it wouldn’t have been the first time,’ he taunted.

  ‘That was different,’ she evaded his eyes.

  ‘What was different about it?’ He searched through his jacket pocket, removing a cheroot and lighting it with obvious pleasure. ‘The only difference I can see is that this time it would have been me who knew nothing about it.’

  ‘Exactly.’ Kate began tidying the bedclothes to hide her embarrassment. ‘I don’t happen to be the sort of girl who can get into bed with a man just because it’s my bed he happens to be asleep in—even if he is unconscious and incapable.’

  ‘Mm, I don’t think I was incapable when I arrived here last night. I just wish I could remember more about it.’

  ‘You aren’t missing anything by not knowing, you were just more insulting than usual, that’s all.’

  ‘And I didn’t ask you to marry me?’

  ‘No,’ she said firmly.

  ‘Well, that’s what I came here for. I’d just downed half a bottle of whisky and had been trying to decide whether to drink the other half or come over here and tell you I’d give in to your demand for a wedding ring. The fresh air on top of the whisky must have put the thought of marriage right out of my head.’

  ‘Is that all marriage means to you, a demand for a wedding ring?’

  ‘With you it does.’ His look was grim. ‘You seem to find a gold band the main attraction, and as I have to have you, no matter what the price, that’s what I shall give you. Besides a large settlement at the end of the marriage, no doubt,’ he added cynically.

  ‘You aren’t expecting it to last.’ His idea of marriage cut into her like a knife. If she had ever, in her girlhood dreams, thought of a proposal from this man it had never
been like this, a wedding ring the price to be paid for her body.

  ‘Are you?’ His eyes were narrowed. ‘In this day and age, with fifty per cent of marriages ending in divorce, I don’t think a marriage based on lust and greed has a chance in hell of surviving. But it might be fun for a few weeks, maybe months.’

  ‘What happened to this once-in-a-lifetime love of the Savage men?’ she scoffed.

  He shrugged. ‘It must have passed me by. So, when do you want to get married?’

  ‘You haven’t asked me yet.’

  Damien frowned darkly. ‘Do I need to?’

  ‘Oh, I think so. It’s the usual practice, isn’t it?’

  ‘Maybe, but I wouldn’t say anything about this is usual. Oh, okay, if that’s what you want! Will you marry me?’

  Kate felt sure it wasn’t the most gracious of proposals ever made, but nevertheless it was a proposal, and from the man she loved. But he didn’t love her and he made no pretence that he did! He wanted her body enough to marry her to get it.

  Maybe love would grow. It had happened before. Maybe through the closer relationship they would share through marriage Damien would learn to love her. She knew she ought to say no to his proposal, that it really was the right answer to make, and yet she wanted so much to say yes to him.

  She loved him, surely she deserved the chance to make him fall in love with her. Surely she had that right. And if it didn’t work out at least she would have tried.

  ‘Do you—do you care for me at all?’ she asked tentatively.

  His look was bitter. ‘You surely don’t expect a declaration of love out of me as well as a proposal! Haven’t I subjugated myself enough for one day?’

  ‘So you don’t care for me?’ Her shoulders slumped.

  ‘I want you, isn’t that enough?’

  ‘I suppose it will have to be.’ Kate had known from the first what her answer would be. She could do no other than marry the man she loved, no matter how it turned out.

  ‘Do I take it your answer is yes?’

  ‘You do.’

  ‘Right. Well, if you’ll show me where the bathroom is I’ll have a wash and freshen myself up.’

  She hoped her disappointment at his businesslike manner didn’t show. She had expected him to at least kiss her, to show in some way that he approved of the most vital decision she had ever made in her life. But he said nothing, did nothing, smoking the last of his cheroot and looking broodingly handsome as he waited for her directions.

  She picked up his shirt and threw it at him. ‘Here, put this on. I don’t want you wandering about half-naked with Josie about.’

  He gave a throaty chuckle at her anger. ‘I’ll tame that temper of yours once I’ve made you mine,’ he promised.

  ‘I wouldn’t count on it,’ she returned.

  ‘Oh, but I am. I’m looking forward to it, in fact. Now, the bathroom?’

  Kate moodily showed him the way, handing him a clean towel. ‘You can use my ladyshave if you like. The electricity socket is next to the cabinet.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He bent to kiss her softly on the tip of her nose. ‘Now unless you want your flatmate to come in here and find us showering together I suggest you leave the bathroom.’

  She hurried away, angry that he could still unnerve her with his mockery. She had just agreed to marry him and yet she hardly knew him. Would her love be enough, or would it be used as a weapon against her once he discovered its existence? She had the idea that Damien would use her love if he ever knew of it.

  But there was no reason why he should know, not unless he looked as if he might be beginning to care for her in return. She was going to marry Damien Savage! It was unbelievable. But it wasn’t going to be easy. Damien could be a hard, cruel man, and he had the power to hurt her so easily.

  But she had to take that risk. Damien could give her hell on earth, but he could also give her heaven. And she loved him enough to take that chance. He couldn’t really regard marriage as lightly as he had tried to make out, he just couldn’t. But he hadn’t kissed her this morning—a light caress on the tip of her nose could hardly be classed as such.

  Surely he didn’t intend for this marriage to just exist in bed and ignore her existence the rest of the time. She couldn’t take the humiliation of such an arrangement.

  She was preparing scrambled eggs and toast when Josie came into the kitchen, fully dressed in a pair of blue denims and a flower-print smock-top. The table was laid for the three of them and Josie helpfully got out fresh coffee cups.

  ‘I took the precaution of dressing,’ she chatted happily. ‘I take it Mr Savage is still here?’

  ‘In the bathroom.’ How could she tell Josie of her intention to marry Damien after her attitude towards him last night?—Josie would think she was mad. And she had to tell James yet!

  James! He would be furious! Damien wasn’t his idea of a husband for her, especially if he realised Damien’s reason for the marriage. He wouldn’t approve of that at all.

  And there would be problems about the wedding too. If James would agree she wanted him to be the one to give her away. But what would Damien have to say about that? Plenty, she would imagine.

  ‘No, I’m not,’ he remarked from behind them, looking quite respectable again in his white trousers and shirt, the velvet jacket slung across his arm. ‘Mm, breakfast. I’m starving!’ He smiled at Josie. ‘I hope I haven’t kept you out of the bathroom.’

  Josie blushed under his practised charm. ‘No, I’ll shower later.’

  ‘Has Kate told you we’re going to be married?’ He appeared quite unabashed at Kate’s sharp look in his direction. ‘I believe you have some plans in that direction yourself?’

  Josie looked stunned at his words and Kate slammed his laden breakfast plate down in front of him. This wasn’t how she had wanted to tell her flatmate of her impending marriage. They hadn’t even decided when it was to be yet!

  ‘Yes,’ Josie answered faintly. ‘I—er—I didn’t realise you were—well, that you—’

  Damien grinned at her confusion, as he tucked hungrily into his food. ‘Kate’s just as surprised as you are,’ he assured her.

  Josie poured them all some coffee, her hands shaking slightly. ‘When is the wedding to be?’

  ‘We haven’t—’

  ‘Next week.’ He continued to eat his breakfast.

  ‘Goodness!’ Josie laughed. ‘You really believe in rushing a girl off her feet.’

  Kate had stiffened angrily at his declaration. ‘Now just a minute! I—’

  Damien ignored her completely. ‘With someone like Kate I’m afraid it’s the only way.’ At last he looked at her. ‘Sit down and eat your breakfast before it gets cold,’ he ordered shortly.

  Her cheeks flushed with anger. ‘I will not! How dare you talk to me like that!’

  He stood up. ‘All this excitement doesn’t seem to have done your temper a lot of good. Thanks for the breakfast. I’ll go home and change now and be back for you later. Nice seeing you again, Josie,’ he nodded.

  Kate caught up with him at the door. ‘What do you mean you’ll be back for me later? And how dare you say the wedding is to be next week!’

  Sighing, he turned to look at her. ‘I said it because it happens to be true. Now that we’ve come to the decision I have no intention of waiting weeks or even months for you. This isn’t to be a normal marriage, we both know our reasons. I want you, and you have to have your desire legalised. I’ll get a licence and we’ll get married next week. I’m not having any arguments about it. As for my calling back for you, well, even if this is a short engagement I’m sure you still want an engagement ring. We’ll go out and get one.’

  ‘But—but if we marry now we won’t be able to go away on honeymoon,’ she said desperately. ‘You won’t be able to leave in the middle of your film.’

  ‘And I have no intention of waiting until it’s finished. Be reasonable, Kate. I have quite a few months’ shooting left on the film. And I want you now, not in a f
ew months’ time.’

  Tears filled her eyes. ‘Does that mean that if we waited until the film was finished you wouldn’t want to marry me at all? Is that what you’re saying?’

  ‘You’re asking me some damn silly questions this morning! We met—oh, about five months ago now, and I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you. That feeling hasn’t lessened at all, in fact it’s got more intense. I doubt it will fade in a couple of months. But I also doubt my ability to wait that long,’ he told her bluntly. ‘So you have your choice, you either marry me next week or I’ll take you without the marriage.’

  She knew he meant what he said and she also knew from experience that she couldn’t fight him, either verbally or physically, and win.

  ‘There’s just one thing, Damien.’ She licked her lips nervously, knowing he wasn’t going to like what she said next.

  His eyes narrowed as if he sensed her reluctance. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I want James to give me away.’

  She watched as his face darkened with angry suspicion. ‘Is that to be his punishment for marrying Sheri instead of you?’ he snapped harshly. ‘To publicly have to give you to another man?’

  ‘I want him to give me away,’ she repeated stubbornly.

  ‘And I don’t,’ he returned equally forcefully. ‘We may only be marrying for one reason, but I’m not having it made any more of a mockery than it already is. Everyone knows you once lived with James, just think of the gossip if he gives you away at our wedding.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s just not on.’

  Kate stood firm. ‘That’s the way it has to be.’

  ‘I said no, Kate.’

  ‘Then I won’t marry you,’ she choked.

  He wrenched the door open with suppressed violence. ‘Damn you to hell!’ He slammed the door with such force she felt as if the whole room shook.

  Josie came hurrying out of the kitchen to see what was wrong. ‘What happened?’ She frowned her puzzlement.

  Kate looked at her with tear-filled eyes. ‘That must be the shortest engagement in history.’

  ‘You mean he—you’ve argued already?’

  She gave a wan smile. ‘That’s exactly what I mean.’