《A REASON FOR MARRIAGE》


 1

    Sara McCall rushed to the parking lot of the office building she was to decorate in a few days and hurried as fast as her heel shoes would allow her.


    As she got into her car and began to drive, she sincerely hoped that her new client wouldn¡¯t be too upset about herteness. Her meeting with Howard Kendrick had taken so much of her time and that was something she had not nned for. She almost med Howard for it. The man simply couldn¡¯t make up his mind about what he wanted, and so she¡¯d found herself making different suggestions to him. When he finally made his choice, she knew she was going to bete to meet up with her next client, but it was still her fault. She should have nned for the dy.


    Trying to drive carefully while she was in a hurry was frustrating as hell, and when she suddenly saw the traffic jam ahead of her, she groaned outwardly. Surely, she was destined to lose this new client, she thought. She was at the verge of giving up when she realized that she could take another route, as long as she turned around right now. Hopefully, this next road would be clear.


    Without thinking, she attempted to back out so she could join the nextne. It seemed like a good idea¡­ until she heard a crash. She didn¡¯t just hear it, she felt it too and she knew at that moment that she was definitely going to bete now and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Not only that, but now she had another problem to deal with.


    Her feelings of anxiety were immediately reced by anger as she stepped out to inspect her car and to confront the asshole who had hit her from behind. To her dismay, she saw that one of her taillights was broken and the culprit¡­. Well, whoever the hell he was, had gotten away with nothing but a scratch on his front bumper.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Sara looked up angrily. Just in time to see the driver get out of his car, taking off his sunsses as he approached her.


    It didn¡¯t take Sara a lot of time to notice that he was a very handsome man. His dark suit was tailored to fit perfectly across muscled shoulders and chest, lean waist and long, powerful legs. Fitness that he probably honed with early-morning runs in one of New York¡¯s parks, she thought. He was a couple of inches over six feet, with dark, slightly over-long hair, and shrewd green eyes set in a swarthily handsome and chiseled face.


    ¡°Are you alright, miss?¡± the man asked her in a deep and husky voice.


    Sara red angrily at him, and was even more angry at herself for noticing so much about him in just a few seconds. ¡°What kind of question is that?¡± she retorted, ¡°How am I supposed to be alright? You just smashed into my car and broke my tail lights!¡±


    He frowned and raised an eyebrow, as if taken aback by her outburst and Sara scowled inwardly. He even had the nerve to act shocked, she thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, ¡°But I think you got that wrong. You smashed into me,¡±


    Sara gasped, unable to hide her anger any more or even try to be nice. She stood upright and stared right in his face, her expression challenging, ¡°Ermmm¡­. Excuse you, but you came out of nowhere,¡±


    The man clearly wasn¡¯t going to take the me either, ¡°I did not. You suddenly moved backwards for no good reason!¡±


    ¡°That was because I was in a hurry and was trying to avoid the traffic,¡± she defended


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean you should have done it,¡± he insisted, ¡°You were wrong,¡±


    ¡°I checked and there was no one behind me. You just came right behind me before I could get a chance to move. If you were paying attention, you would have seen what I was trying to do and stayed out of my way,¡±


    They were starting to attract attention from other drivers around, and Sara was in no mood to give anyone a show in the middle of the road. The man nced down at her, his eyes narrowing as they met hers and then roamed over her face framed by a tumbling mass of  hair.


    ¡°Lady,¡± he began, ¡°You hit me, and believe me, I should be the one upset but you don¡¯t see me acting out. Now if the problem is about fixing your car, I¡¯d be d to do so or pay for the damage, but I¡¯m not going to apologize for something I didn¡¯t do. Especially when you have this kind of attitude,¡±


    Sara was surprised. If there was anything this man had for sure¡­. Apart from his good looks and obvious wealth¡­ It was audacity. Did he really think she needed money from him to fix her car? And did he just inly tell her that he wasn¡¯t going to apologize to her? What an arrogant man he was!


    ¡°First of all, you can keep your money. I don¡¯t need it,¡± she told him, ¡°And Secondly, please keep your lousy apology to yourself. You clearlyck the capacity to see how wrong you are and you are not even going to attempt to see reason due to your overinted ego. Have a nice day!¡±


    Without giving him a chance to respond, she turned around and walked back to get into her car. She refused to cause more scenes than they already had, and she still had to call to inform her client that she would bete.


    It was just one of those bad days, she consoled herself as the phone began to ring. If they couldn¡¯t wait then they would have to reschedule the meeting.


    Barbara Kent was already upset by the time she got through to her, and not knowing when she¡¯d get out of traffic, Sara asked for them to reschedule the meeting, which Barbara reluctantly agreed to. The woman could barely hide her irritation at the sudden change of ns, and Sara couldn¡¯t me her. She med that man, she thought as she hung up. The green eyed asshole who thought so highly of himself that he couldn¡¯t even apologize for ruining her day.

 2

    Okay, so maybe it was ruined already but he¡¯d contributed a great deal to it and she needed someone to be mad at.  Sara risked a look at her mirror knowing he was still behind her, and almost gasped to see him already watching her from inside his car. She stubbornly held his gaze for a few seconds before she looked away.


    Her meeting canceled, she would just go straight home, she decided. A soak in the tub seemed like such a good idea, and thankfully she¡¯d never have to see that jerk again.


    __________


    Sara McCall had never enjoyed cocktail parties, having been forced to attend far too many of them in the past¡­mostly by her brother, Scott McCall. She enjoyed those given by Senators even less. Most of the city¡¯s rich and beautiful were filling to capacity the huge reception room at one of New York¡¯s most prestigious hotels. The chatter was loud, theughter even more so, and the jewels adorning the elegantly ddies¡¯ wrists, throats and ears glittered and sparkled in the light given off by the dozen or so crystal chandeliers hanging overhead. At the same time Sara¡¯s senses were being assaulted by the smell of dozens of expensive perfumes filling the air-conditioned room.


    But, as her mother was so fond of saying, ¡®What can¡¯t be cured must be endured.¡¯


    It was taking all of Sara¡¯s endurance to grit her teeth and get through this cocktail party hosted by none other than visiting Senator Robert Ashcroft. As her brother¡¯s executive assistant, she¡¯d been forced to attend, but even at that, Sara doubted she would have bothered epting the invitation if she hadn¡¯t known how much it would appeal to the man who was her date for this evening.


    It was exactly the sort of social function Mark Forbes enjoyed. Which was fine. It just wasn¡¯t the real reason she had wanted to see him again.


    In truth, Sara had no idea how Mark was going to react when she found the opportunity to exin that she had absolutely no intentions of going to bed with him-ever-or with any other man, for that matter. Instead she was thinking of asking him if he would be the sperm donor if she went ahead with the IVF she was considering. A subject so delicate, so personal, was something she felt she had to lead up to slowly, rather than blurting it out at their first-or even second!-meeting.


    __________


    Senator Ashcroft¡¯s drinks party was turning out to be every bit the crush of people Simon Hamilton had expected it might be. Most of them were already known to him after this past week of socializing, and a lot of the men wanted to renew their acquaintance with him. Their wives, daughters or girlfriends were making no secret of the fact that they found his dark and brooding looks attractive.


    Not that Simon had anyints about thatst part. He had enjoyed a healthy sex life during his years of living and working in London, and he sincerely hoped to continue doing so now that he had moved to New York.


    Nevertheless, even surrounded by beautiful women as he was, all seemingly vying for his attention, Simon still noticed the woman in the figure-hugging red gown, standing across the room¡­ Probably because she stood out from the rest of the ¡®beautiful people¡¯ present in as much as she was making no effort to respond to the ttering conversation of men currently surrounding her, but instead seemed totally bored-both by them and by her surroundings.


    But it wasn¡¯t just that air of uninterest which had captured Simon¡¯s attention.


    Nor was it the fact that she was young-probably in herte twenties-and extremely beautiful. Ebony hair cascaded lushly over her shoulders and halfway down her spine, and her eyes were light in color-possibly gray or brown?-and surrounded by thick darkshes. Her skin was the color of pale baster, her features delicately lovely, and the fullness of her lips was glossed the same tempting red as that utterly decadent gown. Her only jewelry was a pair of delicate gold filigree earrings which dangled almost to the bareness of her shoulders.


    All of that would certainly be enough reason for any man to give her a second nce, but still it wasn¡¯t what had caught and held Simon¡¯s attention, and what had caused his body to harden in instant arousal the moment he looked at her¡­.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    It was recognition.


    It was her! He couldn¡¯t believe it, but it was her! The woman who¡¯d hit his car just yesterday. The saying ¡®small world¡¯ came to mind, and he was slightly amused as he imagined what her reaction would be when she finally saw him. Simon Hamilton didn¡¯t get challenged very often, and it was weirdly refreshing to see someone do it. This woman had stood up to him, looked him in the face and called him arrogant, and the whole time all he could think about was how beautiful she was. Too bad she¡¯d walked away almost as quickly as she had jumped out of her car and he¡¯d thought he¡¯d never see her again, but here she was¡­. Looking even more beautiful. If this wasn¡¯t fate giving him a second chance, he didn¡¯t know what it was.


    Every other woman in the room wore masses of expensive jewels at their ears, throat, wrists and fingers and, whether tall or short, they were all fashionably slender. The woman in the fitted red strapless gown wore only those earrings, and her figure was¡­ There was a word for her type of figure. An old-fashioned word that described her exactly-one that had often been used to describe movie stars of the golden age¡­ Voluptuous! That was it! The woman in the red fitted gown was voluptuous. Not fat-her body was too obviously toned for that. She simply had an hourss figure: curvily, lushly, sexily voluptuous.


    Her shoulders were bare, that expanse of skin the same smooth baster as her face, and that wickedly enticing gown enhanced the fullness of breasts that were obviously bare beneath the silky material that swept over her narrow waist before clinging lovingly to the sweet curve of her hips. The material finished a couple of inches above her knees to reveal long and shapely legs, with three-inch heeled red strappy sandals on her elegantly slender feet.

 3

    Simon¡¯s breath now caught in his throat as she looked over the top of the heads of the men surrounding her, ncing around the room in obvious uninterest-almost as if she was aware of someone watching her, but had no idea who or why. His earlier impression of herplete boredom with her admirers and her surroundings was confirmed as she repressed a yawn. At the same time as their nces met.


    Met and then, as the woman¡¯s gaze shifted slowly back to his, held¡­. Then boom¡­. She recognized him!


    He knew she did by the way her eyes widened in surprise. He watched every move¡­ The way she took a deep breath¡­ The color rising to her cheeks¡­ The frown on her face before she quickly looked away. Her reaction was even funnier than he¡¯d imagined, and Simon grinned inwardly. It was even more surprising that he felt a weird kind of joy because she¡¯d remembered him. Guess he¡¯d made quite an impression, he thought.


    She looked in his direction again. Probably making sure it was really him, and Simon quirked a questioning brow-only to receive a nk stare and then a uninterested shrug in reply, before the woman in the red gown, as Simon was already calling her in his mind, turned away to ept a fresh ss of champagne from one of the men surrounding her, to all intents and purposes as if she had already forgotten his existence.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    While it might be a refreshing change after the past week and thisst couple of hours of having women throw themselves before him like sacrificial offerings, this certainly wasn¡¯t the reaction Simon was used to receiving when he showed an interest in a beautiful woman.


    As one of the two Hamilton cousins, with business interests worldwide, and wealthy beyond imagining, Simon had never been naive enough to believe it was his looks alone which attracted women to him. Nor did he believe that every woman he met had to find his height and dark looks attractive.


    But still, it irked him that the woman in the figure-hugging red gown-a woman who made him hard just from looking at her!-had dismissed him so easily andpletely.


    Maybe she was married? Or engaged? Or perhaps in a serious rtionship?


    No, it certainly wasn¡¯t either of the first two; the hand holding the ss of champagne she had just raised to those lush red lips-her left hand-a long and slender hand Simon could all too easily imagine moving caressingly over his much darker skin in a pastime his arousal also approved of as he felt his shaft throb in anticipation!-was as naked of jewellery as her throat and wrists. And if it was thetter then where was the man she was involved with?


    If a woman as beautiful as that had belonged to him then he certainly wouldn¡¯t have left her alone for a minute, at the mercy of the pack of hyenas currently in for the kill. If a woman like that belonged to him¡­?


    What the hell?


    Simon didn¡¯t do belonging. Or even long-term. And definitely not permanent. A few days, in some cases a few weeks, of enjoying each other¡¯spany- and bodies-was the limit of any interest he had shown in the women he had been involved with over the past eighteen years.


    Liking-yes. Sex-definitely yes. Love or belonging-definitely no. His cousin Zach-a man who had been even more averse to permanent rtionships than Simon until he¡¯d met Evelyn a month ago, and fallen so quickly in love with her-might have sumbed tomitment to one woman, but Simon certainly wasn¡¯t interested in doing the same.


    He desired the woman in the red gown. He was more than a little annoyed at the ease with which she had dismissed him just now. At the same time as he was aroused and hard just from looking at the way that fitted red gown clung so lovingly to all those voluptuous and below the gown naked curves. It was an arousal Simon knew he would prefer her to satisfy, rather than another woman¡¯s willing body.


    It was with that thought in mind that Simon distractedly made his excuses to the women crowded about him before crossing the room towards the woman in the red gown.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Like Moses parting the Red Sea, Sara noted ruefully as the men around her stood aside for the tall, dark and arrogantly handsome man who had deliberately caught her gaze a few minutes ago before making his way so determinedly across the room towards her.


    How was it possible that of all the people in the world, she¡¯d attend a party with the man who had smashed her taillights, and refused to offer a simple apology? If this wasn¡¯t a sign to go home, then what was it? She had recognised him almost immediately she saw him, and couldn¡¯t seem to stop her eyes from wandering in his direction. What woman wouldn¡¯t notice this dark and broodingly handsome man?


    His looks didn¡¯t hurt, of course. Sara stood five eleven in her three-inch-heeled red shoes, but the man was still several inches taller. Tall enough that he could look down at her with warm and broodingly sensual green eyes. His dark hair was inclined to curl over his ears and nape, and his emerald-coloured gaze was now narrowed and assessing, set in an arrestingly handsome face that looked as if it might have been carved from mellow gold stone: high and hard cheekbones, a long de of a nose, chiseled lips, and a square and determined chin. The perfectly tailored ck evening suit did little to hide the fact that he was also powerfully built-wide and muscled shoulders and chest, t and tapered abdomen, lean hips, and long, long legs.


    No doubt about it. When it came to charisma and good-looks, this man had it in spades! It was perhaps unfortunate-for him-that Sara knew just by looking at him that he was the kind of man she wanted nothing to do with. Personally or professionally.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it amazing that we get to see each other again?¡± he asked, as one corner of his lips tilted upwards. ¡°I¡¯d have never imagined that we would meet again¡­ And so soon too,¡±


    Sara fought the urge to roll her eyes at him, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s amazing,¡± she said, meeting his gaze, ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s rather unfortunate,¡±


    He chuckled at her statement, and Sara wondered if what she¡¯d said was funny, because she certainly had not meant for it to be.

 4

    ¡°I hope you¡¯ll excuse mying over and introducing myself?¡± He quirked dark, questioning brows over enigmatic green eyes. ¡°I¡¯m Simon Hamilton,¡±


    His voice was really sexy, Sara acknowledged. Deep and husky, with an undertone of dark and sensual. The sort of voice guaranteed to send a shiver of delight down women¡¯s spines.


    Other women¡¯s spines, Sara corrected firmly. Fortunately she was totally immune to conceited men like Simon Hamilton. Most especially to Simon Hamilton himself.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to know who you are, Mr Hamilton,¡± she said. Just as she knew exactly what he was. The men who had been vying for her attention seemed to have recognised that he was a man to beware of-if for different reasons than Sara¡¯s- and had now drifted off to a safe distance, leaving the two of thempletely alone in a room full of the richest and most fashionable people in New York.


    ¡°You don¡¯t?¡± His brow arched questioningly.


    She gave a smile of rebuke. ¡°Of course I don¡¯t. After the way you acted yesterday when we ran into each other, I see no reason why I¡¯d want to know you in any way.¡±


    Simon studied the woman in the clinging red gown through narrowed lids as he detected the mockery beneath her smoky tone.


    Her beauty was all the more apparent now that he was standing next to those deep brown eyes, the perfect nose, the full and sensuous lips above a pointed chin. Her baster skin had the fine smooth appearance of porcin in the bareness of her shoulders in the strapless gown.


    And she was most definitely naked beneath that gown! Well¡­her breasts certainly were. The berry-like nipples were temptingly outlined against the silky material, the perfect fit of the gown over the fullness of her hips surely only allowed for a pair of gossamer-thin panties. Panties the same vibrant red as her gown? And would they be made ofce? Or silk?


    Simon drew in a deep breath as his already hot and aroused shaft gave a throb of response just at the thought of his seeing this shapely woman wearing only a pair of brief and silky red panties.


    ¡°And you are¡­?¡± he asked,


    ¡°Sara,¡±


    His smile was teasing. ¡°Just Sara?¡± he asked,


    She gave a light inclination of her head. ¡°Just Sara,¡±


    The coolness in her voice, as well as her demeanor, was really starting to irritate-and arouse!-the hell out of him. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you¡­. Again¡­.. Just Sara,¡±


    The sensual fullness of her lips curved into a chiding smile. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you get to know me a little better before deciding that?¡±


    ¡°Well, I already know that you¡¯re¡­. A very¡­ Outspokendy,¡± he murmured slowly.


    That enigmatic smile widened, revealing white, even teeth. ¡°Indeed,¡±


    Yes, definitely mockery, Simon noted wryly, and he knew the reason for it. It usually took a beautiful woman a lot longer than two minutes¡¯ acquaintance to decide he might be dangerous, but thisdy was judging him based on what had happened on their first encounter.


    He nodded. ¡°I just moved here from Ennd,¡± he said instead, not wanting to let her cling to that memory of him, ¡°Been there for ten years,¡±


    Sara gave an acknowledging inclination of her head. ¡°Well, good for you. And how are you enjoying New York?¡±


    He shrugged broad shoulders. ¡°Well, so far I¡¯ve realized that it truly is a city that never sleeps.¡±


    That was one of the things Sara had always loved about New York too. Her business as an interior designer had blossomed just two years ago and before then she had worked as an executive assistant for her brother. Well, until she had found out their truth about her ex, Bruce Be and why he¡¯d gotten into a rtionship with her. The break up had been messy and Sara had lost her pregnancy. The experience had left Sara with the viewpoint that once bitten was twice shy-and with the intention of never getting married to anyone.


    She shrugged. ¡°Oh,e on. If nothing else you have to appreciate the fact that you can buy a decent cup of coffee here any time of the day or night.¡±


    Smokey green eyes warmed in sensual invitation. ¡°I¡¯ve found that the perctor in my apartment makes an excellent cup of coffee. Day or night¡­¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡± Sara looked at him admiringly. ¡°It took you¡­what¡­? All of five minutes¡¯ acquaintance before inviting me back to your apartment.¡± She went on dryly at his enquiring look, ¡°Surely that has to be a record, even for a man like you?¡±


    Simon stilled, now positive that he hadn¡¯t been mistaken about the sharp edge of derision that seemed to underlie every word this woman said to him. ¡°A man like me¡­?¡± he prompted softly.


    She shrugged those bare shoulders, the movement drawing attention to the full and creamy swell of her breasts above the neckline of the silky red gown. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I already know what sort of man you are, Mr Hamilton,¡±


    ¡°Really? And what sort of man might that be¡­?¡±


    Her eyes looked up into his unblinkingly. ¡°Why, I know that you¡¯re as arrogant as ever. Your attitude when we first met was just a piece of the iceberg. You don¡¯t apologize even when you are wrong. Probably the kind of man who is so lethally single-minded in his pursuit of a woman he desires as he is cold and calcting when ites to ending a rtionship.¡±


    Simon straightened, hiszy humor fading in the face of her attack.¡± I beg your pardon¡­?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Had she gone too far? Sara wondered with an inward grimace. After all, circumstances might be such that she was predisposed to dislike and disapprove of Simon Hamilton, but having now run into him here, there was no doubting that he was a force to be reckoned with in New York-both professionally and socially. The fact that he now appeared every inch the powerful and arrogant billionaire businessman that he was, instead of the flirtatiously seductive man of a few seconds ago, would seem to indicate that she had indeed overstepped the line. As far as he was concerned, at least.


    Sara had only wanted to let him know that she had no intention of being so much as ttered by his marked attention, let alone falling for his seductive and no doubt practiced-charm. She gave a light and deliberately dismissiveugh. ¡°I¡¯m only saying what I¡¯ve observed,¡±

 5

    ¡°Indeed,¡± That green gaze was hard and unyielding. ¡°And do you always form your own opinion of people before you actually get to know them?¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s an unwise woman who doesn¡¯t pay attention to her¡­ Observations,¡±


    Just as it was an unwise woman who chose to ignore the fact that Simon Hamilton¡¯s voice had hardened in thest few minutes.


    ¡°No doubt allowing you to decide that there is no smoke without fire¡­?¡±


    Oh, Sara was pretty sure there was a lot of fire when this man chose to turn his lethal charm on a woman. ¡°Not exactly,¡± she dismissed dryly. ¡°I just have eyes andmon sense with which to make up my own mind.¡±


    His nostrils red. ¡°And yet you had already decided to distrust me, just because something unfortunate had happened yesterday. Something I had no control over.¡±


    Sara had decided so much more than that! ¡°I know enough to be wary, yes.¡± She said,


    Simon Hamilton¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You are not prepared to give me the benefit of the doubt?¡±


    ¡°In what way?¡±


    ¡°In that what happened yesterday was not my fault,¡±


    ¡°Probably not, no,¡± she answered without hesitation.


    ¡°That¡¯s a pity.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡±


    His mouth tightened and he gave a stiff inclination of his head. ¡°I trust I did not interrupt your enjoyment of the evening?¡±


    She grimaced. ¡°I wasn¡¯t enjoying it much even before you came over and spoke to me.¡±


    ¡°And my conversation has added to thatck of enjoyment?¡±


    Sara shrugged. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t let it bother you, Simon; it¡¯s really nothing personal.¡±


    ¡°On the contrary. I believe yourments in regard to me to have been very personal,¡± he responded tersely.


    Sara looked up at him, realizing that although he appeared outwardly controlled, inwardly Simon Hamilton was quietly, chillingly angry-as the tightness of his jaw and the angry glitter of those green eyes testified. Maybe ying this silly game of cat-and-mouse with him had not been a good move on her part.


    She gave a dismissive shake of her head. ¡°I just thought I would save you wasting any of your time in attempting to charm me.¡±


    ¡°Would it be wasted?¡±


    ¡°Most definitely,¡± Sara confirmed with feeling.


    His eyes became cial. ¡°In that case, I will relieve you of the necessity of suffering mypany a moment longer.¡±


    Was that disappointment Sara now felt at this man¡¯s eptance of her scathing dismissal of him? Surely it couldn¡¯t be-not when she already knew just how callous this man could be?


    ¡°I will leave you to enjoy the rest of your evening,¡± she finally replied derisively. ¡°I¡¯m sure all the otherdies present will be only too happy to entertain you.¡±


    Simon forced the tension from his shoulders. ¡°You-¡±


    ¡°Ah, there you are, Sara baby.¡±


    A tall, blond-haired man in histe thirties moved in beside Sara. His blue gaze was curious as he turned to smile at Simon, his teeth very white and straight against his slight tan. ¡°Great party, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Simon echoed, as he inwardly acknowledged that he wasn¡¯t pleased at seeing the other man¡¯s arm draped possessively about Sara¡¯s waist. This was ridiculous of him, when Sara had made it so obvious that she had no interest in him. Perhaps the other man¡¯s proprietorial attitude exined thatck of interest? Maybe. Although Sara hadn¡¯t looked particrly pleased at being called ¡®Sara baby¡¯.


    She straightened away from that possessive arm about her waist before making the introductions. ¡°Simon, this is Mark Forbes. Mark, meet Simon Hamilton,¡±


    ¡°Really? The Simon Hamilton?¡± Mark prompted warmly as the two men shook hands.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    So Mark knew about Simon, Sara wondered with a frown. And so? She thought, irritated that Mark was so obviously bowled over by meeting him. Admittedly the man was rich, but he was too handsome and charming for his own good. What was so special about him? And why did Mark look so impressed?


    ¡°Hamilton Tower is a monument to beautiful architecture,¡± Mark said  admiringly.


    The realization came at that moment and Sara realized just who Simon Hamilton truly was. Hamilton Enterprises was one of the most powerful business organizations in the world, owning a private jet, as well as properties all over the world. In that, she did have to agree with Mark. Standing at least eighty floors high, and built of a pale, rose-coloured marble, with tinted sun-reflecting windows, Hamilton Tower was one of the most beautiful buildings in New York, rivaling the other well known Buildings.


    No wonder the man was as arrogant as ever. So rich and powerful that he believed that he could do no wrong and could never apologize for anything. But even so¡­ She refused to be impressed.


    ¡°It¡¯s just another tall building blocking the view, Mark,¡± she dismissed impatiently.


    Simon Hamilton looked amused rather than annoyed by herment. ¡°But I thank you anyway,¡± he told Mark dryly.


    Sara¡¯s irritation deepened. ¡°I believe it¡¯s time we were leaving, Mark,¡±


    He looked crestfallen. ¡°But we only just got here¡­¡±


    Simon¡¯s previous annoyance at Sara¡¯s scathingments about his reputation had dissipated totally in the face of her increasing irritation with the man who had apanied her here this evening. If she was in a serious rtionship, it wasn¡¯t with Mark Forbes, and Simon couldn¡¯t see how a man Sara was involved with would be happy about her attending a party with another man -particrly one as handsome and obviously sessful as Mark.


    So, no serious rtionship. But what did it matter? The woman he knew only as ¡®Just Sara¡¯ couldn¡¯t have made herpleteck of interest in him any more obvious. Contrarily, it just made her all the more intriguing to Simon.


    He had never thought of himself as being a masochist before, but maybe this move to New York, and the over-abundance of beautiful women vying for his attention this past week, was turning him into one-because if anything his attraction to Sara had only deepened in thest few minutes.


    He looked down at her from between hooded lids. ¡°I would be more than happy to escort Sara to her home if you would like to remain at the party a while longer, Mark.¡±


    Her eyes widened in what looked like horror at the suggestion, even as bright spots of color brightened those pale baster cheeks. ¡°If Mark wishes to stay, I¡¯m perfectly capable of ordering a cab and taking myself home, thank you,¡± she replied tightly.


    He continued to look down at her. ¡°There¡¯s no need when my car is parked downstairs.¡±

 6

    Sara wanted to tell Simon Hamilton what he could do with his car! But, even more important than that, she now deeply regretted having invited Mark to apany her here this evening in the first ce. They had met the previous week, at a party simr to this one. Sara had studied him dispassionately, finding that she approved of his blond hair and blue eyes, and the fact that he was tall and appeared healthy.


    On the basis that she couldn¡¯t just march up to aplete stranger and ask him to be the donor for her IVF baby-once tests had proved he was fertile, of course-Sara had decided it might be better if the two of them got to know each other a little better before she dropped the bombshell on Mark. That was the only reason she had gone to his office early yesterday evening and asked him to be her escort to Senator Ashcroft¡¯s cocktail party tonight.


    Although Mark seemed to have a very different idea of where their rtionship was going¡­ She gave Simon Hamilton a brightly insincere smile. ¡°It¡¯s very kind of you to offer, Simon, but-¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s absolutely no need when I¡¯m happy to leave with Sara,¡± Mark cut in with smooth confidence, his arm once again moving about Sara¡¯s waist. ¡°I booked dinner for the two of us at nine-thirty,¡± he added temptingly.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    A dinner that he was no doubt hoping would result in the two of them sharing the bed in his apartmentter on this evening, or possibly in Sara¡¯s. But Sara knew that sharing Mark¡¯s bed-or any other man¡¯s,e to that-simply wasn¡¯t going to happen.


    Nor, in this day and age, was it necessary. It had all seemed perfectly logical when Sara had made her decision several months ago. She was desperate to have a child of her own, but not marriage or rtionship with a man who would ultimately let her down. One failed engagement was surely enough for her.


    She had it all nned out. She would be pregnant before her thirtieth birthday in six months¡¯ time, move her offices to her apartment and continue working from there until her eighth month, have the baby, and then resume working once the baby was three months old or so, hiring a nanny who could take over on the asions Sara had to go out and visit with her clients.


    Logic. Not emotion.


    Except it wasn¡¯t logic which drove Sara but an aching, driving need. She¡¯d met Bruce Be  four years ago, and they had quickly fallen in love. Or at least she had fallen for him. It took her a while to realize that Bruce had never loved her, but he¡¯d told her that he did. And she¡¯d believed him. Sara was so in love that she¡¯d have done anything for him, and she did. Burce asked her to keep their rtionship a secret because he and her brother, Scott, were business rivals, and he didn¡¯t want any of that interfering with them. Sara had heard her brother mention Bruce before and knew he had no love for him, so she¡¯d agreed. Also, she figured once he saw how much they loved each other, he woulde around. Especially since she became pregnant. Like a lovesick idiot, she¡¯d thought Bruce would be happy about the news. Sara has been overjoyed and all she dreamed about was marrying Bruce and starting a family with him. They would be doing it a little out of order, but she didn¡¯t care. But she had the greatest surprise of her life when she told Bruce about the pregnancy. He told Sara he didn¡¯t want her or the baby. Told her to get rid of it because she was no longer useful to him. Then he walked away, like she was garbage he¡¯d tossed out the window. He used her to get back at her brother. At the time, she worked at Scott¡¯spany as his executive assistant and she had been so naive, so snowed by Bruce, that when he asked her questions about Scott¡¯s agenda, who he was meeting with, she had given him the information. He worded it to make it sound like he was only asking about her day, what she had on her te, but he was actually pumping her for inside information. He never loved her, never had any intention of creating a family with her.


    Sara had refused to end the pregnancy, but it didn¡¯t matter as she miscarried and lost the baby anyways. She¡¯d been driven into depression too after she found out about Bruce¡¯s engagement just monthster, and if not for her brother and her mother, she wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d have ever gotten through it.


    Now she was doing much better. Her new business as an interior designer was growing and blossoming, but Sara had realized there was still something missing from her life. The same something that had always been missing from her life.


    A baby of her own.


    Lots of professional women had babies on their own nowadays-so why not Sara? She certainly had enough money to be able to provide for them bothfortably, and her career was of a kind that could be worked around a baby¡¯s needs. So the n was to find herself a man who was healthy, exin to him what it meant to be an IVF donor, and present him with the legal contract she would expect him to sign. Both of them would be protected from any financial demands being made on the other after the baby was born.


    Putting that idea into practice had proved much harder than Sara had imagined. Broaching the subject, asking any man to coldly, clinically donate his sperm for IVF, had proved difficult.


    ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you, Mark,¡± She smiled warmly, more for Simon Hamilton¡¯s benefit than Mark¡¯s . Her smile faded as she turned to look at the businessman. ¡°If you will excuse us?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Simon gave a slight inclination of his head, wondering what thoughts had been going through Sara¡¯s head these past few minutes to form that frown between those brown eyes. Whatever they had been, he certainly didn¡¯t hold out a lot of hope for Mark Forbes chances of sharing her bed tonight. ¡°It was a pleasure to meet you both.¡±


    ¡°And you,¡± Mark assured him warmly.

 7

    It was a warmth that was in no way reflected in Sara¡¯s incredible brown eyes, and she made no effort to echo her escort¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°We¡¯ll wish you a good evening, then, Mr Hamilton,¡±


    His eyesughed down into hers. ¡°I believe you called me Simon earlier.¡±


    ¡°Did I?¡± she dismissed coolly. ¡°How over-familiar of me!¡±


    Not familiar enough for Simon. He turned to watch Sara and her escort cross the room to make their excuses to their host before leaving. All without those eyes giving so much as a nce back in his direction. Simon continued to watch the sensuous sway of those curvaceous hips so lovingly outlined in that clinging red gown, and made a silent promise to himself as the doorman closed the door behind Sara¡¯s departure.


    A promise that one day-or night; it didn¡¯t really matter what time it was!- he would hear Sara scream his name as he made love to her.


    _________


    Simon sipped his champagne after Sara and Mark left, and didn¡¯t know if he should be amused by Sara¡¯s dismissal or pissed about it. It wasn¡¯t something that happened quite often, and he found himself still thinking about her minutes after she¡¯d gone.


    So much so that he didn¡¯t see Scott McCall, his long time friend from college and the reason why he had attended Senator Robert Ashcroft¡¯s party, approach him until he felt someone touch his arm.


    ¡°I knew you¡¯d show up,¡± Scott said with a huge smile on his face. Beside him was his beautiful fiance, Vivian Sanchez and Simon returned his smile with a grin as they shook hands.


    ¡°Well, you did say it¡¯d be good for business,¡± Simon replied.


    ¡°And I was right, was I not? This is my fiance, Vivian Sanchez,¡± Scott said, ¡°And Vivian, this is Simon Hamilton. A long time friend from my university days. Although I haven¡¯t seen him for years. He recently moved to New York and we¡¯re hopefully going to be working on a project together soon,¡±


    ¡°Ah! So it is you who has charmed him so,¡± Simon told Vivian with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s very nice to meet you, Miss Sanchez,¡±


    Vivian smiled at him, ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you too,¡± she replied, ¡°But please, call me Vivian,¡±


    ¡°As you wish, mydy,¡± said Simon and he bowed in such a way that was so gentlemanly that Vivian chuckled.


    ¡°Attempting to charm my woman, I see,¡± Scott teased.


    ¡°Oh but I wouldn¡¯t dream of it,¡± Simon teased back, much to Vivian¡¯s amusement.


    She ced a well manicured finger on Scott¡¯s arm, ¡°Excuse me, darling while I go freshen up,¡± she told him softly, although Simon suspected that she just wanted to give them a chance to talk.


    Scott nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t be long, dear,¡± he replied.


    After Vivian left, Simon grinned at his friend, ¡°Can¡¯t even bear to let her out of your sight for a few minutes, can you? You are indeed smitten¡­ ¡± he continued to tease him.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Scott told him with a smile, and grabbed a ss from one of the trays held by a server, ¡°How are you enjoying New York?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been good so far,¡± Simon admitted, ¡°Seems like our ns are going well so far, although I haven¡¯t fully settled in yet. I still need to put the tower and my apartment in order¡­ An interior designer would be good in fact. Do you have anyone you rmend?¡±


    Scott straightened as he sipped from his ss, ¡°My sister is one. A professional,¡± he said, ¡°And believe me, I¡¯m not just rmending her because we¡¯re rted,¡± he nced around, ¡°In fact, she¡¯s supposed to be present here but I can¡¯t seem to find her anywhere. I could give you her contact information if you¡¯d prefer¡­ I¡¯m sure she¡¯d be willing to offer her services,¡±


    ¡°That would be great,¡± Simon agreed as he watched Scott pull out his phone to text him the number.


    ¡°Sent,¡± said Scott after a few seconds, ¡°Just let her know you got her contact from me and I¡¯m sure she will get things ready for you. Her name is Sara. Sara McCall,¡±


    Simon raised an eyebrow in surprise for the second time that evening. He couldn¡¯t quite believe his ears because just how did stuff like this keep happening with thisdy. Unless Scott was referring to someone else, but he doubted that was the case.  ¡°Sara?¡± he repeated, just in case he¡¯d not heard correctly.


    Scott nodded, and looked around again, ¡°I was actually hoping to introduce you two to each other tonight, but I guess some other time will do. Come on, let me introduce you to the Senator,¡±


    Without another word on the subject, Simon followed him as he began to walk in the direction of the Senator. If his guess was right, then he¡¯d be seeing the woman in red again. He grinned inwardly. Indeed things were about to get more interesting.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    _____________


    ¡°Well, well, well-if it isn¡¯t Ms Sara McCalle to call atst!¡±


    Simon observed dryly from where he sat in his high-backed leather chair behind the mahogany desk in his office.


    His assistant, Lena had shown the interior designer in at exactly five o¡¯clock on Thursday evening, before quietly closing the door behind her as she left them alone together.


    Simon and the interior designer Sara McCall.


    The same Sara McCall who he¡¯d run into in traffic. The same Sara McCall who had introduced herself to him as ¡®Just Sara¡¯ on Saturday evening, in the knowledge that she had cancelled two appointments with him earlier in the week.


    Simon had wasted no time after she and Mark had left the party on Saturday in asking Lena to contact her the very next day and make an appointment. It wasn¡¯t so hard now that he knew her full name. An appointment that she¡¯d canceled twice immediately she realized that he was one asking to meet with her.


    Those brown eyes shed her displeasure now, as she marched into the center of the spacious office, allowing Simon to see that she managed to look sexy even wearing a business suit-a fitted ck jacket and knee-length ck skirt, thetter revealing long and silky-smooth legs. Her silk blouse was the same color as her eyes; her long ebony hair neatly gathered and secured at her crown.

 8

    ¡°Your phone call this morning made it clear you expected me to be here promptly at five o¡¯clock, whether it was convenient or otherwise,¡± she reminded him with barely concealed impatience.


    ¡°Indeed¡± Simon stood up and moved slowly round his desk to lean back against it as he looked down at her between narrowed lids. ¡°And the fact that you are here would seem to imply that you were no happier than I was on Saturday at the possibility of having a slur cast upon your reputation?¡±


    A frown appeared on that smooth baster brow. ¡°That¡¯s hardly a fairparison, Mr Hamilton, when the threats you made to me this morning were in regard to my professional reputation, not my personal one.¡±


    ¡°I believe the saying is ¡®payback can be a bitch¡¯?¡± He gave an unrepentant shrug. This woman had wilfully-deliberately!-yed with him on Saturday evening by not revealing her true identity, insulted him to his face and no doubt was highly amused at his expense because of it.


    Simon had thought about it long and hard over the weekend, finally deciding that if Sara McCall wanted to y games then he was happy to oblige her. With that in mind he had phoned her office himself that morning and demanded to speak to her personally. After a short dy there had been a more or less one-sided conversation during which Simon had informed her that there would be no more canceled appointments. If she didn¡¯t want him to tell anyone and everyone who cared to listen just how unreliable he had found her professional services she woulde at five.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Her only answer had been to end the call abruptly, causing Simon to chuckle wryly as he slowly ced his phone down on his desk. Nevertheless, he had been sure that Sara would be here at five o¡¯clock. He knew that she was now aware that it was well within his power to seriously damage her professional reputation if he chose to do so.


    ¡°You¡¯re unusually quiet today,¡± he remarked, lifting his dark brows mockingly. ¡°That is so unlike you. You usually have a lot to say¡­ I¡¯ve observed,¡±


    Oh, Sara had plenty she wanted to say to this man. She was just erring on the side of caution-for the moment. She had realized after leaving Senator Ashcroft¡¯s cocktail party on Saturday that it probably hadn¡¯t been a wise move on her part to antagonize a man as powerful as Simon Hamilton. Yeah, her brother was influential as well, but she was trying to grow her own business and doing something like that was unwise. Unwise and a little childish, she now epted reproachfully. As if it would really matter to a man as powerful as Simon Hamilton if some little interior designer chose to snub him!


    Except, having met her on Saturday evening, it obviously did matter to him. It didn¡¯t help, having duly arrived at Hamilton Tower at five o¡¯clock, that Sara was now totally aware of the way in which Simon Hamilton managed to exude a predatory air-despite the expensive elegance of his tailored dark gray suit and paler gray silk shirt, with matching tie knotted meticulously at his throat.


    ¡°Did you and Mark Forbes enjoy yourte dinner on Saturday evening?¡± he prompted softly.


    Sara¡¯s mouth tightened at this reminder of the time she and Mark had spent together at an Italian restaurant after leaving the Senator¡¯s party. Several hours during which she had desperately tried to dredge up some of her former approval of Mark as an IVF donor, only to find that, rather than appreciating Mark¡¯s healthy good looks, she wasparing them to the hard and chiseled features of the man now standing in front of her. A man she wouldn¡¯t even consider putting on a shortlist of potential donors for her baby.


    Oh, Simon Hamilton was definitely handsome, and obviously he was healthy and intelligent, but that was where all suitability as the possible father of her child ended. Also, a man as powerful as Simon would never agree to clinically, calctedly father a child by donating his sperm for IVF.


    In fact her experience with Mark now made her wonder if it might not be better to opt for an anonymous donor after all. In the meantime, she had to cope with knowing she was physically responsive to Simon in a way she hadn¡¯t experienced in the years since her engagement ended-if ever!


    Sara had been convinced-with the experience of her disastrous rtionship behind her, that she was destined to be the one woman who wouldn¡¯t ever be stupid enough to fall under the sensual spell of any man, especially when all he had to offer were charm and charismatic good-looks.


    Which only went to prove what an arrogant fool she had been.


    Because Sara now knew she only had to be in the same room as Simon Hamilton to be aware of every single thing about him. She could feel the tug of that desire even now, causing her hands to tremble slightly, her breasts to feel hot and swollen, and a dampness between her thighs. She could see the same desire reflected towards her in the warmth of those dark green eyes. It was a physical attunement that seemed to make the very air between them crackle and dance.


    ¡°It was fine,¡± Sara dismissed abruptly. ¡°Now, if we could-¡±


    ¡°Have you and Mark been together long?¡±


    Sara frowned slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that it¡¯s any of your business, but we haven¡¯t ¡°been together¡± at all.¡±


    Sara had gently but firmly refused Mark¡¯s suggestion, before they parted on Saturday evening, that the two of them might go out together again this week, having lost all interest in him with regard to approaching him about IVF.


    Simon raised questioning brows. ¡°Yet¡­?¡±


    ¡°Really, Mr Hamilton-¡±


    ¡°Simon.¡±


    ¡°Simon.¡± She gave a brief, meaningless smile of acknowledgement. ¡°I really didn¡¯te here to discuss my personal life with you-so if we could we just get down to business?¡±


    Simon settled morefortably against the front of the desk and folded his arms across his chest. He considered Sara with narrowed but appreciative eyes. Her features really were extremely delicate: those beautiful brown eyes, high cheekbones, slender jaw, those full and sensuous lips glossed a deep peach today.

 9

    With her hair secured at her crown it was now possible to see the slender arch of her delicious throat, with skin as delicate as pale China. It was a delectable delicacy that Simon found himself aching to taste. Presumably that wasn¡¯tpletely out of the question, if Sara and Mark really weren¡¯t together.


    He straightened slowly. ¡°That¡¯s a pity, because the only thing that I¡¯m in the least interested in talking about this evening is your personal life.¡±


    Those eyes widened warily. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°No?¡± Simon found himself watching intently as she moistened those peach-glossed lips before speaking again.


    ¡°I understood from our phone conversation earlier today that you wanted me here at five o¡¯clock so that we could discuss possible new designs for the decor in your apartment.¡±


    Simon smiled slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t remember so much as mentioning any designs for my apartment during our brief conversation this morning.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­no,¡± she conceded slowly, after a few seconds¡¯ thought. ¡°But that was the reason for your assistant¡¯s call two days ago,¡±


    ¡°Two appointments which you didn¡¯t ever have any intention of keeping.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    Sara felt about two inches tall as she realized she had behaved like an idiot.


    But it had just been so tempting, when she had received the call from Simon Hamilton¡¯s assistant, asking if she woulde to his office to discuss the possibility of redesigning the interior of his apartment. Tempting to ept and then cancel as a small way of showing him that not every woman jumped at the click of his fingers. She should have realized-given more consideration to the repercussions of her behavior if the powerful Simon Hamilton decided to make an issue of it.


    Her gaze didn¡¯t quite meet his now. ¡°I really did have to be somewhere else when your assistant called to make that appointment on Monday,¡±


    ¡°And on Tuesday?¡± He quirked dark brows. ¡°Did you really have an emergency appointment with your dentist?¡±


    ¡°Er-yes.¡±


    Simon eyed her warily. ¡°Would you care to exin?¡±


    She grimaced. ¡°Perhaps when I introduced the two of you on Saturday evening I should have mentioned that Mark is a dentist.¡±


    His mouth thinned. ¡°I see.¡±


    She winced. ¡°Do you¡­?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I think so.¡± Simon nodded slowly, his interest well and truly piqued by the woman now standing in front of him. More than piqued, if he were honest.


    Simon had no idea why it should be, but he found everything about Sara McCall intriguing. From her lippy conversation to her desirable hourss figure. ¡°You obviously felt an urgent need to have a cavity filled.¡±


    Those brown eyes widened in nk shock, her cheeks filling with color as she gasped her indignation.


    Now it was Simon¡¯s turn to chuckle at Sara¡¯s expense. And for that chuckle to develop into full-throatedughter as he saw that he really had seeded in rendering thisplicated woman speechless. ¡°My God, Sara, you should see your face!¡± he finally managed through hisughter. ¡°Or maybe not; you look a little like a fish out of water at the moment.¡±


    Probably because Sara felt like a fish out of water at that moment. Mouth opening and shutting, her chest rapidly rising and falling as she gasped for breath, her eyes wide and staring.¡± I can¡¯t believe you just said that!¡±


    ¡°Actually, neither can I.¡± He sobered. ¡°My Aunt Ann would consider my conversation most ungentlemanly. Unfortunately for you, I¡¯m more than happy to risk her disapproval if I¡¯ve seeded in rendering you speechless for once!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really,¡± Simon confirmed teasingly, aware that Sara was still having trouble regaining her usual spiky confidence.


    She gave a disbelieving shake of her head. ¡°Your Aunt Ann would be perfectly correct in her assessment of your behavior just now.¡±


    ¡°She usually is,¡± he acknowledged ruefully.


    A frown appeared between those golden eyes. ¡°Who is your Aunt Ann , exactly? And why does her opinion matter to you?¡±


    Simon gave an affectionate smile. ¡®My cousin Zach¡¯s mother. She¡¯s also been a mother to me since I was eight years old-after I went to live with her and my Uncle Charles when my parents were killed in a ne crash.¡±


    Sara drew her breath in sharply as she heard the pain underlying the practicality of Simon¡¯s tone. She hadn¡¯t known that about him even after she¡¯d done quite a research on him after she got home that Saturday night-hadn¡¯t cared to know that about him-and she frowned slightly as she acknowledged that his confiding that information to her had introduced a different sort of intimacy between the two of them from their previous physical awareness, which had seemed to sizzle and crackle in the air only minutes ago. An intimacy that was emotional rather than physical.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± she murmured finally.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he epted gruffly.


    Sara shifted ufortably. ¡°Did you like living with your cousin and his parents?¡±


    His grin warmed his eyes to the color of emeralds. ¡°Eventually. I was pretty traumatized the first year or so, and probably gave my Aunt Ann a few gray hairs. But eventually I settled down, and I really couldn¡¯t have asked for a better surrogate family.¡±


    ¡°You and Zach are close?¡±


    ¡°As brothers,¡± he confirmed without hesitation.


    Sara raised her brows, suddenly realizing that the conversation had be altogether too personal for her liking. ¡°Ermmm, it¡¯s really gettingte, Simon,¡± she said briskly.


    He raised those dark brows. ¡°Do you have yet another appointment to go to this evening?¡±


    She could so easily have said yes. But instead¡­ ¡°Well¡­no. But-¡±


    ¡°But what?¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s evening, and I always clean my apartment in the evening when I get home¡­ If I need to,¡± Sara rallied weakly.


    He eyed her mockingly. ¡°I thought that was what the weekends were for?¡±


    She gave a disbelieving snort. ¡°Admit it, Simon, you¡¯ve never had to clean your own apartment, or anywhere else you¡¯ve lived, at the weekends or any other time!¡±


    ¡°Not true. I had to keep my own rooms clean when I was in the university,¡± He grimaced. ¡°Admittedly I couldn¡¯t see the bedroom carpet for the clutter after the first few weeks, and I ran out of clean clothes on a regr basis, but I coped.¡±


    ¡°By ignoring the clutter and buying new clothes, probably,¡± she guessed derisively.


    ¡°Guilty as charged,¡± Simon admitted with an unrepentant grin.

 10

    ¡°That is so- Oh, wow¡­!¡± Sara gasped as she noticed the view from the huge picture window behind him for the first time-surely testament to exactly how powerfully attractive she found Simon, because the view from the window was amazing. New York City in all its glory.


    Sara continued to look at the New York skyline as she slowly walked over to the window, dazzled by thebination of the tall, gleaming buildings and the lush green park.


    ¡°I seem to recall you said you thought of Hamilton Tower as just another tall building blocking the view,¡± Simon reminded her as he joined her at the window.


    Sara gave a wince at this reminder of the bluntness of her conversation at the party. ¡°I may have been a little¡­impolite to you at the party on Saturday evening.¡±


    ¡°May have been?¡± he taunted softly.


    ¡°I was impolite,¡± she conceded.


    ¡°Any particr reason why¡­?¡±


    ¡°I think you already know why, Simon,¡± Sara nced sideways at him, totally aware of how close he was now standing to her. Close enough for her to inhale the headybination of the lemon soap and sandalwood aftershave. Close enough that their arms were almost touching. Close enough that she was now fully aware of the heat emanating from his body.


    Close enough that Sara could barely breathe for wanting to close that short distance between them and lose herself to the feel of those sensuously chiseled lips devouring her own.


    Instead she rushed into speech. ¡°I behaved badly-unprofessionally-and I apologize.¡±


    He arched dark brows and smiled. ¡°And I apologize too, Sara,¡± he said, ¡°About your car¡­when we met¡­ I should have handled the situation better,¡±


    ¡°I guess you should have.¡± Sara replied with a smile of her own, ¡°Apology epted,¡±


    He grinned at her, ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ve reconsidered and are now willing to give me-and my reputation-the benefit of the doubt¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I would go that far,¡± she said warily.


    ¡°Liar,¡± Simon murmured huskily. He¡¯d seen the way those luscious brown eyes had darkened, the slight flush appearing in her cheeks. Her lips were slightly moist and parted. As if waiting to be kissed.


    As if she realized that was Simon¡¯s intention, Sara took a step back and away from him. ¡°I really do have to go now. If you¡¯ve changed your mind about considering my designs-¡±


    She broke off as Simon took another step forward, until they were now once again standing so close they were almost touching. She gave a determined shake of her head. ¡± Simon, if you¡¯re trying to intimidate me then I think I should warn you-¡±


    ¡°Warn me of what¡­?¡± Simon murmured throatily, even as he raised one of his hands to cup the warmth of her cheek, before moving the soft pad of his thumb over the softness of her lips, feeling the warmth of her breath against his fingers as he parted those lips in preparation for his kiss. His own arousal intensified at the feel of that sensual warmth against his skin.


    His shaft was hard and pulsing, demanding¡­


    Sara¡¯s eyes were wide, deep amber pools as she stared up at him. ¡°I should warn you-¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Simon prompted softly, holding that wide and startled gaze with his own as his head began to lower towards hers.


    She breathed softly. ¡°I really should warn you-¡±


    ¡°Warn meter, hmm?¡± he dismissed gruffly, before finally iming those full and pouting lips with his own.


    Sara totally forgot what it was she wanted to warn Simon about as his other arm moved firmly about her waist and he pulled her in tightly against the heat of his body, angling her face up to his before his mouth finally took possession of hers.


    Simon¡¯s kiss was everything that Sara had known it would be-not in any way a gentle exploration, but an instant explosion of the senses, taste, smell, feel, and it felt so good to be against the hard heat of his body as they kissed hungrily, deeply, lips devouring, tongues dueling.


    Sara tightly gripped Simon¡¯s shoulders, her legs feeling weak as he crushed the ache of her breasts against his chest. Heat pooled between her thighs as she felt the hard throb of his arousal pressing insistently against her. The sky could have fallen at that moment, the building copsed around them, and Sara wouldn¡¯t have noticed, too lost in the heat that consumed them both as Simon¡¯s hands moved down to cup her bottom and pull her in more tightly. He ground his erection against and into her even as their mouths drank greedily of each other.


    Sara was on fire, her inner ice melting, and her fingers became entangled in the dark hair at Simon¡¯s nape as she returned that heat, needing, wanting- She wanted Simon Hamilton¡­!


    It had been so long since she¡¯d let a man touch her. Not since after Bruce¡­ She¡¯d sworn that she¡¯d never let any man hurt her the way he had. Told herself she¡¯d never open up to any man, both emotionally and physically. Never be vulnerable when it came to men, but yet here she was, so vulnerable in Simon¡¯s arms. His hands had moved to her breasts now, and despite how damn good it felt, she knew she had to put an end to it immediately.


    Her body became stiff as memories of Bruce and what he did to her came rushing back, putting an end to her desire like water to a me. She stopped kissing Simon and tried to pull back, but his lips simply moved to her neck instead, dropping kissing all over as he went¡­ He gently bit her earlobe, then ran kisses down her throat¡­Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ¡°Simon stop¡­¡± she gasped.


    He didn¡¯t stop¡­He wasn¡¯t listening¡­ His lips moved to her chest¡­


    ¡°Simon¡­.!¡± She said again, mustering every strength left inside of her, she grabbed his shoulders and pushed him away from her.  ¡°I said stop¡­¡± She repeated, breathing hard as she stared at him through wide eyes.


    Simon on the other hand looked confused, then pissed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re one of those women who love to tease and y hard to get,¡± he said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°I¡¯m not ying or teasing,¡± she gasped, ¡°You kissed me!¡±


    ¡°And you kissed me right back,¡± he told her, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t want me to or that you weren¡¯t into it. Few more seconds and I would have had you right here on my desk!¡±

 11

    Sara didn¡¯t have any idea what came over her, but she found her palm connecting with his cheek before she could think twice about what she was doing. She watched him lift a hand to his face and then he grinned, although she could tell from his expression that he didn¡¯t find the fact that she¡¯d hit him funny.


    Sara didn¡¯t understand herself anymore. She wasn¡¯t a violent person, and she definitely didn¡¯t hit people no matter what. Just what was it about this man that messed with her self control? Her feelings and desires were messed up whenever she was around him¡­and for God¡¯s sake, she¡¯d just pped Simon Hamilton!


    ¡°What the hell was that for?¡±


    Sara regretted hitting him, but she wasn¡¯tpletely sorry about it, ¡°Don¡¯t you ever speak to me that way again, Mr Hamilton,¡± she said between clenched teeth and took a step away from him, ¡°Please find some other interior designer for your apartment because I sure as hell will not be working for you. And do me a favor too, lose my number and never contact me again,¡±


    With that she was hurrying out of his office without giving him a chance to say anything. Maybe hitting him wasn¡¯t the right thing to do no matter what he¡¯d said to her, but refusing to work for him was. The earlier she cut Simon Hamilton out of her life, the better. He was bad news¡­ Just like Bruce.


    ___________


    ¡°You¡¯re ten minuteste,¡± Scott told Sara over the phone, ¡°We¡¯re ready and waiting for you. Are you stilling or not?¡±


    Sara grinned at her brother¡¯s impatience as she drove into the street, ¡°I¡¯m like one minute away, Scott. Rx,¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± he replied, ¡°Because Vivian already made all this food and she¡¯s already disappointed that mom isn¡¯ting, so get your ass down here. Besides, there¡¯s someone I¡¯d like to introduce you to personally and trust me, it¡¯s for your own good,¡±


    ¡°I really hope you are not trying to set me up on a date with one of your friends,¡± said Sara with a scowl on her face,¡± Thest one was terrible and I¡¯m not willing to go down that road again,¡±  She could hear Scottughing on the other end and rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her face.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°Nah it¡¯s nothing like that. I think I¡¯ve finallye to terms with the fact that I¡¯m not a matchmaker¡­See you soon,¡± Scott said and hung up.


    Sara smiled as shepared the man Scott had been six years ago to the man he was since he met Vivian Sanchez¡­ He waspletely different now. Scott, who was so opposed to rtionships, was now the one who was not only nning his wedding, but he¡¯d also tried to set her up with a friend of his. Love really did change someone when they found the right person.


    But unfortunately, rtionships were not for everyone¡­Herself included, but it didn¡¯t mean single people couldn¡¯t be happy. They could find happiness in other things¡­ In other aspects of their lives. And Sara knew that having a baby would make her very happy. The IVF n with Mark Forbes wasn¡¯t something she was looking forward to anymore, but she would find someone else or opt for an anonymous donor. She didn¡¯t know how Scott and her mother would take the idea of going for IVF, and so she¡¯d not told them yet because she was worried that they wouldn¡¯t approve or worse, try to talk her out of it. This was what she wanted. She was sure of it.


    After parking her car, she stepped out, looked around, saw a strange car amongst the ones she knew her brother already had and wondered when he¡¯d bought the new one. Then she went up to front door and knocked. Scott opened it after a few seconds with a huge smile on his face.


    ¡°Finally! Here she is.¡± he said with a huge smile on his face. Vivian appeared beside him, and weed her with a warm hug Sara epted with equal warmth. If there was one thing she was sure of, it was that her brother had picked the right woman.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you coulde,¡± said Vivian, ¡°Dinner is already served. Come on¡­¡±


    ¡°What took you so long by the way,¡± Scott asked, walking besides her and taking away her coat and bag.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Maybe I was mentally preparing myself to deal with your shenanigans,¡± Sara responded and exchanged knowing nces with Vivian, after which they both burst intoughter.


    One of her favorite things to do with her soon to be sister inw was to tease her brother. Something Scott seemed to have made peace with after he realized that there was nothing he could do about it.


    ¡°Oh it smells so good in here. What are we having?¡± Sara asked as they entered the dining area. Vivian must have answered her question, but she didn¡¯t hear it, because she waspletely taken aback by the sight of the man already seated. It was Simon Hamilton of all people, dressed in a white polo shirt and jeans, and he was staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face. She should have known that Scott would somehow be involved with the new Hamilton businessman who had just moved into town. That was Scott¡¯s thing.


    The first thought that crossed her mind was to turn around and walk away, but that would not only be rude to Scott and Vivian, but it would also mean that she was epting defeat, and that was something Sara was not prepared to do, especially when it involved Simon Hamilton, who was as arrogant as he could be already and she wasn¡¯t going to be the one to boost his ego.


    Before she could say a word, Scott joined them, ¡°Sara, I¡¯d like you to meet an old friend of mine, Scott Hamilton. Scott, this is my sister, Sara McCall although I¡¯m sure you two must have met already,¡±


    ¡°Good evening, Sara,¡± Simon said as he stood up and extended his hand for a handshake, ¡°It¡¯s really good to see you again,¡±


    Sara ignored his greeting and his hand, then turned to her brother, ¡°How.. How do you know we¡¯ve met before?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Oh, I gave him your contact at Senator Robert Ashcroft¡¯s party. He needed an interior designer and of course I rmended you. You didn¡¯t know?¡±

 12

    Of course that was the way he¡¯d been able to contact her, Sara thought, and he¡¯d deliberately kept the information to himself for whatever reason that made sense to him. Sara forced a smile,¡± Of course, I knew,¡± she said hurriedly, ¡°I¡¯m just a little bit messed up from the drive. Work has been really hectictely,¡± She turned to Simon and her smile faded away, ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again too, Mr Hamilton,¡±


    ¡°Oh, we don¡¯t have to be so formal now, do we, Sara?¡± Simon said with a grin, ¡°I¡¯m sure that we can both agree that we are way past that level,¡±


    He was referring to the kiss, Sara thought, and she wanted to bang his head on the table, but she sure as hell couldn¡¯t let this man make her lose control of her emotions again, especially not in front of Scott and Vivian. She already regretted the kiss and the p, so she stered another forced smile on her face, ¡°Of course, Simon,¡± she said and turned to Vivian, ¡°Shall we begin? I¡¯m sorry but I¡¯m quite famished,¡±


    Her seat had been ced beside Simon¡¯s, and she¡¯d lost her appetite immediately she saw him, but what could she do? She could feel Simon Hamilton¡¯s gaze on her, following her every movement, even as they began to eat.


    ¡°So how exactly do you two know each other?¡± Sara couldn¡¯t stop herself from asking as she took a bite of the fish that had been served to her, although she could barely taste anything as her brain could only process the scent of perfumeing from the man seated too close for her liking.


    ¡°We met in college,¡± Scott replied, ¡°And then Simon moved to London so we barely saw each other except during some of my travels for business,¡±


    ¡°Sounds interesting,¡± Sara said, although her tone suggested that she didn¡¯t find anything about it interesting at all.  ¡°Simon obviously forgot to mention that when we met at his office,¡± She was being obnoxious enough for only Simon to notice, and he clearly did, because from the corner of her eyes, she could see one side of his mouth curl upwards.


    ¡°I trust you¡¯re enjoying your move then,¡± Vivian pitched in.


    ¡°Indeed I am,¡± replied Simon, ¡°I haven¡¯t done much yet, but the city does look promising especially when ites to business. Lots of promising sectors to tap into, credible investors, I must add an interesting social life and of course, beautiful women,¡±


    Scott and Vivian found thest part of hisment amusing, but Sara couldn¡¯t stop herself from rolling her eyes. Of course¡­Women, she thought, hating the unnecessary pang of jealousy she felt at the thought of Simon being with another woman or women as he¡¯d put it. Why she felt that way, she had no idea, as she wasn¡¯t in any sort of rtionship with him and as far as she was concerned, she would never be.


    ¡°Ah, New York is well known as one of the cities you can rely on for an interesting social life indeed,¡± Scott agreed, ¡°There¡¯s always some party or club to go to if you want to,¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard people describe it as a City that never sleeps,¡± said Simon, then out of the blue, he added, ¡°Sara, I¡¯d be really honored if you would take some time out of your really busy schedule to show me around as soon as you¡¯re done with my apartment.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    He said it so casually, as if they¡¯de to an arrangement thest time they spoke, that Sara almost let her intrusive thoughts of banging his head against the table win. Knowing that Scott and Vivian were watching her, she held his gaze, ¡°As I told youst time, Simon, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to make out time to work on your apartment and I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to show you around as I have my te full at the moment. Maybe you should consider hiring a tour guide or something,¡±


    Simon regarded her with amused green eyes, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s no problem at all. Your brother says you¡¯re the best when ites to interior design and I believe him. The best is what I¡¯d rather have, and I¡¯ll be d to wait till you have your¡­ te¡­ cleared up¡­. And then we can move forward. That¡¯s a great idea, don¡¯t you think so, Scott?¡±


    Of course Scott nodded in agreement. Sara said nothing and concentrated on her food. He could say whatever he wanted, but as far as she was concerned, she wouldn¡¯t be working for him or showing him anywhere around New York because she knew he didn¡¯t even need her to. A man like Simon Hamilton didn¡¯t need her to show him the city. He probably even knew the city better than she did, and had every resource he needed to explore at his disposal.


    Sara tried her best to ignore him for the rest of the meal, although he didn¡¯t make it easy for her to do so, but finally the evening came to an end and Sara announced that she¡¯d be leaving.


    ¡°I will be taking my leave too,¡± said Simon, standing up as soon as she did, ¡°Walk you to your car?¡± he asked her.


    Sara ignored him and said goodnight to Scott and Vivian, grabbed her coat and bag, then hurried out of the house, knowing that Scott was right behind her. She was already unlocking her car when Simon approached her and she swore inwardly.


    ¡°Sara, wait,¡± he said.


    She wanted to continue to ignore him. Wanted to act like he wasn¡¯t there and just get into her car and drive off, but there was something about his tone that made her halt. She turned to look at him, and regretted it immediately.


    Her chin rose determinedly, ¡°What do you want, Simon?¡±


    He regarded her for a few seconds before he spoke, ¡°To apologize,¡± he said.


    That wasn¡¯t wasn¡¯t the response she¡¯d been expecting, ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°For not telling you that I know your brother,¡±


    ¡°Just that?¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°Yes¡­ and for myment at the office too. That wasn¡¯t very¡­ Gentlemanly of me.¡±


    Sara agreed. He¡¯d pissed her off with hisment, but she still shouldn¡¯t have pped him. She looked down at her feet and when she lifted her eyes again, she found him watching her, ¡°I¡¯m sorry too¡­ That I pped you. I¡¯m not the kind of person who usually does stuff like that¡­ and I apologize.¡±

 13

    He smiled, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I guess I deserved it,¡±


    Sara nodded, but she had to ask, ¡°Is there a reason why you didn¡¯t tell me about my brother?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. I guess I just thought it¡¯d be funny,¡± he took a step closer to her, ¡°Look Sara, I know we kinda got off on the wrong foot and I know this is the second time I¡¯m apologizing, but I want us to start over because I want to get to know you, so can we please¡­ Start over?¡±


    Her mouth tightened, ¡°I don¡¯t think getting to know each other on any level is a good idea, Simon,¡±


    There was a pause, and then he took another step closer, ¡°You do know that I can easily make the necessary enquiries that would give me all the answers to every question I have about you,¡± he said, and regretted thement immediately, knowing that threats were definitely not the right way to get through to this woman.


    ¡°That¡¯s your prerogative.¡± Sara replied nonchntly. ¡°So go ahead¡­ At this point I really don¡¯t care,¡±


    ¡°But I won¡¯t,¡± Simon concluded dryly. ¡°I would so much rather wait for you to tell me about yourself than listen to inurate gossip,¡± he added.


    Her face flushed. ¡°If that was a dig at me for the things I said to you-¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t,¡± he assured her softly. ¡°I would just rather wait for you to confide in me.¡±


    She gave a dismissive snort. ¡°Then you¡¯ll be waiting a long time.¡±


    Patience had never particrly been a part of Simon¡¯s character, but he had a feeling that where this intriguing woman was concerned it might well be worth the wait¡­ ¡°I have no ns to leave New York for the foreseeable future, Sara,¡± he said huskily.


    Sara was well aware of that-which was why, after the mess she had made of things with this man, she was seriously considering relocating her office to Outer Mongolia, or possibly Antarctica-anywhere but New York! He was arrogant, yes, but it wasn¡¯t in an over-bloated self-aggrandizement way-more an inborn confidence in who and what he was. Simon had demonstrated that he was capable of dealing with, and returning, any challenge she might care to give him. He also had a wicked sense of humor, which he was just as likely to turn on himself as he was anyone else. There was something very appealing about a man who couldugh at himself. And Sara defied any woman to remain unaffected by that headybination of charming self-assurance and devastating good-looks. That brief kiss they had shared had certainly proved to her that she wasn¡¯t immune to anything about Simon Hamilton.


    A man whose wealth and charm was everything and more than Bruce, her ex-fiance, had been¡­Which was more than enough reason for Sara to take herself out of Simon¡¯s insidiously seductivepany. Right now!


    ¡°Then I hope you enjoy the city,¡± she told him lightly. ¡°Now, if you will excuse me¡­I need to go home,¡± she turned to her car.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you forgotten something?¡±


    Sara paused before turning back reluctantly to answer that softly spoken query. ¡°Have I?¡± He gave a mocking inclination of his head.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t discussed when you¡¯lle up to Hamilton Tower to look at my apartment yet.¡±


    She tensed warily. ¡°Up¡­?¡±


    Simon gave a husky chuckle, ¡°Yes. Up,¡±


    It took her a few seconds to understand what he meant. His apartment was on the floor above his office? All that time she¡¯d been in his office, there had been a bedroom-probably several-right above them? Oh, good Lord¡­!


    Sara drew in a deep breath before speaking. ¡°I think I was right all along. It really wouldn¡¯t be a good idea for me to work for you-¡±


    ¡°You agreed to work for me just minutes ago when we were having dinner,¡±


    ¡°I think we both know that I didn¡¯t mean it,¡±


    ¡°Coward.¡±


    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± she gasped softly.


    Once again he shrugged those broad shoulders. ¡°I called you a coward.¡±


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to work for you?¡± She eyed him incredulously.


    Simon shook his head slowly. ¡°Because we both know the reason you don¡¯t want to work for me.¡±


    Her jaw tightened. ¡°Which is?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You¡¯re afraid.¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± she said disbelievingly.


    ¡°I think that you¡¯re afraid of how you feel when you¡¯re with me,¡± Simon corrected softly. ¡°You¡¯re morefortable in thepany of a man like Mark Forbes because you know you can manipte and control him in a way you would never be able to do with me.¡±


    All the color drained from Sara¡¯s cheeks. She knew that every word Simon spoke was the truth. Oh, not about Mark. But she was frightened-of Simon, and of what he made her feel when she was with him. She didn¡¯t want to feel that way about any man. After she¡¯d gotten over her broken engagement, she had been relieved to feel so numb, to know that she would never again have to go through the pain of a broken rtionship. To now realize that Simon Hamilton had prated her emotions, if only on a physical level, was not a wee revtion.


    ¡°You really suck at apologies, and has anyone ever told you that you have an ego the size of Manhattan?¡± She snorted disgustedly.


    ¡°Not that I recall, no.¡± He gave a slow and confident smile. ¡°Was anything I said to you just now untrue?¡±


    Her mouth thinned. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you.¡±


    ¡°Then why not prove it by agreeing to redesign the interior of my apartment?¡±


    Sara gave a disbelieving shake of her head. ¡°I¡¯m twenty-nine, Simon, not nine, and as such I¡¯m not about to be goaded into a juvenile game of dare with you. Especially when I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea for me to ept amission from you.¡±


    ¡°Scott is going to be so disappointed about that,¡± he murmured regretfully.


    ¡°Scott?¡± she repeated warily.


    ¡°Yeah. He rmended your work to me, remember?¡± he added pleasantly.


    Sara¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Are you threatening me or ckmailing me, Simon?¡±


    He eyed her innocently. ¡°Oh I wouldn¡¯t dream of it,¡±


    ¡°It sounds suspiciously like a threat to me!¡±


    His lips twitched with repressed humor. ¡°That¡¯s your prerogative, of course.¡±

 14

    Sara didn¡¯t know whether to admire him for his audacity ormbast him for his arrogance. Either way, she couldn¡¯t work for a man she didn¡¯t even like¡­ Lying to herself wasn¡¯t going to make this situation any easier, Sara immediately chastised herself. The problem was not that she didn¡¯t like Simon Hamilton, but that a single kiss had shown her that physically she liked him too much. Sara had been convinced she would never-could never-feel again. She was determined not to feel physical desire for any man when she knew it would ultimately lead to more pain and disillusionment.


    ¡°What are you thinking about¡­?¡±


    Simon had watched Sara¡¯s expressions during thest few minutes of silence between them. Had seen the dismay. The confusion. Followed by the doubt. And then what had looked like pained anguish. All of them emotions he would never previously have associated with the prickly and confident Sara.


    She shook herself out of that mood of despondency with obvious effort. ¡°I was just¡­ perhaps we could reschedule another meeting forter in the week?¡± She gave a tight smile as she saw his skeptical expression. ¡°I promise not to cancel this time.¡±


    Simon regarded her through narrowed lids. ¡°You never did say what the emergency wasst Monday.¡±


    Her smile turned to a look of exasperation. ¡°A client was having hysterics when the curtain material I had ordered, which I duly took round for her to approve before the curtains were made up, turned out not to be exactly the same color as her husband¡¯s eyes after all.¡±


    Simon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°People really do things like that?¡± Sheughed softly. ¡°You would be surprised. I had a client a couple of years ago who matched the color of her carpet to her Golden Labrador.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ¡°Must have made it difficult to find him when it came time to go for a walk!¡± Simon murmured-only to watch in satisfaction as Sara¡¯sughter deepened, causing her eyes to glow. ¡°Have dinner with me tomorrow evening, Sara,¡± he prompted abruptly.


    ¡°To discuss the changes you¡¯d like in your apartment?¡± she asked.


    ¡°To discuss any damn thing you please.¡±


    ¡°I was trying to tell you earlier¡­¡± Sara frowned. ¡°I make a point of never mixing my professional life with my personal one.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s one or the other?¡±


    Sara instantly added stubborn determination to the list of things she was rapidly discovering about Simon Hamilton. ¡°I believe I¡¯ve already taken you on as a client by agreeing to look at your apartment.¡±


    ¡°And if I would prefer to have dinner with you tomorrow evening instead?¡±


    Sara¡¯s breath caught in her throat as her eyes widened. ¡°Would you¡­?¡±


    He frowned darkly. ¡°Why don¡¯t wepromise and make our next appointment in my apartment tomorrow evening at seven-thirty? That way I can arrange for us to have dinner together immediately afterwards, so that we can discuss any suggestions you might have.¡±


    Maniptive determination. Sara wryly corrected that earlier addition to her ever-growing list of Simon¡¯s character attributes. ¡°I¡¯m starting to see how you gave your Aunt Ann gray hair!¡±


    Simon gave a grin. ¡°Does that mean you ept my invitation?¡±


    Did it? There were so many reasons why Sara shouldn¡¯t have dinner with Simon tomorrow evening or any other time. She straightened briskly. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, but thank you for asking.¡±


    Simon eyed her frustratedly, knowing it wasn¡¯t just the desire to have Sara in his bed that made him so determined. He also enjoyed herpany. He appreciated the spirited way she stood up to him. The way her dry sense of humor was more than a match for his own. And he couldn¡¯t help feeling curious as to what Sara had been thinking about earlier when she¡¯d looked so wistful.


    He raised dark brows. ¡°And if I intend to keep on asking¡­?¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just have to keep on refusing.¡±


    ¡°And if I manage to wear you down¡­?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± She smiled.


    ¡°You sound very sure,¡± Simon said knowingly.


    ¡°I am.¡± She nodded.


    Had any woman turned him down so emphatically before? Simon wondered with a frown. Not that he could ever remember, no. And, again, that wasn¡¯t arrogance talking-it was just a fact. Nor did he believe it was only Sara¡¯s reluctance to see him again that made her so attractive to him. Everything about her intrigued him. Even her obvious boredom on that Saturday evening with the other guests at the cocktail party-including him-as if she had attended one too many parties just like it and met one too many arrogant men to be impressed by yet another one.


    That behavior had beenpletely nullified by her heated response to him at his office-before she had shut down that response with the finality of a steel trap door closing about her emotions.


    And what had seemed like an expression of sadness, even anguish, only added to the mystery and contradiction that was fast bing Sara McCall.


    Simon sensed Sara had secrets hidden behind those beautiful brown eyes.


    Several of them. Secrets he was longing for her to share with him.


    ¡°Okay.¡± He straightened and stepped closer again, bringing himself too close for herfort. ¡°I¡¯m busy tomorrow and Wednesday, but six o¡¯clock on Thursday evening looks good.¡± He stared down at her enquiringly, wondering if it was wishful thinking on his part or if that really was a look of disappointment on her face because he was seeming to back off. And he was only seeming to back off. Simon had no intention of giving up where Sara was concerned.


    ¡°Thursday at six is fine with me too,¡± Sara epted abruptly, pretty sure that if she designed a color scheme of pink and white, and ultra-feminine, it would ensure that Simon no longer wished to employ her. It would do absolutely nothing for her professional reputation, of course, but it might be worth it just to see the look on his face when she presented the sketches to him!


    ¡°I¡¯m learning to be wary of that particr look of amusement¡­¡± He eyed her suspiciously.


    Saraughed softly. ¡°Just a private joke.¡±


    ¡°Design-wise, you should know that a harem theme or an explosion of pink ruffles is definitely out,¡± hemented dryly.


    How had he guessed what she was thinking? ¡°Now you¡¯re ruining all my fun!¡±


    ¡°When I would so love to be the cause of it¡­¡± he came back huskily.


    Sara gave an exasperated sigh. ¡°Do you ever give up?¡±


    ¡°Where you¡¯re concerned? No.¡±

 15

    Now it was Sara¡¯s turn to look wary as she heard the finality in his tone. A warning, perhaps, that Simon¡¯szy good humor was merely a front, an illusion. As if she needed any warning!


    ¡°Why are you even continuing to bother pursuing me when there are dozens of women in New York who would be only too ttered to receive the attentions of Simon Hamilton?¡±


    He smiled ruefully. ¡°Because it doesn¡¯t work that way.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°What doesn¡¯t?¡±


    He shrugged those broad shoulders. ¡°I can¡¯t speak for other men, of course, but as far as I¡¯m concerned, desire is exclusive to one woman at a time.¡±


    Sara moistened lips that had be suddenly dry. ¡°That isn¡¯t what I¡¯ve heard¡­¡± she said, at least judging by what she¡¯d read about him since they met.


    Simon scowled. ¡°Just who the hell have you been listening to, Sara?¡± he prompted impatiently.


    Her gaze avoided meeting that piercing green one. ¡°It¡¯s public knowledge-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s malicious gossip-apanied by unreliable articles and photographs in newspapers,¡± he corrected harshly. ¡°None of which can or should be believed.¡±


    That might be true, but Sara still had to be careful. No doubt Bruce¡¯s version of the breakdown of their rtionship would differ greatly from her own. There were always two sides to an unsessful rtionship¡­ No! Sara couldn¡¯t afford to have any doubts about Simon Hamilton¡¯s callous reputation with women. The physical desire she felt for him already made her feel more vulnerable than she wasfortable with. She had a n for the rest of her life, and it was a sensible n-one which did not include an affair for a few weeks with Simon Hamilton!


    ¡°Whatever,¡± she dismissed uninterestedly. ¡°I really do have to leave now.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯lle on Thursday at six o¡¯clock?¡±


    Sara sighed at his dogged persistence. ¡°I said I would, yes.¡±


    Simon nodded his satisfaction. Sara might not know it yet-might not want to know it-but that single kiss they had shared had told him that she wanted him too. And Simon had every intention of pursuing her until he had her exactly where he wanted her. In his bed.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    ¡°I totally agree.¡± Simon grimaced as he saw the look of horror on Sara¡¯s face on Thursday evening as the two of them entered the sitting room of what was now his penthouse apartment on the top floor of Hamilton.


    He had received a call from Security a few minutes ago, informing him of her arrival downstairs. Most if not all of the Hamilton employees had gone home now-including Simon¡¯s secretary.


    ¡°I think nd must have been the middle name of the previous interior designer.¡±


    ¡°I was thinking it¡¯s just in ugly¡­¡±


    Sara couldn¡¯t think what on earth had possessed the previous designer to choose cream and beige as the color scheme in this beautifully appointed room. The furniture, though obviously expensive, was unattractively square and minimalist, and the only saving grace to this room was the impressive one hundred and eighty degree view of New York, visible from the huge picture windows that covered two of the walls.


    Not only was the color scheme insipid in the extreme, it didn¡¯t suit the man who now lived here. Simon¡¯s swarthyplexion, dark hair and piercing green eyes required that he be surrounded by the warm colors of the Mediterranean: terracotta, with touches of green and blue, maybe the palest hint of yellow¡­


    Sara brought her thoughts up short as she realized her interior designer instincts had taken over from hermon sense. It was two days since she hadst seen Simon-two days and two restless nights-during which time Sara had be even more determined that she did not want to spend any more time in this man¡¯spany than she absolutely had to. To do so would be opening herself up to all sorts of disappointment. As such, knowing how this room should look was one thing. Being the one to effect those changes was something else entirely.


    Of course it didn¡¯t help Sara to remain detached and professional to see that Simon was dressed as casually as she was this evening. The darkness of his hair was still damp from the shower, and he had obviously changed out of the formal suit he had worn to work today. He was now wearing a ck shirt, the cor unbuttoned at his throat and the sleeves turned back to just below his elbows, with a pair of faded blue denims clearly outlining the leanness of his waist and his perfectly taut bottom and long legs.


    She straightened briskly. ¡°Are the rest of the rooms as awful?¡±


    ¡°Worse.¡± He grimaced.


    Sara found that hard to believe. ¡°How many rooms are there?¡±


    ¡°Four en-suite bedrooms, kitchen, breakfast room, formal dining room, a gym -¡±Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°Okay-a lot.¡± She grimaced, rummaging through her capacious shoulder bag for her sketchbook and pencil as she continued to look about the room with narrowed, assessing eyes. ¡°It looks more like an impersonal hotel suite than a private apartment.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s probably because that¡¯s what it was designed to be.¡± Simon shrugged.


    ¡°Zach has his own ce in Manhattan. This apartment was used only to entertain business associates in less formal surroundings than the offices downstairs.¡±


    ¡°Do I want to know in what way they were entertained¡­?¡± Sara eyed him derisively.


    ¡°Just drinks and the asional dinner,¡± he assured her dryly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll believe you-thousands wouldn¡¯t!¡±


    Simon eyed her ruefully. ¡°I must say, your opinion of the Hamilton family isn¡¯t very high, is it?¡±


    Sara felt the warmth of color enter her cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t know any of you well enough to make a sound judgment.¡±


    ¡°Yet.¡±


    ¡°Ever,¡± she stated with finality.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and make us some coffee while you look round,¡± Simon suggested lightly.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Sara was relieved to be able to turn her attention to her surroundings as she began to sketch in her pad.


    Simon stood for several moments and admired the way Sara¡¯s denims clung so lovingly to her curvaceous hips and thighs. The firm swell of her breasts was clearly visible beneath a fitted green blouse, her long dark hair brushed back and secured in a ponytail that made her look younger than her years. He smiled wryly as he realized she had be so absorbed in her work she seemed to have forgotten he was even there. ¡°Cream and sugar?¡± he asked,

 16

    ¡°Fine.¡± The tip of her tongue was caught between her teeth as she frowned in concentration.


    Simon felt his shaft stir at the thought of all the more sensuous uses the moistness of that tongue could be put to. ¡°Or alternatively I could lie naked on the bed and wait for you to join me?¡± he said huskily.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Her eyes had a faraway look as she continued to sketch in her pad.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°Or maybe swing naked from the chandelier?¡± he added with amusement.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± She looked up sharply, her cheeks blushing a fiery red.


    ¡°Never mind.¡± He was still chuckling softly to himself as he walked down the hallway to the kitchen.


    Sara felt the warmth of the color in her cheeks as the rest of Simon¡¯s conversation now prated the concentration that always enveloped her at the start of a new project.


    Except she wasn¡¯t going to start a new project.


    Was she¡­?


    That certainly hadn¡¯t been what she had intended when she¡¯d arrived promptly for this evening¡¯s appointment-but one look at the ndness of what should have been a magnificent penthouse apartment and she had instantly been assailed with visions of how wonderful it could and should look. Still, that didn¡¯t mean she had to be the one who instigated those improvements¡­


    ¡°Mmm-you were right the other night. Your perctor does make a delicious cup of coffee.¡± Sara gave a satisfied sigh half an hourter, having taken her first sip of the strong brew.


    The two of them were now sitting on stools across from each other at the breakfast bar in the sterile ck and white kitchen.


    ¡°Now you know where toe the next time you want a decent cup of coffee in the middle of the night.¡± Seductive green eyes looked across at her in challenge.


    Sara straightened, her expression rueful. ¡°Seems a little extreme when there¡¯s a coffee shop directly across the street from my own apartment building.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it has the same fringe benefits,¡± he drawled.


    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know-the young guy who serves behind the counter at weekends is pretty hot.¡±


    It was Sara¡¯s turn tough as Simon growled low in his throat, but thatughter faded as she became aware that it was the first time for a very long time that she had felt so rxed in a man¡¯spany she was actually allowing herself to flirt with him. And Simon was the veryst man she should be feeling rxed or flirtatious with!


    She straightened on the barstool. ¡°He¡¯s about neen years old, and probably not into older women who could do with losing a few pounds,¡± she said dryly.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Simon gave her a disbelieving look.


    She gave a perplexed frown. ¡°Sorry?¡±


    He gave a shake of his head. ¡°Sara, that neen-year-old in the coffee shop probably has his tongue hanging out the whole time he¡¯s serving you your coffee!¡±


    She scowled. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡±


    He gave a pained wince. ¡°Sara, exactly what do you see when you look in the mirror?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡±


    Her puzzlement was so totally without guile or artifice that Simon was left in no doubts as to it being genuine. His expression softened. ¡°Maybe if I were to tell you what I see when I look at you¡­?¡±


    Sara eyed him warily. ¡°This conversation isn¡¯t going to get insulting, is it?¡±


    ¡°Hardly!¡± Simon grimaced as he recognised that¡¯s exactly what he currently was: hard and hot and throbbing, as he always seemed to be when he was in Sara¡¯spany. And when not in herpany too, if thest two days were any indication. ¡°Can it be that you really don¡¯t know-don¡¯t see-how stunningly, incredibly gorgeous you are?¡±


    She shifted ufortably. ¡°Could we get back to discussing a color scheme for your sitting room-?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Simon  chose to ignore her change of subject as he looked across at her consideringly. ¡°Your hair is the color of midnight-ck with a blue sheen-and your eyes-oh, God. I could talk about your eyes all night! They have such a beautiful color. Hot-¡±


    ¡°Simon-¡±


    ¡°I could happily drown in them,¡± he continued remorselessly. ¡°And your skin is as pale and unwed as baster. And your mouth!¡± His voice darkened smokily. ¡°Would you like me to tell you the things I have imagined those softly sensuous and pouting lips doing to me these past two days?¡±


    The blood in Sara¡¯s veins was now pounding as ¡®hot and molten¡¯ as the way Simon had seconds ago described her pale brown eyes, and she shifted ufortably as she felt an echoing heat between her thighs, dampening her panties. Her denims chafed against the arousal nestled there. An arousal that, until meeting Simon Hamilton, she hadn¡¯t believed herself capable of feeling. An arousal she didn¡¯t want to feel. Not for Simon. Not for any man!


    Bruce had been only too eloquent in his criticisms of her on the day they¡¯d parted for thest time. He had scathingly told her how it was her fault he had turned to other women, that she had let herself go, that he¡¯d never really wanted her but had simply used her to get back at her brother, that she had alwayscked the social graces necessary in his wife, that her hair needed professional styling rather than being left to grow naturally, and that her fuller figure wasn¡¯t only unfashionable but a total turn-off sexually.


    Oh, Sara hadn¡¯t been so without self-esteem by that time that she hadn¡¯t known some of his remarks had been made out of pique, deliberately designed to hurt her because she had finally had enough of him and his affairs, but that didn¡¯t mean his criticisms hadn¡¯t hurt, or remained as a vulnerability buried deep inside her.


    Which was perhaps the reason why she had decided she didn¡¯t need another man permanently in her life.


    There was no perhaps about it: her unhappy rtionship with Bruce and the hurtful things he had said to her thatst day were precisely the reasons Sara had made the drastic decision not to marry and to have the baby she craved on her own, through IVF.


    And yet she couldn¡¯t seem to find the words to stop Simon as he continued gruffly, ¡°I¡¯ve imagined you licking and kissing my chest and nipples, your lips and tongue hot and moist as they move down my stomach to my-¡°

 17

    ¡°Simon, please¡­!¡± Sara groaned in breathless protest, even as she felt her own nipples ache beneath her blouse. Just from listening to Simon describe having her make love to him? Oh, God¡­!


    His eyes were dark now, burning with the same desire that coursed through Sara. ¡°But I have not yet finished telling you how beautiful you are.¡± He gave a self-derisive shake of his head. ¡°First let me say that you do not need to lose even one pound in weight. You are perfection just as you are,¡± he added firmly, his voice once again clipped and precise, but this time with forceful decisiveness rather than anger.


    She gave a rueful shake of her head.¡± I-¡±


    ¡°Sara, there are very few men who actually prefer women with no breasts or hips,¡± he continued determinedly. ¡°That is a myth which has been perpetrated by dress designers and by women themselves, I believe,¡± The darkness of his gaze swept over her appreciatively. ¡°The fullness of your breasts is exactly the right size to fit perfectly into the palms of my hands.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s only because you haverge hands.¡±


    ¡°And all of me is in proportion,¡± Simon assured her as he reached across the table to sp one of Sara¡¯s smaller hands in his. ¡°Sara, who told you that you are not sexy and beautiful? What ungrateful, stupid man could ever have told you such lies?¡±


    Sara couldn¡¯t breathe. Simon¡¯s sensually descriptive words had aroused her to the point where she had briefly dropped the safeguards that had got her through the past years-the years of her rtionship with Bruce, suffering his numerous affairs, and the past years avoiding any rtionship that even looked as if it might touch her emotionally.


    But Simon was a man who had refused from the first to take no for an answer. A man who was now demanding answers to questions that were too painful for Sara to answer.


    She pulled her hands free of his before getting abruptly to her feet. ¡°Has it urred to you that maybe it was a woman?¡± she challenged scornfully, deliberately. ¡°That maybe the reason I¡¯m not interested in a rtionship with you is because I¡¯m not into men?¡±


    Simon sat back on the stool. ¡°No.¡±


    Sara blinked. ¡°Just¡­no?¡±


    ¡°Just no, Just Sara,¡± he drawled dryly.


    She eyed him scathingly. ¡°Is that male arrogance talking?¡±


    ¡°Or the knowledge that seconds ago you were as aroused as I am?¡±


    Her gaze slid down from his, across the rapid and shallow rise and fall of his chest, the tness of his stomach, down to- Sara¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she saw the thick hard length of Simon¡¯s arousal clearly outlined against the press of his jeans. He hadn¡¯t been exaggerating when he¡¯d said that everything about him was in proportion.


    ¡°You are so beautiful you make my chest ache, and so desirable you obviously make another part of me ache.¡±


    ¡°Please, Simon-did your years of living in Ennd teach you nothing about our reserve?¡± she cut in to prevent him making what she was sure was going to be another embarrassing-arousing!-statement.


    ¡°Oh, yes.¡± He walked slowly towards her. ¡°But fortunately I am far less reserved in my appreciation of a woman.¡±


    He was standing so close to her now-just a heartbeat away-that Sara could feel the heat of his body, smell that lemon soap and sandalwood aftershave. That heat and the male smell that was uniquely Simon was now curling about her, invading her senses until she could no longer think straight.


    If she had been thinking straight then she would never have allowed this situation to get sopletely out of hand. So charged with sexual awareness she could almost reach out and touch it¡­..


    Simon drew his breath in sharply at the first touch of Sara¡¯s hands against his chest. Her palms seemed to burn through the thin material of his shirt to sear the flesh beneath. His first instinct was to reach out and pull her into his arms before lowering his mouth to im hers.


    His first instinct.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    His second instinct warned him against moving at all as he allowed Sara¡¯s hands to tentatively seek out and touch the hard contours of his chest and the muscled width of his shoulders, sensing that the slightest movement on his part would result in her once again erecting those barriers around her emotions and needs. Barriers some other bastard had instilled in her, which Simon now realized had resulted in Sara hiding her vulnerability behind a mask of spiky cynicism.


    It quickly became an agony of self-control for him to withstand the caress of her fingers and palms against and over him. His teeth were gritted, his jaw mped shut, and his hands were clenched tightly at his sides as he resisted the impulse to reach out and take her into his arms. It was an impulse that became even more painful still as her fingertips ran lightly over the front of his denims, against his thickened length.


    Sara¡¯s caresses grew bolder as she felt the pulsing response beneath her fingertips, and she knew a deep andpelling need to release that aroused hardness from the confines of Simon¡¯s jeans and- She snatched her hand away before moving back abruptly.


    ¡°I think this has gone quite far enough!¡± Her voice came out husky and breathless rather than conveying the firm resolve she had hoped it would.


    Simon groaned low in his throat, wanting, needing so much more, but instead he allowed himself to be guided by those instincts that warned against pushing Sara too far too fast. ¡°Will youe to a party with me on Saturday evening?¡±


    Startled, she raised her lids. ¡°What¡­?¡±


    Simon gave a pained smile in acknowledgement of the fact that his obvious arousal made this thest thing Sara had expected him to say. But he knew that the invitation he wanted to make-for her to stay on here now, so that the two of them could cook dinner together-would be met with a blunt refusal. As would his ns for what happened after dinner¡­


    ¡°I have been invited to a party on Saturday evening, and I would very much like it if you would agree to be the guest included on my invitation.¡±


    Sara blinked. ¡°You¡¯re asking me out on a date?¡±

 18

    Simon chose his words with care, having realized in the past few minutes that he still needed to go slowly with this particr woman, that to do anything else would only drive her away. ¡°I am asking you to apany me to a party on Saturday rather than leaving me to spend the evening alone in a room full of strangers.¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°You must know your host to have been invited in the first ce.¡±


    ¡°He is a business associate. Nothing more.¡± Simon shrugged dismissively.


    Sara smiled wryly. ¡°There are sure to be dozens of beautiful women there, so I doubt you¡¯ll remain alone for long-¡±


    ¡°And I would prefer to take my own beautiful woman,¡± he interrupted firmly.


    Her cheeks warmed. ¡°I am not your-¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Sara, please.¡± Simon cut off her protest gruffly. ¡°For business reasons I have to attend this party, and for personal reasons I would like you to apany me.¡±


    When he put it like that¡­ Every instinct of self-preservation Sara told her to say no to his invitation. To stand by her earlier decision to rmend he use another interior designer, and then refuse to see him again. She should say no. She had to say no. She must say no.


    ¡°In that case I would be pleased to apany you. Thank you for asking me,¡± she heard herself say softly.


    Simon chuckled huskily when he saw the chagrined expression appear on Sara¡¯s face immediately after she had epted his invitation. ¡°Sometimes instinct can be stronger than logic, hmm¡­?¡± he suggested mischievously.


    ¡°And sometimes instinct can be aplete pain in the-!¡± She broke off with a grimace. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you here, if that¡¯s okay?¡±


    ¡°Because you do not wish me toe to your apartment?¡± Simon guessed easily.


    ¡°Not at all.¡± She frowned her irritation. ¡°I¡¯ll probably have some preliminary sketches and color charts to bring over for you to look at by then, anyway,¡± she added briskly.


    It was in an effort, no doubt, to put their rtionship back on a businesslike footing. A businesslike footing Simon felt sure Sara had previously decided they wouldn¡¯t even be having.¡± Bring them, by all means. I had intended to arrive at the party at about nine o¡¯clock, so if you were toe here at eight, that should give us time to look at your sketches before we leave.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Sara agreed tersely-and realized she had justmitted herself to the redesigning of his apartment.


    She looked so annoyed with herself for doing so, so irritated, that Simon didn¡¯t know whether tough or kiss her.


    ¡°It is no good, Sara, I have to kiss you again!¡± He groaned as he moved to put his arms lightly about her waist. ¡°Please don¡¯t punch me again. Just one kiss, hmm?¡± he encouraged throatily, lowering his head slowly towards hers. She seemed too surprised to protest.


    Simon was determined not to send Sara hurtling off into the night this time, so he restrained his need to devour her and kissed her slowly, lightly, tasting her lips as she stood stiffly in his arms rather than giving in to the desire to swing her up into his arms and carry her off to his bedroom.


    He kept a tight rein on his control until he felt the first quiver of Sara¡¯s response and she began to return that kiss, her lips parting hesitantly as her hands moved up to rest lightly against his chest. It was the most erotic and yet at the same time most frustrating kiss of Simon¡¯s life, as he allowed Sara to set the pace of their passion rather than take control as he usually did.


    He was finally rewarded for his restraint as he felt her rx in his arms and she began to kiss him back in earnest.


    Simon groaned low in his throat as he felt the press of her breasts against his chest, the softness of her hips nestling against his arousal. Her hands moved up over his shoulders until her fingers became entangled in the thickness of hair at his nape and the kiss turned hungry.


    Simon wrenched his mouth from hers in order to seek out the dips and hollows in her bared throat, his breath moving across her skin in a fiery caress as his hands moved restlessly up and down the length of her spine, igniting trembling desire wherever they touched.


    Sara¡¯s breasts felt full and hot, and between her thighs she was aching in need for the touch of Simon¡¯s caressing hands-


    ¡°No!¡± She pushed her hands against his chest and held herself away from him, her breathing ragged and deep as she stared up at him in increasing horror. ¡°This is not what I want, Simon,¡±


    His arms remained like steel bands about her waist. His eyes were dark green pits of hell, his breathing as ragged as her own as he obviously fought for control. ¡°What is it you want, Sara? Tell me and it shall be yours,¡± he promised fiercely.


    What Sara wanted was to go back to her previous numbness, to the ce where her emotions had been as colorless as the decor in this apartment rather than the zing colors of fire!


    She breathed shallowly. ¡°I want to collect my things and leave.¡±


    ¡°But you wille back on Saturday?¡±


    Sara knew that she shouldn¡¯t-that she should consider running instead, as far and as fast as her car and credit card would take her. Which, considering the money currently in her bank ount, was a very long way. But, having finally stood up to Bruce years ago and put an end to the torment of their rtionship, and then remained living and working sessfully in New York, she had no intention of being forced to leave now just because Simon Hamilton was making life ufortable for her.


    She straightened determinedly. ¡°I¡¯lle back on Saturday.¡±


    ¡°That is good.¡± Simon¡¯s smile was still strained as he indicated she should precede him out of the kitchen to collect her things from the sitting room.


    What was good about it? Sara wondered slightly dazedly once she was safely back in her car, driving back to her apartment. It couldn¡¯t possibly be ¡®good¡¯ that minutes ago she had been so physically aroused by Simon that she wouldn¡¯t have cared if he hadid her down on the coldness of the ck and white tiled kitchen floor and taken her right then and there¡­

 19

    ¡°Oh, no¡­! Simon, turn the car around!¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What-?¡± Simon turned his head to give Sara a startled nce from where he sat behind the wheel of his car on Saturday evening, driving them both to the party.


    She clutched at the arm of his ck evening jacket. ¡°Turn the car around -now-and get us out of here!¡± she repeated fiercely as she released his arm to stare up in horror at the brightly lit house at the end of the short gravel driveway.


    There was already a car in front of them, and one had just turned into the driveway behind them too, effectively blocking any move on Simon¡¯s part to do as Sara asked and turn the car around.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Sara?¡± He reached out with his free hand to sp one of hers, instantly aware of how cold that hand was, considering the warmth of the summer evening.


    What was wrong? Sara had just realized that the party Simon was taking her to was at the home of her ex-father-inw to be¡­Bruce¡¯s father¡­ That was what was wrong! Why hadn¡¯t she realized sooner? More to the point, why hadn¡¯t she asked Simon whose party it was and saved herself-and Simon-all this embarrassment? As it was, Simon¡¯s ck Ferrari was now effectively trapped between two other cars, making immediate escape impossible.


    Maybe she should just get out of the car and walk back to the city? Oh, yes, very practical-considering she was once again wearing three-inch-heeled sandals, ck this time, to match with the ck tube of a dress she wore, in which the length of her legs was very visible beneath the short hemline. Not only was it impractical, but if she tried to hitchhike a ride back into the city she was more likely to be taken for a hooker than a hitchhiker; she doubted too many drivers would recognise the ck dress for the expensive designerbel silk that it was.


    So she couldn¡¯t walk back to the city, and she couldn¡¯t apany Simon into the party either. She moistened the dryness of her lips before speaking, still staring at the crowded mansion house in front of them. ¡°I can¡¯t go in there, Simon,¡±


    ¡°Dissatisfied customer?¡± Simon teased.


    Sara smiled faintly at his attempt at humor. ¡°Not exactly.¡±


    ¡°Then why can¡¯t we go to the party?¡± Simon had parked the car now and turned to look at her in the bright lights of the busy driveway, frowning as he saw how pale her cheeks had be.


    The evening had been going so well up until this point. Sara had arrived promptly at Simon¡¯s apartment at eight o¡¯clock and, remembering how skeptical she was aboutpliments, he had deliberately kept hisments as to how stunningly beautiful she looked to a minimum. That figure-hugging ck dress, her hair once again loose in blue-ck waves about the bareness of her creamy shoulders¡­ Instead he had decided to pretend an interest in the designs she had brought with her. One look at Sara¡¯s designs and he¡¯d no longer had to pretend that interest. They were so vibrant with color-not a hint of pink in sight, thank goodness!- that Simon had had no qualms whatsoever about allowing Sara free rein with all the rooms in his apartment.


    Those initial designs proved that she knew exactly what he needed to feelfortable in his own home. Perhaps, without realizing it, she wasing to know him? Simon certainly hoped that was the case. And he¡¯d been hoping to get to know her betterter on tonight.


    Consequently they had both been rxed on the drive over here-only for this to happen. Although at the moment Simon still had no idea exactly what ¡®this¡¯ was!


    ¡°Sara, talk to me,¡± he urged gruffly.


    She blinked, those brown eyes having darkened to a deep, deep amber. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you couldn¡¯t go to the party-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere without you,¡± Simon assured her firmly.


    ¡°There¡¯s no reason why we both have to miss the party-¡± She broke off as the door beside her was suddenly opened.


    ¡°May I help you, ma¡¯am?¡± One of the young car valets, no doubt hired for the evening, stood outside on the gravel.


    Sara¡¯s look of panic deepened. ¡°Simon¡­!¡±


    He leant over to look out at the smiling teenager. ¡°Just give us a minute or two, okay?¡±


    The youngster¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°Of course, sir. Except I really need to move your car to the back of the house, with so many other guests still arriving¡­¡± he added awkwardly.


    Simon sighed his frustration with this situation. Sara was his only concern at the moment. ¡°You will wait-¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t his fault, Simon,¡± Sara reached out and put a cating hand on his arm. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she assured him shakily. ¡°I¡¯m okay now.¡± Which wasn¡¯t exactly true. But her initial feelings of wild panic seemed to have settled down to less troubled ones, and now that the initial shock was over Sara knew that most of her residual feelings of unease were only because she had arrived at Bruce¡¯s father¡¯s home with the powerful and handsome Simon Hamilton.


    She had been chanced to meet Bruce¡¯s father several times socially in the past two years-it was impossible not to do so when they both remained part of New York society. The difference tonight was that this party was actually in Lincoln¡¯s home-the home where Sara had once been weed as his daughter-inw to be-and also that Sara had never been in thepany of another man when the two of them had met in the past.


    Not that she thought Lincoln would be in the least unweing. Simon was his guest after all. Sara was the one who felt distinctly ufortable about attending a party at Lincoln¡¯s in thepany of a man as powerful and charismatic as Simon Hamilton. In thepany of any man who wasn¡¯t Lincoln¡¯s  own son!


    ¡°Sara¡­?¡±


    She turned to give Simon a reassuring smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine now, Simon. Really.¡± She picked up her ck clutch bag before turning to get out of the car.


    Sara looked far from fine to him. Her face was still pale, and her eyes still that deep amber and wide with apprehension. But other than making a scene- something Simon was pretty sure Sara would not appreciate-he had no choice but to join her outside on the driveway before handing his car keys over to the obviously relieved young man waiting to park his car.

 20

    Simon took a firm hold of Sara¡¯s elbow as they walked towards the mansion house aze with lights, the rooms visible to them obviously already filled to capacity with other guests. ¡°Is there anything you want to tell me before we go in?¡± he prompted softly.


    There was a faint sparkle of humor in Sara¡¯s eyes now as she gave him a sideways nce. ¡°Such as?¡±


    Simon had absolutely no idea. Their host for the evening was a man in his sixties-surely not someone Sara had ever been personally involved with.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination run away with you, Simon,¡± Sara drawled derisively as she gave him another teasing nce.


    ¡°Ah, Simon-so pleased you could make it!¡± The smoothly charming voice of their host interrupted them.


    Simon instantly felt Sara¡¯s tension, and he maintained a proprietorial hold on her elbow even as he turned to face the older man. ¡°Lincoln Be,¡± He nodded stiffly.


    ¡°Can I-?¡±


    ¡°Sara!¡± The older man appeared momentarily stunned as he instantly recognised Sara, but that surprise was quickly masked as he once again turned on a politely charming smile. ¡°How lovely to see you again, my dear.¡±


    ¡°Lincoln,¡± she returned softly, and the two of them kissed each other lightly on the cheek. ¡°You¡¯re keeping well, obviously.¡±


    ¡°Very much so, thank you,¡± Lincoln said smoothly, his eyes narrowed shrewdly as he assimted the fact that Sara was here with Simon Hamilton.


    ¡°Sara, I feel I should warn you that the party this evening is- We¡¯ll talk again shortly, if that¡¯s okay?¡± he added distractedly as yet more guests arrived noisily behind them. ¡°Please, go through to the drawing room for champagne and canapes.¡±


    Sara turned instinctively towards the blue and cream drawing room-a room which she had designed for Lincoln years ago, before her engagement to his only son hade to such an acrimonious end-all the time aware of Simon¡¯s brooding preupation as he walked beside her, his hand still lightly on her elbow.


    He was deservedly preupied. Despite Sara¡¯s advice to the contrary a few minutes ago, she knew that Simon¡¯s thoughts must be running riot as he considered all the possible scenarios for her being acquainted with a man like Lincoln Be.


    ¡°Are you going to tell me what¡¯s going on?¡± Simon prompted softly once he and Sara were standing beside the unlit  firece a minute or soter, the two of them having been supplied with sses of champagne by one of the many attentive waiters circting the crowded and noisy room.¡± Why didn¡¯t you want toe in? And exactly what is-or was-Lincoln Be to you?¡± he added harshly.


    ¡°Lincoln Be was supposed to be my father-inw.¡± Sara was still too distracted by Lincoln¡¯s unfinished warning even to attempt to prevaricate, wondering what it was Lincoln had wanted to warn her about. He hadn¡¯t sounded in the least threatening, so it obviously had nothing to do with the fact that she was here with Simon. So what-?


    ¡°Your father-inw?¡± Simon repeated incredulously, totally stunned by this unexpected revtion.


    She nodded abruptly. ¡°Yes,¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Simon said with a pained wince, inwardly kicking himself for not having added two and two together before now.


    She shrugged bare shoulders. ¡°Yes,¡± she repeated.


    ¡°So you were engaged to Lincoln¡¯s son?¡±


    ¡°The one and only,¡± Sara confirmed, aware that several of the other guests had seen and recognised her now. Their gazes were spective as they also saw the identity of the dark and handsome man standing beside her. Even in a room full of other men dressed in evening clothes, Simon stood head and shoulders above them all, in both looks and autocratic bearing.


    Sara realized she was grateful for his presence; if she was to be forced to meet any of Lincoln¡¯s and Bruce¡¯s friends again then she was d it was in thepany of a man as impressively handsome and wealthily powerful as Simon Hamilton! She turned to smile at him regretfully. ¡°I really am sorry about this, Simon,¡± She ced her hand lightly on this arm. ¡°I would never have put you in this embarrassing position if I had known it was Lincoln¡¯s party you were inviting me to.¡±


    Simon was stilling to terms with the fact that Sara had been engaged. Not that he had anything against it; he was of the opinion that it was far better to end something that wasn¡¯t right than spend a lifetime of unhappiness with the wrong person. No, it was the thought of Sara having been engaged at all that disturbed Simon. That left him with so many questions unanswered¡­ When, and for how long, had she been engaged? Why had the wedding been called off? Who had ended it? Sara or Lincoln Be¡¯s son? And if it was thetter, did she still love the man who had once been her fiance?


    He drew in a ragged breath. ¡°Sara, what-¡±


    ¡°Hello, angel.¡±


    Simon found himself as irritated at hearing Sara addressed as ¡®angel¡¯ by another man as he had been the  when Mark Forbes had called her ¡®baby¡¯. But even without Sara¡¯s hand tightening to a painful grip on Simon¡¯s arm at the first sound of that man¡¯s voice, a single nce at the man standing behind her would have immediately identified him as being Lincoln Be¡¯s son.


    The hair was golden-blond, where Lincoln¡¯s was turning silver-gray, but other than that the family resemnce was unmistakable: blue eyes in simr boyishly handsome faces, both men lean and elegant in ck tailored evening clothes. There was no doubt in Simon¡¯s mind that this was the man who had once been Sara¡¯s fiance.


    This was what Lincoln had been going to warn her about a few minutes ago, Sara realized numbly, even as the full force of Bruce¡¯s presence hit her with the force of a blow. He shouldn¡¯t be here. Shouldn¡¯t even be in the States. He had moved to France over a year ago, when he¡¯d taken over the Paris offices of Be Inc.


    Yet it was most definitely him standing just behind her. Even if Sara hadn¡¯t known his voice as well as she knew her own, there was no one else on earth who called her ¡®angel¡¯. What was she supposed to do now? What was the protocol for introducing your ex-fiance to the man you were now¡­now what? She couldn¡¯t im to be dating Simon when this was the first evening they had gone out together, but she knew they weren¡¯t only business acquaintances. So what were they?? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

 21

    Well, she had better make her mind up-and soon-because the three of them couldn¡¯t continue standing in this frozen tableau for much longer.


    ¡°Angel?¡± Bruce prompted dryly, obviouslying to the same conclusion.


    Sara gave a pained wince as once again he used the name he had once called her by. A long time ago. A lifetime ago. A different lifetime ago¡­ She drew in a deep breath and finally looked up into Simon¡¯s rigidly set features. He stared past her at the other man with eyes as hard as the emeralds they resembled, his mouth thinned, jaw tight.


    His harshly etched features softened slightly as he finally looked down and saw her expression of mute appeal. ¡°Introduce us, will you?¡± he prompted huskily even as his arm moved possessively about her waist.


    The gentleness of Simon¡¯s tone, and that supportive arm about her waist, instantly reassured Sara that whatever his inner feelings were about this strange situation Simon was there for her now-even if the warning gleam in his eyes also told her that he would expect answers to his numerous questions once they were alone.


    Sara turned slowly to face Bruce, her expression deliberately nonmittal as she took in the subtle changes in his appearance since the two of them hadst seen each other. He was now in his mid-thirties, and there were touches of gray at his temples that hadn¡¯t been there years ago. His face was thinner too, with lines etched beside his nose and mouth. Other than that he was still as lean and boyishly handsome as he had always been, and looking every inch the wealthy Be heir in his tailored ck evening suit and snowy white shirt.


    ¡°Simon, this is Bruce Be,¡± She made the introduction stiffly. ¡°Bruce-Simon Hamilton.¡± Sara knew there was just a hint of satisfaction in her clipped tone as she stated Simon¡¯s name. Understandably so, she inwardly defended herself, when thest time she and Bruce had spoken for any length of time he had taken great pleasure in telling her all of her faults.


    Bruce¡¯s eyes widened in obvious surprise as the other man¡¯s identity registered. ¡°Mr Hamilton,¡± he greeted him smoothly as the two men shook hands.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°Mr Be,¡± Simon coolly returned both the handshake and greeting.


    ¡°Please call me Bruce,¡± the other man invited lightly, the smile fading from those narrowed blue eyes as he turned to look critically at Sara. ¡°You¡¯re looking well, angel.¡±


    ¡°Sara looks beautiful,¡± Simon corrected coldly.


    Sara¡¯s continued tension against his encircling arm left him in no doubt that this was the man who had somehow seeded in convincing Sara that she was neither beautiful nor sexy. The very same man who had once been her fiance.


    Simon wondered under what circumstances Bruce Be could have made those hurtful and demeaningments to Sara. Obviously they had not been happy ones, or the two would not now be separated.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I meant, of course,¡± Bruce Be agreed, with the same smooth charm as his father.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid Bruce and I are well past the stage of being insincerely polite to each other, Simon,¡± Sara dismissed with noticeable brittleness. ¡°Speaking of which-shouldn¡¯t you be cosying up to your father¡¯s other guests rather than wasting your practiced charm on the uncharmable?¡± She raised mocking brows and looked challengingly at her ex-fiance.


    The hardening of those deep blue eyes was Bruce¡¯s only noticeable reaction to the taunt.¡± I believe Mr Hamilton is one of my father¡¯s guests¡­?¡±


    But Simon was no more inclined to be charmed by this man than Sara was.


    Basically because he had never particrly liked men with the smooth and, as Sara had already stated, practiced charm of a politician, but mainly because Simon resented the fact that this man had once been engaged to Sara. Probably lived with her. Known her longer and more intimately than any other man ever had.


    Or possibly would again.


    The tension between Sara and her ex-fiance went a long way towards exining her cynicism about men and rtionships. Especially if their engagement had ended as badly as their attitude towards each other would seem to imply.


    Simon straightened determinedly. ¡°A politeness only,¡± he clipped. ¡°For obvious reasons Sara and I will not be staying long.¡± He looked challengingly at the other man.


    ¡°Bruce, darling¡­¡± Bruce avoided meeting Simon¡¯s challenge as he turned to smile warmly at the tiny blonde-haired woman who slipped her hand possessively into the crook of his arm as she moved to his side. ¡°Come and say hello to Simon Hamilton and Sara, Emily. Simon, Sara-this is my wife, Emily Wesley.¡±


    Those blue eyes glittered with malice as he deliberately looked at Sara as he made the introduction. If Simon had thought Sara pale before then she now turned an ashen gray, obviously shocked as she looked at the woman who was Bruce Be¡¯s  wife. Emily was a little over five feet tall, with glowingly lovely features and shoulder-length blonde hair. The rounded swell at her waistline showed that she was also very pregnant.


    ___________


    ¡°If you will all excuse me¡­¡± Sara turned and hurried blindly from the crowded drawing room as she felt the nausea rising at the back of her throat, only just managing to make it into thedies¡¯ powder room down the hallway and lock herself into one of the two marble-tiled cubicles before she was violently ill.


    This couldn¡¯t be happening! On top of every other humiliation Sara had suffered at Bruce¡¯s hands, his wife was obviously at least six months pregnant. Something that Sara had wanted so badly¡­ The same thing he¡¯d rejected her for immediately she¡¯d told him about her pregnancy.


    ¡°Sara¡­?¡±


    ¡°Simon¡­¡±


    She straightened abruptly as she recognised his voice on the other side of the cubicle door¡­inside thedies¡¯ powder room!


    ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    Was she all right? Of course she wasn¡¯t all right! Not only had her ex-fiance gotten married, but his wife was pregnant with the baby Sara had so longed for herself! The baby he¡¯d made her miscarry. No, she certainly couldn¡¯t im she was ¡®all right¡¯. But what seemed more pressing right now was that Simon shouldn¡¯t be in thedies¡¯ powder room in Lincoln Be¡¯s house!


    Simon looked at Sara searchingly when she unlocked and opened the door, her gaze quizzical as she stepped out into the carpeted area wheredies usually freshened up. It was now empty of all but the two of them. Deliberately so, Simon having turned several of thosedies away before he stepped into the room and locked the door behind him to prevent anyone else from entering.

 22

    ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t be in here.¡± Sara gave a derisive shake of her head as she moved past him to one of the porcin sinks to wash her hands and face before filling and drinking a ss of water. Her face was still that sickly gray color.


    He raised dark brows.¡± You are obviously unwell.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s still no reason-¡±


    ¡°The door is locked, and I will go where I want whenever I deem it necessary,¡± Simon dered harshly.


    Sara gave a pained wince. He now appeared every inch the arrogantly forceful Simon Hamilton, joint owner of Hamilton. ¡°And you deemed it necessary tonight to lock the two of us in adies¡¯ powder room in Lincoln¡¯s home?¡±


    His jaw tightened. ¡°Yes.¡±


    That was what Sara had thought he would say. And he was right, of course;


    she could imagine nothing worse than that anyone else should witness her humiliating reaction to being introduced to Bruce¡¯s very pregnant wife. It was enough that Simon must now be wondering why she had reacted so strongly¡­ She took another sip of water and deliberately avoided meeting Simon¡¯s gaze in the mirror above the sink.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this. I suddenly felt ill-I must have eaten something earlier that disagreed with me.¡±


    ¡°Or met someone¡­?¡± he suggested dryly.


    Sara gave a humorless smile. ¡°Or met someone,¡± she acknowledged self-derisively.


    Even in her distress Sara couldn¡¯t help noticing how out of ce Simon looked in this ultra-feminine room, with its rose and green floral wallpaper. Even the soaps next to the sinks were the same deep rose color, and several bottles of expensive perfume and pale pink toweling squares were arranged neatly on the onyx marble top. There were also twofortable chairs covered in rose-coloured velvet.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°Could we possibly leave now, do you think?¡± He nodded tersely. ¡°I have already asked for the car to be brought round.¡±


    Sara tensed shoulders slumped with relief. ¡°Have I mentioned before how wonderful you are?¡±


    ¡°I do not believe so,¡± Simon answered dryly. ¡°But I will be happy for you to tell me so once we are well away from here.¡± His face darkened grimly.


    Sara couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine how awkward this situation was for him. How awful to have brought her here, expecting to spend a pleasant evening at the home of a business colleague, only to learn that business colleague was in fact her ex-fiance¡¯s father-and, even worse, that her ex was also here with his new and very pregnant wife¡­


    ¡°Simon, I really am sorry.¡±


    ¡°As I said, we will talk about this once we are well away from here.¡± He continued to frown grimly as he took a firm grip of her elbow to hold her firmly at his side as he unlocked the door. ¡°We will leave now.¡±


    She blinked. ¡°Without saying goodbye?¡±


    Simon nodded abruptly. ¡°Without speaking to anyone.¡±


    Sara sensed the anger burning beneath the surface of Simon¡¯s outwardly calm demeanor as they stepped out into the huge hallway, but she didn¡¯t know him well enough yet to know who that anger was directed at: this ufortable situation or her.


    ¡°Simon-¡±


    ¡°Ah, there you are, angel. Feeling better¡­?¡±


    Sara¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the sound of Bruce¡¯s voice. Simon¡¯s fingers squeezed her elbow reassuringly before the two of them turned to face the other man in the otherwise deserted vestibule of the entrance hall. Sara breathed an inward sigh of relief as she saw Bruce was alone; she wasn¡¯t sure she could bear to see the pregnant Emily again this evening.


    ¡°Simon and I are leaving now,¡± she said coolly.


    Bruce raised blond brows. ¡°You only just got here.¡±


    ¡°And now we are leaving,¡± Simon bit out coldly. ¡°Please inform your father that I will call and speak with him some time next week.¡±


    The other man¡¯s cheeks became slightly flushed. He obviously resented Simon¡¯s authoritative tone. ¡°It would be more polite if you were to tell him that yourself.¡±


    ¡°As I am sure you are only too well aware, the current situation is beyond politeness.¡± Simon looked at the other man with coldly glittering eyes.


    ¡°Simon-¡±


    ¡°Stay out of this, angel!¡±


    Simon released Sara¡¯s arm and strode quickly across the hallway until he stood only inches away from the other man. He was slightly taller than Bruce. He was not touching him, but was still intimidating nheless.


    ¡°Her name is Sara. And you will not speak to her in that way. Ever again! Do I make myself clear?¡± he grated softly.


    The other man¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You can¡¯t juste into my father¡¯s home and threaten me-¡±


    ¡°I believe I just did,¡± Simon purred softly. Dangerously.


    ¡°I called her angel because that¡¯s what I used to call her when we were engaged,¡± Bruce met his gaze challengingly for several seconds before those deep blue eyes slid away and he instead looked at Sara. ¡°It would seem that your marriage to me gave you a taste for powerful men, angel,¡± he drawled insultingly.


    Simon drew in his breath sharply. ¡°You-¡±


    ¡°I only see one man who fits that description, Bruce,¡± Sara cut in scathingly. ¡°And it isn¡¯t you!¡±


    ¡°Why, you little-¡± Bruce broke off warily as Simon ced a hand against his chest.


    ¡°I believe I have warned you never, ever to insult Sara in my presence again,¡± he reminded him in an icily soft voice.


    ¡°What on earth is going on here?¡± Sara turned a stricken face to see her Lincoln Be, stride forcefully into the vestibule. Shrewd blue eyes narrowed on his son and Simon as they faced each other challengingly. ¡°Is there a problem¡­?¡±


    Simon gave Bruce onest contemptuous nce before slowly stepping away from him to stroll back to Sara¡¯s side. He faced his host. ¡°Sara and I were just leaving.¡±


    ¡°So soon?¡±


    Simon might have been more impressed with the older man¡¯s attempt at regret if he hadn¡¯t seen the look of relief in Lincoln¡¯s eyes before it was quickly masked by polite query. It was a politeness Simon was too displeased to indulge at this moment.


    ¡°I am of the opinion that it would have been better if we had left some time ago,¡± he said dismissively, giving Lincoln a disapproving look as he took a hold of Sara¡¯s arm, his mouth tightening with displeasure when he realized she was trembling again as she leant into his side. What could have happened between Sara and Bruce in the past to have caused this severe reaction in her? For her to be physically ill just from seeing him again?

 23

    Except¡­ Unexpected as it might have been, it hadn¡¯t been seeing Bruce which had made Sara ill. That had only happened when the other man¡¯s wife had joined them. Was it because Sara still had feelings for the man, and the existence of that wife now made reconciliation impossible? Her scathing attitude towards her ex-fiance whenever she spoke to him would seem to imply otherwise. And yet¡­ There was no denying that something had made Sara ill just a short time ago. The same something that was still causing her to tremble.


    Simon had no idea what Sara was reacting to any longer, and that irritated him as much as everything else about this evening displeased him; he had believed earlier that they wereing to know each other, to like each other- and now this!


    ¡°We will speak againter in the week, Lincoln,¡± he assured the older man stiffly before turning to leave.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be in touch, angel.¡±


    Sara stiffened as Bruce called after her softly, not fooled for a moment by the pleasantness of his tone. She turned to look coldly at him. ¡°We have nothing to talk about,¡± she assured him scathingly.


    He quirked blond disbelieving brows. ¡°No?¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± she snapped, before turning to his father. ¡°Goodbye, Lincoln. It was nice seeing you again. Take care,¡±  she added huskily, not sparing Bruce so much as a second nce as she and Bruce finally left together.


    ¡°Not here and not now,¡± Simon advised gruffly as Sara tried to speak once they were outside.


    She shot him a fleeting nce. ¡°I was only going to say thank you.¡±


    Simon¡¯s tension eased slightly and he rxed his grip on her arm. Thest few minutes had been far from pleasant. For any of them. ¡°If you insist, you may offer me suitable thanks once we are alone together in my apartment,¡± he assured her gruffly.


    She looked uncertain. ¡°Your apartment¡­?¡±


    He shrugged broad shoulders. ¡°We have to return to Hamilton tower in order for you to collect your car. Once there, we might as well go up to my apartment and talk infort.¡±


    An argument to which she had no rebuttal, Sara acknowledged ruefully. Her car was at Hamilton Tower, and she did owe Simon a suitable thank you- although she had a feeling her idea of suitable and Simon¡¯s might differ greatly in content! He had been so supportive of her this evening and she owed him an exnation as to the reason he had needed to be so.


    ___________


    ¡°Coffee, wine or brandy?¡± Simon offered dryly once they were once again in the anemic sitting room of the penthouse apartment at Hamilton .


    ¡°Oh, I think this situation calls for brandy all round, don¡¯t you?¡± She sighed wearily as she sank down in one of the boxy cream armchairs.


    ¡°I am unsure as yet exactly what this situation is.¡± He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over a chair, before moving to the bar situated at the other end of the room and pouring brandy into two sses.


    Sara grimaced as she took the ss Simon held out to her before moving to stand a short distance away from her. ¡°It isn¡¯t every day that you meet your ex-fiance by ident!¡± She sipped the brandy, instantly feeling the effects of the fiery alcohol as it slid easily down the back of her throat. ¡°Thest I heard of Bruce, he was living and working in France.¡±


    ¡°Which is obviously where he met and married Emily,¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Sara echoed nomittally as she stared down at the beige carpet.


    ¡°Are you still in love with him?¡±


    She gave Simon a startled look and the ss shook precariously in her hand.


    ¡°What?¡±


    His smilecked humor. ¡°In the circumstances it is a relevant question, I would have thought.¡±


    Sara drank down the rest of her brandy before answering him, in the hopes that its warmth would melt the block of ice that seemed to have formed in her chest. ¡°What circumstances?¡±


    Simon kept his expression deliberately nd. ¡°You did not appear to be ill until after the appearance of Bruce¡¯s wife¡­. Do not cry, Sara.¡±


    All attempts to remain detached fled as he saw the tears shimmering in Sara¡¯s huge brown eyes, and Simon quickly ced his brandy down on the ss-topped coffee table before moving onto his haunches beside the chair where she sat, to take her icy cold hand in his. ¡°Talk to me, Sara. Tell me why you are crying.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± she denied, even as those tears began to fall down the paleness of her cheeks. ¡°I just¡­ You¡¯re right. Seeing Emily¡­. It was a shock-¡± She broke off and began to cry in earnest.


    It was as if a dam had burst inside her -the dam that had held back all the grief and pain she had buried deep inside her when her hopes and dreams of having a family of her own, a baby of her own, had been dashed years ago, when the specialist had told her that she¡¯d lost her baby.


    Simon waspletely at a loss as to what he should do or say as Sara buried her face in her hands and sobbed as if her heart were breaking. Which perhaps it was. Over Bruce Be? Having no experience upon which to draw, it wasn¡¯t for Simon to criticize whom others might choose-or not choose-to love. Except that Bruce Be was everything Simon disliked in a man: shallow, selfish and, where Sara was concerned, in Simon¡¯s opinion cruelly vindictive. None of which changed the fact that Sara could not seem to stop crying as if her heart were breaking.


    Simon reached out and gathered her up into his arms, lifting her and cradling her tenderly against his chest before sitting down in the chair himself. Her tears quickly dampened the front of his shirt. Simon ran his fingers soothingly against her temple, considering the irony of holding the woman he desired in his arms as she cried over another man. If his cousin Zach could only see him now.


    ¡°It was the baby,¡± Sara finally choked out painfully. ¡°I-we-I got pregnant when we were still engaged¡­ And I lost it after our horrible break up,¡± she sobbed.


    Oh, dear God! And that cold-hearted bastard Bruce Be had stood there and calmly introduced his pregnant  wife to Sara, all the time knowing that Sara had lost theirs! The absolute bastard!

 24

    Could this also be the reason Sara¡¯s self-confidence was so fragile beneath her veneer of derision? The reason she was so determined not to be involved with another man? Possibly also the reason she and Bruce had called off their wedding?


    Simon could certainly believe thetter. Even on such short acquaintance Simon knew that Bruce was the sort of vindictive bastard who would never have let Sara forget about her miscarriage.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right, Sara,¡± he assured her softly, speaking into the silky softness of her hair. ¡°Everything is going to be alright.¡±


    She gave a chokedugh. ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t.¡± No, as far as Sara was concerned perhaps it wasn¡¯t¡­


    ¡°You are a beautiful young woman, with all your life still ahead of you. Not all men are like Bruce Be,¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness!¡± She gave a shiver of revulsion.


    Simon looked down at her quizzically. ¡°You really do not love him still?¡±


    Sara straightened before attempting to stand up, but she was prevented from doing so as Simon¡¯s arms tightened about her to keep her firmly sitting on his knee. Which was pretty embarrassing, now that Sara thought about it. In fact the whole of this evening had been embarrassing, she realized, now that she had got over her shock and calmed down a little. First of all she hadpletely flipped out when they¡¯d arrived at Lincoln¡¯s house. Then she had almost copsed with surprise when she had realised Bruce was also at the party. Even worse, she had run from the room and been violently ill in thedies¡¯ powder room once she had seen that Bruce¡¯s wife was pregnant.


    An embarrassment that Simon had witnessed when he followed her. And now she had cried all over his white shirt, probably ruining it, no doubt giving himpletely the wrong impression as to why she had be so upset in the first ce. Not the best first date she had ever been on. She doubted Simon had ever had one like it before, either.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She gave a shake of her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that I ever did love Bruce,¡± she answered him honestly. ¡°Not really. I was in love with the image I¡¯d conjured up in my head,¡±


    ¡°And yet you almost married him¡­?¡±


    Sara nodded. ¡°We met at a party given by one of my brother¡¯s friends. Bruce was six years older than me, and he seemed so mature and self-assured inparison with my other friends-taking me out to the theater and wining and dining me at expensive restaurants.¡± She grimaced as she saw Simon¡¯s raised brows. ¡°I¡¯ve had plenty of time to think about this, and I know now that I allowed myself to be dazzled by Bruce¡¯s easy charm and self-confidence. I mistook being dazzled for being in love.¡±


    Simon looked down at her quizzically. ¡°It was a big thing to get engaged to him still,¡±


    ¡°Yes, I thought he was a good man and that he loved me. He and Scott had been rivals for a while and he was just trying to get back at Scott. He told me to keep our rtionship a secret and stupidly, I agreed¡­ because I was worried that Scott would stop me from dating him if he found out,¡± she exined at Simon¡¯s questioning look.


    ¡°And I was right. He¡¯d have stopped me and I¡¯d have saved myself a lot of trouble. When Scott finally did find out, it was toote. He was pissed because he med himself. He¡¯d not only been a brother to me, but also a father since our dad left our mother when we were still very young. I should have been open about it.¡±


    Simon gave a pained frown as this further knowledge of Sara¡¯s life only added to those reasons why she now felt so cynical towards love and rtionships. His own childhood hadn¡¯t been without trauma, when his mother and father had died so suddenly when he was only eight, but when he¡¯d gone to live with his aunt and uncle he had been lucky enough to find another set of parents who had loved and cared for him as their own.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t had an easy time of it, have you?¡± Simon observed.


    Sara smiled bravely. ¡°No worse than a lot of people.¡± She drew in a deep breath. ¡°Simon , I seem to be doing this a lot recently where you¡¯re concerned- but I really am sorry for blubbing all over you just now.¡±


    ¡°No apology is necessary.¡±


    ¡°What if I were to make it a ¡°suitable¡± one¡­?¡± Sara quirked her brows at him as she pulled his bow tie undone, before starting to unfasten the buttons down the front of his shirt.


    Simon regarded her warily. ¡°I am not sure this is a good idea-¡±


    Sara didn¡¯t allow him to finish as she moved to lean into the hardness of his bared chest before pressing her lips against his.


    Simon satpletely unmoving, his arms still lightly about Sara¡¯s waist as those deliciously sensual lips moved softly against him, as light as butterfly wings. The lightness of her perfume was invading his senses, and he felt the heaviness of her breasts pressing against the hardness of his chest.


    She moved back slightly, her palms hot against his chest, her breath warm against his lips as those brown eyes looked directly into his.


    ¡°Make love to me, Simon¡­¡±


    His body reacted instantly to that husky invitation, his pulse racing, heart pounding, and his shaft bing rock hard and throbbing in seconds. It was impossible for him to deny how much he wanted to ept that invitation.


    But he wasn¡¯t going to do so.


    Sara might have stopped crying, but there was no forgetting how upset she had been earlier. And the reason for that distress wasn¡¯t going to go away any time soon-which probably meant she wasn¡¯tpletely responsible for her actions right now. For Simon to make love to her under these circumstances would surely make him as much of a bastard as her ex-fiance. Even if he did literally ache to just pick Sara up in his arms and carry her to his bed!


    ___________


    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Sara¡¯s arms moved up about Simon¡¯s neck as he stood up with her still cradled firmly in his embrace.


    His eyes were a deep, dark emerald as he nced down at her. ¡°Where would you like me to take you?¡±

 25

    ¡°You know¡­I don¡¯t think I really care,¡± Sara answered, surprising herself with her own honesty as she realized she really didn¡¯t care where she was going, so long as Simon was going to be there too. Something had happened to her when that dam of emotion had burst inside her earlier and she had cried in his arms.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Somehow-miraculously-she had been released from all past hurts and disappointments, leaving her emotions as light and free as they had been when she was a university student. She felt that same bubbling sense of anticipation inside her now that she¡¯d had then- what might happen in her life next? What might happen-not what had Sara been nning to happen? Because she no longer felt that determination to decide her life. She had let go of the past. All of it.


    So Bruce¡¯s wife was going to have a baby? So what? Bruce probably wouldn¡¯t believe her if she were to say the words to him, but it no longer upset her that Emily was pregnant. She simply wished the two of them every happiness with their future son or daughter, and she had no doubt that Lincoln would be over the moon when his grandchild was born-boy or girl.


    One day Sara might even have that for herself-a family of her own to love-but until and if that day came she would feel a contentedness, a calmness, and just wait and see what happened next. And she really hoped that Simon was going to be part of that more immediate ¡®next¡¯. She had already known he was as charming and self-assured as Bruce had ever been, and Simon was certainly more powerfully charismatic- he¡¯d had to have persuaded her to go out with him at all this evening! But after tonight she also knew Simon was kind and considerate, with a quiet strength, caring for her in a way her ex-fiance never had. For a brief moment earlier tonight she had really thought Simon was going to pick Bruce up by his shirtfront and shake him like a rag doll!


    But Simon¡¯s strength of character was inborn, not acquired or a veneer-and Sara had never physically wanted a man so badly in her life as she now wanted Simon. Right now, in this moment, she didn¡¯t care about anything else but Simon, and she felt like she was in a fairy tale.


    Her arms tightened about his neck as she gazed up at him admiringly. ¡°You really are pretty wonderful, you know.¡±


    He gave a half-smile. ¡°Because I am capable of carrying all these extra pounds you believe you possess into my bedroom?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all perfectly proportioned and in the right ces!¡± Sara gave him a yful punch on the arm, realizing as she did so that she still carried her ck silk clutch bag.


    He gave a disarming grin. ¡°I believe I have already assured you that I am well aware of that.¡±


    Yes, he had-which was another plus in his favor. Simon seemed to be umting pluses in spite of Sara¡¯s previous prejudice against him. Too many more of them and she could be in serious danger of falling- Whoa!


    Wanting, aching to make love with Simon was one thing-a big thing, considering he was the first man she had wanted to be intimate with since the disintegration of her rtionship with Bruce. But allowing her emotions to be involved was something else entirely.


    Simon was a Hamilton. From a family that was powerful and rich beyond imagining. More to the point, Simon was a man known for having short and meaningless rtionships-not a man that a woman might pin her future hopes and dreams on. With everything else that had happened this evening Sara had forgotten all she¡¯d read and heard about him.


    Had she really forgotten? Or was she just in denial? Men like Simon could be wonderful when they were going out with a woman, but turn into a cold and ruthless stranger when he had decided he no longer wanted the rtionship. Oh, Sara believed Simon was more than capable of being cold and ruthless-she had seen him being exactly that with Bruce earlier this evening-she could just no longer see Simon behaving that way towards a woman. No doubt that was another no-no his Aunt Ann had instilled in him!


    Besides which, the cruel and callous Simon she¡¯d heard about would never have had the patience or the inclination to deal with her tears tonight. He would have run a mile in the other direction.


    Which left Sara precisely where? Trusting her own intuition? She had done that in her life once before, with dire results.


    No, that wasn¡¯t quite true of the events of years ago.  She was twenty-nine now, with a sessful career and a life of her own. This attraction she felt towards Simon was based on that maturity and sess, not on an imagined youthful idealism.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Simon had been watching the y of emotions across Sara¡¯s expressive face for the past few minutes after switching on the bedroom light, realizing that she was so lost in thought she hadn¡¯t even noticed they were now in his bedroom and he was standing beside his king-sized bed, still holding her in his arms.


    She gave him a startled nce as she took in the intimacy of their surroundings, and then that surprise was reced by a warm and inviting smile.


    ¡°Nothing of any importance,¡± she assured him huskily.


    ¡°Sure?¡±


    ¡°Very sure,¡± she confirmed determinedly.


    It sounded to Simon as if she had made her mind up to something-to do something-and was determined not to allow anything to make her change it.


    All of which confirmed to Simon that the decision he had made a few minutes ago in regard to making love with Sara tonight was the right one.


    ¡°Could you pull back the bedcovers?¡± He lowered her slightly so that she could turn back the brocade cover and the duvet, before lowering herpletely onto the bed. Her arms fell from about his neck as he straightened slightly to look down at her. Her hair was an ebony tumble against the cream silk sheets.


    ¡°Roll over,¡± he encouraged gruffly as he took the ck bag gently out of her hand and ced it on the bedside cab.


    ¡°Roll¡­?¡±

 26

    Simon allowed himself to chuckle softly at the doubtful expression on Sara¡¯s face. ¡°Do not look so worried, Sara; my only intention is to unzip the back of your gown, not to force some strange sexual practice on you.¡±


    Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she nced at him over the bareness of her shoulder once she had rolled slightly away from him. ¡°Maybe force wouldn¡¯t be necessary.¡±


    Simon drew in a sharp breath even as he bent down to slowly lower the zip at the back of her ck gown. That breath stayed caught in his throat as he took in the creamy perfection of Sara¡¯s long, naked spine, and revealing the top of a pair of silky ck panties.


    Simon clenched his hands into fists in an effort to stop himself from touching the creamy length of her bared flesh now so temptingly revealed to him, and a nerve pulsed in his jaw as she rolled over to face him once again, allowing him to lower the gown down over her breasts and the slenderness of her waist, curvaceous hips and long silky legs, before discarding itpletely.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Those ck silky panties were now the only item of clothing she wore-a perfect foil for the creamy naked swell of her breasts. Full and pert breasts, tipped with rose-coloured nipples, which were swelling, hardening, under the heated intensity of Simon¡¯s gaze.


    Sara was beautiful everywhere-so very beautiful-and in a way that made Simon ache just from looking at her, from breathing in the sensuous perfume of her skin.


    ¡°Simon?¡± Sara looked up at him uncertainly.


    His nostrils red as he breathed out deeply, before bending slightly so that he could pull the covers gently over her tempting nakedness.


    Her eyes widened. ¡°What are you doing¡­?¡±


    Simon sat on the side of the bed, securing those bedcovers beneath her arms as he reached up and smoothed the silky hair back from her temples. ¡°I would very much like to kiss you goodnight, if that is agreeable to you?¡±


    ¡°Goodnight¡­?¡±


    Simon gave a gentle smile. ¡°I believe you have already suffered enough excitement for one evening, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Sara would hardly call the time she had spent at Lincoln¡¯s house earlier this evening exciting-nor the bursting dam of emotions that had followed it! Nor would shepare either of those things to the thrill of just imagining making love with Simon.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    He gave a shake of his head, his eyes dark. ¡°This evening was a less than happy one for you, and I believe it would be wrong of me to now take advantage of you. As such-¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m perfectly okay now,¡± she protested.


    ¡°You are not okay, Sara,¡± he insisted tly, his fingers still lightly soothing against her brow.


    But she was okay-more than okay, actually-so much so that she couldn¡¯t even begin to describe the euphoria she felt at being free from the past.


    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re the one that¡¯s changed your mind about wanting to go to bed with me after I made such an idiot of myself earlier this evening?¡±


    ¡°I have not changed my mind in the slightest in regard to wanting to make love with you, Sara,¡± he assured her. ¡°But, as I have already stated, I would prefer not to take advantage of the fact you are feeling less than your usual feisty self.¡±


    Sara looked up at him searchingly. The sincerity of the expression in his eyes and face was unmistakable. ¡°Such gantry isn¡¯t doing a thing for your reputation as a womanizer, you know,¡± she teased huskily.


    His expression hardened. ¡°The thing to remember about reputations is that they are formed by people other than the person whose reputation is under discussion.¡±


    Yes, they were. And the man Sara had heard of wouldn¡¯t have shown a moment¡¯s hesitation in taking ¡®advantage¡¯ of her. Which left Sara feeling more confused than ever in regard to the enigma that was Simon Hamilton. She gave a baffled shake of her head. ¡°If you have no intention of making love with me then why did you undress me and put me in your bed?¡±


    His expression softened again. ¡°I believe, if we are to be exact, that I put you in my bed first and then undressed you. And I did so because you are emotionally exhausted and need to sleep.¡±


    ¡°I could have gone home and slept.¡±


    ¡°And tomorrow is another day¡­¡± Simon continued softly as if she hadn¡¯t spoken at all.


    Sara chuckled softly. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be Rhett Butler, not Scarlet O¡¯Hara!¡±


    He shrugged those broad shoulders. ¡°It is the sentiment which is important, no matter who says it.¡±


    Yes, it was, and Simon¡¯s thoughtfulness in not making love with her tonight had seeded in throwing Sara¡¯s emotions into even further turmoil. As well as making her ache for his touch!


    ¡°Where are you going to sleep?¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°There are three other bedrooms in the apartment that I can use.¡±


    ¡°And if I would rather you stayed here with me¡­?¡±


    Simon drew in a ragged breath. ¡°I would ask what I have done to deserve such torture!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been a perfect gentleman,¡± Sara assured him firmly. ¡°And if I ever have a chance to bump into your Aunt Ann, I¡¯ll be sure to tell her what a credit you are to her.¡±


    ¡°I am gratified to hear it,¡± he replied dryly. ¡°And now I believe it is time for you to kiss me goodnight and then get some sleep,¡± he added huskily.


    Sara was only too eager to kiss Simon goodnight, but at the same time she was totally unsure that sleep would be possible once she had.


    ¡°And then I am going to return to the sitting room to finish my ss of brandy before taking a very long, very cold shower!¡± he concluded


    The grimness of his smile revealed the depth of self-control he was having to exert not to make love with her as his head lowered towards hers. Sara curled her arms up about his neck as their mouths met. She put every shred of emotion she was feeling at that moment into a long kiss. The fondness she felt for Simon. The desire. The aching yearning. Most of all the joy in atst being free of the past and able to feel all of those things¡­ For


    Simon wrenched away from Sara¡¯s tantalizing lips, breathing hard as he gently but firmly pulled her arms slowly down his shoulders and chest. ¡°Enough,¡± he breathed raggedly, shaking his head as Sara¡¯s fingers lingered on the bareness of his chest.

 27

    ¡°Please, Sara, I sincerely hope that I am a gentleman, but I know I am not a saint!¡± A nerve pulsed in his tightly clenched jaw.


    Her lips were swollen from the heat of their kisses, her eyes a darknguid gold as she looked up at him. ¡°Goodnight, Simon,¡± Her voice was as sultry and inviting as the unhidden longing in those extraordinary eyes.


    Simon rose quickly to his feet, so as not to give in to the temptation to throw back the bedcovers and taste those deliciously naked breasts. ¡°I think I may be in need of more than a single ss of brandy to help me get to sleep!¡± He stepped away from the bed-away from Sara.


    Sara gave an enigmatic smile. ¡°You know where I am if you don¡¯t seed.¡±


    Simon ran an agitated hand through the thickness of his hair. ¡°You are not helping, Sara!¡±


    Sheughed huskily. ¡°I don¡¯t believe I was trying to¡­¡±


    Her breasts were thrust forward and up as she stretchednguidly before once again settling down beneath the covers, those brown eyes gleaming with mischief as her gaze lingered on the obvious bulge in Simon¡¯s trousers.


    ¡°Temptress!¡± he murmured achingly.


    ¡°Spoilsport!¡± she came back challengingly.


    Simon gave a rueful shake of his head. ¡°I will take great pleasure in reminding you of that taunt in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Promise?¡±


    Simon sucked in a sharp breath and stared down at her for several long seconds more before turning to walk determinedly across to the bedroom door.


    He paused in the doorway to turn and look at Sara once more. ¡°You might want to barricade this door with any of the bedroom furniture you can move!¡±


    Her eyes shone back at him teasingly. ¡°I¡¯m not the one walking away¡­¡±


    No, Simon was. And he had more than enough reason to regret it once he had returned to the sitting room. Not even tworge sses of brandy were enough to dispel the knowledge that an almost naked and apparently willing Sara was just a short distance away down the hallway.


    ________


    ¡°You look-¡±


    ¡°Awful,¡± Simon finished dryly as he looked across the kitchen the following morning to where Sara stood framed in the doorway. ¡°Whereas you look¡­¡± Sexy as hell, Simon acknowledged achingly as he took in her appearance in his ck silk dressing gown, which reached almost down to her ankles, and with her hair an ebony tangle about her shoulders. ¡°Rested,¡± he substituted wryly.


    ¡°Did you sleep in those clothes?¡± Sara eyed the crumpled white evening shirt and ck trousers he had been wearingst night.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep at all!¡± Simon grimaced.


    Having realized once he had taken a shower the night before that all of his clothes were still in the bedroom where Sara was-hopefully-sleeping, he¡¯d had to put back on the same clothes he had worn to go out that evening. Only to then return and sit in one of the armchairs and stare sleeplessly out at the night sky as it changed slowly from ck to gray and then orange as the sun came up and the new day began.


    ¡°Perhaps you should go to bed now¡­?¡± Sara suggested throatily.


    ¡°Coffee?¡± He stood up now from where he¡¯d been sitting at the breakfast bar, moving across the room to the ce he had made a much-needed pot of coffee a few minutes earlier. ¡°Cream?¡±


    Sara paused for only a heartbeat to look at the broad expanse of Simon¡¯s back, turned towards her, before crossing the tiled floor on bare feet, knowing from his avoidance in answering her and his guarded expression before he turned away that any move towards intimacy this morning was going to have to originate from her.


    She slid her arms about his waist from behind and leant her head lightly against his suddenly tensed back. ¡°That was an invitation for you toe back to bed with me, Simon,¡±


    He breathed in deeply but didn¡¯t turn. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Very sure¡­¡±


    ¡°If I go to bed with you now I should warn you it would not be with the intention of sleeping!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sincerely hoping not.¡±


    The spoon he had intended to use to stir the cream into her coffeended on the marble worktop with a tter as he turned quickly and gathered her up into his arms. His mouth came down forcefully on hers.


    Hungry didn¡¯t even begin to describe the fierceness of the passion that red instantly between them as Simon¡¯s hands became entangled in her hair as they kissed: lips devouring, tongues dueling, their breathing hot and ragged in the silence of the apartment.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Sara ceased to breathe at all when she felt Simon¡¯s hand cup beneath the fullness of her breast, the soft pad of his thumb moving in a light caress across the hardened tip. Pleasure instantly spiraled through her and she arched into that caress, causing her to groan low in her throat as it pooled, moistening that already aching apex between her thighs.


    His lips left hers to trail across her cheek, moving down the column of her throat, inciting fire wherever they touched. A low moan escaped her as Simon gently pushed aside the ck silk robe to take the throbbing tip of her naked breast into the heat of his mouth.


    Sara clung to the hard heat of his shoulders as she stumbled back to lean against the kitchen unit. Her knees threatened to buckle beneath her, pleasure coursing through her hotly now, as Simon cupped her other breast. She looked down at Simon¡¯s darkness against the paleness of her skin, his darkshes fanned across his swarthy cheeks as he drew her nipple hungrily between his parted lips. Feeling, watching, as he paid homage to her breasts, was the most erotic thing Sara had ever done.


    She slipped the unbuttoned shirt from his shoulders and down his arms and he allowed the garment to slip to the marble floor. His shoulders were so wide- much wider than they looked beneath his shirt and tailored suits, and deeply muscled. Proof that Simon didn¡¯t spend all his time behind a desk. The muscles in his back flexed with pleasure as Sara¡¯s fingers lightly caressed down the length of his spine.


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Simon¡­.¡± she purred.


    He chuckled softly, the reverberations from that chuckle traveling from Sara¡¯s nipple to the pulsing heat between her thighs before he reluctantly released her.

 28

    The warmth of his breath felt cool against her dampened breast as he spoke softly. ¡°These are beautiful.¡±


    He took his time kissing each of her swollen and sensitized nipples in turn before looking up at her, his eyes gleaming a dark, deep emerald. ¡°You are beautiful, Sara. All over.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t seen all of me yet¡­¡±


    ¡°But I am going to.¡± It was a fierce promise of intent.


    ¡°Here?¡± Sara looked about at the sterile practicality of the ck and white kitchen.


    Simon gave a mischievous smile as he also became aware of their surroundings. ¡°The temptation to drape you decorously on top of the breakfast bar and make you the feast is appealing, but, no, I think I would prefer to befortable in bed the first time we make love together,¡± he said with gruff intent.


    ¡°The first time¡­?¡± Sara echoed throatily.


    His eyes glowed that deep emerald. ¡°You can have no idea in how many locations and in how many ways I have imagined making love with you during my long and sleepless night!¡±


    Her cheeks warmed. ¡°Show me,¡± she invited huskily.


    ¡°Oh, I intend to!¡± Simon assured her decisively, and he slid one arm beneath her knees and the other about her shoulders before lifting her up into his arms and marching out of the room.


    Sara draped her arms about his neck, not in the least self-conscious when her breasts and thighs wereid bare as the ck silk robe fell open, knowing she had been longing for Simon to make love to her sincest night. Possibly since the moment she had first looked across that hotel reception room and seen him looking right back at her¡­


    _________Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    Simon slowly lowered Sara¡¯s feet to the carpeted floor before untying the silk belt about her waist and sliding the robe off her shoulders to allow it to pool at her feet. His breath caught in his throat as he looked down at her lusciously naked body: slender shoulders, full and sloping breasts, narrow waist, lush hips covered by that single scrap of ck silk andce, legs long and shapely¡­ His heated gaze returned to her face, eyes narrowing as he saw a return of that uncertainty in her expression. Her shoulders had tensed, as if she was waiting for a blow to fall.


    ¡°You are beautiful, Sara,¡± he assured her huskily. ¡°And anyone who has told you otherwise is nothing but a fool!¡± he added harshly, having no intention of saying Bruce¡¯s name and allowing the other man to intrude into their intimacy, while at the same time well aware that the other man had to be the reason for Sara¡¯s insecurities about her body.¡± An idiot and a fool,¡± he repeated firmly. ¡°And I intend to worship every delicious inch of you!¡±


    Sara glowed, feeling beautiful under Simon¡¯s admiring gaze. ¡°Can I finish undressing you now¡­?¡±


    Simon seemed to cease breathing for several seconds before nodding abruptly. ¡°Please¡­¡± He stepped back.


    Sara had never thought of herself as a femme fatale-but there was something deliciously wicked about slowly unbuckling the belt at Simon¡¯s lean waist. The bulge pressed against the zip as she slowly lowered it to reveal ck boxers beneath. Sara sank down onto her knees in front of him as he stepped out of his trousers.


    ¡°Sara!¡± Simon reached out to tightly grip her shoulders. ¡°I am not sure-¡±


    ¡°Oh, my¡­!¡± She had now stripped off those ck boxers to reveal the heavy weight of his jutting arousal, moistening her lips with the tip of her tongue before her head slowly lowered.


    Simon gave a strangled gasp, his knees threatening to buckle as he felt the moist rasp of her tongue run the length of his shaft before slowly taking him fully into her mouth. It was torture. Agony. Of the most exquisite kind!


    An exquisite ecstasy that he enjoyed for as long as he could without releasing.


    ¡°Next time, Sara!¡± he groaned between gritted teeth as he reluctantly pulled away from her. ¡°Right now I need to be inside you, before I go quietly andpletely insane!¡± He reached down to lift her before cing her against the covers and following her down onto the bed, his thigh draped across hers as he imed those wickedly sensual lips with his own.


    Simon imed her mouth again and again as he cupped and caressed her breasts. Their passion was raised to fever-pitch, their pleasure even more so, before he pulled his lips from hers and once again imed her nipples with his mouth, kissing and biting as Sara gasped her own pleasure.


    Her skin felt like velvet as his hand caressed the curve of her hips, slipping beneath the silk material of her panties. His fingers sought and found her sensitive spot, and Sara¡¯s response was instantaneous as he caressed that throbbing clitoris, before dipping one finger into the moistness of her channel and trailing that moisture over and around that fiercely pounding arousal in an ever-increasing rhythm.


    He gave a low groan even as she purred deep in her throat, as she began to thrust her hips up and into that rhythm, her breathing bing rapid andbored as her pleasure rose.


    Had Sara ever known such hot, mindless pleasure before? She didn¡¯t think so.


    She felt truly beautiful in Simon¡¯s arms as he had worshiped every inch of her, and her pleasure had spiraled out of control the moment she felt his mouth and tongue on her, her own movements instinctive as she rose up to meet those moist thrusts.


    ¡°Oh, God, Simon¡­!¡± She cried out her need as his hands moved up to cup her breasts, squeezing her nipples with just the right amount of pressure between pleasure and pain. The volcanic heat of her rapidly approaching climax was coursing through her like moltenva.


    Simon looked down at her with hot and heavy eyes. ¡°I want to taste you as youe¡­¡± He slid down the length of her body until hey between her parted and silken thighs, iming her with his lips.


    ¡°Simon!¡± Sara cried out as her pleasure intensified to an unbearable degree.


    Wave after wave of pleasure washed over her, and she closed her eyes as she gasped and trembled, her fingers curled like talons into the sheet beneath her as Simon refused to release her from that teau until he had extracted and given everyst vestige of pleasure.

 29

    ¡°Dear Lord¡­!¡±


    Sara copsed back against the pillows, her smile dreamy as she held out her arms to him. ¡°Come up here.¡±


    Simon kissed his way slowly up her body. ¡°Now I can say with full authority that you are truly beautiful all over,¡± he assured her gruffly.


    ¡°I want you inside me, Simon. I need you inside me,¡± Sara invited huskily.


    ¡°Please.¡±


    Simon chuckled his satisfaction as he moved over her, his smile fading as her hand moved down between them and he felt her fingers close about him before she guided him in. He groaned as he slowly entered her, inch by pleasurable inch, until he was sheathed to the hilt. Which was the moment when Simon¡¯s already shaky control brokepletely, and he captured her mouth with his as he began to thrust into her with long, iming strokes, her tightness rippling and clenching about him as he drove into her fully again and again. He wrenched his mouth away from hers and cried out as her hands caressed the length of his back. Her fingers suddenly dug into the flesh of his backside, and the intensifying ripples of her body told Simon that she was about to climax for a second time.


    And he intended to go with her this time.


    He thrust harder, longer, allowing his control to slippletely, shooting hotly down the length of his shaft in a long and satisfying release that shook him to his very soul-and his pleasure was intensified by knowing he had taken Sara with him as her cries matched his own.


    ¡°Wow.¡± Sara gave a satiated chuckle at the understatement.


    Simon¡¯s heady pillowed against the fullness of her breasts, and both of them were breathing raggedly in the aftermath of their earth-shattering lovemaking. It had certainly been earth-shattering for Sara, and Simon¡¯s exmation gave her every reason to believe he had been equally affected.


    ¡°Was it worth suffering a sleepless night for?¡± she teased.


    ¡°Most definitely,¡± Simon assured her with feeling, knowing there had been no ghosts from the past standing between them this morning-just the two of them making exquisite, perfect love. It had been a lovemaking of such tenderness of feeling, with an intensity of pleasure Simon had never experienced before¡­


    Sara tensed in his arms. ¡°Simon-¡±


    ¡°I believe, if I wish us to spend the rest of the day in bed together, that it is time I fed you.¡± He lightly interrupted the uncertainty of her tone, sitting up and swinging his legs off the side of the bed and standing up.


    ¡°The rest of the day¡­?¡± she repeated slowly.


    Simon chuckled at the contrasting emotions of surprise and anticipation he could see in those expression golden eyes. ¡°You did not think that I would allow you to leave after making love with you only once?¡± He bent down to collect his ck silk robe from the bedroom floor.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to think at all for some time¡­¡± Sara trailed off as she gazed up unabashedly at the nakedness of Simon¡¯s back, ceasing to breathe as he stretched, the muscles in his back flexing and rxing with the effortless ease of a jungle cat.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°Good.¡± He nodded with satisfaction as he turned, his gaze once again bing hot and heavy as he saw the open hunger she knew must be in her expression. ¡°Food first,¡± he repeated firmly, and heid the ck silk robe down beside her before striding determinedly-still naked-from the bedroom.


    Saray on the bed for several minutes longer, luxuriating in a feeling of total physical satisfaction as she stretched, feeling the pleasurable ache of muscles long left unused. Making love with Simon had been unlike anything she had ever felt or known before. More erotic, more pleasurable than anything she had ever experienced with any man. There was no point in not being honest with herself at this point in her life.


    With Bruce, sex been more centered on his pleasure than hers. Whereas Simon- She mustn¡¯t allow herself to blow this time with Simon out of all proportion. Not unless she wanted to be left heartsick when whatever this was with Simon came to an end¡­ She was an independent, sophisticated twenty-nine-year-old woman. They were the things that had attracted Simon to her. No matter how wonderful their lovemaking, he certainly wouldn¡¯t want that independent, sophisticated twenty-nine-year-old woman making a fool of herself over him!


    ept this for what it is, Sara told herself firmly as she finally got out of bed to go into the bathroom and tidy herself: wonderful sex, teasing banter and a good time had by all. For her to expect anything else from Simon was totally uneptable. Having feelings for him certainly wasn¡¯t an option¡­


    _________


    ¡°So as a child you spent most of your summers on the family¡¯s private ind?¡±


    Simon nodded, having returned to the bedroom long enough to pull on faded denims and a ck T-shirt, totally rxed as he and Sara sat at the breakfast bar eating warmed croissants with honey and drinking coffee. ¡°Zach and Evelyn are there now-on their honeymoon.¡±


    Sara gave a wistful sigh. ¡°It sounds idyllic.¡±


    ¡°I guess it is,¡±


    She shrugged narrow shoulders, the movement instantly drawing Simon¡¯s gaze to the way the firm swell of her breasts was revealed as the ck silk of his robe parted slightly.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s great that you have such an amazing family.¡± She said,


    ¡°Hmmmm¡­ The Hamilton family can certainly be vtile,¡± Simon acknowledged dryly.


    She smiled. ¡°Must be all that hot  blood!¡± Her cheeks coloured hotly as she seemed to realize what she had just said. ¡°I meant-¡±


    ¡°I know what you meant, Sara,¡± Simon chuckled as she blushed. It was an endearing and unexpected quality in a woman in herte twenties who had been engaged, lived in New York, and ran her own very sessful interior designpany. ¡°And I believe you once implied that you thought we Hamilton men were cold, stone hearted people,¡±


    Sara was beginning to wish she had never continued this particr conversation! ¡°You must have realized afterst night that my judgment of a man¡¯s character isn¡¯t all that good-oh, good Lord!¡± She winced as Simon raised one mocking brow. ¡°I obviously wasn¡¯t referring to you when I said that- what I was really trying to say was-¡± She broke off with an irritated frown as Simon began to chuckle. ¡°It isn¡¯t funny!¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more.¡± He was still smiling as he stood up slowly to move around the breakfast bar until he stood beside her.

 30

    ¡°Obviously I need to take you back to bed and refresh your memory as to how un-cold my own character is¡­¡± He held out his hand, very dark and handsome with his dark hair still slightly ruffled, his jaw unshaven, and the tight-fitting ck T-shirt outlining the muscles of his chest and t abdomen.


    ¡°So soon¡­?¡± Her eyes were wide.


    Simon eyed her quizzically. ¡°You would rather not¡­?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that!¡± she protested instantly, her nipples having noticeably tightened beneath the ck silk robe, and that moist warmth once again heating between her thighs. ¡°I just- I¡¯m just surprised that you-well, that-¡±


    ¡°That I would, or could, want you again so soon?¡± Simon finished huskily, his eyes dark with intent. ¡°Come back to bed, Sara, and let me show you how much and in what ways I want you¡±


    Sara felt slightly shy as she ced her hand in Simon¡¯s and stood up to apany him to the bedroom. A ridiculous feeling after the intimacies the two of them had shared earlier.


    The intimacies they were about to share again¡­


    _________


    ¡°You may just seed in killing me with pleasure, Sara!¡± Simon groaned as she copsed on top of him a long, long timeter.


    ¡°Not intentionally, I assure you.¡± Sara chuckled weakly as shey against the dampness of his hair-roughened chest, having totally lost count of the number of times and in how many ways Simon had brought her to climax-before she had gently pushed him back against the pillow and made love to him, first kissing his chest and the tness of his stomach, before moving lower to take him into her mouth. Her fingers had encircled him as she¡¯d licked that responsive length, until Simon had begged her to stop and she¡¯d moved up to straddle his hips, taking him deep inside her, inch by pleasurable inch, before riding him-riding them both-to explosive pleasure.


    His arms encircled her as he rolled to one side and took her with him. ¡°What are your intentions towards me?¡± he prompted gruffly.


    Sara¡¯s heart gave a leap even as she opened one wary lid to look up at him.


    ¡°Entirely dishonorable, I assure you,¡± she said softly.


    Simon felt a sense of disappointment in Sara¡¯s answer, even though he held her in his arms and had every intention of doing so for the rest of the day. And tomorrow¡­? Tomorrow, as he had already stated, was another day¡­


    ¡°Simon?¡±


    He gave a rxed smile. ¡°We will sleep now and talkter,¡± he encouraged huskily, and he rested her tousled head morefortably against his shoulder before settling back against the pillows.


    ¡°Talk about what?¡± she prompted, that earlier wariness now back in her voice too.


    ¡°Whatever needs to be talked about,¡± Simon dismissed lightly, and he closed his eyes, Sara still held firmly in his arms.


    Saray awake for a long time after she knew by the soft and even tenor of Simon¡¯s breathing that he had fallen into an exhausted sleep-hardly surprising when he¡¯d confessed to having had no sleep the night before, and then embarked on two athletic bouts of exquisite lovemaking.


    Amazingly wonderful lovemaking, during which she knew she had lost all and every inhibition she had ever had as Simon touched and kissed her in ces she had never been touched or kissed before¡­ She felt¡­wonderful. Deliciously satiated. Every part of her body worshipped. And for once in her life Sara intended to let tomorrow take care of itself.


    _________


    She had no idea whether it was day or night when she woke up, although the brightness of the sun shining through the bedroom window would seem to indicate it was probablyte on Sunday afternoon.


    Amazing. She had never ever spent the whole day in bed with a man. And this was not just any man, but Simon Hamilton. She turned her head sideways on the pillow to look at him, smiling warmly as she saw that Simon was doing exactly the same thing. Those green eyes gleamed appreciatively, and the stubble was darker on his square chin, his hair tousled on his forehead, his muscled shoulders bare above the bedcovers.


    ¡°Good afternoon,¡± she greeted him huskily.


    His eyes crinkled at the corners as he returned her smile. ¡°Did you know that you purr in your sleep?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re making that up!¡± Sara refuted indignantly, her cheeks warming as she turned fully to face him.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± he assured her indulgently as he reached out to touch the hair at her temple. ¡°You sounded like a contented kitten.¡±


    That was probably because she felt like a contented kitten: warm, intensely satisfied and safe.


    Safe? How could she possibly feel safe when she now knew that Simon was capable of breaching every barrier she had ever ced about her bruised emotions? And yet that was exactly how Sara felt-safe, cared for, even cherished. So unwise when it came to this particr man! Sara knew better than most how ephemeral Simon¡¯s rtionships had been and always would be, and she had no intention of falling for a man who chose to fill a woman¡¯s life before leaving it- and her-totally empty when he chose to walk away. She had already been burned so very badly once in her life. She certainly didn¡¯t need-


    ¡°You are thinking again,¡± Simon rebuked gently, as his fingers moved to smooth the frown from Sara¡¯s creamy brow.


    ¡°Perhaps it is time for more food¡­?¡±


    ¡°Good idea.¡±


    Her smile didn¡¯t reach those brown eyes as she turned away to throw back the bedcover. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I think I¡¯ll go and take a shower while you look for something to eat.¡±


    She picked up the ck silk robe and shrugged into it in such a way that Simon couldn¡¯t see her nakedness, before standing up to tie the belt tightly around her waist.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I exactly like the idea of going home in a ck silk evening gown in the middle of the afternoon!¡± She wrinkled her nose in distaste.


    Simony rxed against the pillows as he looked at her from between narrowed lids, one of his knees bent and raised as a shield to the rampant hardness of his arousal. One look at a tousled Sara when he woke up, along with listening to those soft little purring noises she made in her sleep, and that part of him had immediately perked up and taken an interest!


    ¡°Who said anything about your going home in the middle of the afternoon¡­?¡±


    Sara frowned as she looked across at him uncertainly. ¡°I think I¡¯ve already been here long enough, don¡¯t you?¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 31

    Simon gave a shrug. ¡°I have no other ns for the rest of the day. Do you?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­no, not exactly.¡± She shifted ufortably, obviously having no idea how the silk material of the robe once again outlined the fullness of her breasts. ¡°I do have things to do before work in the morning, though.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡±


    Sara frowned. ¡°How about I take a shower and we talk about this again afterwards?¡± she said briskly. ¡°I¡¯d really like to freshen up now.¡±


    As it was almost twenty-four hours since Simon hadst taken a shower, he could perfectly understand Sara¡¯s need to freshen up; he could do with a shave and a shower himself.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find a spare toothbrush in the bathroom cab.¡±


    Sara raised dark, mocking brows. ¡°Really?¡±


    Simon could almost see the cogs of her imagination turning. ¡°There¡¯s also a spare razor in there-but you really shouldn¡¯t infer anything from that!¡± he drawled dryly.


    Colour red in her cheeks. ¡°Very funny!¡±


    Simon gave another shrug. ¡°Just in case you were wondering.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t!¡±


    Oh, yes, she most definitely had been. And Simon knew it hadn¡¯t been in a good way. ¡°What have I done since we met to give you the idea I make a habit of bringing women home to spend the weekend with me?¡± He moved up on one elbow to look at her from between narrowed lids.


    Nothing since the two of them had met, Sara epted. His pursuit of her this past week or so had beenpletely single-minded. But she couldn¡¯t allow herself to forget his reputation of coldness towards a woman once he had decided he no longer wanted them in his life.


    ¡°Nothing at all,¡± she dismissed lightly. ¡°Is this the bathroom over here?¡± She indicated the closed door on the right of the bedroom.


    Simon shook his head. ¡°The dressing room. Where you will find several of my shirts hanging up if you don¡¯t want to put your dress back on.¡±


    Sara tensed at the idea of the intimacy of dressing in one of Simon¡¯s shirts.


    ¡°Er-no. I¡¯ll be fine in the dress, thank you.¡±


    Simon continued to look at her for several long seconds before giving an abrupt nod of his head. ¡°In that case, that¡¯s the bathroom over there.¡± He nodded at the closed door to the left of the room.


    Sara avoided meeting that piercing green gaze as she grabbed her dress up from the carpeted floor, where it had been dropped the night before; no doubt she was about to go home in a very crumpled ck silk evening dress!


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Her chin was high as she hastily left the bedroom.


    Simon remainedying in bed for several minutes longer, listening as Sara turned on the shower. Arge part of him-that hard and rampant part of him!- wanted to get out of bed and join her in the shower to make love with her again, but the more cautious part of him warned that Sara needed a few minutes alone, that-incredibly-her embarrassed awkwardness earlier this morning, and again just now, gave every indication that spending the day in bed with him had beenpletely out of character.


    Reading between the lines what Sara hadn¡¯t saidst night, Simon could well imagine that her rtionship with Bruce hadn¡¯t been what was called ¡®a bed of roses¡¯. So much so that Sara had fought shy of bing intimately involved with anyone since her divorce. Well, as far as he was concerned, he was d Bruce was no longer a part of her life. She deserved better than whatever he had to offer.


    But there was something about the way she acted just now. It didn¡¯t look like regret, but he could feel that she was holding back¡­ Slowly bing withdrawn and he didn¡¯t like it one bit. He liked Sara¡­ A lot, he acknowledged, and he wanted her to feel the same way about him.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    __________


    In the shower, Sara had some time to think more clearly. While she had just spent an amazing time with Simon, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that was getting carried away, and that was because she was.


    Hell, she was already imagining a future with him. How the hell she had gone from swearing off men and wanting to get an IVF to this, was something she couldn¡¯t quite understand, but now all she could think about was that she needed to get back to reality. Life wasn¡¯t a fairy tale, and Simon wasn¡¯t her prince. She had to return home and clear her head.


    She felt more than a little awkward when she entered the kitchen half an hourter. Her hair was still damp from the shower and she wore no make-up, although she had epted Simon¡¯s invitation and borrowed one of his shirts from the dressing room-a cream silk. She felt less conspicuous wearing the shirt over her figure-hugging evening gown like a jacket, the sleeves turned up to just beneath her elbows.


    Simon had obviously been busy in her absence. A sd and a selection of cheeses wereid out temptingly on the breakfast bar, and she could see from the dampness of his dark hair and clean-shaven jaw, as he turned to look at her from beneath hooded lids, that he had also taken a shower and freshened up in one of the apartment¡¯s many other bathrooms. He was wearing ck denims and a fitted white T-shirt which emphasized both his muscled chest and the natural tan of his skin. Simon looked more edible than the food!


    This was not what Sara wanted to feel after deciding earlier on today that she was going to be sophisticated and casual about all this, and not try to make it into something it wasn¡¯t. As far as Simon was concerned, anyway. Sara would have time to sit and decide how she felt about it once she was safely back in her own apartment.


    The guarded look in Simon¡¯s expression as he put a basket of freshly baked bread on the breakfast bar before sitting down on one of the stools only served to confirm that Sara needed to act cool as well as sophisticated.


    ¡°This all looks delicious!¡± sheplimented him brightly as she sat on the stool opposite him. ¡°I¡¯ll just eat a little something and then I really do have to leave.¡±


    His expression was still guarded. ¡°I thought we could talk first.¡±

 32

    Sara avoided his piercing green gaze as she concentrated on breaking open a piece of the crispy bread. ¡°I¡¯m not really one for post-mortems, are you?¡± she dismissed lightly. ¡°We had fun together. Let¡¯s just leave it at that.¡±


    Simon looked across at her. ¡°Can we do that?¡±


    She gave him a startled look. ¡°Sorry¡­?¡±


    Simon leant his elbows on the breakfast bar and continued to stare across at her. ¡°Yeah, can we?¡±


    Sara moistened suddenly dry lips and gave up all pretense of putting food on her te as she straightened warily. ¡°Yes¡­ I guess¡­ I don¡¯t know what you want me to say, Simon,¡±


    He nodded, ¡°Okay, I guess what I¡¯m trying to ask is how do you feel about me now that we havee to know each other better?¡±


    This wasn¡¯t what Sara had been expecting when she got out of the shower, especially after the decision she¡¯d just made not to get carried away. She gave him a startled nce before focusing that wide gaze somewhere over his left shoulder. ¡°How do I feel about you?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± A nerve pulsed in his tightly clenched jaw. ¡°Now that we have spent time together-talked, made love-what are your feelings towards me?¡±


    Sara gave a pained frown, knowing she couldn¡¯t deny that she had initially behaved in exactly the petty way Simon suspected she had. Quite when her feelings towards Simon had changed from scathing dismissal to a grudging liking, Sara had no idea, but she had knownst night, when he¡¯d behaved so protectively towards her in regard to Bruce, that she not only liked him-a lot- but also that she desired him too. It was a desire the two of them had acted on earlier today-several times.


    But Sara didn¡¯t want to totally humiliate herself and tell Simon how much, and how deeply, she now liked him-perhaps more than liked him. Which was definitely something she needed to think about once she was alone in the privacy of her own apartment. Even she was confused about how she truly felt at the moment.


    Sara forced a rueful smile. ¡°I believe I told you earlier my intentions are entirely dishonorable!¡±


    He gave a humorless smile. ¡°In exactly the way you have imagined my own were in regard to the women who have shared my bed in the past? Women who would, if asked, confirm that I have never deliberately, knowingly, hurt any of them. No matter how much the gossips or newspapers might have chosen to sensationalise those rtionships. Certainly I have never behaved towards a single one of those women in the cruel and heartless way that they appear to im I treated them,¡±


    ¡°I believe you-¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡± he questioned sceptically. ¡°Do you really believe me, Sara? Or do you still think your suspicions in regard to me have been justified? Enough, perhaps, for you to have decided to give me a dose of my own medicine?¡±


    Her eyes widened. ¡°Are you implying that I might have deliberately gone to bed with you with the intention of-of-?¡±


    ¡°I have absolutely no idea what today was about.¡± His eyes glittered intently. ¡°Why did you go to bed with me, Sara?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t-¡± She gave a dazed shake of her head. ¡°You were kind to mest night-¡±


    ¡°And do you always spend the day in bed with men who are kind to you?¡±


    Her face was very pale as she answered him quietly, ¡°There really haven¡¯t been that many.¡±


    ¡°Men in your bed? Or men who have been kind to you?¡±


    Both, as it happened, Sara acknowledged heavily. Just as she acknowledged that this conversation had now deteriorated to such a level there was surely no hope of the two of them continuing a rtionship.


    ¡°Sara, talk to me, damn it!¡± Simon¡¯s hands were clenched into fists at his sides. ¡°Help me to understand what happened between the two of us earlier today.¡±


    She released a heavy sigh. ¡°Can¡¯t we both just ept that we made a mistake -?¡±


    ¡°Is that truly what you believe?¡± He stood still as a statue and looked at her from between narrowed lids.


    Sara nodded abruptly as she stood up to slip the shirt off her shoulders and slide it off her arms before dropping it down onto the barstool. ¡°It¡¯s time that I left.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You have nothing else to say?¡± Simon could only stare at her with frustrated anger.


    She looked up at him with eyes of deep, smoky amber. ¡°I¡¯ve behaved badly, unprofessionally. Otherwise I don¡¯t know what else you want me to say.¡±


    Simon wanted Sara to dismiss the lies she¡¯d heard about him-to assure him that she hade to know him for herself this past week, and that she at least liked what she hade to know of him, that they had spent the day in bed together because of that liking. The guarded expression in her eyes told him that was never going to happen.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he said tly.  ¡°Obviously there is nothing more you can or wish to say to me.¡±


    She nodded abruptly. ¡°Which is why I am going to collect my bag from the bedroom and leave.¡±


    Just an hour ago Simon had been filled with a feeling of well-being, of contentment in a woman¡¯spany and in love making such as he had never experienced before. Only for all of those feelings to have beenpletely shattered by one stupid conversation. He nodded abruptly. ¡°I will need to apany you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly capable of seeing myself out, Simon!¡± she assured him heavily.


    His jaw tightened. ¡°The lift will not work without putting in my security code, and the same applies to the outside door.¡±


    Colour darkened the pallor of her cheeks at the obvious rebuke. ¡°I¡¯ll just go and get my bag.¡±


    Simon was filled with regret as he turned to watch Sara leave the kitchen- her back very straight and proud, her hips swaying slightly, sensuously, as she walked, her legs long and shapely in the high-heeled ck sandals-but he knew he was too angry still to attempt to set things right between the two of them. If such a thing was even possible¡­


    Sara held back the tears for as long as it took her to reach Simon¡¯s bedroom, then she couldn¡¯t hold back her emotions any longer and instead allowed the tears to cascade down her cheeks with the heat of moltenva.


    How could this be ending so badly?


    How could she and Simon be parting like virtual strangers after having made love together so tenderly, and then so wildly, only hours ago?

 33

    The answer to that, Sara knew,y firmly at her own door.  She had been a fool, Sara epted dully, a blind, stupid fool. There was absolutely no excuse for her initial scathing behavior towards Simon. No foundation in it either-as she now knew. Neither did it do any good now to tell herself that she should have looked beyond the ims she¡¯d heard of Simon¡¯s mistreatment towards women. She should have seen Simon for the man he truly was-if not from the beginning then at least following his warmth and kindness towards herst night.


    And now it was toote.


    Yes, Simon was a man who was extremely attractive to women, and it was an attraction he had no doubt taken every advantage of over the years. But, as Sara now knew, he was also a man of principle. A man who had been both protective and caring when she had fallen apart at Lincoln¡¯s home the evening before following her introduction to the pregnant Emily Wesley.


    The same man who had allowed her to cry on his shoulder even though he had mistakenly believed those tears to have been because she still had feelings for her ex-husband. The same man who had brought her back to his apartment, put her in his own bed, undressing her and tucking her beneath the bedcovers.


    The womanizing Simon Hamilton that Sara had believed wouldn¡¯t have bothered himself doing any of those things, let alone left her to sleep alone in his bed because he had no intention of taking advantage of her in her emotional state.


    Sara hadn¡¯t just been a fool where Simon was concerned, she had been both blind and stupid too! A realization, an admission, which made absolutely no difference to the fact that she was now about to leave Simon¡¯s apartment and would in all probability never see him again.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    But there was something she needed to say to him before she left¡­


    _______


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Simon was standing in front of one of the huge picture windows in the sitting room, staring sightlessly out at the New York skyline, but he turned now to face Sara, his expression unreadable as he took in the fact that she was still very pale, and her eyes were that deep and troubled amber. As well they might be.


    ¡°What are you apologizing for?¡± he returned impatiently.


    She shrugged as she came further into the room, her gaze not quite meeting his as instead she stared at the center of his chest. ¡°I- It¡¯s no excuse, but I-I was obviously wrong about the kind of man you were¡­ Or are,¡± she amended hastily as Simon¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°About your reputation,¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Her smile was rueful. ¡°You aren¡¯t about to make this easy for me, are you.¡±


    He raised dark brows.¡± Can you think of any reason why I should?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she epted heavily, before raising her chin and atst allowing her gaze to meet his. ¡°I do sincerely apologize for my earlier behavior towards you. Myck of professionalism. I really should have known better than to believe those lies.¡± She sighed. ¡°Or at the very least given you the benefit of the doubt -as you several times requested I might do,¡± she added.


    ¡°Yes, you should,¡± Simon bit out grimly.


    She shifted her shoulders ufortably. ¡°I- And thank you for being so understanding yesterday evening. You really were very kind.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you believe there was an ulterior motive to my kindness and understanding?¡± Simon came back challengingly. ¡°After all, I did seed in getting you into my bed-eventually!¡± He gave a derisive grimace. ¡°Which should fit in very nicely with what the people you have been listening to, gossips and the newspapers have told you about me.¡± His mouth twisted scornfully.


    Sara knew she deserved every ounce of that scorn, and that there was no way for her to salvage the situation without revealing how much her feelings towards him had changed. She might now know that Simon wasn¡¯t the cold and callous bastard in regard to women and rtionships that she¡¯d thought he was, but neither was he a man interested in an emotional rtionship.


    She nodded abruptly. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you now to enjoy the rest of your day. If you would like to do so, you can keep the designs and the swatches of material.


    Although another designer would probably prefer to-¡±


    ¡°There is not going to be another designer, Sara,¡± he cut in firmly.


    Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve decided not to bother after all¡­?¡±


    ¡°On the contrary,¡± drawled dryly, ¡°I have decided to keep the interior designer I already have.¡±


    She blinked, long darkshes briefly brushing against the pallor of her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand¡­?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple, Sara.¡± Simon strode into the middle of the room. ¡°I have already wasted a considerable amount of my time procuring the services of the elusive but celebrated designer Sara McCall,¡± he eyed her mockingly. ¡°And, having done so, I have no intention of starting the process all over again.¡±


    Sara eyed him warily even as she chewed distractedly on her bottom lip. ¡°You still want to engage me to redesign your apartment?¡±


    His eyes glittered deeply emerald. ¡°I don¡¯t just want you to do it, Sara, I insist upon it!¡±


    And if that determined glitter in his eyes was any indication then Sara knew he intended to make her life very ufortable-even more ufortable than it already was-while she did it. ¡°Simon, you can¡¯t seriously want to have me hanging around here for the next few weeks-or months-after we¡­ Well, you just can¡¯t,¡± she protested weakly once she had regained her breath enough to speak at all.


    ¡°On the contrary, I believe I would very much enjoy the experience,¡± he drawled mockingly.


    Her heart sank at the imcability of his expression. ¡°Of watching me squirm with embarrassment every time I have toe here?¡±


    Simon shrugged those broad, upromising shoulders. ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes, yes.¡±


    This was a side of him that Sara had never seen before. The arrogantly powerful Simon Hamilton side of him-half-owner of the world-renownedpany Hamilton Enterprises, cousin of the equally arrogant and powerful Zach Hamilton, and a man ustomed to issuing orders and expecting them to be obeyed. Without question or argument.


    Until he had actually made that statement Simon had had no idea he had even decided on that particr course of action. But it did make perfect sense; Sara had already done all the groundwork towards redesigning this room at least, and he had no doubt she would be as sessful in her designs for the rest of the apartment.

 34

    Besides which, he hadn¡¯t decided yet exactly what he was going to do about Sara McCall. Part of him definitely wanted to strangle her for having believed the lies about him, just as there was still a part of him that hungered to make love to her. And Simon had absolutely no idea which of those emotions was going to win once he had recovered from the disappointment he was currently feeling.


    In the meantime, while he waited for those feelings to settle, it seemed like a good idea to keep Sara exactly where he could see her.


    Even if his body had already made its decision, now engorged and throbbing in favor of taking Sara back to bed and making love to her until she had no strength with which to leave his bed¡­ ¡°I will expect you to begin work on this room immediately,¡± he bit out abruptly. ¡°With the intention of presenting designs for the other rooms as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°All of them?¡± Sara gasped.


    ¡°All of them,¡± Simon confirmed with satisfaction at her obvious dismay.


    Leaving Sara in no doubt that Simon intended exacting his pound of flesh for her ever having harbored doubts as to his true nature. She should never have allowed herself to jump to conclusions where he was concerned based only on what people had told her, or allowed those conclusions to influence her into behaving so badly, so unprofessionally, towards him at the beginning..


    In truth, Sara now felt deeply ashamed of her behavior, but for now she just had to concentrate on leaving this apartment-leaving Simon-with at least some of her pride intact.


    ¡°If you¡¯re sure that¡¯s what you want¡­?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± he rasped harshly.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Sara nodded briskly as she turned to leave.


    ¡°Oh, and, Sara¡­.?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡± She turned back warily.


    ¡°After, as you have so rightly called it, yourck of professionalism in regard to working for me, I will now expect you to give me your services exclusively for the next few weeks, at least.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s imp-¡±


    ¡°And for you to inform me immediately if you have any further trouble with Bruce Be,¡± he continued grimly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t consider that any of your business!¡± Sara gasped incredulously.


    Simon¡¯s tread was light and predatory as he strode across the sitting room until he was standing only inches in front of her. ¡°After today I am making it my business.¡± His voice was dangerously soft. ¡°Do you understand, Sara?¡±


    Oh, yes, she understood-only too well. And she resented the hell out of Simon¡¯s arrogant assumption that the two of them having made love together gave him any right to know anything about her private life. Except it wasn¡¯t just a case of the two of them having made love together, was it? She had no idea what might have happened if Simon hadn¡¯t been with herst night when she¡¯d realized Bruce¡¯s wife was pregnant-if he hadn¡¯t been so supportive of her in front of Bruce and thenter, here at his apartment.


    ¡°If I have any further trouble with Bruce I will tell you about it,¡± she bit out tightly. ¡°Now can I leave?¡± she prompted angrily.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Simon smiled his satisfaction-both at Sara¡¯s reply and the fact that her fighting spirit had so obviously returned. He enjoyed verbally sparring with her almost as much as he had enjoyed making love with her.


    Almost¡­


    ¡°How kind of you!¡± Her eyes shed deeply.


    ¡°In future, kindness is my middle name,¡± he drawled mockingly.


    ¡°And I thought it was arrogance,¡± she came back tartly.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Simon gave a husky chuckle.  ¡°I will very much look forward to seeing you back here promptly at nine o¡¯clock tomorrow morning.¡±


    The fire dissipated from her eyes and she looked at him uncertainly. ¡°Simon-¡±


    ¡°Nine o¡¯clock tomorrow morning, Sara,¡± he repeated firmly.


    No matter how much Sara might wish it otherwise, Simon knew that things were far from settled between them¡­


    __________


    ¡°So do you think¡­?¡± Sara looked at Simon uncertainly as he stood on the threshold of his newly decorated sitting room.


    Simon thought that during the past three weeks he had learnt first-hand exactly what hell was! It wore figure-hugging denims, form-fitting white T-shirts over full and luscious breasts, had long ebony hair, brown eyes, kissable lips, smelled of something lightly floral and sensual-and went under the guise of interior designer Sara McCall!


    Because that was exactly who Sara had be during these three hellish weeks. Crisp, no-nonsense, utterly professional and bearing absolutely no resemnce to the woman Simon had made love with during that memorable Sunday.


    The first week hadn¡¯t been too excruciating. Sara had only appeared at his apartment on the Monday and Tuesday, when she came in to take precise measurements for the carpets, curtains and other draperies. The second week she had been more in evidence-calling in briefly every day in order to supervise her team of decorators, and to present Simon with the designs she had made for the rest of the rooms in his apartment.


    And each time she¡¯d arrived Simon had been the one who met her at the main lift before taking her up to his apartment. By the time the furniture and fittings had arrived in the third week Simon had contacted Security and instructed them to let Sara into the building any time she arrived, as well as giving her his security code to the private lift going straight up to his apartment.


    All in an effort to spare himself the ordeal of so much as seeing the coolly remote stranger that Sara had be, let alone actually speaking to her.


    And yet¡­any time Sara was in the building Simon instinctively knew she was up there-in his apartment, in the room just above his office.

 35

    He had been both angry and hurt the day he had insisted she would continue to redesign the interior of his apartment-and now he had found he was the one being punished, as day after day he was forced to suffer the cold professionalism of her manner towards him. None of which was helped by the fact that every time he walked into his apartment his senses were bombarded with¡­well, with the presence of Sara.


    He could see her influence now everywhere he looked in this newly furnished and decorated room: the pale terracotta-coloured walls adorned with bold coloured paintings of inds, the carpet the color of the Sea in summer, the deep rust color of thefortable sofas and chairs adorned with many scatter cushions in colors of blues and greens and yellows, the curtains draped at the huge picture windows in those same rich colors.


    Such boldness of color should have been too much, and yet somehow it not only worked but it also seemed to fill a hole in Simon¡¯s soul. A hole that Sara had not only seen and recognised in him, but addressed and filled with this warmth of color¡­ He turned to her now.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­amazing,¡±he said huskily.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°In a good way or a bad way?¡±


    Simon gave a rueful smile as he recognised the wariness in Sara¡¯s tone. ¡°A good way, of course.¡± He stepped further into the room and allowed those warm  colors to seep into his inner being, filling him with a sense of peace and tranquility.


    Sara heaved a deep sigh of relief as she felt the heavy weight of responsibility lift from her shoulders. She watched Simon¡¯s pleasure in his surroundings; as she had imagined, the richness and boldness of the earth tones suited Simon perfectly, bringing that same warm richness to his eyes and his swarthy, chiseled features as he strolled about the room.


    She still couldn¡¯t believe she had been so stupid as to believe the series of lies she¡¯d heard about him. Although, in her defense, she had started to doubt them shortly after meeting Simon. She knew now without a shadow of a doubt what the real truth was, and she¡¯d never imagined that she¡¯d ever have befriended a man like Simon ever in her life.


    Befriend?


    Sara would hardly ss the fantastic, earth-shattering lovemaking she and Simon had shared as ¡®befriending¡¯ each other!


    God, just remembering the depth and feeling of that lovemaking now was enough to make her nipples tingle and tighten, to make her clench and unclench between her thighs. She straightened abruptly. ¡°I¡¯m pleased you¡¯re happy with it.¡±


    ¡°That would be an understatement.¡± Simon turned to look across at her from between narrowed lids. ¡°Praise where praise is due, Sara: you¡¯ve done a fantastic job on this room.¡±


    She avoided meeting that piercing gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s hope you¡¯re as pleased with the rest of the apartment once it¡¯s finished,¡± she dismissed briskly as she looked around for her shoulder bag.


    ¡°Perhaps we should have a ss of champagne to celebrate? Oh,e on, Sara,¡± he drawled dryly as she turned to him with wide eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t be the first satisfied customer who has wanted to toast the sess of your hard work?¡±


    He was the first satisfied customer that Sara had gone to bed with. And since Bruce, Sara  knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was absolutely noparison between the two men. Bruce had been a selfish lover, whereas Simon was a generous one. And those memories weren¡¯t helping her in the least to keep this meeting on a business footing!


    ¡°I really do have to go-¡± she said,


    ¡°Do you have a date this evening?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not,¡± she answered with irritation.


    ¡°Have you heard from Bruce Be?¡±


    Sara drew her breath in sharply. ¡°I¡¯ve spoken to Bruce again, yes,¡± she confirmed guardedly.


    Simon looked at her from between narrowed lids, having absolutely no idea what thoughts were going on behind those shuttered brown eyes. ¡°I believe I asked you to tell me-¡±


    ¡°If I had any further trouble from Bruce. Which I haven¡¯t,¡± she added firmly.


    ¡°We spoke. Nothing more.¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    She gave a pained frown. ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, I don¡¯t believe that to be any of your business-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s bull-¡± He abruptly broke off his angry response, aware that he had been about to voice an uneptable expletive. His jaw was tight as he continued between gritted teeth, ¡°As the man who helped you to pick up the pieces after yourst conversation with your ex-fiance, I happen to think it¡¯s very much my business!¡± His eyes glittered darkly.


    A blush heightened Sara cheeks. ¡°I believe I¡¯ve already thanked you sufficiently for the¡­assistance you gave me that weekend.¡±


    ¡°I sincerely hope that was not a reference to our lovemaking, Sara,¡± he bit out coldly.


    ¡°Of course not!¡± she gasped.


    ¡°No?¡±


    She gave another pained wince. ¡°Simon, I¡¯ve already thanked you several times for your kindness the evening I met Bruce again at his father¡¯s house. And it¡¯s because of that kindness that I refuse to argue with you now-¡±


    ¡°Then what are you going to do with me?¡±


    She blinked. ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Not half as sorry as I am!¡± Simon muttered grimly under his breath. He spoke more loudly. ¡°I asked what are you going to do about me, Sara?¡±


    She gave a puzzled shake of her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I still don¡¯t understand what you mean¡­¡±


    No, Simon could see by the nkness of Sara¡¯s expression that she really didn¡¯t understand-that as far as she was concerned theirs was now a purely business rtionship. Which was exactly what Simon had implied it was going to be three weeks ago. Before he had been forced to live every day in this living hell of wanting Sara, of being driven quietly but surely out of his mind with the knowledge of that desire for her, while she obviously had had absolutely no difficulty in resuming their previous business rtionship, shutting out all memory of their hours of intimacy.


    Or perhaps she hadn¡¯t shut them out at all? Maybe she really had just forgotten them altogether? It was an idea Simon found totally uneptable.


    He gave a shake of his head. ¡°Is this what you do, Sara? Is this what your engagement to Bruce Be did to you? Did you have a couple of dates with Mark Forbes too, a night in bed together, and then not only discard him as unimportant but forget about him altogether?¡±

 36

    ¡°Of course not,¡± she gasped tremulously, her eyes now amber pools of hurt. ¡°That really isn¡¯t fair, Simon. You not only flirted with me outrageously the evening we met, but once you realized who I was from my brother you also ensured I had no choice but toe here for our appointment. If anyone forgot about Mark, discarded him, then it was you!¡±


    His mouth twisted derisively. ¡°Have you seen him again since that evening?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she breathed shakily.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    Sara flinched at the coldness in Simon¡¯s tone. At the subject of this whole conversation. ¡°How can you even ask me that?¡±


    Simon raised mocking brows. His inner frustrations this past three weeks was making him determined to get some sort of response from Sara. Even if it was a negative one. ¡°Because if you haven¡¯t been seeing me, and you haven¡¯t been seeing Mark, then I¡¯m interested to know who it is you¡¯re hurrying off to meet this evening. Your ex-fiance, perhaps?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± Her face had paled to the color of delicate white porcin.


    ¡°Is that what I¡¯m being?¡± Simon grated tautly.


    ¡°Where Bruce is concerned, yes! Simon , you were there-you saw my reaction to seeing Bruce again.¡±


    ¡°I saw your reaction to seeing his pregnant wife,¡± he corrected harshly. ¡°Which isn¡¯t the same thing at all.¡±


    No, it wasn¡¯t, Sara acknowledged heavily. Not the same thing at all.


    Bruce had called her, as his partingment that evening about ¡®being in touch¡¯ had promised that he would, and requested that the two of them meet in a suitably neutral coffee shop. A suggestion to which Sara had declined and then he¡¯d shown up at her office the next day to apologize. He¡¯d told her he wanted a truce, but Sara suspected that he was up to one of his schemes and so she¡¯d told him that there was no need for that as she had truly moved on. They had an agreement that they would both stay out of the other¡¯s life, and if they met again socially would at least be polite to each other. Nothing more, but nothing less, either.


    It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was far better than the anger which had burned so strongly between them before Sara had realized she was allowing her life to be ruined because of her failed engagement. She didn¡¯t even care about Bruce enough to have any emotion towards him, including anger.


    It was a realization which had made her determined to put that part of her life behind her and move on to whatever kind of future might be in store for her, rather than the future she had so neatly nned out for herself.


    In a perfect world Sara knew that future would have included Simon-the man she hade to realize these past three weeks she very much had feelings for¡­. Not those bedazzled feelings she had felt for Bruce, but the feelings of a mature woman who knew what and who she was, and also knew how and who she wanted.


    Sara had no idea how or when it had happened. Perhaps when Simon had defended her so gantly in front of Bruce. Or perhaps it had been the gentleness of his care when he¡¯d rescued her from the bathroom and taken her back to his apartment, before undressing her and leaving her to sleep alone in his bed. Or during that wild and glorious lovemaking the following day, the memory of which still caused Sara to tremble just thinking about it.


    Or maybe, just maybe, it had happened the first moment she¡¯d set eyes on him at Senator Ashcroft¡¯s cocktail party¡­ It didn¡¯t really matter when or how it had happened, only that it had. She had very strong feelings for Simon Hamilton.


    Completely. Utterly. And he was obviously still as disgusted with her as he had been three weeks ago. She gave a weary sigh, epting that perhaps she did owe Simon at least some answers to his questions. ¡°I did meet Bruce again after his father¡¯s party-¡±


    ¡°You met him?¡± Simon echoed incredulously. ¡°He¡¯s a married man, about to be a father, and the two of you still sneaked away together behind his wife¡¯s back-¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that!¡± Sara protested painfully.


    ¡°No?¡±


    The look Simon gave her down the long length of his aristocratic nose spoke of his disgust. ¡°Then tell me what it was like, Sara,¡±


    Sara had absolutely no doubt that the past three weeks-with the two of them skirting around each other, being outwardly polite and inwardly a seething mass of emotions and unanswered questions-had been leading up to this confrontation. A confrontation she had no idea whether or not she was ready for, but she epted it wasing anyway.


    ¡°Did Bruce tell Emily about your meeting?¡± Simon pressured.


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± she answered honestly. ¡°He may have done. There¡¯s no reason why he shouldn¡¯t have.¡±


    Simon gave a disgusted snort. ¡°I can think of plenty of reasons a man wouldn¡¯t tell his heavily pregnant wife that he was going off to meet his ex fiance,¡±


    ¡°I said it wasn¡¯t like that!¡± Sara red at Simon. ¡°And I didn¡¯t sneak off to go anywhere with him!¡± she snapped angrily when she saw how the censure in Simon¡¯s eyes had deepened. ¡°He showed up at my office unannounced, despite the fact that I told him that I didn¡¯t want to see or talk to him. He said he wanted to apologize and call a truce between us, but I didn¡¯t really care because I don¡¯t trust him and I didn¡¯t want his apology because it meant nothing to me!¡±


    Her voice was louder now and Simon could see that tears had pooled in her eyes. He moved closer to touch her. This wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d wanted. He¡¯d never intended to hurt her or make her cry.


    He reached out, ¡°Sara I¡¯m -¡±


    She moved out of his reach and his hand dropped back to his side, ¡°No! Don¡¯t touch me, Simon,¡± she said. The tears dropped now, and she wiped them away furiously with her palm, ¡°I don¡¯t need you or anyone else to protect me from anything or anyone. I¡¯ve been doing very fine before you came along and I will continue to do so. Please find someone else to finish the rest of your apartment because I won¡¯t be doing it anymore!¡± she concluded, and then she stormed out, leaving Simon rooted to the spot where he stood, knowing he¡¯d screwed things up very badly.

 37

    ¡°I am so happy you and Scott are finally getting married,¡± Sara said to Vivian one afternoon.


    They were at Vivian¡¯s apartment, putting the wedding favors for the reception together. Vivian looked so happy, and Sara couldn¡¯t help but think that her soon to be sister inw was just glowing with happiness. She guessed that was the sort of thing that happened when you werepletely in love with a man who treated you like you were the only woman on the. Sara and Vivian were bing very close too, sort of like the sister Sara never had, and she thought it was really awesome.


    ¡°I know right,¡± Vivian replied excitedly, ¡°I really can¡¯t wait to marry your brother,¡±


    Sara giggled at thatment.


    ¡°What?¡± asked Vivian,


    ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sara said with a smile, ¡°but when we were growing up Scott was such a pain in the butt. I used to think that I couldn¡¯t wait to be rid of him, Iughed because here you are, looking forward to spend the rest of your life with him. Don¡¯t get me wrong, that was a long time ago. You know, even though we argued so much, when he was away in boarding school, I missed him terribly. He protected me too¡­ After our father left, I think he saw it as his responsibility to look after me and mom,¡± she stared at Vivian, ¡°I think the both of you are going to make each other very happy,¡±


    Vivian blushed hard, ¡°Thank you.¡± She said,


    Sara nodded, and wondered if she¡¯d ever find a love like theirs, and as usual whenever she thought about something like that, she found herself thinking about Simon.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She missed him¡­. Terribly, and her heart ached for him whenever she thought about him. Sara had not seen Simon since she¡¯d left his apartment angrily two weeks ago. He¡¯d called repeatedly for the first three days. He¡¯d even called her office too to the extent that her assistant had begged her to just answer as the calls were distracting her from doing her job properly, but Sara had insisted that she wasn¡¯t going to take the call¡­. Until finally, he¡¯d stopped, leaving her weirdly disappointed.


    All she¡¯d gotten since then was a text from him letting her know that he had no ns of hiring another interior designer and that if she wanted to get paid for the work she¡¯d already done, then she¡¯de over andplete the job he¡¯d hired her to do.


    But Sara wasn¡¯t the kind of woman who responded to threats, not anymore, so she¡¯d simply ignored him. She knew that he¡¯d pay her soon enough, at least when he realized that she wasn¡¯t going to give in, but two weeks had done by now and she¡¯d not heard a peep from Simon, and Sara was beginning to think that she was never going to hear from him again. Why that realization filled her with great sadness, she had no idea, since it¡¯d been her decision to walk away.


    Sara straightened in her seat, and hoped Vivian wouldn¡¯t suspect anything from the question she was about to ask her, ¡°Is Simon Hamilton going to be at the wedding?¡±


    Vivian nodded, ¡°Yup. He¡¯s going to be the best man too. Scott didn¡¯t tell you?¡±


    No, Scott had not told her, but she¡¯d guessed that Simon was going to be present at the wedding whether he was the best man or not so she didn¡¯t have to ask Scott. What that also meant was that she was going to be standing at the altar with him too, since she was Vivian¡¯s Chief bridesmaid. The mere thought of seeing him again made her feel giddy.


    ¡°So I didn¡¯t mean to pry but I¡¯ve been curious,¡± said Vivian as she packaged one of the gifts, ¡°About who you¡¯re bringing to the wedding¡­ I mean  your date,¡±


    Sara avoided meeting her gaze, and instead concentrated on the bag she was holding, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Or maybe I should just say no one,¡±


    Vivian didn¡¯t look convinced, ¡°You¡¯re not bringing a date? Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m not dating anyone and I have no one to ask,¡±


    Vivian giggled, ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± she said casually, ¡°What about Simon Hamilton? Not to pry or anything, but I think I noticed something between the both of you when we were at Scott¡¯s ce for dinner the other night,¡±


    Sara didn¡¯t know what to do with that information. Were they really that obvious? Did Simon say something to Scott? Did Scott notice something too? If he did, how did he feel about her being involved with his friend? Sara tried to keep her cool but inside, her heart was beating wildly. It usually did whenever Simon¡¯s name was mentioned and It was the most infuriating thing, but she didn¡¯t seem to have any control over it.


    ¡°Why would you say that?¡± Sara asked, feigning innocence.


    Vivian shook her head, ¡°Call me silly but It felt like there was some chemistry between the both of you. Not to mention the long conversation you two seemed to be having right outside before you both left that evening,¡±


    Sara gave up on packaging any more gifts and stared at Vivian,¡± You guys saw? Did Scott see too?¡±


    Vivian nodded, ¡°Yes, but he seemed to think that you were both discussing the ns you had for his apartment. I on the other hand,¡± she winked, ¡°I thought it was about something entirely different, but don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t say anything to Scott because I wasn¡¯t sure and let¡¯s face it, we both know how meddlesome Scott can be when he gets into ¡®protective mode¡¯,¡±


    Vivian was right, Sara thought. She wasn¡¯t sure Scott would be very thrilled by the news of her shagging his friend and she didn¡¯t think there was any point telling him about it now that whatever she had with Simon was a thing of the past. It still didn¡¯t make things easier for her, since she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about him during the day and was tormented by dreams of him making love to her at night when she slept.


    ¡°Is Simon bringing a date?¡± Sara couldn¡¯t stop herself from asking.


    ¡°Not that I know of,¡± came Vivian¡¯s reply.

 38

    She could open up to Vivian, Sara thought. She desperately needed to open up to someone about her careless fling with Simon Hamilton or she was going to explode, ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Sara admitted, ¡°We did have a fling¡­ A one night stand as some people call it, but that was it. We¡¯re done now and he¡¯s not going to be my date to the wedding or anywhere else. If I don¡¯t get someone else toe with, I can attend the wedding alone. There¡¯s no rule that says that I can¡¯t, is there?¡±


    Vivian shook her head in response.


    And if Simon wanted to bring some woman to the wedding as his date, he was free to do so as it was none of her business, Sara thought, but the thought of seeing another woman in his arms made her want to burst into tears.


    ____________


    Sara set the crystal tiara carefully over Vivian¡¯s topknot of dark curls, watching her reflection in the mirror to position thisst piece of wedding finery with perfect precision.


    ¡°There!¡± she said with a satisfied smile, stepping back to fluff out the veil attached to the tiara.  ¡°You look fabulous! A princess bride if ever I saw one.¡±


    Vivian¡¯s eyes sparkled with happy anticipation. ¡°I hope Scott thinks so too.¡±


    ¡°How could he not?¡± Sara¡¯s gaze dropped to take in the heavily beaded and embroidered bodice of the wedding dress. It was molded to every feminine curve like a second skin. Little cap sleeves led into slow heart-shaped neckline, echoed at her tiny waist with a slight dip from which a manyyered tulle skirt frothed to the floor. It was pure romance and typically Vivian, ¡°You¡¯ll take his breath away.¡±


    They shared a sisterhood smile.


    ¡°You look fabulous, too, Sara. That dark red suits you.¡±


    It did. And the simple elegance of the strapless satin sheath was much more her style. Though Vivian had stuck her with a flower in her hair, a dark red rose nestled against the topknot of curls which were more unruly than the bride¡¯s but hopefully fastened securely by pins. Her four bridesmaids were wearing their hair up like Vivian¡¯s. At the moment, the other three, close friends of her Vivian, were out of the room, checking out the bouquets which had just been delivered.


    Vivian took on the opportunity for a private chat. ¡°You know what would really make me happy?¡± she pressed.


    ¡°I thought you were over the moon already, marrying the man you love.¡±


    ¡°if you¡¯d just give Simon Hamilton a chance. I think he likes you. He¡¯s Scott¡¯s best man. As my chief bridesmaid, you¡¯ll be partnered with him and¡­¡±


    ¡°Please¡­¡± Sara rolled her eyes in exasperation at Vivian¡¯s matchmaking attempt, ¡°¡­ don¡¯t start on that again.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s really nice. All the times I¡¯ve met him, he was nice. And he hasn¡¯t picked up with anyone since he arrived into town,¡±


    ¡°You want tond me with a man on your wedding day of all days. You should be focused on yourself not me,¡±


    ¡°Now I¡¯m beginning to think you¡¯re being nit-picky. You¡¯ve got to face it, Sara. Simon Hamilton is a very attractive man and you really like him too. The feeling is mutual,¡±


    ¡°And he and I are done. I¡¯m beginning to regret telling you about our one night stand. I don¡¯t need him or any other man. I have my job to keep me upied,¡±


    Vivian gritted her teeth. ¡°Your job cannot take the ce of a man in your life.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. They¡¯re something else. Your job will keep you busy, especially if you love what you do. And you won¡¯t get hurt if you focus on it¡­ Unlike men like Simon Hamilton,¡±


    ¡°Now you¡¯re being cynical.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. Just telling it how it is.¡±


    ¡°Jobs indeed,¡± Vivian scoffed. ¡°Whoever heard of stuff like that. Anyways, at least it shows there¡¯s some romance left in your soul,¡± she reasoned, returning to her pitch. ¡°Simon Hamilton could be good for you.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Sara shrugged, not wanting an argument today of all days. ¡°Well, if he is, he is.¡±


    ¡°So you will give him a chance.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll dance with him at your wedding if he asks and hope he doesn¡¯t tread on my toes. Happy now?¡±


    Vivian rxed into augh which ended in a rueful grimace. ¡°You two made such a striking pair when Scott invited you guys for dinner. Too bad you guys already screwed things up, but there¡¯s still a chance to fix things,¡±


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± It was the most nonmittal reply Sara coulde up with.


    Vivian rattled on. ¡°Scott says¡­¡±


    The other bridesmaids erupted into the room, carrying the bouquets and eximing how beautiful they were, and any further talk about Simon Hamilton was abruptly dropped, much to Sara¡¯s relief. She didn¡¯t want to discuss him or anything about him. It was easier to keep him tucked away as a private memory.


    Her stomach clenched at the need that suddenly wed through her. Stupid, she fiercely told herself. Magic could never be recaptured, especially after the conversation they had thest time they saw each other. It would be different, a second time around. In fact, it might even spoil the memory she had of him. Better that he remained in the past.


    The only problem was, she couldn¡¯t get interested in other men, despite her  best efforts to couple herself with quite a few reasonably attractive prospects. She still wanted to find someone to be her sperm donor, but she didn¡¯t know why she was holding back now. Or maybe she did and just didn¡¯t want to admit it to herself.


    It was actually Simon Hamilton who was getting in the way, or at least the memories of him, making other men seem hopelessly pale inparison.


    She hadn¡¯t even been tempted to pick up with Mark Forbes again, despite his abject requests for another chance to go out with her again.


    Simon Hamilton had indeed wrecked any chance of her connecting to someone else who might very well be good for her¡­ She wandered over to the window, knowing the vintage cars to transport the wedding party were due to arrive. The cars had been Scott¡¯s idea, matching up to Wisteria House, where Vivian had chosen for the reception. lt was very romantic. As it should be on their wedding day. The weather had smiled on them. It was a lovely sunny afternoon. The ceremony at the church was scheduled for four o¡¯clock and it was now three-fifteen.

 39

    ¡°The cars areing up the street now,¡± she announced, d they wouldn¡¯t cause any hitch in the arrangements. She wanted everything to be perfect for Scott and Vivian. Her brother¡¯s wedding.


    It might be the only one her family would have. She couldn¡¯t see herself ever getting married. For some women there was only ever one man, and Sara was starting to suspect that hers had been Simon Hamilton.


    ____________


    Simon Hamilton had never found himself nervous about any woman in his life. Women threw themselves at him and he¡¯d never cared much whenever his rtionship with any of them ended. Until he met Sara McCall.


    After three weeks, he¡¯d be seeing her again and he had no idea why he was so damn nervous. He hadn¡¯t been able to stop thinking about her for three fucking weeks. Theirst conversation had been horrible and he med himself for it. Out of jealousy he¡¯d said some horrible things to her, including using her of sneaking around with her ex, and for that he was truly sorry. All he¡¯d wanted to do for days was apologize, but Sara wouldn¡¯t give him a chance. It seemed like she¡¯d been looking for a way to cut him out of her life, and when he¡¯d given her a reason, she¡¯d not hesitated to do so.


    His feelings had gradually moved from remorse, to sadness and then anger. He was remorseful about what he had said, but he was angry that she¡¯d found it so easy to get rid of him, while he¡¯d been stuck for three weeks thinking about her, unable to concentrate on anything else. He was going to see her again today, but he didn¡¯t care, at least that was what he told himself. He was here for Scott and he¡¯d do everything in his power to stay out of her way since that was what she wanted.


    ¡°Wait for me to help. Mom!¡±


    Simon closed his eyes and counted to three before he opened them again. The seductive lilt of Sara¡¯s voice tempted him, but he wasn¡¯t going to look, he told himself. He didn¡¯t want to look.


    ¡°Now, Sara, I¡¯m the mother of the groom. Don¡¯t do me out of my job,¡±


    Sheughed.


    That did it.


    He stopped and looked.


    She¡¯d taken a couple of steps towards the lead car and was swinging towards him, looking at the ground to be covered from the bride¡¯s car to the church. For some reason, she nced in his direction at that same time. Her head jerked in shock at her first sight of him, and a look he couldn¡¯t understand chased across her face.


    Now was the time to nod or wave and move right on by, Simon told himself. But his body didn¡¯t obey that dictate. She stared at him and he stared at her, both of them totally immobile. It was as if they were caught in a time-warp where only they existed, bonded together by memories that were uniquely theirs.


    She was vividly, vibrantly, and undeniably stunning¡­ so beautiful he couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away. Her hair was piled on top of her head and he remembered it sprawled on his pillow, inadvertently showing off the long graceful curve of her neck which he¡¯d kissed many times.  She had a red flower in her hair. The same dark red as the dress she was wearing, a strapless dress that bared her shoulders and arms, the hollow at the base of her neck, and the slight swell of flesh that hinted at the lush fullness of her breasts.


    Simon¡¯s mouth went dry, remembering the tight texture of her nipples, and the amazing taste of them. His hands itched to span her provocatively small waist, to run them over the voluptuous curve of her hips, down the long silky line of her thighs. He could feel himself stirring, the desire she evoked zinging through his bloodstream, pumping up an urgent need to have her again.


    ¡°Simon!¡± The call of his name snapped the dangerous thrall. It came from one of the groomsmen, who Scott had introduced him to weeks before. Simon nodded, smiled and shook hands with the man, but It felt as though he was reacting in slow motion. Words finally came.


    He had a brief conversation with the man and turned away. He didn¡¯t risk another look at Sara because he couldn¡¯t bring himself to. His legs took him where he had to go. A church was supposed to be a safe haven, but today it felt like a trap but there was no escape from it. He was here for Scott, not anyone else¡­ Not Sara¡­ And it didn¡¯t matter how devastatingly beautiful she looked.


    Sara gave herself a mental shake. Simon Hamilton was here! Of course he was here, she scolded herself. It hadn¡¯t been a hallucination. He was the best man for God¡¯s sake. He¡¯de for the wedding, was in the church right now, waiting for it to begin.


    The way he¡¯d looked at her¡­ her whole body was still tingling. Despite the weeks having passed since their time together, it had felt as though time had stood still and the intimate connection was just as immediate and powerful as it had been then. No difference at all. And her heart was skittering all over the ce at the thought of having another night with him.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    But he wasn¡¯t her partner tonight. Her mind trembled at the enormity of what she was thinking and feeling. He hadn¡¯t made any contact with her. He¡¯d was here for her brother. Sara didn¡¯t bring a date, but she could hang out and spend time with anyone she wanted today, but yet given the chance, she would choose to be with Simon Hamilton. All night.


    _________


    Sara ached from the tension of waiting for Simon to make some move on her. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to ept that he wasn¡¯t going to, yet how else could she exin the distance he had kept from her.


    He was with some blond woman who was making no effort to hide the fact that she found him attractive. She wore a dark green gown which Sara deemed inappropriate for a wedding and Sara couldn¡¯t deny the stab of jealousy that went through her when she saw Simon whisper something into the woman¡¯s ears. The blondughed gleefully, as if whatever Scott said was the funniest thing she¡¯d ever heard, and Sara fought the urge to roll her eyes.

 40

    After the wedding ceremony, there¡¯d been a photo session outside the church. Simon had emerged, headed straight for the married couple, shook Scott¡¯s hand, kissed the bride, a dazzling smile apanying his congrattions, but the smile hadn¡¯t been turned on Sara. He hadn¡¯t even looked at her when it was time for the group photos, including the one with just the two of them.


    He¡¯d seemed reluctant to touch her too as they took the picture, but even as his arm wrapped around her waist for the few seconds when they took the picture, he¡¯d barely looked at her.


    With her heart turning over with disappointment, she¡¯d watched him go chat with everyone, including her mom, and then move to the side of a very stylish blond woman. The same woman who was by his side now.


    Sara told herself repeatedly that she didn¡¯t care. Besides, her own role as Chief bridesmaid had kept her busy; seeing that Vivian was posed perfectly for the photographs, then helping her into the car with Scott, ensuring the billowingyers of tulle didn¡¯t get caught on anything. Simon, she had then argued to herself, was probably waiting until she had some time to herself.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    There¡¯d been another much longer session with the photographer in the lovely garden setting at Wisteria House where the reception had been booked. The two-storeyed home had wonderful verandas, their supporting columns skirted by ornate whitece ironwork. Guests had been invited onto the upper veranda to watch all the formal posing in the garden while they were served cocktails and hors d¡¯oeuvres.


    Several times Sara had felt Simon¡¯s gaze burning into her, but when she¡¯d nced up at the onlooking crowd, his attention was not focused on her at all.


    Scott called him over, insisting he wanted a shot of Simon with himself and Vivian. Simon obliged his old friend butughingly declined posing for a foursome with Sara.


    ¡°Oh we have taken so many pictures already,¡± he¡¯d excused, and then he was gone again, leaving Sara with the feeling he was avoiding any contact with her. Yet why would that be so?


    Okay yes, so maybe she¡¯d ignored all his texts and calls, but he deserved it after the horrible things he¡¯d said to her and used her of, but she hadn¡¯t chased him, hadn¡¯t made a nuisance of herself. At the end of the night they¡¯d shared, she hadn¡¯t tried to cling on or press for some further involvement with him. Did he fear she would now? Make some kind of scene he¡¯d hate? Or¡­ her stomach cramped at the thought¡­ had he met some other woman he wanted to keep? It would exin why he¡¯d been so reluctant to be linked to her in a photograph.


    The torment of not knowing what he was thinking gued her all through the reception dinner. Despite the fact that they were all seated at the bridal table and he seemed to be quite chatty with everyone else, Simon didn¡¯t once switch his attention to her.


    The only evidence that he hadn¡¯tpletely forgotten their short time together and its intimate aftermath was the one long sizzling look outside the church, and that certainly wasn¡¯t being repeated.


    Sara doggedly ate what was put in front of her, assured Vivian the food was great without knowing whether it was or not, forced adequate responses to the general chat at the bridal table, smiled when a smile was expected. She sat through the speeches without hearing a word, though her gaze remained fixed on each speaker as though she was listening avidly. But she was dying inside, drowning in a sea of painful confusion and frustration. She could only hope no one noticed. It was her brother¡¯s wedding for God¡¯s sake.


    _________


    Simon grilled his teeth, fighting the surge of violence that urged him to wipe the smirk off the face of the man who was currently dancing with Sara. He wanted to tear his arm from Sara¡¯s waist, and break the fingers that were feeling their way up the erotic curve of her spine.


    His gaze targeted the dance floor. Other couples were jigging apart, happily putting their own steps to the beat of the music. Not Sara and her partner, who was all too conveniently no taller than she was. The guy, who was one of the groomsmen, had her thighs glued to his, and the hand now spread over the lower slope of the pit of her back was definitely applying pressure.


    A red haze of fury tinged Simon¡¯s thoughts. He knew dancing wasn¡¯t on Kevin Macy¡¯s mind. More like wet dreams. The guy undoubtedly had an erection. Any minute now he¡¯d be dancing Sara out the opened French doors, finding a shadowed ce on the veranda¡­


    His chair almost tipped over as Simon erupted onto his feet. It had taken iron control not to make any connection with Sara McCall this time around, but be damned if he was going to let some other guy connect with her right under his nose. He barely stopped himself from charging like a bull, head down, nostrils steaming, horns lowered ready to gore. It was certainly how he felt.


    Sara knew she should slop what Kevin Macy was doing. She¡¯d slid into a careless passive state, too drained of energy to bother forcing a break away from him. Nevertheless, being nice to him did not include allowing him this frottage on the dance floor. It was getting downright dirty and he was probably nursing ideas she didn¡¯t want to encourage.


    He was not the man for her. He never would be. And she didn¡¯t care if Vivian scolded her for not grabbing what was avable. All too avable, Sara thought grimly, screwing up the strength to make a few things clear to Kevin Macy. Just as she was lifting her gaze to his face, she saw a hand mp over his shoulder, a strong darkly toned hand, its fingers bent like lethal ws, digging into Kevin¡¯s suitcoat. Her heart instantly skipped a beat.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Kevin protested, loosening his grip on her as he half turned to face the threatened assault.


    Simon Hamilton glowered at him from his intimidating height, the power of his physique a ready deterrent to any argument, though he didn¡¯t need it. The aggressive energy he emitted was enough to drop Kevin¡¯s jaw and kill any further words he might have spoken.

 41

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Simon grated out, his dark eyes zing a challenge that would have shriveled anyst scrap of foolhardy courage. ¡°This dance with Sara is mine.¡±


    Kevin not only didn¡¯t dispute the im, he didn¡¯t even check with Sara if she wanted to be passed over to Simon. He dropped her like a hot coal and back-tracked off the dance floor, gesturing for Simon to take her over. Which he did, with a speed that almost swept her off her feet. Pressed to another male body-a very different male body- Sara struggled against the flood of excitement it stirred, a rebellious sense of pride insisting that she shouldn¡¯t surrender to it willy nilly.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t ask for my permission, Simon,¡± she fired at him, her eyes defying his arrogance in assuming he could keep her wailing for hours and still do whatever he wanted with her.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± He returned her challenge with blistering mockery. ¡°You can reject me if you want to.¡±


    She burned. From head to toe she burned with the need to be with him.


    To deny it would bepletely self-defeating. ¡°Whatever. I hear business has been going well for you and Scott,¡± she said, moving to less contentious ground and being deliberately nd so he wouldn¡¯t know her whole body was aquiver from being in contact with his again.


    ¡°Very well indeed,¡± he answered, his chin tilting belligerently, his green eyes zing with self-determination.


    ¡°I guess that means your move to New York has not been in vain. That must give you a lot of satisfaction,¡± she ran on, suddenly hating the fact that she¡¯d had no part in it.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he acknowledged, but the mockery was back, deriding this conversation, telling her it had no relevance.


    It goaded her into demanding some recognition of her as a person, not just the object of a desire he could pick up and put down as he liked.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask me how I¡¯ve been?¡±


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to know.¡± Ruthless truth. He only wanted to know her in the biblical sense.


    She averted her gaze from the intensely raw pration of his and writhed through the shame of blushing like a schoolgirl.


    ¡°It¡¯s trivia, Sara, and it won¡¯t change anything,¡± he stated harshly. ¡°Besides, you made it very clear weeks ago that you didn¡¯t want to hear from me anymore. I see no reason why I should care now,¡±


    He was angry with her, Sara knew that, and he wanted her to know, ¡°Well, my life might be trivia to you but it¡¯s not trivia to me,¡± she shed back at him, a fierce resentment surging at his dismissive attitude.


    His eyes narrowed, weighing the strength of her attack and whether it was worth his while to make any concession to it. ¡°You seem upset about it even though you made that choice. You ignored me for days. But fine, I¡¯ll y along if you want. What do you want to tell me?¡± he demanded. ¡°Give me the important highlights.¡±


    There were none. Her job had provided triumphs-winning ounts against strongpetition-she had many clients wanting her services, but they were hardly huge highlights that would make her shine for him. Her personal life was virtually a void, and she wasn¡¯t about to admit that her experience with him had put her off other men.


    ¡°You just said now that you don¡¯t care so why should I tell you anything,¡± she tossed out, not caring about hiding her true feelings anymore.


    He looked startled, then bemused. His mouth burst into a wide, dazzling grin. Then he threw back his head andughed, startling her with his wild amusement. He sped her closer, whirling her around, his thighs driving them both across the dance floor in a flurry of steps that carved a path through the crowd of other dancers, out past the opened French doors and out of the room.


    Sara realized that they were in an empty hallway, and before she could figure out what he was about to do, he opened one of the doors and pulled her into one of the rooms, shutting the door firmly behind them. The fact that they were now away from the crowd did nothing to lessen the heat Simon generated in her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember saying anything funny,¡± she protested, feeling intensely vulnerable now that they weren¡¯tpletely surrounded by people.


    Simon¡¯s dark eyes twinkled amusement as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, Sara,¡± His chest heaved against her breasts and his slowly expelled breath tingled over her upturned face. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so damn much¡­¡± he repeated, his deep voice lowered to a caressing murmur.


    It was ttering to hear him admit that he missed her at least, but thinking of all the high-flying women he surely met while doing his business, and the one he¡¯d been entertaining minutes ago, Sara muttered, ¡°Well, I¡¯m afraid that I can¡¯t say that the feeling is mutual as I don¡¯t share the sentiment,¡±


    Simon shook his head, as though he knew that she was lying. He seemed about to say more, stopped, grimaced, then said,  ¡°You were staring at me at the church¡±


    Simon winced inwardly at the using tone of his voice and the baldness of his statement, but he was still reeling from her rejection weeks ago, ignoring him and all his attempts to reach out to her, and her statement about not sharing the same sentiment, and he knew that she was lying. Her cheeks were flushed red from the air in the room¡­or something else? That thought had blood rushing southward with an unweeck of control. Her eyes looked beautiful as ever. Her lips were full and soft, covered in red lipstick, and Simon told himself again that he¡¯d never seen anyone so beguiling.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Sara weed the righteous indignation that flowed through her, and told herself it wasn¡¯t adrenaline. But since when had righteous indignation made her shake? She reminded herself that Simon had said some really hurtful things to her and it didn¡¯t matter that she was still very attracted to him. His attitude recently had shown her that he was very capable of hurting her, and she wasn¡¯t going to let that sort of thing happen again.

 42

    ¡°From what I recall you were doing a fair amount of looking yourself.¡± She hitched up her chin. ¡°You know you¡¯re an asshole, Simon. You im that you¡¯re nothing like the man people say you are, but that¡¯s just a lie. You used me falsely of something I didn¡¯t do, didn¡¯t bother to apologize for it, threatened me and tried to ckmail me intoing back to work for you by withholding my payment until now. For some reason you think you can drag me in here and charm me with your looks and your words and I¡¯m supposed to run back into your arms? Well, it¡¯s too bad that¡¯s not going to happen, and now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have to get back to the party -¡±


    Simon smiled, revealing gleaming, strong white teeth, and Sara felt momentarily dizzy. He rocked back on his heels and a different light came into his eyes. An altogether more dangerous light, and Sara could see that she was effectively trapped.


    ¡°Let me get out of here, Simon¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he said firmly.


    ¡°No?¡± she asked, surprised at his response.


    He moved even closer, ¡°I¡¯d have apologized if you¡¯d given me a chance to, Sara,¡± he said softly.


    Sara blinked. She knew that he was right, but her emotions had gotten the best of her. That was the problem¡­Whenever she was around him, she couldn¡¯t seem to be able to handle the way she felt. She felt vulnerable and she didn¡¯t want to feel that way. She¡¯d felt it out there when he¡¯d ignored her throughout the ceremony. She¡¯d felt it when she had seen him pay so much attention to that other woman and she felt it now. Despite the fact that she was so mad at him, she still wanted him. Her entire body ached for him and being stuck in an empty room with him wasn¡¯t helping matters at all.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    She stared at his bow tie sitting neatly at the base of his neck and wished she was a vampire, able to sink her teeth into his jugr vein and get into his bloodstream so powerfully he could never shake free of her. Her heart was thumping with the need to hold him to her any way she could. Her hands curled, the urge to w and dig in sweeping through her in a fierce wave, driving her nails into her palms to stop such primitive and futile action.


    Sara had to stop this now. Stop it and walk away like she¡¯d done weeks ago.


    Before she gave her heart, soul and body to him. Though weren¡¯t they his already?


    ¡°You look very beautiful, Sara,¡± Simon  murmured.


    His words jolted her into looking up, meeting the simmering warmth in his eyes. ¡°Thank you, Simon. You look very handsome too, but I really should get back to the party now,¡± she said, although she made no effort to leave because her feet seemed rooted to the spot.


    Simon didn¡¯t move out of her way. Instead, his head dipped towards hers. A kiss wasing. Sara¡¯s heart catapulted around her chest. Her mind screamed that this was the moment to stop him. But her whole body yearned to feel again how it was with him and when his mouth touched hers, there was no thought left of pulling back. Anyst shred of denial was swamped by a rush of blood to the head, blood that sang for all the sensations she craved.


    Simon¡¯s mouth came down onto Sara¡¯s with all the devastation of a match being put to a dry piece of tinder. Three weeks of build-up exploded inside her. Her hands curled into his chest and he pulled her so close to his body that all she could feel was rock-hard muscle and his arousal. Sara could feel moisture gathering between her legs and she moved unconsciously, as if she could assuage the need building there.


    With a move she wasn¡¯t even aware of Simon shifted them, so that Sara was now pressed against the wall. Eyes closed, she could only feel and experience, and give herself up to the onught on her senses. Simon¡¯s hands were in her hair, around her face. His mouth was relentless, not breaking contact, his tongue stabbing deep-and she was as insatiable as he.


    Her arms wound up around his neck, clinging, hands tangling in his silky hair. She finally broke her mouth away for a brief moment, sucking in harsh breaths. Her heart hammered as she felt his hands move down, moulding over her waist, cupping under her buttocks, pulling her into him even more.


    She opened her eyes, but they felt heavy, Simon¡¯s face was close, his breath feathering across her face, his mouth hovering. Feeling bereft, Sara reached up again and pressed her mouth feverishly to his, her whole body arching into Simon¡¯s, reveling in his hard strength. No other man had ever made her feel so hot, so sensual.


    Simon¡¯s hands went to her gown and she could feel him pull it down so easily since it was strapless. She could feel his fingers grazing her skin, the curve of her breasts. She didn¡¯t protest-she couldn¡¯t. Impatient to touch him too, she ran her hands over his shoulders. She felt the muscles move underneath  as his hands pulled her gown lower.


    His mouth left hers and zed a trail of kisses down over her jaw and neck. Sara¡¯s head fell back. All she was aware of was here and now and how badly she craved this touch. His touch.


    Simon¡¯s arm supported her as he tipped her off bnce slightly so she leant further back. His mouth was on the upper slope of her breast and all her nerve-endings seemed to have gathered at the tip, so tight it hurt.


    When she felt him expose her breast, her breath stopped. Simon cupped the voluptuous mound with one hand, his thumb passing back and forth over the hard aching tip. Sara bit her lip and looked down. She was breathing fast, trying to bnce, holding unto the wall as if that could stop her tipping over the edge of this sensation. Between her legs she burned, and she could feel herself fighting the urge to push into Simon¡¯s body.


    ¡°So beautiful¡­¡± he breathed, looking down at her cupped breast with its pouting dusky peak.

 43

    Before Sara could gather her fractured thoughts and steady her breathing he lowered his head and his mouth closed over her nipple. She let out a long moan somewhere between torture and heaven as he drew it into the hot cavern of his mouth and suckled.


    This felt so right-as if they had been transported back in time.


    A tiny sliver of rationality seeped into Sara¡¯s head and woke her from her sensual trance. She became aware of the fact that she was pinned against the wall, and she was making out hotly with the best man at her brother¡¯s reception! She struggled to get herself together, battling a fierce desire to just give in.


    ¡°No¡­no, Simon. Stop.¡± Her hands were on his arms, pushing him back. ¡°You can¡¯t make love to me here,¡±


    After a long moment he lifted his head, chest heaving, cheeks flushed, eyes glittering, but he didn¡¯t let go of her. Sara knew she wasn¡¯t much moreposed. She dropped her hands.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to make love to you,¡± He said, his voice raw.


    Sara was still trembling, ¡°Then what¡­ What were you -¡±


    She was unable to finish her sentence¡­ She couldn¡¯t¡­ Because his hands had moved lower, were lifting up her gown, and his fingers were rubbing against her clit through her panties! Sara couldn¡¯t breathe.


    ¡°Simon¡­.!¡± she gasped.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± he rasped, staring deeply into her eyes and holding her hostage with his.


    She had to try again, ¡°Simon¡­¡±


    His hands grabbed thece and pulled it to one side, his fingers immediately parting her folds and rubbing against her wet clit, ¡°I said. Shut. Up,¡±


    The direct contact with her clit made Sara shut up then, because now she couldn¡¯t even find her voice. His thumb circled over her clitoris. Sara lost herself in the feeling of his finger, in and out, slowly and steadily, and the pad of his thumb, applying more pressure and increasing the friction, flicking over her clit while, adding more elements to the rising heat that had her spiraling, burning, reaching for something that was so desperately close.


    She watched helplessly as he slowly lowered himself to his knees, tipping his head back to continue to meet her gaze.


    ¡°You deserve to be worshiped.¡± He swept his lips across her stomach. ¡°And I want to taste you.¡± Another sweep, but over the top of her sex. Heat coiled tight, and her core clenched at the tantalizing caress. Big, elegant hands brushed up her calves, her thighs, and then she ceased thinking at all.


    ¡°Simon,¡± she cried out, fisting his hair, trying to pull him away or tug him closer-she didn¡¯t know.  Couldn¡¯t decide. Not when pleasure unlike anything she¡¯d ever experienced struck her with great bolts of lightning. Damn, his lips, his tongue¡­ They were voracious. Feasting on her, leaving no part of her unexplored, untouched. Long, luxurious swirls, decadent and wickedps and sucks¡­ He drove her insane with pleasure.


    He inhaled her, breathed across her, amazed at the softness of the curls against his lips, looking delicate and so pretty. He spread her wider, hooking her leg over one of his wide shoulders, granting himself easier ess.  Like a ravenous beast, he growled against her sensitive, wet sex, and the vibration shoved her closer to the edge of release.


    ¡°Simon!¡±


    ¡°Hmmmm¡± he answered, sending more hot vibrations against her throbbing clit. Her tunneling her fingers through his hair. Holding on tight.


    ¡°You¡¯re so fucking sweet,¡± he rasped, nuzzling her, and with one palm molded to her behind, he dragged the other up the inside of her spread thighs.


    Then he was filling her. Two fingers plunged inside her, and like a match struck to dry kindling, she sparked, red, exploded into mes. Her hips bucked wildly, but he never withdrew the hand, two fingers pushing deep within her now and the pad of his thumb pressing harder, moving faster, stronger, his tonguepping faster against her clit, pushing her to the edge, pushing her¡­


    Sara¡¯s heels bore down, her hips surged forward, pressing her clit harder against his mouth as her vagina pulsed fiercely around his fingers, and she spun out of control.


    Dimly, she caught his rough encouragement of ¡°That¡¯s it, baby. That¡¯s it.¡±


    She loosened a hand from his hair and pped it over her lips, muffling her cries as she came against his mouth, her hips rolling and jerking. Raw, dirty ecstasy, stripped to its barest essentials.  That¡¯s who she¡¯d be in this moment as hepped up every evidence of her desire from her flesh, from the insides of her thighs.


    ¡°Please,¡± she begged, weakly pushing his head away as he circled her with tender but relentless strokes. ¡°Simon, please¡­. I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nothing but a challenge to me,¡± he rumbled, standing, his mouth damp. But when he lowered his head and took her lips in a torrid kiss that replicated how he¡¯d just consumed her, she didn¡¯t back away from the vor of herself on his lips and tongue. No, she opened wider to him, turned on so bright it ached.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Palming the back of her thighs, he hiked her in the air. On reflex she wound her legs around his waist. The bump of her swollen, sensitive core against his stomach, that recently satiated heat flickered back to life, and she moaned with each caress.


    ¡°Simon,¡± she breathed against his ear, her cheeks flushed and her heart beating fast. ¡°Oh, Simon,¡±


    ¡°I want you,¡± he whispered fiercely into her ear as he lowered her back to her feet, and guided her hand to lie over the achingly hard ridge in his pants. ¡°Feel how much I want you, Sara. Come home with me tonight,¡±


    And she wanted him, too. But she couldn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t keep this up¡­For her own good, ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I can¡¯t ¡­¡± The words stumbled out of her mouth.


    Through the dark, erotic mists of his desire came her unsteady voice of reason. At first he tried to ignore it-but something at its very heart made Simon still and pull away from her, to stare down into the flushed confusion of her face. His heart was thundering so powerfully he could barely think, let alone speak.


    ¡°You think that it is right to deny me pleasure now that you have taken your own? Is that right?¡± he asked.


    Dumbly, she shook her head.

 44

    Fuelled by a savage wave of frustration, he felt the slow re of anger begin to burn. ¡°You think you can keep tantalizing me and that I will be like a tame puppy who will just keep trotting behind you and taking whatever it is that you dish out to me? Letting you turn me down, ignore me for weeks, walk away from me-so that I can¡¯t sleep at night thinking about your pale, curved body? Taking me so far with your sweet, soft promise and then acting outraged? Is that what men usually let you do, Sara?¡±


    She was too busy catching her breath to rise to the taunt.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°Have you be a tease, Sara?¡± he persisted.


    Her lips were trembling, ¡°No. No.¡±


    ¡°Just a woman who promises so much, who lets a man touch her so intimately and then freezes up? If that isn¡¯t your definition of a tease, then I¡¯d like to know what is.¡±


    Frustratedly, she shook her head-knowing that he spoke nothing but the truth. She was acting like a naive little virgin around him, when they both knew she was anything but. The kind of woman who would let a man only go so far¡­ Was that because she thought that resisting him would make him fall for her? When just one look at the contemptuous mask of his features proved that love was the veryst thing he was feeling?


    And what of her own desires? Hadn¡¯t she been living like a nun for the past two years until Simon came along? Although it had been her decision to live that way, she couldn¡¯t deny the fact that his presence in her life had helped her open up again to the idea of entertaining a man. It was all there for the taking if only she could ept that it would just be no-strings sex.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying I don¡¯t want you-how could I when I¡¯ve just proved the very opposite?¡± she whispered. ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡­I can¡¯t let myself get hurt¡­Not again,¡±


    He nodded, ¡°And for some reason you¡¯re very convinced that that¡¯s what I¡¯m going to do? Hurt you?¡± When she said nothing, he took a step back away from her, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Sara. Have a nice life, and don¡¯t worry about your payment. I¡¯ll send it over first thing on Monday morning, and I¡¯ll find someone else to work on the apartment. Take care,¡±


    _________


    It took Sara ten minutes to gather herself together and find the courage to leave the room and join the party again. As she made her way outside, her mother appeared at her side,


    ¡°There you are, honey! I¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you,¡± Felicia McCall said and took her arm. ¡°Come say goodbye to your brother and his wife before they leave,¡±


    Sara couldn¡¯t find the strength to say anything, so she quietly followed her mother to say goodbye to Scott and Vivian, who were headed to the hotel they¡¯d booked for the night before they¡¯d fly to France the following morning for their honeymoon. As she bade them farewell, she looked around for Simon, but couldn¡¯t find him anywhere, so she guessed he¡¯d gone home.


    Her heart clenched inside her, and she could barely concentrate on anything Vivian and Scott were saying. After the newlyweds left, the guests began to leave too. Her mother followed minutester and Sara found her way back to her car and got in, feeling lost and confused.


    She drove carefully and slowly, but she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Simon. He was an amazing lover, she would give him that. No one had ever made her feel the way he did. Her heart rate increased whenever she saw him, and whenever he looked at her, she felt like the most desirable woman. No one had ever touched her to the point that she lost herself the way she always did whenever she was in his arms, and just the thought of what they¡¯d shared in that room made her shiver¡­ Made her want him all over again.


    Was she being stupid by walking away from him? He was a man, she was a woman, and they wanted each other, so why was she holding back? So what if he didn¡¯t want a rtionship? She didn¡¯t want one either, especially since she knew it wasn¡¯t going to lead anywhere. So why couldn¡¯t they just enjoy each other¡¯spany, and they could end things peacefullyter. They wouldn¡¯t need to make amitment to each other that wouldplicate things, so why push him away?


    Those unanswered questions in her head, Sara found herself driving to his apartment instead of hers. She was drawn to the man, and trying to deny it was just torturing herself and she was done doing that.


    Security let her without hesitation, and Sara guessed that his order to let her in whenever she came over still stood. She was even more surprised to see that he¡¯d not changed the code to the outside door or the private lift going straight up to his apartment.


    Simon heard the lift, and he wondered just who had the code to his lift, and why they wereing to visit him sote at night. After his encounter with Sara at the reception, he was in no mood to entertain anyone. He was exhausted, horny and angry, and all he wanted to do was get some sleep. He¡¯d already taken a shower, pumped himself full of whiskey, and was ready to jump into bed when he¡¯d heard the lift.


    Simon walked out, and was stunned as hell to see Sara, still wearing her Chief bridesmaids gown, and there was a look on her face that looked a lot like she was nervous about something. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke, and then Simon wondered if something had happened to her. His confused look turned into concern and he took two steps closer to her.


    ¡°Sara?¡± he said, ¡°Is everything¡­ Are you alright? What are you doing here?¡±


    Touched by his genuine concern for her, Sara realized at that moment that she¡¯d not nned what she was going to say to him once she arrived. She¡¯d just felt the urge to go to him, and that was exactly what she had done and now that she was standing in his house, she had no idea how to say what she wanted to say. She didn¡¯t even know where to begin.

 45

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Sara replied, her voice low, ¡°Nothing is wrong,¡±


    He nodded, ¡°Alright,¡±


    He was waiting for her to speak. To exin why she¡¯de, but she couldn¡¯t find the words. Also, he looked distracting, bare chested. She could feel her eyes widening as she took in the bronzed magnificence. Whorls of dark hair dusted his pectorals and then met in a silky line that descended down and into the waist of his low-slung sweat pants which barely clung to lean hips. His hair was wet, indicating that he¡¯d just gotten out of the shower. Sara swallowed.


    For a frightening second, she wondered if he already had a woman with him. Her heart began to beat even faster. Knowing how turned on he¡¯d been, and how that blond woman had thrown herself at him, it wouldn¡¯t be very surprising if he¡¯d decided to bring her home with him instead. Like an idiot, she¡¯d rushed over here, without thinking about the possibility that he might havepany.


    ¡°Ermmm, is this a bad time?¡± she asked stupidly, ¡°Because if it is, then I can leave,¡±


    Simon stuck his hands in his pockets and stared at her through hooded eyes, ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to be concerned about that when you decided toe over. So why should it matter now?¡± he asked.


    Sara had to admit that he was right about that, and she could see from his countenance that he was still mad at her, and she deserved it. ¡°I was driving home, and then I decided to stop by¡­ And apologize,¡± she blurted out.


    ¡°What for?¡± he pressed, ¡°For turning down my offer that youe home with me? You don¡¯t have to be sorry. You had every right to say no, and I¡¯m over it,¡±


    But his tone said a different thing. He was still very much upset, and Sara took a step forward, ¡°I know that,¡± she replied, ¡°but I¡¯m going to apologize anyway. I¡¯m sorry¡±


    He avoided her eye, his voice gruff, ¡°Apology epted then,¡±


    The silence that followed for the next few seconds was deafening. Wasn¡¯t he going to say anything else? Well, she had to say something, but now she was feeling like she¡¯d made such a huge mistakeing over. What had she expected him to do anyways? Run into her arms and give her a big hug. She wanted him, but she¡¯d never told a man that she wanted a purely sexual rtionship with him before. She¡¯d never even asked a guy out before¡­. And now¡­


    She began to turn around, ¡°Maybe I shouldn¡¯t havee. Goodbye, Simon,¡± she said.


    ¡°You know you don¡¯t have to leave tonight, Sara,¡± His voice halted her, ¡°I mean, it¡¯s getting reallyte anyways and you can have my room while I make use of another,¡±


    He was setting boundaries, Sara thought. He was trying to let her know that even though she would spend the night at his ce, he wouldn¡¯t make a move on her if she didn¡¯t want him to. But tonight that wasn¡¯t what she wanted. She wanted him to make as many moves as possible.


    Sara turned back around to face him, ¡°That would be nice,¡± she replied, ¡°If it won¡¯t be any trouble. I¡¯m honestly a little bit too tired to drive,¡±


    He shook his head, ¡°Not at all. Would you like something to drink?¡±


    ¡°I think I had enough at the reception,¡± she replied, acknowledging within herself that alcohol had contributed to their reckless attitude too, but she didn¡¯t mention that, ¡°I¡¯d just take a shower instead,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think a small drink would hurt, Sara,¡±


    She gave his suggestion some thought. ¡°I guess so,¡±Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    Sara quietly followed him to the kitchen, where another ss he¡¯d clearly been using sat on the counter. He fished out another ss and poured out a little red wine for her. She knew he was watching her as took sips of the wine, feeling the surface of a smooth Roman bust beneath her fingers.


    Every one of Simon¡¯s senses was pulled as taut as a bow string as he watched her hand smooth over the head of the bust, wanting her hand to be smoothing over him. He had to wonder if perhaps her air of vulnerability was all an act, designed to entice, tease, seduce. She¡¯d let her hair down now, and it was slightly tousled from where she¡¯d run her hands through it, but it wasn¡¯t tousled enough for him yet.


    She turned then, and Simon could see that her ss of wine was empty. He made as if to get the bottle and top her up, but she shook her head jerkily. She was going to make him wait again; he knew it. She wasn¡¯t ready. His desire, already at boiling point, would have to settle to a simmer for now.


    Sara on the other hand, had turned with every intention of asking for some more wine, but she could already feel the effects. Desire hung between them, heavy and potent. Simon stood just feet away, but when he moved as if to give her some more she shook her head. She knew that her courage had faltered, and she could see that he¡¯d already read that in her expression. That disconcerted her. She wasn¡¯t very used to people intuiting her intentions.


    ¡°You must be tired.¡± said Simon.


    She forced a smile. She was anything but. ¡°I guess the stress of the wedding got to me. Would you mind if I went to take a shower now?¡±


    ¡®Alone¡¯ hung between them along with the desire, but it seemed to make it even heavier, denser. Was she doing the right thing? Her body told her no, her head said yes¡­. Or maybe.


    He shook his head, jaw rigid, eyes dark. ¡°Of course not. You can use my shower, and you can borrow one of my shirts when you are done,¡±


    He took the ss from her hand, and Sara had a feeling that he¡¯d taken great care of make sure that his fingers didn¡¯t touch hers.


    ¡°Goodnight, Sara,¡±


    ____________


    When Sara reached his room, she was breathing hard. She went straight into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes over-bright. Her body was too sensitive, and an ache throbbed down low in her belly and between her legs. She dropped her head, hands gripping the edge of the sink.

 46

    She took off her clothes and rushed into the shower, but even the water did nothing to calm her nerves. Minutester she came out, headed for the wardrobe and took out one of his shirts. She went back out into the bedroom, put it on, but it seemed to even make things worse because now every part of her was enveloped in his sent.


    She stopped pacing and sat on the edge of the bed, wondering what the hell was wrong with her. She¡¯d note here for a simple sleep over. She knew that and she was sure as hell that Simon knew it too. Her heart was thumping slow, heavy beats. She was shaking. Adrenaline washed through her system. Her body already knew what was inevitable. She couldn¡¯t deny it to herself. It was as if the center of her being had be maized and could only go in one direction.


    She walked back over to the door and opened it. The only light came from the living room. She walked over and paused at the door. Simon was still down there, sitting on the couch, long legs syed in front of him, in bare feet, the dregs of a ss of wine in his hands into which he was staring broodily. Fear assailed Sara again, and she almost fled, but then he looked in her direction


    Tension snaked up from him to her and an unspoken plea: don¡¯t go. She realized that she couldn¡¯t, even if she¡¯d wanted to. She came into the room, clinging onto the wall as she went. She was melting inside as she came closer and closer. His shirt on her body felt restrictive. Without taking his eyes off hers, Simon carefully ced his ss on the small table at his feet and stood up. She concentrated on his eyes-dark, molten.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡± said Sara.


    He didn¡¯t smile, but she heard the smile in his voice. ¡°You were only gone fifteen minutes.¡±


    ¡°I know I won¡¯t be able to sleep.¡±


    ¡°What do you want, Sara?¡± he asked.


    She shook her head. ¡°I want¡­I want¡­¡± Her face med. ¡°You know what I want. Don¡¯t make me say it, Simon, please.¡±


    ¡°Then show me what you want.¡± His voice was soft, silky, heavy with erotic promise.


    Simon was making here to him all the way. Making sure. Sara stepped forward jerkily until she was standing right in front of him. She could barely breathe. They hardly touched, and now she lifted her hands to his shoulders. They were so wide and high. She took another couple of awkward steps. He was making no move to help her. She looked up at him, a hint of desperation on her face; she could feel sweat on her brow.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you just¡­?¡±


    ¡°You want me to take you? To take the decision out of your hands-so on some level you don¡¯t have to actually make it clear what you want?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No. I need to know that you really want this. I won¡¯t indulge regrets and recriminations in the morning. I¡¯m done with that, Sara,¡±


    Damn him. Since when had he be a psychoanalyst? But Sara¡¯s need was too great. She moved even closer and wound her arms around his neck, bringing her whole body flush against his, leaning into him. Her breasts were crushed into his chest, and she felt him suck in a deep breath. It made her exultant. He might be disying control, but she guessed it was shaky.


    She pulled his head down to hers, her fingers threading through dark, silky hair. She lifted her face to his and angled it to try and kiss him. She felt so awkward. She aimed for his mouth, but ended up bumping his nose, his chin. She pulled back, letting him go. This was ridiculous. No doubt he¡¯d expected her to sashay up to him, throw him down on the sofa and seduce him into mindless ecstasy. Well, he¡¯d be waiting.


    Her voice was stiff with humiliation. This was exactly what she¡¯d feared. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I haven¡¯t¡­done this in¡­I don¡¯t know how to¡­. Look, I think you expect me to be something¡­more than I am.¡±


    She turned to go but he caught her wrist and pulled her back. She fell against him, caught off-bnce. With the practiced ease which shecked and so envied, he immediately cradled the back of her head with a big hand, the other holding her close against him.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    ¡°Not at all. I just wanted to be sure you were ready for this¡±


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m not, after all,¡± she breathed up, mesmerized by his eyes.


    ¡°I think you are.¡± And then he bent his head and kissed her, exactly how she¡¯d been aching to be kissed. Both hands now threaded through her hair, messing it up, cradling her head. Her hands rested on his chest and wound higher until they were tight around his neck. They barely paused for breath; there was no awkwardness now. First their kiss was slow, sensual, a tentative touching of tongues, tasting. Then it developed into full-on passion, igniting an inferno between them.


    Somehow, Sara didn¡¯t know how, Simon had manoeuvered them and now her back was against a wall, just like he had done hours ago at the reception. He lifted his head. One hand was high on the wall behind her, the other resting on her hip. She felt as boneless as a rag doll. She looked up, her eyes zed, her lips plump and tingling.


    His index-finger traced around her jaw and down to the top button of her shirt¡­. His shirt. Her heart stopped and kick-started again. Faster.


    ¡°Do you have any idea how much I¡¯ve missed you, Sara,¡±


    She shook her head. All she knew was that she had definitely missed him too, and she was tired of pretending. Tired of holding back.


    He started to undo the shirt. ¡°As much as this turns me on seeing you in my shirt,¡± he said gruffly, ¡°I think I¡¯m going to have to burn it if it doesn¡¯te off faster¡±


    ¡°Well, They¡¯re are yours¡­¡± Sara said matter of factly, distractedly.


    ¡°Then I guess it will be a bonfire.¡± His fingers were undoing the buttons. She tipped her head back to give him ess, and she felt him drop his head and press a kiss to the exposed, delicate skin of her throat. Sara moaned softly.

 47

    She was in a sensualnd that she¡¯d never thought she¡¯d experience. She¡¯d heard other women talk of lust and chemical attraction, and had always secretly disbelieved them or thought it was overrated. Ever since she¡¯d met Simon¡­she knew.


    She could sense his growing impatience as he pulled the shirt off herpletely until it fell at her feet, a pool of ck. She jerked, anticipationsering through her veins as he stared longingly at her naked nody. Then he bent his head and blew softly and enticed, before flicking out his tongue to taste and then drawing that tight, extended peak into his mouth. Sara¡¯s head fell back. She couldn¡¯t stop the moan, and wondered at this woman she didn¡¯t recognise.


    As Simon suckled, a tight spiral of intense sensation connected directly with Sara¡¯s groin. She found herself pressing closer, seeking, wanting more, arching her back. He was torturing her with his mouth. She couldn¡¯t breathe. He reached down, lifted one leg and hooked it around his thigh. His other hand was on the leg that was barely able to keep her standing.


    His fingers moved around to cup the cheek of her bottom before slipping his hand between her legs. She stopped breathing entirely for a long moment as he slid his finger into her, into a caress so intimate that she would have closed her legs if she¡¯d been able to. He was relentless, his mouth on her breasts, his finger sliding in and out, until finally, as if he¡¯d been teasing her, he found the center of where she throbbed unmercifully and, with one flick of his thumb, she came violently. She could only cling to him as the sensation ripped through her body in case she¡¯d be swept away too.


    Her leg fell, and she gave a huge sigh of relief, and then yelped as Simon lifted her into his arms against his chest.


    ¡°Time to go somewhere morefortable, I think. Much as I could take you standing against that wall right now, I¡¯ll resist the temptation.¡±


    She buried her head in his shoulder as he climbed the stairs and shouldered his way into his room. A part of her wanted nothing more than that carnality, but another part of her was grateful that he was being so considerate.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    He looked down at her briefly, his face tight with need. ¡°Is this OK, Sara? No more regrets?¡±


    She nodded. She knew one thing for sure now. ¡°Yes.¡±


    __________


    Sara woke to a delicious sensation of someone running a finger up and down her bare spine in a tingling caress. Simon. Warmth flooded her even as she registered aches and pleasurable pains all over her body. She opened one eye to see him smiling at her, looking clean, vital and very awake. He smelt fresh, delicious. And sexy. Heat flooded her belly.


    The previous night came back in Technicolor: the pathetic fight she¡¯d put up before giving in, the amount of times they¡¯d made love, the amount of times she¡¯d reached ecstasy because of him.


    He bent his head and his mouth hovered near her ear. ¡°No regrets and no recriminations. We agreed, remember?¡±


    Sara turned her face into the pillow so he wouldn¡¯t see her blushing. She just nodded into the pillow. She heard a soft, sexy chuckle and then felt a yful swat on her bottom. The bed dipped and she could feel him standing up.


    ¡°Come on; I¡¯ll make you breakfast,¡±


    Sara lifted her head with a squeak. ¡°Hmmmm, breakfast¡­¡± She cursed under her breath as went to get up, and realized that she had no cover, as she couldn¡¯t put on her bridesmaids gown from the previous day. She was stuck.


    Simon stood between her and the door from where she could get to the bathroom. She was not ready to parade around naked in broad daylight. He watched, amused, as she pulled the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around her before getting up and trailing it after her.


    Before she was clear of him, he caught her and pulled her against him. He pressed a hot kiss to her mouth. ¡°Take the sheet for now, but I¡¯ll have you walking around naked in no time.¡±


    ¡°Never¡­¡±


    He kissed her again, and suddenly the vortex was opening up around them, and in a small amount of time Sara knew she would be saying yes to anything, even going to work naked. But then he drew back, showing her that ultimately he was in control, whereas she was not. He pushed her gently towards the bathroom.


    Under the powerful spray of her shower, Sara hugged her arms around herself and gave into the stream of images. She groaned out loud as she remembered one moment, half in mortification, half in a state of arousal, even now. Simon had been poised above her, skin gleaming, slick with sweat, his erection nudging her moist entrance. As if he¡¯d been testing her again, he¡¯d waited until her nerves had been screaming for release. She¡¯d arched up to him, willing him to impale her, but he¡¯d waited until she¡¯d brokenly begged him. And then he¡¯d slid into her slowly, deeply.


    With a curt flick of her wrist Sara turned the shower to cold and endured it for a minute. Anything to dampen her ming hormones.


    ____________


    THREE WEEKS LATER


    Sara was sitting in her office when her phone rang. Her face broke into a smile when she saw that it was Simon calling. Thest three weeks had been great ¡­ More than great in fact. It was amazing.


    She was happy. Simon made her happy. They were spending a lot of time together and most of the nights they spent together too. Sometimes at his ce, and sometimes at hers. He made herugh. He made feel beautiful, and he made passionate love to her that always left her craving for more. For the first time in a long time, she let herself rx and just live in the moment. Although she had to remind herself sometimes that it wasn¡¯t a real rtionship, she refused to let it bother her. She was happy now and that was what mattered the most.


    ¡°Hi,¡± she said cheerfully as she picked up, a smile stered on her face. ¡°I thought you said you were going to be very busy today,¡±


    ¡°Wow, are you chasing me away already?¡± Simon teased, ¡°Damn, you¡¯re a mean woman,¡±

 48

    Sara chuckled. He made her feel like she was in high school again¡­ Blushing uncontrobly because the cute boy in ss noticed her, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in three days and I miss you,¡± said Simon.


    It was one of the things she liked so much about him. He never failed to tell her that he missed her whenever they were away from each other and she had no doubt that he craved her presence as much as she craved his.


    ¡°That¡¯s your fault, not mine,¡± Sara shot back, ¡°Besides I have other clients to attend to. You do not get to have me all to yourself all the time,¡±


    ¡°Hmmmm¡­. I will make you pay for that,¡± he said, but it was a threat Sara was looking forward to. ¡°What do you say I take you out tonight?¡±


    ¡°What? Where?¡±


    He paused for a moment, and then just said, ¡°Dancing.¡±


    She chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not a very good dancer, Simon¡±


    He scoffed, ¡°Oh please, I saw you dance with Kelvin at your brother¡¯s reception.¡±


    ¡°That was not dancing¡­. That was -¡±


    ¡°-Dirty dancing,¡± hepleted for her.


    Sara tired hard not tough, ¡°I was not going to say that,¡±


    ¡°Yeah, whatever, but that was what it was. I won¡¯t lie, I was tempted to punch him in the face for holding you the way he did. It was very inappropriate,¡±


    Sara let out theughter now, ¡°Oh you¡¯re one to talk. Simon, I¡¯ve never met a man who does very inappropriate things with so much confidence the way you do. This is a case of a pot calling the kettle ck, and let me add that you were very rude in the way you interrupted us¡±


    Simon hissed, clearly he felt no remorse at her usation, ¡°No one touches my woman that way. He can go get his somewhere else,¡± he said.


    His woman? Those words shouldn¡¯t have made her feel all tingly inside but it did, and Sara fought to keep her thoughts and feelings under control. She couldn¡¯t afford to get carried away.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Simon continued, ¡°A friend of mine invited me. He runs out a small bar in town and he assured me that the drinks and music are good, so I thought you¡¯d like toe with me,¡±


    How could she say no? They¡¯d not seen each other in a while and she missed him too, ¡°Fine,¡± Sara agreed, ¡°But if I embarrass myself, we have no one but you to me,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really care about the dancing Sara. I n to pump you full of drinks and have my wicked way with you at the end of the night. I¡¯ll pick you up at eight,¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Sara¡¯s hand was in Simon¡¯s as he led them into the dimly lit bar. A throbbing pulsing beat of music enveloped them instantly, along with the heat of bodies and muted conversations.


    He¡¯d picked her up from her ce at eight as he said, and he had brought his driver with him. He led her to the bar now, only letting go of her hand to put an arm around her waist and draw her in close. Sara saw the bartender spot him ande over with a huge smile on his face.


    ¡°Simon, my man! It¡¯s good to see you.¡±


    The barman¡¯s openly curious and very flirty nce took Sara in with tant appreciation. She felt embarrassed, and very out of her depth. Simon kept surprising her at every turn, and the thought that he might have read her trepidation and kept doing things to somehow make things easier for her made her feel vulnerable.


    ¡°And your beautiful guest¡­¡± the barmanpleted.


    Simon felt the intense spiking of jealousy as his friend, Rick looked Sara up and down with what seemed to be insulting impunity. He¡¯d noticed some men¡¯s heads swiveling too, as they¡¯d walked into the bar. Sara stood out like a magnificent bird of paradise.


    Resisting the unfathomable urge to walk straight back out again, he forced himself to sound civil and say, ¡°Rick, good to see you too. We¡¯ll have two of your best rums.¡± He looked down at Sara and was surprised to see her looking almost¡­self-conscious. He tugged her in closer and she looked up, a re of color racing across her cheekbones.


    ¡°Is that OK?¡±


    Sara felt almost disembodied, looking up into Simon¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is what OK?¡±


    ¡°Martinique rum-you should try it.¡± he told her,


    She just nodded, still barely aware of what he was saying. Their solicitous host insisted on showing them over to a secluded booth with a view over the faded grandeur of the bar, which was open to the street. They were on the ground floor of the building. The crowd were local, the music was a kind of sexy upbeat Salsa. And then it changed smoothly to something slow and very hot. Some of the couples on the dance floor certainly looked as if they were just moments away from disappearing to a dark corner where-


    Sara willed down the intense blush she could feel on her face as she looked at the couples, and just then Simon¡¯s hand cupped her jaw, turning her to face him.


    She felt feverish. He shook his head, and a thumb moved back and forth across her cheek. ¡°Enchanting. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen anyone blush the way you do.¡±


    Sara burned inside and out. The enormity of where she was and who she was sitting with was hitting her anew all over again. ¡°It¡¯s just my coloring.¡±


    Their eyes stayed locked for a long moment, until Sara felt as if she was melting inside. Just as she was about to beg to be released from that intense gaze, Simon suddenly broke it and looked away, making Sara feel absurdly bereft all of a sudden. She was a mass of contradictions and warring desires.


    Simon¡¯s friend approached with two sses, and left again with a mischievous smile and a look that Sara didn¡¯t miss. When Simon had introduced them briefly she¡¯d thought he¡¯d been uncharacteristically curt to the other man, but Rick didn¡¯t seem to mind. She took a sip of the dark liquid and coughed immediately, her eyes smarting.


    Simon quirked a brow and smiled. ¡°Strong stuff.¡±


    Sara grabbed for some water and drank it down. ¡°You could have warned me.¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.

 49

    She watched as Simon took another sip himself, watched the way the strong column of his throat worked. At that moment the music changed back to an infectiously upbeat rhythm.


    Simon extended a hand across the table. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s dance.¡±


    Sara shrank back with genuine fear. She could see couples dancing with effortless grace and style, making moves she could never even hope to mimic. She shook her head desperately, ¡°I told you. I¡¯m not very good at dancing, Simon,¡±


    He left his hand where it was.


    ¡°Seriously,¡± she said pleadingly. ¡°I¡¯m really, really bad, I¡¯ll just embarrass you.¡±


    He stood up and took her hand from herp, pulling her up.


    She tried to resist. ¡°I¡¯ll watch you dance with someone else- honestly.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t listening. He pulled her remorselessly after him. Sara was having shbacks to excruciating moments on other dance floors where she¡¯d shuffled around, invariably much to her friend¡¯s and brother¡¯s hysterical amusement. Or memories of standing on various hapless men¡¯s feet and apologizing profusely.


    She tried to pull away again. ¡°Simon , you don¡¯t understand. I¡¯ve two left feet. I¡¯ve never been able to-¡±


    Simon turned and pulled her into his arms, and Sara shut up instantly at the feel of his body so close to hers, one hand low on her back and the other held high. She could feel Simon¡¯s hips move sinuously against hers, his legs making hers move in tandem with his.


    His voice came low near her ear, making her tingle, ¡°Just feel the beat-let it go through you.¡±


    All Sara felt was boneless, with an indecent need running through her.


    Simon moved them apart and put both hands on her hips. ¡°See? Look at my feet. Copy what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    She could barely function. Simon¡¯s broad chest and those lean hips were hypnotizing her. She didn¡¯t know if what she was doing was anything like dancing, but she did feel the deeply sexy beat in her blood, and when Simon turned her around and pulled her back against him, his arm across her midriff, she didn¡¯t even care that she couldn¡¯t dance. She had to close her eyes and try not to let out a low moan of pleasure.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Then the music changed again to slow and sexy. Simon twirled her around with effortless ease and pulled her into him, so close that she could feel the imprint of his body all along hers. He tipped up her chin. Her head fell back.


    ¡°See? Anyone can dance¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far,¡± Sara said huskily, her eyes seemingly riveted to Simon¡¯s mouth, and as if to prove her point she stumbled and stood on his foot. She looked up to see him wince slightly and smiled sweetly. ¡°See?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll take a lot more than standing on my foot to diminish this.¡± His voice was low and dark with promise as he pulled her even closer, and Sara¡¯s eyes widened on his when she felt the hard thrust of his arousal just above the apex of her legs. The silk of her dress was no barrier to the size and strength of it. Hot liquid seemed to pool southwards in answer to his body¡¯s calling. Her hand clenched on his shoulder, as if to stop herself falling.


    ¡°See?¡± he asked mockingly, his smile dangerous with sensual intent.


    Sara could barely hold it together. A bone-deep tremor was starting to build up through her whole body. She felt his hand go to her neck, massaging the delicate skin, undoing her hair so that it fell down her back. A shudder of pure desire ran through her, making her move instinctively against him, eliciting a deep growl from his throat. She turned her face into his neck, her hand resting on the hair at the back of his cor. He brought their joined hands close to his chest. Her lips were so close to his hot skin. The slightly musky smell was an overwhelming temptation to snake out her tongue and taste, just for a second. She could feel the kick of his pulse under her tongue and exhration fired her blood.


    Simon stopped dead in the middle of the dance floor and pulled her even closer, urgency in his movements. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°So soon?¡± she whispered hotly.


    ¡°Yes,¡±


    Sara could do nothing but nod silently.


    Everything happened quickly. His driver took them back to her apartment and left immediately. Simon took her by the hand and led her into the house and to her bedroom, and all Sara was aware of was the burning need inside her. When Simon emitted a guttural sound of satisfaction and pulled her in so tight against him she didn¡¯t know if it was his heartbeat or hers she could feel thumping so loudly and heavily.


    She was falling in love with this man, and she didn¡¯t want to. She wanted to stop, and she had no idea how.


    ________


    Dayster, Sara was working on thest room in Simon¡¯s house when he came back from his office in the afternoon and took her by the hand.


    ¡°Simon, I know it¡¯s your house but I¡¯m still working. You can¡¯t just walk up and drag me away,¡±  she said with a mixture of reproach and breathless anticipation.


    He ignored her and took her down the corridors before ducking into a room. He closed the door behind them.


    Still holding her hand, he pulled her to him. She was helpless not to respond, her body weing his heady proximity. How quickly she¡¯d be consumed by him. rm bells weren¡¯t just ringing, they were now joined by sirens and shing lights. With quick hands, he undid her ponytail and pocketed the band.


    ¡°Hey!¡± she protested


    Then he put two hands in her hair and messed it up. He looked at her critically. ¡°Much better. And now¡­¡±


    ¡°Now what?¡±


    ¡°Now this.¡± He hauled her into him and kissed her deeply, with barely checked passion. She wound her arms around his waist and found her hands lifting his shirt from his trousers, searching for and finding that smooth, taut flesh where the small of his back curved out to firm buttocks. Warmth flooded her.


    He was opening the buttons of her shirt; she¡¯d put on her tie that morning but he¡¯d taken it off her when she arrived that morning, so she¡¯d not bothered to put it back on. She could feel the air on her heated skin as he opened her shirt and palmed her breast, her nipple aching against the confines of her bra. She pressed a feverish mouth against his throat.

 50

    And then suddenly the spell was broken as one of her assistants tried toe in the door behind them. Simon cursed and started to do up her buttons again. Sara didn¡¯t know how she was going to be able to go back out there and string two words together.


    Her brain was mush for the rest of the day but somehow she managed to keep it together. Her crew feigned extremeck of interest in the fact that Simon Hamilton was hovering like a bodyguard. But once they¡¯d gone and she was alone with him, he pulled her over so she was practically on hisp on the couch. Sara had given up trying to pull away. He pressed a kiss to the underside of her wrist and looked up at her.


    ¡°Boy! Am I d that they are gone. Aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Sara looked down at him and felt the earth move bizarrely beneath her feet even though they were sitting. Something very suspicious tightened her chest. She nodded, because she had to admit it. ¡°Yes. I am d.¡± She bent her head and pressed a kiss to his mouth, reveling in the freedom she had to do this. They¡¯d achieved an immediate level of intimacy that would be frightening if she thought about it too closely.


    She was embarking on an affair with a world-renowned yboy and that was going to be her protection: at no point would she be deluded. At no point would there be talk of love, marriage. It would end when it would end. And she¡¯d take the gift of herself that he¡¯d given back to her, like a guilty, delicious secret. That was all she wanted. This was all she wanted.


    ¡°I¡¯m attending a charity ball tonight, and you¡¯reing with me,¡± he told her.


    Sara lifted an eyebrow, ¡°I am?¡± she asked him.


    ¡°Yeah, and I got you something to wear too.¡± He added proudly,


    Sara was genuinely surprised. She¡¯d never been with a man who went through the trouble of getting her a dress to go out with him. It felt weird, but very ttering as well.


    ¡°Do I even want to know how you did that? And how do you know the dress you bought is my size,¡±


    ¡°Oh, I know, Sara,¡± he said and nted a kiss on her cheek before he stood up, ¡°I know,¡±


    _________


    Later that evening Sara took onest look at her reflection and turned to leave the room, but just then the door opened. Simon stopped dead for a moment, his gaze raking her up and down, and then he pped his hand over his eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it.¡±


    Sara felt like a fool. She knew she shouldn¡¯t have worn the dress-it was ridiculous, too tight, too revealing. ¡°Look, I can change, I¡¯m not even thatfortable.¡±


    Simon wasn¡¯t moving.


    She took a hesitant step forward. ¡°What, what is it? Is it really that bad?¡±


    Sara tried to look back at the mirror self-consciously when she heard something suspiciously like a grunting from Simon. He¡¯d taken his hand down and wasughing. Then he stopped and walked towards her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t help it. It was the shock of seeing so much exposed flesh at once.¡±


    Sara all at once felt likeughing and angry. She picked up a small cushion from the chair beside her and threw it at him, but he caught it deftly and kepting. Dressed in a tuxedo, with his hair still damp from the shower, he was magnificent. She had to speak to try and negate the effect he had on her, the way his teasing wound through her and impacted a ce that was so deep, so vulnerable.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to change right now; I knew this dress was a mistake.¡±


    She went to undo the zip that was under her arm, and Simon reached her and captured her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare. That dress is beautiful.¡±


    Sara¡¯s face med. ¡°It¡¯s not. It¡¯s too-¡±


    ¡°You know it¡¯s beautiful, Sara,¡± he told her. ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t answer. He walked her over to the full-length mirror and stood her in front of him. His hands rested on her hips. She could feel him, tall and hard and lean behind her, and it was so seductive.


    ¡°Look at yourself.¡±


    Sara closed her eyes, her cheeks still scarlet. She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡±


    ¡°Sara, look at yourself.¡±


    Something in his voice made her open her eyes, and she immediately looked at him through the mirror. She could feel him sigh behind her.


    ¡°Not at me, at yourself.¡±


    With extreme reluctance, she did. She saw the ck silk dress that was cut on the bias and fell to just below her knees in an asymmetric line. She saw one shoulder, pale and bared, and just a hint of a curve of her breast. She saw the strap that held the dress up over her other shoulder with its mboyant red-silk flower, a ssh of vibrant color.


    ¡°Now, what¡¯s wrong with this picture?¡± he asked,


    Sara groaned inwardly. This was so embarrassing. She would bet a million dors that not one of his previous lovers had had to be reassured about a dress before.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    She tried to turn. ¡°Look, it¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m sorry. Let¡¯s just go, shall we?¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t let her. He held her fast, and something in the air changed. It became electric. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Sara. This dress is beautiful on you. It¡¯s not too revealing. In fact,¡± he growled with mocksciviousness, ¡°it¡¯s not revealing enough,¡±


    He turned her then to face him, his hands warm on her shoulders. She could feel her breasts peak against the silk of the dress. He tipped up her chin so she couldn¡¯t avoid his eyes. ¡°Sometimes I wonder what Bruce did  to you. What did he say to you? I bet you weren¡¯t always like this.¡±


    Sara struggled not to let the tears brighten her eyes, but there was a lump in her throat. She shook her head. ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t. He just¡­he just made me feel cheap. That¡¯s all.¡±


    She pulled free of his arms and looked at her watch. ¡°We should really go or we¡¯ll bete and I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want that,¡±


    He heard the emotion in her voice and watched her precede him out of the room, the dress emphasizing her gently curved shape, the jut of her rounded bottom. He could recall only too clearly the thrust of her breasts against his chest.

 51

    Simon stalled a moment before following her out. She was so totally different from any woman he¡¯d known before that he couldn¡¯t quite begin to rationalize how she made him feel. Physically, he burned for her. Most of the time, he literally had to see her, touch her, or he¡¯d feel like he was going insane. He wasn¡¯t used to any woman being preupied around him, and secondly, he wasn¡¯t used to not being inplete control with his lovers. They turned him on, yes, that was what he chose them for, but never to the extent that he felt with this woman. This was something different.


    He straightened his cuffs before walking out, ufortably aware of his near-constant state of arousal. She was just different because she wasn¡¯t one of the polished socialites that littered his social scene, who threw themselves at him, that was all. It was still just an affair, and he¡¯d no doubt that he¡¯d soon look at her and wonder what he¡¯d been hot and bothered about.


    A littleter, in the exclusive hotel which was hosting his bank¡¯svish charity-ball, Simon felt extremely hot and bothered. Sara was generating a veritable tsunami of attention in her sexy dress. Having been the one who bought her the dress, now he wanted to march her right out of there and make her change out of it.


    mping her to his side was a need born out of a violent emotion that he¡¯d never felt before as acquaintance after acquaintance came up under the pretext of talking business, whereupon they did nothing but stare at Sara. She seemed oblivious, but Simon was too inured to women and their wily ways. And he was all too aware of how beguiling her natural beauty was to these men, who were jaded and cynical. As jaded and cynical as he was. Was he no better than these men? He¡¯d just seen her first. All sorts of conflicting, unsavory thoughts were being unleashed within him. Not least of which was the sensation that perhaps he¡¯d been fooled, fooled by her act, her apparent vulnerability. How could she really be so different?


    He dragged her attention back from where she was looking in awe at the room around them, and muttered something about getting drinks. He saw a sh of uncertainty in her eyes and ignored it, and the feeling it generated through him. He needed space.


    Sara looked to where Simon was cutting a swathe through the glittering crowd. She couldn¡¯t help but notice the intense interest he generated among every cluster of women in the room, who also followed his progress with avid attention. Some of them turned then to look at her, and she felt extremely self-conscious. Trying to shrug off the immediate insecurity that their looks generated, she walked to where ornate doors led out to a small, idyllic garden. Even though it was cool, one or two people mingled outside. The hotel was pure opulence, one of the oldest and grandest in New York.


    She couldn¡¯t help but think of simr situations with Bruce. He¡¯d always dumped her as soon as they got in the door and made straight for the bar. Invariably she¡¯d be left on her own all evening and would return home alone, only to wake up in the morning and find that he hadn¡¯t even returned. She¡¯d stopped worrying about his whereabouts when it had be clear he¡¯d never seemed to miss her. How she ever believed that he¡¯d loved her was beyond her. Truly, she¡¯d been very naive.


    She rubbed her arms distractedly, as she had that sensation of someone walking over.


    ¡°Hello,¡±


    Sara jumped and turned to see a tall man standing beside her, looking her up and down. She looked nervously over his shoulder back into the room, but couldn¡¯t see Simon.


    She smiled tightly.  ¡°Hi, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m just waiting for someone, actually.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s lucky that I met you here alone then. You are a very beautiful woman.¡±


    Sara blushed. ¡°That¡¯s very¡­nice of you to say.¡±


    The man was attractive in a heavy-set kind of way, but there was something faintly menacing about him. He¡¯d moved subtly and now he effectively blocked her from the room. In order to move, Sara would have to push past him or go into the garden. She didn¡¯t want to retreat to a dark area where he might follow her.


    ¡°Please.¡± He held out a hand. ¡°Can I know your name?¡±


    Sara sent up a silent prayer for Simon to find her. Where was he? She couldn¡¯t ignore the man, as that would be unountably rude. So she shook his hand very perfunctorily and whipped hers back before he could sp it. ¡°Sara McCall; I¡¯m very pleased to meet you. Now, please, my friend will be looking for me.¡±


    Except patently he wasn¡¯t. A very familiar feeling of pain clutched her deep down inside. She went to move past the man, but he stopped her with an arm. Sara flinched back from the contact.


    His voice now held a distinctly threatening tone. ¡°But I haven¡¯t told you my name yet, and your voice¡­ It¡¯s very nice too,¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Sara was beginning to feel desperate. Even though Bruce had never physically harmed her, thetent threat had always been there, and now the memory was making her feel panicky.


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t mean to be rude, but I don¡¯t really want to know your name, OK? Now, I¡¯m sorry, but would you please get out of my way?¡±


    After a long, tense moment, he stepped back with hands held high and spread. ¡°Go then, if you want, it¡¯s your loss.¡±


    Sara seized the opportunity and fled. Her heart was hammering, and she had an awful, sick feeling in her chest, an overwhelming sensation of foreboding. She pushed through the crowd and then she saw Simon, and the whole room tilted crazily, the chatter dulling to a faint roaring in her ears.


    He was at the bar, talking to a woman. He didn¡¯t look as if he was in a hurry to go anywhere, much less to look for her. The woman was stunningly beautiful-blonde, tall, slim, in a sparkling gown with a thigh-high slit that was being provocatively disyed. She had a hand on Simon¡¯s waist and was leaning in, her whole body arching seductively into his. His head was bent towards hers as if she were telling him something intimate.

 52

    It all hit Sara at once, and again she felt acutely self-conscious in her revealing dress. She hated thepulsion that had led her to wear it now. But, worse than that, she¡¯d let herself be taken in again by a man who lived his life searching for the next thrill, the next pleasure-point. The next adoring female. She could see all too well, in a room like this, how she must have been such a novelty.  And then, like watching a car crash in slow motion, she saw Simon¡¯s hand go to where the woman¡¯s rested on his waist. He was about to thread his fingers through hers, lift her hand to his mouth. Sara knew it. But just before she could turn away her humiliation becameplete. They both turned, as if they could sense her watching them.


    The glittering, too-bright icy-blue gaze of the woman was mocking, triumphant. Simon¡¯s was¡­She didn¡¯t wait to find out. Turning, Sara stumbled and pushed through the crowd until she was finally free of the room and burst out into the spacious and hushed lobby. She walked quickly to the door on jelly legs, where a doorman rushed to open it for her.


    _________


    Sara stood on the steps, shivering.


    ¡°You would like me to get you a taxi, madam?¡±


    ¡°Yes, please,¡±Sara said gratefully to the nice doorman.


    She had no ns of going back to Simon¡¯s house, but she needed to go home and think about what she was really doing with him. This wasn¡¯t a rtionship, so why was she feeling this way? In the end, she¡¯d let herself get carried away.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t need a taxi, she¡¯s with me. Can you send for my driver, please?¡± a familiar deep voice, throbbing with anger, came from behind her and she stiffened in rejection.


    A harsh hand on her arm pulled her round. She met furious eyes, and everything in her rebelled against his anger. The fact that the doorman had already scurried off to do his bidding made things even worse.


    ¡°I believe that I just ordered a taxi; thanks all the same for the offer of the lift.¡±


    ¡°What the hell just happened back there?¡±


    ¡°Why, I believe what just happened is that you saw a better option and decided to pursue it, leaving me at the mercy of a¡­a creepy, slimy lounge-lizard.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    His hand tightened on her arm. ¡°What are you talking about? Did someonee on to you? Did someone do something to you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she dismissed him furiously, while trying to shake him off unsessfully. ¡°Not that you would have noticed  anyway. But, thanks, you¡¯ve saved me going back in to look for you. I won¡¯t be going back to your house, Simon. I doubt you¡¯ll be wanting the ce to yourself tonight?¡±


    ¡°And why would that be?¡± His voice was arctic, but Sara was on fire.


    ¡°Do you really need me to spell it out, Simon? I thought you were more sophisticated than that.¡± She berated herself bitterly now for having allowed herself to be seduced by him.


    ¡°Apparently not so sophisticated that I can go to the bar to get a drink for my date and turn around to find she has disappeared, only to find her again and have her run from the room as if I¡¯d chased her out myself.¡±


    He¡¯d been looking for her? A reflex to stop, to apologise, was quashed as she remembered the woman. They¡¯d looked far too cosy. She¡¯d only known Simon for about four months now. Did she really think she could trust him? Her astounding naivety mocked her mercilessly.


    ¡°Yourpanion might have another impression. She seemed to think that you were quite interested in what she had to offer.¡¯


    Simon could recall only too noxiously what the model Cecilia Hampton had been offering. She¡¯d all but wrapped herself around him like a clinging vine, and had spoken in an absurdly quiet, jarring little-girl voice-a well-worn ploy to get a man toe closer, whereupon she¡¯d all but thrust her enormous fake bosom in his face. He¡¯d been feeling foolish ever since he¡¯d stalked away from Sara to get drinks, and had turned back to get her, imagining all the predatory males in the room moving in on her, but she¡¯d disappeared.


    His car drew up at that moment and, heaving a sigh of relief, he hurried Sara down the steps and into the back,  making her slide along the seat and getting in beside her, not giving her a chance to get out. Or say a thing.


    In the back of the car Sara ripped her arm from Simon¡¯s grasp, her skin hot and tingling. ¡°How dare you? I want you to let me out this minute. I¡¯ll get a cab.¡±


    She sat forward and opened her mouth to speak to the driver, but Simon hauled her over and shey sprawled inelegantly against him. With his other hand he flicked a switch and the privacy window slid up with a hiss.


    The air was electric around them. Sara was very aware of how shey practically across hisp, in a pose of supplication that galled her. His body was tense and taut, and unmistakably hard. It made her feel sick, that he could so easily transfer his desire from one to another.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there something wrong with this picture?¡±she gritted out, holding herself as tense and as far away as possible.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Simon ground out. ¡°You¡¯re wearing far too many clothes for my liking and I want you now.¡±


    Sara tried to pull free, but he was remorseless and held her still. ¡°You don¡¯t want me, you want her.¡±


    In an instant Simon had shifted and lifted Sara with an ease that shocked her. She found herself straddling hisp, knees pressed either side of his powerful thighs. His hands were on her waist, holding her captive. A wave of anger and humiliation at her own helpless response, herck of strength, drove her to try and move but she couldn¡¯t.


    Her arms were rigid, either side of his shoulders on the seat behind them. With his hands firmly on her waist he shifted her slightly so that she could feel where his erection strained between them against the confines of his trousers. A rush of desire made her suck in a betraying breath. And then his hands came up to her dress, to undo the sp hidden underneath the flower. If he undid that, her dress would fall to her waist.

 53

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡± She caught his hands, but he swatted hers away with ease. He undid her dress and it fell. Sara caught it. The motion of the car made her fall against him, and made the apex between her legs grind into Simon¡¯s hardness. She could hear his breathing harshly, see the color sh across his cheekbones. She felt sick inside, knowing that he could just as easily be doing this with any other woman.


    She heard him sigh, and he looked up at her with a curiously unguarded expression. She was caught by it.


    ¡°Sara, please believe me: if I were in the unfortunate position of having Cecilia Hampton straddle myp right now, I can assure you that she would not be feeling what you¡¯re feeling.¡±


    He snaked a hand around the back of her neck. Sara tried to hold herself stiff, but it was too difficult. His voice was low, reasonable, and oh, so sexy.


    ¡°You¡¯d disappeared when I went looking for you, so I went back to wait at the bar, thinking you¡¯de find me there. Cecilia approached me. If you¡¯d watched for another few seconds before running out, you would have seen me extricate myself from her extremely unwee embrace. I don¡¯t understand why you don¡¯t trust me, Sara,¡±


    Sara looked down at him. He looked sincere. Had she read it wrong? She found herself wanting to believe him so much. And that was beyond scary in its implications. But right now she could avoid thinking about it without a huge amount of effort. The need consuming her, consuming the air around them, was too great. Desire flowed, hot and urgent, between them. This was all-epassing, and she had to give into it and deal with the falloutter.


    Simon slowly moved his hand from the back of her neck, over her shoulder and down to her hands. He exerted a little bit of pressure and Sara let him pull her hands away, giving in to a need too great. Her dress fell to her waist, baring her breasts. She put her hands back onto the seat behind Simon. He took her face in his hands and kissed her softly, reverently. It made something hard melt inside her. She sank into him, found her hips moving sinuously against his. Urgency rose. His kiss became more forceful. He dragged his mouth away and held the weight of one breast in his hand before flicking out a tongue andving the distended peak.


    Sara¡¯s back arched. She pressed kisses feverishly to his face, mouth, neck, her hands seeking to rip open his shirt. Buttons popped and his bow tie disappeared down into the cracks between the seats. She blindly sought his belt buckle and opened it impatiently.


    ¡°You¡¯re like a fever in my blood, Sara. There¡¯s no one else I want.¡±


    His words set her ame even more, and she bent to kiss him again. He lifted her slightly and she braced her hands against his shoulders. She bit her lip as she heard his zipe down, and as he pulled his trousers down with a rough urgency. Then he settled her back and she almost cried out at the sensation of his hard, virile, unsheathed heat, right there.


    He lifted her dress at her waist, and she heard fabric rip as he brought two hands to the side of her knickers and pulled. He pressed a kiss to her throat as she felt the material being pulled away. ¡°I¡¯m not sorry and I¡¯ll buy you new ones.¡±


    She didn¡¯t care. She wanted him inside her, right now. The ache was killing her.


    As if he heard her silent plea, he lifted her again, and she could feel his hand on himself as he guided his rigid length to the apex of her thighs. He slid in easily, and as Sara sank down onto him, he surged upwards. She was so turned on, and the sensation was so shockingly thrilling, that she came right there and then, her inner muscles mping around him in a series of minor convulsions.


    She dropped her head into his shoulder. He was still rigid within her, filling her. ¡°Oh God, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± She was breathing heavily.


    He pulled her back, tipped her head up, pressed a kiss to her mouth, slid his tongue between her soft lips. She could feel him stir within her, and inexplicably she could feel herself start to respond again, not being allowed to fall back to earth; she was kept on a high teau of sensation that threatened to go even higher.


    ¡°We¡¯ve only just started.¡±


    With a slow, burning intensity, Simon moved within her like a devil magician. He brought her to the edge only to stop, then start again. In a fever of prolonged ecstasy, skin slick with sweat, it was only when he knew he couldn¡¯t hold back that he allowed free rein to his movements, which became urgent. His big hands moulded her back, held her hips steady. Sara was beyond words. Everything in her was reverent, the orgasm that broke through her just before his was so powerful that she had to keep her eyes locked on Simon¡¯s or she would have disintegrated into pieces.


    Simon had never felt anything like this. He¡¯d almost have believed that she hadn¡¯t climaxed, if he hadn¡¯t felt her body contracting powerfully around his. But she¡¯d done it with such quiet intensity that it had made his ownpletion burst up in a never-ending stream of exquisite pleasure. Only her biting her lip at the zenith of sensation had shown any of her internal experience.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Sara shook all over. Simon pulled her into his chest and cradled her against him. They were still joined intimately, and at that moment she couldn¡¯t ever imagine being separated from this man. She¡¯d never felt like this with her Bruce, and she¡¯d had so many hopes and dreams of a happy future. Something extraordinary was happening between them, and she hated to admit it.


    When they reached his apartment, Simon carried her straight up to his bathroom and ran them a bath. Then they made love. Again. And now shey here, blissed out. Replete. Complete.


    ________


    She heard a movement and looked up. Simon was holding out a big robe.


    ¡°Come on, or you¡¯ll turn into a prune.¡±

 54

    Something in his eyes made her hold back a quick, jokyment. She stood up and reached for the robe, only to have him pull it back from her reach.


    ¡°Simon,e on.¡± She groaned and immediately went to cover her breasts.


    She was totally exposed in the low lighting of the intimate bathroom. And it was silly to feel this way when they¡¯d just made love, first in the back of his car and then in the bath. She flushed.


    ¡°Let your hands down. Please.¡± His voice sounded rough. ¡°I want to look at you, Sara,¡±


    Embarrassment gave way to something else. The desire in his eyes emboldened her. She carefully and slowly climbed out of the bath and stood beside it. She dropped her arms and watched as his eyes travelled down, resting and dwelling on parts of her body that she¡¯d certainly never inspected so intensely herself.


    After a long, long minute his eyes met hers again. They were dark. He stepped forward and put the robe around her, drying her, before slipping her arms into the sleeves and tying it securely around her waist. He smoothed back her damp hair and ran a finger down her cheek.


    ¡°I could quite easily have you again right now, on the floor¡­And all sorts of other images came into my mind as I looked at you.¡±


    Simon wrestled for a moment inwardly with the very real and disturbing reality that he could take her again right now. The knowledge made him cautious. ¡°But there¡¯s time¡­¡±


    ¡°Time,¡± Sara said stupidly, suddenly wanting very much instead that they could make love on the floor right now. She had an erotic sh of an image: kneeling at his feet and taking him into her mouth. The shocking heat that inmed her made her feel weak. Where had that desiree from? She¡¯d never even done that with Bruce. She¡¯d never even thought that she found it sexy. But the thought of driving Simon to the edge of all endurance was intoxicating in the extreme.


    ¡°Yes, time. Let¡¯s eat and have some wine.¡± He cut through the fevered images in her wanton imagination and pushed her towards the bathroom door, and then out and down the stairs to the sitting room.


    _______


    A bottle of wine sat open with two sses. Sara felt stone-cold sober all of a sudden, which wasn¡¯t surprising as she hadn¡¯t drunk all evening, but bizarrely she also felt drunk, heady¡­something very nebulous and disturbing.


    He poured wine into their sses and busied himself with something in the oven. Although Sara was in a robe, Simon wore faded jeans and a in shirt that was haphazardly buttoned, showing the light smattering of hair on his chest and a sliver of hard-muscled, olive-skinned belly. Sara took a quick sip of wine. He really did have the honed body of an athlete.


    ¡°Look,¡± she started nervously. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about¡­running out like that. I feel like I keep ruining every outing for you,¡±


    Simon closed the oven door and nted her a look before taking a sip of wine from his own ss.


    Sara flushed. ¡°We should still be there. Didn¡¯t you have to make some kind of speech?¡±


    Simon shrugged nomittally. ¡°My assistant did it. It¡¯s no big deal, really; I wouldn¡¯t have even been here necessarily if it hadn¡¯t been an opportunity to drum up publicity and kill two birds with one stone. But, no.¡± He smiled disarmingly. ¡°I would much prefer to be here with you.¡±


    She flushed again, unused to being ttered. ¡°Well. Thank you. Next time-¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    She stopped abruptly, her eyes flying to his with a sickening feeling as she realized what she¡¯d been about to say-she wasn¡¯t even certain there was going to be a next time. She didn¡¯t know when this was going to end.


    ¡°That is, I don¡¯t mean-¡±


    Simon hushed her and came round the counter, pulling her into him. ¡°Next time I¡¯m not going to let you out of my sight, so there will be no room for any confusion or misinterpretation, OK?¡±


    Her mouth was dry and she just nodded. He let her go and moved back, smiling easily, charmingly, and her world tilted all over again. ¡°Now, how about you tell me about this lounge-lizard of yours?¡±


    Sara shuddered delicately at the memory, realizing that it had shaken her more than she cared to admit, but talking about it would lessen it. She told Simon and acted out his slimy maneuvers, and by the time she¡¯d finished they were bothughing, and Simon admitted that he knew exactly who she was talking about. Apparently the man was famous for pouncing on vulnerable-looking women. Their easy intimacy and Simon¡¯s ability to make her feel protected, to make her feel like she could trust him, was sucking Sara into a veritable whirlpool that she feared it would be nigh impossible to climb back out of.


    _________


    The following evening, Simon insisted that they went out again, and he had taken her to a Fountain and then to a restaurant. The food had been sublime, authentic Italian cuisine at its best. The experience had been intimate, the table so small that their legs had been all but entwined underneath, and it had been easier for their hands to stay linked, too, separating only when the food arrived.


    It was when they¡¯d got back to his apartment; they¡¯d been standing in the kitchen and she¡¯d been watching Simon percte some coffee. He¡¯d turned round and said easily, ¡°I had a great time this evening. There¡¯s so many ces I want to go with you, Sara. But we can do it again.¡¯


    Sara had immediately reacted to his words at a very deep, visceral level, an instant negation of something very fleeting and wishful rising up inside her. ¡°Oh, well, yes. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be around again at some stage.¡±


    It was the way she¡¯d said ¡®I¡¯ that got his attention, and she knew it. Even though he said nothing-at first. And then he did say, ¡°I meant soon¡­ not at some stage¡­ Whatever that means,¡±


    Sara took the coffee he handed her and walked away into the living room, holding the cup between suddenly chilled hands. She schooled her features and turned back round to face him, forcing her voice to sound as casual as she could. ¡°You really don¡¯t have to say that, you know.¡±

 55

    He took a sip of coffee, his eyes narrowed disconcertingly on her face. She was d that he was still behind the ind in the kitchen.


    ¡°And what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± he asked.


    Sara gave a littleugh, which sounded fake to her ears. ¡°I mean, you don¡¯t have to do this¡­reassurance thing. I really don¡¯t expect you to make me feel like you want me to be around forever or anything like that¡­¡± Her words trailed off, diminishing some of the vehemence with which she¡¯d started the statement.


    He walked round the ind, a ridiculously small coffee cup in one hand, his other in the pocket of his jeans. He looked astoundingly gorgeous in a dark sweater. Unconsciously, Sara backed away.


    ¡°Believe me,¡± he said throatily, ¡°the only thing I want to make you feel right now involves a soft surface and no clothing in our way.¡±


    Sara gulped and took a quick swig of coffee. ¡°Look,¡± she said weakly, ¡°all I¡¯m saying is that I know what this is and I¡¯m fine with that. Really.¡±


    ¡°And what would that be?¡±


    She shrugged one shoulder; they were still doing a bit of a backward dance around the room, she backing, and he advancing.


    ¡°It¡¯s an affair. A fling.¡±


    His eyebrows raised high. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what this is?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Sara winced. No doubt his other lovers were far too experienced and suave to put a name on their experience with him. Suddenly she felt anger rise up. Why was he being so obtuse? Surely she was doing him a favor? She stopped backing away and put her coffee cup down carefully on the low table by the sofa.


    She straightened and folded her arms. ¡°Look, that¡¯s exactly what it is. We both know that. I¡¯d prefer if we could just be honest about it. What I¡¯m saying to you is that I don¡¯t need to be given any kind of titudes. I¡¯m not going to be clingy or want anything more. If you said to me right now that this is over, and thanks but goodbye, I¡¯d have no problem walking out of here.¡±


    Simon had gone very still, his eyes had darkened. No doubt he wasn¡¯t used to lovers calling the shots, Sara thought cynically. And why did her flip words cause an ache somewhere in the region of her chest? She pushed it aside. The truth was this: Simon was not a man she could trust in a million years, no matter what he said. And she¡¯d vowed to herself never to trust again. Never to be so silly, naive.


    Simon put down his coffee cup, too, and walked towards her slowly. Sara stood her ground, but had the impression that she¡¯d woken a sleeping dragon.


    ¡°I¡¯ll admit that your honesty is both tantalizing and refreshing.¡±


    ¡°It is?¡± she asked.


    Simon nodded. He was close enough to touch now. ¡°Yes. We both know that when the timees, we¡¯ll walk away without a backward nce, happy with what we¡¯ve had.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Sara nodded vehemently. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to sound¡­crass, it¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been engaged¡­ Almost got married, and it was horrible when it ended. I¡¯ve had that experience and I never, ever want to go near it again. Not even in the form of a tenuousmitment-and I know you¡¯re not even offering that.¡±  She stopped and cursed herself; she sounded like a bumbling idiot. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is that I¡¯m not looking for anything. I know you¡¯re a yboy¡­ I ¡­ mean¡­ I Know that you don¡¯t want more than this,¡±


    His eyes shed, and Sara¡¯s insides clenched painfully but she ploughed on. ¡°And I¡¯m not expecting anything more. I can¡¯t begin to tell you howfortable I am with that.¡±


    ¡°A no-strings, no-consequences affair-we both walk away when we get bored.¡±


    She nodded. She knew that time wouldn¡¯t be far off. A man of Simon¡¯s voracious tastes wouldn¡¯t be content with someone like her for long. Not when there were other, more beautiful women waiting in the wings. He came very close and snaked a hand round the back of her head. His eyes were still dark, unreadable, and his jaw had a rigidity to it that made Sara instinctively want to smooth it, rx it.


    ¡°Well, then, seeing as we don¡¯t know when this is going to end, and the sands of time are slipping away from us, we should make the most of our time together, shouldn¡¯t we?¡¯


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°What I mean, Sara-¡± his voice had a hard edge ¡°-is that we¡¯re wasting too much time talking when we sould be spending most of our time in a very satisfactory way.¡±


    He kissed her for a long, drugging moment, hauling her whole body against his. When he pulled back, and Sara fought to regain her breath, she said,  ¡°Okay then.¡±


    He nodded, eyes shing dangerously. ¡°That¡¯s the beauty of being the kind of man I am¡­.. a yboy¡­ Isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Sara felt a knife skewer her inside, so hurt for a moment that she felt winded. And yet this was exactly what she¡¯d asked for. Demanded. And when he bent his head to kiss her again, and started to open her shirt, she couldn¡¯t stop him because if she did he¡¯d know that all of her promations were built on a very flimsy foundation.


    With the lingering heat of their recent impassioned lovemaking still in her blood and heavy limbs, Sara¡¯s focus came back to the present. The earth below was an indistinct mass of brown mountains seen through breaks in the cloud. She sighed and let her head fall back, closing her eyes. She was ying with fire; she knew it. And all the trust issues in the world weren¡¯t going to keep her safe from harm.


    ________


    Simon sat in his office, files scattered over the desk in front of him, but he wasn¡¯t thinking about them.


    Sara¡­


    He was thinking about her instead. No other lover had ever made him lose concentration this way. He had to concede that no other lover had taken him by the scruff of the neck and rattled him sopletely. No other lover had evoked within him apelling need to obey instinct over intellect. He hadn¡¯t lived like that for a long time. She connected to something within him, primitive and long-suppressed, deep and visceral. He searched desperately to justify this feeling, to rationalize it, but his brain wouldn¡¯t cooperate.

 56

    When she stood in his apartment  and had coolly informed him that she was fine with their temporary affair, that above all she didn¡¯t expectmitment, he should have been rejoicing. Wasn¡¯t it a man¡¯s ultimate fantasy? For a man like him, happy to take lovers for a short time until they bored him, or until they started looking for more.


    Here he was, being offered this fantasy on a te, and he well knew that she meant every word she¡¯d said. It wasn¡¯t some kind of devious reverse-psychology. So why had he felt anything but relieved? Why had he wanted to challenge her? Why had that instinct not to let her go felt so strong?


    He¡¯d certainly never aspired to the empty heights of marriage, either; he¡¯d learnt at an early age that searching for that elusive happiness only bred disillusionment and pain.


    Yet Sara McCall was making him question the very bedrock on which he¡¯d built his life. His sluggish brain finally kicked into gear: attraction. That had to be it. A rare form of lust. He just hadn¡¯t met a woman who¡¯d taken possession of his body and mind before, that was all. That had to be all. OK, so she wasn¡¯t into anything permanent-well, neither was he. He just wasn¡¯t used to being on the receiving end of the ultimatum, that was all. He rxed. Their affair certainly wasn¡¯t over yet. Not by a long shot.


    They still had time.


    ___________


    Simon woke very early in the morning feeling thirsty. Saray curled up against him, her hair sprawled on the pillow and her breath tickled his jaw. He smiled at how peaceful she looked in her sleep and fought the urge to ce a kiss on her forehead.


    He didn¡¯t want to wake her up, knowing how exhausted she had been the previous night, so he carefully got out of bed. He could make her some food before she woke up, and then they could have breakfast together before he left her apartment.


    On his way to the kitchen he passed her living room, and noticed their clothes and Sara¡¯s bag they¡¯d thrown on the couch the previous night as they¡¯d hurriedly taken each other¡¯s clothes off. He grinned at the memory, making a mental note to grab them after getting the water.


    Simon returned to the living room minutester, and as he gathered their clothes, his eyes caught something. A file poking out of Sara¡¯s open handbag. It looked too big to fit inpletely, so she¡¯d just shoved it in, leaving the zip open.


    Simon hesitated, wondering what was in the file. It was none of business, he knew that, but for some reason he was curious. It was probably some stuff from work, he told himself as he pulled out the file and opened it.  His eyes widened as he read the name at the top of the document. Seeing that she¡¯d clearly filled a form from the hospital, Simon wondered if she was alright¡­ Was she sick or something?


    His surprise grew as he read the rest of the contents. Apparently, Sara was getting an IVF. It wasn¡¯t the sort of thing he¡¯d been expecting to see, and Simon had no idea what to think. Sara was trying to get pregnant? Through IVF? Was she pregnant already? What the hell was going on? Lost in thought, he didn¡¯t hear here in, until her voice brought him back to the present.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked him.


    Simon looked up to see Sara, standing behind the couch, but she wasn¡¯t staring at him. Her eyes were glued to the file that was still in his hands.


    Simon stared at her. He didn¡¯t know what to say at first, but then he straightened and closed the file. ¡°I urmmmm¡­ I woke up minutes ago and I didn¡¯t want to wake you up,¡± he said casually, but his voice was hoarse for some reason.


    ¡°I meant¡­What are you doing with that?¡± Sara asked, as she finally lifted her gaze to meet his.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Simon replied, ¡°I was going to clear up the mess we madest night and then I found it,¡±


    A frown creased her brow as she slowly shook her head. ¡°Found it?¡± Sara repeated, ¡°It wasn¡¯t missing, Simon, it was in my bag. You mean you were snooping,¡±


    He raised an eyebrow, not liking her tone, ¡°Snooping is a strong word, don¡¯t you think? Besides, I¡¯m not the one who has been keeping secrets,¡±


    Sara moved forward, and snatched the file out of his hand with more force than necessary. ¡°Secrets? What I do with my life is none of your business, Simon,¡± she said angrily,¡± And you had no right to go through my stuff.¡±


    Simon frowned darkly. ¡°I know that it¡¯s none of my business, Sara, but don¡¯t you think this is something you should have mentioned to me?¡±


    Sara gave a weary shake of her head. ¡°I was already doing this before we met, and then I-¡±


    Simon felt short of breath-as if someone had punched him hard in the chest. Damn it, he hadn¡¯t been using contraception most of the time when the two of them made love, ¡°So you were¡­ are trying to get pregnant?¡± he asked softly.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she confirmed tly. ¡°I mean, No¡­ But ¨C Look, as our conversation has gone this far, I might as well bepletely honest with you.¡±


    ¡°That would certainly be a novelty!¡±He looked at her coldly.


    Her eyes shed deeply golden. ¡°I have never been dishonest with you!¡±


    ¡°Except by omission.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± she acknowledged heavily, her gaze no longer quite meeting his.


    ¡°The truth is I decided months ago¡­ Before we met¡­ To have a child of my own by IVF.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Simon¡¯s thoughts were already reeling from one realisation to another, one question to another, and each one was bing wilder than thest. Sara had once told him that she had lost her pregnancy with Bruce, but it turns out that she still wanted a child. In fact it now appeared she had coolly and calmly decided to do exactly that ¡®some months ago¡¯¡­ His gaze sharpened.


    ¡°I see. And can it be that you were considering the blue-eyed blond-haired Mark Forbes as a possible candidate to be the donor for this IVF?¡±


    The warmth of color entered the paleness of Sara¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I considered it, yes.¡±


    ¡°And did he agree?¡± Simon grated harshly, feeling a fury building up inside him the like of which he had never experienced before.

 57

    Sara¡¯s smile waspletelycking in humor. ¡°We didn¡¯t get far enough in our friendship for me to broach such a sensitive subject as IVF with him.¡±


    Simon gave a disgusted shake of his head. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just forget the whole idea of IVF and instead just go to bed with him and hope for the desired result? He would certainly have been willing!¡±


    Her throat moved convulsively as she swallowed before speaking. ¡°After my engagement to Bruce ended, I didn¡¯t want the trauma of being intimately involved again. Nor did I want theplication of having my child¡¯s life ripped apart by estranged parents, and so I thought-I thought a legal contract with a sperm donor, followed by IVF-¡±


    ¡°It seems to me, with all your talk of ¡°I didn¡¯t want¡± and ¡°nor did I want¡±, that you weren¡¯t thinking of anything or anyone but yourself, Sara,¡± Simon cut in coldly.


    No, she hadn¡¯t, Sara acknowledged numbly. The woman she had been-cool and businesslike, and determined not to be physically involved with any man-had made her decision to have a baby without emotion, without any real thought for the emotional consequences of those actions.


    The woman she had been¡­ Sara knew she was no longer that hurt and disillusioned woman. She had ceased being that woman for a while now. She had be another womanpletely when she¡¯d fallen in love with him¡­ It was a love which she knew, just from looking at the disgust now on Simon¡¯s face when he looked at her, was even more doomed than her rtionship with Bruce had been.


    ¡°Did you seriously think that Mark Forbes -that any man,¡± Simon continued disgustedly, ¡°would just calmly agree to cold-bloodedly, cold-heartedly donate his sperm for you to be impregnated with?¡±


    She moved agitatedly. ¡°As you¡¯ve just pointed out, I don¡¯t believe I had been thinking straight for some time.¡±


    She didn¡¯t particrly care for the way Simon was now looking at her from between narrowed lids, as if she were a specimen under a microscope-a hitherto unknown species he was trying, and not seeding, to understand. And what little he did understand he didn¡¯t particrly like.


    ¡°You could be pregnant now, Sara.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    His mouth was a thin straight line. ¡°All this time we¡¯ve been seeing each other, have you been taking any steps yourself to prevent a pregnancy?¡±


    Sara stared at him uprehendingly. Of course she wasn¡¯t pregnant. She wasn¡¯t on birth control, but she always took a morning after pill on her unsafe days. They¡¯d been seeing each other for months now and she¡¯d not gotten pregnant, so why should she be now?


    ¡°Are you pregnant, Sara?¡± Simon repeated harshly.


    Sara desperately tried to recall when she hadst had her period and failed utterly, her mind having gone aplete nk. Okay, maybe she couldn¡¯t remember the date, but Of course she wasn¡¯t pregnant! Was she¡­?


    ___________


    Simon didn¡¯t feel in the least encouraged by the way Sara¡¯s face had turned a sickly gray color. As if she were fighting down nausea.


    Nausea possibly caused by early pregnancy¡­ The irony of this situation wasn¡¯t lost on Simon. Ambitious women would, he knew, quite happily be pregnant as a way of entrapping a wealthy man into marriage. Typically Sara-contrarily so!- she had decided to be pregnant by totally eliminating any physical intimacy or personal knowledge of the man who had made her so!


    Unfortunately for Sara that was never going to happen if it turned out she was now carrying his child.


    ¡°Well?¡± he prompted tersely.


    Sara determinedly gathered her scattered thoughts together, knowing this was neither the time nor the ce for her to dwell on the chaos of her own thoughts.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re so full of yourself, Simon, that you actually believe yourself to be so virile a woman would be pregnant so damn fast!¡± she added mockingly, knowing that she wasn¡¯t even making much sense.


    The coldness in those deep emerald eyes deepened. ¡°Sara, we indulged in several asions of unprotected sex,¡± he corrected harshly.


    She gave an unconcerned shrug. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you, Simon, but I guess you really aren¡¯t as potent as you thought you were.¡±


    Was that disappointment he was feeling? Simon wondered scowlingly. Or did he feel disappointment because he had realized, with the tness of Sara¡¯s denial of pregnancy, that their rtionship-friendship-whatever this was-had nowe to an end?


    There had been too much said for the two of them to carry on as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Simon cursed. ¡°Why do you have to be so damnedplicated?¡±


    She gave a wistful smile. ¡°Just unlucky for you, I guess.¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Simon thought back to the first time he had seen Sara at Senator Ashcroft¡¯s drinks party, to his instant awareness of her, his instant attraction to the voluptuously beautiful woman in the red gown who¡¯d drawn him towards her like a ma. Then the situation had been uplicated. Then she had just been a lushly beautiful woman in a red gown that he had wanted to make love to.


    Simon had never doneplicated. A woman either was or was not interested in a brief and meaningless affair. He had never had the time or the inclination for anything more than that.


    ¡°I think you should leave now,¡± she said.


    ¡°You¡¯re throwing me out of your house?¡±


    She didn¡¯t meet his eyes, ¡°There¡¯s nothing left for us to discuss, and we have obviouslye to the end of¡­. Whatever this is¡­. So please leave,¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Simon¡¯s mouth tightened and he looked up to find himself the focus of beautiful brown eyes that danced with bittersweetughter.


    ¡°I¡¯m d one of us finds this situation amusing!¡± he said,


    Sara wasn¡¯t in the least amused at the idea of never seeing Simon again, but it was better than crying. She had already broken down emotionally enough in Simon¡¯spany. She certainly didn¡¯t intend to let him see her doing it now because she knew, despite everything, that she was in love with him. That would just be too humiliating.


    She drew in a deep breath. ¡°Can I take it that you would now be happier if another interior designer took over refurbishing thest room in your apartment?¡±


    A nerve pulsed in his tightly clenched jaw. ¡°You can.¡±

 58

    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± Sara nodded abruptly. ¡°Well, it¡¯s been¡­interesting knowing you, Simon. Don¡¯t you forget to change the security code on your private lift when you get home, ¡°she said lightly.


    Simon arched one dark and mocking brow. ¡°Is there any danger of you ever wanting toe back there?¡±


    ¡°Probably not,¡± she acknowledged with a tight smile, remembering thest time she had done it. Not again.


    ¡°Then why would I bother changing the security code?¡± He shrugged unconcernedly.


    Sara hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not really interested, but I-I already decided not to go ahead with my ns for IVF.¡±


    A nerve pulsed in his jaw. ¡°Why not?¡±


    She gave a wistful smile, knowing she couldn¡¯t tell Simon the real reason- that, having fallen in love with him, it was impossible for her ever to want anyone else¡¯s child but his. Like a lovesick idiot, she¡¯d thrown away her ns. Despite the warnings in her head, she¡¯d let herself get carried away. She¡¯d let go of her past, and she¡¯d fallen in love with him. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m no longer that selfish.¡±


    ¡°I was wrong to say that,¡± Simon spoke huskily. ¡°After what you went through during your engagement to Bruce Be, it was not selfish to want a child of your own, Sara,¡±


    ¡°Merely ill-advised?¡±She grimaced.


    ¡°Not that either.¡± He gave a slow shake of his head.


    ¡°Then what was it?¡±


    ¡°I have absolutely no idea,¡± he admitted evenly.


    She nodded abruptly. ¡°Goodbye, Simon,¡±


    ¡°Sara,¡± he returned tersely and began to get dressed.


    She wouldn¡¯t cry, Sara told herself firmly as she walked over to her bedroom, turning to look across at Simon where he stood so tall and darkly handsome-and icily distant-across the room.


    She would not cry.


    She had loved and lost, yes, but she had no one to me for that but herself. It was a loss Sara had a feeling she was going to have to live with for the rest of her life¡­


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    By the time Sara let herself into her house that evening, she was a mess. She¡¯d barely been able to get any work done at the off as she couldn¡¯t think about Simon and the fact that their rtionship had ended.


    But that wasn¡¯t the reason why she was anxious and scared at the moment. She¡¯d done some thinking, and based on her calctions, her period should have alreadye this month. She was freaking out, and on her way home she¡¯d stopped at the drug store to pick up a pregnancy test kit.


    As Sara sat on her couch now and thought of everything that had happened she couldn¡¯t stop the nausea rising. She just made it to the bathroom in time and emptied the contents of her stomach. As she washed her face, she thought of something, and with a fatal air went back out to her bag and extracted the chemist¡¯s bag. She went back into her bathroom.


    She had to take the test now because she had to know or she¡¯d gopletely insane. A lot had already happened and the day couldn¡¯t get any worse.


    And then it just did.


    ____________


    She tried to ignore the doorbell which was ringing persistently, the door-knocker banging violently. But the thought of her neighbors hearing themotion finally made her move off her couch and out of the state of shock that had held her immobile for the past few minutes. She opened the door and didn¡¯t wait to see who it was. She knew.


    Simon came in and towered over her, the door shut behind him. ¡°What the hell is going on? Why did you take so long to answer?¡±


    Sara moved around to her armchair and sat down, because she was afraid she might fall. ¡°It took me so long to answer because I didn¡¯t want to see or talk to you, Simon. I thought we already agreed on that this morning!¡±


    Simon had moved to the center of the sitting-room, and red down at her. ¡°Yes I I know that, but I was¡­ I was worried about you,¡±


    Sara winced, and Simon grunted something unintelligible and sat down on her couch. She was still a little too numb to react.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Simon. Please go away,¡±she said, her gaze fixed on her feet, and she couldn¡¯t even look at him.


    He didn¡¯t move, ¡°I thought that maybe I didn¡¯t handle things well this morning,¡± he began, ¡°And I¡­¡±


    Sara stood up before he could finish speaking, moving back towards her kitchen as if seeking refuge. Simon stood up too and followed her.


    ¡°Please go home, Simon. I¡¯m fine,¡± she said as she finally turned to face him, ¡°I think that you handled things pretty well, and we made the best decision for the both of us this morning. There is no need to talk about it or for you to check up on me. I¡¯m not your responsibility. We shouldn¡¯t have even let it go this far¡­. We made a mistake.¡±


    He started advancing towards her, and Sara backed away further.


    ¡°Is that what you think was happening between us? Is that what is happening here?-a mistake in the making?¡¯This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Sara shook her head, confused. Did he mean them? ¡°I don¡¯t¡­What are you talking about?¡±


    He was still advancing into her kitchen, making the space be tiny. Sara was starting to feel desperate. She felt so raw and vulnerable right now that if he so much as touched her¡­She stopped abruptly as her hand that had been sliding along the counter hit something. Instinctively, she covered it. She knew immediately what it was; she¡¯d left it there in her shock and confusion just minutes before.


    Simon¡¯s eyes darted to where her hand had made the betraying, concealing movement. Sara gulped as he looked back at her. She felt guilty. She looked guilty.


    ¡°What¡¯s that, Sara?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± she said, almost hopefully.


    ¡°So why are you trying to hide it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°Show me what it is.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just rubbish.¡± Desperation tinged her voice, and in a rising surge of panic and rejection at the thought of confronting this, too, when so much had just happened, she whipped it off the counter top and whirled around to put it in the bin. But before she could a strong arm wrapped itself around her midriff and pulled her back into a hard body. With effortless strength, Simon reached round and pulled the object from her hand. She closed her eyes.

 59

    Their breathing sounded harsh in the small space, and she could imagine him trying to make sense of what he was looking at.


    Sara could feel the tensione into Simon¡¯s body. His arm grew even more rigid around her. She knew it wouldn¡¯t take long for him to make sense of it. Pregnancy tests were idiot proof and the results immediate-the word ¡®pregnant¡¯ wouldn¡¯t have taken a six-year-old long to figure out.


    And then abruptly, so abruptly that she stumbled a little, Simon released her. She turned round to look up but he wasn¡¯t looking at her, he was looking at the pregnancy test. After a long, tense moment he finally looked at her and she fought not to wince under his almost-ck look.


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty self-exnatory.¡± She said,


    Simon nodded. ¡°Yes, crystal-clear.¡±


    He turned and walked back into the sitting room, holding the test in his hand. Sara followed warily. He turned then, and she stopped in her tracks at the harsh lines on his face.


    ¡°And were you nning on keeping this little secret to yourself, too, shouldering this as another burden? Another mistake?¡±


    Painnced her. ¡°I did the test just before you arrived. My period iste¡­I¡¯ve been feeling a bit sick today, so I bought this on my way back from work. Of course I would have told you.¡±


    Eventually¡­.


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± His voice could have turned milk sour. ¡°I find that hard to believe, when you were about to throw it in the bin as nothing more than a piece of rubbish. Perhaps you¡¯ve already decided what you want to do with our baby.¡±


    Our baby.


    The simple words of acknowledgement and eptance rocked through Sara like an atom bomb. She put her hands instinctively on her still-t belly. ¡°Of course I haven¡¯t decided anything, and certainly not what you seem to be implying. And I was going to tell you. It¡¯s just¡­I¡¯ve barely had time to take it in myself. I think you can agree that today has packed more than its fair punch.¡±


    Hating herself for feeling so weak as another wave of dizziness washed over her, she couldn¡¯t help swaying slightly. The word resounded in her head: pregnant. She¡¯d really made a mess of things this time.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    With a muttered curse Simon was by her side and made her sit down on the couch. ¡°When was thest time you ate?¡±


    Sara had to struggle to recall.


    Simon cursed again colorfully. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t even eaten all day?¡±


    He threw off his coat and went into her kitchen and started opening the fridge and looking on her open shelves. Feeling totally bemused and numb, Sara watched as he took out bread, butter, cheese, tomatoes and made a sandwich. He brought it back over on a te and handed it to her, watching her until she¡¯d eaten the whole thing, even though it was the size of a doorstep.


    When she was done, he took the te and set it aside, then he stood up and started to pace.


    He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. He looked disheveled all over, and Sara could feel her pulse stirring to life. His shirt wasing out of his trousers, the top button of his shirt undone. He rounded on her then, taking her by surprise. Her eyes had been on his bottom, and she coloured guiltily. How could she be thinking of that at a time like this?


    But it seemed as if she was not the only one. Simon dropped down onto the couch beside her,ing close, and before she could stop him he was undoing the top button of her shirt.


    ¡°That¡¯s better. I can¡¯t concentrate when you¡¯re all buttoned up like that.¡±


    Sara backed away into the corner of the couch.


    Simon¡¯s brows rose. ¡°It¡¯s a bitte for that, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    She was beginning to feel stifled, threatened-sensory overload. She shimmied out from under him and stood up. Simon sat back and looked up from under hooded lids. Sara¡¯s insides clenched.


    ¡°So when do you think it happened?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said crisply, and then remembered the back of the car that night after the charity ball. It could have been then¡­ If she¡¯d been paying attention, she¡¯d have known that day was unsafe for unprotected sex. Colour washed through her cheeks again. She looked down and caught his eye. She couldn¡¯t read his expression. But it seemed as if he could read her mind.


    ¡°Yes, there was that time. Or the bath afterwards.¡± he said. Simon had known well he was being careless, but for the first time in his life that concern had assumed secondary ce to fulfilling his physical needs. And in the intervening days he hadn¡¯t even thought about it. More fool him. Yet, even more astounding to him right now was the equanimity he felt in the face of this news. In fact, what he was feeling was an inordinate sense of rightness. A sense of something his grandfather had passed onto him, something he¡¯d never realized he possessed before: a sense of family.


    Along with it came a zealous desire to give this child, his child, the acknowledgement, love and protection he or she deserved. The revtion stunned him.


    Sara started to pace, anything to avoid looking at him, wanting him. She had to sort her head out. She couldn¡¯t let him distract her.


    ¡°Look. This has happened. It was reckless and silly, but we both know where you stand on this kind of thing.¡± She told him.


    He stood up and was immediately dangerous, towering over her. ¡°Oh, we do?¡±


    Sara felt like stamping her foot childishly. ¡°Yes! I can¡¯t imagine you¡¯re happy to be faced with a pregnant-¡±


    ¡°Mistress?¡± he asked equably.


    ¡°I hate that word. I¡¯m not your mistress.¡±


    ¡°Then what are you? Go on-say it, Sara.¡±


    He was goading her, teasing her, even now. She red up at him, arms crossed. ¡°I¡¯m yourtest lover. The one in between yourst one and your next one.¡±


    His expression hardened, his eyes shed. ¡°Yes. But now you¡¯re my pregnant lover, so that changes things somewhat.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to tell me that you¡¯re seriously happy with this?¡±


    ¡°Not happy, exactly, no,¡±he bit out, feeling defensive. ¡°But how do you know that I haven¡¯t always wanted a child someday?¡±


    ¡°Have you?¡± she shot back.

 60

    Now Simon was the one backing away, feeling a little poleaxed again. His recent revtion was too new, too raw to articte. This whole day was taking on an unreal hue, as if he¡¯d stepped into some mad time-warp. He was in a house in New York with a woman who¡¯d stepped into his life and turned it upside down.


    She¡¯d just told him she was pregnant, and he was still there. He wasn¡¯t running as fast as his legs could carry him away from her, which was how he¡¯d always envisaged reacting to such a scenario.


    Simon looked at her steadily and tried to ignore the way her hair was escaping the confines of its neat bun, the way he could see the hollow at the bottom of her throat where he¡¯d opened the button. Even now, more than ever, he wanted her.


    He answered almost distractedly, ¡°Yes¡­of course I did. On some level.¡±


    Someday. His mind cleared and fixed on Sara. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t have to ask you¡­ I know having a child  is something you¡¯ve already given a lot of thought,¡±


    He saw her hand go to her belly again; she¡¯d done that a few times, almost as if to protect the unborn child from something-their unborn child. Something in his chest felt tight.


    Sara turned away from Simon¡¯s gaze for a moment. He was looking too deeply, seeing too much. When she turned around, his expression had lost that intensity; it was more innocuous.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes. I thought about it a lot. I¡¯ve always wanted children. When we¡­myself and Bruce¡­ When I found out that I was pregnant then, I was very happy about it¡­and when I lost the pregnancy, I was devastated. Hurt and angry too, but after I got past that stage, I was kind of grateful that we never got married and maybe there was a reason why I lost that baby. No child deserved to be born into our sham of a rtionship and what would eventually be our marriage.¡±


    ¡°And what will this be, Sara?¡± he asked, ¡°Because I know that your n was to get IVF, without the father of the child being involved, and I¡¯m pretty sure you know that I¡¯m not going to be okay with that happening. I¡¯m going to be involved, Sara, because it¡¯s my baby too,¡±


    She looked up into his eyes, panic trickling through her. He was so powerful, a million times more powerful than Bruce ever had been. He was cold, remote, and she had a prescience of what it would be like to cross him-she wouldn¡¯t win.


    ¡°This will be just us, having a baby. I¡¯m not going to marry you, Simon.¡±


    She was shaking her head, moving away. He advanced.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware that I¡¯d asked you,¡± he said silkily.


    She flushed. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that¡­how people like you operate?¡±


    He threw back his head andughed, but Sara knew he wasn¡¯t amused. ¡°What do you think I am, a masochist? Why would I want to marry a woman who doesn¡¯t want to marry me?¡±


    And who I don¡¯t want to marry, he should have added, she thought. Sara shrugged, feeling silly now. ¡°So that you can have control over our child.¡±


    He was very close now.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll have control, Sara, as much as you do. We don¡¯t need to be married for that. It¡¯ll be my name on the birth certificate, and I expect to be involved every step of the way.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Sara¡¯s throat was dry. ¡°But how is that going to work?¡±


    Simon¡¯s hand reached out and she felt his finger trail from her jaw down to her neck, to the hollow where her pulse beat fast and unevenly.


    ¡°It¡¯s simple-for now you¡¯lle and live with me. We can sort things out from there.¡±


    _____________


    Sara stared at him like he was crazy, then she moved away from him so he wasn¡¯t touching her anymore. ¡°No,¡± she said simply.


    ¡°No?¡± Simon repeated as if he couldn¡¯t believe his ears.


    ¡°You heard me right, Simon. I¡¯m not moving into your house with you because I¡¯m pregnant,¡±


    ¡°Why not? I thought pregnant women needed help. Who else is going to help if I don¡¯t?¡±


    Sara shrugged and looked away, ¡°I¡¯m functioning perfectly fine now, am I not?¡±


    ¡°This is ridiculous. You and I know that you¡¯re not going to be this way throughout the nine months of this pregnancy. What happens as it progresses and you realize that you have no one around to help you? What happens then,¡±


    His scathing nce bored into her. Sara had never felt so undone, so threatened, in all her life. Even when Bruce had been at his worst, she¡¯d had a level of freedom, space. He hadn¡¯t touched the part of her deep down that this man was trampling all over.


    ¡°Please. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll figure things out. Besides my mom, Scott or Vivian cane look after me if I decide that I need help. I¡¯ll manage somehow.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± he¡¯d asked curtly. ¡°Scott and Vivian just got married. I think they¡¯d want to enjoy their first few months of marriage before having to worry about a baby that¡¯s not even theirs. Your mother has a life of her own too, you know, and damn it, it¡¯d be different if I didn¡¯t want to involved as the father of the child, but I do, so give me one reason why everyone else is allowed to help and not me?¡±


    Sara looked at him and let easy anger rise. She¡¯dshed out as much at herself as him, but made him the target. ¡°This is all your fault. I had ns for this situation before you came along. I was ready to do this alone because I was trying to avoid situations like this. I didn¡¯t want to have to argue with anyone.. That¡¯s why I wanted to get IVF in the first ce. If you hadn¡¯t pursued me when we met, if you hadn¡¯t wanted me-¡±


    Her words were cut off as he bridged the gap between them and gripped her upper arms, hauling her close. Words died in her throat as she felt her bodye flush against his. She¡¯d never seen him look so angry.


    His mouth was a thin sh of displeasure. ¡°I wanted you, yes, but you acquiesced, Sara. You wanted me too so don¡¯t even try to deny it. I¡¯m not the reason your engagement failed, I¡¯m not the reason you are obsessed with shutting everyone out and doing everything alone, and I¡¯m certainly not the reason you never spoke the truth before now,¡±

 61

    Sara gulped as she looked up, held captive in his hands, her body already responding to his. The problem was, he was the reason, but she knew she couldn¡¯t me him. He¡¯d changed her; since the first moment their eyes had met, something in her had started to melt and breathe again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said quietly, soberly. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    ¡°Damn right it¡¯s not my fault. If anyone is to me, then it¡¯s you because this, the way you make me feel, is all your fault.¡±


    Simon looked at her for a long, searing moment before hauling her even closer into his chest, and imed her mouth with his. It was passionate, bruising, all-epassing. Simon¡¯s hands held her easily, pressing her close into his fast-burgeoning arousal. And she did nothing to stop him because she couldn¡¯t. Didn¡¯t want to.


    All she needed this, wanted him so badly that nothing else mattered but him here, right now, with his mouth on hers, giving her life. Restoring sanity, while taking it away spectacrly.


    He pulled back after a long, incendiary moment. They were both breathing fast, hearts thumping in unison. She looked up at him helplessly, aghast at how even now he had the power to render her speechless with just a kiss.


    When he spoke, it made something cold descend into Sara¡¯s belly; his voice was so cool, so devoid of the passion she felt in his body. ¡°Have you also forgotten that you¡¯re carrying my child? And for that reason alone, if nothing else, you will be afforded my protection whether you like it or not. This isn¡¯t just about us any more, Sara,¡±


    ¡°I need to tell Scott about it,¡± she said softly,  ¡°He doesn¡¯t know about us and telling him that I¡¯m pregnant wille as a shock to him, especially after everything that happened with Bruce. I can¡¯t just move in with you without telling him anything,¡±


    Simon stared at her for a second, ¡°Fine,¡± he agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him too and when we¡¯re done talking, you¡¯lle and stay with me?¡±


    ¡°Until?¡±


    ¡°Until after the baby is born. We will cross that bridge when we get there, but for now¡­. Now that you¡¯re pregnant, you¡¯ll stay with me so I can look after you¡­ Both of you,¡±


    ______


    Sara stood at the window of Simon¡¯s top-floor apartment, arms folded. She sighed and turned to survey the room again. Despite its objects, its expensive furniture, it felt empty somehow. They arrived yesterday evening. Simon had overseen her pack her things in her house and had then driven them to his.


    When they arrived, he had shown her to a separate bedroom, clearly having had no expectation that she would share his with him, and Sara had to wonder now what her role would be. And why she felt so confused about that-about what she wanted. This was exacerbated by the fact that she¡¯d barely seen him since then. After having showed her where everything was, pointing out some food ready-prepared for eating, he¡¯d informed her that he had work to do and had disappeared into his home office.


    Then this morning, he¡¯d been up and gone to work when she¡¯d emerged from her room, feeling like a train wreck, even after an amazingly deep sleep. He¡¯d left a note on the kitchen counter. His writing was as distinctive and boldly authoritative as him:


    If you need anything, just call. My assistant will be around shortly with bank cards. Please make yourself at home. I will be backte, so don¡¯t wait up. I¡¯ll be eating out.


    -Simon.


    And just like that, here she was-pregnant with Simon Hamilton¡¯s child, living with him in his home, and conveniently sidelined to¡­where, exactly?


    ________


    ¡°I¡¯ve made an appointment with a gynecologist near here for tomorrow morning. You need to start thinking about yourself and the baby.¡± Simon told her.


    Sara bristled; as if she¡¯d had time to think about anything else. She¡¯d hardly seen Simon, had been too focused on moving and handling clients as much as she could now, knowing that as the baby grew, she wouldn¡¯t be able to do much, and now he was ordering her around only minutes aftering in the door at the end of a long, lonely week for her. Sheshed out at his easy assumption that she was here for good.


    ¡°I¡¯d prefer if I could choose my own doctor, thanks, and there are plenty of gynecologists in New York,¡±


    A muscle clenched in his jaw. Sara was trying to ignore the way he looked so sexy in his suit. Suddenly to be faced with him after days of not touching him was making her equilibrium very shaky. She had to wonder where they stood now. Was their affair, in fact, over for him? Had the pregnancy killed his desire?


    ¡°She¡¯s one of the best in New York. And I¡¯m just trying to help,¡± said Simon.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Her eyes shed with his, and her hands clenched at her sides as she regarded him across the kitchen where she¡¯d followed him when he¡¯d arrived home. Now she regretted the puppy-dog-like impulse. And her insecurity. ¡°I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ve actually discussed this, Simon. I have every intention of choosing my own gynecologist and having my baby anywhere I want. As far as I¡¯m concerned, I¡¯m just here until the baby arrives,¡±


    ¡°You mean, our baby.¡±


    ¡°I mean, my baby. This is not a traditional rtionship. I¡¯ve no problem with you being involved, but I¡¯m making the decisions to do with my body and how I want this to proceed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to make sure you get the best medical treatment,¡± he dered arrogantly, and Sara opened her mouth but faltered. He was right.


    ¡°That may be so. But when this baby is born, I¡¯m going to want the support of my family. I have no one here,¡± Sara  felt a rising sense of panic that Simon would just keep her here, like some kind of animal in a zoo.


    She had her hand on her belly again, in an unconscious gesture of protection. She was dressed down in jeans and a loose shirt, and Simon could see the outline of her bra underneath, white and in, and yet more seductive than the flimsiest lingerie he¡¯d seen on her yet-the memory of which was all too vivid.

 62

    His jaw ached from holding it so tight. His belly burned with a fire that only the woman in front of him could quench, and he knew that would only be momentary. One taste of her and he¡¯d want more. Much more. His body thrummed with sexual hunger, but it was a hunger he feared would hurt her, it was so strong.


    That was why he found himself in the novel position of holding himself back. His head was scrambled. Sara wasn¡¯t just his lover any more, she was the mother of his unborn child. That elevated her to a ce he wasn¡¯t quite sure he knew how to navigate. He knew nothing about pregnant women. So he¡¯d done what he thought was best, given her some space-himself, too, if he was honest. The knowledge of impending fatherhood was bringing up all sorts of long-unexplored emotions and memories, not least of which was this desire to nurture and protect. He¡¯d buried himself deep in work to try and avoid being alone with her as much as possible. But his good intentions were feeling very elusive now as she stood in front of him with bare feet, hair down, looking as sexily undone as his most rampant fantasy. Not a scrap of artifice or make-up.


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me that you will expect the support of your family, when up until now you¡¯ve not even told your mom that you¡¯re pregnant,¡±


    Sara nched. How was it that he could see hering from three-thousand miles away? ¡°I told you. Scott and I decided that it would be better to wait for a while before telling her,¡±


    ¡°And why is that?¡±


    He was remorseless, and Sara felt exposed. ¡°I¡¯m not going to tell her until the three-month mark, when it¡¯s safer. Anything could happen between now and then. It¡¯s such early days, we might not¡­It might not even¡­You have no idea what she went through after I broke down when I lost¡­.¡±


    Simon negated her fears with a shing movement of his hand, a quick, violent surge of something protective rising up within him. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Don¡¯t think about it either. You will be fine. This baby will be fine.¡± The strength of the emotion that gripped him made him feel a little shaky, even Sara had stepped back, her eyes growing huge.


    ¡°Look.¡± He forced a reasonable, steady tone into his voice, belying what was under the surface. ¡°You need to have an initial check-up appointment, admit to that at least?¡±


    Sara forced herself to take a deep breath. She was feeling overwhelmed, all at sea, itchy under the surface of her skin, unbelievably vulnerable and¡­homesick. The sting of tears burnt the back of her eyes, and a lump lodged in her throat. To her utter horror and chagrin, she saw Simon¡¯s eyes narrow on her face. He came closer, and she feared even moving in case she shattered and fell apart.


    ¡°What is it, Sara? What¡¯s wrong? You seem¡­edgy.¡±


    She could haveughed out loud if she¡¯d had the wherewithal-edgy? She¡¯d been on a knife-edge ever since she¡¯did eyes on this man. He was standing so close she could smell him. She shook her head faintly and tried to control her emotions.


    He came closer and the air seemed to swirl headily around them. It was the bizarrest sensation; the closer he came to her, the better she felt, the less isted, the less lonely. But also the more confused.


    ¡°Sara, I can see something in those expressive eyes of yours.¡±


    She tried to step back, but her legs wouldn¡¯t move. She threw out a hand as if to gesture around them. ¡°What on earth could be wrong, Simon? This isn¡¯t what I saw when I thought about having a child. Everything is messed up and I¡­ I just¡­I¡¯ve been alone all week, and it¡¯s just¡­¡±


    This time she couldn¡¯t stop them. The dam she¡¯d been holding back burst and tears fell, hot and thick, down her face; her throat worked convulsively.


    Through her blurred vision Simon loomedrge, and then Sara felt herself being enfolded in his arms, and held so tenderly and carefully against his chest that it made her cry even harder. And this wasn¡¯t pretty, silent crying, this was loud, snotty, shuddering, gasping crying. For what seemed like an age. She realized that she was scared. Scared for the future and for her baby. Their baby.


    Without her knowing how he did it, Simon had taken Sara into the sitting room and she found herself sitting on a couch, still cradled against his chest. When her crying finally began to stop and became deep, shuddering breaths, she pulled away a little. His shirt was soaked.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She couldn¡¯t look at him, and tried ineffectually to wipe at her damp face, which she could well imagine was not a pretty sight. Her eyes felt sore. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. She took it and blew her nose loudly, moving away from him. She was mortified. He moved away for a second and came back. She saw a ss with dark liquid appear in front of her face.


    Sara looked at him swiftly. ¡°I don¡¯t think I should¡­¡±


    He made a very Gallic facial expression. ¡°I¡¯m sure a small sip won¡¯t do any harm.¡±


    So she took a tiny sip. She could feel the reaction start to set in, her legs and hands start to shake, and was d of the burning sensation of the liquid as it entered her stomach and itsforting warmth spread outwards. She put down the ss carefully.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know where that came from.¡± She felt her hands taken in Simon¡¯s and he pulled her gently round to face him. His face was cast slightly in the shadows of the softly lit room.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m the one who is sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have left you alone all week.¡±


    She felt something flutter in her chest, and Sara immediately wanted to scotch his obvious suspicion that she might have missed him. Or that she needed reassurance, like some wilting heroine or, God forbid, a lover who was falling in love with him. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, you were busy. I understand that.¡±


    His mouth tightened momentarily. ¡°I created more work for myself to avoid being alone with you.¡±

 63

    A severe painnced Sara. She shouldn¡¯t be feeling pain, yet she also couldn¡¯t quite believe he was being so harsh. So this is what it would feel like when the time came. Well, the time hade. She tried to pull her hands from his. He wouldn¡¯t let her go. A spark of anger restored her equilibrium.


    ¡°Simon-¡±


    ¡°Let me exin. I don¡¯t think you know what I mean.¡±


    Oh God, he was going to exin, and she¡¯d just blubbered all over him. She spoke quickly, ¡°No, really, I do; it¡¯s fine,¡±


    ¡°Sara, shut up!¡±


    Simon¡¯s exasperation was palpable. She shut up.


    ¡°I¡¯ve avoided being alone with you, because if we¡¯re in any kind of close proximity for more than two minutes, I want to take you to bed with an urgency that is not necessarily good for someone in your condition.¡±


    Her condition. For a second Sara didn¡¯t even know what he meant. Her heart was thumping, and a treacherous surge of joy in her chest was threatening to strangle her. He did still desire her. But then at the intent, serious look on his face her mind and vision cleared. He was worried that he¡¯d hurt her?


    That all-too-familiar melting sensation was spreading through her chest, warming her like the brandy.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Oh.¡±


    Sara tried valiantly not to let the desperation she felt sound in her voice. She knew it was there, though, when she stumbled over the words. ¡°Well¡­I don¡¯t think-That is, as far as I know, it¡¯s OK. I mean, lots of people don¡¯t even know they¡¯re pregnant at this stage.¡±


    Her face was getting warm. Could he see how badly she wanted him? She prayed not.


    ¡°How are you feeling now?¡±


    Like I want you to rip my clothes off and make love to me right here: the words resounded in Sara¡¯s head. She gulped and could feel a trickle of sweat roll down between her breasts. ¡°Fine. Absolutely fine. I haven¡¯t been sick once this week. So, unless ites back¡­¡±


    Simon stood up and paced.


    Immediately Sara wanted him back by her side.


    ¡°You see, that¡¯s what I mean, you need to go and speak to the doctor so we know what to expect.¡±


    He looked down at her with a stern expression, all hunger and desire erased from his gaze and eyes. Sara felt as if she was a dog in heat, and struggled to control her libido. Was this a side-effect of the pregnancy-like the way her breasts felt so heavy and tender? If so, how was she going to cope with the next eight months?


    ¡°So, we¡¯re agreed, we¡¯ll go to see the doctor tomorrow?¡±


    Sara just nodded, only half-taking in what he was saying. Her whole being was focused on the fact that he still desired her and had been holding back.


    He came back and sat down beside her. Sara tried not to let the hunger she felt show on her face.


    ¡°Look, Sara, you need me now. Let me take care of you¡­and the baby. Forget about everything else. Let¡¯s just concentrate on the baby and preparing for that¡­¡±


    He made it sound so easy. And, while Sara felt it was important to assert her independence, she knew he was right. For now. It wasn¡¯t just about the two of them any more. She¡¯d worry about the shifting parameters of their affairter. The knowledge that he still desired her was intoxicating, she went to bed that night and slept properly for the first time all week.


    __________


    ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s OK.¡±


    Sara immediately winced and froze inwardly at how baldly she¡¯d let the wordse out. She¡¯d had no intention of even saying anything, but standing here, back in the apartment, holding all the bumph from the doctor¡¯s office and the baby books Simon had insisted on buying, something primal was rising up within her-a need that had to be acknowledged.


    Simon turned to face her. He was dressed in faded denims and a dark coat, cheeks slightly reddened from the brisk breeze outside. Sara¡¯s heart clenched. She¡¯d never grow tired of looking at him.


    He walked towards her, a glint in his eye. ¡°What¡¯s OK?¡± he asked.


    Sara flushed but looked at him steadily, not backing down. ¡°If we¡­you know¡­wanted to-¡±


    ¡°Make love?¡±  he asked innocently, that glint looking decidedly suspicious.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Sara bit out through a clenched jaw, and wished that she didn¡¯t feel the way she did-that she wasn¡¯t enved by this man and his body and how he could make her feel. The doctor had pointed out that it was entirely natural to be feeling more desirous at the moment, the result of hormones. But Sara knew well that the pregnancy was only heightening what was already there in raw form.


    Simon came very close and took Sara¡¯s jaw in his hand, its delicacy testing all of his powers of restraint. His thumb smoothed the satin soft skin of her cheek. He saw her pupils dte and it had a direct effect on his body.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go for dinnerter.¡± He had to put some kind of control on this wanton craving he had. She was pregnant, for God¡¯s sake.


    Her jaw moved against his hand and he hardened, his erection straining painfully against the constricting material of his jeans.


    ¡°OK. Where?¡±


    ¡°You choose. I have to go to the office to pick up some papers; I¡¯ll be back in an hour.¡±


    _______


    ¡°You¡¯ve booked us a table where?¡±


    Sara looked at the guide book again, slightly mystified by Simon¡¯s incredulous reaction. ¡°A restaurant called Amorous Ambiance,¡±


    His face looked slightly pained. ¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡±


    Sara was nonplussed. ¡°On purpose-why? It just sounds nice. It¡¯s one of the oldest restaurants in New York,¡± She held out her phone for him to see.


    Simon took the phone and pressed the power button. ¡°I know the restaurant-or, should I say, I know what it¡¯s famous for.¡±


    Then he took her hand to lead her out of the apartment and into the lift. Sara followed.


    ¡°What do you mean ¡°famous for¡±?  Is there something I¡¯m missing?¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hmmmm¡­. Something like that,¡± he muttered. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±


    It was nowte evening. Simon had been held up at the office, and the sky in New York was darkening to an inky blue, stars popping out. She¡¯d changed into a simple ck dress. Simon had showered and changed into dark trousers and a dark sweater under his ck overcoat.

 64

    Sara shivered slightly despite her big padded coat when they got outside. Simon called his driver, but she wasn¡¯t shivering from the cold; it was a shiver of anticipation. Because ever since this morning, and her brief, excruciatingly naked deration that it was OK to have sex, something heavy and tangible had been humming between them. Sara was confused as to how things were going to go in general with this rtionship, but one thing she knew for sure was this: Simon¡¯s desire for her was finite, and soon-as soon as the pregnancy started to progress in earnest, she guessed-he¡¯d be moving on. She just didn¡¯t know where that would leave her. Oh, she wasn¡¯t so silly to have fallen for him. Even now she could say with pride that she¡¯d protected her heart. But¡­


    ¡°Here we go.¡±


    Simon was helping Sara into the car, stopping her train of thought. And then, with him so close to her on the backseat, his fingers tangled in hers, she was finding it hard to think any more.


    They got out of the cab in front of an ornately decorated restaurant situated on the corner of a street. It had old murals ofvishly dressed women on the panels outside, windows full of ancient books, bottles and delicate filigree balcony-railings around the first-floor windows.


    ¡°This is gorgeous,¡± breathed Sara as she looked up.


    Simon just grunted something unintelligible in reply. When they went inside and Simon gave Sara¡¯s name, as she had made the booking, she saw him exchange a few words with the head waiter. The man looked at her curiously and smiled, leading them up through the main part of the dining room and then off to the side and to a door. There were rooms off to all sides, creating a warren-like ambience of hidden nooks and crannies.


    Simon looked at her with an indecipherable expression on his face as the waiter opened the door and indicated for her to step in. When she did, her heart stopped, and then started again with slow, heavy beats. It was a tiny, private dining-room, more like a salon, with a table set for two, a mirror along one wall and a banquette seat at the back on which sat plump, inviting velvet cushions. The colors were dark and earthy, unbelievably sensual. It was like a boudoir.


    Sara heard the door click shut and turned to face Simon, her face ming.


    ¡°I had no idea this was here.¡± she said,


    His mouth quirked, his eyes glittering in the soft light. ¡°I believe you.¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Sara was very aware of the look in his eye, the lines of tension on his face. No wonder he¡¯d reacted the way he had. She¡¯d led them to a veritable seduction scene straight out of a fantasy. She walked further into the intimate space.


    ¡°What is this ce?¡±


    She could sense him close behind her and her body trembled.


    ¡°It¡¯s where the wealthy could dine privately in peace and seclusion, and also, it¡¯s said, where ndestine affairs took ce. Look here.¡±


    He directed her attention to crude scrapings on the mirror. ¡°This is where the women would test the diamonds they¡¯d been given by their lovers to see if they were real or fake. Where they would write love messages.¡±


    Sara leant close but couldn¡¯t make out what the faint, scrawled writing said. She was very aware of the space, their breathing, them. A discreet cough sounded outside the door, and Simon opened it to let the waiter back in with menus and water. He took their coats and left again.


    Simon indicated for Sara to sit down. They were practically side by side at the table. The banquette seat loomedrge in Sara¡¯s imagination just behind them.


    Simon sat back easily, his huge body taking up most of the space, and drawled softly, ¡°Good choice.¡±


    Sara felt prim. ¡°You know very well I had no idea about this.¡±


    He sat up then and captured her hands,ing close. ¡°I know, I¡¯m only teasing. The table you¡¯d booked was in the main part of the restaurant, quite innocuous. I asked for one of these rooms.¡±


    ¡°You did?¡± she all but squeaked.


    He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about this ce, but never been. It¡¯s been something of a fantasy of mine to see what it was like.¡±


    ¡°It is?¡± Sara was barely breathing now; her whole body was igniting and melting. She¡¯d all but forgotten that they were even in a restaurant. The thought of inadvertently fulfilling one of Simon¡¯s fantasies was so heady, so¡­


    A discreet cough came from outside again, and Simon let her hands go and called, ¡°Enter,¡± But his eyes barely left hers or her face as the waiter took their food order.


    Sara wasn¡¯t entirely sure how or what she ate during that meal. The whole experience in that small space became about the senses. It felt as though she and Simon had been removed from the world and set adrift in this little cocoon of sensuality and decadence. She knew courses came: Dublin Bay prawns to start, amazingly enough, and a ham dish as a main course, and then a wickedly dark chocte-praline sorbet. Or she could have beenpletely wrong, because she knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to recall what they¡¯d had if asked. The things she would be able to describe in detail had more to do with Simon¡¯s gestures, the way his eyes crinkled appealingly when he smiled orughed, the way he made her feel so hot inside.


    A waiter had cleared the tes and was leaving small cups of coffee with an after-dinner liqueur for Simon. He was almost at the door when Simon called to him and told him that they would call if they needed anything else. The waiter nodded and with a ¡®Yes, sir,¡¯ left the room.


    Simon turned to look at her with a heavy-lidded gaze. He came close and his arm brushed across her breasts, making her breath stop as he drew her attention to a cord descending from the wall beside her. She hadn¡¯t even noticed it.


    ¡°We won¡¯t be disturbed again unless we pull that.¡±


    Sara looked from the cord to Simon; he didn¡¯t move back. His scent wrapped around her like a cloak of heavy desire. The sheer sexiness of him, and the room, overwhelmed her, and she lifted a hand to run her fingers through his hair, feeling the beautiful shape of his strong skull. And then, unable to wait any longer, the promise of fulfillment so close, she pulled his head to hers and their mouths touched.

 65

    A week of not touching blew up around them instantly. It could have been a lifetime, the way things escted so rapidly. Without breaking contact, Simon lifted Sara from her seat and moved them over to the lush banquette behind them. He took his mouth from hers and she followed him momentarily, as if loath to break even that point of touch. Heid her back against the huge cushions, gently, reverently.


    He shrugged off his sweater, revealing a dark shirt underneath, and Sara watched with heavy-lidded eyes as he smoothed a hand down one of her thighs. She arched her back even at that chaste touch; every part of her seemed to be so sensitive, tingling. She wore thigh-high ck socks and zip up leather ankle-boots; she felt Simon bend down and slip them off her feet before his hand traveled back up one leg, right up to where the sock ended and her flesh screamed for his touch. He smoothed that hand further up her thigh, causing her dress to ride up, and when his hand reached where her panties covered the moistening apex of her thighs, she stopped him.


    Desperate need tinged her voice even as she said, ¡°We can¡¯t, not here. They could walk in.¡±


    Simon just shook his head. ¡°No; they know better.¡±


    Sara¡¯s head sank back. Simon¡¯s hand was covering her now, moving back and forth; she was helpless not to push herself into him, wanting more. He bent over her and kissed her deeply, before she felt air whisper over her skin and she realized that he was undoing the buttons at the front of her dress. With one hand, he pushed the sides apart to reveal her breasts, covered in blood-redce.


    ¡°So beautiful¡­¡± he breathed, before gently pulling thece of one cup down and rubbing a thumb back and forward over one tight tip. Sara bit her lip. Her breast was almost painfully sensitive; her body felt as though it was on fire.


    Simon lifted one of her legs and brought it up and over so that it was bent on the seat beside him, opening her up to him even more. His hand still moved between her legs, and she could feel herself plumping, ripening, getting ready.


    With her legs spread, Simon moved even closer, and Sara finally found some autonomy of movement and stretched out her hands to open his shirt. Her fingers shook, and she could feel sweat break out on her brow. She needed that contact so badly, his naked chest against hers.


    When his shirt was finally open, he bent again to take her mouth. His hand had pulled down the sliver ofce covering her other breast, and to feel him like this was heaven. Sara moaned deep in her throat when his mouth moved away, and at the same time as his hand stopped teasing her and his fingers slipped in behind her panties to seek the passage to the wet hot heart of her, his mouth and tongue closed over one nipple, pulling it into his mouth and suckling fiercely.


    Sara cried out; she couldn¡¯t help it. Although she bit back the next cry, her hands were speared in his hair, wanting to make him stop the torturous pleasure he was inflicting on her breasts, and also never wanting him to stop. Her hips bucked towards his hand. He was wringing every ounce of her being out in a never-ending stream of pleasure, but the pinnacle was elusive. It wasn¡¯t enough.


    She managed to pull his head from her breast and looked up into dark, glittering eyes. She felt wild and wanton. ¡°I need more, I need you.¡±


    Simon groaned softly, his own body throbbing so painfully that it genuinely hurt. ¡°I have no intention of taking you here; I just wanted to kiss you.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°And see where that gets us? You said they wouldn¡¯t disturb us.¡±


    A part of her couldn¡¯t believe she was being like this. Talking like this. Demanding this. Simon looked into her brown eyes that were darkened with desire, pupils sorge and dted that it was simply too much not to give into temptation. But, even so, he was notfortable with this base part of him, a part of him that reminded him of other times he¡¯d left behind. He¡¯d done so much to be civilized, sophisticated. And yet patently there was still something untamed within him, something he¡¯d already realized this woman tapped into effortlessly.


    With a sense of futile inevitability, Simon pulled down Sara¡¯s pants, slipping them off one leg. Pressing kisses to the fragrant inner skin of her thigh, he opened his own trousers, pushing down constricting underclothes. He maneuvered them so that, while she was still reclined on the seat, her legs were around his waist, and he leant over her.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure about this?¡± he asked, As if he could turn back!


    Sara could feel the heat of his erection as it pulsed near her body. The heady, musky scent of arousal permeated the air. She nodded. This was where her universe began and ended.


    That was all he needed. He couldn¡¯t turn away from this. Shifting his hips forward slightly, he entered her with one smooth thrust, all the way, burying himself so deep that he saw her head fling back, muscles corded in her neck. Her arms gripped his biceps. Her breasts were like lush fruits framed by redce.


    He bent his head and paid homage to each hard peak, rolling and suckling them against his tongue. He could feel her hips twitch and buck towards him, drawing him down and in, holding him tightly before releasing him again. When he looked up, she was looking right at him. It hit him straight between the eyes, and he almost lost control there and then.


    She was on the edge. He felt the delicious tension coil through her body. A darker flush stained her dewed cheeks, and then he felt the growing ripples of her release start around his shaft as he drove in and out. And then he came, too, his body thrusting rapidly until he had nothing left to give. It had been fast and furious. In the aftermath, he rested on one elbow, shielding her from his weight. He stilly within her, and could feel the after-tremors of her body.


    When he could, he moved back and then scooped her up against his chest where she curled up into him. He sat like that with Sara curled into his body for a long moment.

 66

    Sweat glistened on their skin. He could feel her soft breasts move against him with her breath, and unbelievably he could feel himself stir again. She felt it, too, and wriggled a little.


    Simon gritted his teeth and jaw. As much as he wanted this to be an oasis, to take her again and again, he had to remove her from here. Again he felt that untamed part of himself emerge, and he really wasn¡¯tfortable with that. It made him forget about being in control. And what waspounding this feeling now was the fact that Sara wasn¡¯t just a lover any more, she was the mother of his child. And, he had to acknowledge ufortably, even that knowledge didn¡¯t seem to diminish his impulses around her.


    As Simon held her cradled against him for those moments, heart rates returning to normal, a vision of the future opened up before him, the rity of which stunned him. In an instant he realized that the image, the desire forming in his head, was something he hadn¡¯t been able to articte before now, it had simply been too alien to him.


    He never would have imagined that he would feel this way about it. That he wanted it so badly he could taste it. The chaotic tumult of emotions and desires whirling through him became secondary as he finally saw the way to reconcile the way she made him feel, to put order on things. He tried to make sense of what had just happened. He had to pull back. He had to exert some control. Everything had just changed irrevocably.


    In the taxi on the way home Sara was wrapped in a delicious haze of satiety. She still couldn¡¯t quite believe what had happened in a restaurant, albeit a private room, and she couldn¡¯t stop looking at Simon. She lifted a hand to smooth the unruly tendrils of hair on the neck of his shirt. He caught her hand, lifted it to his mouth and kissed her palm. She felt like a different person, and a deep fear-inducing moment of panic gripped her. Was it already toote? Had she already allowed him in so far that she wouldn¡¯t be sane again? Would walking away from him, which would inevitably happen, destroy her?


    All she knew was that even when she¡¯d believed she loved Bruce it had never felt like this, and she had a sick feeling that she couldn¡¯t keep pinning these feelings on sex.


    Simon was kissing her hand and looking into her eyes, but she felt a distance there. She¡¯d felt it in the room after they¡¯d made love. He¡¯d been considerate and even tender, helping her to dress again. But there¡¯d been a coolness there. As if he¡¯d been embarrassed. By her wanton behavior? She cringed inwardly even as he still captured her hand. And she wondered how she¡¯de to read him so well that she knew something had changed.


    __________


    Something was definitely wrong. Since that night in the restaurant a week ago, Simon hadn¡¯t made another move to touch her.


    Yet he hadn¡¯t left her alone like he had the first week. He¡¯de home early every day, they¡¯d cooked or eaten out, but with an impregnable wall growing between them. Sara was too nonplussed and unsure to ask what was wrong. But all the time she was burning up inside, aching with desire, aching for Simon to just reach out and touch her, kiss her. She wanted to make the move, but she was too scared of what his reaction might be, and she couldn¡¯t help but be afraid that this was the start of the end of his attraction for her. There had been something finite about the way he¡¯d made love to her the other night.


    All he seemed to want to do now was talk. About everything.


    ¡°Have you thought any more about how you want to handle work?¡±


    Sara¡¯s attention came back to the present and the discreetly exclusive restaurant that Simon had taken her to, which was round the corner from his apartment. She looked across the table at him and tried to bury the spike of lust that clenched her insides whenever their eyes met.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to settle as many clients as I can now,¡± she told him, ¡°I know that soon I won¡¯t be able to move as much and I want to be prepared. My team is will be avable whenever I can¡¯t be and I¡¯ll just handle things from home,¡±


    He inclined his head. ¡°Sounds like a good idea, and you can ask me for help anytime if you need it,¡±


    Sara nodded. ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± She was a little bemused at how easily he was giving her autonomy; she wasn¡¯t sure what she had expected. She must have looked a little shocked, because Simon sat back with a wry look on his face.


    ¡°What did you expect-for me to refuse you the chance to continue doing your job.. Which I know you love so much? To stay independent?¡±


    She thought of the irony behind his words-she¡¯d never been less independent. Sara flushed and said tightly, ¡°I appreciate you helping me and paying for¡­ Literally everything I need while I¡¯m here, but you should know that I intend to pay you back,¡±


    The ease with which he¡¯d taken up responsibility of taking care of her had rankled with her. But she hadn¡¯t been in any position to fight him.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    He sat forward now and she sensed the waves of tensioning off him. His voice was clipped. ¡°You know very well that whatever I spend is a drop in the ocean for me, and you¡¯re the mother of my child. I was careless in protecting you from getting pregnant. It¡¯s the least I could have done. So please, don¡¯t mention it again, and I do not expect you to pay me back for anything,¡± He was genuinely angry.


    She cradled her coffee cup in her hand and forced herself to meet his gaze. ¡°I was careless in protecting myself, too, Simon, it wasn¡¯t just your responsibility. I don¡¯t want to seem ungrateful, but we both know that you don¡¯t really have to do all of these,¡± She shrugged and looked  away for a second. ¡°I guess what I¡¯m trying to say, Simon, is Thank you,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± he replied.

 67

    She just nodded, every part of her warming under his gaze, but then conversely she also felt like running as fast as she could in the other direction. There was something going on between them. It was as if they were inviting a deeper intimacy into their already ambiguous rtionship, and yet that cool distance was still there, confusing her. Sara¡¯s well-worn rm bells wereing back to nging life.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The next day Sara¡¯s nerves were jangling. She could remembering back to the apartment the previous evening, how badly she¡¯d longed for Simon to make love to her so she didn¡¯t have to contemte all the mounting confusion, worries and fears in her mind. Fears that were incoherent and tantalizingly out of reach. Simon had been preupied and distant again. He¡¯d merely said goodnight and shut himself in his office.


    Then he¡¯d reminded her that morning that he wanted to take her out to dinner. She dreaded that, especially if he wasn¡¯t going to touch her throughout the night.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have work?¡± she¡¯d asked over the rim of her tea cup, trying not to let her eyes wander down over his jeans-d legs and his dark sweater. He¡¯d just shaken his head.


    So now Sara was waiting outside for him to bring his car round. When he appeared and pulled in front of her, her jaw dropped. He got out and looked at her over the hood of the car.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t your car.¡±


    Amusementced his voice, but something very panicky was taking off in Sara¡¯s belly.


    ¡°I have a lot of cars. But you¡¯re right; this is a new one.¡±


    ¡°But¡­you had a sports car.¡±


    ¡°If I remember correctly, You once said you hated those cars. You said they represented inadequacy, and the inability of men to function sexually and in the world.¡±


    ¡°I know I did.¡± Sara felt like wailing, remembering that it had been aughable argument to throw at him. But right now she would have given anything to see his Porsche. She actually felt slightly as if she were going to hyperventte. Or get sick.


    ¡°But this¡­this is¡­¡± She looked at him helplessly.


    He quirked a brow in her direction and she was transfixed by his eyes. ¡°A family car?¡±


    That was exactly what it was. She tore her eyes away from his. It was a sleek, brand-new, beautiful top-of-the-range Mercedes family car. When he came round and held the passenger door open for her, she was too scared to look in the back and see if he¡¯d actually bought a baby seat too. Panic gripped her like a suffocating vice around her heart. He got in beside her and started to drive, and she could feel him send her a quick nce.


    ¡°Are you OK? Are you feeling sick?¡±


    Sara alternately shook her head and nodded; she didn¡¯t know what was going on with her. When he went to slow the car for a second, as if to stop, she put a hand on his arm, and even that brief touch sent a whole host of other feelings and sensations through her body. She jerked her hand away.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. Really.¡± She was a mess.


    He flicked her another sideways nce as if to make sure and then said, ¡°I got the car for you. I know you have yours but like you said, this is a family car and you¡¯ll need it. You can get used to it with me driving first.¡±


    Sara nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a great idea. Thank you so much, Simon,¡± she managed, unable to say anything else.


    Throughout dinner she was very quiet, and said that she was alright whenever he asked if something was wrong. She knew his heart was in the right ce, and she could see that he was making very good ns to make sure she and the baby would be alright after she gave birth. But where would he be then? Where would they be? She had no idea, and she hated that she was so worried about it. Cleary he wasn¡¯t¡­. In fact, it seemed like he was looking forward to it.


    __________


    In the car on their way back home, Sara could feel tiredness wash over her, and she stifled a yawn. She couldn¡¯t help sinking down a little into thefort of the seat. She felt safe and protected and warm. And before she knew it, she was slipping into a weing dark abyss. So she didn¡¯t see when Simon looked over, and she didn¡¯t see the intense look on his face as his eyes swept down over her body. And she only had the barest of sensations when he reached over and tucked some wayward hair behind her ear.


    Simon tore his eyes away from Sara as she fell easily into sleep. He couldn¡¯t believe he was in this situation, but he was looking forward to a future with her and their baby. He nced at her again, his chest tight with emotion. She was his now.


    He knew that he never wanted to let her go, that he would do whatever it took to show her that they had something beyond the physical. That they had something that could work, that couldst. And to do that all he had to do was avoid the physical. He grimaced. When every part of him burned up just looking at her, he knew it would be the hardest thing he¡¯d ever done-yet at that moment it was the only way he knew how to show her, to demonstrate to her his intention.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    _________


    Sara woke the following morning to find herself naked but for her underwear in her bed, and she couldn¡¯t believe it when the clock said 10:00 a. m. She¡¯d slept for the entire previous evening and night. Had Simon l undressed her? Who else could it have been? And she¡¯d slept through it?


    She showered and dressed quickly, feelingpletely disorientated. When she emerged into the main drawing room after finding no note in the kitchen, she jumped with fright when Simon¡¯s office door opened and he strode out, dressed head to toe in his sessful-billionaire gear. Her heart clenched.


    She folded her arms defensively, not sure why she was feeling like that. Prickly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was obviously more exhausted than I thought. It must be the pregnancy.¡±

 68

    Simon stopped a few feet away from her; he looked so stern and grim that Sara felt a little scared.


    ¡°It¡¯s me who should be sorry,¡± he surprised her by saying. ¡°It was a very cold night and I should have brought you home earlier. You could have caught cold or anything. How are you feeling? I think we should go to see the doctor just in case. I was going to call her if you didn¡¯t wake up soon.¡±


    Sara couldn¡¯t helpughing, and itpletely defused the tension she was feeling. ¡°Simon! Don¡¯t be ridiculous; I¡¯m fine. Being out on a cold night for a few hours will not bring on earlybor or pneumonia.¡±


    ¡°All the same¡­¡±


    He looked genuinely worried, and Sara¡¯s heart clenched again. She rolled her eyes, ignoring her worrying reaction; maybe something was wrong with her? ¡°Simon, really, I haven¡¯t slept that well thest few nights, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s all it was. Here-¡± she reached out, took his hand and brought it to her forehead ¡°-see? No fever. I¡¯m fine.¡±.


    His hand felt warm and strong on her head, and she could feel his pulse at his wrist. It had an immediate effect on her body, and she felt herself respond, her own pulse tripping. She hurriedly took his hand down again. If she kept it there, she would feel feverish in a minute. She stepped back to put some space between them and he looked utterly unmoved by the physical contact. She was still confused by this wall, this distance, that existed between them. It had to be because he just didn¡¯t find her attractive any more, and that was bing harder for her to bear than she¡¯d imagined it would be.


    He finally seemed to be satisfied that she was OK, and started to walk back to his office, throwing over his shoulder, ¡°I¡¯ve lined up some ces for us to look at today.¡±


    Sara followed him, d of the distraction from her roiling emotions and hormones. ¡°ces? What do you mean?¡±.


    She followed him into his light, airy study and looked around the room she¡¯d decorated for him. Shelves from floor to ceiling were packed with all sorts of books. A huge table stood in one corner, where he told her he sometimes held impromptu meetings. It was a hub of energy, but Sara knew that once Simon walked out, the energy would dissipate.


    He was round the other side of his desk, and he gestured for her toe and have a look at something on theputer screen. She walked over feeling a little apprehensive and tried to stay as far away from his body heat as possible.


    ¡°What am I meant to be looking at?¡±


    He pressed a key, and what looked like a property page came up with pictures of houses and gardens.


    ¡°These are all houses and apartments for sale around New York, mostly around those areas you once mentioned that you liked,¡±


    ¡°I¡­well¡­I know, but what do you mean? Why are we looking at these?¡±


    He looked at her as if she were slightly dim, and she could feel herself getting hot.


    ¡°I know you have an apartment already, but I was thinking you¡¯d be more¡­fortable in a bigger and better ce. I don¡¯t think that this ce is going to be ideal for when the babyes, do you? Even though we have the lift, we¡¯re on the top floor, and it¡¯s hardly kitted out to amodate a baby,¡±


    Sara started to back away, her belly churning again. No, she could imagine very well that this wouldn¡¯t suit him. This apartment screamed ¡®billionaire bachelor¡¯. There was no room for a baby. Sara still felt a little too stunned to say anything else but, ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°Good. Now, I¡¯ve arranged some viewings for today, if that¡¯s OK?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for an answer, he strode over, took her arm and herded her out of his office, ¡°You should have some breakfast and then we¡¯ll head out to see them.¡±


    _______


    By that evening Sara¡¯s head was spinning. She¡¯d seen stunning art-deco ground-floor apartments. She¡¯d seen beautiful town houses with idyllic gardens tucked away from prying eyes. She¡¯d seen opulent, airy, studio-style apartments. Then she¡¯d seen some more. All of them had the same thing inmon: they were all exclusive and awe-inspiringly, jaw-droppingly expensive.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    When she¡¯d hissed to Simon about the cost, he¡¯d waved her concerns away and talked over her head to the agents about what it would take to make the properties baby-safe.


    Clearly setting up his ex-lover and his baby in a suitable pad was something he was prepared to pay for. And it was also quite clear to Sara that Simon meant to live in his own apartment and have her living independently,plete with family car, just across town or around the corner; if she liked the first apartment they¡¯d looked at that morning. But she didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be too thrilled at the prospect of running into her and the baby with his new lover. There had been no talk of ¡®we¡¯; it had been all down to her to say if she liked a ce or not.


    Her life had transformed sopletely in such a short space of time that Sara felt light headed as they walked back into Simon¡¯s ce. Compounding everything had been his careful restraint from touching her all day. Even if she¡¯d brushed off him, he¡¯d moved away as if he couldn¡¯t bear to be near her. She stopped dead inside the door and Simon nced back at her briefly.


    ¡°I have a business dinner to attend tonight. I¡¯d ask you along, if you want, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯re tired after today.¡±


    Sara could haveughed. She had so much adrenaline running through her body at that moment that she felt she could run a marathon.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She pushed herself off the door. ¡°Tell me, have you done this before? You seem to have everything pretty well arranged for setting us up.¡±


    He turned fully then and looked at her suspiciously. ¡°Us?¡±


    Sara¡¯s hand went to her belly. A fear of the istion thaty in store for her made her feel panicky. ¡°Me and the baby. How do you know I even want to live in your fancy house, Simon? I never said I wanted a new ce. I told you, I fully expect to go back to my own apartment at some stage.¡±

 69

    He turned away in an abrupt negation of her words. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. You¡¯re having my baby; I told you, I¡¯m going to be involved every step of the way.¡±


    The fear rose up even stronger. ¡°Just as long as we¡¯re on opposite sides of the city, you mean.¡±


    He turned again, his mouth a thin line of displeasure. ¡°What are you talking about, Sara? I don¡¯t have time for this.¡±


    ¡°Well, neither do I.¡± Sara could feel tears sting her eyes. All she did want right then, despite the evidence of hisck of desire, was for Simon to stop this autocratic confusing behavior, walk over and pull her into his arms, to tip her face up to his and kiss her deeply and soundly until she didn¡¯t have to think any more-and certainly until she didn¡¯t have to think about bing a rich man¡¯s broodmare, relegated to the sidelines. However lonely things had got with Bruce, at least there had been the pretense of some kind of union, togetherness.


    And yet she knew she didn¡¯t want that, either. Her head was so fried that it hurt. And it was all this man¡¯s fault. She red at him.


    Simon stepped towards her as if to say something, and his phone rang abruptly. With a muttered curse, he pulled it out of his pocket and turned away to speak rapidly..


    Sara walked past him and into the kitchen. After a few minutes he came to the door. He looked and sounded weary, and Sara¡¯s heart lurched before she mped down on the rogue impulse to worry about him or tell him he looked tired. She wasn¡¯t his wife, she reminded herself. She¡¯d almost been a wife before; she would not do that again. And especially not with a man like Simon.


    ¡°Look, I have to go out now, they¡¯ve moved dinner forward. We¡¯ll talk tomorrow, OK?¡±


    Sara sent him an airy, ¡°Fine¡± and she resolutely turned away and started opening doors and drawers at random. When she stopped and looked around again, he had gone.


    __________


    As soon as she knew she was alone, the tears came, and through them Sara ranted at herself-what was wrong with her? She wanted Simon and yet she didn¡¯t want him. She wanted to be independent, and then when he brought her out to show her ces where she could live independently, she didn¡¯t want that, either.


    All she knew for sure, as she wiped away the tears and prepared some dinner, was that she wanted him with a bone-deep ache that ran through her body like a dull pain. It got worse every time he came near. She¡¯d been having erotic dreams nearly every night about what had happened in the restaurant, waking with sheets damp and twisted around her body. She needed the physical. It was as if that would make all her confusion go away, if she could just bury herself in that release that only he could give her¡­


    As Sara sat and ate, not tasting any of it, an intense desire rose up within her to seduce Simon, making it hard to think of anything else. Her blood felt heavy and her pulse throbbed. She told herself she had to know for sure if he was simply not attracted to her any more. If that was the case it would make things so much easier. She would go home and face the music.


    She wouldn¡¯t let him set her up like some ex- mistress. But she had to know. Feeling much better all of a sudden, Sara hopped down from the stool, washed up her tes and headed for her shower.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    She hummed and hawed over what to wear, and then she found herself going into Simon¡¯s room. She opened up his wardrobe and his scent reached out and enveloped her. Her pulse sped up to triple time and her breathing quickened; he didn¡¯t even have to be here in person and he could turn her on. She shook her head and reached in to pull out one of his silk ties. She¡¯d seen a scene in a movie once that involved a woman waiting for her man dressed in nothing but a tie, but Sara didn¡¯t think she had the balls for that, especially with the slight thickening of her waistline. So she pulled out a shirt too.


    Dressed in the shirt and tie, she left her hair down and put on the slightest amount of make-up, just enough to enhance her eyes. Feeling slightly silly but quashing it, she pulled on pants at thest minute, and then she got a bottle of wine with a ss and went into the sitting room to wait.


    The minutes ticked by, and Sara alternately felt confident, bolshy, insecure and then gravitated back to feeling silly again. But she was determined to stick it out. She needed him too badly. She needed to know too badly. Even if he rejected her, it would be better than this awful ambiguity, this wall of distance. She had to put a stop to the way things seemed to be escting out of her control, as if Simon knew something she didn¡¯t, as if he was reading from a different script.


    She made herself some hot chocte. She opened the wine to let it breathe. She watched the news. She watched a  film and couldn¡¯t understand a word. The shirt started feeling constrictive, so she opened the top button and loosened the tie. And in the end she could feel tiredness washing over her. She fought it for a long time, but the cushions were so luxurious it was hard not to sink into them  a little, to just close her eyes for a few minutes. Confident that she would hear himing in, she let herself doze.


    ________


    When Simon let himself quietly into the apartment he became alert immediately. The light was on in the sitting room, so he went in there. He stopped in his tracks and the breath locked in his chest at the sight in front of him.


    Sara was asleep on the couch. Dressed in one of his shirts and ties. Long, bare legs flung out, hair in disarray around her head, one hand on her belly, the other by her head, palm up. All at once innocent and so wickedly sensuous that he felt dizzy with lust.

 70

    He barely took in the full bottle of wine and the ss, the empty mug of something. He came close, but didn¡¯t want to break the spell. Had she dressed like this on purpose for him? He shrugged off his jacket and undid his tie, barely aware of what he was doing. He felt constricted, and his body was so hard and so hot that time seemed to stand still.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    She was temptation incarnate. Her lips were soft, inviting him to just bend down and press a kiss. It would be so easy to do that-to kneel here beside her, to slip his tongue between those lips, have her wake and take his tongue deeper into her mouth, mimicking the way she would take another part of him deep inside her.


    Simon fought the most intense battle as he stood there. The memory of undressing her as clinically as he could the other night was still fresh and painful in his memory. But his resolve was strong. He could exert it again even if he felt like it would kill him. With his face set in rigid lines of ultimate control, a control he hadn¡¯t had to call on before, he bent down and slipped his arms underneath her pliant, sleep-rxed body. She made a small sound, a mere breath, and her body automatically curved into him as he lifted her up effortlessly. Her breasts pressed against his chest. Simon had to stop for a moment and grit his jaw so hard that it hurt. He was so aroused  that he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d make it to her bedroom. But he had to. He was doing this for them.


    Sara knew she was fighting her way throughyers of sleep for a reason. She felt so safe and so secure that she wanted to stay there forever. And yet, another feeling was making her wake up, something within her, an urgency that was starting down low in her abdomen and spreading outwards, making everything tingle deliciously. She finally started to wake as she became aware of being carried in strong arms against a hard, muscled chest. Simon. And at that moment he was putting her down, letting her go. Every part of her screamed rejection at that.


    ¡°Wait, what are you doing?¡± she asked, still feeling drowsy.


    His voice rumbled low and near her ear, setting off another chain reaction of sensations, waking her more. ¡°You¡¯re half-asleep. You should go back to sleep, Sara,¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Sara struggled through the waves that wanted to suck her back down. ¡°I stayed up to seduce you.¡± She knew somewhere rational that it was only because it was dark and she was still half-asleep that she was being so honest.


    Simon¡¯s body tensed, she could feel it as he rested momentarily over her on his hands after depositing her on her bed. Finally, after a long moment, he just said enigmatically, ¡°You only have to look at me and I¡¯m seduced. Go to sleep, Sara,¡±


    He stood and swiftly left the room, and suddenly Sara was wide-awake and alert. She sat up in the bed, in the dark. You only have to look at me and I¡¯m seduced. Had she dreamt that? She didn¡¯t think so, she¡¯d felt the tension in his body; it was the same tension running through her right now.


    She threw back the covers and got out of the bed. With her heart thumping, she went back out to the sitting room, where she instinctively knew he¡¯d be. She stopped at the door. He was standing at the window, one hand deep in the pocket of his  trousers, pulling the material taut over one buttock, and she could see the winess was gone. Just then his head tipped back and she saw him drink deeply from the ret liquid.


    She saw the lines of tensione into his body before he turned round, and a part of her hated that tension. Sara crossed her arms. His eyes were narrowed, his face had that stern expression, but she couldn¡¯t let that stop her.


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean-you only have to look at me to be seduced? So if that¡¯s the case, then why¡­?¡±  She couldn¡¯t say it, even now, even after waiting up to seduce him.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t I make love to you?¡± he asked harshly.


    Sara nodded jerkily. He put down his ss and now both hands were deep in his pockets, his frame huge and powerful, awe-inducing. Sara felt that ever-present quiver in her belly.


    ¡°Because I was attempting to show you that what we can have is more than just¡­lust, desire, sex.¡±


    Sara shook her head and walked a little closer. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Simon took out a hand and raked it through his hair, mussing it up, making him look even more rakishly attractive.


    ¡°From the moment we¡¯ve met it¡¯s been about physical attraction, unprecedented physical attraction, for the both of us.¡±


    She flushed.


    ¡°But now that you¡¯re pregnant, we¡¯re having a baby and I just wanted to try and elevate things to another level. The way you make me feel¡­That evening in the restaurant, I had no intention of allowing things to get that far, but within seconds we couldn¡¯t turn back.¡± Thatck of control still stung him.


    Sara¡¯s flush deepened. She saw Simon¡¯s eyes narrow even more on her face, and a stain of color washed his cheeks too. The air around them was saturated with their desire. Sara didn¡¯t know how she was still standing. She felt weak and trembly. And a little angry.


    ¡°What are you talking about, Simon-elevating things to another level? We¡¯re just¡­We were lovers. I¡¯m only here until the baby is born. Nothing¡¯s changed.¡±


    He crossed his arms at that, and his face got even sterner. ¡°Why do you keep saying that? I¡¯ve told you, we¡¯re together now. I¡¯m not going to be apart from you or this baby.¡±


    Bitterness and something else indefinable washed up through Sara. ¡°And yet you¡¯ve spent the day showing me ces where you¡¯ll happily shelve me and our child.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I won¡¯t have that, Simon. I¡¯d prefer to go home than be just your responsibility.¡±


    He came towards her, stopping her words, a look of exasperation crossing his face. ¡°What are you talking about? The ces we looked at today are for the three of us, not just you and the baby. What made you think that?¡±

 71

    At that moment he could have knocked Sara down with a feather. She just looked at him. He read her in an instant.


    ¡°Did you really think I was going to go on living here and have you living a separate life in another part of the city?¡±


    His eyes glittered and he was so close now that Sara could touch him if she wanted. But right now, for the first time, she didn¡¯t want to. She backed away.


    ¡°Yes, I did think that. We¡¯ve never discussed this, Simon. I told you I was happy with nomitment. But just¡­not like this¡­¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    That panicky feeling was surging back, a painful vice like feeling around her heart. He made her feel so confused, so mixed up.


    ¡°That was before you got pregnant. Things are different now.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want that. My God,¡± she breathed as she finally saw what he had been doing. The suspicion she¡¯d had when she¡¯d seen the car, the way it had made her feel, surged back to haunt her now. ¡°The car, the apartments¡­You¡¯ve been nning this all along, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Well, one of us has to face the reality, Sara. Tell me, how do you see the future for you, me and our baby?¡±


    ¡°I see me going home as soon as I can, and you can visit whenever you want.¡±


    Her voice sounded high and constricted to her ears. At that moment she also knew that any feelings about her precious independence being threatened were so flimsy it wasughable. To acknowledge that fact now made her feel even more exposed. If her independence, which she¡¯d guarded so zealously after her break up with Bruce, could so easily be forgotten, then what did that mean?


    He advanced and she backed away. This was exactly what she didn¡¯t want to look at; she didn¡¯t want to have to rify her feelings. She knew now that was why she¡¯d craved the physical contact so badly. She¡¯d sensed he had an agenda. He¡¯d been intent on weaving her into the fabric of his life with an ease that scared her. He was threatening the very foundation of her life, the life she¡¯d built so carefully after Bruce.


    She shook her head, begging him silently to understand. ¡°Can you honestly tell me that when I¡¯m like a beached whale, you¡¯ll still be happy with me in your life? That when we have a screaming baby waking every hour on the hour for feeds, that you¡¯ll not regret failing to maintain your independence?¡±  His relentless advancing goaded her further, making hersh out. ¡°Or perhaps you¡¯re nning on keeping this apartment and having it for your mistresses? Well, I won¡¯t stand for that, either.¡±


    He finally caught up with her and grabbed her arms in his hands; they burned through the thin material, and it was only then that Sara became aware of how she was still dressed in his shirt and tie. It mocked her now, the thought that she could have used the physical to avoid talking about this.


    ¡°Dammit, Sara, I won¡¯t live up to the box you want to put me in. I have no intention of taking a mistress. I was going to move out of this ce.¡± Heughed harshly, and the sound grated on Sara¡¯s nerves. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d say this, but for the first time in my life, I¡¯ve even been contemting marriage-you¡¯ve made me believe that perhaps it can be amazing for me. So I¡¯ve been bending over backwards to try and show you that we can have a life together, that we can have something that¡¯s not just about sex. I¡¯m prepared tomit to you, but you won¡¯t even give the thought of family life a chance, not even for our child,¡±


    Sara was starting to shake. His words¡­What was he saying? It was too much for her to deal with. ¡°But you¡­you are¡­. You like being single. You don¡¯t do this. How can you want this?¡± A treacherous flutter of hope mocked her loudly amidst the panic.


    ¡°When you¡¯re the woman and you don¡¯t?¡±  he asked caustically. Heughed then, harshly, his hands still around her arms.


    Every small hair seemed to stand on edge along Sara¡¯s skin. She saw his eyes drop to take in her attire, and her breasts felt heavy and sensitive. She¡¯d thought he¡¯d killed her desire with all his words and scary rationale, but now it was ming back, yet she wanted to fight it. But Simon, it seemed, had other ideas.


    His mouth was a cruel line. ¡°It seems an awful pity to waste this, after all.¡± He ran a long finger around her jaw and down to the pulse beating hectically in her throat.


    ¡°No, Simon, not like this; you don¡¯t want this.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t I?¡± He arched a cynical brow. ¡°You seem to know me so well, Sara. You think that I¡¯d be turned off by your pregnant, blooming body, or that I¡¯d hate to hear my own baby call for food, that I¡¯d hate to take it in turns to do night feeds to give you a break. That I¡¯d grow tired of domestic life, that I¡¯d keep this ce to house my mistresses. As you seem to know me so well, perhaps you¡¯ll also know that I¡¯m done with talking. I¡¯m done with trying to show you another side to this rtionship when clearly all you¡¯re interested in is physical gratification. It never went beyond that for you, did it?¡±


    Before Sara could take in his words, before she could formte anything, even a thought, as the hurt rippled through her, he brought his hands to the tie and pulled it open and off in a fluid move. Then he brought his hands to her shirt, his shirt, and calmly, without violence, ripped it open. Sara gasped as the air whistled over her naked breasts and buttons popped and fell to the floor, scattering loudly.


    ¡°Right now, I¡¯m also done with denying myself what you¡¯re so generously offering.¡±


    With that Simon hauled Sara¡¯s semi-naked body into his, one hand around her back, the other spearing through her hair as his mouth drove down onto hers, taking and plundering. Her world became a ball of fire that she couldn¡¯t step away from, even though she knew it was going to burn her badly.

 72

    After so much build up Sara was helpless not to respond, even though she knew in some small, still-rational part of her brain that it would be much better for her to step back and say no. But her body had other ideas. Her hands were already scrabbling for his shirt, pulling it out of his trousers. She was aching to feel his skin. She reached for buttons, found them and opened them impatiently, and somehow managed to push the shirt off his broad shoulders where it fell to the floor unseen and already forgotten beside hers.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Simon pulled back, breathing harshly. ¡°You turn me into something¡­You make me feel like I¡¯ve still got my past in my blood. Like I¡¯m untamed.¡±


    Sara reached up a hand and curved it around his jaw. Everything that had just happened previously was forgotten. ¡°It¡¯s not a bad thing, it¡¯s a part of you.¡± She reached up and pressed a kiss to his jaw, and she felt it clench. ¡°I can handle it. Show me what it¡¯s like.¡±


    Simon bent and lifted Sara into his arms, striding into her bedroom and depositing her on the bed. He ripped off the rest of his clothes and then he was standing in front of her, naked and massively aroused. Sara sat up on the side of the bed and reached for him, pulling him to her. She looked up at him as her hand closed around his hard length and as she took him into her mouth.


    She could feel that he was trying to control himself. He brought a hand to her head; she felt it shaking. But he wouldn¡¯t let her bring him to the edge or beyond. He stopped her and pulled back, and then his big hands reached underneath and lifted her bodily back onto the bed. With a flick of his wrist, he smoothed her pants down and off her legs. He ran a hand over the slight swell of her belly, the only indication of their child growing within. He pressed a kiss to it, and inexplicably Sara felt tears threaten. As if to drive the emotion away, she reached down and pulled Simon up her body. She could see a harsh glitter in his eyes, as if he knew what she was doing.


    ¡°Please,¡± she begged, opening her legs around him, feeling his weight and strength between them. ¡°I want you now.¡±


    He rested over her on his hands for a long moment and Sara bit her lip. She couldn¡¯t take her eyes away from his; she knew there was a silent battle of wills going on. But finally, just when she thought he was going to make her beg, he slipped a hand under her buttocks, tilting her up towards him, and then with one deep, cataclysmic thrust, he entered her and she felt as if he¡¯d touched her soul.


    She wrapped her legs around him as far as she could, drawing him in deeper and deeper, going with him when he pulled out, and drawing him in tight again when he thrust back. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, her mouth blindly finding and pressing kisses to any bit of exposed flesh, and he took them higher and higher. When the pinnacle came after an excruciatingly exquisite climb, Sara reached a hand down to his buttock and with her other held on tight as the waves of pleasure and release washed through her. She felt his own release burst free inside her, as his back tautened and tensed. His whole body was rigid as helpless after-shocks rushed through him too.


    He came down over her and rolled them so that hey on his side. Their breath mingled, and came harsh and swift. Sara was tucked into his chest, his weight off her belly. Still entwined with Simon from arms down to legs, intimately joined, Sara fell immediately into a deep sleep, not even waking when Simon extricated himself, or moved her under the covers or left her alone in the bed to go back to his own room. He sent one brief nce back to her in the bed, the set of his features grim.


    __________


    The next morning when Sara woke, she had a delicious feeling of satisfaction. She was aware of pleasurable aches and pains throughout her body before the entire previous night came back in vivid recall. Instantly, the warm feeling seeped away and she tensed. Even though she was lying down, the world spun on its axis for a moment.


    She didn¡¯t have to look to know that Simon hadn¡¯t spent the night in the bed with her. She didn¡¯t hear any sounds from the apartment. Getting up, she grimaced when she felt tender. After washing and dressing, she went outside, but she knew Simon had gone to work. She found a note in the kitchen:


    We need to talk.


    -Simon.


    Fear and trepidation rushed through Sara¡¯s body as she recalled everything that had preceded their explosive lovemaking the previous night. Had he really told her that he wanted to make a go of this, create a proper family life? He¡¯d even said that he¡¯d respect her wish not to marry, knowing that she wouldn¡¯t want that. But that truth rocked her: he¡¯d contemted marriage?


    Simon was offering her security, more than just an extension of their affair. She knew she couldn¡¯t keep ignoring the fact that strings were very much a part of it now. Her hand went to her belly; they weren¡¯t strings, they were ropes, binding her and Simon together forever whether she liked it or not.


    That panicky feeling was back, and even stronger this time. It threatened to consume Sara utterly. Feeling ustrophobic, she went out for a walk. Anything to try and clear her head.


    She came backter, feeling just as muddled as ever.


    Simon didn¡¯t know what he was talking about, offering her this life. She¡¯d seen it before. He¡¯d change to adapt, but ultimately he would revert back to what he was.


    And Sara didn¡¯t want to look at why that cut her so deeply. She told herself it was because she couldn¡¯t put herself through trusting someone again, but in her heart of hearts she knew she wasn¡¯t being honest with herself. That was only the half of it. She was in love with him, and he wasn¡¯t in love with her, and despite how good the life he was offering sounded, it wouldn¡¯t matter if they didn¡¯t love each other.

 73

    ¡°I¡¯m going home tonight, Simon. I have called a cab and it will be here any minute. I will send for my things sometime during the week,¡±


    Simon stood just inside the door of the living room where Sara had been waiting to confront him all afternoon. And now she¡¯d blurted the words out with little or no finesse. They hung baldly in the air between them.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Simon looked utterly cold and remote. This was what Sara had had a glimpse of when she¡¯d first met him, the side of him she¡¯d always thought would be formidable. And it was. He put down his case and walked over to the drinks cab on the opposite side of the room. He poured himself a neat drink of something powerful before turning back to Sara.


    ¡°What do you want me to say, Sara?¡± he asked.


    She crossed her arms even tighter across her chest as if she could stop her heart beating and feeling so much pain. Pain that she still denied to herself. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to say anything. You don¡¯t have to say anything.¡±


    He gave a short, curtugh and downed the liquid in one, before turning back to pour himself another. ¡°No, I forgot. You¡¯re not into conversation, are you? I tried that. I think all you want is a gigolo.¡±


    ¡°Stop that. That¡¯s unfair.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? And how is it that our bestmunication was in bedst night?¡±


    Sara nched. ¡°Look, I appreciate what you wanted to do.¡±


    His voice was icy. ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me, Sara. Do what you want, but don¡¯t do that. I¡¯m not asking you to marry me.¡± He ran a hand through his hair, the first signs of angering out. ¡°God forbid I might do that! I¡¯m offering you everything on a te. And a chance to build a life together for the sake of a family. Not even your ex fiance offered you that. He might have been engaged to you, but he never offered what I¡¯m offering,¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bring him into this.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Simon taunted. ¡°Isn¡¯t he the reason you¡¯ve got that Fort Knox of defenses around you? The reason you won¡¯t let anyone close, not even the father of your unborn child?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more to it than that,¡± Sara gritted out, shamingly aware that Simon spoke the truth. She felt cornered again, panicky. ¡°What you¡¯ve been doing is tantamount to¡­a¡­a deception. You could have told me what you had in mind, but you let me believe that you wanted to set me up as some sort of mistress. And then you bring me out to the suburbs and make me see what you¡¯re doing, opening up to me¡­,¡± Sara  couldn¡¯t stop the incoherent jumble of thoughts spilling out. ¡°It¡¯s almost as if you¡¯re trying to get me to-¡±


    Fall in love with you¡­The words shed into her head and she stopped, stunned. She knew they were wrong, but that word ¡®love¡¯ made her feel weak. Even more ustrophobic.


    Simon stayed where he was, rocking back on his heels, surveying her coolly. ¡°To what, Sara? Trust me? Is that it?¡± He downed the rest of the liquid and mmed the ss down, making her flinch. ¡°Is that such a crime?¡±


    Sara shook her head; her arms felt numb now, she held them across her body so tight. ¡°No¡­it¡¯s not. I¡¯m sorry, I just can¡¯t¡­can¡¯t do this. With you.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t trust me, you mean. You can¡¯t even try. You won¡¯t even think about keeping an open mind. And what do you think is waiting for you back at home?¡±


    Sara winced at his condemnation. She hitched up her chin.  ¡°I have my job, Simon. I¡¯ll focus on it,¡±


    Simon¡¯s mouth twisted. ¡°How fortunate. And what do you think you¡¯re going to do about our child?¡±


    Sara felt bleak and hollow inside. ¡°I told you from the start, you can have as much ess as you want. I¡¯d never deny you that, Simon,¡±


    Just then her phone rang. It was obviously the driver calling to tell her that the cab was outside. Sara moved forward on wooden legs. She avoided Simon¡¯s eye, but just when she drew alongside him, he gripped her arm and pulled her round.


    ¡°I am the father of your child, and I won¡¯t have you sideline me. I can¡¯t lock you in here. If you want to go, then go, but I¡¯m not going toe running after you. I don¡¯t chase women.¡± His eyes burnt right through her with a fierce ck intensity.


    ¡°I know,¡± she said through stiff lips. This was it. Already she could feel herself anticipating the pain of one day seeing him with someone new, but she had to bury it deep, because if she even thought of that for a second now, she wouldn¡¯t make it out the door.


    __________


    Three dayster.


    Simon concluded his meeting with the three men in his office, including Scott McCall. He shook hands with the men, and sat back behind his desk as they left, but Scott stayed, and when the door closed behind them, he sat back down.


    ¡°So how did it go?¡± Scott asked.


    ¡°How did what go?¡± Simon returned, although he knew exactly what Scott was talking about, he just wasn¡¯t sure that he wanted to address the topic or even think about it, because everytime he did, he was punished with the image of Sara leaving him, and every time it felt someone had ripped out his heart.


    Scott on the other hand looked very surprised,  ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me, Simon. Thest we saw each other, you showed me a ring. You said you were going to propose to my sister when you got home that evening. Vivian and I have been waiting to hear from either of you but we didn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t want to ask Sara anything because I didn¡¯t want to spoil the surprise.


    It was Simon¡¯s turn to look surprised. He straightened in his chair, ¡°Have you spoken to Sara since then?¡±


    ¡°Yes I have, but she didn¡¯t say anything about you guys getting engaged so I didn¡¯t ask,¡±


    ¡°And she didn¡¯t mention anything else?¡±


    ¡°No she didn¡¯t. Are you going to tell me what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Simon shook his head and ran his hand through his hair, clearly frustrated, ¡°I never got to propose,¡± he said regretfully, ¡°I didn¡¯t get to ask. When I got back home that evening, she was waiting for me¡­ To tell me that she was leaving. She went back to her apartment¡­¡±

 74

    ¡°Damn. I wasn¡¯t expecting that at all,¡± said Scott,¡± I thought she -¡±


    ¡°-Yeah I thought so too,¡± Simonpleted,¡± but it turns out she just wants the baby¡­ Not me,¡±


    Scott heard the pain in Simon¡¯s voice, and he understood. He¡¯d been in that situation once with Vivian. Years ago she¡¯d been his assistant, and it¡¯d taken him a while to figure out how he felt about her, until he¡¯d almost lost her. (YOU CAN READ SCOTT AND VIVIAN¡¯S STORY IN MY BOOK TITLED, ¡®IN BED WITH THE BOSS¡¯). He could see that Simon was feeling the same way, and he wanted to help.


    ¡°Look, I know my sister cares about you,¡± he began, ¡°and I think something went wrong. I can go see her, talk to her and figure out what is going on,¡±


    Simon shook his head, ¡°No please don¡¯t,¡± he said, ¡°Thest thing I want to do is make her go into something she doesn¡¯t want. She walked away for a reason and if staying with me is going to make her unhappy, then what¡¯s the point? I will be fine, Scott¡­ What¡¯s important is that I¡¯ll be there for our child no matter what happens,¡±


    Simon expected Scott to leave, but he stayed put in chair, then he leaned forward,  ¡°Did Sara ever tell you about Bruce Be, her ex-fiancee?¡± he asked.


    Simon stared at him through hooded eyes, ¡°Yeah she did. In Fact I met him some time ago. What about him?¡±


    ¡°He hurt her badly,¡± Scott told him, ¡°And I¡¯m not trying to make excuses for her or anything, but the truth is she has had severe trust issues since then and I honestly can¡¯t me her. She lost her pregnancy and ended up in the hospital¡­My mother and I were scared out of our minds. We thought we were going to lose her, but she pulled through. I went after Bruce¡­ piled up evidence against him. Reports after reports detailing shady business deals involving Bruce,  Bribery for product cement, undercutting bidding contracts, predatory practices , procuring illegal campaign contributions on behalf of a Senator. I was going to out him to every news outlet and journalist I had ess to. I went after his sister, threatened her and I almost lost myself in my quest for revenge,¡± he straightened in his chair, ¡°Look, my point is, I know you¡¯re hurt and angry, but I hope you don¡¯t give up on Sara just yet. She has been through a lot when ites to rtionships, but she loves you. I¡¯m just not sure that she knows it yet,¡±


    Simon nodded, unable to say anything. He understood why Sara had so much difficulty trusting people, but he¡¯d been working so hard to show her that she could trust him, and that didn¡¯t work either. As for love, he knew Scott¡¯s heart was in the right ce, but he was damn sure that Sara didn¡¯t love him. Yeah, she was attracted to him, no doubt, but she seemed to take every opportunity to remind him that she dreaded the idea of marrying him.


    He wouldn¡¯t turn his back on her and their child, but he also had to find a way toe to terms with the fact that she¡¯d never feel the same way he did, and she wasn¡¯t going to be his wife, no matter how much he wanted her to be.


    ____________


    She missed him so much she couldn¡¯t think straight.


    Sara closed the door behind her. Everything had felt wan since she¡¯de home two weeks ago. She felt listless, as if a vital source of energy had been taken from her body. She smiled bleakly to herself. She knew what that was: Simon. She sat down on the couch heavily and sagged like a rag doll.


    She¡¯d known it all along, if she was honest with herself, she¡¯d just been in a pathetic state of denial. She loved him. She loved him so much that even to think about it or acknowledge it made her feel dizzy. It was all so clear now, and what came with the rity wasn¡¯t panic, or ustrophobia; they had all been symptoms of the futile denial of her feelings. She actually felt relief, relief for being honest with herself for the first time in weeks.


    She¡¯d craved the physical contact with Simon in order to feel connected to him without having to look at her feelings. When he¡¯d maintained that ridiculous distance, it had nearly killed her. The extent to which he¡¯d been prepared tomit to her still made her shake, and she knew that walking away  hadn¡¯t been a fear ofmitment or ack of trust-it had been the fear that he didn¡¯t love her, that he¡¯d been doing it solely out of a sense of responsibility.  He¡¯d shown her that he was capable of making big sacrifices. But she didn¡¯t want to be a sacrifice.


    That was what it came down to. Ultimately she had to concede now that Bruce had never truly killed her spirit. He¡¯d only dampened it. Meeting Simon had brought it back to life. But she wanted him to love her too. She could do anything if she had that, even contemte getting married; she knew that now. Her real fear had been ofmitting to a life with Simon only to witness his inevitable decline in interest and his taking of a mistress or leaving her.


    Yet, was she being unfair? He¡¯d already used her of trying to read his mind and she¡¯d got it spectacrly wrong. Could she risk it? Could she put her heart on her sleeve and walk away in one piece if he said ¡®no thanks¡¯?


    Somehow, Sara knew that, whether or not she could survive his rejection, she owed it to herself and their baby at least to be honest. Properly honest. The only thing was, it could already be toote.


    ___________


    Sara paced restlessly up and down her apartment the following morning, checking her watch constantly as she waited-and waited!-for what might be considered a reasonable time to call someone-to call Simon!-on a Saturday morning.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Seven a. m.


    Seven-fifteen.


    Seven-thirty.


    Seven forty-five.


    And each of those minutes seemed like an hour as the second hand on Sara¡¯s watch crawled round more slowly with every second, increasing her tension.


    Those minutes had been crawling round all night as Sara had felt too restless even to go to bed, let alone try to sleep.


    Eight a. m.


    Eight fifteen.


    Eight-thirty.

 75

    Was eight thirty still too early to call Simon? Would he still be in or had he gone to work¡­ Maybe for one of his early meetings. Sara¡¯s nerves were strung out so tightly that she jumped about two feet in the air as the tune of her phone ringing broke shrilly into the silence. She took several seconds to settle her jitteriness before picking up the phone, distractedly noting that the caller ID was ¡®unknown¡¯ and hoping whoever it was would get off the phone quickly, so that she could put her own call through to Simon. Before she lost her nerve.


    ¡°Sara McCall,¡± she answered briskly.


    ¡°Sara,¡±


    Just her name. Just that one word. And yet Sara knew without a shadow of a doubt that the person on the other end of the line was Simon.


    He¡¯d hidden his number to call her? Why? Sara wondered, but instead she said, ¡°How strange, Simon, I was just about to call you¡­¡± she told him huskily.


    ¡°You were?¡± She could hear the surprise in his tone. ¡°I was so worried that you wouldn¡¯t pick up if you knew I was the one calling so I hid my number,¡±


    ¡°I need to talk to you.¡± She said,


    ¡°You do?¡±


    Sara gave a slightly breathlessugh as Simon also continued to sound less than his usually arrogantly confident self.


    ¡°Yes, I do. Is it convenient for me toe over now?¡±


    ¡°Not necessary. I¡¯m already in the car on my way over to see you,¡± he came back dryly.


    Now it was Sara¡¯s turn to feel surprised, and her fingers tightened about the phone, the inside of her mouth having gone suddenly dry. ¡°You are?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± he assured her firmly-grimly? ¡°I should reach your apartment in fifteen minutes or so, traffic allowing.¡±


    She heaved a shakily relieved sigh, longing to see him again, to speak with him. ¡°Simon-¡±


    ¡°I would rather we talked face to face, Sara,¡± he cut in determinedly.


    ¡°Okay.¡± It was what she wanted too. ¡°I¡¯ll be expecting you.¡± She moistened her lips. ¡°Drive carefully,¡± she added huskily.


    ¡°Depend on it.¡± Simon abruptly ended the call.


    Sara switched off her phone before cing it carefully back on the coffee table, hardly daring to believe that Simon wanted to speak to her-that he was actually on his way to her apartment right now.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    She had spent hours the previous night, pacing from room to room in her apartment as she tried to decide what to do for the best. Talk to Simon. Don¡¯t talk to him. And in the end it had alle back to the realization that she had to talk to him. Did the fact that Simon seemed to have decided the same thing, in regard to her, make what she had to say to him easier or harder?


    No doubt in fifteen minutes or so Sara would have the answer to that question.


    ________


    ¡°I brought coffee¡­¡± Simon held up a cardboard tray holding two take-away coffees when Sara opened her apartment door to him fifteen minutester.  ¡°The ¡°hot¡± young man who works in the coffee shop across the road on weekends assured me this is how you take your coffee,¡± he added dryly.


    Sara felt warmth in her cheeks as she remembered that deliberately provocative conversation. On her part at least. ¡°You told him it was for me¡­?¡± she asked suspiciously,


    Simon arched mocking brows. ¡°I only had to mention that you lived in this particr apartment building and he knew exactly who you were, and how you take your coffee. So much for him not noticing you, hmm?¡± he added teasingly as Sara tacitly invited him into her apartment by opening the door wider and stepping aside.


    Her apartment seemed much smaller once Simon was inside, Sara noted-his very presence, in faded denims and a casual ck shirt unbuttoned at the throat, with the sleeves turned up to just below his elbows, seemed to dominate even the air she breathed in so shallowly as she entered the sitting room behind him.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always thought your apartment was beautiful,¡± Simon ced the cardboard tray down on the coffee table as he looked about thefort of her sitting room. The decor was in autumn colors-reds, golds, oranges, and all shades in between-and a perfect foil for her dark-haired brown-eyed beauty. ¡°It suits you.¡±


    Sara¡¯s face was a little pale this morning, but otherwise she looked as arrestingly beautiful as usual, in fitted ck denims and a pale lemon T-shirt.


    ¡°Here.¡± Simon picked up the coffee he had brought for her and held it out to her. ¡°You look as if you need it,¡± he added.


    Her hand shook slightly as she took the insted cup from him. ¡°And then we¡¯ll talk?¡± She smiled warily.


    ¡°And then we¡¯ll talk,¡± Simon confirmed, frowning as he once again noted the fragility of Sara¡¯s appearance.


    He had spent a restless evening and a sleepless night after Sara had left his apartment. For two weeks he¡¯d tried to ept that they were never going to see each other again, at least not in the way he wanted. He had spent hours going over and over everything they had said during thatst conversation, ultimatelying to the conclusion that none of it was of the least consequence when all he wanted was to see Sara again.


    To be with her. Once Simon had epted that truth, everything else had be unimportant. Convincing Sara to feel the same way about him might take a little longer!


    ¡°Simon¡­?¡± Sara had no idea what thoughts were currently going through his head-when had she ever known what this enigmatic man was really thinking?-but whatever they were, they were causing him to frown darkly.


    He shook off that darkness as he straightened. ¡°You said you wanted to speak to me this morning¡­?¡±


    She moistened her lips before speaking. ¡°I believe we admitted we wanted to speak to each other?¡±


    He gave a derisive smile. ¡°I¡¯m really not in the mood to y games today, Sara.¡±


    ¡°Me either,¡± she assured him. This situation, the conversation they needed to have, was too important for that.


    ¡°Which one of us should go first?¡±


    Simon was tired-not only from hisck of sleep the night before, but by the way the two of them seemed to be skirting so warily around each other this morning.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sara,¡± he told her,


    ¡°What? You are? Why?¡±

 76

    Simon chuckled, ¡°For everything that I said. For everything I did. I guess I was rushing you into things you weren¡¯t ready for, and I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s been horrible at home without you. I miss you, and I keep worrying about you and the baby. I still want to be able to help during the pregnancy and I¡¯ll be very happy if you agree toe back home with me,¡±


    Sara couldn¡¯t believe her ears. She looked away, feeling ashamed of the way she¡¯d handled things. She¡¯d hurt this man, walked away from him when all he was trying to do was help, and she felt stupid and sorry. It wasn¡¯t his fault that she couldn¡¯t work through her trust issues. Sure, there were bad people in the world, but Simon wasn¡¯t one of them. He was a good man, and all he¡¯d been trying to do since they met was to make her see that too.


    She forced herself to speak, ¡°You don¡¯t have to say all that,¡± she began, ¡°You did nothing wrong. You were thinking about our future and I was stuck in the past. Holding back¡­ because I couldn¡¯t bring myself to trust you. I was scared too¡­Simon, the way you make me feel¡­¡±


    Sara felt Simon¡¯s eyes on her, but couldn¡¯t look at him. Her eyes stung with tears but her voice didn¡¯t waver. Now was not the time to cry. ¡°I decided not to have the IVF long before I found out that I was pregnant. I mean, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to go ahead with it, because I couldn¡¯t see myself having a baby that wasn¡¯t¡­¡± she paused and swallowed hard. This also wasn¡¯t the time to feel shy,  ¡°¡­ That wasn¡¯t yours,¡±


    Simon reached out and took her hand that was twisting on her knee, stopping her words. Stopping her heart. She still couldn¡¯t look at him.


    ¡°I liked the car you bought and the houses you showed me,¡± she continued, ¡°But when I thought you wouldn¡¯t be there with us,¡± she rubbed her stomach, ¡°I hated the idea of not having you with me, because it wouldn¡¯t be right if you weren¡¯t. After Bruce, I decided I would never marry anyone because I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d ever find someone who was worth going down that road for. I thought it¡¯d be easier that way, but it doesn¡¯t seem so easy anymore¡­You came into my life and you changed everything without even trying and it was scary,¡±


    ¡°I feel the same way,¡± Simon told her, ¡°When I think about the way you make me feel, Sara, it¡¯s scary for me too, but it doesn¡¯t make me want to leave. It makes me want to take your hand and go down that road with you.¡±


    She turned away again and Simon released her hand. He was saying the right things. He was saying everything she¡¯d always wanted him to say. All this time she¡¯d not been alone. If only she¡¯d opened up, then she¡¯d have seen. Sara shook her head. She was about to make another choice, take another fork in the road of her life, and, while this one had the potential for so much more pain than Bruce had ever inflicted, it was different this time because she knew this was the right thing. The right choice. It all came down to Simon and what he would choose, and she couldn¡¯t control that.


    She took another deep breath and turned to face Simon, her eyes roving over his face. Everything about him was so dear to her. So necessary for her well-being. He was looking at her, too, but warily. His expression was guarded again.


    ¡°I¡­. I love you, Simon,¡± she said, her heart thumping, ¡°I¡¯m following my heart, but this time I know why I¡¯m doing it and I know it¡¯s right-because from the first moment I saw you it¡¯s felt right, in here.¡± Sara put a hand to her belly and then touched her heart. ¡°And most of all in here. It just took me a while to trust that. To trust myself again.¡±


    Simon said nothing, but his eyes gleamed with some indefinable emotion and Sara put her trust in that. ¡°You asked me to considermitting to a life together, to consider that we could try and make things work.¡±


    He cut in harshly. ¡°I never asked you to marry me, Sara; you made it abundantly clear how you feel about it. All I wanted was for us to give family life a chance. To give our child a stable foundation.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± she said gently. ¡°And I do want that too.¡±


    He raised an incredulous brow.


    She forged on. ¡°I really do, Simon. But the truth is, I want so much more. I said no to you weeks ago, I came back here to try and get some space, because I was afraid of what you were asking, and what might happen if I said yes-that you¡¯d grow tired of me, or take a mistress. I always said I¡¯d never marry again, yet I want to believe in the dream again. And it scares the life out of me, when it had be such a dangerous myth to me. I¡¯d thought I¡¯d given up on that dream forever.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She looked back into his eyes, willing him to see what she was feeling, what was in her heart. ¡°I walked away because deep down I couldn¡¯t bear the thought that you didn¡¯t love me. I¡¯ve fallen in love with you, Simon, and I¡¯ve realized that I still do want the dream. I can¡¯t settle for anything less, no matter how much pain might be in store, even if you say no.¡±


    His eyes met hers, and Sara stopped breathing. Time stopped for an infinitesimal moment and started again in slow, heavy beats and then she realized that it was her heart.


    Simon felt as though a two-tonne lorry had just crashed into his sr plexus. And all he could do was look at her, this woman he loved more than life itself, telling him that she loved him. Finally the momentary shock wore off. He felt a ripple of pure incandescent joy surge upwards through his body. He could see her lips tighten momentarily as if to ward off the inevitable rejection, and ridiculously tears stung the back of his eyes. He was in awe, transfixed by her strength and bravery, and he felt humbled.

 77

    He summoned control, Sara felt Simon¡¯s arms secure around her waist, as looked down into his eyes. Her world had just been upended. He was shaking his head.


    ¡°You put me through hell. You¡¯ve turned my life inside out and upside down. Letting you walk out of that apartment was the hardest thing I¡¯ve ever done, but I had to let you go¡­and I just prayed that you¡¯de back to me. And you have.¡±


    He reached up a hand and pulled her head down to his, kissing her deeply. Sara was still struggling to get her breath back, still in shock at what she¡¯d just done, at what he¡¯d just said. As if reading her mind, he pulled back before they went up in mes. He smoothed some hair behind one ear and looked into her eyes.


    ¡°I love you, Sara. I¡¯m deeply and madly in love with you. How can you not know that?¡±


    She shook her head faintly; awe made her voice shake. ¡°I couldn¡¯t allow myself to hope it for a second. I knew I had to do this, to tell you how I felt, but I couldn¡¯t contemte your rejection or else I would never have had the guts to tell you.¡±


    He shook his head and pulled her closer. ¡°I fell in love with you at that party when we met,¡±


    Sara was melting into his warm, strong embrace. She shook her head faintly. ¡°But how is it possible? It was just an affair.¡±


    His eyes gleamed. ¡°It was never just an affair. From the moment we first kissed it was more than that. When our eyes met we knew each other. We were made for each other.¡± He smiled then, and it made her chest ache. ¡°Although, of course, all I saw at the time was you in that gown, all I wanted to do was undress you, undo you.¡±


    Sara pushed back to look down at him again, a blush staining her cheeks. ¡°You undo me every time you look at me.¡± She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. Tears stung her eyes; she could feel her lip wobble. She¡¯de home, finally, and he was home. She smiled tremulously, not a hint of her past or any fears in her eyes any more.


    Her voice rang in his ears, making Simon¡¯s heart sing even more, making his body hum with urgent desire. He knew now that he could embrace the way she made him feel, knowing that she could contain every part of him, even the part that felt untamed. He knew now that it had just been her instinctive ability to connect with every part of him from the moment they¡¯d met that had unsettled him. He pulled her head back down to his. When they were finally able to stop kissing, Sara sat back and smiled at him shyly. She brought his hand down to cover her belly where their baby was growing strong and bigger every day.


    ¡°I have all I need right here, right now. Anything else is a bonus.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Simon pulled her head down to his, and just before he kissed her he whispered against her mouth, ¡°I love you, very much.¡±


    _________


    Simon had insisted on them going out the following evening. He¡¯d even booked a room for them at a hotel. It reminded Sara of that night at the Amorous Ambiance restaurant and she felt giddy all over, but Simon had been quiet for most of the night, as if he had something on his mind, although he said he was alright whenever she asked.


    The suite was luxurious, with a giant king-size bed and a couch in the living area. Simon hadn¡¯t spoken a word since they¡¯d left the bar and Sara was starting to feel more worried.


    ¡°Do you want me to order drinks from room service?¡± she asked.


    It wasn¡¯t that she wanted a drink, but she needed to say something, needed to fill the oppressive silence and see if she could get him talking again.


    Anything to get him talking.


    He nced over at her. ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± She flipped through the menu, pretending a casualness she didn¡¯t feel. If she seemed normal, maybe he¡¯d rx.


    Maybe he¡¯d even open up to her.


    ¡°Order a bottle of champagne for me,¡± he said. ¡°And some juice for yourself if you want it.¡±


    ¡°That sounds fine.¡± Sara picked up the phone and dialed room service. She looked around the room as the phone rang. The walls were papered in pale blue silk. The chandelier in the center of the suite was an ornate Vian ss concoction shaped to look like flowers budding from a vase. The ss was multihued, beautiful beyond description. There was a watered-silk chesterfield sofa nked by two modern leather chairs sitting on the biggest oriental carpet she¡¯d ever seen. Sleek ss-topped tables rounded out the living area. Huge silk panels hung on the windows, held back by ornate tassels.


    It was without doubt one of the most luxurious hotel rooms she¡¯d ever been inside. While she waited for the champagne and fruit juice to arrive, Sara drifted over to the antique desk. She recognized the style as French. It was polished walnut, iid with flowers and scrolls. Sara sank into the upholstered chair and opened the drawers one by one, just for something to do.


    A deck of cardsy in the center drawer. She took them out and flipped open the box. The backs hadndmarks on them. Quickly, she shuffled, loving the feel of the cards in her hands.


    A knock sounded on the door and she got up to answer. A man wheeled in a trolley with a champagne bucket, fruit juice and two sses. Deftly, he opened them and poured some in each ss.


    Simon came over and handed the man some cash, and then he was gone.


    Sara sipped her juice and watched Simon. He took his ss over to the window and downed it.


    ¡°I found a deck of cards,¡± she said as she took the bottle over and poured him another drink. ¡°Why don¡¯t we y a hand or two of poker?¡±


    His gaze swung toward her.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re used to winning,¡± she said, ¡°but you¡¯ve never yed me. I¡¯ll try not to embarrass you, though.¡±

 78

    Simon couldn¡¯t resist a challenge. And she was going to challenge him if that¡¯s what it took. She didn¡¯t know if she could really beat him, but he didn¡¯t need to know she wasn¡¯t confident. She was good at cards, no doubt about it. And she was damn good at bluffing.


    ¡°What are the stakes?¡± he asked, and her heart soared. She¡¯d intrigued him enough to shake him from his brooding.


    ¡°If I win, you take me out to do something that I¡¯d love, but you hate.¡±


    ¡°For instance?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She cast about wildly, ¡°Maybe we go shopping or something. I mean.. I go shopping. You¡¯ll sit and wait for me. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll hate that,¡±


    He almost grinned, she was certain. ¡°And if I win?¡±


    Sara shrugged. ¡°We go somewhere you want instead.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like much incentive,¡± he said, taking a sip of the champagne.


    His eyes narrowed, his gaze slipping over her body. Her skin warmed, her nipples tightening beneath the fabric of her dress. Any second and he would know the effect he was having on her.


    ¡°I have a better idea,¡± he said as his eyes met hers again.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°We y for the clothes on our backs. Or we don¡¯t y at all.¡±


    ____________


    Sara¡¯s heart thundered in her ears. Strip poker. Could she do it? Because she knew what would happen if she lost.


    Her body felt tight, achy, the tender area between her thighs melting, softening. Her body craved his so strongly it scared her. They¡¯d not made love the previous night after they returned to his ce. He¡¯d simply held her throughout the night, and Sara was more than happy to just stay in his arms, but now she wanted him, but he¡¯d gone out very early in the morning and insisted that they go out as soon as he came back.


    Sara took a deep breath. But she wouldn¡¯t lose. She had just as good a chance of winning as he did. Maybe better, who knew.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said. ¡°We y for clothes.¡±


    Simon smiled for the first time in hours. It was a devilish smile, a supremely confident smile. Warmth curled inside her belly, flooded her limbs.


    ¡°There¡¯s only one problem,¡± she continued.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wearing more clothes than I am. Either you spot me a couple of hands, or you count that jacket, shirt and tie as one item.¡±


    He shrugged out of the jacket and tossed it on a nearby chair. ¡°The shirt and tie count as one item.¡±


    She tipped her chin to his waistline. ¡°And the belt?¡±


    ¡°Goes with the pants.¡±


    Sara picked up the deck of cards ¡°All right, then. I guess we¡¯re on. If you pull one of those chairs over here, we can y at the desk.¡±


    ¡°The bed, Sara. It¡¯s bigger.¡±


    Her ears felt hot. Not from embarrassment, but from sensual overload. She wanted to y strip poker on a bed with this man. And she wanted to win, because she wanted to see that magnificent body, and after two weeks, she was dying for him to make love to her.


    ¡°Fine.¡± She picked up her ss. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°After you.¡±


    She led the way into the bedroom, set the juice on the bedside table and kicked off her heels before climbing onto the bed. When she turned around, Simon was watching her, his eyes smoky with desire.


    ¡°We could just skip the cards,¡± he said, his deep voice vibrating over her nerve endings. ¡°Save a whole lot of time and trouble.¡±


    ¡°On the bed, Simon. Get ready to lose your shirt.¡±


    He slipped out of his shoes and socks, then got onto the bed opposite her. The center of the king-size bed was a good ying surface, if a little unorthodox. Sara shuffled the cards and Simon cut. Then she dealt.


    ¡°I love watching your hands stroke those cards,¡± he said.


    ¡°No trying to distract the dealer,¡± she answered coolly. Then she picked up her hand.


    She nced at Simon-except that he was looking at her, as well. Both trying to gauge the other¡¯s reaction for a clue to the hand they held.


    ¡°You¡¯re a good bluffer,¡± Simon said.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Sara arched an eyebrow. ¡°Who says I¡¯m bluffing?¡±


    ¡°I can always read people, but I can see you¡¯re good at hiding your emotions at the table.¡±


    ¡°I guess. Scott and I used to y all the time when we were younger,¡± she said, though her heart was tripping along with adrenaline. No doubt his proximity had an effect, as well.


    Simon tossed two cards down and smiled. Sara looked at her hand again. She had two fives, which was good, but she hoped for better. Tossing three away, she dealt the next round. This time she picked up an ace, a two and another five. It wasn¡¯t ster, but it was a good hand.


    ¡°Call,¡± Simon said.


    Saraid down the cards. Simon only smiled, then heid down his hand. She scanned it desperately, relief flooding her when she realized he¡¯d lost.


    ¡°Three of a kind beats two,¡± she said.


    ¡°As I see it, there can be no losers here.¡±


    ¡°Your shirt, please.¡±


    Simon¡¯s smile sent a shot of pure lust straight to her center as he began to loosen his tie. A secondter he tugged it free and tossed it at her. Slowly, he unbuttoned the crisp white shirt he was wearing.


    ¡°You have a T-shirt on under that!¡± she eximed as the shirt fell open to reveal anotheryer beneath.


    ¡°You should have thought of it before. Toote now.¡± He peeled the shirt off and dropped it on the floor.


    Dammit, why did men wear so many more garments when they were dressed up than women did? It hardly seemed fair. She hadn¡¯t even worn stockings, which she was now regretting.


    Fortunately, Simon lost the next round, as well, his straight falling victim to her flush. He didn¡¯t seem quite as perturbed as she would have expected for losing two hands in a row and she began to wonder if he was doing it on purpose, toying with her to make her overconfident. She wouldn¡¯t put it past him, but she refused to be distracted by the ploy.


    When he pulled the T-shirt over his head, Sara tried not to get distracted. She wanted to run her tongue along those ridges. She stifled her impulses and concentrated on the cards. She had to be careful, or Simon would take her down so quick she wouldn¡¯t know what had hit her until toote.

 79

    But the next hand yed out rapidly. The first clue she had that she¡¯d lost was Simon¡¯s smug smile. Her gaze dropped to the cards. Two pair beat one pair. Damn.


    ¡°The dress, Sara,¡± Simon said.


    She thought about insisting on removing her panties instead-because at least she would have the coverage of the dress to protect her. But what if she lost another round? She couldn¡¯t get her bra off without removing the dress, so that would mean the dress would be next and she¡¯d be sitting here in nothing but a bra.


    Heat spread through her, permeating her bones, her blood, every cell of her body. But was it the heat of embarrassment or sexual heat?


    She didn¡¯t know, but she shoved herself onto her knees and grasped the hem of her dress. Nothing left but to brazen it out. Because she wouldn¡¯t renege on a bet. Slowly, she peeled the dress upward, revealing her thighs, her belly, her breasts, before pulling it over her head and dropping it onto the bed.


    Simon¡¯s eyes had darkened to pewter as he watched her. She knew what he was seeing. The white silk of her panties was thin, and thecy demi cups of her bra barely held her breasts in whenever she leaned forward. Her nipples had tightened some time ago. She had no doubt Simon could see the hard little bumps through the silk.


    ¡°Satisfied?¡± she asked.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hardly.¡±


    ¡°I believe it¡¯s my turn to deal again,¡± she said.


    She gathered the cards, leaning forward just enough to make him think her breasts were about to pop free. It was a cheap shot to distract him, but she didn¡¯t care. Simon wasn¡¯t going to give her any quarter; she needed to be as ruthless as he was.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve ever seen anything as sexy as a woman dealing cards in her underwear before,¡± he said, his voice deep and husky with desire.


    She looked up, her heart skipping a beat at the intensity of his stare.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised,¡± she replied. ¡°I would have imagined you¡¯d yed this game quite often.¡±


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t¡± he said simply.


    ¡°Too bad for you then,¡± she said crisply. ¡°Now pay attention to the game and stop trying to distract me with sex.¡± She shuffled the cards and handed him the deck to cut. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be so easy to beat.¡±


    Simon actually tsked as he cut the cards. ¡°Haven¡¯t you figured it out yet, Sara?¡±


    ¡°Figured out what?¡± She took them back and swiftly dealt the next hand.


    ¡°That I never lose.¡±


    ¡°Neither do I.¡±


    The next several hands passed with nothing happening, each one ending in a stalemate as one or the other of them folded. Simon got up from the bed. She watched his retreating back as he walked out into the living area, the way the muscles rippled and bunched as he moved.


    When he returned with the champagne bottle, she forced herself not to stare. It was important to keep ying, and just as important to keep the rest of her clothes on. Simon had lightened up considerably since they¡¯d started. She didn¡¯t fool herself  that he¡¯d forgotten about what was bothering him hours ago. He¡¯d merely shoved it to the back of his mind while he worked to beat the clothes off her body.


    But he seemed happier, seemed like the Simom she¡¯de to know and love, and she liked that he wasn¡¯t brooding any longer. She knew something was on his mind and she wanted to know what it was l. She intended to ask him after the game. Maybe now that he was in a better mood, he¡¯d tell her.


    Simon sat down and picked up the cards. It was his turn to deal the next hand, which he did with efficient movements. Sara¡¯s pulse kicked higher at the three aces she held. Simon tossed down three cards. Sweat beaded her upper lip as she picked up the two cards he dealt her. Relief surged through her: two sevens.


    ¡°What do you say, Sara?¡± Simon asked. ¡°Your bra against my trousers- or do you want to fold and preserve your dignity?¡±


    Sara thrust her chin out. ¡°Show me your hand, Simon.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, sweetheart.¡±


    When his cards hit the bed, she let out a shaky breath.


    ¡°Oh, Simon,¡± she said,ying her cards down oh so slowly, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to seeing your legs again. Get to stripping, darling.¡± She couldn¡¯t stop the smug grin that popped into ce.


    Simon lifted an eyebrow, gave her a quelling look. ¡°So the kitten has ws, I see. Nicely done.¡±


    Then he stood and slipped open his belt. The sweat on her upper lip didn¡¯t abate. Though she was sitting on a bed in her underwear, her body was burning up. Especially when he unzipped his pants and shoved them down his hips.


    He was wearing a pair of white briefs, and her gaze slid to the bulge in them. The veryrge bulge.


    ¡°I¡¯m very ready for you, sweetheart,¡± he said. ¡°We can stop this game any time and get to the good part.¡±


    ¡°I think you just don¡¯t like losing,¡± she said.


    He looked sinful, hot and dark and devilish. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to lose, Sara.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one with only one stitch of clothing left,¡± she retorted.


    ¡°Game¡¯s not over yet,¡± he said. ¡°Deal.¡±


    Sara picked up the cards and shuffled them. After he¡¯d cut the deck, she dealt. The promise of the hand leached away with her next deal, so she folded. Three more hands passed with her folding each time.


    ¡°Are you trying to stave off the inevitable?¡± Simon asked.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had a good hand,¡± she said. ¡°There isn¡¯t a time limit on this game, you know.¡±


    But another fifteen minutes passed before she got a hand she felt she could use. Only one card separated her from a flush. It was a risk, but when the next card came up diamonds, she breathed a sigh of relief. Inwardly, of course. She didn¡¯t want him to know she was confident in her hand. This time, when the call came, sheid her cards down with a flourish.


    ¡°Beat that.¡±


    His smile was not what she¡¯d hoped to see. ¡°I can do that,¡± he said, spreading his cards out for her to see. A full house.


    Sara cursed inwardly. How had she let that happen? How had she not clued in to his bodynguage on this one?


    Because he was damn good, that¡¯s why.


    ¡°The bra,¡± he said, eyes gleaming. ¡°Off with it.¡±

 80

    Heart tattooing the inside of her chest, she straightened her spine and reached behind her back to snap the bra open. Her nerve endings were singing, her body flooding with liquid heat. She lifted her arms and pulled the bra off first one side and then the other before letting it fall to the floor behind her. She felt the heat of a blush rising up her neck, but she refused to acknowledge it. Instead, she tilted her chin up and put her hands on her hips, daring him to look his fill.


    She didn¡¯t know what to expect next, but Simon clearly did.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± he said. ¡°I forfeit.¡±


    Shoving the cards aside, he reached for her. He stroked the skin of her shoulder, his fingers so gentle and light that she shivered, little goose bumps rising in the wake of his touch.


    ¡°You are amazingly beautiful,¡± he said before his mouth came down on hers.


    She wanted him inside her, on top of her, tangled up with her, loving her with the fierceness and ruthlessness that were the hallmarks of his personality.


    She wanted him, all of him. Desperately.


    Sara  speared her fingers into his hair, loving the texture. Simon urged her closer until she was sitting with her legs on either side of him. Then he put his broad hands on her bottom and pulled her against the ridge of his erection.


    Sara  gasped as sensation streaked through her at the simple contact of their bodies through the thin fabric separating them.


    He flexed his hips, pressing hard into her center, and her body responded with a surge of moisture. The kiss deepened, their tongues tangling with urgency. The kiss was hot, intense, and deep-but it wasn¡¯t enough. She tried to get closer, couldn¡¯t stop the moan that vibrated in her throat.


    Simon broke the kiss.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°Kiss me, Simon. Don¡¯t stop kissing me.¡±


    He fused his mouth to hers again. And then he was lifting her, pushing her back onto the bed,ing down on top of her. His body was big and hard, and she loved the feel of him pressing into her.


    When his hand closed over the slope of her breast, she arched her back, thrusting into his hand. He pinched her nipple, softly, expertly, until she was a quivering mass of sensitive nerve endings.


    ¡°Simon,¡± she said, her voice breathy and thick. Tears pressed against the backs of her eyes. Tears of joy.


    ¡°I know,¡± he replied before kissing his way down her neck, over her corbone. His fingers shaped her ribs, the slope of her breast, the soft skin of her abdomen. The moment his mouth closed over her nipple, she cried out. The pleasure was so intense, so unbelievably intense, as he sucked the hard, tight bud between his lips. Her fingers clutched in his hair, on his shoulders.


    He slid a hand down her abdomen, beneath the silk of her panties, found the hot, wet center of her body. He groaned as his fingers sank between her legs.


    Those fingers, those clever fingers that handled the cards so expertly, began to y her body like a fine instrument. Two fingers pinched and kneaded her clitoris, making her cry out with the pleasure. And then he was dipping lower, inserting a finger into her body, joining it with a second one as his thumb took up the rhythm above.


    His mouth yed her nipples while his fingers stroked her-and Sara  came unglued at the seams. Her body tightened painfully, so very painfully, as she flexed her hips and tried to make his hand move faster.


    She could feel the release gathering, feel iting, feel every cell of her body vibrate with energy and need- And then it happened. She reached the peak and fell off the other side, sobbing and gasping the whole way.


    _________


    ¡°You clearly have something on your mind and I don¡¯t know why you won¡¯t tell me what it is,¡± Sara said minutester after they made love and finally caught their breath.


    Simon ced a kiss on her forehead,, ¡°I do?¡± he asked,


    ¡°You know you do,¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re a mind reader now. Sounds good,¡± he teased.


    Sara chuckled, but she wasn¡¯t going to let him distract her now, ¡°Whatever it is, I want you to tell me what it is. Your attitude has been driving me crazy all day,¡±


    She felt him stiffen, and just as she was about to ept that he didn¡¯t want to open up to her, he dropped a question that made her heart leap.


    ¡°Will you marry me, Sara?¡±


    She lifted her head to stare at him, ¡°What?¡± she managed to burst out, eyes wide and disbelieving, her cheeks paling even more before colouring with a deep flush.


    Not the most encouraging reaction to his first marriage proposal-the only marriage proposal Simon intended ever making. If Sara didn¡¯t ept him, then he couldn¡¯t see himself ever wanting to marry anyone else.


    ¡°I asked if you would be my wife,¡± he replied. ¡°I know you said you decided against it a long time ago and that¡¯s why I was nervous to ask, but think about it. Don¡¯t turn it down without due consideration,¡±  he added quickly, when Sara seemed to be searching for the right words in answer to his proposal. No doubt a refusal that she hoped would cause the least embarrassment for both of them.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± she finally managed to ask.


    He nodded tersely. ¡°Think about it, Sara. We love each other, right? I¡¯m very wealthy. Socially eptable. We¡¯re having a baby, and once we are married you can have as many babies as you want. One a year if you want to- Sara¡­?¡± he prompted sharply as she sat up on the bed and buried her face in her hands. ¡°Sara!¡± He sat up too. ¡°Do not cry, my Sara,¡± he pleaded. ¡°I hate it when you cry.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sara didn¡¯t doubt that for a moment. She could hear the distress in Simon¡¯s voice, and the way he became tense whenever he was disturbed or upset.


    But what he had just said was so unexpected, so totally beyond the realms of what she had expected him to say, that she couldn¡¯t quite take it in.


    ¡°I¡¯m not crying, Simon,¡± She gave a firm shake of her head and took her hands from in front of her face to look up at him. His expression anxious. ¡°I wasughing.¡±


    ¡°Laughing?¡± he repeated incredulously, ¡°I propose marriage and youugh!¡± He scowled darkly. ¡°Is the idea of marrying me so amusing, then?¡±


    Sara soberedpletely when she saw Simon¡¯s hurt reflected in those deep green eyes. ¡°No, of course it isn¡¯t. I just- It was- I didn¡¯t expect-¡±


    ¡°For me to propose to you?¡± he guessed. ¡°If it is any constion, it was thest thing I expected of myself when I made this move to New York,¡±


    Yes, Sara could imagine it was. She doubted that Simon had seen himself married to anyone, in his near future.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what I decided long time ago, Simon.  I love you so much that I just want to be with you all the time,¡± she admitted softly. ¡°With or without marriage.¡±


    ¡°And I will settle for nothing less than to be married to you for the rest of our lives,¡± Simon told her firmly. ¡°Does that mean you ept my marriage proposal?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Simon. Of course I ept,¡±


    Simon felt thest of his tension leaving him as he grinned down at her. Then he gave a triumphantugh as he drew her fully into his arms and hugged her tightly against him. ¡°I love you so very much, Sara McCall-soon-to-be-Hamilton!¡± he murmured huskily, and atst he imed her mouth with his own.


    ________


    THE END


    ________


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