Page 17 of She Devil
My breath feels ragged in my throat and is coming out in small pants, as if my body’s being starved of oxygen.
But it’s not oxygen I’m craving.
I moisten my dry lips with my tongue and see his gaze shoot to my mouth.
Is he going to kiss me now? God, I hope so. I’m desperate for him to take what he wants from me so I can get the hell away from his tormenting presence.
We’re standing so close I swear I can feel his heartbeat moving the air between us. It’s a heavy, erotic pulse which matches the insistent throb of need between my legs. The scent of him is deep in my nostrils, penetrating my resistance, drawing out my desire.
Please just kiss me. Please. Get this started already...
‘Speaking of relaxing, let me show you to the bedroom you’ll be staying in while you’re here,’ he says, startling me with his businesslike tone. ‘Give you some time to freshen up before dinner.’
The sudden change in atmosphere makes me blink and I instinctively cross my arms over my chest, feeling like an idiot. He’s really not going to touch me yet, even though I’m aching for him to do so. This is just another way to torture me.
He’s pretending to be a gentleman about it all, but I know that’s just a ruse.
He’s play-acting too.
Playing me at my own game.
Okay, then, fine. I guess it’s time to regroup and rethink my battle plan.
I nod in brisk agreement. ‘That would be great, thanks.’
He looks at me for a couple more beats, as if expecting me to say something else. Perhaps beg him to give me that orgasm he’s promised right now.
Never going to happen.
‘Follow me,’ he says finally, and I’m sure I catch a flash of disappointment in his face.
He leads me out of the library and up a sweeping staircase to the wide landing, which leads left to three doors and right to three more.
‘You’re the farthest room on the right,’ he says, gesturing in that direction. ‘You’ll find clothes in your size in the wardrobe if you’d like to change into something a little more casual. I’m guessing you didn’t bring your suitcase to the island with you.’ This time he gives me a warm, joshing sort of smile, as if I’m a friend who’s decided at the last minute to stay on for a fun weekend.
‘Thank you,’ I say stiffly. I refuse to smile back and play his game. We’re not friends now and we never will be again. He might know my clothes size but it doesn’t mean he knows me. Not any more.
‘I’ll arrange to have my suitcase sent over from my hotel suite on the mainland,’ I add.
He nods. ‘If you like, but I have everything you need here.’ He starts to walk away, leaving me staring after him. ‘Food will be ready in an hour. We’ll eat on the terrace,’ he shouts over his shoulder as he saunters to the top of the stairs.
As soon as he reaches them I stride to the room he pointed me towards and shut the door firmly behind me, leaning against the reassuringly solid wood and letting out a long, low breath of frustration.
I hate him,hatehim, for putting me through this. It’s revenge, I know it is, for the way I finished our relationship all those years ago. Not that he hasn’t already punished me for it after the way he acted afterwards, sleeping with as many women as he could possibly fit into his bed, knowing it would get back to me.
And the vicious rumour about me that went around afterwards had his fingerprints all over it. Not that I demeaned myself to ask him about it. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. I had more important things to worry about at that point in my life, such as preventing my family from falling apart.
And now he’s doing this to me—making me feel all sorts of things I thought I’d escaped from. Forcing me to confront what I gave up in order to do the right thing.
I haven’t felt this turned on in years. I’d forgotten how much I could ache for my body to be touched, stroked and played with. Explored and dominated.
But he’s going to make me wait.
He’s such a bastard.
I walk over to a mirror positioned above a large oak dressing table and study my flushed face, seeing the strain of the situation reflected in my eyes.
I don’t look good. I look wired and out of control.
