Jason glanced over his shoulder, his eyes brightening through the wet lashes. To Disneyland?'
'Disneyland it is!'
Jason threw himself into his father's arms with a tiny sob. Tears trickled down Cassie's cheeks, making her turn away.
By the time the small group departed Cassie was feeling like a wrung-out dishcloth. She stood, mournfully watching the station-wagon disappear in the distance, her whole body sagging with exhaustion.
'Come, Cassie...'
She did not resist when Dan took her elbow.
'It's bedtime for you,' he said as he took her inside the front door.
She stopped and looked up at him. 'Bed?' she repeated shakily.
'Yes.'
A tremor ran through her. Couldn't he even wait till it was decently dark? A lone tear trickled down her cheek, but she had no energy left to fight him. And he had won, hadn't he? She had never really stopped loving him, no matter what he had done, or what he did now.
He led her upstairs like a child, turning her into the first bedroom on the right. Cassie had been in the room the day before, unpacking her meagre things, only half filling the expansive walk-in wardrobe. At the time she had gazed around the large, almost empty room, pretending all the while to be considering what sort of furniture would suit.
But her eyes and mind had been mainly focusing on the king-sized brass bed, her imagination projecting her forward to this moment in time. Her mental fantasy had been filled with desire and passion, hearts pounding and naked flesh burning. Even after she had gone home the thought of Dan finally making love to her had kept her awake most of the night.
Now her eyes were dull. Her mind blank. Her heart heavy.
She stared down at her marriage bed, and all she longed to do was sink into the downy white quilt, to lay her head on the pillows, to escape into the oblivion of sleep. No desire heated her veins. No passion pricked her senses. She felt listless and defeated—a rag doll.
'Here... Let me help you.' Dan removed her hat, throwing it on to a nearby chair. Her hair began to tumble down, but she made no move to fix it. She stood woodenly while he moved behind her and undid the hook at her neck. She remained totally unaffected.
The zip presented little problem for Dan's skilful hands, and once the dress was slipped from her shoulders and off her arms it puddled to the floor. He took her hand and stepped her out of it.
Cassie dimly heard him catch his breath. She had been wearing a white strapless bra and half-slip under her dress, the garments chosen for necessity of style rather than eroticism. But both were made of fine silk, and did little to hide her womanly curves.
She was mildly surprised when Dan took her hand and led her over to the side of the bed, making her sit down. But she showed no resistance, going along with whatever he wanted in a numbed, robotic trance.
Yet when he knelt and gently removed one of her shoes her own breath suddenly stuck in her throat. His touch was infinitely light along her ankle, a seductive feather-caress on her flesh. And when he moved to pick up her other foot she actually flinched, her eyes widening.
His head snapped up to stare at her, his gaze frowning and thoughtful before returning to his task.
Cassie pushed clenched fists down into the mattress at her sides, fighting the unexpected sensations his touch was creating inside her. No... She didn't want to feel that... Not now! If anything, she wanted to hate him for making her love him.
But what had lain dormant, suppressed by nerves, dulled by weariness, dampened by champagne, was slowly, inexorably stirring into life.
'Lie back,' he ordered, his voice husky.
She swallowed, but did as he asked, tension gripping her insides. When his hands slid up under her slip to peel back her stockings a sliver of intense excitement shot up her spine. Shaken, she levered herself up on one elbow to watch the stockings join the hat in the corner.
When Dan took hold of both her hands and pulled her to her feet she stared up at him, the battle for control still written on her face. His gaze was intent as his right hand came up to push the hair back behind her ear. It lingered on her neck, the thumb rubbing the sensitive skin at the base of her throat in slow circular movements.
For a moment Cassie relaxed, seduced into compliancy by the mesmerising touch. She closed her eyes, the darkness making her even more aware of Dan's hand. It was delicate and sensual. And arousing. Every nerve in Cassie's body started screaming for him to do so much more. She wanted both his hands on her body. She wanted them on her breasts, her stomach, her thighs. She wanted them to search and invade, to bring her to that excruciating edge when ‑
The shocking wantonness of her thoughts jerked Cassie's head away from his hand. Her eyes flew open in a type of stunned horror.
Dan glared at her, then swore under his breath.
Clearly angry, he turned away to yank down the quilt. 'Get into bed, Cassie,' came the gruff order.