“The take-over was being run by a man named Allan Rothman”
Kira gasped in shock
“m..my father “ she stammered
“So it’s my father who’s going after Paul”
He nodded
“When we met you never told me anything about your father, in fact you said very little even about your mother. You were very secretive about your past all together” he continued “I never made the connection because you don’t even have his name”
He sighed a sad hurt sound
“The day I was collecting you from your dorm I arrived just as your father was leaving. God he thought it was hilarious that I had been totally taken in by his daughter. Your father I didn’t give a damn about... him I could handle, but you…I wanted to kill you” he said slowly
“I wanted to go in there and drag you out and kill you. You broke my heart Kira”
She moaned against him
“I didn’t know” she cried an anguished sound escaping her lips
“Damn him” she said softly
Placing her hands on either side of his face she looked deeply into his eyes so that he could see the truth in hers
“When I was four my mother fled from my father taking a suitcase and me with her. Craig he was a beast, who used to beat her and humiliate her regularly. She had to stay on the run from him for years because he kept his detectives on our trail, not that he wanted us… just that he didn’t like anything escaping from him… from his control. I spent most of my childhood in different schools up and down the country.” She hesitated before continuing
“When I was sixteen she died” Craig kissed her gently seeing the pained look which crossed her eyes.
“She was just worn out, she had to work several jobs to keep us going and they were all casual so that he wouldn’t find us. She ignored the early signs of the cancer….she was too busy to get checked out. If she had then maybe……” she hesitated biting her lip to hold back the tears “I’ll always blame him for her death” she said the sadness in her eyes
“Craig I absolutely loathed my father. When she died, he tried to force me to come back, but I wouldn’t I told him that I would rather clean floors than be anywhere near him. He found that funny too” she said her mouth suddenly tight with anger.
“I worked evenings and week-ends and put myself through college, and then was lucky enough to get picked for the exchange program…. And then I met you” she said softly.
“The night you never showed up my father arrived at my dorm. I couldn’t believe it I just screamed at him to get out and leave me alone. He said that he had a business proposition for me, but I wouldn’t listen…… I just wanted him out…….that was the last time I ever saw him” she said
With a small ironic laugh she added “I guess I know what the business deal was now”
He nodded gently, “When I turned on you in Caesars…. It was because your father turned up at the hotel”
The look on her face was genuinely shocked “He…he turned up at the hotel we were staying at....why?”
Craig stroked her back gently “From what I could see, he was getting ready to talk to you……..I’m sorry Kira I thought you had both planned it……….that’s why I behaved……”
There was a cold look in her face
“I would never have anything to do with my father….. He killed the most wonderful person in my world – my mother and I will never forgive him” she said with a frank honesty which Craig could only blink at
“Oh my God” he said in a low anguished voice
“I’ve hated you for all these years and….” He pulled her in tightly against him her arms going once more around his neck
“What I almost did tonight…” She heard the pain in his voice
“But you didn’t” she said softly “you didn’t and that’s what makes you so different from my father”
Kira moved to kiss his lips softly at first and then deeper as the burning fire between them leapt once more to grip them both. Craig lifted her in his arms and still kissing her moved to the bedroom placing her on the bed to once again be lost in his need for her. They spent the night returning to each other over and over bringing each other to new heights of pleasure, until finally as the dawn broke they fell asleep in each others arms both exhausted and happy.
CHAPTER NINE
At mid-day the ringing mobile by her bed made Kira wake suddenly. Looking at the time she swore softly grabbing the phone and answering
“Hi, I’m so sorry… I slept in” she laughed softly “we went to a party last night. Didn’t get back till late… you didn’t pick up”