Defiant Mistress, Ruthless Millionaire(21)

"Something smells good," he commented. "I was worried you might be late. I got a call about the tower."

"Nothing was going to stop me being here with you tonight," Callie said  as she eased into his embrace and lifted her face for his kiss.

Her heart beat double-time in her chest by the time he released her.

"Dinner's ready," she said, slipping from his arms. "I was just getting some candles for the table."

"It can wait," Josh growled, reaching for her again. "Right now I want you."

"Right now?"

Excitement thrilled through her.

"Oh, yes."

Josh swept her up into his arms and headed straight up the stairs, his  breath barely showing signs of any strain. In his bedroom he kicked the  door closed behind them and gently lowered her to her feet.

"I like this," he said, pushing aside her peignoir and sweeping his hand over the slinky fabric of her nightgown.

"It feels beautiful, but-" his hand slid under the hem of the gown and  pushed upward until he cupped her bottom "-I like the feel of you more."

"It's your early Christmas gift," Callie gasped.

Rational thought fled her mind as his fingers slid over her buttocks and  then traced down until they reached the cleft between her thighs. Heat  and moisture gathered there as his fingers teased her sensitive flesh.

"So that means I get to unwrap it," he said with a smile.

Josh withdrew his hand, quickly slipped out of his jacket and yanked his  tie out from under the collar of his shirt. Several buttons popped as  he undid his shirt and pulled it free from his trousers. Callie could  only stand and watch as he stripped down to his black briefs, and  tremble as he walked toward her-his eyes darkest blue, his face a mask  of determined perfection.

He reached for her and eased the peignoir from her shoulders, stopping  to kiss each exposed inch of flesh until she quivered with desire. He  eased her back onto the bed and trailed his fingers from her ankles  upward to the hem of the gown, then, with his hands clenched in the  satin, he pushed the fabric up, exposing her to him.

His eyes darkened even more as he gazed upon her. If it were possible,  she felt even wetter, more primed for him than she was already. And when  he bent his head to her, taking her in his mouth, swirling her flesh  with his tongue, grazing her nerve endings ever so softly with his  teeth, she let her eyes close, her head drop back, and gave herself over  to sensation.

It was dark by the time they finally made their way back downstairs to  eat dinner. Even though the meal had dried out somewhat in the oven,  that did nothing to deter their appetite. Eventually, they took their  glasses and the opened bottle of wine upstairs to attend to other,  undiminished hungers.

Afterwards, Josh fell into a deep slumber. Despite the lateness and her  own weariness, Callie couldn't sleep. Instead, she watched the man at  her side, bathed in silver strands of moonlight, and never more  beautiful to her than he'd ever been before. Her heart swelled with the  solid truth that she finally allowed herself to admit. She loved him.  Totally, and wholly.                       
       
           



       

She wished she could do something, anything, to release him from the  demons that drove him. To allow him the surcease of acceptance. But that  was something only he could attain. He had to want it, embrace it.

His plans for revenge against Bruce Palmer and his family were what  propelled him, what gave his work purpose. But what of the man? Could he  ever let go of the bitterness inside, even if he saw his plan through?  And what of the damage to the Palmers?

Callie knew what Bruce had done all those years ago was unforgivable,  but time had a way of blurring the edges. Even though his behaviour with  Josh's mother had been reprehensible, his life afterwards had been  anything but. Callie was certain he hadn't so much as put a foot wrong  in all the years since. He'd built his family and his business and he'd  given to the community and the country unstintingly; hence the accolade  of the upcoming consular position.

Maybe his behaviour had been his own way of compensating for the way  he'd treated Josh and his mother. Who knew? But Callie understood better  than most that his appointment as the honorary consul to Guildara was  based on Bruce Palmer, the man. The man he was now.

Was it fair to destroy that? She didn't think so. Bruce still had so  much good to give to the world. If Josh had his way, the older man would  be destroyed. Pilloried in the public eye. Despite what he'd done to  Josh, Callie still owed it to Bruce not to let that happen.

She slid from the bed and reached for her peignoir, not even fully  understanding what she was about to do, just knowing in her heart of  hearts that she had to do it. She had to destroy the contents of that  box before Josh could use them against Bruce. Hopefully, then Josh could  begin to heal the scar on his own heart.

Moonlight shone bright into the sitting room, but even if it had been  pitch dark Callie knew she'd unerringly be able to find her target. She  took the box from its place on the bookshelf. Her heart beat a staccato  rhythm as she lifted the lid and removed the stack of envelopes inside.

She knew she had no right to do this. No right at all. But someone had  to stop the cycle of hurt. Someone had to put an end to the anger and  the accusations.

She moved over to the deep fireplace set into the wall and knelt on the  hearth. She knew she'd seen a firelighter somewhere in the inglenook.  Her fingers closed over the very item she was looking for and she  breathed a silent prayer of thanks.

Callie set the firelighter on the hearth next to the bundle of letters  and undid the ribbon that bound them together. A twinge of sorrow cut  through her at the thought that the love contained within the words on  those pages would be destroyed forever. But, she rationalised, that very  love had wrought the complete opposite effect. And that effect had to  be stopped now.

She lifted one envelope from the top of the stack and held it over the  grate, her fingers shaking as she clicked the small ignition switch on  the firelighter over and over again. A faint blue spark appeared at the  end of the firelighter. A blue spark that with a small hiss turned into a  golden flame.

She could feel the tears now, feel them burn within her eyes and scald  her cheeks as she put the flame to the paper. The edge of the envelope  lit up, glowing briefly before darkness consumed it, blackening the  paper even as its contents had blackened Josh's heart.

Callie was sobbing now, lifting the next envelope and the next, adding them to the tiny blaze.

Light unexpectedly flooded the room and Callie heard a male shout. Josh  peremptorily pushed her aside, a small fire extinguisher in his hands.  He dealt with the flames, snatching the lesser-damaged letters from the  fireplace and spreading them on the hearth where they smouldered like  the fury etched on his face.

Looking up into his eyes, Callie knew this was the end of all she'd  hoped for. The end of all her dreams. He'd never forgive her for this.  Never understand that she'd done it for him.





Eleven


"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Josh ground out through a jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth would shatter.

Callie just looked at him in horror.

Rage soared through him like a live creature, consuming reason and  making his vision blur angry and red. He wanted to grab her, shake the  truth from her, but he knew if he caved in to that urge he'd be  unaccountable for his actions.

As if she could read his mind, she scooted out of his reach and drew  upright, fear painting her already pale features even more pallid.

"I had to do it, Josh."

"Had to? You have no right. Those are my private property. You know what they are to me."

Josh fought to control his temper when all he really wanted to do was throw her bodily from the house.                       
       
           



       

"I know Bruce Palmer is your father. I can't let you use those letters against him."

"You can't?" he repeated incredulously. "It has nothing to do with you. Absolutely nothing."

"But it does, don't you see? I have to protect them. They saved me from  the most awful life, Josh. I had hit my lowest ebb. They saved me! You  have no idea. I owe it to them to do everything in my power to stop you  from destroying them and yourself in the process."

"You set out to ensnare me from the beginning, didn't you?" he accused,  taking a step toward her, his hands clenched into fists at his side.  "This, everything, it's all been one lie after another."

"No! I didn't even want to take your damn job. I loved my work with Irene," she protested.

"Then why? Why did you come to work with me?"