Irresistible Temptation(32)

' "And make the babbling gossip of the air Cry out, 'Olivia!' ",' he  quoted softly. ' "O! you should not rest Between the elements of air and  earth, But you should pity me!".'

She stretched bonelessly, like a kitten. 'Is that all it was-sympathy?'

He laughed, and drew her closer. 'I can think of no other reason.'

Her hand smoothed his hair-roughened chest. 'That's the kind of modesty that's almost immodest'

'Then I'd better change tack.' He dropped a light kiss on her mouth. 'Have some more champagne.'

'Mmm.' Olivia sighed luxuriously as he refilled her glass. 'This is incredibly decadent.'

'Well, make the most of it, woman,' he said with mock severity. 'Next  time it's a cup of strong tea and a bacon sandwich. I need to keep my  strength up.'

She grinned impishly at him. 'Sounds good to me. I'm starving.'

'Ah, God, my perfect girl.' He kissed her again, spilling her champagne down her body.

'Oh, look what you've done,' she scolded. 'I'm soaked.'

'What a waste entirely,' he murmured. He sighed, lowering his mouth to her breasts. 'I'll just have to salvage what I can … '



The bacon sandwiches were wonderful, and Olivia demolished every scrap.

'You're a great chef.'

'Hmm.' Declan frowned critically. 'The bacon could have been crisper. I  need more practice.' He smiled at her across the table. 'like every  night for the rest of our lives.'

She felt the colour rise in her face as she smiled back at him, her heart lifting.

She thought-This, I shall remember always. This moment of complete happiness. For the times that aren't so golden.

And stopped, as a faint shiver of disquiet stirred deep within her. As  if, she thought, some shadow had indeed fallen across her joy.

But that, she told herself, was nonsense. Because she and Declan  belonged to each other now. And nothing could spoil that. Nothing.





CHAPTER TWELVE





When she awoke, the room was full of watery sunlight, and she was occupying the big bed alone.

She propped herself up on her elbow, wondering where Declan had gone and  taking her first good look at the room in which she'd spent the most  heavenly night of her life.

It was large and airy, with a big window framed in long cream drapes.  The walls were a pale terracotta, and the wooden floor was covered in  Mexican rugs in primitive earth colours. Apart from the bed, with its  cream covers, the room contained little furniture. There was a  television and video unit on a stand, a pair of night-tables in some  dark wood, and an antique chest of drawers.                       
       
           



       

It was a very calm, uncluttered room, she decided, rather like the rest of the house.

And very much as she herself felt on this fine Sunday morning, she  thought, with a small private smile. But wasn't terrific sex supposed to  iron out the creases and make you see with a new clarity?

I never knew, she thought shaking her head. I never realised how it could be.

None of her previous limited experience had prepared her for the  totality of her response to Declan's lovemaking. For her unexpected  capacity to give and receive delight.

And she had delighted him. He had told her so in a hundred different ways-and not just in words.

She ached pleasurably in all kinds of places, she realised as she  stretched languidly. But that was to be expected, considering they'd  eventually fallen asleep in each other's arms in complete exhaustion.

She heard a rustle of paper, and, turning her head sharply, saw that her  outflung hand had encountered a note pinned to the adjoining pillow.

She unfolded it and scanned the brief message: 'Gone to buy us some breakfast. Stay where you are for room service.'

She was tempted, she thought as she pushed back the covers, her mouth  curving reminiscently. But the least she could do was put the coffee on.

She showered swiftly, slipping into her underwear and shoes, which she'd  left in the bathroom. Until she could find her dress, it would have to  be Declan's robe again, she decided, fastening the sash as she went  downstairs.

She'd just reached the hall when the front door opened behind her. She  spun round, smiling mischievously, intending to tell him he'd returned  five minutes too soon. And then the words and the smile died on her lips  as she found herself facing Jeremy.

For a moment there was total silence. Olivia stood as if rooted to the  spot, her lips parted in shock. Jeremy looked her over, eyes narrowed,  his mouth twisting unpleasantly.

'Well, well,' he said softly. 'Who'd have thought it?'

She found her own voice. 'What are you doing here? And how did you get in?'

'The door was on the latch. And I could ask what you're doing, too, but I  don't have to, because it's bloody obvious what's been going on.' He  gave a sneering laugh. 'You were too pure and righteous to let me put a  hand on you, and now you're sleeping with the boss. Tut, tut, Livvy.  What a little hypocrite you are.'

The robe covered her from her throat to her feet, but she felt naked suddenly. And ridiculously scared.

She lifted her chin defiantly. It has nothing to do with you … '

'Now that's where you're wrong. It has everything to do with me, as I've  just realised.' He began to laugh. 'My God, I knew Declan would do a  lot for his beloved cousin Maria, but I never dreamed he'd go to these  lengths. Yet I should have known, because he told me what he intended to  do- right here in this hall. Only I was too dumb to see it- then.'

'What are you talking about?'

'Bait, sweetie,' Jeremy said contemptuously. 'Declan decided he was  going to split us up by leading you astray. Giving you a taste of his  famous sexual prowess. Except that he served up the full banquet by the  look of you. So, he offered himself as bait, and you couldn't wait to  wriggle on to his hook-could you, darling? He even moved you into his  office to make sure of you.'

He laughed again. 'Poor, naive little Livvy. All the bastard had to do  was reel you in. And now he'll throw you back with the other little  fishes.'

She drew a deep, painful breath. 'I don't believe you.'

Only she did believe it. She'd even thought of it herself, she  remembered frantically. Considered it as a possibility. Then discounted  it. And now it was back to haunt her as grim reality.

'You forget I've lived with him.' His tone was vindictive. 'I've seen  how he operates-and I'm a mere beginner by comparison. Let's see-he  romanced you into bed last night, and now he's out buying the usual  croissants and Buck's Fizz for your farewell feast All quite routine, I  assure you.'

'You've lied to me for months-and you're lying now.'

He shrugged. 'I've no reason. Actually, I feel sorry for you, allowing  yourself to be taken in like this. Face it, love, if he wasn't so  devoted to my bitch of a wife and her interests, he wouldn't have given  you a second lode Declan dates models, actresses, girls who're at the  top of their particular tree-like that blonde designer he was seeing.'

He shook his head. 'You fell for the dangerous charm, darling, and  failed to see the barracuda underneath. But then the devious bastard's  been making fools of us both.'

'Stop it.' Olivia tried to cover her ears with her hands.

'Oh, dear,' Jeremy mocked. 'Getting through to you, is it, that you  haven't been the world's cleverest bunny? But cheer up. You've been laid  by an expert, and that kind of education is never wasted. The next guy  along will be incredibly grateful.'                       
       
           



       

'You disgust me.'

'Now that's not very kind.' He couldn't control his malicious glee. 'He's the one who's conned you-used you.'

She looked at him steadily. 'And you didn't?'

'Guilty as charged,' he said nonchalantly. 'But you have to admit you  were the perfect decoy-the old childhood friend-needy and a little  sad-who wanted a brotherly shoulder to cry on. Even the most suspicious  wife wouldn't have worried about that. You were the perfect alibi.

'Oh, I'm not saying I wouldn't have had you if you'd been available,' he  added with another shrug. 'And the rent would have been useful. But you  were fixated on love and marriage, and that's not my scene.

'And it's not Declan's either-in case you were stupid enough to hope.'

She said, 'Get out.'

'Willingly. I only came round to do you a favour.' He held up a plastic  carrier, 'Your jacket Melinda doesn't want it cluttering up the flat. I  couldn't get an answer at your place, so it occurred to me that Declan  could return it to you at work tomorrow. But this is better still.'

He tossed the carrier to her, and she caught it, hugging it against her breasts as if it were a shield.

'So tell me about him, Livvy.' His voice was low suddenly. Suggestive.  'Give me a few tips. Make me eat my heart out. What does he do in bed  that keeps his women hanging round panting for more?'

She felt as if she'd been covered in slime. She stared back at him, sickened, unable to speak.

'Although I wouldn't bother in your case, darling,' he went on. 'I doubt  if you've made his A list. Because he has one, and he gives his women  scores out of ten. Maria told me that ages ago. It's the only time I  ever heard her disapprove of him. Think about it.'