Lusty Billionaires Bundle(45)

‘You want me as much as I want you.’ The words were assured, his voice laced with his usual haughty tones, but she knew she had thrown him; that tiny flicker of doubt still darted in his eyes.

‘You once accused me of being a good actress, Zavier. Perhaps for once you actually read me right.’ And, turning on her heel, she ran the length of the beach, not once looking back, determined he would never see the tears that coursed down her cheeks or hear the sobs that rasped from her lungs.

She knew, had she stayed one moment longer, he would have seen the truth in her eyes.





CHAPTER TEN




‘HERE they are,’ Marjory gushed as they stepped out onto the patio. ‘We were just about to send out a search party. How long does it take to get changed for lunch?’

‘Sorry.’ Reaching over, Tabitha planted a long kiss on Zavier’s rather taut cheek, determined to keep up the act despite the most unwilling partner. ‘I take full responsibility—don’t I, darling?’

Marjory’s giggles in no way made up for the black look Zavier threw at her, or the visible wince as her lip brushed his cheek, as if her touch was more than he could stomach.

‘Where’s Jeremy?’

‘Oh, Jeremy’s gone for a siesta—probably conserving his energy for tonight’s dinner. He’s not a fan of the sun—not now, anyway.’

A glass of something long, cold and delicious appeared in front of her and Tabitha took a grateful sip. Only the smarting of her eyes and the warm feeling as it reached her stomach told Tabitha that the drink wasn’t as harmless as it looked.

Lunch was hell. The man who sat beside her on the patio was positively brimming with anger, not a trace of indigo in the black coal chips of his eyes. Of course the fruity little number Aiden and Marjory were knocking back meant that his sarcastic comments, his biting repartee and dark looks for the most part went unnoticed.

If ever Zavier had been foreboding, brooding, unnerving, to date it had only been a dress rehearsal. The row that had ensued back at the house had been of such humongous proportions it would probably rate a mention on the six o’clock news, somewhere between nuclear missile heads and urban warfare.#p#分页标题#e#

And in a perverse sort of way Tabitha had enjoyed it.

Enjoyed the confirmation that Zavier Chambers wasn’t completely unflappable, that underneath that ruthless, pitiless shield beat a mortal heart, and questioning his sexual prowess made it bleed. Of course the fact that he was more of a lover than Tabitha had ever imagined, that the very thought of him made her toes curl in anticipation, didn’t even rate a mention; why ruin a good thing? Zavier’s fury she could almost deal with; it was the truth that could hurt her the most.

By the time lunch was over Aiden had long-ago given up on the fruity number and had worked his way down the neck of a bottle of Scotch—which left more for Marjory. Only Zavier carried on with his mineral water, his eyes never leaving Tabitha, making her acutely aware of her every movement, making every delicately prepared mouthful like sandpaper in her throat.

‘This time tomorrow you’ll be husband and wife.’ Marjory beamed, pushing her untouched dessert aside and signalling for a refill. ‘I bet you’re so excited, Tabitha.’

‘I wouldn’t bet on it,’ Zavier drawled. ‘Apparently looks can be deceiving—can’t they, darling?’

Fortunately his below-the-belt black humour was far too subtle for his family, who carried on smiling as Tabitha slid further into her seat.

‘Well, I don’t know about you lot—’ Marjory’s voice seemed to be coming at her through a thick fog ‘—but I’m going to work off my excesses in the pool. Won’t you join me, Tabitha?’

‘I’d love to, Marjory,’ Tabitha answered in a falsely bright voice as she replaced her napkin on the table with a slightly shaking hand. ‘But I’ll just watch from the poolside for now. I’ve eaten so much I’d no doubt sink like a stone if I ventured in the water.’

Thankfully, Marjory’s plans to work off her lunch weren’t quite so energetic as they had initially sounded. Flopping onto a huge sunbed, she snapped her fingers impatiently at one of the staff and they brought over yet another tray of drinks. Tabitha shook her head as the tray passed her. ‘Not for me, thanks. I’d love a mineral water, though, please.’

‘You sound like Zavier—him and his water. Come on, Tabitha, have a proper drink.’

‘I’d rather not.’ A loose tongue was the last thing she needed at the moment. ‘I’m not a big drinker, especially during the day. And anyway, I want to look my best for the wedding.’