“She said yes Kelly”
Kelly had laughed back with him. Her eyes full of the happiness she felt for him
“Congratulations, I’m so happy for you”
Phil was beside himself with joy as he had kissed her square on the lips before picking her up, and lifting her into his arms hugging her with joy as she had laughed with him, neither of them aware of the door opening or of the man who now stood before them as he had silently entered the room, until Kelly had suddenly stiffened.
Philip sensing the change in her had looked around and spotting Marc placed her back on her feet before whispering gently in her ear
“Can’t tell him yet...promised Theresa I would officially ask her father before we go public”
And with a last dazzling smile at her, had walked out of the room past his friend, not trusting himself to stop in case he blurted out his news, but instead smiling at Marc on the way by, not even noticed that he had received no return smile.
Marc De Santo, stared silently at the woman in front of him. His insides clenched so tight with anger and yes the cold hard steel of jealousy too. He had never wanted a woman more, and she was shamelessly flaunting another man before him. At that moment he wanted to go over there and shake her and make her look at HIM. The icy anger spreading throughout his whole body as he had tried hard to control the feelings and thoughts all churning deep within him
“Well, well” he had said in a low dangerous voice
“Haven’t we been a busy girl”
Kelly, her heart beating fast in her chest had made to walk past him
“I don’t know what you mean” she said dismissively “Goodnight Marc”
But in one swift move Marc had placed the whiskey drink he held in his hand down on a nearby table, causing the ice cubes to clink noisily in the crystal glass, and caught her arm as she had tried to make her way past him
“I think you do” he said silkily. His voice low and even, but somehow dangerous
“But why settle for the boy” he continued “when you could have the man”
Kelly had tried to pull her arm free from him
“Let me go Marc” she said angrily “You’re drunk”
As he had tutted softly, his eyes had flashed with such a fire
“No, no” he chided her “no I’m very sober thank you”
With that he had pulled her into his arms encircling her small waist with a pincer grip so that no matter how she strained against him she could not escape.
“What do you want” she had cried through clenched teeth.
“Perhaps some of what he was getting” Marc replied huskily
“That was not what you think” she responded a small tremor in her voice, seeing the flash of anger once more in his eyes
“Do you take me for a fool” he snarled
“Are you planning on going through every man here” his voice icy, his words meant to hurt her as much as she was hurting him
Kelly had flinched, but the anger had risen within her as she had met his angry glare with a cold stare of her own.
“I don’t think that will be necessary” her voice dripped with disdain
“Do you?”
Marc had sworn loudly and stepped away from her as though she had physically hit him
She had watched as he racked her body with his eyes, a look of complete contempt filling them, as Kelly had realised that she had gone too far, but not caring. How dare he talk to her like that. Her insides felt cold – how could he think that of her. She had watched as with great control he had made his body relax so that the anger within him seemed to melt away, as he stood looking down on her coldly but contemplatively.
“You shouldn’t sell yourself short” he said at last, now in complete control of himself
“There are other men out there looking for a mistress” He slowly walked around her as though she was a piece of meat, his look not missing any of her figure as he openly admired her with a look in his eyes that made her flush. He had come to stand in front of her softly trailing a finger down her arm, his dark eyes holding hers.
The sudden touch of him on her skin had caused her body to react instantly as hot flames of desire had rushed through her. Marc had given a dry hollow laugh seeing the way her body reacted to his touch, and leaning forward he had whispered softly into her ear
“Perhaps there might be higher bidders out there”
Kelly had flushed an even deeper colour, his meaning very clear. So he now thought she was some kind of prostitute and was offering to pay for her services. Hurt had made her pull herself up to her full height and retorted in a voice she hoped was cool and steady
“Tell you what Marc, if the deal falls through, I’ll let you know”
There was a deathly silence for what seemed like an age before he had spoken slowly with real anger in his voice