Sinful Nights(19)

Sick at heart, too numb almost to pull on her tee-shirt, she heard  someone knocking on the back door, and hurriedly completed her task.

I'll get it,' she told Blake, too disturbed to turn and look at him.

The rich smell of their evening meal filled the warm kitchen as Sapphire  hurried across it, her hair as uncombed and her face free of makeup,  her lips no doubt still swollen from Blake's kisses. A flush of  embarrassment stained her skin as she pulled open the door, and then  came to an abrupt halt, stunned by the sight of the very last person she  had expected to see standing there.    

 



 

Alan,' she managed weakly, staring at him, thinking how out of place  his dark business suit and obviously new sheepskin jacket looked-and how  alien he seemed to her. She had only been away from London for a few  days, but already it seemed like another life-time.

Your father told me you were here,' Alan frowned. I've been to make  arrangements to get the car back. You really should have been more  careful, Sapphire, and what are you doing here?' he demanded waspishly.  I expected to find you with your father, instead he directed me here  …   or rather his housekeeper did. Not a very forthcoming woman, but then I  suppose it's only to be expected from these country types. Aren't you  going to let me in?' he asked her querulously. It's freezing out here,  and what on earth are you wearing?' He surveyed her jean-clad figure  with open disapproval. Sapphire, what's going on, I  … '

Why don't you tell him, darling?'

Blake's voice from the other side of the kitchen made Sapphire wrench  her head round in open-mouthed disbelief. Clad only in a towelling robe,  Blake stood by the door, arms folded, hair tousled, the sight of his  bare chest and long lean legs making Sapphire go weak at the knees,  treacherous, reactionary sensations warming the pit of her stomach.

Sapphire, who is this?' Alan demanded.

Blake,' Blake offered, answering for her, and walking towards Alan, proferring his hand, Sapphire's husband.'

Husband!' Alan practically goggled, and watching him Sapphire knew that  no matter how she might have chosen to deceive herself, when it came to  it, she would never have married Alan. The emotions she felt for him  were lukewarm nonentities when compared with the fierce, tumultuous  feelings she had for Blake.

Yes, Sapphire and I have decided to give our marriage another try,' Blake told him calmly.

Marriage. You told me you were divorced,' Alan accused Sapphire. When  did all this happen? Why didn't you say something when I rang?'

I wanted to tell you, Alan, but  … '

I was hoping your father would put me up for the night. It's too late  to drive back to London now, and there isn't a decent hotel in miles.'

You can stay here,' Blake offered, stunning Sapphire with his offer.  There's plenty of room. If you bring in your case I'll take it upstairs  for you-it will give you and Sapphire a chance to talk.'

Sapphire had expected Alan to refuse, but instead he walked out to his  hired car and returned with an overnight case. When Blake took it  upstairs Alan demanded, What's going on? When you left London you were  going to marry me, now  … '

I'm sorry, Alan, but I didn't want to tell you over the phone. I  thought you'd ring again before coming up here, and everything's  happened so quickly that  … '

By everything I suppose you mean going to bed with your supposed "ex",'  Alan interrupted crudely. He's obviously got something I don't have  …   Oh, come on Sapphire,' he added angrily when she tried to protest, it's  written all over the pair of you. Well I'm beginning to think he's  welcome to you. You aren't the woman I thought, that's obvious,' he  added in disgust, and if it wasn't for necessity, there's no way I'd  stay here tonight. My sister was right it seems. She warned me not to  get too involved with you.'

Alan's sister was a domineering possessive woman whom Sapphire had never liked and she sighed faintly.

I've put your case in your room. The door on the right,' Blake  announced, coming back into the kitchen. How long until we eat?' he  asked Sapphire, I want to check on the mare and foal. Sapphire told you  about her midwifery skills yet?' he asked Alan. She's practically  delivered him all by herself. Messy business too-breech birth  … '

Alan had gone green and Sapphire suppressed a momentary flash of  irritation against him. Poor Alan, he couldn't help being so squeamish.  If she didn't know better she would have thought that Blake was  deliberately trying to show him in a bad light. She frowned suddenly,  remembering which room Blake had given Alan. That was Blake's own room.  Perhaps he had put Alan's case there because he knew the bed was freshly  made up, and after all there were plenty of other rooms for him to  sleep in.

We'll be eating in half an hour,' she told him. Alan, the bathroom's first on the left if you want to use it.'    

 



 





CHAPTER SEVEN


IT WAS DEFINITELY one of the worst meals Sapphire had ever endured. Alan  had lapsed into a sulky silence, punctuated by petulant little-boy  responses to her questions, designed to reinforce her guilt, but what  was even harder to cope with was the proprietorial, and very obviously  male-in-possession, stance adopted by Blake, who remained sublimely  indifferent to the killing looks she gave him, taking every opportunity  he could to touch her, or to look at her with such blatant sexuality  that if she hadn't known exactly why he was doing it, she would have  been in serious danger of succumbing to them.

Afterwards both men accepted coffee, and the tense silence pervading the  sitting room as they all sat drinking it made Sapphire heave a sigh of  relief when Blake announced that he ought to go and do his final rounds.

We go to bed early in these parts,' he told Alan blandly.

Yes, I'm sure with the livestock and  … '

Oh that isn't the only reason,' Blake interrupted softly, watching Sapphire.

I thought you told me you hated him,' Alan said stiffly the moment they  were alone, and yet now, apparently you're reconciled.'

For a moment Sapphire was tempted to tell him the truth, as she had been  planning to, but what was the point now? It was kinder in the long run  to let Alan have the pride-saving cleansing of genuine anger to sustain  him, and it would be selfish of her to tell him the truth now, knowing  that she could never marry him.

I made a mistake,' she told him quietly.

But not as big a one as I made,' Alan told her through his teeth. I  thought  …  oh what's the use? I might as well try and get what sleep I  can. I'm leaving here in the morning. I'll have your office cleared out  and your things sent on.'

Thank you.' How stilted and formal they were with one another. Sapphire  sighed. She wished they could have remained friends, but sensed that  Alan's sister would prevent that!

When she had finished clearing away from their meal Sapphire went  upstairs herself. Blake was still outside, and a thin line of light  showed under the door of the room he had given Alan, the bathroom door  open.

After showering in the privacy of her own en suite bathroom Sapphire  towelled herself dry, clicking her tongue impatiently as she realised  she had left her nightdress on the bed. Thank heavens for central  heating, she reflected self-indulgently, as she dropped her damp towel  and walked through into the other room. The lamps on either side of the  half tester bed threw a soft haze of peach light across the room,  emphasising the subtle blues of the decor, her progress silent as she  wriggled her toes luxuriously in the thick blue pile of the carpet.

She was just picking up her nightdress when she froze in disbelief as  the handle of her bedroom door turned. Clutching the thin silk to  herself she stared as the door opened inwards and Blake walked casually  in.

Blake!' Her astonishment showed in her voice. What are you doing in here?'

I am your husband,' he reminded her tauntingly, or is the maidenly  shock because you were expecting someone else-your lover, perhaps? Sorry  to disappoint you, but unless he wants to share your bed with me as  well as with you, he'll have to sleep alone tonight,' Blake told her  crudely.

Sapphire was too stunned to be embarrassed about her nudity, anger  heating her blood to boiling point as she stared at him. Alan would  never  … ' she began, only to be interrupted by Blake who drawled  insultingly, Oh surely that can't be true, Sapphire? He must have  wanted you once at least for you to be lovers, but not under my roof,  and not while you're wearing my ring, and just to make sure he doesn't,  I'll be sleeping in here with you tonight.'

You can't.' The protest was out before she could stop it, her eyes  widening with shock. Blake, there are half-a-dozen bedrooms for you to  choose from  … '

But I've chosen this one,' he told her grimly, adding, Oh come on,  Sapphire, I wasn't born yesterday, you really didn't think I was going  to make it easy for you do you? You alone in one room, him virtually  next door? When did you arrange for him to come here?'

He was across the room in four strides, gripping her upper arm with  fingers that bit into the soft flesh, surprising a gasp of pain from her  lips.