'Throwing yourself at me, Katy?' His strong hands grasped her shoulders and eased her away from him. His eyebrows lifted mockingly. 'There is no rush, my dear, but I appreciate your enthusiasm.'
She opened her mouth to deny it, and his dark head bent, his mouth taking hers. She shuddered beneath the hot forceful passion of his kiss, and only dimly registered his words as he took his mouth from hers.
'I think you had the right idea after all, Katy—why wait?' And, folding his arms around her, he pulled her hard against his taut thighs.
She was made instantly aware of his aroused state, and with a little cry she pushed against his broad chest as the import of his words penetrated her dazed mind.
'No!' she cried. 'I won't...'
His arms dropped to his sides. She saw his face contort, and his fingers grasped her upper arms. She could feel the fierce surge of rage emanating from him, and she trembled. To her shame a wild excitement sizzled through her body even as her mind told her to fear him.
'We have a deal, you and I, and there is no way you are backing out,' he snarled.
'But my job...' The words fell jerkily from her lips, the blazing intensity of his dark eyes intimidating her.
'A mistress does as she is told, Katy, and as for your job, I have checked, and the studio can function perfectly well without you for a while.'
'But——' she began furiously; she had never thought of Jake as an MCP but obviously he was.
'However,' Jake cut in before her anger could erupt, 'if you like, perhaps it can be arranged for you to return to work in a week or so.'
Jake offering a compromise...being reasonable! 'You don't mind my working?' she had to ask.
'No, not if it pleases you, Katy. You have always been a hard worker, I know that, even if I do not approve of everything you've done. In my experience a woman with
an interesting job tends to be a more stimulating companion, and I don't want you to be bored when I am not around.'
'I'll pack,' she said stiffly, and strangely it was almost a relief. When she dared to raise her eyes she was surprised by the transformation: Jake's anger had vanished, his handsome features relaxed in a lazy smile.
'Good girl, you won't regret it—I can be a very generous lover,' he drawled softly, and, swinging her around, his hand at her back, he urged her into the room. 'Get packing while I go and get a drink.'
The casual swat on her derriere as she stumbled into the bedroom was enough to refuel Katy's anger and bitterness long enough for her to drag a couple of suitcases out of the wardrobe and empty the chest of drawers of most of her clothes. Swearing vitriolically under her breath in both English and French, she stuffed skirts, dresses and shoes haphazardly in the cases.
'Finished?'
'Yes,' she said curtly, not bothering to look up, and, closing the lid of the last suitcase, she snapped it shut. 'But did you have to make it so plain to my father we were-----' she could not say 'lovers' '—friends? It's humiliating enough for me without my father knowing as well.' It had bothered her on and off all day.
He was silent for a moment. 'It was never my intention to humiliate you, Katy, but neither will I lie. Your living with me will be common knowledge very quickly, and your father deserves to be informed of the situation. If you had any idea of creeping back and forward to this apartment, forget it.'
He crossed to where she stood, and his hand reached out and stroked her throat, tilting her head up, his fingers tightened on her chin, his eyes narrowing. 'There is something between us, you can't deny it. I can feel the pulse beating madly in your throat, you melt when I touch you, and, God knows, it's the same for me. Our relationship will be no hole in the corner affair. Understand...?'
Tears stung her eyes, she blinked and swallowed hard. She could deny him no longer. 'I've finished packing,' she said softly, accepting the inevitable.
The Albemarle Towers was an impressive building, and Katy's resolve wavered as she stepped out of Jake's car in front of the entrance. Think of your father, the workforce, generations of family pride, she remonstrated with herself as on trembling legs she followed Jake into the foyer; she stood mute as Jake greeted the porter.
'Good evening, Tom,' and, taking Katy's elbow, he eased her forward. 'This is Tom Charles, Katy; he's a miracle-worker—if you need anything at all Tom will get it for you.' He handed the car keys to the porter. 'Park it, Tom, and there are a couple of cases in the boot, please.'
She looked at the old man in the rather colourful uniform, and tried to smile. He was about sixty, and had the face of a beaten-up fighter: his nose had been broken more than once, and the scars around his eyes were an unmistakable mark of his previous profession. 'Hello,' she murmured, her voice husky with embarrassment.
Jake, completely unconcerned, continued, 'This is Miss Meldenton. She will be staying a while. I will give her a key but I expect you to look after her when I'm not around.'
'Pleasure to meet you, ma'am.' He held out a huge paw, and Katy saw her own slender hand swallowed up in it. She flushed scarlet—she couldn't help it.
The lift door closed behind them, and immediately Katy turned on Jake. 'How could you tell that man I was moving in with you?' she blurted furiously. 'I have never felt so ashamed in my life.'
'Really, Katy, I find that hard to believe. I know you lived with Claude—this kind of arrangement is hardly new to you,' he stated flatly.
'But-----' she hadn't—not the way Jake meant—but he cut her off.