Katy shrank away from him until her back was against the wall and she had nowhere to go. His voice was not the only thing that had hardened, she realised as she dropped her eyes. He was fully, magnificently aroused. 'Get away from me!' she squealed as his hand once more reached towards her. Acting on instinct alone, she knocked his hand away.
'Is this how you inten
d to keep your side of our bargain, Katy?' His eyes leapt with temper. 'You made a deal, you took the money, you pay the price,' he sneered, adding sarcastically, 'You are protected, I take it?'
Her heart pounded, the blood rushed through her veins, and her skin broke out in sweat. God, no, she wasn't. But to admit as much to Jake... How could she explain her almost virginal fear to him? True, they had been lovers once, but it had been a tender loving in the dark and secret. His hands clamped on her shoulders and he dragged her towards him. His mouth captured hers in a fierce, angry kiss. She tried to push him away, her hands beating against his broad muscular chest.
'No, I can't. It will be rape!' she cried.
Jake raised his head, only the pulse beating furiously in his clenched jaw betraying the enormous effort it took to retain his self-control. 'You're not laying that one on me, Katy. I may have forced you to live in my home, and share my bed, but I have never forced a woman to make love, and I am not going to start with you, but God knows you could drive a man to it.'
He glanced down at her breasts, and Katy folded her arms around herself in protection and shame. She knew what he could see: her nipples, taut and aroused.
'You want me as much as I want you; eventually you will admit it,' he drawled contemptuously and, turning, walked into the shower stall.
Katy scuttled out of the bathroom like a scalded cat, threw on her nightgown and stopped. Where did she go from here? she thought frantically.
Jake strolled into the room, clad in a navy towelling robe. Maybe he saw something in her expression because in a remarkably gentle voice he commanded, 'Get into bed, Katy. I won't hurt you.'
She looked up, their glances fused, and somehow Katy felt her anger and fear drain away.
In the harsh light of day, lying in the bed they had so recently shared, Katy was forced to admit he had not hurt her. He had lain down beside her and immediately gone to sleep.
He was clever, or perhaps devious was a better word, she thought wryly. He was an expert lover with a deep knowledge of women. Later, completely relaxed in sleep, she had slowly awakened to the touch of his lips and the heat of his body, and gloried in his lovemaking.
She loved him... she always had, and she could no longer fool herself. Common sense told her she should hate him, but the past, Monica, faded into insignificance against the pleasure she found in Jake's arms. It was what she'd been born for. She had missed the chance to be his wife—he no longer saw her in that capacity. She understood his character better now; he was more Latin than she had realised. When he married it would be to an innocent young woman.
With stark clarity she saw it all. Jake would never marry a woman like Monica; a mistress.. yes. But a wife? No... And now he considered Katy in the same category. She had no one to blame but herself; she had deliberately given him the impression she was an experienced, sophisticated woman.
A bitter smile twisted her love-swollen lips. She was no actress, but she was about to embark on the greatest challenge of her life. She would play the part of mistress to the hilt. She loved him, and she would take anything he had to offer, but he must never know her real feelings. She recalled Mrs le Tour years ago, advising her to walk away with her pride intact. She would again; when Jake tired of her she would leave with her head held high...
The door opened and Jake entered, carrying a tray loaded with coffee and croissants. His black hair was wet from the shower and combed severely back from his handsome face. He had dressed. A grey suit fitted his broad frame to perfection; the white shirt enhanced the golden tan of his strong throat. She swallowed hard. He looked absolutely devastating...
Her eyes followed him as he walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. His added weight depressed the mattress, shifting Katy closer to him. The fresh-smelling masculine scent of him teased her nostrils, and her pulse leapt in a thump of sensual excitement.
'Coffee, as promised, Katy,' and, setting the tray down on the bedside cabinet, he proceeded to fill a large cup with the steaming liquid. His dark eyes flashed a sidelong glance in her direction. 'I decided to pamper you this morning: Continental breakfast in bed.' He handed her the cup.
Katy's hand shook as she took the cup. Their fingers touched, and she almost dropped it, the familiar tingling awareness shooting up her arm. "Thank you,' she murmured, raising her eyes to his.
One dark brow arched knowingly. 'Nervous, Katy? You have no need to be. Much as I would like to leap back into bed with you, we haven't time.'
She gulped a great mouthful of coffee and almost choked. How did he do it—walk into her mind like that... ? 'We, you said,' she prompted, ignoring the implication of the rest.
'Yes, we.' And, handing her a plate with a hot freshly baked croissant on it, he deftly removed her cup from her other hand and replaced it on the tray. 'Eat,' he commanded.
She did as she was told, and the crumbly pastry tasted delicious. Katy had eaten very little last night, but now she felt ravenous.
Jake continued, 'I have to be in Venice by tonight, and you're coming with me. I have family and business interests there. That was my grandmother on the telephone—some problem has arisen at the plant. I'm meeting your father in an hour to sign some documents, so I will explain to him why you can't make it to the office for a few days.
Let me see; it's Thursday today— a day to sort things out at the factory. We'll have to stop for the weekend. Then we'll probably need to rest when we return. A day in bed maybe!' His brown eyes flashed wickedly down at her for a second as his hand carelessly stroked the length of her leg outlined by the fine cotton sheet. 'Yes, I'll tell him Tuesday at the earliest. OK... ?'
Infuriatingly she felt her flesh tremble where his hand had rested on her thigh. Katy fought to crush her involuntary response. Slowly she chewed the last of the croissant, resentment building up inside her with each bite. He hadn't so much as stopped for breath as he'd arrogantly arranged her life. His mocking 'a day in bed' rankled. Was she so transparent?
Her fingers were greasy from the pastry. She looked at Jake. He had the smug, serf-satisfied look of a physically replete male, confidently anticipating further pleasure when it was convenient for him...
'OK?' he repeated, his brown eyes shaded slightly with impatience, awaiting her response.
She looked at him. The arrogant swine had not so much as mentioned last night—not even a peck on the cheek. Why was she disappointed? He had spelt out very clearly the duties of a mistress.