Rival's Challenge

Gutturally he said, ‘This

is why we came here, Orla. For no other reason.’

Equally gutturally, Orla replied with a fierceness that shocked her. ‘Then this is it.’ She didn’t have to elaborate. After this—it’s over.

He just looked at her and she couldn’t decipher the expression on his face but it was as fierce as her words, spoken and unspoken. And then he just said, ‘Yes.’

Orla tried to stifle a sob that seemed to erupt from deep within her, just as his fingers moved within her and his mouth fastened over the tight bud of her nipple. She masked the sob of emotion as a sob of need. Orla despaired that she didn’t have the strength to push him away and say no.

And when Antonio moved over her body, pinning her hands over her head with one of his, she could do nothing but arch her back and widen her legs around him, and bite her lip to stop from crying out when he entered her. And know that this would be the last time.

Orla was as tense as a board on the plane home. She could still feel the burn of Antonio’s lovemaking between her legs. It had been so intense. Antonio’s voice on the other side of the small plane cut through the numbness that seemed to have enveloped her since they’d made love and left.

‘Patrick Kennedy is back in London. Yes. I’m on my way back. Set up a meeting for a week’s time. That should give us both time to get everything in order.’

Orla steeled herself and looked across at Antonio to find his dark enigmatic gaze on hers. Her skin prickled with need, even now. When she knew it shouldn’t.

‘I’ll talk to you later, David.’ He put down the phone.

Orla tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice, the angry emotion she still felt to think of how this man had turned her world upside down so comprehensively. And how she’d been unable to resist him, right up until the last moment.

‘So, you’re all set, then?’

Antonio’s mouth firmed. ‘Looks like it. There’s nothing to stop this deal going ahead now. I don’t think you’re going to say no, are you?’

In a low voice she said, ‘You know I can’t. I don’t have a choice. It’s up to my father.’

Afraid he’d hear the emotion, she forced a lighter voice. ‘Your sister will be pleased to have the focus put back on how well the Chatsfield brand is doing.’

Antonio’s eyes looked very dark. ‘You know that’s always been my main priority.’

Orla’s insides curdled to hear him say that but she forced herself to respond as lightly as possible. ‘I’m sure the rest of your siblings will appreciate your help in restoring the Chatsfield brand.’

It was crazy and ridiculous to feel so betrayed by someone who was patently never going to have her best interests at heart. But she did. For the first time in her life. Even her father had never truly appreciated her full worth or what she did for him but it had never impacted her like this. And that revelation was … huge.

Orla thought of how Antonio had taken control of her mother that day and how it had made her feel and she hated him for giving her that illusion of support, protection. Unable to stem the tide of emotion rising inexorably upwards, Orla felt her eyes fill but didn’t turn her head quickly enough from that incisive black gaze.

His voice was sharp. ‘Orla?’

She couldn’t speak. She shook her head fiercely. But then she heard him unbuckle his belt and come out of his seat. She felt him crouching down at her knees.

Humiliation and self-recrimination burned her. She’d only had to hold it together for this flight and she couldn’t even do that.

‘Orla?’

His hand came to her jaw, turning her to face him. Tears were running down her face now, her chest jerking in a bid to keep the sobs back. He was just a big dark blurry figure.

‘Just leave me be, Antonio.’ Her voice was thick.

He was shaking his head, eyes glittering. Face pale. ‘What is it, Orla? Dammit, tell me.’

She shook her head and took his hand away from her chin. But he wouldn’t move.

‘What is it? The takeover?’

The anger left Orla as quickly as it had risen. She couldn’t possibly be more laid bare or exposed than she was now. This man had altered her DNA and she could no more deny it than stop breathing.

She shook her head and wiped at her tears. ‘No. It’s … us.’