The Heat Of Passion

'Relax then,' he instructed unevenly.

Pushing his hands beneath her hips, he plunged deeper still into her damp sheath in a rawly powerful invasion. This time there was no pain. In fact he dragged a sob of incredulous delight from her. The pleasure came back in powerful waves, shooting through her in a rejuvenating burst of energy.

He moved with restraint and then slowly, he began to drive into her harder and faster with a shuddering savagery that sent her finally rocketing into an explosive climax of such intensity that a wild cry escaped her and her quivering body writhed uncontrollably under the hard onslaught of his. Groaning her name, Carlo slammed into her one last time and then jerked violently with the force of his own release.

Rolling on to his back, Carlo carried her with him, binding her into his arms so tightly she could barely breathe. Jessica was in a daze, a complete daze, and she lay like a boneless rag doll on top of him, her face buried in the hollow of one broad shoulder, her nostrils flaring sensuously at the hot, moist scent of him.

She was in seventh heaven. In the back of her mind she was already wondering when he would do it again. Her face burned. She was a shameless hussy but she couldn't help it. Nothing could have prepared her for that amount of pleasure. Still in shock at her own response, she felt drugged and incapable, incredibly tender towards him.

Her mouth curved in a silent caress against his bronzed skin. And then it hit her like a bolt of lightning. I love him. A quiver of disbelief ran through her. Carlo instantly tautened his grip on her. I love every rotten thing about him, she registered in growing horror. His temper, his arrogance, his sheer bloody persistence. Mentally, she felt like the ground had suddenly vanished from beneath her feet. The silence began to get to her in her new and tender state of vulnerability.

Carlo was thinking. Strange, how she could literally feel Carlo thinking manipulative thoughts, practically see all those little cogs and wheels spinning ever faster in that far too clever brain of his.

'Extraordinary,’ Carlo murmured softly. 'You felt like a virgin. If it were not for that ring you used to wear, I would be one hundred per cent convinced I had just become your first lover.'

Tense as a bow string, Jessica uttered a strangled laugh.

'Don't be ridiculous ‘

'Was I hallucinating? I hurt you '

She tensed in horror. 'You were rough,' she muttered hurriedly.

Carlo shifted lithely on to his side, taking her with

him. She collided with the full force of blazing golden

eyes and paled but she was still determined to silence

the smallest suspicion he might have. 'It's been a very

long time since '

'Rough...' Carlo sent her a slashing, primal look of thwarted fury and abruptly freed her. He sprang out of bed. 'I need a shower.'

She turned over and found a cool spot on the pillow. Not the most generous of comments, she registered belatedly, scarlet washing her cheekbones. Oh, what a tangled web, she thought guiltily. Deception didn't come naturally to her but a current of fierce pride and loyalty to Simon's memory kept her silent.

'What the hell is this?'

The wrathful incredulity in Carlo's growled demand lifted her pale head. At arms length, Carlo extended a framed photo. He was possessed by such ferocious incredulity, he couldn't hold it steady.

It was of Simon. Her jaw dropped. It had been at the foot of her overnight bag, one of the pieces of luggage she had packed to come here. She had not intended to bring it, indeed had completely forgotten its existence until this moment.

'Where did you get it?' she demanded.

'It was on the dressing-table!' Carlo unleashed, spitting out every syllable with a flash of white teeth.

(I didn't put it there!'

'But you brought it out here with you!' Carlo seethed,

flinging it violently aside. 'Into my bedroom '

'I did not bring it into your bedroom!' Jessica gasped unsteadily.

Carlo strode forward and swooped on her in a tempest of rage. He scared her half to death and she fought with flailing arms and flying fists to fight him off. He dropped her from a height on to a sofa that had all the bounce of a rock. 'You sleep here... I do not want you in my bed!' he delivered.

She was stark naked and absolutely humiliated. He yanked a blanket out of a closet and threw it at her. Clumsily hauling it round her, she headed for the door. 'I am not staying here to be insulted.. .you primitive bloody man!' she scorched back at him.