‘Good. Neither do I.’
‘I meant—’
‘I know what you meant, Kay.’ He reached out and ran one finger gently down her cheek, his touch feather-light.
She felt it in every fibre of her body. ‘And I have no expectations, okay? I’m not a green callow youth who can only enjoy a woman’s company if the end of the evening results in animal mating. Sex is more than that, it requires mental as well as physical stimulation and this is always better when a couple know each other and have built up a level of trust. One-night stands are not my idea of a good time.’
She didn’t believe she was having this conversation. She had only ever slept with one man—Perry—in the whole of her life, and she had given him her body because he’d had her heart too. Mitchell was talking about something else entirely.
‘I’m sorry.’ Now she did take a step away from him, willing herself to puncture the seductive bubble he’d woven round them in the last minute or two. ‘I meant what I said earlier. I don’t want a relationship in any shape or form. I’m not ready to start dating again.’
He took her into his arms before she realised what he was doing, kissing her firmly but without undue force or roughness. She was rigid for a moment but, before she could struggle or object to the nearness of him, the delicious scent she’d smelt earlier and the feel of his body, hard and sure, wove a spell. She didn’t actively respond, not at first; the sensations she was experiencing were too new and amazing for that, but as his mouth continued to caress hers, demanding greater and greater access, her body curved into his in unconscious pleasure.
She had never imagined in all her wildest dreams that a man could kiss like this, she thought dazedly. It was intoxicating, a sexual experience all in itself and as unlike anything Perry had ever done as chalk to cheese. Perry had kissed her only as a necessary preliminary to lovemaking, something to be moved on from swiftly to the real crux of the matter, but this…
His tongue rippled along her teeth before probing the inner sweetness of her mouth and her eyes opened wide in startled pleasure at the sensation it created, little needles of desire beginning to jab in her lower stomach. Her hands had been clenched stiffly against his chest but now they moved almost of their own volition to the broad shoulders, her eyelids closing in drugged enjoyment.
Her breasts were crushed against the wall of his chest, the slightest movement between them creating waves of pleasure radiating from their hard peaks, and she had to restrain herself from arching against him like a hungry cat.
‘Kay?’ As he moved her away from him to arm’s length she opened bewildered eyes, staring at him as he murmured softly, ‘I think the twins are on their way down.’
It was a drenching shock to realise she had been blind and deaf to the girls’ approach when they burst into the kitchen a moment or two later, but in her customary inspection of two pairs of small hands before the milk and biscuits were served Kay pulled herself together.
‘I’m glad you’re still here.’ Georgia’s first words were for Mitchell. ‘Have you finished talking to Mummy yet?’
‘Yes, we’re finished.’ Kay answered her daughter before Mitchell could, her voice amazingly controlled considering how she was feeling inside. ‘Now go and sit at the table, please.’
‘Grandma says you’re a friend of Mummy’s,’ Emily put in as she bounded across to the dining table after Georgia. ‘Does that mean you’ll come again?’
‘Would you like me to come again?’ Mitchell prevaricated, smiling into the two little faces that were so like their mother’s.
‘Yes!’ They answered in unison.
‘Then we’ll have to see.’
Over her dead body. Kay smiled a tight smile before she said, ‘Say goodbye to Mr Grey,’ as she placed the two glasses and biscuits in front of the twins. ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’
She walked across to the kitchen door, opening it and waiting for Mitchell to precede her into the sitting room, which he did after one cryptic glance at her set face. Leonora was just descending the stairs, and as the older woman’s eyes flew from her daughter’s face to Mitchell’s, and then back to Kay’s, Kay said, ‘Could you watch the girls a moment while I see Mr Grey out?’
‘Certainly.’ Leonora didn’t remark that the twins were more than capable of drinking their milk and eating the biscuits without supervision, but what she did say was, and warmly—much to Kay’s annoyance—‘It was very nice to meet you, Mitch.’
‘Likewise, and the carrot cake was wonderful.’
‘Thank you.’ Leonora dimpled and Kay felt like shaking her.
As Mitchell opened the front door and stepped outside Kay heard her mother shut the kitchen door with a very deliberate click, which spoke of her disapproval of her daughter’s attitude. She gritted her teeth and then, as he turned to face her, said firmly, ‘Goodbye,’ before spoiling the curtness by adding—as the thought struck—‘Where’s your car?’
‘Worried I might have to thumb a lift?’ It was mocking. ‘My chauffeur is parked round the corner and no doubt taking the opportunity to have a little nap,’ Mitchell said softly. ‘And before you ask, yes, I did make sure you wouldn’t see the car when you came home. I thought you might bolt again.’
He made her sound like a temperamental pony. She glared at him, trying not to notice how daunting his height was.
‘I’ll pick you up at eight, by the way.’ He had turned on his heel and was halfway down the garden path before her shriek made him noticeably wince.
‘I’m not going anywhere with you tonight!’
He turned, a cool smile twisting his lips. ‘Wrong,’ he said silkily.
Was he mad or was it her? Because one of them must be. ‘I thought I had made myself perfectly clear,’ she said tightly.