The Heat Of Passion

br /> 'And you have a problem with that... I don't,' Carlo confided in a black velvet purr. And then, with a sardonic laugh, he released her when she was least expecting the gesture and thrust her carelessly back from

him.

Jessica was trembling and in considerable distress. She had lost control. Physical and mental control. And that terrified her. Six years ago, she had been twenty, barely out of the teen years and considerably more naive and foolish than she considered herself to be now. The last few minutes were like a blackout inside her mind. She didn't want to examine them. He had made her so angry she had become violent and that knowledge literally filled her with shame and horror.

Her body felt peculiar. Her heartbeat was still madly accelerated. Her breasts were suddenly extraordinarily sensitive. She was maddeningly aware that the lace cup of her bra was chafing her nipples and that her skin felt stretched and tight. Horrified by what had happened to

her body, she studied the floor, fighting to relocate her composure.

'Let's get down to business,' Carlo suggested drily. 'We've wasted enough time.'

'Business?' Her brow furrowed.

'I invited you here for one reason only. You could be

of use to me. I need a woman to play a role. A woman

I can trust to play that role to the best of her ability and

do exactly as she's told. And I think that that woman

could be you ‘

Her lashes fluttered in bemusement. 'I don't think I follow.'

'If you are prepared to place yourself without question in my hands for a period, not exceeding three months, I will consider treating your father's offence with sympathy, understanding and forgiveness...' Carlo stated quietly.

Sympathy, understanding and forgiveness. Alien emotions where Carlo was concerned. Her temples were throbbing. Her concentration was blown. She studied him with perceptible incomprehension, temporarily drained of all emotion. She just didn't know what he was talking about.

'This role,' Carlo selected smoothly, letting cham

pagne froth down into another glass. 'It would entail

considerable intimacy '

'Intimacy?’ she whispered shakily.

Carlo slotted the glass into her nerveless fingers. He surveyed her with immense satisfaction. 'Intimacy,' he repeated lazily, making a sexual banquet of the word and the long-drawn-out syllables were like a set of taunting fingers on her spine.

'What... what exactly are you offering me?' Jessica framed jerkily.

'You would have to agree before I told you the details.’ Carlo dealt her a cool, steady glance, silky black lashes low over hooded, very dark eyes.

'That's ridiculous.'

'Unusual.1 Carlo shifted a broad shoulder in a slight shrug. 'But I don't trust you. Why should I? And it is not as though you have moral scruples, is it? And even if you had,' he pointed out, 'you do have your father

to consider.'

She tensed, forcing herself to concentrate. 'Are you

talking about some kind of job?'

Carlo's mouth curved wryly. 'You could call it that.' 'And would it entail breaking the law?' she prompted

flatly.

'What do you take me for, caraV