Love me if you dare (11 page)

“To
that welfare function Elaine mentioned when they had lunch here.  She took her
clothes with and is going straight there from the office.”

“I
see.  Maybe I should attend the function as well.  I still have the tickets
Elaine sent me. Don’t worry about her.  Before this weekend is over I will find
out what is causing her nightmares.”

Mary
watched him go and frowned.  The attraction between the two of them was so
electrifying that the sparks flew constantly.  If only they were not both so
hard headed and admitted what they felt for each other everything would be so
much better.

Nicolas
made two quick phone calls, took a shower and dressed in his black tux, white
shirt and black tie. He was ruggedly handsome and women could not keep their
eyes off him when he was decked out in his formal evening wear.

He
picked Liza up at her complex and headed straight to the Convention Centre in
Sandton where the event was hosted, only listening with half an ear to Liza’s
incessant chattering.

“Nicolas,
I asked you a question!”

“Oh,
I’m sorry … er … what was the question?”

“That
woman … is she still living with you?”

“Yes,
but we are …” Nicolas already felt guilty for asking her along and knew he was
only using her.

“You
know, you have a nerve!  I don’t hear a word from you for weeks and suddenly
you pitch up out of the blue.  I thought it was because it was over between the
two of you.”

He
sighed at her continued ranting.  “There is nothing between us …” He cringed at
the lie.

“Like
hell there isn’t.  It was very clear that night that that there is  …”

“Liza,
please, could we just enjoy the evening and have some fun?”

“Where
is she tonight?”

He
forced the words past his lips, he was a very honest person and he really felt
bad about what he was doing.  “I don’t know … look if you are going to rant and
rave the whole evening, maybe I should just take you home.”

“No! 
You are right, let’s just forget about it.”  She moved closer to him and placed
her hand on his thigh.  “It’s just that I want you all to myself.”

“Don’t
worry, as you can see, we are the only ones in the car.”  But he removed her
hand from his leg and placed it on her lap with a gentle squeeze.

“Well
then, I intend to give you all my attention, and even if that black haired
witch is there, I will not allow her to upset me.  Tonight you are mine … all
night long.”

Nicolas
winced and realized belatedly that she expected him to stay with her tonight.
They’ve had the odd night together, but not for over a year, and the guilt rode
on his back all the way to their destination. He had absolutely no desire for
her and even though she looked very sexy in a little white gown it had no
affect at him at all. Not even her hand that kept returning to stroke his leg
turned him on and his annoyance at Samantha increased.   Ever since they met
she has spoilt him for any other.  It was her and her alone he desired and who
would be able to quench the hunger raging and stoking higher and higher daily.

“Are
you going to stay tonight?”

Nicolas
sighed and glanced wearily at her, but knew he had no intention of going back to
bed with her … ever.  That part of their relationship has been over for a long
time.

“Liza,
we spoke about it when you came to dinner the other night.”

“But
I have waited for you for a year!”

“Really? 
We both know you have not been living the life of a nun, my dear.”

“Are
you jealous?”

He
sighed heavily.  He should never have asked her along.  “No, Liza, I am not
jealous.”

She
fell silent and realized at last it was over, something she had already known
for nearly a year, but she still hoped.  She sighed and was a little sad. 
Nicolas was a superb lover, albeit somewhat detached, he never gave all of him.

“I
am sorry.  I knew there would be no chance the minute that woman walked in the
other night.”

“Samantha,
her name is Samantha DuPont.”

“Alexander
DuPont’s daughter?”

“Yes. 
Look Liza, I should not have brought you along and I am sorry.  The only reason
I am going to this function is because she is there.  I am very worried about
her, but she is very headstrong …”

Liza
suddenly burst out laughing.  “I don’t believe it!  It finally happened!”

“What
are you talking about?”

“You,
my dear man, are absolutely besotted with this woman.  You fell in love!”

“Don’t
be absurd!  My only concern is for her and the impact she has on the company.”

“If
you say so … oh this is too much!  Don’t worry, darling, I’ll stick to you like
glue.  Feel free to use me to make her jealous … I guess I owe you that much.”

“I
have no intention of making her jealous!”

Liza
only laughed and was still smiling when she walked into the brightly lit
ballroom on his arm.

He
spotted her the moment they walked into the room and as he expected she was the
center of attention.  Six love struck swains surrounded her with Desmond Harris
standing so close to her a needle could not separate them. Nicolas saw red.  He
started in their direction but the gentle pressure on his arm held him back.

“Don’t
appear too eager, my dear.”

He
sighed in frustration and his eyes immediately searched her out again. One of
the men in front of her moved aside to speak to someone and he forgot to
breathe.

Her
hair was caught up in a loose knot on her head with some loose tendrils hanging
down around her face.  It looked as if someone had his hands in her hair and
ruffled it up.  Her make-up was slightly darker than usual lending a mysterious
look to her slanted eyes.  She wore dark lipstick, which accentuated her
kissable pout even more.  Her gown was dark purple with a slight glimmer every
time she moved.  It was strapless and held up only by her breasts, which
strained against the tight fit.

The
dress hugged every curve of her body with a high slid on the one side, allowing
a glimpse of her long lean legs, perfectly accentuated by the impossibly high
heeled shoes on her feet. His eyes narrowed, the dress was so tight it looked
as if it was molded to her, aimed to seduce! She was absolute perfection,
absolute desire … a picture that made him drool and his constant erection
jumped at the sound of her husky laugh over the distance that separated them.

Samantha
knew the moment he walked into the room and had to force her eyes to remain
fixed on Desmond, but she failed to hear a word he said.  Her ears buzzed and a
tiny shiver raced down her spine; she felt his eyes caressing down her body and
her eyes disobeyed the order to clash with his. An electrical charge hit her
the moment the silver fire of his eyes did and her breath caught.

Her
eyes moved hungrily over him and she drooled at his rugged handsomeness. His
muscled body strained against his black tux which fit him as if it was made for
him; which with a wry grin she realized, probably was. Her hands itched to
caress and touch his broad shoulders, his wide chest, his tight back … then her
eyes froze on the red tipped finger nails attached to a small white hand
clutching his arm, and her eyes flashed venom at him.

She
warned him!  She knew exactly which meat cleaver was the sharpest and that Mary
favored; tonight it would be put to good use!

Desmond
noticed her stare and turned to see who it was.  His body stiffened when he
recognized Nicolas and that he was the one staring back at her. He lost his
internship at Global Consulting years ago because of him and he has hated him
since.

“What
the devil is he doing here?”

“I
… er … I suppose he gets invited to these welfare functions quite often.”

“I
guess you are right.  They are about to serve dinner, let’s go and find our
places, I am starving. Too late … they are coming over here.”

“What
is your problem with him? You barely knew him back when we were together? 
Please be civil, Desmond, I don’t feel like a scene tonight.”

“Well,
well, look who is here!  You should have told me you were coming tonight, my dear. 
We could have driven together … we do live together after all.”

Desmond’s
angry, “What?” and Samantha’s mumbled, “Three is a crowd,” were uttered at the
same time, broadening Nicolas’s smile. His eyebrow shot upwards at her
murderous stare.

“You
were saying … honey?” 

If
blood could be frozen by a stare, he would be turned in a Popsicle with the
cold glance she speared at him.

“I
came straight from the office.”

Desmond’s
indignant, “Honey!” made his smile stretch even wider.  He was enjoying this
too much and Samantha decided the most blunt meat cleaver would better serve
her purpose!

Liza
played her part beautifully, and added fuel to the fire.

“Oh,
you did not know about their relationship either?  I was upset at the
beginning, but if they are comfortable with an ‘open’ relationship, who are we
to complain.  I still get the benefit of this man’s superb … skills,” she
winked at Desmond, “if you know what I mean?”

Desmond
sputtered and Samantha nearly choked, spun around and stomped away ere she
strangled the blond woman with her own extensions!  She was so angry she
stalked right past their table and Desmond had to call her back.  Her spine
stiffened when she realized the chair he stood holding was opposite from Liza
whose chair Nicolas were holding for her.

It
was a round table and Nicolas had waited until Desmond pulled Samantha’s chair
out before he did Liza’s.  He maneuvered it so he sat opposite Desmond, placing
him on Samantha’s right.

“What
a lovely coincidence!  It looks like we are destined to get to know each other
better, Samantha.  We should all at least get along, I imagine, all things
considered.”

By
now Samantha was grinding on her teeth so hard she was sure they could hear
it.  If that woman did not take her hand off Nicolas’s thigh, she was likely to
break every finger for her!

“Coincidence,
my foot!” 

“Don’t
be so grumpy, honey.  I am sure we are all here to enjoy ourselves, so try and
relax.”

He
leaned over to Liza to nuzzle in her neck, or so Samantha thought, but he did
it to whisper in her ear. “Don’t overdo it, Liza, she is on the verge of
exploding.”

“Yes,
but why I wonder?”

“I’ve
come to realize a very possessive streak to her … ouch!” 

A
hard kick to his shin ripped him back in his seat. He glared at Samantha, whose
violet gaze incinerated him.

There
were not a lot of legroom below the table and Nicolas made good use of that. 
He kept his thigh pressed tightly against her, his calf kept rubbing against
hers and no matter how or where she moved, he followed, until she eventually stopped
trying.

Their
dinner was served, Samantha was constantly aware of Liza cooing in Nicolas’s
ear, touching and stroking his arm and leg.  She was worse than an octopus! 
The way her hands roamed all over him, it seemed she had eight of them!  

She
was relieved when dinner was over and they moved to the Ballroom where the
music was playing.  Samantha took Desmond’s hand and pulled him to the dance
floor.  She’ll be damned if she spend one more moment in their presence.

Her
mother calling her name froze her and she bit her lip until she tasted blood in
her mouth.  Her face was devoid of emotion when she turned slowly to face her.
Elaine stood next to Nicolas her eyes shooting daggers at Samantha, then at
Desmond, who in turn looked at her with loathing.

“Mother
… Elaine.”  She nodded at them.  Shona’s eyes watered as she looked at the
beautiful young woman standing in front of her. She had turned in a gorgeous,
mature woman with a sharp intelligence.

“You
look beautiful.”

“Thank
you, mother, you as well.”

“Your
father would have been so proud of you. If only he could have seen you as you
are now.”

Samantha’s
gaze splintered and turned hard. “Why now, Mother?  It would have meant
something if he saw in me what I was then … if he trusted in how you brought me
up … not judged on something tha …”  Her voice faltered, she spun around and
pulled Desmond on the dance floor, molding her body tight against him, her arms
around his neck.

Desmond
held her loosely, realizing she needed him to keep her upright and was not
molded against him for any other reason. He pushed her back slightly and
noticed the haunted look in her eyes and regret flooded through him. One way or
the other he had to make right the wrong.  How he regretted the part he played
in the vendetta against the DuPont’s all those years ago. If only he didn’t act
so impulsively. 

If
she knew … if she knew she would not lean into him for support … she would hate
him to the end of days.  As he came to hate Jason Wieldman!

The
slow soothing melody and swinging in Desmond’s arms calmed her down and at the
end of the song, she laughed gaily as she was passed from one pair of hands to
the others to dance the night away.

Nicolas
watched her moving from one partner to the other and his anger sizzled higher
with each change. Even when he danced with Liza his eyes were trained on her,
but she deliberately avoided looking at him.

It
was getting late and Samantha was on the verge of excusing herself and sighed
tiredly when another partner drew her in his arms, ignoring her excuses.  He
pulled her too tight against him and she realized he was drunk. His hands
roamed and now she felt like a victim to an octopus.  His hands were everywhere
and she had difficulty trying to keep his hands at bay as well as a distance
between their bodies.

She
sighed heavily when his hand strayed over her buttocks for the umpteenth time. 
She tried pulling his hand up, but he just leered at her and leaned in to kiss
her on the lips.  The next moment his expression turned painful and he let her
go so quickly she stumbled back against another hard body.

“Hey
… I am dancing with the lady!”  He complained rubbing his wrist.

“If
you treasure your hand and you want to continue to have it attached to your
arm, I suggest you keep your leeching hands of this woman!”

Samantha
glanced at Nicolas in amazement.  His expression was viscous and frightening. 
The man blanched and backed off cautiously.

“Easy
there, buddy, we were only dancing.”

“Well,
I am cutting in!”

He
yanked Samantha forcefully in his arms and expertly waltzed away.  His arm
around her waist held her tight against him, molded together from chest to
thigh, his one leg pressed intimately between hers.  His warm breath feathered
against her temple where his mouth was pressed. She closed her eyes as the
first tremors of desire slivered down her body.

“Thank
you, Nicolas.”

“What?”

“I
am waiting for you to thank me.”

“I
didn’t need your help. I was quite capable of taking care of myself.”

“From
where I stood it didn’t seem as if you had enough hands to stop him.”

She
giggled, and the sound shot straight to his groin.  “I must admit, I did wonder
if he was related to an octopus!”

“It’s
not funny, Samantha.  I nearly choked the life out of that bastard!”

She
drew her head back and realized that he was livid, his face hard and his lips
drawn in a straight line.

“Nicolas
…” His eyes pierced into hers.

“I
hated his hands on you.  I hated every damn man who you danced with hands on
you!”

“I
didn’t even know half of them!”

“Is
that supposed to make me feel better?”

“You
are jealous!”

“Yes,
damn you! And don’t you dare gloat about that!  I am also very possessive about
what is mine … I warned you about that already!”

“Look
who is talking!  And you just negated any … any promise or … or expectation
with me tonight!  I warned you before you left for Cape Town about your busty
blond and the repercussion should you indulge! And look, at the first little
hurdle we encountered you … you … Well, Miss busty blond is gesticulating at
you!  I presume it is time to share your superb … skills!  Something, by your
own actions, you will never share with me!”

“Nici,
honey, you promised me this dance!”

“Not
now, Liza!”  But Samantha wrenched from his grip and literally ran out the
ballroom.  He turned on Liza.  “I told you not to overdo it!  Now all has been
blown to hell!”

Upon
arriving home Samantha took a tepid shower and stepping out of the booth,
wrapped a short towel around her body.  She pulled off the clip that had held
her hair, and the dark tresses cascaded down her back.  Picking up her brush
she sat on the bed brushing her hair in long even strokes.

She
was weary and realized she was bone tired.  She hardly had any sleep the past
week.  She was scared she might have the nightmare and wake Nicolas up with her
cries.

She
glanced at her bedside clock and noticed with a heavy heart it has been three
hours since she left the function. It was apparent that Nicolas was spending
the night with his ‘busty blond’ and she flung the brush with all her might
against the wall, shattering the fragile handle in pieces.

So
much for her being the one to quench his desires!  She stood up, tugged the
towel off and dropped it on one the chairs, folded the duvet to the foot end of
the bed and slipped naked between the cool sheets.  She switched off the
bedside lamps and leaned back wearily against the fluffy pillows and fell
asleep almost instantaneously.

Nicolas
wanted to leave the minute Samantha did, but Elaine and Shona pulled him into
the welfare auctioning proceedings, which nearly took two and a half
frustrating hours.